The Torch Vol. 101:16 — November 2023 Issue

The award-winning independent student newspaper of St. John’s University

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VOL. 101:16

NOVEMBER 2023

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT RESPONDS TO ON-CAMPUS INCIDENTS SURROUNDING ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT

Torch Photo / Sara Kiernan

Center for Health Sciences to Include Simulators, Gathering Area & More

INSIDE THE ISSUE DIY Room Decor Ideas to Personalize Your Space

The Disturbing Beauty of “Saltburn” Torch Photo / Dea Hoxha

Torch Design / Megan Chapman

2 News

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St. John’s President Shanley Teases London Study Abroad Campus The new campus, anticipated Fall 2025, would replace the Limerick, Ireland location.

Torch Illustration / Megan Chapman

Torch Photo / Sara Kiernan

Torch Photo / Dea Hoxha

AriAnA Ortiz

OliviA SeAmAn | Dec. 5, 2023

St. John’s University President Rev. Brian Shanley expressed his hopes to establish a new study abroad campus in London, pivoting away from the University’s Limerick, Ireland study abroad location. In a Nov. 30 sit-down interview with The Torch, Shanley shares that hopes the location will be in effect in Fall 2025.

Shanley’s reasons for the potential move can be attributed to the “dicey” housing situation and the undeniable allure of London.

“If I were a college student, I’d rather spend some time in London than Limerick,” Shanley said. “I think it would be an exciting option for our students.”

Provost Simon Møller has engaged in preliminary discussions with a Londonbased institution that has shown enthusiasm for a potential partnership, according to Shanley. However, the specific name of the university remains undisclosed at this stage.

The Limerick campus is one-third of the popular Discover Western Europe program, where students spend five weeks each in the Rome and Paris campuses and Limerick’s sister campus. The campus was established in spring of 2018, replacing the University’s Seville, Spain campus to avoid the problem of Schengen visa restrictions — visas for the Schengen area countries such as Italy, France, Spain, Germany and Switzerland. This switch allowed students to study in each country for more than 90 days in a 180-day span.

The Seville study-abroad operations ended in January 2018.

In Limerick, students stay in hotel rooms at the Clayton Hotel throughout their five-week stay, a 15-minute walk from campus at Mary Immaculate College — compared to the University-sanctioned dorms on the respective Rome and Paris campuses.

Senior Emily Kupiec participated in the Discover Western Europe program in Spring 2023, having mixed feelings about the potential shift.

“I had a lovely experience in Limerick,” Kupiec said. “It’s a shame that others won’t be able to experience that, but I think a campus in London could be a great opportunity.”

Kupiec studied in Limerick for the first five weeks of the Spring 2023 semester. Her Discover Western Europe cohort lived in triples and with bathrooms in their own rooms, compared to the communal bathrooms of the Rome and Paris campuses.

She says the people were her favorite part of her stay. “They were incredibly kind and welcoming, which made for such an amazing experience.”

Participation in study abroad programs has declined in recent years. In the 2021-2022 academic year, the University sent 571 students abroad, according to University spokesperson Brian Browne. The Fall 2022 semester saw 147 students while Fall 2023 saw 177.

Browne notes the increase is due to the increase in Global Passport program participants — a study abroad option for freshmen students. The University sends 40% of students abroad.

The University has various study abroad programs, ranging from one week to a full semester. Programs also run during spring break, summer sessions I and II and in late May. “In an ideal world, we want all of our students to have some kind of international experience,” Shanley said. “We try to have as many of those immersion experiences as we can. If you can’t go through the semester let’s figure out some way of getting you abroad.”

While he thinks students should study in a country that forces them to learn a new language, Shanley looks forward to the future of the University’s study abroad program. “London is a great, great city and will be a wonderful option for St. John’s students.”

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University President Responds to On-Campus Incidents Surrounding Israel-Hamas Conflict Shanley emphasized desire to make all students feel safe in first public comments on the situation.

Olivia seaman | Dec. 5, 2023

In an interview with The Torch, St. John’s University President Rev. Brian Shanley addressed recent on-campus incidents targeting Muslim students, expressing the University’s commitment to ensuring a safe and civil environment. He acknowledged that there have been challenges and emphasized ongoing efforts to maintain campus safety.

“The best thing for us is trying to take care of our people and focus on keeping our campus safe and civil as it can be in the midst of a difficult time for members of our entire community,” Shanley said.

There has been a rise in on-campus incidents at St. John’s following the Israel-Hamas conflict that commenced on Oct. 7.

On Oct. 30, a flier depicting a Hamas hostage was found outside the University’s Muslim Prayer Room in Marillac Hall, prompting a review by the University.

On Nov. 18, around 11 a.m., an unmarked truck entered the campus without authoriza-

tion, parking near Marillac Hall. The vehicle displayed text saying “STAND WITH ISRAEL” and photos of Hamas hostages.

The truck was promptly removed from campus “within minutes” once Public Safety became aware of the situation, according to University spokesman Brian Browne.

The University conducted an investigation, confirming that the vehicle was unauthorized.

The truck was let through because the University is an open campus, meaning the campus is open to the general public. Browne also said the University has “the resources of local law enforcement at our fingertips” and “a great relationship with NYPD,” trusting technology to help prevent any other incidents.

“We have a lot of technology on campus, so it’s hard to get away with stuff,” Browne said.

“We may not see it in real-time, but it’s always videotaped to go back to.”

Shanley also said the University has been in touch with student groups about safety con-

cerns on campus.

“Behind the scenes, we’ve taken a lot of steps with the Muslim Students Association (MSA) and the Jewish Students Association (JSA), because there have been allegations from both communities about not feeling safe on campus,” Shanley said. “We want all of our students to feel safe on campus. And I think we’ve done a decent job of keeping the campus safe and civil.”

Since Oct. 7, statements regarding the events in Gaza and Israel have been released by the deans of each academic college and the Vice President for Student Success and Retention Strategy Sarah Kelly. Notably, Shanley has not issued a statement on the matter.

“It’s hard to think of a statement that’s really going to make a positive difference,” Shanley told The Torch. “At this point, I don’t anticipate sending a statement. All I want to do is help our campus to get through this difficult time.”

St. John’s Annual Winter Carnival Returns for its 32nd Year The annual tree lighting featured performances and fireworks.

Olivia RainsOn | Dec. 5, 2023

St. John’s University held their annual Winter Carnival Dec. 4 on the Great Lawn to commemorate the lighting of the campus Christmas tree. The night featured performances by student groups complete with a fireworks show.

The festivities began at 12 p.m. in the D’Angelo Center (DAC), with holiday movie screenings of “The Polar Express,” “Home Alone” and “The Santa Clause.” Continuing the celebration, Student Government Inc. (SGi) hosted a dessert party in DAC from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m, with performances by the St. John’s Dance Team and SJU Sensación.

Junior Emma Maceachen told The Torch of her excitement to see the fireworks and the tree lighting. “It’s a festive event I look forward to before the beginning of finals week.”

Before the show began, students had the chance to visit Mr. and Mrs. Claus and experience a performance by the St. John’s Stormettes Kickline.

President Rev. Brian Shanley blessed the tree and gave a speech right before the lighting, which was counted down with excitement at 8:26 p.m.

SJU Voices of Victory gospel choir also gave a performance before the fireworks commenced.

After the tree was lit, the annual fireworks show started one hour after it was advertised, beginning at approximately 8:30 p.m. This year’s display featured noticeably less fireworks and music than last year, possibly due to a fire that broke out on the Great Lawn during the display.

“I will say they (the fireworks) ended fairly of Christmas trees and fireworks while there is a abruptly,” said junior Max Rodgers. “I thought genocide of our indigenous people?” the fire was hilarious, especially in front of the sign Containing statistics of the deaths and injuries that says ‘the tradition continues.’ It felt like it was in Palestine, the flyers provided places to donate a nod to the chaos of the holidays.” and reach out to Congressional members, as well About half an hour after the fireworks were sup- as statements from Pope Francis and numbers of posed to have ended, several more went off despite Christian organizations calling for ceasefire. the carnival concluding — suggesting an error President Rev. Brian Shanley, who has not forwith the delivery. mally made a statement on the issue, provided his Following suit with several other Christmas first public commentary on the safety and wellbelighting protests, such as the Rockefeller Center ing of students to The Torch. tree, student groups created and distributed fliers “We want all of our students to feel safe on camdeclaring the “cancellation of Christmas” in Jeru- pus. And I think we’ve done a decent job of keepsalem, Bethlehem and Jordan in solidarity with ing the campus safe and civil.”

Gaza.

SJU’s Palestine Solidar- Torch Photo / Olivia Rainson ity Committee made an Instagram post calling for students to gather at the lighting to show solidarity for Palestinians.

“As students of a privileged private Catholic University, how can we have Christmas celebrations when our Christian Palestinian brothers and sisters cannot celebrate themselves? How can we stand by watching the lighting

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Center for Health Sciences to Include Simulators, Gathering Area and More St. John’s University President Rev. Brian Shanley shares the progress of the new building.

Dea HoxHa | Dec. 5, 2023

The initial opening date of the new Center for Health Sciences on St. John’s University’s Queens campus remains the same. In an interview with The Torch, St. John’s President Rev. Brian Shanley shares his excitement for the new building after taking a tour as the construction continues.

“We’re hoping to get a certificate of occupancy in June [2024],” Shanley said, hoping to prepare the building during Summer 2024 so that it is ready for operations to begin the following Fall semester.

The construction of the Center for Health Sciences, set to open in Fall 2024, was first announced in 2021 and will replace what used to be St. Vincent’s Hall. According to the March 2021 press release, the building is set to cost $78 million. The New York State Higher Education Capital Matching Grant (HECap) funded the University with $5 million to aid the construction of the new building.

As construction continues and the opening date nears, Shanley describes the space to also be a good “gathering space” for students, with a porch placed facing the Residence Village.

“It’s going to look beautiful.”

The 70,000 square foot space is set to host classrooms and laboratories. The building is tailored to host nursing students and physician assistant students. To accompany the programs, the new center will be equipped with simulation labs.

“I think it’s going to change people’s experience on campus,” Shanley said.

Torch Photo / Sara Kiernan

Torch Photo / Dea Hoxha

The Health Science Center will replace what once was St. Vincent’s Hall.

Nursing was first introduced as a program at St. John’s in 2022, with the first cohort of students joining this semester.

Many buildings on campus date back decades. Shanley reflected on the fact that the building will highlight the developments Queens campus has seen. “It’s also going to be a reminder when you walk across to St. Albert’s, that looks like 1958, and then you’re going to be in 2024.”

With the infrastructural addition to the campus, the question as to whether Queens campus will see an increased number of students arises. As the University’s Staten Island campus closes in Spring 2024, Queens is expected to see a higher volume of students already. But Shanley reflects on how this is something St. John’s has the capacity for.

“We would love to have more students on campus,” he told The Torch. “We have the capacity to have more students here.

And hopefully this will help us attract more students. And we’ve done some major tweaks to how we recruit students.”

Not only does Shanley believe the campus has the capacity for students, but also hopes to see an increased number of students on campus as the University depends on tuition revenue.

“It’s the one thing that I probably worried about the most, because the major source of our income is tuition revenue. So, the more students the better. We’ve got room for it.”

Montgoris’ Flame Station during a dinner period.

Torch Photo / Olivia Rainson

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DIY Room Decor Ideas to PersonalizeYour Space How students can avoid the price tags of common room decorations and produce unique pieces AbigAil grieco | Dec. 5, 2023 Torch Photo / Abigail Grieco

When it comes to college, there are a plethora of expenses, including room and board, everyday necessities and even room decor. However, having a vibrant and personalized space does not have to be expensive. Getting creative with colors, shapes and patterns to produce a more comforting and unique space to live. Here are three versatile ways that St. John’s students can transform a bland room to a lively one without having to be a professional artist.

Add Color to the Mundane A student’s room should reflect their personal aesthetic. However, the coloration of a room does not need to be over the top with contrasting colors and clashing patterns. When it comes to adding a dash of color to a room, it’s best to follow the “simple-but-effective” rule.

By painting otherwise mundane items, students can create their own trinkets for their rooms without overspending on a store-bought item.

Just over five dollars, this acrylic paint set works extremely well on many surfaces, including Mason jars or wine glasses (glass), flower pots (plastic) and trinket dishes (ceramic).

A desk or nightstand area’s liveliness can be enhanced with a solid color or a pattern by painting some of these items.

“I make clay decor like displays and trinket dishes because they are cute, and then I paint them,” said senior Ivy Chen. “I like to paint on a board or use oil pastels because it looks cool and is easy to place on your wall.”

Additionally, paint pens provide students with a more controlled utensil of drawing rather than a paintbrush which can be harder to maintain. Using different varieties of a color on a black canvas creates a neon-like sign that is not only cheaper than a store-bought neon sign, but holds a personal touch with it as well.

Ranging from a simple striped pattern to a vibrant display of fruit to Torch Photo / Abigail Grieco

using three shades of the same color, students can upgrade standalone items to the next level with some paint and a little patience.

Build Your Own Decor Legos are not just for young kids; in fact, they are small but clever ways to incorporate creativity, color and playfulness into a living area.

The beauty of Lego decor lies in its versatility. From villages to flowers, Legos amplify the charm of a bookshelf, desktop or nightstand.

One of the key elements of using these small bricks is their vibrant palette, which produces a lively environment in a controlled area — pops of color are often too cluttering if they are over the top. With Legos, students can personally control the amount of product strewn throughout the room.

Displaying Lego structures throughout a bedroom fosters a student’s love of creativity as well as provides a sense of pride from having put together the set.

Transforming a room from bland hues is simple when adding small Lego structures. Especially since they provide endless possibilities, Legos are extremely diverse, and students can find a set that expresses some of their personal likes and interests. The simpler lego sets are relatively inexpensive and do not take up too much space, and yet, they add a corner of charm and nostalgia to any living space.

Use Ordinary Items Around the House Torch Photo / Abigail Grieco

While this idea may sound elementary, the results are anything but.

By simply tying ribbons together, students can create holiday wreaths to celebrate the seasons, tassel garlands to hold pictures or even door framers to create an endearing entryway. The vibrant array of colors and textures available in ribbons opens up a wide variety of possibilities which allows both a pop of color along with an expression of unique style.

Crafting with ribbons ranges from an easier skill level like tying knots on a string to a more seasoned craft of weaving intricate designs into quilts or wall hangings. Ribbon garlands require minimal effort; simply create a short pattern of three to five colors and patterns that blend nicely together, then alternate tying them around a long string.

Holiday wreaths add a three-dimensional piece of self-made art to a student’s living area; there are many online tutorials that connect newcomers with craft enthusiasts who want to share tips and tricks to make these creations therapeutic rather than frustrating.

Thick, unwired ribbons are the best for garland making since they are loose, flowy and allow for a more tassel-like image, while a wired ribbon is crucial for creating a fluffy wreath that holds the curls and twists of the design.

Both of these suggestions can be personalized either to fit a certain aesthetic that flows nicely with the rest of the room or to mirror the colors and atmosphere of current holidays and seasons.

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6 Features

Where Are The Best Study Spots at SJU Whether you are a quiet worker or prefer background noise, here are the best “secret” study spots on the St. John’s University Queens campus.

Torch Photo / Olivia Rainson

Olivia RainsOn | nOv. 28, 2023

Finding the perfect study spot is difficult, especially when a big assignment or test is looming. For St. John’s University students, many on-campus spots are crowded, like Marillac Hall or the D’Angelo Center (DAC). Students must take into account noise level, food spots and access to outlets. Here are the five best study spots on campus for your next study session.

DAC Fourth Floor For those who cannot focus with the background noise of D’Angelo Center yet still want to have access to the Starbucks, the fourth floor of the building is an ideal place. Located on the same floor as the DAC Ballroom, the area features a wide hallway with comfortable chairs and small tables for students to sit and work or hang out with friends.

Though not the best place for those who need a lot of table space, the quiet atmosphere is perfect for reading or working on the computer. An added bonus are the grand windows facing the New York City skyline.

The Great Lawn Students who like to work outside often opt for the tables located in front of St. Augustine. However, they are often very crowded and it is difficult to secure a seat. On sunny days, students can be found lounging on The Great Lawn on blankets or the grass, but what students may not know is that it can be a great study spot.

Under the trees lining the lawn are comfortable spots to sit down and study. Many of the trees have fake rocks next to them, which have functional outlets for students to utilize. Away from crowded tables and distractions, it is a great spot for students to get work done.

University Learning Commons (ULC) For a more academic space, students can work in the University Learning Commons, located right next to Einstein’s Bagels on the first floor of St. Augustine Hall. At the ULC, students can not only participate in their own independent studies, but they can receive free tutoring as well for biology, chemistry, economics and math.

The commons also provides quiet areas and group rooms for those

working on a collaborative project. Their hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays. Alternative times for online tutoring are also available.

“I like doing homework and studying in the learning commons as much as I can. It’s really convenient because it’s right by the bathrooms and I can go to Einstein if I need to work later,” said junior Celeste Gable. “It’s great for solo studying or doing group work because it’s not too loud but there’s still plenty of room to work. I’m also always able to find help with my classes if I need it.

St. John Hall Lawn Chairs Right outside of St. John Hall is a plethora of benches, lawn chairs and tables for students to sit and work at. Otherwise, the lawn chairs are surprisingly comfortable and are located in a prime spot of campus.

Across the chairs and outside of the University Welcome Center are several more tables for students. The only downside with these spots is that there are no outlets, but it is located near Marillac and Einstein’s if students find themselves hungry or thirsty during their study session.

Empty Classrooms Many students may feel they are not allowed to enter empty classrooms, but they can be a great location to get work done! Whether students are working alone or in groups, empty classrooms—especially in Marillac—have resources such as outlets, desks, whiteboards and sometimes even computer access for students.

To find out if a classroom will be booked or not, look to the electronic signs outside of each room detailing the room’s availability for the day. Most will tell you when classes will be held there or if they will be empty for students to utilize.

Despite the crowds around the University, there are an abundance of places students can retreat to get their work done. Next time you have a big test, try out any of the spots listed above for optimum productivity.

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Chappell Players Theater Group Showcases the Power and Community of Theater

This St. John’s University organization strives to break the false stereotype that you have to be an expert to be a part of theater.

Isabella acIerno | nov. 15, 2023

Tucked in The Little Theater, located in between you have people that are willing to teach you and Taffner Field House and Carnesecca Arena, are help you work towards your own success, it’s an some of the many impassioned Johnnies that radiate uplifting experience.” enthusiasm and bring a unique energy to campus Actors, writers, directors and an abundance of life at St. John’s University — members of the backstage crew members are all an integral part of Chappell Players Theater Group (CPTG). each production. The group also offers opportuniExclusive to the University’s undergraduate popties in stage management, lighting, sound, costume ulation, CPTG feels it is their personal duty to and set designers. encourage students and forge an environment where “I did acting throughout high school and musical members can form a sense of culture and place theater was always my run, but you’re still always regardless of their experiences with theater. learning something here regardless of how much “A lot of people think that they need Photo Courtesy / Annie DeBiase to come with the experience of knowing theater, but we have people joining from all walks of life,” said President Faith Grady. “We have people that have never done theater and want to test out different interests, and we have people who have done theater their whole life, and want to continue that journey here at college.”

Staging four main shows a year, along with what members voice as a “bonus” performance, this Performing Arts’ organization aspires to advance in their mission of appreciating the art of theater in an inclusive way.

“I’m a retired actor, but in college, I decided to join the lighting team,” said Vice President Katherine Petrick. “I moved onto the set team for the next show where I learned set building and construcyou think you know,” said Public Relations Chair tion.”

Jennifer Venus. “There’s always something that While actors are essential to a successful perforanother member can teach you.” mance, the group prioritizes all roles, whether that The willingness to learn is contagious, as members be on or off the stage. All actors are required 10 share a combination of earnest excitement and unhours of technical work in which they take on other mistakable eagerness in every role they take on. responsibilities in the production.

CPTG is constructed from the inside out as the “I think this is something a lot of people don’t enthusiasm to ensure a welcoming community realize that we offer — the opportunity to test out comes from a genuine appreciation of the art and a different kinds of positions,” Petrick said. “When devotion to build members from the ground up.

“You’ll never find a group like us,” said Venus. “We all share this common interest of wanting to be here and are willing to prove to members how you can only go up from where you start.”

The group’s upcoming production—their annual Cabaret for Charity—is student-run, student-made and student-driven, serving as a great opportunity to use skills that were acquired from previous shows.

Treasurer Grace Stanley describes the organization as “uplifting” when considering how many “might not have thought college would provide a chance for them to take part in the arts without professional status.” Stanley expressed, “Most of us aren’t involved in any kind of entertainment major. We’re here because we want to be here, and it’s the work put into shows like this that drives us.”

In a collaborative effort with Alpha Psi Omega, the National Theater Honor Society, CPTG will stage their 25th Cabaret in The Little Theater from Nov. 17 through Nov. 19. Titled “People Watching,” this student-written production will showcase celebrated melodies through song and dance.

All proceeds for the show will go directly to St. John’s Bread and Life.

The Chappell Players Theater Group is for any and all students who seek theater as a means to enrich and are willing to channel their creative cognition on and off stage.

As confessed by Faith Grady, “Take someone like me. I never did theater outside of St. John’s, and only two and a half years later, here I am, as the president.”

With full hearts and undeniable charisma, energy flows from a genuine place among this population of students.

“Anything is possible when you are free to express yourself in an environment like ours,” Grady continued.

Materials, Methods and Motivation for Overcoming Writer’s Block The common struggles of writer’s block can be combated by free writing and allowing yourself to take much-needed and well-deserved breaks. abIgaIl grIeco | nov. 28, 2023 When it comes to the phenomenon of writer’s block, every student will inevitably feel the feeling of not knowing what to write at least once in their academic career.

It can be easy to become discouraged when struggling with writer’s block, whether it happens while working on a short response or a longer paper. Writer’s block manifests itself in different ways for each person — including fear, perfectionism or self-criticism. However, with the proper tactics, any student can overcome writer’s block and proceed with their piece.

Free Writing Free writing is all about stream of consciousness — simply let your brain run wild and let the words flow, even if they may seem incoherent or nonsensical. By doing this, ideas are released in an uninterrupted form, allowing students to unload their thoughts without striving for perfection in the first draft of an assignment.

Though it may seem counter-intuitive since this style of writing is not often taught or emphasized, students should try to avoid censoring their ideas while writing, at least at first. Stream-of-consciousness writing reduces the chance that you will accidentally censor a good idea; so, there will be a higher chance of developing an argument from an idea that was quickly mentioned in free writing.

Sleep On It An integral part of the writing process is sleep, as it enhances the creative process and problem solving skills. Lack of sleep reduces a student’s mental endurance, causing a tired feeling early on in the process of tackling a lengthy assignment — something that no student wants to feel on top of writer’s block.

Sleep is not only beneficial to clear the mind of stressors, but it allows students to come back with a refreshed perspective. Even when students consciously take

a break from an assignment, the brain is still processing, taking in and organizing information. Incubation, or the process of development, is essential for creative insights, as it allows the brain to work in an unconscious state.

Switch Tasks Though it may be a common conception that can cause an overwhelming feeling, multitasking is actually a beneficial way to reset a student’s mind when studying, completing homework or writing a paper. By shifting attention to a different project for a short time, a student returns to the first project with a refreshed mind.

Multitasking, or switching focus, allows your creative juices to start flowing again; when focusing on a new task at hand, the older assignment may be easier to tackle when going back. There may be a new perspective or a new swing of momentum to find for a project by simply looking away from it for a while.

Prioritize Progress, Not Perfection One of the most detrimental causes of writer’s block is self-criticism in the form of perfection. When writing, students often strive for perfection the first go around; this makes the writing process extremely intricate and sluggish, resulting in a dreaded feeling when it comes to writing.

A significant way to combat this is to prioritize progress and to realize that no matter who you are, whether you be a New York Times bestselling author, a topnotch journalist or simply somebody who enjoys writing, nobody’s perfect.

Producing drafts of writing will make space for revisions and corrections instead of trying to get the product perfect on the first try. Students should try to take this pressure of perfection off themselves, as it only results in negative effects like writer’s block, which almost ensures increased difficulty in the writing process.

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Opinion

Silencing American Students Through Doxxing Is Unconstitutional

Universities Should Do More to Protect Students From Doxxing Malak kasseM | Dec. 5, 2023

The recent conflict between Israel and Palestine has sparked an uptick in student activism across American campuses. Students have been participating in protests, walk-outs, sit-ins, teach-ins and other forms of solidarity on both sides. Alongside student activism, doxxing has been a key reaction, particularly towards pro-Palestinian voices.

The act of doxxing means to reveal private information about a person such as their full names, addresses, phone numbers or pictures in an attempt to “expose” individuals on what a person or organization deems harmful or embarrassing. One might be motivated to dox another due to personal revenge or political disagreement.

Doxxing tends to be done online, however, doxxing trucks have made prominent appearances on college campuses in recent weeks. Photos and names of the students who have voiced support for Palestine have been displayed on mobile billboards circling campuses and surrounding neighborhoods.

Fortunately, there haven’t been any reports regarding St. John’s student facing doxxing, however, four online sites had published the names, class years, past employment, social media platforms, photos and hometowns of Harvard students who had signed a statement holding Israel responsible for the ongoing violence.

Doxxing has not only taken place at Harvard, but at other schools across the country, such as

Yale, Columbia and George Washington.

Personal information made public poses threats to these students. By revealing details about their identity and whereabouts, organizations that participate in doxxing put students in physical danger and make them more susceptible targets of hate.

Doxxing threatens students’ rights to freedom of speech. The First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble…”

Students must have the right to express their opposition to local, institutional or government affairs and should be protected in doing so.

By putting students in a position in which they have to choose between safety and freedom of expression, the situation begins to resemble those in dictatorships, rather than a democracy. As Americans, regardless of our positions in politics or religion, we all have a right to speak our minds without facing punishment.

While there is no law directly prohibiting doxxing, the US Interstate Stalking Statute “prohibits the use of any interactive computer service in a ‘course of conduct’ that places a person in a reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury or causes substantial emotional distress to a person.”

While the person or organization that publishes personal information about pro-Palestinian pro-

testers may do so in an attempt to limit employment opportunities, such as the many law firms in the country who have retracted employment offers from pro-Palestinian students, it’s critical to trace the intentions of doxxing and the effects it has on student activists.The information is made available to the public, so someone who does have the intention of causing physical harm or emotional distress, will now have the ability to do so because doxxers have made that possible..

When universities stumble to stand up for freedom of speech and the constitution, they are not only fueling the fire of hate and division but also telling us a message: Speech isn’t so free, afterall.

Torch Photo / Malak Kassem

Why Students Should Push Themselves to Be More Involved on Campus

Students should strive to embrace more than just academics.

Malak kasseM | Nov. 15, 2023

There is no law requiring that University students be involved on campus, but there are many ways to enrich your time at school. Apart from solely taking classes, it’s important that students have a well-rounded college experience, other than solely taking classes.

While excelling in class is the most important priority of life on campus, it shouldn’t be the only one. College is a great place for students to pursue all their hobbies, talents and interests, and could possibly be the last chance to really attend to it.

After graduation, many students have increased responsibilities, such as working full-time jobs in their desired career paths (hopefully), becoming financially independent and possibly starting families.

It’s critical that students be their own advocates. The reality is nobody is going to continuously push you to take advantage of your opportunities. It’s important to be proactive.

According to a study by The Ohio State Uni-

versity, involvement on campus improves grades, enhances brain development, improves psychological well-being, builds leadership skills and creates multicultural awareness. Being a part of an organization or team builds community. Personal experience has taught me that if you join something you are interested in or want to know more about, you will be engaged and it will be something you want to do rather than something that you have to do.

Participating in extracurriculars comes with additional tasks such as attending meetings, practice or completing projects. This may seem daunting but with the proper scheduling and efficient time management, it will be worthwhile.

The study also finds that involved students are more appealing to employers than their non-involved counterparts. The study also finds that highly-involved students are three times more likely to be considered for a position than anyone else including those who are moderately involved.

On-campus involvement also allows students

to build both personal and professional contacts that may not occur if you just limit yourself to meeting people in class. It’s important that students remain responsible and attend to class but also to attend to their interests. College is a time to grow as a person, too.

The college experience is what you make it to be and the quality varies depending on your involvement. Students have a lot on their plates but they should always make time for themselves as people, not just as students.

Torch Photo / Malak Kassem

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Opinion

9

Short Shows, Long Time: Why The Magic Is In Waiting Fans of popular TV shows are done waiting for new seasons, but they shouldn’t be.

Carlyann Carey | DeC. 5, 2023

101ST EDITORIAL BOARD Dea HoxHa/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Olivia Seaman/ MANAGING EDITOR Dea HOxHa NEWS EDITOR Sara Kiernan SPORTS EDITOR iSabella CauterO ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Kyler FOx ASST. SPORTS EDITOR mOlly DOwnS CULTURE EDITOR malaK KaSSem OPINION EDITOR abigail grieCO FEATURES EDITOR

Olivia rainSOn ASST. FEATURES EDITOR Sara Kiernan PHOTO EDITOR megan CHapman DESIGN EDITOR Olivia rainSOn SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER elizabetH KauFmann HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Suzanne CieCHalSKi ADVISER

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS Carlyann Carey

Isabella Acierno

Matthew Salome

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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.

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Television fans around the globe are not happy about long wait times in between their favorite shows. From “Game of Thrones” to “Better Call Saul,” audiences have to wait over a year for a season to release with shorter and fewer episodes each time. It can be annoying to spend months and years waiting for updates on my favorite shows, just to feel like I’m being played by the producers.

But in some cases, less actually is more.

Take “Stranger Things” for example. The show’s third season released on July 4, 2019, while the fourth season released in May 2022. While the COVID-19 pandemic played a part in the delay, why is the production of shows getting longer and longer as technology improves?

There is actually a reasonable explanation.

A Vox article reported that shows that have shorter episode counts have more room for gaps in production, particularly if the show and its actors have skyrocketed in popularity. Directors and actors are constantly being asked to make appearances in other films.

For example, in between filming for “Mr. Robot,” Rami Malek also starred in the critically-acclaimed movie “Bohemian Rhapsody” which came out in 2018. The numerous actors of “Game of Thrones” have been offered roles that would have otherwise been impossible to attain had it not been for their performances in the show. This, coupled with production and budgeting, accounts for the long waits and fewer episodes.

The article also notes how television has been getting bigger and better in recent years. There are shows that require trips around the world just to be able to film a single episode. A show like “Better Call Saul” has to be meticulously written and examined so

that it leaves no plot holes in the “Breaking Bad” cinematic universe. Worldbuilding and an emphasis on great writing skills has created stalls that have otherwise been nonexistent in the television industry. In other words, go big or go home.

I have been a huge fan of shows like these for the past few years. I have tuned in to every episode of “Better Call Saul” just because it stars one of my favorite “Breaking Bad” characters. Waiting up to a year for a new season to come out felt ridiculous, and I was just as annoyed as the next person about it.

However, when I began to understand the need for longer wait times to ensure quality material, I realized that if I wanted to have a satisfying end to the show, I would have to suck it up with the rest of the fans. Sure enough, “Better Call Saul” ended brilliantly thanks to great writers, actors and patient audiences.

This is not the end of waiting around for a new season of your favorite show to appear on streaming. The Writers Guild of America Strike has added more wait time between seasons of shows in order to give actors and writers fair wages. From the looks of it, waiting over 400 days for the new season of your favorite show to come back onto the air or streaming services is not going away anytime soon.

All audiences can do is watch and wait.

From what Vox reports, long wait times make sense for certain shows. Along with everything going on with the writer’s strike, creating an ethical and thoughtout series is a win for audienc-

es. There comes a time when people have to choose between quality over quality. To me, the answer is clear.

10 Opinion

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Turning The Flatiron Building Into Condos Is The Easy Way Out

The building should be kept an office building to preserve the history of its neighborhood.

Malak kaSSeM | Nov. 29, 2023

The Flatiron Building, located on Fifth Avenue and Broadway in Manhattan has been purchased by the Brodsky Organization, a real estate company. It is set to be turned into condos and apartment rentals within the next three years.

The Flatiron Building dates back to 1902, about 30 years before both the Empire State and Chrysler buildings were constructed. The building was initially called the Fuller Building, after George Fuller, who initiated its construction for his own company.

The Flatiron Building shaped New York in many ways. According to The New York Times, the building housed offices for decades, particularly in the publishing industry. In fact, the last tenant of the Flatiron was the Macmillan Publishing Company. They ended their contract right before the pandemic.

The fact of the matter is that the Flatiron Building is, in fact, old. The facility isn’t up to date to fit the needs of the modern-day workforce. The pandemic changed office needs even further.

Time Magazine published an article discussing what companies are looking for in today’s market. After the pandemic, it became clear that workers weren’t coming back into the office five days a week. Offices need to be redesigned to fit the hybrid model.

In addition, companies no longer need offices as a space for people to do their individual work. It has been proven that it can be done at home. The office needs to be a place where co-workers can

residences, then vibrant hubs for business and entrepreneurship, such as the Flatiron District will slowly turn into quiet residential areas. This is detrimental to the economy.

Just because the Flatiron Building is an aging structure, that does not mean that the interior has to reflect pre-pandemic office needs.

Torch Photo / Malak Kassem The Time Magazine article illustrates how this can be done by following a lead example of a company in the Flatiron District itself. Instead of having isolated office spaces for each individual or department, it was decided that an open space would benefit the work atmosphere.

Having an open space where people can collectively brainstorm ideas and discuss objectives allows for a better in-person office experience. Having an open space means turning private offices into communal office space.

This is much cheaper than transforming offices into apartments. It will also most likely be less time consuming than the 3 years it’s projected to take to turn the interior into apartments.

This solution will preserve the Flatiron Building, iron District as a whole.

Firstly, the Flatiron Building being an office space not only in its exterior form, but also as its initial has been influential to the neighborhood at large. use of office space and to boost the city’s economy The most direct evidence is that the Flatiron Build- in a way that expands beyond real estate. ing is that the District is literally named after the structure. If we keep turning office buildings into come together to collaborate and take advantage of teamwork.

Rather than eliminating office space and turning it into residence because of immediate return on investment, it’s important to consider alternative options that would preserve the nature of the Flat-

A New Generation For The MTA: OMNY Vending Machines

MTA agency officials introduce OMNY card vending machines.

Matthew SaloMe | Nov. 9, 2023

Photo Courtesy / YouTube Highlight Heaven

If you are one of the millions of New Yorkers who commute to work or school via bus or subway, you may have heard of OMNY. It allows riders to simply use any smart device or contactless debit/credit card to pay their public transportation fare. Recently, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) agency officials have introduced OMNY vending machines on Oct. 27 in six subway stations in Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx.

The six stations where at least one OMNY vending machine has been installed are: 86th Street and Lexington Avenue, Atlantic Ave-Barclays Center,

Bowling Green, Fordham Rd. at the E 188 St./Grand Concourse entrance, Fordham Rd., and Junction Blvd. This is part of a pilot plan launched by the City of New York, along with the MTA, as they receive feedback from OMNY card users.

This is a major step for the MTA, as the machines will allow users to purchase and put cash onto their OMNY cards in subway stations for the first time since this tap-based system was introduced 4 years ago. OMNY cards currently sell for a limited- time deal of $1, valid for seven years after purchasing it. This is very helpful for many New Yorkers who do not have either smartphones or bank accounts. The MTA has noted that around 70% of commuters who pay full priced, $2.90 fare have switched to using OMNY. The OMNY machines are expected to be installed in all 472 subway stations across the five boroughs within the next year. These tappable cards mean that riders “can take advantage of OMNY’s benefits, such as the $34.00 rolling 7-day fare cap” as said in a statement by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.

This is a major advancement as OMNY will fully replace MetroCards as New Yorkers will have easier means to get onto a bus or train by simply tapping their card. A single tap means faster transactions at turnstiles and bus fare boxes reducing wait times. This is helpful during rush hour as buses and subway stations tend to get packed, allowing for a much smoother boarding process. The OMNY system is designed with fewer malfunctions and system outages in contrast to MetroCards making it more efficient to use.

Most importantly, it’s much more convenient as riders can skip going to a vending machine to add value and pay with their smart devices via digital wallets. In this digital age, it’s appropriate to pay public transportation fares digitally which is less stressful.

Culture 11

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“Killers of the Flower Moon:” A Flawed but Effective Epic

“Can you spot the wolves in this picture?”

Photo Courtesy / Youtube Binge Pop

Photo Courtesy / Youtube Paramount Pictures

James Williams | Nov. 9, 2023

The highly anticipated new film from Martin Scorsese, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” was released into theaters on Oct. 20. The masterful director of over 20 films (“The Departed,” “The Wolf of Wall Street” to name a few) has returned with one of his most powerful but frustrating pieces to date.

The film follows the true story of the systematic oppression and destruction of the Osage Native American tribe after oil was found on their land. We follow returning World War 1 veteran Ernest Burkhardt as he makes his way through early 20th-century Oklahoma working for his Uncle “King” Hale. While acting as a chauffeur, Ernest falls in love with an Osage woman and then eventually works his way into Hale’s inner circle, becoming complicit in various schemes against the Osage community, including the murder and cover up of various wealthy tribe members. These crimes become more personal and affect Ernest’s new family in a deadly way.

Burkhardt is of course portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio. In a role that will certainly be talked about during award season, DiCaprio makes a detestable, cowardly, unintelligent and pathetic man into an almost empathetic figure through his fantastic lead performance.

And in his tenth collaboration with Scorsese, Robert De Niro delivers a dynamic showing as the antagonistic “King ” Hale. De Niro manages to behold a sometimes showy but impressive facade of a goofy grandpa while

unleashing his sinister side when need be.

Out of a cast built around Oscar winners and legends, Lily Gladstone ends up stealing the show and being the emotional anchor of the entire film. In a heartbreaking performance, Gladstone perfectly encapsulates the agony and horror her people have suffered at the hands of this band of greedful villains.

She plays Mollie Kyle, Burkhardt’s wife and respected member of the Osage clan who pays the consequences of her love for Ernest.

As the film carries on, Mollie grows more conflicted and more grief stricken which Gladstone handles effortlessly.

The open and grazed fields of Oklahoma have never looked more beautiful than now in the hands of cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto and legendary editor Thelma Schoonmaker. With Prieto’s sweeping yet colorful display of the Oklahoman countryside and Schoonmaker’s documentary-esque editing giving the film much-needed authenticity.

That historical accuracy is enhanced by the wonderful set and costume design. The reservation and small town of Fairfax are lively and bustling while the costumes the Burkhardt’s and Hale’s wear are already becoming iconic.

For about the first two hours of this film, Scorsese takes his time establishing Ernest’s relationships with his wife Mollie and his uncle King. In these scenes, Scorsese’s dry hu-

mor propels the audience through this story, as does the shocking and non-stop violence.

When we reach the later parts of this story, the film is completely flipped to a procedural courtroom drama where our characters are trapped with the collateral damage of their decisions. With the introduction of Jesse Plemons’ FBI Agent Tom White, the hammer of justice finally begins to creep its way into this story and all panic breaks loose amongst the oppressors. While the courtroom scenes are glorious, this is where the film’s fatal flaw rears its ugly head: Scorsese was given three and a half hours to tell this story and he didn’t know how to end it.

In the film’s controversial ending, Scorsese just spells out what happened to these characters and what their decisions led to. In an ending comparable to Scorsese’s “Goodfellas,” when Henry Hill stares into the camera and tells the audience the meaning of the film, he does the same here. But this doesn’t work in “Killers of the Flower Moon;” he rushes to this conclusion and leaves out crucial character moments that would have been welcome additions to the final cut. While the execution of this final scene is admirable and also reflects on Scorsese’s career as a whole, the idea itself was doomed from the start and it leaves a small stain on the rest of the film.

With its flaws and all, this still offers an experience that very few films do nowadays.

Run, don’t walk to the theater to see this one.

12 Culture

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The Disturbing Beauty of “Saltburn” It’s murder on the dance floor—but you’d better not kill the groove.

Molly downs | deC. 2, 2023

Written, produced and directed by Em- authentic, as if the two really are deeply erald Fennell, the psychological thriller bonded in their friendship, even in the “Saltburn” was released in theaters on darkest moments.

Nov. 17. The film itself has held an air This film is certainly disturbing at of intrigue since the trailer dropped be- points, and not for the faint of heart. cause of how little it gives away about Some scenes may be triggering for viewthe plot. This intrigue has taken social ers, specifically with moments of gore, media by storm, specifically with Tik- sexual depravity and overall grotesque Toks depicting fans’ reactions to watch- content. Despite the vulgarity it beholds, ing the film without knowing anything it overall is very beautiful cinematically. about it.

Shot on 35 mm film by Academy Award The film centers around the young man, Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan), Photo Courtesy / YouTube MGM and his relationship with Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). The two meet while studying at Oxford in 2006, where it’s made obvious the differences between them. Quick is much more off-putting and quiet, whereas Catton is popular and adored by all — however they become fast friends.

The latter invites Quick to live at his estate, Saltburn, over the summer with his incredibly wealthy and extremely eccentric family, where things begin to darken and twist as a re- winning cinematographer Lucas Sandsult of their unregulated, pleasure-filled gren, the artistry of certain shots seems life. to reflect the obsession with surface level The stars of this film, Barry Keoghan beauty the film dissects. and Jacob Elordi, are perfectly cast in Even in scenes of unsightly nature, the their complementary roles. The two play beauty of the film itself juxtaposes the off of each other on-screen, emphasiz- actual content. Additionally, this way ing their differences in character despite of shooting really creates a sense of intheir electric chemistry. The acting feels timacy within the film. It’s incredibly

immersive; while watching, it feels as though the audience members are flies on the wall, observing every scene as if they’re within the halls of Saltburn itself.

Because of how mesmerizing and alluring the film is, the ending unfortunately seems a bit lackluster, at least in the way it pulls back the curtain and spells out the answers to all the questions the film raises. It seems to underestimate the viewers’ ability to put the pieces of the puzzle together and leaves nothing to the imagination, thus taking away a bit of the otherwise captivating mystery.

With that being said, the film is still highly entertaining. In its dark and twisted nature, there is still a great sense of comedy throughout the scenes, with the extremity of the characters and their setting. The soundtrack also adds to the sense of the wildly whimsical lifestyle of this family with songs from MGMT, The Killers and of course, the soon-tobe infamous finale of “Murder On The Dancefloor” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Going into this film with such a sense of mystery is arguably the best way to watch it; having as little knowledge as possible allows all the shock to be that much more jaw-dropping. Overall, “Saltburn” is a thrilling watch, living up to most of its mysterious expectations that can only

“1989 (Taylor’s Version):” Swift’s Spot in Pop Royalty The pop star is back with her biggest re-recording to date.

Celina Mullady | nov. 16 2023

Taylor Swift has re-entered the pop scene with her third re-recording, “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” Regarded as one of the best pop albums of all time, “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” brings back to life Swift’s greatest hits such as “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space” and “Style.”

Swift started re-recording her albums after her masters were sold by her first record label, Big Machine Records, to Scooter Braun for $300 million in 2019. Re-recording her albums under her new record label, Universal Music Group, is now Swift’s only way to own her previously released music.

She started her journey of re-recording her albums with her first release of “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” in April 2021, followed by “Red (Taylor’s Version) and most recently “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” in July 2023. Swift teased fans with the

release of the album with “Wildest Dreams” being re-released in 2021 and “This Love” being re-released in 2022.

With a smoother production and a more mature sound from Swift, these songs become enhanced versions of the original “1989” tracks. The album contains hard-hitting lyrics in songs like “Clean” and “You Are In Love,” transporting listeners back to 2014 when they first heard the songs.

Five new bonus tracks are included on the album, which have been coined by Swift as “From the Vault.” These songs were written at the time of the original album in 2014 but did not make it to the final release. The vault tracks are similar to “Midnights,” released in October 2022, bridging the gaps between the original release and Swift’s recent sound. “Slut!” was a stand-out track to fans, based on the name alone. It is a sister song to “Blank

Space,” continuing Swift’s lovestruck emotion we see in the original “1989” track.

“Now That We Don’t Talk,” being the most similar to the sounds of “Midnights” out of the vault tracks, is an instant classic for Swift. The track is a dig at an ex-partner, making it the perfect breakup song. The vault tracks have the same 80s synthpop as the 15 original tracks, creating a continuous flow between the two. They fit perfectly into the “1989” realm, resulting in the album feeling like a beautiful blend of Swift’s old and new sounds.

Swift’s fan base has been highly supportive throughout the re-recording process, with every release gaining more recognition and praise. Following the release of “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” she broke her own Spotify record as the most streamed artist in a single day. At this time, Swift’s influence and impact is larger than ever before.

Culture 13

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Small Artist Spotlight: Macseal

Macseal is paving the way for the return of the indie rock genre.

Celina Mullady | nov. 15, 2023

If you are looking for new music in the indie rock genre, Macseal is the perfect band for you. Macseal is a rising indie rock band based in Long Island, NY, consisting of members Ryan Bartlett, Cole Szilagyi, Justin Canavaciol and Frankie Impastato.

Their sound fluctuates between indie pop and alternative rock, similar to bands like Peach Pit and American Football.

Releasing four EPs from 2015 to 2018, Macseal has paved the way with their most notable songs like “Cats” and “Harry.” They then released their debut album, “Super Enthusiast,” in November 2019.

Macseal most recently toured in 2022 across North America with the Future Teens. On their most recent tour, Macseal visited Brooklyn at Elsewhere — Zone One. Their energy on stage was terrific, keeping the crowd’s energy high. Seeing the band live brought light to their collaborative relationship; every member has their unique presence, creating a group of united individuals.

When entering into the realm of Macseal, there are a few songs that stick out in their discography. We have “Harry” off their second EP released in 2017, “Yeah, No, I Know.”

The lyrics discuss the aftermath of one person’s feelings after a relationship has ended, describing a lack of communication and self-doubt.

“Mystery Inc.” from “Super Enthusiast” deals with reflecting on difficult moments in life; the singer reflects on them,

highlighting the anxieties that arise from remembering conversations that did not go as planned, repeatedly reviewing them in their head. In the later half of the song, we see selfgrowth and changes the singer experienced after the problematic events.

“Next to You,” another track from their second EP, deals with issues in a relationship of needing someone and not wanting to be around them simultaneously. The song discusses frustrations within relationships and whether their partner has stopped them from other endeavors in life.

Supporting small artists is extremely important in today’s day and age. With a recurrence in the indie rock genre from bands like American Football and Peach Pit, Macseal is a perfect alternative to these larger named bands.

Torch Photo / Celina Mullady

Noah Kahan and Hozier Release Collab on Kahan’s “Northern Attitude” Two of the indie scene’s favorite artists join up to perform the hit song. elizabeth KaufMann | nov. 27, 2023

Singer-songwriters Noah Kahan and Hozier released their collaboration on Kahan’s hit song “Northern Attitude” on Nov. 10. The two have been releasing teasers and announcements of the official song for a few days prior to the release, and now it’s finally here.

The pair was first revealed at Kahan’s Nashville concert on Oct. 4, where the singer brought Hozier out to perform “Northern Attitude” alongside him. Both artists stunned crowds with their ability to encapsulate their music live with the same gut-wrenching emotion that appears in the cleanedup, recorded versions.

“Northern Attitude” is the first song in Kahan’s 2022 album “Stick Season,” which includes hits that took off on social media platforms like TikTok. Kahan, with over 21 million monthly listeners, uses his music to tell tales of heartbreak and finding oneself amidst the woes of life while teleporting listeners to the Vermont woods.

Upbeat country reverb and banjo twangs set the scene for Kahan’s melancholy poems. Compared to his duet partner, Hozier, who chooses to gently hold his socio-politically intense and utterly human, master course-level poems in the hands of his rounded, choir-like voice.

Combining both voices at 2:38 in this nod to the hardening a cold life ensues creates a deeply layered rendition that no one but Hozier could bring to a song. To hear him sing the poetics of another yet make it undeniably him was such a pleasure.

Hozier, from Ireland, channels his accent while singing

“Northern Attitude” and performs in the more “Sprechstimme” style that Kahan chooses — a way of singing that sounds like speaking or shouting, one that hits the upper region of the throat rather than the lower region that Hozier normally tunes into. By doing so Hozier adds to Kahan’s Vermont vibe the Irish countryside feel that a lot of his songs convey.

Both artists were elated at the release of this collaboration, each posting heartfelt messages on their social media about it.

In an Instagram post, Kahan wrote, “If you know me at all you know this collaboration is something very deeply special and important to me. I used to sit down at the table with my guitar and just try to capture a fraction of the emotion and beauty that hozier encapsulates in each song he writes. It never quite worked, but each song was better for trying. To have one of my heroes performing this song with me is something I’ll tell my grandkids or at least my next dog. Northern Attitude (with Hozier) is out now.”

Hozier reposted Kahan’s message but said too on Oct. 6 shortly after the debut concert: “Sincere thank you to the outrageously talented @noahkahanmusic for having me in Nashville to sing with him one of my favourite of his songs the other evening.

“This man honours me with his kindness and totally uplifts me with his work and approach to music and performance, I’m grateful for memories like this and for artists like him. Big love.”

Now, the song is out and ours and it is well worth the listen.

Photo

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14 Sports

Penn State Prevails as St. John’s Falls Short, 53-69 After an impressive first half, the Red Storm’s defense couldn’t stop the Lady Lions.

Olivia Seaman | nOv. 17, 2023

The St. John’s Women’s Basketball grappled with a two-game losing streak after succumbing to undefeated Penn State Lady Lions, 53-69, in the Big East vs. Big Ten matchup on Nov. 16. This setback comes on the heels of a prior loss to Monmouth on Nov. 10.

The starting lineup, featuring Amber Brown, Unique Drake, Jailah Donald, Jillian Archer and Ber’Nyah Mayo, initiated the game with a robust full-court press against the Lady Lions. The score remained 2-2 for the majority of the closely contested first quarter until Penn State’s junior guard Jayla Oden broke the drought. Redshirt senior guard Unique Drake responded with a layup, contributing to her third double-digit performance this season.

The Red Storm demonstrated key offensive plays in the second quarter, with sophomore guard Skye Owen making multiple three-pointers and leading the team’s scoring with eight points. Graduate forward Jillian Archer played a crucial role in the paint, securing five rebounds in the first half. Despite the team shooting 39% from the field, Penn State gradually narrowed the gap, putting pressure on the Johnnies. The Johnnies ended the first half maintaining a slim 26-23 lead.

Penn State’s playmaking prowess opened up a small lead in the third quarter, going on a 7-0 run that stretched their lead to as large as eight points.

This quarter saw the Johnnies enduring challenging moments, committing two consecutive turnovers amidst an overall 16. After a three-pointer from Penn State’s graduate guard Tay Valladay, the Johnnies were down 39-46 at the end of the third quarter.

The game’s last quarter saw the Red Storm fighting to close the eight-point lead. A three-pointer and a pair of jumpers from Drake coupled with Mayo’s key plays on both sides helped the score advance to 46-50. In the remainder of the quarter, the Lady Lions went on an 8-0 lead and never looked back, leaving the Johnnies with their second loss in a row.

In a post-game press conference, head coach Joe Tartamella credited the loss to a lack of scoring and turnovers. “[That’s] what happens when you slow down, you play more one-on-one or get late in the clock and try to get to the rim, and we didn’t make good decisions all the time,” Tartamella said. “Even though the score is what it is, it probably wasn’t as indicative as what the game was.”

“I told them in the locker room that if we can continue down that path and do more of what we did tonight, we will be in much better shape,” he continued.

Mayo, a senior guard, led the team in scoring with 16 points. The UMass transfer also show-

cased a rough defensive side, with three steals and two blocks in Thursday’s game—a season-high for her.

“I’ve challenged her to be a better defender. She’s more magnified now because of the minutes she’s playing,” Tartamella said about Mayo. “I think she did a nice job in what we were trying to do and also got lost in a couple of sets when they hit a three and she needed to be there.”

Next, the Johnnies will look to improve their 4-5 record and take on the University of Rhode Island at Carnesecca Arena on Dec. 10.

Torch Photo / Sara Torch Photo / SaraKiernan Kiernan

St. John’s Dominates Holy Cross, 91-45 In his debut, sophomore guard RJ Luis Jr. put up an impressive 14 points.

Olivia Seaman | nOv. 26, 2023

In a Thanksgiving weekend matchup, the Red Storm defeated the Holy Cross Crusaders, 9145. Displaying the prowess of their roster both on and off the bench, the team saw a rising star in sophomore forward RJ Luis Jr. in his first appearance for the Johnnies.

The Nov. 25 game was a sold-out crowd of 5,602 at Carnesecca Arena, complete with an appearance by NBA All-Star Kevin Durant.

Despite suffering a broken hand in an October open practice, the UMass transfer put up 14 points, four rebounds and three steals. Reflecting on his journey to full health after a stellar performance Luis said, “Humbly, I think that tonight was 40 percent.”

“It’s been a long seven weeks. It’s had its pros and cons,” Luis continued. “It allowed me to sit out of practice, learn my teammates’ tendencies and gave me an outside view of how Coach P wants us playing. I just got my feet wet tonight and will just keep on improving.”

In the game’s first minutes, the Crusaders improved to an 18-10 lead, but the Johnnies swiftly responded with a commanding 34-10 run, seizing the court for the remainder of the game.

“When it [the score] was 20-20, I liked how we stayed with our game plan. We said ‘We are going to have our run, don’t panic,’” head coach Rick Pitino said postgame. “Then, when

you have the lead, play fundamental basketball, which we did do because we made a point of emphasis to not turn the ball over… That’s the way you must play basketball.”

The Johnnies entered halftime with a 44-28 lead, propelled by a 12-0 run with six minutes remaining. The first half saw the Red Storm shooting 58% from the field, with senior center Joel Soriano scoring 12 of his team-high 16 points, succeeded by graduate forward Chris Ledlum with 10.

The second half saw the team’s energy surge on both ends of the court, holding Holy Cross to a mere seven points in 10 minutes and extending their lead to 33. The Red Storm maintained their dominance, finishing with a resounding 46-point lead, their most impressive of the season.

The victory also saw an impressive 45 points from the bench, with Simeon Wilcher, Zuby Ejiofor, Nahiem Alleyne, Sean Conway, Cruz Davis, Drissa Traore and Brady Dunlap all making significant contributions in the game.

Wilcher and Ejiofor led the bench in minutes with 19 and 17 minutes, respectively.

“I’m not afraid to play any of those guys,” Pitino said. “All these guys are still learning. If we are in a war with West Virginia, I have no problem putting Simeon or Brady in the game at any time.”

“They all played really good defense,” Pitino continued. “They all rooted for each other. It was great.”

Wilcher, the freshman guard from New Jersey, scored five points, three rebounds and five assists. Postgame, Pitino applauded his play offensively and defensively.

“I don’t worry how much I’m playing now because it’s Coach [Pitino],” Wilcher said. “I’m just really trusting him. I’m just happy he believes in me enough to put me out there today.”

The Red Storm advanced to 4-2 after Saturday’s win and followed the game with an away win against the West Virginia Mountaineers at the WVU Coliseum on Dec. 1.

Torch Photo / Sara Kiernan

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St. John’s Falls to Michigan 89-73 in Pitino’s MSG Debut

Missed free throws and turnovers plagued the Red Storm from the opening tip.

Torch Photo / Sara Kiernan

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offensive rebounds, leading to 17 second-chance points in the first half. Soriano led the team with nine points at the break, followed by Dingle and graduate guard Daniss Jenkins with eight apiece.

Coming out of the locker room, St. John’s found themselves suddenly down by 10, which is when things began to get even uglier. Despite strong first-half performances from the Red Storm’s backcourt, Jenkins and Dingle were unable to carry these performances over into the second, as Michigan’s sophomore guard Dug McDaniel began to take over.

McDaniel gave the Red Storm fits all night, as he ultimately played 38 minutes, leading to a career-high 26 points. McDaniel also added seven assists and six rebounds.

Michigan’s lead quickly went from 11 to 17 and got as high as 26. St. John’s had little to no offense in the second half of the contest, seeing their first-half shooting percentage of 40.5% drop to a measly 31.6%. Turnovers were another blemish on the Red Storm’s performance, as they committed a game-high 17, leading to 12 fast break points from the Wolverines.

Allowing Michigan to run the break is what led to the unan-

St. John’s Survive Game One of the Charleston Classic Sara KierNaN | Nov. 17, 2023

Kyler Fox | Nov. 14, 2023

After starting the season with an impressive win against Stony Brook, expectations were high for St. John’s going into a massive matchup at Madison Square Garden against the University of Michigan in the Gavitt Games. The Red Storm fell way short of those expectations, being exposed in an 8973 blowout against the Wolverines. While the final score is not a true reflection of how lopsided this matchup was, the first half was quite close.

With just under three minutes to play in the first half, senior center Joel Soriano threw down a vicious dunk to cut Michigan’s lead to four. With this dunk, Soriano crossed the 1,000 career points mark and received a standing ovation from the Madison Square Garden crowd. Soriano’s emphatic slam would be followed by another highlight reel dunk from senior guard Jordan Dingle, as the Red Storm once again cut into Michigan’s lead, 37-35.

After Dingle’s dunk, the Wolverines took full control for the remainder of the game. Led by senior guard Nimari Burnett’s career-high 21 first-half points, Michigan was able to finish the last three minutes of the half on an 11-3 scoring run.

Despite the deficit, the Red Storm were able to grab 11

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swered scoring outputs. While St. John’s forced 13 turnovers on the Wolverines’ end, sloppiness in transition and poor free throw shooting (58.8%) prevented the Red Storm from going on a run of their own.

After the game, head coach Rick Pitino pointed to a lack of ball movement being the main reason for the beatdown.

“I think they were going oneon-one way too much,” Pitino said. “I think they were watching some NBA players in the Garden here just trying to emulate them.”

Pitino expressed that while the Red Storm was bad on both sides of the ball, one area in particular was worse.

“Our defense was not good tonight, but our offense shocked the s— out of me,” Pitino said.

For St. John’s, they ultimately fell in the AP rankings. Prior to the Michigan game, the Red Storm received the third most votes out of any unranked team.

In a quick turnaround, Pitino and his squad traveled to Charleston to play in the Charleston Classic on Nov. 16, where they finished third in the tournament. The Red Storm (5-2) will face off against Sacred Heart on Nov. 6 at Carnesecca Arena next.

The St. John’s Red Storm were able to secure a much-needed win against the North Texas Mean Green by one point today, 53-52, after falling to Michigan on Nov. 13 The game started off with an 8-0 run for the Johnnies with graduate student guard Daniss Jenkins and junior forward Glenn Taylor Jr. making the team’s first baskets.

Throughout the first half, the Johnnies seemed to finally find a rhythm with each other after Monday’s game, keeping the lead the entire half.

From there, the Johnnies were able to keep the lead from North Texas, but the team began to falter in the last two minutes. The Mean Green went on a 4-0 run to finish off the first half.

Going into the second half, the Red Storm held onto a 10-point lead, 30-20.

The half saw multiple runs for both teams. North Texas was able to go on a 9-0 run against the Johnnies, missing multiple opportunities to score and turnovers.

The Red Storm seemed to finally click going on a 10-0 run pulling the score from 39-38 to 49-38. This did not last long as the Mean Green responded on another 9-0 run against the Johnnies, 4947, with less than four minutes to go.

The game’s final minutes were a backand-forth battle until the final seconds.

North Texas pulled ahead by one-point, 51-52 with just two minutes left of the game.

With 1:11 left, senior center Joel Soriano was able to make two free throw shots to pull ahead to secure the win by one, ending the game with a final score of 5352.

Soriano was able to keep his double-double record alive for the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds for the night, playing 32 minutes.

“We wouldn’t play like that if we didn’t have him,” Pitino said in the post-game press conference. “He is the last line of defense, because we don’t mind pressuring and taking away the three.”

Graduate student forward Chris Ledlum played some of the highest minutes on the floor, helping on the lower front.

Even though Ledlum’s stats have been down, his teammates are still noticing his presence on the floor.

“Chris played really good defense and that was a play that [North Texas] loved,” Jenkins told the media about the final possession of the game. “Chris played it well and we came up with a big-time rebound.”

“It’s been more of coming together, to trust in each other, believe in each other and playing team defense,” Jenkins said.

St. John’s (5-2) will take on their next opponent in Sacred Heart on Dec. 6.

SPORTS VOLUME 101:16, NOVEMBER 2023 ISSUE

| TORCHONLINE.COM

St. John's Sweeps in First

Round of nivc tournament Torch Photo / Isabella Cautero

Isabella Cautero | DeC. 2, 2023

St. John’s Volleyball opened up their first time hosting the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) with a win against the Howard Bison on Dec. 1. The game was established by a strong Red Storm defense that battled back in the first set to take over the match.

St. John’s is one of eight schools to host in the opening two rounds of the tournament, with visiting teams of University of South Florida, University of Buffalo and Howard University.

This is the Red Storm’s second straight year with a spot in the NIVC tournament and third of all time.

Logging in her sixth double-double of the 2023 season, outside hitter Lucrezia Lodi led the charge for the Johnnies with 17 digs, 10 kills and two block assists. Erin Jones, the sophomore right side hitter/setter, added 16 kills to the Johnnies 41 total. Overall the team hit .204% with an impressive nine aces.

Following close behind Jones and Lodi was middle blocker Magda Stambrowska who clocked in nine kills and three blocks. Junior setter Wiktoria Kowalczyk logged a match-high of

26 assists for the Johnnies, as well as eight digs and two aces. In the back court, defensive specialist Rashanny Solano-Smith had 12 digs to help pace the Red Storm against a fiery and disciplined Howard offense.

The first set opened up with a dominant performance from the visiting Bison, but St. John’s found a way to climb themselves back into the match and earn a 28-26 set win.

Within the first three points Howard’s outside hitter Dami Awojobi put up two hits against outside hitter Georgia Walther who blocked the ball out of bounds. Stambrowska answered with a huge slam down the middle for the Johnnies and would soon end the Bison’s five-point scoring run with another kill to bring the score 8-4.

Halfway through the set Lodi and Jones got the engines fired up and shifted the momentum for St. John’s in the top court. They would promptly go on a 3-0 scoring run to edge the score closer at 12-10.

After a Bison timeout Jones hit a huge serve to bring their deficit to one point. From there the Johnnies were able to convert on a few back and

forth rallies, keeping it at a close game.

A set sliding play from Solano-Smith to Lodi brought the score to 23-22 and in the hands of Lodi’s serve.

With Howard at set point, St. John’s climbed their way back to earn three more points and force the set further.

The dicey set ended in St. John’s favor after two out-of-bounds shots from Howard. Howard outplayed the Johnnies with a .200% attacking rate compared to their .150% attacking rate, but ultimately St. John’s steadied themselves enough to convert on a few Bison turnovers.

From there, the next two sets were in the hands of the Red Storm. St. John’s was energized and took full advantage of their home court with an immediate 2-0 scoring run capitalized by Stambrowska and Kowalczyk.

Senior middle blocker Eleonara Tosi became a clear vocal leader on the court and kept the team in check after every point Howard made. The team would go on to register eight straight points including five kills from Tosi, Jones and Stambrowska. After going down 18-9 the Bison countered with six straight points to keep themselves T

alive for a little bit longer before falling 25-21 in the second set.

Both teams racked up more than double the amount of kills, St. John’s with 30 and Howard with 26, to the score sheet in the second set. St. John’s was led by Jones with 11 kills and four digs.

The third set opened up with some momentum by Howard who went up 5-4 before the Johnnies tore through a five point scoring run to take the lead. Solano-Smith really paced the Johnnies well halfway through with 12 digs, matching Howard’s libero Claire Simpson who paced the Bison with 14.

The two teams battled it out through the middle of the set before a few kills from St. John’s and some costly errors

by Howard allowed the Red Storm to go on an 8-0 tear, bringing the score to 24-13. Walther finishwed off the night with a kill and added to her three on the night overall.

The Red Storm battled against the University of South Florida in the Super 16 round of the NIVC Tournament on Dec. 2, but ultimately fell 3-2 in a five set thriller to end their season.