St. John’s Brings Holiday Cheer to Campus With Winter Carnival
The annual tree-lighting and fireworks show returned after last year’s cancellation.
As finals week approaches, students, alumni and faculty were able to enjoy the start of the holiday season at the 2025 Winter Carnival. The carnival began on Dec. 1 with festive events running all week until Dec. 8, when the tree lighting and firework show took place on the Great Lawn.
The week began with a Christmas Social event on Dec. 1 in the D’Angelo Center (DAC) coffee house, hosted by the Interfraternity Council. It was followed by a Rock the Red event hosted by Campus Activities in the DAC living room. Throughout the week, different organizations put their own spin on holiday cheer, like the Voices of Victory Concert in the Little Theater and Multicultural Greek Alliance’s Winter Showcase on Dec. 6.
The tree lighting festivities on Dec. 8 began at 6 p.m. with a Dessert Party in DAC. The event had cupcakes, cannolis, hot chocolate, cocquito and even Insomnia cookies.
Mullady | deC. 10, 2025
There were other free giveaways including free shirts, handwarmers and Batiste dry shampoo.
This space was welcoming and warm for students to wait out the cold before heading to the tree. At 7 p.m., students began to head to St. Augustine and grab their spots to watch the tree lighting and fireworks show. After last year’s tree lighting and firework show was canceled due to a statewide burn ban, students were excited for the tradition’s return.
Senior Michael Aruta expressed his excitement for the event.
“It’s great to see everyone in the Christmas spirit, all together again, since last year we didn’t really have the official event. I’m excited to see this tree all lit up again.”
The event began with a performance from Voice of Victory, where they performed holiday classics like “Joy to the World” and “Hallelujah.” They were quickly followed by SJU Kickline and the Dance Team, who both performed holiday routines.
Student Government Inc. (SGI) then took the stage alongside University President Rev. Brian J. Shanley. Many thanks were given to all who made the event possible, all the students who came and rang in the holiday season.
After the quick remarks, Rev. Shanley blessed the tree and initiated the ten-second countdown.
All attendees began counting down, leading to the lighting of the tree and the start of the fireworks show. The lit tree was accompanied by cheers and excitement, which carried over into the start of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas,” which started off the show.
The fireworks show lasted for about 15 minutes, with excitement continuing throughout. The crowd sang along to holiday classics and huddled with their friends and family to stay warm.
SGI Treasurer Ishmael Faye expressed to The Torch the importance of this anticipated event.
“This is why we do what we do, to really bring the community together, and have chances to connect with our fellow students as the semester ends. It’s a really special event that not a lot of schools have.”
The 2025 Winter Carnival provided some much-needed holiday cheer and school spirit, after a long semester and what tends to be a stressful finals week for students across majors and years.
Permanent Closure Planned for Gate 4 Parking Lot
Public Safety announces final shutdown as work on new facility moves forward.
Celina Mullady | nov. 15, 2025
St. John’s University will permanently close the Gate 4 parking lot beside Belson Stadium on Dec. 10 as construction on its new basketball training facility moves forward, Chief of Public Safety Dan Rhone announced in a campus-wide email sent on Dec. 4 at 4:46 p.m.
The message follows earlier updates about delays in securing the final permit needed for the project, which kept the lot open longer than expected. This time, Rhone confirmed the University is ready to move into the next stage, telling the community that “construction is ready to begin.”
The lot will remain available through Dec. 9, with the shutdown taking effect the following morning. Rhone urged students and staff to make adjustments ahead of the closure.
“Please allow yourself extra time to arrive on campus and plan to use
other available campus parking areas once the lot is closed,” he stated. Rhone closed out the message by thanking the campus community for their patience throughout the process.
“Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we begin this next phase.”
Celina
Torch Photo / Celina Mullady
Torch Photo / Celina Mullady
What to Know About Basketball’s New Practice Facility and Student Recreation Center
A “two-step process” bringing two new construction projects to campus is officially underway.
Construction of St. John’s University’s new, state of the art practice facility is finally set to begin. As announced by Chief of Public Safety Dan Rhone in an email sent to all students and staff on Dec. 4, the project is now entering its construction phase where the practice facility will occupy the now permanently closed Gate 4 parking lot.
Estimated at a near $60 million and constructed in partnership with design firm Gensler, the project will provide a new home to St. John’s men’s and women’s basketball programs. The facility is on track to be completed by Spring of 2027 where amenities such as hydro-therapy pools, team dining facilities, video analysis tools and more will be offered to improve each team.
Upgrading team facilities has become a passion project for University President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, who has had this idea for improvement since his hiring.
“These are the worst facilities in the Big East,” Rev. Brian J. Shanley stated during the facility’s groundbreaking on Oct. 18. “I’ve had it in the back of my mind since literally my first week of being here.”
James Williams | Dec. 10, 2025
Next to name, image and likeness incentives, as well as a Hall of Fame head coach, Rev. Shanley finds that a new and improved practice facility will not only help player retention but recruits and transfers.
Along with enticing new players, a competitive basketball program is seen as a major sweetener for possible student applicants.
“This is not just about basketball, this is about the success of our University,” Rev. Shanley said during his speech at the groundbreaking, then coining a new mantra surrounding the project: “Basketball is the front porch of St. John’s.”
In addition to the new facility that serves the basketball teams, a new project planning to renovate Taffner Field House into a student recreation center will begin once the facility is finished construction in 2027.
“So once this new building is there, Taffner becomes wide open and we have plans to do a state of the art facility that is much nicer than anything we have now,” Rev. Shanley outlined in an interview with The Torch. “If it had made more sense, practically, to start with a student [recreation] center I would have started with that, because I think it is more urgent for us.”
Conceptually, there are no official plans on what this space will become once construction begins, but Rev. Shanley has shown interest in creating an on-campus pub which Taffner would provide the space for.
“We need more rec space on campus… I’d like to see us expand on engaging the general population but you need space to do that.” Athletic Director Ed Kull said in an interview with The Torch, emphasizing St. John’s need for more student spaces.
Outside of the current basketball related construction projects, Rev. Shanley has said that academic projects similar to the St. Vincent Health Science Center may be considered in the future, if funds permit.
“In my ideal world, I would love to put another new building for classroom use and then we can systematically upgrade everything else on campus.” Rev. Shanley stated regarding any potential new academic buildings.
“But the ability to put up a new building is dependent upon finding a donor who’s going to write a really big check to help us do that, so I can’t make any promises on what comes next after these two projects.”
Basketball is the front porch of St.
-Rev. Brian J. Shanley
Sharing Their Voices to Empowers Others
St. John’s University’s NSSLHA chapter prepares Speech Pathology and Audiology students for successful careers.
Speech pathology and audiology are attractive fields, as both professions have higher than average projected job growth. St. John’s University’s Speech Pathology and Audiology undergraduate program is a popular track for that reason: providing students with the necessary prerequisites and experiences to succeed in the graduate schooling that speech pathologists and audiologists must complete.
In addition to their rigorous and applicable coursework, Speech Pathology and Audiology students have the opportunity to join the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA), a chapter of a nationwide organization aimed at supporting Communication Science Disorders (CSD) students on their pre-professional journeys.
The University’s chapter hosts numerous social and educational events each semester, connecting their members with the national chapter. To be a part of the national chapter, students must pay $60, giving them access to the ASHA publication, scholarships and other benefits.
As Vice President Glennys Cuatlacuatl explained, “NSSLHA aims to inspire, empower, and support students in the field of CSD by providing resources and opportunities for academic and professional success,” capturing the mission of the organization.
Being a part of NSSLHA offers networking opportunities that would not be as easily available otherwise. The annual student-faculty luncheon — which took place on Nov. 17 — gave students the chance to connect and converse with their knowledgeable professors in a more relaxed, casual setting.
Treasurer Colleen Murphy emphasized its success: “Members always love [the luncheon] because it fosters real community with professors.” Cuatlacuatl agreed, adding that “it felt like a genuine conversation where students got to express their goals and professors shared advice that you can’t always get during office hours.”
NSSLHA members are also able to gain advice from peers through their mentor-mentee program. Cuatlacuatl described it as a source of
comfort and direction for underclassmen CSD students: “For a lot of students, especially freshmen, it becomes their first real source of guidance and reassurance in the CSD program.”
In addition to the various networking opportunities NSSLHA provides, members are also urged to give back to their communities. Official membership requires participation in various service projects of their choosing throughout the semester.
Recently, NSSLHA hosted a book drive, promoting literacy development for children and adolescents. Other service events include the Walk4Hearing, a fulfilling and fun opportunity that “gave members hands-on advocacy experience and had a great turnout,” according to Murphy.
This balance is helpful — careers in speech pathology and audiology are helping professions, so engaging in service is a purposeful and crucial component of the organization.
The most impactful part of the NSSLHA experience for its members has been the connection and community the organization has promoted.
“Everyone is welcoming, supportive and genuinely passionate about helping one another succeed,” Murphy emphasized.
Cuatlacuatl echoed this praise, “There’s something really special about walking into a room and knowing you’re surrounded by people who understand your goals, your challenges and your passion for the field. The sense of connection is what I cherish most.”
“Looking ahead, I really hope we become a place where underclassmen feel comfortable joining early on, even if they’re still figuring out their path,” Cuatlacuatl aims.
NSSLHA’s final general body meeting for the Fall 2025 semester wason Dec. 4, but they plan to continue hosting various events in the spring; it is never too late to get involved.
Cuatlacuatl continued, “I hope NSSLHA keeps evolving into a community where everyone feels welcomed, valued and connected.”
AlexAndrA Prettitore | dec. 8, 2025
Photo Courtesy / Isabella Tapia
Hobbies for College Students That Won’t Break the Bank
No hobbies? No problem. Here are five types of affordable and accessible pastimes for students.
Syriana Pazmino | nov. 23, 2025
Doomscrolling, or spending an excessive amount of time on the internet scrolling through negative content is a habit that many college students have used as a replacement for hobbies.
Two of the main reasons why we’ve seen this rise in screen time can be attributed to the accessibility and low cost of internet usage. Fortunately, there are still many low-cost resources and hobbies available to students that span several categories.
Media Consumption
While you shouldn’t limit yourself to just media consuming hobbies, they are certainly the easiest ones to pick up.
Rather than going to the internet for book recommendations, try going to the library instead. As a St. John’s student in New York State, you have free access to the University library as well as the New York, Queens and Brooklyn Public Libraries.
Although hobbies like listening to music or podcasts typically involve a screen, the ability to turn off your phone and complete another task while listening to either type of media neutralizes the mindless and unfulfilling nature of doomscrolling.
Studies have shown that podcast listeners often listen to podcasts while completing household and other mundane tasks, leaving them feeling productive and fulfilled. Studies have also shown that listening to music can improve cognitive functions and reduce stress levels.
When listening to music, you can always find new artists and new styles of music, learning about their history.
Depending on the genre of podcast you listen to, there is always an opportunity to learn.
For example, “Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby!” on Spotify combines the history of classic and Greek mythology with comedy. While “BBC Inside Science” discusses discoveries and controversies within the science community that have the ability to impact our world at large.
Creative
In conjunction with media consumption, there are creative hobbies as well.
Some creative hobbies that students can participate in include yarn crafts, such as crocheting and knitting. Journaling, drawing, painting and baking are other great ways to exercise your creative side.
Physical Activities
Junior Emily Llivicura likes to be active in her free time, “I enjoy going on hikes, swimming in the summertime, biking, running, going to the gym on campus and playing badminton.” Demonstrating the many options students have to stay active.
What’s great about being on a college campus is the ability to try new activities and being able to learn from others around you.
What’s even better is that there’s no need to worry about equipment or participating in these activities solo because St. John’s has several student organizations dedicated to activities such as badminton, running and even k-pop dance.
Intellectual
While reading certainly falls into this category, there are plenty of other types of hobbies to stimulate your brain, including language learning and playing games.
From online instructional videos to textbooks to resources at your local library, in today’s world it is easier than ever to learn a new language. Living in the melting pot that is New York City, we all have the incredible opportunity to immerse ourselves in almost any given culture.
As for playing games, sophomore Keagan Ragoobar mentioned chess as an inexpensive hobby “…since all you need is a chess set with pieces.”
The University’s Chess Association, like many other clubs, provides these resources, meaning it’s a hobby you can try as a student without taking any major financial risks.
Other kinds of games you can pick up as a hobby include crossword puzzles, sudoku and jigsaw puzzles.
Besides curing boredom, playing puzzles and brain teasers can help improve memory and visual-spatial reasoning.
Skills
When all else fails, learn a party trick. Besides the excitement that will ensue when performing a card trick or juggling for a crowd, learning a skill takes time and can always be further developed.
With nearly every one of these hobbies mentioned, there is always an opportunity to meet people and form a community around your interests. However, it’s not just about bonding with or impressing others. Hobbies are an investment in yourself and should be an outlet for you to express your creativity and interests while also supporting your well-being.
It is only when you stop scrolling that you can truly realize what you are capable of.
Photo Courtesy / YouTube Ovation
Photo Courtesy / Unsplash Art Attack
Photo Courtesy / Unsplash Art Attack
The Truth on Truth Social
Followed, funneled and fed the approved voices.
Isabella
athanasIou | Dec. 9, 2025
In covering Zohran Mamdani’s NYC mayoral win for The Torch, I cited a quote from President Donald Trump in which he endorsed Andrew Cuomo and criticized Mamdani prior to the election. The quote was from a post on his self-created social media platform, Truth Social — a platform I had never been on. I wanted to link the original post so readers could verify it themselves, and in doing so, I created an account.
After putting in general information like my birthday, username and email, I was brought to a page that made my stomach turn.
It felt almost dystopian, like the nation Panem’s tactics in The Hunger Games novels, where citizens are conditioned to cheer for the leaders chosen for them and forced to celebrate those in power.
The top of the page read “Follow Profiles,” with instructions to “Choose at least 5 profiles to follow” before proceeding. Below the requirements was a tab labeled “News,” and when I clicked it, a pop-up displayed 101 auto-selected accounts already followed for me. At the top was Trump himself, followed by Donald Trump Jr. and a string of other high-profile right-wing figures.
The list also included White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino Jr., in addition to conservative news outlets like The Daily Wire and The New York Sun. There is an option to unfollow all, but you still have to select five of the suggested accounts before entering the platform.
The “News” tab put Trump, Trump Jr. and Scavino right next to conservative outlets, blurring the line between news organizations and political figures. That placement gives the president’s perspective priority from the start, limiting transparency by controlling which voices users see first. Being his main way of communicating with the public and his supporters, it is alarming how tightly the platform is controlled from the jump.
On July 7, 2022, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), chaired by Trump and led by CEO Devin Nunes, issued a press release shortly after launching Truth Social which outlined new features including a profile carousel, suggested accounts, alerts and longer video uploads.
The release described tools designed to help users see more content faster, while showcasing the platform’s focus on “free speech” and avoiding the “ruthless censorship” seen on other platforms.
“TMTG is swiftly building a sophisticated social media platform that offers users the terrific features that originally drew them to Big Tech without the ruthless censorship that drove them away,” Nunes said.
Though the platform claims to protect users from censorship in this way, its design tells a different story. From the moment you sign up, accounts aligned with the president and right-leaning outlets are promoted and required to be followed, shaping what users see while also promoting certain voices over others.
The so-called “free speech” environment only exists within a carefully curated feed that gives no visibility to outside viewpoints.
The network itself resembles X (formerly known as Twitter), which isn’t surprising considering it was the platform Trump used most before being banned after the Jan. 6 insurrection on the Capitol. He has since been reinstated, but has opted to make Truth Social his primary mouthpiece. The site is filled with extreme content, and aside from the MAGA focused posts, my explore page included Islamophobic material without a single search.
In just a few seconds of scrolling, I stumbled upon a post — which are referred to as “Truths” — from a user that stated, “Islam, is an uncivi-
lized, primitive, barbaric, sexist cult, that does not include, EQUAL RIGHTS for females, COMPASSION, or RESPECT for ANY HUMAN RIGHTS.”
The fact that these posts are called “Truths” makes the content even more concerning. Labeling extreme, hateful or misleading posts as truths gives them an air of authority, suggesting they are factual rather than someone’s opinion or propaganda.
On a platform where opposing viewpoints are largely absent, this can hugely amplify misinformation and reinforce harmful beliefs that fuel the violence that is so prevalent in this country. Users are presented with a feed that not only prioritizes certain political voices, but also normalizes extreme rhetoric, making it easy for hate and false information to spread.
Roxana Muester, a doctoral student at Cornell University who studies the far-right and digital communication, noted the problem.
“There is also a lot of hate speech and extremism on the platform due to their lax approach to content moderation,” Muenster said.
There are people who likely look to the president and sign up for Truth Social thinking they will get important updates from the person running the country. Instead, they enter a space where Trump controls what they see and who they follow, funneling users into a curated environment that spotlights his views. At the same time, the platform benefits him financially, turning his position and his audience into profit while exposing users to toxic content.
The SEC filing showed that in 2022, Trump Media had a net profit of $50.5 million and total revenue of only $1.47 million. Trump owns 57.3% of the company’s shares, a stake valued at $3.83 billion in 2024, with Forbes reporting that his existing shares represent well more than half of his total net worth. While users may think they are just getting updates from the president, they are also supporting a platform that has become a major source of his personal wealth.
It raises a real question about whether a sitting president should be able to turn his followers into a financial asset. Each new Truth Social user adds value to a company Trump personally benefits from, blurring another line between public communication and private gain. What should be a basic way of hearing from our national leader ends up doubling as a boost to his wallet.
Beyond generating profit, the platform serves as a direct channel for Trump to promote some of his most controversial ideas. One of his latest posts, on Nov. 27, hinted at stopping almost all legal immigration to the United States.
For a platform called “Truth Social,” created by the president himself, to be so controlled and misleading is hard to ignore. Just a reminder that the role of any news source — or bearer — is to serve the people and give them the information they need to make informed decisions. That, in itself, is far from controlling the content someone sees from their first click.
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The World Needs To Be More Involved in Ending Wars
Dean Koutouratsas | nov. 23, 2025
On Oct. 7, 2023, tensions in the Middle East boiled over after Hamas and other militant groups launched an attack on Israel, taking 1,219 lives and 251 individuals hostage. Israel responded with a barbaric offensive, killing over 69,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, with many unaccounted for.
During this period of violence, Israel imposed a blockade, halting the flow of food, water, fuel and other necessities into Palestine. A lack of aid prevents civilians from receiving proper nutrition, medical supplies and care. This also impacted the lives of children, leading to 151 succumbing to starvation.
As a result, the chair of an independent UN commission found Israel committed “four genocidal acts,” while its leadership had “incited the commission of genocide.” The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant on charges of crimes against humanity, including the use of “starvation as a method of warfare.”
As the conflict between the neighboring nations hit the two-year mark, U.S. President Donald Trump struck a peace deal with help from Egypt and Qatar, key mediators throughout the conflict.
The deal forced Hamas to give up the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by the opposition. Another condition of the agreement was that Israel put an end to their blockade of aid deliveries into the territory.
Even though peace has finally been achieved in what seemed to be a never-ending conflict, I can’t help but think, Why did it have to take this long? Regardless of your position on the Trump-led deal, this result should’ve come much sooner.
I would have liked to have seen Egypt, Qatar and other Middle Eastern nations arrange a peace deal that would have ensured long term stability between the two sides.
If a coalition of countries had banded together, a truce between Palestine and Israel could’ve been done without hav-
ing to witness thousands of lives taken.
Take Qatar and Saudi Arabia, for example; they are worth billions due to their oil and natural gas reserves. This could’ve been factored into a deal to help rebuild Gaza and satisfy Israel’s needs without allowing them to continue the bloodshed.
Another possibility would have been to allow the Palestinian General Authority to take control over the entire region, instead of letting Hamas stay in power after the atrocities they committed.
Even though a desirable result wasn’t reached in the Middle East, nations around the globe should use this moment as a reminder to work towards ending conflicts so a substantial peace deal can be reached.
This specifically pertains to the threeyear conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Some progress was made towards ending the war when Trump met with Russian president Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy on separate occasions in late August.
In that instance, the European Union and its 27 members should’ve taken the opportunity to work out a compromise and end the conflict instead of sitting on the sidelines and letting Trump do all the talking. This would have ensured Ukraine would regain control of its territory, and Russian forces would have withdrawn.
However, that’s not what happened. A deal between the neighboring European countries has yet to be finalized as Trump shut down a supposed second meeting with the Russian president. This means conflict will continue in the region unless others can negotiate a deal that prevents Moscow from further expanding its offensive into Ukraine.
The world should use this time as a wake-up call, realizing that every day they put off making peace, countless lives are lost. They also can’t just rely on the United States to resolve these problems with Trump’s style of leadership that has favored one side over another. Peace should be a priority, not a debate.
The TORCH. St. John’s University O’Conner Hall -
Dijon Sells Out Terminal 5 for an Absolutely Classic Concert
With the help of Mk.gee, Bon Iver and more, Dijon created an unforgettable night at Terminal 5.
Parker Songco | Dec. 8, 2025
It is nearly impossible for words to do justice to the musical masterclass that Dijon and his team can put on for a live performance. The genre-bending singer-songwriter lets his signature sound do all the talking.
Only those in attendance at Terminal 5 on Dec. 4 could understand the ethereal experience of hearing not just Dijon perform, but hearing him accompanied by some truly special guests: long-time collaborator Mk.gee (Michael Gordon), indie folk legend Bon Iver (Justin Vernon) and the talented Queensbased multi-instrumentalist Nick Hakim.
2025 has been an eventful year for Dijon Duenas, known mononymously as Dijon, who released his second studio album “Baby” on Aug. 15 to much-deserved critical acclaim. Duenas also worked alongside Justin Bieber and was heavily credited on the popstar’s 2025 projects “SWAG” and “SWAG II,” earning him a Grammy nomination for Producer of the Year.
And if the praise musically didn’t already impress you, Duenas made his acting debut as Talleyrand in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” one of the highest-rated movies of the decade.
Dijon’s had a jam-packed first week of December in New York City. His performance in Manhattan’s Terminal 5 was the final of three sold-out NYC tour stops, following two nights in a row at the Brooklyn Paramount on Dec. 1 and 2. To top it all off, he made his first appearance on Saturday Night Live as a musical guest on Dec. 6.
The clock reached 8:45 p.m. and Dijon hit the stage, joined by his band, notably including Bon Iver on guitar—who Dijon and Mk.gee toured with in 2022— and Nick Hakim on keys. Dijon does without any fancy set pieces, making the stage look just like a spot for his next jam sesh. It’s strictly artists equipped with their instruments, giving way for their music to capture the audience’s attention entirely.
He started with a slower rendition of “Annie” off his 2021 debut album, “Absolutely.” Backed by multiple background vocalists, Dijon and his team created hard-hitting harmonies right off the bat that set the tone for the artistic excellence Terminal 5 was in store for.
The mood was directly switched up, going from easy to energetic with “Another Baby!,” the fiery second track off his newest album. “Yamaha” was next, the fifth track off “Baby” and arguably the most upbeat of the entire project. He also turned the clock back to play tracks from his 2019 and 2020 EPs, “Sci Fi 1” and “How Do You Feel About Getting Married?,” including “rock n roll,” “TV Blues” and “alley-oop.”
The special thing about hearing Dijon live is the dramatic difference between listening to studio recordings. In concert, you can hear even more of the fervor in Dijon’s voice and can see it as his face grimaces in every note. Heavy synth and sample work define his sound in person, allowing moments to hit harder on tracks like “Automatic” more than they ever could on streaming.
Dijon got the crowd moving with fan-favorites off “Absolutely” with “Talk Down,” and slowed it down with a unique rendition of “The Dress,” which had its own 80’s slowdance feel to it. He switched it up again with an extended version of “(Referee)” and had fans yearning with an impassioned performance of “Rewind.”
After “Rewind,” a guitar god joined the stage as yet another special guest, instantly turning the concert into a classic.
As if his enigmatic, shrouded hairdo didn’t already make him look like a musical messiah, the eruption from the crowd the moment Mk.gee joined Dijon onstage solidified his status as an absolute icon among fans.
Easily the most fitting surprise guest that could have been brought out, Dijon’s best friend and longtime collaborative partner shifted the crowd’s energy from awe of the performance to astonishment at the star power on stage.
The raw signature sound of Mk.gee ‘s guitar was the perfect complement to “coogie” and “Big Mike’s.” Mk.gee backed Dijon up on vocals as he does in the studio recordings of both songs, but hearing it live takes it to a whole other level.
Dijon wrapped up the night with hit tracks including “Many Times,” “Baby!” and “Kindalove” before leaving the stage. The crowd stuck around for the encore, where Mk.gee joined him onstage one more time for a gut-wrenching and intimate rendition of “Rodeo Clown, ” the outro track off “Absolutely.” It was a fitting way to cap off a night full of indelible moments.
His eventful year is far from over. After his SNL guest appearance, Dijon’s 2025-2026 tour continues with dates across North America and Europe. Full details and ticket information are available on dijondijon.com.
Torch Photo / Parker Songco
Torch Photo / Celina Mullady
Torch Photo / Parker Songco
Small Artist Spotlight: No Values
NYHC is alive and well with True York five-piece, No Values.
SebaStian Zelaya
| nov. 21, 2025
In a recent surge of new, young New York hardcore bands, No Values stands out among the crowd.
No Values is a 5-piece hardcore punk band based out of the five boroughs, consisting of frontman Iyoub Sahin, guitarists Karin Sa and Milo Amez, bassist Ivan Batista and drummer Jon Barcenas. Their music pays tribute to old school hardcore with a modern, heavy edge, citing Bad Brains, Outburst, Madball and Sick of it All as influences.
The band released “True York Hardcore Demo” on Aug. 16, a fourtrack demo tape featuring fast-paced and heavy-hitting tracks like “Intro,” “Ruminate,” “G.T.F.O” and “Time Goes On.” They celebrated the release with a show on Oct. 30 in Brooklyn, starring current NYHC groups Combust, FERMENT, Beg to Differ, Majunche, Runnin’ Hot and 100 Hour War, along with themselves.
What’s New
“It was crazy, honestly,” Sahin told The Torch. “A lot of things were in the works still, the day of. But when it finally came down to it, it felt amazing. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. Everyone put on a great show.”
The band formed in early Aug. 2024 when Sa and Batista approached Sahin to start a new project at a show.
“It was actually Karin that approached me first… we were introduced to each other at some shows at the Gold Sounds and the Meadows,” Sahin said. “I would always see him and Ivan, they would always be smoking cigs and moshing here and there. I think it was at Soul Search, we started talking and he was like ‘Yo, we should start a band’. I was like ‘Yo, let’s do it.’”
After about a week, the three started jamming after recruiting Amez and Barcenas. No Values was born and played their first show at the Asian American Unity Fest in May of this year.
A huge part of the band is their “True York” mentality.
The influx of transplants in NYC over the last few years has been subject of disapproval for many native New Yorkers. No Values tackles this head on with their lyrics.
”I had a conversation with Jon at Ivan’s house about it. Basically, True York is for and by New Yorkers,” Sahin said. “It’s like FUBU, for us by us. It’s to uplift New Yorkers in the hardcore scene.”
Sahin highlights the struggles of many native New Yorkers in their daily lives, his upbringing and scene tourists in songs like “G.T.F.O” and “Ruminate”. The band puts a strong emphasis on NYHC being for anyone, but not for everyone.
”I don’t want to hear anything from somebody that’s from Virginia or wherever, to give me politics on what New York Hardcore should be or what it is. I don’t want them to create the culture around it. New Yorkers are culture. We have that ingrained in us,” Sahin added. “It’s not to take away or negatively create this distance between us as people. It’s to make sure that New Yorkers have a say in the New York hardcore scene. That’s what True York hardcore is.”
With Wasia Project
and Their
“Letters From The Day,” A new single by the sibling duo.
After over a year of silence, the duo Wasia Project has finally released a new single. The highly anticipated “Letters From The Day,” was released on Thursday, Nov. 13. Their last official release was their EP, “Isotope,” which came out on Aug. 29, 2024. The duo is composed of siblings Olivia Hardy and William Gao, better known for his role as Tao in the Netflix series “Heartstopper.”
“Letters From The Day” is nothing new for the band and is a pop track similar to other songs in their discography. While it doesn’t branch out from the band’s usual style, it adheres perfectly to their established sound—soulful lyrics that meet catchy melodies. Each song the band has released feels incredibly heartfelt and intentional, and this one is no exception.
The beginning of the track features well-mixed synthesized vocals, immediately setting the vibe. Listeners jump straight into the first verse with a beat that makes you feel like you’re in a jazz club, one of Wasia Project’s strengths lies in its ability to combine pop and jazzier tones. The chorus is extremely catchy and feels like an emotional buildup. The lyrics “So, don’t go, my baby, don’t leave me behind, but don’t you
Latest Release
know, my baby? I thought you were mine” hit emotional points in the song and describe what the track is all about.
The song itself is about longing for a past love. It paints a visual picture of a lover looking through old letters and hanging onto memories from a past relationship. The lover is spiraling and sounds melancholic, almost robotic, which is emphasized extremely well by the synthesized vocal backing.
At its core, the track emphasizes a fear of being forgotten; a fear that lovers who’ve left will forget you and never come back.
Wasia Project never fails with their singles, and this song is no exception. It beautifully combines the pop and soul sound that the band does so well.
Fans are hopeful that this new release may mean a new album or EP from the pair. Although the band has not announced a full album release, it is still encouraging to see that they are continuing to produce and compile music.
With a strong single release, it will be interesting to see where Wasia Project goes as they enjoy the love for their newest song.
Photo Courtesy / Tyler, The Creator
Torch Photo / Celina Mullady
Photo Courtesy / Instagram Ray Mock
Lane Kiffin To LSU, A Issue In CFB
Kiffin’s jump to LSU is bigger than a rivalry switch, it’s a warning
Congrats, Lane Kiffin, you got exactly what you wanted: a place in the spotlight with a top program in the nation.
Kiffin has served as the head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels since 2020, leading the team to a 55-19 record and revitalizing the program. The Rebels are expected to make the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, likely hosting a home game.
This is a feat that not only should be celebrated by Kiffin, but should be a step in the right direction for the program toward future success... right?
Nope. Kiffin has officially accepted the head coaching job at LSU, a rival school in the SEC, and will not be coaching Ole Miss over the next few weeks in the playoffs. After the signing of his departure, Kiffin publicly announced that he wanted to finish the year with Ole Miss, but AD Keith Carter denied this, which led to an all-out war.
Kiffin immediately began to poach coaches from the Ole Miss staff, including the offensive coordinator, GM and several others. Along with this, the transfer portal officially opens on Jan. 2, which has led to speculation that some of the program’s current stars could sit out the playoffs to transfer.
A team on the cusp of becoming a legitimate program has now
potentially fallen back to the basement of the SEC, all because the CFP association can’t figure out how to handle its league.
Over the last decade, the landscape of college sports has significantly changed, both for the better and the worse. College football and women’s basketball have seen major spikes in viewership, with college football featuring six games with more than 10 million viewers during the 2025 season so far. But what is truly “bad” in college sports, and is there a way to make meaningful change?
NIL, or name, image and likeness, has taken college sports by storm, allowing players to make money on sponsorships and jersey sales, while also opening opportunities for salaries from schools. This is obviously a great thing for athletes, who are being paid rightfully for their name and hard work, compared to the early 2010s when players like Johnny Manziel would illegally sign autographs and take money.
Programs like Kennesaw State, or even some “bigger” schools like Stanford or Boston College in the ACC, will never have the same NIL resources as conference rivals like Miami or Louisville, which not only shatters their chances at competing for success, but also hurts their ability to consistently generate money for their campus.
Torch Top-25, Week
Six
Conference play is right around the corner, the best stretch of the college basketball season. This past week was chaotic, featuring a stunning collapse from the No. 1 team in the country. The Top 25 finally saw real movement, with 19 of our 25 teams shifting from last week. With that, here are the biggest risers and fallers of Week Six.
Top 25
1. Arizona (8-0) (+1)
2. Duke (10-0) (+1)
3. Michigan (8-0) (+1)
4. Purdue (8-1) (-3)
5. Iowa State (9-0) (+5)
6. UConn (8-1) (–)
7. Houston (8-1) (–)
8. BYU (7-1) (–)
When schools see this imbalance, why should they invest significant money into a team that will never be successful long term? Even if they are successful for a season, players will often transfer for bigger NIL deals after breakout years, and while that’s fair for the players, it destroys the stability of these programs.
In college football specifically, coaches are left scrambling to find replacements after massive turnover, while some programs are willing to fire successful coaches just to hire “big names” like James Franklin or Bill Belichick.
The reason? Recruiting. Recruits will join a school with a big-name coach, but when those coaches get fired, what happens to the recruits? Penn State has likely lost several recruits due to the firing of Franklin, since players want to play for such a headlining coach.
In college football, the sport simply needs a commissioner. Having a commissioner could limit situations like the Kiffin departure, while also adjusting the brutal schedule of when players are allowed to enter the portal, a timeline that has significantly hurt the relevance of once-beloved bowl games.
9. Louisville (8-1) (-4)
10.Michigan State(8-1) (-1)
11. Gonzaga (8-1) (+1)
12. Alabama (6-2) (–)
13. Illinois (7-2) (–)
14. Texas Tech (6-2) (+1)
15. Vanderbilt (9-0) (+4)
16. North Carolina (7-1) (+5)
17. Tennessee (7-3) (-3)
18. Florida (5-3) (-1)
19. Arkansas (7-2) (NR)
20. Auburn (7-3) (–)
21. St. John’s (5-3) (+2)
22. Virginia (8-1) (NR)
23. Kansas (7-3) (+1)
24. UCLA (7-2) (+1)
25. St. Mary’s (8-1) (NR)
Off Last Week’s Chart
Iowa (8-1) – Last Week: No. 22
Kentucky (5-4) – Last Week: No. 16
Jason Petrucci| December 4, 2025
Jason Petrucci | December,10, 2025
Photo Courtesy / YouTube MPW Official
SPORTS
No. 23 St. John's Narrowly
Beat Ole Miss
It’s growing pains for every team in the country right now,” Coach Rick Pitino said, breaking down his No. 23 St. John’s early season struggles. An early season loss to No. 12 Alabama and a 1-2 record in the Las Vegas Player’s Era Championship is what Pitino may define as “growing pains” but for fans of the Red Storm it spells disappointment.
The Ole Miss Rebels, a Sweet 16 finalist in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, would be their next chance to postpone disaster and fight through the growing pains. After facing another sampling of SEC basketball in Las Vegas, the Johnnies were once again assaulted by the trademark grit and ferocity of southern basketball.
The Red Storm began the game shooting an ice-cold 3-11 from the field while maintaining a 9-7 lead in the first eight minutes of play, thanks to an early five points from Oziyah Sellers (7 pts, 2-8 FG). Through fouls and forcing turnovers, St. John’s fought fire with fire and extended their lead by playing as scrappy as their opponents.
Explosive guard play from Sellers and Ian Jackson (7 pts, 2-11) carried the offense to as
much as a 15 point lead at 33-18, while Zuby Ejiofor (15 pts, 9 rebs, 8 blks) kept the paint impenetrable, blocking an absurd six shots in the first half.
“I always just try to be a presence on the defensive end,” Ejiofor coyly said regarding his defensive showing. “Defense was our bread and butter last year… and this game was won on the defensive end, I feel like we wanted it a bit more.”
Ejiofor would be chasing history for the remainder of this contest, hoping to break St. John’s in-game block record which stood at 11. Steady play on offense and a potentially historic performance on defense allowed the Johnnies to coast into halftime with a 33-25 lead.
The scoring plan may have been boring but effective in the first half: get to the free-throw line.
Despite an early 6-0 run in the second half that cut the lead to 36-31, Bryce Hopkins (8 pts, 6 rebs) and Ejiofor steered the Red Storm back to safety with an 8-0 run of their own. This would gift another double-digit lead to the Johnnies at 48-35.
The combination of a four minute field goal
drought and five turnovers within those four minutes opened the door for the Raiders, eventually closing within one possession of the Johnnies’ 56-53 advantage.
With hope dwindling, Dylan Darling (7 pts, 5-6 FTs) sealed the game by sinking five freethrows in the final minute of play, personifying the Johnnies’ offensive playstyle while holding off the late comeback.
“Happy I could make those free throws down the stretch to seal it,” Darling said, reflecting on his scoring coming almost exclusively from the line. “But man, I would like to make any other shot besides a free throw, I feel like it would really help the team a lot.”
St. John’s grueling fifth victory of the season came at a 63-58 final score and while it returns the Johnnies to the win column, the play still raises many concerns. But once again under the lights of Madison Square Garden, they will have a chance to course correct when Iona visits on Dec. 13.
James Williams | December 7, 2025
Torch Photo / Sebastian Zelaya