The Torch Vol. 100:22 — February 2023 Issue

Torch Photo / Sara Kiernan

Torch Photo / Sara Kiernan

St. John’s President Responds To Campus Safety Concerns: “We’re In Queens”

Shanley cites University’s location as a factor contributing to on-campus safety issues.

New Yorkers are worried about a growing crime rate within the five boroughs: a 2022 Spectrum News and Siena College poll found 76 percent of city residents are concerned they could become the victim of a violent crime. Amid the troubling crime rate, St. John’s University President Brian Shanley says the school is doing everything it can while being located in a tricky environment.

The University experienced a few high-profile incidents in the Fall 2022 semester, including a series of thefts in the School of Law and three catalytic converters stolen from parked cars, per the Department of Public Safety.

“With the Law School, where there was a lot of theft, we [now require] card access to get into the building, and I think that has helped,” Shanley said in an interview with The Torch. “You know, the catalytic converters, that happens everywhere.”

University spokesperson Brian Browne told The Torch in October 2022 that one of the individuals responsible for thefts in the Law School was arrested on Sept. 12, 2022 and charged by the NYPD. The other individual was tentatively identified by Public Safety and the NYPD conducted an investigation. At the time, Browne said additional security measures — including increased patrols by Public Safety — were being implemented.

Crime on the University’s Queens campus slowed during the height of the COVID-19 pan-

demic, but increased in 2021. The number of reported incidents is still lower than pre-pandemic figures, according to the University’s 2022 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The report is required by federal law to be released yearly and includes data from the past three years. Data from 2022 has not yet been released.

“We’re in Queens, [and] we’re in an urban campus,” Shanley said. “Although we have walls, we’re a relatively open campus. You can come in and on campus without necessarily showing an ID, so I think Public Safety does a pretty good job.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams touched on the rising crime rates in his 2023 State of the City address on Thursday, Jan. 26. “No one should be in jail simply because they cannot afford to post bail,” Adams said during the address, as reported by the New York Daily News. “But we should also agree that we can-

not allow a small number of violent individuals to continue terrorizing our neighborhoods over and over again.”

The University’s Queens campus saw a total of 158 on-campus criminal offenses in 2021, with liquor and drug law violations accounting for 143 of those incidents, according to the security report.

“We’re doing what we can,” Shanley concluded. “But I don’t know what we could do more than what we’re doing.

St. John’s University President Shanley: Residence Life Policies Need “Overhaul”

Pres. Shanley reflects on the future of the University’s visitation and alcohol policies.

St. John’s University President Brian Shanley looks to overhaul the current policies that govern resident student conduct to make the University more approachable to existing and future students.

When asked about residence life policies, Shanley expressed his shock at the restrictive nature of the University’s visitation policies. “When I heard what the rules were, I’m like, wow. I’ve never seen anything quite like that,” Shanley told The Torch in an exclusive interview. “I think we have to overhaul the visitation policy, and I’m open to exploring the idea.”

Per the Residence Life Handbook, the Office of Residence Life supports the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and is “committed to providing a holistic moral education.”

“We do not condone the following in the residence halls: cohabitation, exploitative relationships, and daytime or overnight visitors/residents involved in sexual intimacy,” the handbook reads.

Just last year, the University introduced gender-affirming and gender-inclusive housing, where students may live together “regardless of their gender marking.” The policy aims to foster an “affirming living community,” and does not recommend that students in relationships abuse the policy for cohabitation purposes.

Shanley plans to reevaluate visitation policies as well as the University’s alcohol policies.

“Obviously, we’re not a dry campus anymore, now that we’re selling beer in Carnesecca,” said Shanley remarking on the November 2022 decision to sell alcohol at Men’s Basketball games.

Apart from the DePaul Townhouses, which houses full-time law and graduate students, all University-sanctioned housing does not permit the storing of alcohol.

“But from a university administrator’s perspective, there are some positives and negatives that come with selling and making alcohol openly accessible on campus,” said Shanley. “There’s a school of thought that says, if you’re a dry campus, you just push the problem off campus.”

He remains “confident” of the decision to allow alcohol on campus, and despite acknowledging that policy overhauls take time, was hopeful new policies could be enacted by next year.

In collaboration with newly-appointed Vice President for Student Success and Retention Strategy Sara Kelly, the pair hopes the changes will not only make the University look more approachable and less restrictive, but also improve the lives of current students.

Apart from the positives of the decision, Shanley

understands there will be restrictions. Since a small population of on-campus residents are over 21, the “holistic student experience” only pertains to a finite number of people.

Shanley also mentioned imposing specific restrictions on alcohol storage in the residence halls. When he served as president of Providence College, he outlawed hard liquor and only allowed a finite amount of beer and wine on campus.

Shanley is familiar with regulating alcohol policies on college campuses due to his Providence experience. He acknowledges the popularity of the school’s on-campus pub, which allowed the college to provide a safe drinking atmosphere for students and curb underage drinking.

After talks of re-opening the on-campus bar, “The Rat,” Shanley mentions it’s not in the picture right now, but said the University “would certainly have to think about what makes sense for us to sell it on campus someplace.”

“We found that it was pretty popular among our students because they didn’t want to go to the off campus bars, where there was a lot of underage drinking going on and sometimes alcohol abuse,” Shanley said, referencing Providence’s on-campus bar. “So, There are some pluses to having facilities on campus.”

Brady Snyder | FeB. 1, 2023

Olivia Seaman | FeB. 8, 2023

Torch Photo / Brady Snyder

Johnnies Day 2023: The Culmination Of A Widespread “SJU Elevates” Marketing Campaign

St. John’s University is taking Penn Station and Madison Square Garden by storm Feb. 11.

St. John’s University held the first-ever “Johnnies Day,” a day-long celebration that represents the culmination of a far-reaching “SJU Elevates” marketing campaign, Feb. 11.

Starting with the Men’s Basketball game against Providence College at Madison Square Garden at 12 p.m. and returning home to Queens for the Women’s Basketball game against DePaul University at 4 p.m., the University hosted festivities in-person and on social media.

But although was the first “Johnnies Day,” the University has overhauled its branding in and around New York City for months.

“I wish I could claim credit for that, because I really like it,” said University President Brian Shanley, referencing the “St. John’s Elevates” branding, in an interview with The Torch. “I think it speaks to a lot of dimensions of St. John’s about social mobility.”

There were numerous ways the University could have revitalized its marketing campaign, but it chose upward mobility as its pitch due to the

makeup of the student body. Forty percent of freshman classes are eligible for Pell Grants, according to Shanley. Pell Grants are federal grants given to undergraduate students “who display exceptional financial need,” according to the U.S. Department of Education.

“We have always been a school of opportunity, particularly for first-generation college students,” Shanley said. “And so we change whole families by elevating [and] getting kids a college degree.”

Shanley spoke passionately about the “St. John’s Elevates” campaign, and firmly stated that it is going to continue to be the University’s brand going forward.

“I think elevate is also at the heart of education in terms of minds and hearts, to elevate your mind, broaden the sense of compassion and concern for the human condition,” Shanley said. “I keep telling people, ‘we’re not changing that while I’m here.’”

The summation of the University’s branding efforts, which range from billboards to installations

at New York airports, is “Johnnies Day.”

“We’re going to plaster Penn Station, like we’re taking over the building, and it’s going to be Johnnies Day at Madison Square Garden,” Shanley said. He made it clear that he didn’t choose the date of Johnnies Day, which is centered around the Men’s Basketball game against Providence College, where Shanley served as president for 15 years.

The University already has large advertisements in the rotunda of Penn Station, and it had t-shirts, rally towels and more for “Penn Station Domination.” The festivities started at 10 a.m. and continued until tip-off around noon. It also happened on social media, where people posted with the hashtags #SJUElevates and #JohnniesDay for a chance to win a $1,000 Visa gift card.

“Our primary market is still the New York metropolitan area, and so we need to make sure that the brand is well known [in that area],” Shanley said. “We want to be New York’s team, as we say.”

Taco Bell Returns To DAC Eatery In Late-Afternoon Launch

After closing for nearly three years, the popular dining location is back.

St. John’s University Dining Services reopened Taco Bell on the first floor of the D’Angelo Center on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at around 4 p.m. The re-opening comes after the restaurant was temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and permanently closed as of Spring 2021.

After the restaurant was added to the Dine on Campus website as an on-campus dining location, an Instagram post shared by St. John’s Now revealed it would open the week of Jan. 23. Minutes before 4 p.m. on Jan. 25, St. John’s Dining posted a photo of the Taco Bell logo with the text, “Now Open 1st Floor DAC” with the caption “open now.”

The account also tagged Chartwells Higher Ed in the caption, the company that provides dining services for the University.

Taco Bell opened to a soft-launch during off-peak dining hours, as only certain students have Wednesday classes. Additionally, demand is typically lower for dining locations in the academic buildings later in the day

The restaurant rests without permanent signage, and the fountain soda areas have been refurbished to carry trash bins and other utensils. Large, rollable screens are placed in the front of the restaurant reading the menu for students to order.

Students with dining plans can use a meal exchange and get two crunchy taco supremes, two soft taco supremes, a chicken quesadilla or a crunchwrap supreme as a main entree. It is paired with a bean burrito, crunchy taco, soft taco or chips and nacho cheese sauce as a side; complete with a bottle of water or a 16-ounce fountain beverage.

Meal exchanges can only be used from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., which represents the lunch dining period. Though Taco Bell is open for two hours during the dinner period, meal exchanges are unavailable during that time. Students with dining plans can still use a premium swipe for the same purchasing power as a meal exchange during the dinner period.

In Taco Bell’s first hour of business, dozens of students lined up to order food. Juniors Kiranjyot Kaur and Emily Hernandez were among the first students to order Taco Bell.

“I remember when Taco Bell closed during my freshman year, and we were really looking forward to it, Kaur said. “We were bummed that it closed and we never got the chance to order from here.

“There used to be so many food options in DAC, but I’m excited to finally get food from here,” Hernandez said.

As commuters with no meal plans, Kaur and Hernandez wish there were more places to get food other than Marillac Cafeteria. “For the past three years on campus, I’ve been getting the same things,” Hernandez said. “I hope this is the start of more dining options on campus.”

The restaurant will be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the D’Angelo Center.

Olivia Seaman | Jan. 25, 2023

Brady Snyder | FeB. 8, 2023

Photo Courtesy / St. John’s University

Torch Photo / Olivia Seaman

St. John’s University Holds First In-Person Spring Activities

Fair Since 2020

Over 100 tables lined up inside Taffner Field House to get students involved on Queens campus.

St. John’s University clubs and organizations set up tables inside Taffner Field House on Monday, Jan. 30 advocating for student involvement and recruitment. Students crowded the area, visiting the 129 tables from noon till 3 p.m.

St. John’s holds an annual activities fair at the start of each semester. Last year’s Spring activities fair was held online using social media platforms, like Instagram.

Maya Bidiak, president of the Ukrainian Cultural Club, was excited to introduce the club to new and continuing students. “We haven’t really been around since the eighties, so we’re excited to be back on campus,” Bidiak said. The club aims to encourage community building through multiple events, including arts and crafts events and mixers.

“Especially right now, with everything that’s happening in Ukraine, it’s really important for people that are not Ukrainian as well to join in and kind of help out to do what we can here,” Bidiak said. “I’m looking forward to creating different kinds of connections on campus.”

The fair was filled with a series of games, giveaways and raffles. The Office of Multicultural Affairs gave away pins with indications of people’s preferred pronouns and other tables gave away sweets, lanyards, water bottles and more.

Trisha Jandoc, co-chair of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), was excited for students to learn more about CRS and speak to the executive board.

“We have a lot of opportunities for advocacy and service,” Jandoc said. Jandoc is from the Philippines, where “trafficking is very rampant,” making it a topic she is passionate about. “I was trying to find different ways that I could be involved in an initiative that works towards addressing trafficking.”

Chappell Players Theater Group is part of the performing arts department at St. John’s. Nikita Persaud is the public relations chair of the group, which hosts four yearly shows, including two musical shows and two straight plays.

“What I enjoy about [the fair] being in-person is that, you can see around us, there’s a lot of people

and a lot of voices,” Persaud said. ”It is a great way to actually meet one-on-one with a person. Especially if you’re coming in as a new student, there is so much potential around you.”

A full list of the student clubs and organizations on campus can be found on the University’s website. Students can also discover clubs and organizations on the St. John’s University Connect app.

Student Government, Inc. Aims to Allow Donations of Premium Meal Swipes

At this week’s assembly meeting, the St. John’s Student Government, Inc. provided updates on recently signed bills, and voiced their hopes for future initiatives.

St. John’s University’s Student Government, Inc.

(SGi) held its biweekly assembly meeting on Feb. 13, discussing recently signed bills and voicing their hopes for future semesters. The meeting began at 5:04 p.m. in Room B70 of St. Albert’s Hall.

President Ethan Burrell mentioned his hopes for allowing premium meal swipes to be donated between students, as part of a new initiative the executive board has been working on.

“We’re trying to see if you can donate premium swipes to students who are food insecure,” Burrell said. He aims for students with extra meal swipes to be able to donate swipes to other students, both resident and commuter, through a portal on their phones.

“We’re in the process of working that out,” Burrell said. “It would probably be implemented next year. Hopefully the next executive board will continue to work with them.”

SGi sends out monthly newsletters to all St. John’s students through their student emails, providing updates on past and current bills. This month’s newsletter provided information on three

passed bills within the Student Senate in January 2023: Bill 5, Bill 6 and Bill 7.

Bill 5 — proposing an act to host workshops year-round to answer questions regarding taxes and credit scores for both international students and U.S. citizens — was signed by Burrell.

to implement scanners, which detect body heat, that provide information on gym availability online. Burrell and SGi Secretary Julianna LoMonte viewed the scanners on Monday and will move on to contact the manufacturers for further information regarding pricing.

Bill 7 — proposing an act to add a ‘Campus Dining’ app to SJU SignOn, and update the website to include detailed nutrition information, Halal/ Kosher availability and allergen information — is signed and underway. Burrell and SGi Speaker of the Senate Nawsin Kamal met with Chartwells Higher Ed and the University’s Director of Auxiliary Services Scott Limperle to move forward with the plan.

“This bill is going to move forward,” Burrell said. “They think it’s pretty simple to put the options on the website.”

He said they’ll “try to aim for it next month.” Burrell signed Bill 6 — proposing an act to update students on gym availability — and recently spoke with staff at the fitness center. The goal is

For the first time this year, SGi shared a schedule of this semester’s upcoming assembly meetings via an Instagram post.

Torch Photo / Sara Kiernan

Photo Courtesy / Student Government, Inc.

How to Eat in an Inexpensive, Creative and Efficient Way as a College Student

These four strategies to cooking will ensure students an easier and cheaper way to have weeknight dinners while balancing class and work schedules.

Let’s face it. As a college student, balancing classes, work, homework and producing a freshly homemade meal every single night is not an easy feat. Some students don’t get home until late at night, leaving minimal choices for dinner. However, there are many tactics that a college student can utilize in order to transform cooking from an expensive, dreaded act to an affordable, delicious and easy feast.

Create a Weekly Menu

Writing out a weekly menu will make the daily, grueling decision of what to make for dinner much easier. Many students come home, flounder for meal ideas and eventually decide to spend excess money on ordering food. Not only can students save money through meal planning, but they can also gain a more diverse palate in the process.

Planning dinners at the start of the week is a beneficial tactic because it allows for some allotted brainstorming time to help students avoid eating the same bland meal over and over again. Whether you improvise and add ingredients while cooking, follow a recipe or throw a personal twist on an online recipe for a simple dish, meal planning can allow for this time of cooking to be fun and experimental.

Don’t Shop Hungry

It is not usually a good idea to go to the supermarket with an empty stomach, as explained by Healthline; this easily causes “octopus arms,” as buyers grab whatever item looks appetizing to them at the moment. Going food shopping with a full stomach will help students remain on the right track with their ingredients and spending.

The avoidance of impulse buying every delicious-looking item in the store can decrease your grocery charges, which is extra hard-earned money that could be used elsewhere. Additionally, an itemized list is a great way to not veer off track, allowing you to not only have guidelines on what ingredients to search for, but to also help remember everything you need to buy.

Collect Coupons

There are many sales when purchasing food that are commonly overlooked, including buying in bulk and two-for-one sales. However, college students cannot afford to ignore these discount offers, and there are many more offers than are advertised. Student discounts do not just apply to streaming services; some restaurants have these, but don’t advertise them. So, before going out, research special offers and vouchers. Websites such as The Krazy Coupon Lady, Rakuten and RetailMeNot are just some of the many sites offering online discounts. When going out to eat and you do not finish your meal, take home what was not finished! Chances are, there will be delicious leftovers for the next night, making the most of what you spent on the meal in the first place.

Meal Prep

Different from menu planning, meal prepping is a great way to save time during a hectic week! Meal prep involves making several servings of the same meal, packaging it up and being able to grab a meal without having to cook it on the spot. Having a collection of well-balanced meals is extremely important to keep energy and focus at a high.

By meal-prepping, say, on a Monday night, students can ensure that they have food at the ready. This tactic can also be made easier by purchasing pre-prepped food, further saving time and money. For example, buying a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for meal prep will save students the hassle of cooking the chicken, as well as saving from purchasing chicken pieces daily. Meal-prep allows students to either eat the food at home or even bring it with them to a late-night class or study session.

Investing an hour at the start of each week to focus on future meals can ensure an increase in diverse, simple and inexpensive dinners. Whether it be buying pre-cooked food or creating a weekly menu, every college student can use these tactics to make sure they are fueling their bodies to keep themselves energized during the semester!

AbigAil grieco | MArch 1, 2023

Photo Courtesy / Unsplash Maarten van den Heuvel

Breaking in the Spring Semester With Key Study & Planning Tips

Students can implement effective strategies to aid in handling a heavy class schedule, schoolwork and a hefty day-to-day agenda.

Returning to the bustle of campus following winter break can feel like a complete shock to a student’s routine – or lack thereof. The restful days of minimal work are replaced with an arduous college semester that comes at students with full force. Transitioning to ‘student-mode’ presents challenges like any endeavor, but fortunately, there are several methods to break in this spring semester in an organized and focused way.

Study The Syllabus

A syllabus is like a roadmap to a college course. Familiarizing yourself with upcoming assignments, whether the professor assigns textbook chapters or three page essays, will eliminate the possibility of being blindsided by the coursework load throughout the semester. If students know what is specifically required of them, they can try to use this as inspiration to be proactive and give themselves a head start. This ensures that students are not overwhelmed with unknown assignments later on.

Many students are in the midst of balancing work in addition to a dense class schedule. Beginning each week by reviewing the syllabus and completing lighter assignments as soon as possible can enable students to free up their time for working and spending time with friends. Additionally, drafting longer-term projects early in the semester, provided that the professor has given instructions, can serve students well when other bulky assign-

Sydnie Stern | Feb. 22, 2023

ments materialize on their to-do lists. Working on larger, more energy-consuming assignments throughout the semester reduces – and possibly eliminates – the stress of pulling an all-nighter the evening before the assignment is due.

Tuesday afternoons to work on Biology and Wednesdays to study for Ethics — will keep a sense of structure in your schedule. Another benefit is that it creates much-needed and well-deserved free time. If you complete assignments consistently on certain days, you’re able to spend time with friends or relax and recharge for the next wave of work that is bound to roll in.

Consider Past Strategies

In addition to organizational and schedule skills, reflection is another way to improve your semester and progress from the previous one. Returning students should think about the aspects of their work routine that produced successful results. Freshman students should consider their high school experience and how they want to enhance their academic aptitude differently as a college student.

Rest as Needed

Find the Balance

Struggling to locate a break for downtime is not unusual. Time management is one of the top challenges faced by college students. To combat the perpetual cycle of work quickly piling up, devise a consistent homework schedule. For instance, selecting a specific time and day — like

If students recall feeling exhausted frequently during class time, ensure that this semester they allow themselves to rest adequately on school days. Students who have a tendency to procrastinate can counteract this urge by starting assignments in a timely manner. It’s never too late in the semester to turn bad habits around and implement positive ones. During the rat race that is college life, embracing each week as an opportunity to advance will allow students to uncover a personalized, consistent and effective set of academic habits.

Spring Break 2023: How Do Students Plan to Spend Their Recess?

The Torch asked St. John’s students of their spring break plans.

Olivia Seaman | Feb. 22, 2023

It’s only one month into the spring 2023 semester at St. John’s University, and students are already planning their spring break adventures. In a winter filled with highs of 60 degrees and lows of 10, SJU students embark on new locations for the upcoming week-long break from Feb. 27 to March 4. The Torch asked students of their spring break plans and how they plan to spend their time away from the stresses of homework and exams.

Sophomore Julia Parkinson plans to travel to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for the break. Staying at an all-inclusive resort with her friends, she looks forward to “relaxing by the beach and soaking up the sun.”

“I’m so excited to see what the island has to offer and enjoy a much needed break from the spring semester,” Parkinson said.

Punta Cana stands as the eighth best spring break destination for college students, according to the U.S. News & World Report. Complete with sunny beaches and exciting nightlife, the Caribbean destination is budget-friendly, especially for young students.

Parkinson is not the only student traveling outside the United States. Soph-

omore Kaitlyn Blanck plans to embark on a week-long trip to Madrid as part of a St. John’s course.

“I’m going to Madrid with my marketing class for 10 days. I’m super excited to go on corporate trips and to explore Spain,” Blanck said.

Blanck hopes to enrich herself in other cultures and experience new personal and professional opportunities while in Spain. “It’s important to me that I build my independence on this trip,” she said, “while making meaningful connections with my classmates as well.”

Senior Adrian Mokbel is visiting a friend in Syracuse, New York. “I’m most looking forward to spending quality time with my best friend and enjoying skiing and exploring upstate [New York],” Mokbel said. He’s also excited to experience authentic winter weather, “something we really haven’t had in Queens.”

Sophomore Ava Lasalandra plans to visit her family’s beach house in New Jersey. “I’m excited to visit my family and friends,” Lasalandra said. “We like to walk the boardwalks and eat at local restaurants, especially Belmar’s Marina Grille.” She enjoys the time away from school to reconnect with her hometown friends and rest.

Many plan on using the break to spend time at home with family. “I’ll be home watching my dogs,” sophomore Erin McRae said. “I’m going home to Long Island for the break, and I’m most excited for the rest, relaxation and home cooked meals,” McRae said Whether students seek sunshine or much-needed time with family, Johnnies are staying busy and making the most out of their break.

Photo Courtesy / Unsplash Wells Baum

Photo Courtesy / Unsplash Marissa Grootes

Making the Most of Small Spaces: How Students Decorate Their Dorms

Whether you live in St. John’s University-provided housing or an off-campus home, decor for student living spaces can be a challenge. Many students find it unnecessary to decorate and organize a temporary home, while others find that making their space their own is essential. The Torch spoke with St. John’s students to find out what they do to make their space feel like home, and discovered innovative and fun tips that could provide you with new ideas and inspiration for your own space!

Madison Coombs, a sophomore at St. John’s, decorates her side of the room with her favorite colors and posters that reflect her interests.

“I found all of my posters at the poster sale at the beginning of the fall semester, and I love how they fill up the walls,” Coombs said. “I chose black and white photographs to create a consistent theme of color.”

Madison also utilizes her desk as not just a place to do work, but as a vanity as well. Since dorms are small with limited furniture, it’s important to come up with versatile ways to organize and store your belongings.

“I like my desk because it’s multifunctional; it includes my jewelry and perfumes that I can easily access by storing them in decorative dishes,which also add to the decor,” Coombs added.

Another sophomore, Emma Cavalli, lives in Century Hall and decorated her dorm with lots of color to brighten up her space.

“I believe it’s important to love the space you spend a lot of your time in,” Cavalli said. “When I first saw these posters I immediately knew I needed them in my room. I love the different colors and I knew the Aura vibe would go great.”

Cavalli also included a practical aspect of decor to her space with her floral garlands.

“Additionally, I love flowers; however, I knew I couldn’t take care of real ones 24/7,” said Cavalli. “The flower garland was easy to put up and is my favorite aspect of my room.”

Junior Jean-Carlo Maldonado lives in the Founders Village Townhouses in a double room.

When asked how he chose to decorate his room, he said, “The decorations are sentimental to me and express my passions in life.”

Maldonado is a big fan of wrestling and music, and this is reflected through his tapestry choices. Posters and tapestries are a great way to cover up empty space in dorms and allow residents to convey their interests throughout their space. A common decor choice for dorms are tapestries and posters because they are affordable, can easily be put up and come in a wide variety of designs. Common areas and living rooms can also be easy to decorate without spending a fortune. My common area in Century Hall is decorated for each holiday and season with finds from the Dollar Store, Amazon and my suitemates’ own houses. By simply putting up lights, the interior feels much cozier, and once pillows and blankets are added, it feels like home.. The current theme includes a Valentine’s Day tree, garland and heart ornaments hanging from the lights. A great hack is that fake spider webs used for Halloween can be reused as snow for winter decor.

When students get creative, it is really easy to add personality to a dorm or college home. A great resource for inspiration is Pinterest, where it’s easy to find a specific aesthetic to recreate in a dorm or college home. Even though college living spaces are typically small and temporary, there is much that can be done to make it feel like home.

After looking into the dorms of St. John’s students, here are some ways to revamp any small living space.

Olivia RainsOn | Feb. 8, 2023

Photo Courtesy / Madison Coombs

Documents Declassified: Why Holding Documents Doesn’t Warrant Impeachment

Biden’s willingness to cooperate shows how that impacts his role as a world leader.

Last November, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted a vol- untary search of President Joe Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware, where they found about 20 classified documents from Biden’s tenure as a U.S. Senator from 1973-2009 and as vice president from 2009-2017. Naturally, Republicans are having a field day. But what is there to make of the finger pointing from the right to the left? Somewhere in between lies the truth.

The New Yorker documented an interview between Representative James Comer of Kentucky and Fox News anchor Martha MacCullum, where Comer compares the differences be- tween the public’s reaction to the FBI’s raid on former president Don- ald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence for classified documents to those of Biden’s. Comer’s main concern was Biden being treated differently than Trump — and not the national secu- rity implications this could have on the United States. However, Biden’s

legal team is quickly addressing the concerns that the Republican Party has.

The key differences, Biden’s person- al lawyer Bob Bauer told CNBC, is that whilst Trump and his legal team refused to give up hundreds of docu- ments, Biden is fully cooperating to give up the sum of about twenty clas- sified documents.

Examples like this show just how muddled the lines are between right and wrong as the lines separating the Democratic and Republican party be- come clearer.

Neither president had done the right thing by keeping classified documents. Biden keeping those documents in a garage could potentially harm nation- alThesecurity.Democrat versus Republican position that representatives such as Comer are making takes away the hard truth: on either side, keeping classified documents is dangerous and irresponsible to American citizens.

The New Yorker documented how

some Republicans believe that Biden’s recent political scandal is cause for im- peachment, but it leaves one to won- der if this is in the spirit of account- ability or politics. In fact, according to CNN, a lawyer for former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence recently found more classified documents in his Indiana home.

If the United States impeaches every elected official that has taken classified documents, it could possibly span decades. This could be carelessness, but The New Yorker was quick to note that it could also be because the country has an issue with over-classi- fying documents. A sum of about fifty million documents get classified each year.

Therefore, the way to separate the ma- licious from the mistaken is to note the willingness to cooperate with the FBI. Biden’s responsibility with providing the documents to the FBI shows that the Senate should not go so far as to impeach the president, but rather set an example for future leaders.

Photo Courtesy / YouTube Washington Post

GriecO

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

Carlyann Carey

Sydnie Stern

Connor Richards

EDITorIAL PoLIcY

Editorials are the opinions of the Editorial Board of the Torch. Columns and other content are the opinions of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of the Torch Opinions expressed in editorials, columns, letters or cartoons are not necessarily those of the student body, faculty or administration of St. John’s University. All contents are the sole responsibility of the editors and the editorial board and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty or students of St. John’s University unless specifically stated.

torchonline.com

718-990-6444

torcheic@gmail.com

torchads@gmail.com

The Torch, St. John’s University

O’Connor Hall - B Level 8000 Utopia Parkway Queens, NY 11439

coNTrIBUTIoNS

@stjtorch

@sjutorch

@sju_torch

sju torch productions

Flames Of The Torch: A Week To Remember For Torch Sports

All letters submitted for publication must include the author’s name, email and affliliation to St. John’s. Limit letters to 350 words. Submissions may be edited for clarity. Please submit letters to torchopinion@gmail.com

ABoUT ThE Torch

The Torch is the official, independent student newspaper of St. John’s University. The Torch is written, edited, designed and produced by students of the University. The Torch is published througout the week at torchonline.com. There is a weekly newsletter on Wednesday afternoon, as well as a full digital publication each month.

ADVErTISING

To advertise in The Torch contact torchads@gmail.com. Advertisements can be purchased for placement on our website, in our newsletter and within our full digital publication. For more information, please see The Torch Media Package located on our webisite.

Our readers know that The Torch has covered basketball at St. John’s University for decades, but last week was one to remember.

It started on Jan. 25, when The Torch sat down with University President Brian Shanley for an exclusive interview. We planned to cover everything from tuition, to the Staten Island campus’ closure to athletics. What we didn’t know was that the scheduled interview with Shanley was the first he had agreed to with external media in some time.

A week later, we released an article about Shanley’s thoughts on the current state of St. John’s athletics on Feb. 1. Like usual, our Torch Sports account on Twitter posted about the article. But this time, the tweet garnered over 35,000 views in just a few days.

That same night, the sports section prepared to cover the Men’s Basketball game against Seton Hall, which coincided with National Women and Girls in Sports Day. In the end, the story wasn’t about the game at all: the Universi-

ty’s Athletics Department did not recognize the Dance and Cheer team during game day operations or on social media.

The Cheer team chose to protest by deciding to stand in a line during their scheduled performances while wearing “WE ARE WOMEN IN SPORTS” on their backs.

We posted a brilliant photo of the protest captured by our photo editor, Sara Kiernan, on Twitter.

That tweet reached over 13,000 people, and earned The Torch a spot in multiple media outlets as the story made national news.

The Torch was referenced in Fox News, Business Insider, the Washington Examiner, the New York Post and other outlets.

As the current editor-in-chief, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank our entire organization for the volunteer work they do to provide great coverage for The Torch. We’re grateful for the exposure, and will continue to give our readers the best content we have to offer going forward.

Brady Snyder | FeB. 3, 2023

Student newspaper cited by multiple national media outlets and sees over 35,000 views on Twitter

Photo Courtesy / YouTube Paris Videostars

Antisemitic Attack in NJ:Just One In a Series of Hate CrimeTargeting the Jewish Community

Social media and mainstream media all point to one thing: antisemitism is on the rise.

It can be seen by U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene speaking at a fundraising event hosted by Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, all the way down to local communities —such as the recent attack on a synagogue in Bloom- field, New Jersey.

In the early morning of Jan. 29, a man in a ski mask attacked Temple Ner Tamid by hurling a molotov cocktail into the synagogue. The cocktail was found the next morning by the temple’s staff with nothing harmed as the bottle broke on impact, according to the Bloomfield Po- lice

temple’s rabbi, Marc Katz, com- mented on how “the shatter resistant doors held,” according to the New York Times.

This, along with another hate crime tar- geted towards Trinity Episcopal Church in Asbury Park, New Jersey, is just a few of the acts of violence having to do with the “White Power” notion that govern- ment officials and celebrities are playing into, according to ABC News. Only five years ago people were taking to the streets of Charlottesville,Virginia chanting things such as “Jews will not replace us” and “Unite the Right.”

The most concerning, however, was for- mer president Donald Trump’s words following the events. To him, there were “very fine people on both sides,” quotes ABC News.

But what does this have to do with the attack on Temple Ner Tamid?

National Public Radio’s Lisa Hagen said that the more government officials like Greene and celebrities like West buy into racist and antisemitic tropes, the more hate crimes increase.

In fact, if one buys into common racist beliefs such as “Asians started COVID-19,” they’re more likely to buy into conspiracy theories about the Jew- ish community, according to NPR. With celebrities like Kanye West using his platform to talk about loving Hitler, communities such as Bloomfield are ex-

periencing an increase of threats to syn- agogues in their town.

Unfortunately, we can expect these kinds of attacks to increase as people only encourage anti-semites.

People should be calling for justice against hate of all kinds, rather some still parade Yeezys and don MAGA hats because to them, words are just words rather than something that empowers those willing to commit violence for the alt-right agenda.

They can do this by uplifting the Jewish community locally such as by partici- pating in charity events or signing pe- titions. It is only when these celebrities are de-platformed the calls for violence decrease and counties may not have to ask synagogues to invest in shatter resis- tant doors.

Why Nikki Haley For President Is A Mistake

The former South Carolina Governor would only clear a path for another Trump nomination

Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley’s bid for the White House isn’t just a mistake — it’s a blunder that could potentially risk another Donald Trump versus Joe Biden matchup in 2024.

Haley is the newest, and currently, only challenger to former president Trump for the Republican nomination for president. Haley served as governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017 and as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 2017 to 2018 under the Trump administration.

Haley posed a challenge to some of the negative narratives and perceptions around the Republican party. For starters, she’s the daughter of Indian immigrants. She also brought South Carolina past the Civil War by removing the Confederate battle flag from the state capital in response to the massacre of Black churchgoers by the hands of a white supremecist in 2015.

One would assume Haley would be hailed by

the party to onboard two important voter blocs Republicans have struggled with in recent years: women and immigrants. But Haley’s flip-flopping isn’t likely to attract anyone at all.

Haley is simply just another politician. After accusing former President Trump of being sympathetic to the Ku Klux Klan and having the attitude of a “kindergartener” during the 2016 campaign, she seems to have done a full 180 without any reference to her past statements.Compare that to President Biden’s flip-flopping on key issues during his 2023 state of the union address, saying Republicans are coming to slash social security benefits for Americans by sunsetting legislation every five years, despite Biden co-sponsoring an identical bill as senator of Delaware.

A February Reuters/Ipsos poll has Trump with the support of 43 percent of Republican primary voters, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at 31 percent and Haley at 4 percent. Trump doesn’t need

a majority of Republican voters to win. He just needs the field to become so crowded that he wins by plurality.

Haley has no path to victory in a Republican primary. Voters who want change should rally around DeSantis. His resume is the same, if not better, than anything Haley could boast.

The choice here is obvious, and if Americans want to move on from the endless Trump versus Biden news cycle, they’ll pay Haley’s campaign no mind.

Photo Courtesy / YouTube NJ Spotlight News

Photo Courtesy / YouTube NBC News

Jewish communities shouldn’t have to install shatter-resistant doors to stay safe. Carlyann

Carey | Feb. 22, 2023

Sergio Padilla | Feb. 22, 2023

King Disease III Album Review: A Master

Lyricist Remains at the Top of His Craft

In his fourth project in two years, Nas cements himself as a rap icon.

Nas is an inarguable rap icon, with critically-acclaimed albums in four separate decades and a Grammy to boot, his legacy within the genre is almost unsaleable. His most prevalent musical adversary, Jay-Z, is the only other living artist who can rival the mix of critical praise and lyrical longevity.

In the intervening five years since Jay-Z’s last solo album “4:44”, Nas has churned out five full-length albums, with “Kings Disease III” marking his fourth project in two years.

All 54 songs across the sprawling LPs, “King’s Disease,” “King’s Disease II,” “Magic” and now “King’s Disease III” were entirely produced by Hit-Boy, known for producing hits for Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott, among others. The two have an obvious musical synchronicity that gives Nas an updated flair while managing to preserve his ’90s rap essence. The production vacillates between jazzy and trap-inspired samples and beats that allow Nas to showcase his evergreen lyricism and technical proficiency in a modern-day wrapping.

The album opens with the track “Ghetto Reporter,” which features snippets from an Alan Watts lecture and a

Richard Pryor stand up special. Nas loves to open his albums with a mix of social commentary and rap braggadocio, and “Ghetto Reporter” is no different.

Reinforced by bombastic drums, Nas reflects on the state of the music industry, his own success and the potency of the project audiences are about to listen to. Artists praising their own music is nothing new, and rap especially has no shortage of self-aggrandizing genius claims.

The main difference with Nas — and “KD III” — is that he happens to be right about the quality of his own work. This album is incredibly impressive, and both Nas and Hit-Boy are understandably high on their own melodic supply. Without a single feature, Nas stays razor-sharp lyrically, thematically and technically, carrying the album from front to back with his writing and charisma. He sounds motivated and energized, with an almost youthful exuberance for the music.

A legacy artist who is eighteen albums into a decades-long career displaying this level of creative fervor is almost unheard of. Most rappers of this caliber are either retired, or putting out medi-

ocre projects that complicate their discographies. Eminem and Lil Wayne are similarly renowned artists that are still active, but they’ve both released critically-reviled albums that seem closer to cash grabs than they do earnestly creative endeavors.

Nas is far from the rock bottom of his contemporaries: “Magic,” and the “King’s Disease” trilogy, represent reinvention and modernization. An artist evolving with the trends without losing sight of what made him so successful in the first place — his writing.

He’s always had a knack for constructing vivid stories that place his audience in the world of Queensbridge, containing lyrical prose that’s often imitated, but never replicated. The best showcase of writing on “KD III” is the song “Beef,” where Nas embodies the concept and examines why human beings are so eager to hurt each other over perceived slights.

Societal analysis and reflection from the perspective of an artist who has seen a large number of his colleagues killed, from Biggie Smalls in 1997 to Takeoff in 2022. Luckily for us, Nas is still here, and he’s still in his musical prime.

Weston Greene | Feb.1 2023

Photo Courtesy / YouTube Nas

CURATED COLLECTIONS: Five Songs From 2022 to Add to Your Valentine’s Day Playlists

The countdown to Valentine’s Day has come to an end, and what better way to celebrate than through this past year in music?

July 2022 — which now has nearly 400 million listens on Spotify — and performed the song live in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. JVKE focuses on the simplicity of a relationship, and that solely having a loved one around makes the clock tick slower. “Minutes feel like hours,” he says.

“Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa” by FINNEAS

song with Swift. Nothing is expected between the two, other than their presence and unconditional love. Blocking out the negativity thrown at her, she runs home to her sweet nothing.

Love is in the air, and it’s time it fills your playlists as well. Aside from the bouquets of roses and assortment of chocolates, you’ll need to get your Valentine’s Day playlists prepared for the special day. Here is a collection of five songs from 2022 that will fill your Valentine’s Day with more love than ever:

“Golden Hour” by JVKE

This song flooded our TikTok timelines for months after its release and with great reason. “Golden Hour” captures the essence of falling in love, or more specifically, the overwhelming feeling of being near someone that they love. JVKE passionately delivers his views on being with a loved one, quite literally feeling like an emotional golden hour.

First gaining the spotlight on TikTok, the 21-year-old singer released “Golden Hour” in

Love is art, as FINNEAS hints simply through the song title. The 25-year-old producer released “Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa” last year in honor of longtime girlfriend Claudia Sulewski and their relationship, with this music video featuring heartwarming moments shared between the couple on a trip to Paris.

The song captures the journey of love — starting from the very first conversation to years into the relationship —emphasizing that true love comes when you least expect it. He went from being independent to not being able to live without her. But although he’s breathless when she’s not around, he wouldn’t change a thing.

“Sweet Nothing” by Taylor Swift

Meet your partner at midnight on Feb. 14, streaming this song on full volume. Swift gets personal with “Sweet Nothing,” giving people a look into the ups and downs of being in a public relationship. She talks about feeling the comfort of being around boyfriend Joe Alwyn and finding home within a person.

Fans easily guessed who she wrote the song about, but little did they know that Alwyn co-wrote the

“Late Night Talking” by Harry Styles Styles focuses on a long-distance relationship in the song, repeating “wish I was around, I just wanna make you happier.” He goes through sleepless nights just to have conversations with the one he loves. If your significant other is farther than you hoped, “Late Night Talking” is a reminder how distance isn’t strong enough to break a connection between two people.

Whether you’ve been apart for a few days or a few months, Styles captures the ease in which the thought of seeing them again brings. If you can’t fathom spending a couple days without seeing your significant other, “Late Night Talking” can easily be at the top of your Valentine’s Day playlist.

“Until I Found You” by Stephen Sanchez Sanchez put together this piece to perfectly explain what it feels like to find your soulmate. Another TikTok favorite, “Until I Found You” was featured in the Netflix Original series “Ginny and Georgia” season finale and has received over half a billion listens on Spotify. Sanchez will remind you how it felt to find the one you were meant to be with. After swearing off love for good, he was proven wrong when he found her.

Oscar season is upon us, and “Everything Everywhere All at Once” Looms Large

With 11 nominations, the Daniels’ “EEAAO” is an awards’ season superpower.

The nominations for the 95th-annual Academy Awards have been released, and the awards season is coming to a close. With a little over a month until the winners are announced, let’s take a look at the contenders, and likely winners, in the major categories.

The Best Picture category is crowded, with critical heavy hitters “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” “Tár” and “The Banshees Of Inisherin” squaring off against billion-dollar box office juggernauts “Avatar: The Way Of Water” and “Top Gun: Maverick.” The Academy seems to have an aversion to popular culture, choosing instead to highlight smaller arthouse films like “Coda” and “Nomadland” in recent years.

The nominee that most accurately fits that description is Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees Of Inisherin,” although McDonagh already has an Oscar and “Banshees” would be one of the darkest films to ever win the award. The clear frontrunner is “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” a film with a rare combination of both critical praise and audience adoration. A win for Best Picture here seems logical, unless the academy chooses to zag.

The race for Best Actor seems to be trending towards a win for Brendan Fraser and his emotional comeback role in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale,” although bright performances by Austin Butler in “Elvis” and Colin Farrell in “The Banshees Of Inisherin” could still conceivably edge Fraser out of the spotlight.

Best Actress is a two-horse race, with Cate Blanchett and Michelle Yeoh going head to head for their roles in“Tár” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” respectively.

Blanchett has won two Oscars in two different decades for her roles in “The Aviator” and “Blue Jasmine.” So narratively, giving Yeoh her first Oscar makes a lot of sense, however given the magnitude of Blanchett’s performance as Lydia Tár, a trio of golden statues seems almost inevitable.

The Best Director race is still largely up in the air and packed with massive names all vying for the top spot. Steven Spielberg’s “The Fablemans,” Todd Field’s “Tár,” Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees Of Inisherin” and Ruben Östlund’s “Triangle Of Sadness” are among four of the best directors working today, and they’re all likely to lose to Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, the directorial duo behind “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”

The Best Supporting Actor category continues to point towards a dominant night from our most nominated film, as Ke Huy Quan, also of “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” fame seems to be the clear frontrunner here. With both Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan from “The Banshees Of Inisherin” trailing behind him, likely splitting the vote and leading to an Oscar win for Quan.

Best Supporting Actress seems to be similarly locked up by Angela Bassett, for her role as Ramonda in Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther: Wakan-

da Forever.” If Bassett wins, it would be her first Oscar, as well as the first time an actor has won an Academy Award for a role in a Marvel movie. The Academy Awards will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, and broadcast live on ABC on Sunday, March 12.

Photo Courtesy / YouTube Harry Styles

Photo Courtesy / Unsplash Mirko Fabian

“Kaleidoscope:” A Unique Approach to Episodic Storytelling

Binge-watching is enormous in the entertainment industry today, thanks primarily to the growth of streaming culture over the past decade or so. This allows people to access content more easily, which facilitates better word-of-mouth discussion about these shows.

Netflix’s latest series, “Kaleidoscope,” takes this common phenomenon and forces it to evolve.

The show follows Ray Vernon — played by Giancarlo Esposito — as he assembles his crew and plots a massive heist to steal $7 billion. From Vernon’s backstory to the heist and its aftermath, the overall story spans 24 years, with the finale documenting the actual heist.

Creator Eric Garcia crafted this eight episode series to be consumed in any order. Of the color-coded episodes, “White” is intended to be the finale. There are time jumps between each installment, and most viewers will have watched the series in a non-chronological order. After all, there are 5,040 ways to finish the series — assuming “White” is always watched last.

Esposito shines as a troubled father, ex-con and ringleader of an intricate heist. Viewers get to see the multi-faceted character of Vernon through almost every point of his life. He brings so much sizzle to the character, especially through his interactions with his daughter Hannah (Tati Gabrielle). Their plot line is extremely compelling and adds a personal touch to a show which lacks it. Esposito reminds us that the show is better off with him because of it.

Connor’s Order: Green-Yellow-BlueViolet-Orange-Red-Pink-White

This order did an excellent job of introducing the main characters early, allowing the audience

to feel more invested in the fates of each individual member of the crew. Additionally, with such large time jumps between some of the episodes, getting most of the character development out of the way early made it easier to consume the final episodes.

It is important to note, however, that this order leaves audiences in the dark about a crucial side plot until late in the series. While it would certainly be confusing to open the series with that – as Olivia did in her order – viewing them late also adds extra layers to the show’s final act that take away from the central story.

Admittedly, “Kaleidoscope’s” critical outlook was poor before the finale. It truly provides crucial context to the events of previous episodes, and the series cannot be judged fairly without it. While that is certainly the case for many shows anyway, the non-chronological approach to this show makes it much more susceptible to relying on the finale for the payoff.

Olivia’s Order: Orange-Yellow-Green-BlueViolet-Red-Pink-White

While this order starts on an episode with little exposition, the second half provides an ending that somehow makes sense. Starting with “Orange” leaves viewers in a tricky place, and unsure who the real protagonist is. “Yellow” introduces viewers to an eclectic crew of criminals preparing for the ultimate heist, but the exciting momentum breaks with “Green” and “Violet.” The episodes are meaningful to the plot, but the action is much slower than the excitement of the present-day.

With episodes “Red” and “Pink” situated before the finale, it allows for a level of suspense,

since both episodes take place after the heist. Viewers are left wondering what actually happened during the heist and must put the pieces together themselves.

Without the use of the color coded episodes that can be watched in any order and still make sense, the show loses its excitement and just becomes a mediocre heist show. The randomized order adds to the suspense, and creates plot holes disguised plot twists waiting to come to fruition.

Garcia’s approach provides so much beyond uniqueness or entertainment value; the project seeks to exploit this era’s infatuation with online discourse in order to drive viewership. Every conversation about “Kaleidoscope” begins with a simple question: “What order did you watch it in?” Social media sites such as TikTok and Twitter were flooded with debates on what the best sequence was, and many rewatched the series immediately to find new perspective on some of the show’s twists and turns.

This is not to denounce the show in any way, but simply to highlight what marketers at Netflix seem to see as the future of promoting content on streaming. Why pay more to promote the show when social media users can do that for you? In the age of TikTok’s “For You” page, projects that encourage online discussion will certainly draw larger audiences. “Kaleidoscope” has achieved this, so it would not be surprising to see similar concepts get rolled out in the coming years. We will have to wait and see what Netflix — and certainly its competitors — come up with next. For now, “Kaleidoscope” and its several ways of watching it will have to do.

Netflix’s latest project is an excellent reminder of word-of-mouth’s power.

Connor riChards and olivia seaman | Feb. 1, 2023

Photo Courtesy / YouTube Netflix

St. John’s Defeats No. 20 Providence In Madison Square Garden On “Johnnies Day”

St. John’s led for more than 37 minutes in the contest, thwarting the Friars’ multiple comeback attempts.

The St. John’s University Men’s Basketball team secured a win against No. 20 Providence on “Johnnies Day” at Madison Square Garden, 73-68, backed by an emotional performance by junior forward David Jones.

Jones, who did not play in the team’s last two games following the death of his father, scored a team-high 16 points and added seven rebounds against the Friars.

“I just wanted to play in my dad’s name and I just wanted to win for him,” Jones said in a postgame media conference, where he told reporters his dad was the person who taught him how to play basketball. “I was going to do anything it took to win this game and I will do whatever it takes to win the other games as well.”

St. John’s head coach Mike Anderson embraces junior forward David Jones. Beyond the junior’s tangible impact on the game, Jones brought a level of intensity and focus to the team’s play that has been absent in recent contests. Heading into the “Johnnies Day” showdown against Providence, the Johnnies carried a three-game losing streak and held a 4-10 record in the Big East conference.

St. John’s jumped out to a quick lead

and built up a 25-9 advantage after just nine and a half minutes of play, setting the tone for the afternoon. Though Providence threatened to stage a comeback at the end of the first half and continued throughout the final period, the Friars couldn’t overcome their early deficit. All told, the Red Storm led for more than 37 minutes in one of their best wins of the season.

The Johnnies were able to knock off their ranked opponent by playing tight defense, scoring in the paint and utilizing their bench. Despite playing without Andre Curbelo, who was out due to a coach’s decision, the St. John’s bench scored 23 total points.

“They played well defensively and offensively,” St. John’s head coach Mike Anderson said of his team’s effort. “It was good, balanced scoring against a really good Providence team. It was a good job by our team that started and that came off the bench.”

Providence head coach Ed Cooley talks to his team during a timeout.

The scoring breakdown couldn’t have been more different for the Friars, who were propelled by Bryce Hopkins’ 29 points and nine rebounds. Providence landed just four points from its bench as the team’s starters provided the bulk

of offense.

Saturday’s matinee win was a much-needed one as St. John’s approaches the Big East Tournament far outside of NCAA Tournament contention. Despite strong preseason tournament hopes, the team’s second Quad 1 victory and 5-10 conference record places it firmly outside the postseason picture.

There’s still the Big East Tournament, though, where the winner will receive an automatic entry into the NCAA Tournament. “We are just taking it game by game,” senior center Joel Soriano said of the team’s mindset with the conference tournament approaching. “When we get to the tournament, we will be ready.”

The victory also preserved the sanctity of the first-ever “Johnnies Day,” a daylong celebration of St. John’s standing as “New York’s team.” Although a strong showing from Providence fans negated the Johnnies’ home-court advantage, the team came away with a win during the inaugural event.

St. John’s returns to action Tuesday, when the team travels to Chicago to face DePaul at 9 p.m.

Brady Snyder | FeB. 12, 2023

Torch Photo / Sara Kiernan

SJU President: On-Court Success Key To Improving Fan Experience

As the St. John’s University Men’s Basketball program continues to fall short of expectations, University President Brian Shanley says that on-court performance is the key to improve the fan experience at basketball games.

After falling to Villanova (10-11, 4-6 BE) and narrowly defeating Georgetown (6-16, 1-10 BE) at Madison Square Garden, the Red Storm currently hold a 14-8 record overall. The Johnnies sit at eighth in the Big East conference with a 4-7 record in league play, and are likely to be on the outside looking in on the NCAA Tournament picture.

“I am completely committed right now to helping head coach Mike Anderson be successful,” Shanley said when asked about the current coaching situation in an interview with The Torch. “I see flashes of it, like the UConn game, I thought this is the team that I thought we had. At the Villanova game, [I thought] we came out flat and didn’t play well.”

In part, Shanley attributes the Men’s Basketball team’s recent struggles to the evolving college sports landscape. With the emergence of name, image and likeness (NIL) deals and new transfer rules, collegiate teams experience routine roster turnover.

“College sports is changing so dramatically because of the NIL stuff right now and the transfer portal,” said Shanley. “Everybody’s

going through this. I don’t mean to use this as an excuse, it’s just that I’ve never seen a more complicated situation in college athletics than right now.”

The success of the program is more important than ever, because as Carnesecca Arena ages and fails to meet current fan expectations, winning is the solution. “I wish we could rip everything out and put new stuff up, but we just don’t have the money to be able to do that,” Shanley said.

“I wish they were better than they are, but we can only do cosmetic things right now,” Shanley said when asked about Carnesecca Arena’s current facilities. “So it’s either put lipstick on it, which is what we’re doing, or if we were to do something substantial we would be talking tens of millions of dollars.”

Considering that recent donor funds and capital investments have been allocated to academic improvements, like the construction of the upcoming Health Sciences Center, generating revenue through the athletics department looks to be the only viable solution.

“I think demand for tickets is very much tied up to the performance of the team,” Shanley said. “If we were winning consistently, there’d be more demand for tickets. So we have to figure out how to win more games.”

Although Shanley and athletics director

Mike Cragg have both said on-the-record they do not plan on replacing Carnesecca Arena in the near future, there could be another solution. The Red Storm have played in three professional sports venues in the last two years: Madison Square Garden, UBS Arena and the Barclays Center.

A basketball fan himself, Shanley is particularly fond of playing in “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” But moving campus sporting events off campus poses a similar issue to building a new arena.

“I would love to have more games at Madison Square Garden, but we need to sell a lot of tickets at MSG to really make a profit off of playing there,” Shanley said. “So if we can generate the kind of on-the-court success that drives up demand for tickets, we would certainly think about playing more games in ‘The Garden.’”

Considering the basketball program’s financial situation, the University intends to focus on improving the student-athlete experience before investing in the fan experience.

“If we had a big wad of cash, we could do both,” Shanley said. “But if we’re going to make decisions on where to invest, the well-being and success of our student athletes is the most important thing for us.”

Brady Snyder | FeB. 1, 2023

Torch Photo / Sara Kiernan Torch Design / Brady Snyder

SJU Cheer Team protests

The St. John’s University Athletics Department did not recognize two female-dominant teams on National Women and Girls in Sports Day, held Feb. 1. The University’s Cheer and Dance teams performed during the Men’s Basketball game against Seton Hall that same day, leading the Cheer squad to protest by writing “WE ARE WOMEN IN SPORTS” on their t-shirts and refusing to perform one of their normally-scheduled routines.

The Cheer and Dance teams were not recognized by the Athletic Department’s main Instagram page, Red Storm Sports, when nine women’s sports programs were posted.

“St. John’s Athletics participated in the National Girls & Women in Sports Day celebration on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The department recognized its female student-athletes and athletic teams with a social media post, along with an all-inclusive, in-game video board message and public address announcement to honor female athletes,” said University spokesperson Bri-

an Browne in a statement to The Torch.

“There was an inadvertent photo omission of the University’s Dance and Cheerleading teams in the social media post,” Browne said. “St. John’s University and the Department of Athletics value the dedicated contributions to the University made by all students and are committed to celebrating their achievements.”

According to the Athletics Department’s website, the teams are considered spirit squads, who perform at men’s and women’s basketball, soccer and volleyball games.

The last update for the Dance team’s page was made after the team won a national Division One hip-hop title in 2020, while the Cheer team’s page was last updated in 2018.

The St. John’s Dance team is one of few teams to have placed and ranked nationally consistently over the past five years. The Dance team competed last month at the Universal Dance Association (UDA) Nationals in Orlando, Fla., placing

second overall in Division I hiphop and ninth overall in Division I jazz.

The cheer and dance teams united for the first time last month to compete in the game day category as a spirit program, earning second overall and fell only 0.2 points short of a national victory.

During the Men’s Basketball game against Seton Hall on the day of the incident, the Cheer team wrote on the back of their shirts “WE ARE WOMEN AND SPORTS” and stood in a line together during one of the final media timeouts, linking arms. They stood in solidarity while showing the back of their shirts to the crowd in a moment of silence. “We are ATHLETES too and deserve recognition for our GRIND,” said senior cheer captain Jaslyn Laguna on Instagram.

“[Cheerleading] goes far beyond standing on [the] sidelines and cheering for other people. Everything we do, we do for ourselves. The passion each individual has for this sport should not go unnoticed. When given less, we strive

for more. We deserve recognition just the same as every other ATHLETE,” said second-year cheerleader Alison McCann via Instagram.

Following the incident, the University says there has been “ongoing and productive dialogue” between the Cheer team and the Athletics Department. Additionally, Browne said several administrators from the Athletics Department, its social media team and athletics director Mike Cragg have communicated with the team.

“To be clear, after the inadvertent omission of cheer and dance from a social media post on Wednesday, the Athletics Department has apologized and continues to champion the efforts of all of our student-athletes,” said Carolyn Renda, the head coach of the St. John’s Cheer team, in a statement to The Torch. “We are grateful to be part of a Division I athletics program that acknowledges our hard work and wants to be part of the positive change to the sport of cheerleading.”

Sara Kiernan | Feb. 4, 2023

Torch Photo / Sara Kiernan