OCTOBER 21, 2026
VOL. 104:02
SJU SURVIVES RUTGERS IN 4 O.T. THRILLER
WHY ‘THE SOCIAL RECKONING’ CAN’T ESCAPE ITS PREDOCESSOR’S SHADOW
Just the second pit-stop of October before the long-awaited regular season tip-off, St. John’s made their return to Madison Square Garden for an exhibition contest against Rutgers... P. 11
“The Social Network” is widely considered to be one of the greatest movies of the 21st century, and its sequel “The Social Reckoning” hit theatres nationwide on Oct. 9...
To characterize Gen Z’s current outlook on society as pessimistic is an understatement — a major understatement...
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WHAT TO DO IN NYC THIS OCTOBER:
CORNELL AND THE COLLAPSE OF GEN Z MEN
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PHOTO COURESY / YOUTUBE BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY
TORCH PHOTO / BRENDEN WILLSCH
LONGTIME MEMBERS OF SJU ATHLETICS DEPART
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2 News
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The Road to Authorship: A Conversation with Novelist Dimitry Léger
St. John’s alumnus discusses his professional journey.
Alexandra Prettitore | Oct. 13, 2026
St. John’s University is the next stop on Dimitry Léger’s book Léger encourages aspiring writers not to be afraid to write tour. The author’s sophomore novel “Death of the Soccer their own books. God” was released in May of this year, a dream turned career “The satisfaction that comes with literature is unmatched. for Leger. That’s why books have survived for thousands of years, and Now, he’s returning to the place that taught him the they will continue to do so. So prioritize it. Read,” he urges. foundations of his writing career. Léger transferred to the University in 1992, originally as a marketing major, but he quickly realized that his true passion Photo Courtesy / Dimitry Leger lies in writing. He then entered the journalism program, where Torch Photo / Jack Bulik he developed skills that he has used throughout all stages of his career. “[St. John’s] is in New York City. It’s closer to journalism, closer to great magazines that I love, newspapers that I love and the book scene. St. John’s was the corridor to that, and writing, learning to write as a journalist,” he explained. Léger continued, “My studies helped me learn the basics of being a professional writer.” Because of his experiences at St. John’s, he connected with the editor of Source Magazine, which was the biggest hip-hop publication at the time. “By the time I graduated, I was a proper journalist with a magazine job, and I was freelancing for other magazines and a career was born,” he emphasized. From there, he went down a variety of professional avenues. Notably, Léger worked for the United Nations for over a decade, where he promoted programs and went on humanitarian missions. These experiences inspired him to write his 2015 debut novel “God Loves Haiti,” which describes the aftermath of an incredibly destructive earthquake and how love perseveres through tragedy. “Your job as a writer is to open the world’s eyes to seeing the world differently, and ideally better. Ideally, try to make the world a better place by introducing them to different ways of seeing the weak, the poor, the downtrodden, the pained, the vulnerable and that book did it,” Léger said. At first, he believed that he would be a “one-hit wonder” in the world of literature, and worked in corporate communications. He changed his mind after he realized that writing books is his passion. “You only get one life, and you should be doing the things you’re best at during that life,” Léger stated. He then wrote “Death of the Soccer God” over the course of two years, which is about the life and eventual death of Gil Chevalier, a talented soccer prodigy, somewhat touching on Leger’s own life. The novel was an immediate success, Torch andPhoto/ Léger is Athanasiou now Isabella committed to being a full-time author. “Now I’m on my fourth career, just writing novels. But the common thread all these careers have is the training I had at St. John’s,” he explained.
News 3
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Longtime Members of St. John’s Athletics Depart
The Red Storm announced the installation of commemorative plaques at stadium. Dean Koutouratsas| Oct. 10, 2026
Three longtime members from the athletic department will be leaving St. John’s, men’s basketball head coach Rick Pitino shared on Oct. 7. In a post on his X account, Pitino thanked Joseph Oliva, who served as interim Athletic Director in 2018, for his commitment to the team, as well as Assistant Athletic Director for Ticket Operations Melissa Manno and Deputy Athletics Director John Diffley. “I want to pass along my sincere thanks to Joe Oliva, who is leaving St. John’s after 25 years of service,” the veteran coach wrote. “Joe was a great help with the building of our basketball culture. Joe, along with John Difley and Melissa Manno, gave so much effort to all of us. You will be missed!!!” An alumnus of the St. John’s finance program and School of Law, Oliva joined the University in 2000, holding the title of Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. His responsibilities included overseeing key operational functions such as Athletics, Campus Facilities and Services and Campus Facilities and Services, among other aspects of the University. Before stepping into the role, he was the University’s Vice President for Administration, Secretary and General Counsel. Oliva was presented with the President’s Medal, one of the institution’s highest honors, for his leadership and service to society during the annual University Recognition Ceremony on Oct. 1. “My experience at St. John’s has always been about relationships,” Oliva said. “Relationships that were joined together as we worked toward our mission and values. There is something about this place that makes it, for me, the best institution in the world.” Manno has overseen ticket operations and their relation to compliance, revenue, and ticket distribution for St. John’s Athletics since being named to her previous role in 2010. She joined the ticket office in 1997 and once served as its ticket manager, a role that included dayto-day operations.
Manno was a pitcher for the St. John’s softball team in 1994, posting a 5-7 record with a 2.55 ERA and a pair of saves. For her efforts, she received All-Big East Pitcher of the Week honors twice. Diffley was named interim Athletic Director in July 2024 while serving as Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Operating Officer. His responsibilities included personnel management, capital projects and strategic partnerships, among other tasks, while serving as the sport administrator for the men’s basketball and men’s soccer teams. Diffley was a professional soccer player in Europe and the United States, selected 27th overall in the inaugural 1996 MLS draft. He was also a member of the United States national team and an alternate on the 1998 Olympic team.
Torch Photo / Brenden Willisch
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A St. John’ Alumni and Author Dimitry Elias Leger Returns Public Safety encourages students to report any concerns to them directly. Jack Bulik | Oct. 19, 2026
Members of the St. John’s University community gathered in D’Angelo Center Room 207 on Oct. 15 to hear author and St. John’s alumnus Dimitry Elias Léger discuss his new novel. Léger, who transferred to St. John’s in 1992, said he began writing the book in 2014 but struggled to move beyond its opening, which finds its protagonist awaiting execution. “I wrote the first 40 pages in August 2014, and I could not get him off death row. I just could not,” Léger said. “Death of the Soccer God” follows Gilbert Chevalier, a fictional Haitian soccer player inspired by the real-life Joe Gaetjens. Gilbert leaves his privileged life in Haiti to study in
New York and joins the U.S. national team despite lacking American papers. At the 1950 World Cup, he scores the goal that helps the United States defeat England. Years later, Gilbert awaits execution in Haiti under a dictatorship. The novel looks back on his rise to fame, relationships and return home, exploring belonging, ambition, love, faith and finding purpose after life changes. Léger also reflected on starting a literary career later in life. He said literature allows people to enter the field even late into their 40s and 50s. “There are a few other artistic fields where you could actually come out of nowhere and
start from scratch at 45, and then keep on going in your 50s. Literature, you do that.” The book talk, organized with the St. John’s English Department, included readings and a question-and-answer session. Copies of Léger’s books were available for purchase after the event. Léger said returning to campus felt “very surreal,” especially seeing familiar faces and being back at St. John’s.
4 Features
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Hobbies to Pick Up This Fall Interesting hobbies to combat the mundane.
Katie Caruso | October 10, 2026
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even walk around other parts of Manhattan. St. John’s Queens campus is conveniently located close to Manhattan, and there’s plenty to see and do.
October in NYC
4. Knitting and Crocheting
Syriana Pazmino Element Brooklyn Gallery of Scent: Through Dec. 30 If you’re looking for a new signature scent for your space, the Gallery of Scent is the perfect spot to visit. Element Brooklyn is a refillery that specializes in soaps, creams, candles and diffusers with the goal of reducing plastic use. The 30 scents offered through touch-activated misters are arranged in five “scent flights” ranging “from bright citrus to deep woods and resins.” After you rate all the scents available, Element Brooklyn creates your custom scent portrait, prints a Polaroid-style photo for you to keep and sends a digital copy to your phone. The Metropolitan Opera Lottery Tickets On Sept. 24, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a partnership between the NYC Mayor’s Office and the Metropolitan Opera to distribute 70,000 free tickets to qualifying New Yorkers each opera season via a lottery system. To qualify, all you have to do is be a resident of New York City with a valid ID and not have purchased a ticket to the Metropolitan Opera since 2019. To enter the lottery, you must download the Met Opera app and enter the day before a performance. Visit the Met Opera website for more information. FAD Fall Pop-Up Markets: Oct. 24 - 25 FAD Market is a pop-up fashion, art and design market that has been making rounds around New York City since 2016. FAD Market aims to provide a platform for artists and makers to show off their work and create a space for New York City creatives to interact together. From jewelry to home decor, there is something for everyone. From Oct. 24 - 25, there is a fall pop-up at St. Paul in Cobble Hill. Both markets have no entry fee, are open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and allow dogs for those of you with furry friends. Brooklyn Museum Art of Manga Exhibition: Through Jan. 31 Packed with over 600 drawings showcasing manga as an art form, “Art of Manga” is the first of its kind in the Americas. The exhibition explores the social impact manga has created, alongside the inclusive themes it has embraced. For fans of the series “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure,” “Ōoku: The Inner Chambers” or “ONE PIECE,” this exhibition features original drawings from these manga and many more. Even if you are just getting into the world of manga and want to learn more, this display is the perfect place for you.
Torch Photo / Katie Caruso
With midterms approaching and everyone talking about the change in season, many are left to ponder what to do with themselves. There’s no more beach or pool days, no more hot weather and fun summer places and activities are closing for the season. With that said, there’s plenty of hobbies to pick up now that fall is in full swing. 1. Reading Reading is a classic hobby that anyone can pick up at any time of year. However, the fall is the perfect time to get back into it. Now that the weather is getting a little colder, many tend to stay inside. Picking up a book is the perfect way to spend the time. With all the available genres, everyone will be able to find themselves something that they’ll love. Reading can keep one occupied for hours on end; perfect for anyone wanting to entertain themselves this fall. 2. Herbarium With winter right around the corner, many people are going to miss the beautiful plants and flowers from the summer and fall. Creating a herbarium allows you to preserve plants and flowers that you find outdoors. This hobby is a nice way to enjoy the weather before everything gets too cold and most things grow dormant. 3. Walking and Exploring Going for a walk around your neighborhood or campus is not only a great way to get exercise, but it’s also a great way to discover new things and meet new people. Central Park is a great place to walk in New York City. The fall foliage makes for beautiful scenery.
Although some might refer to these as “granny hobbies” knitting and crocheting are very underrated hobbies. These creations also make great gifts for family and friends around the holidays, not to mention that you have the opportunity to make holiday sweaters before the winter too. Knitting and crocheting are both great ways to pass the time, as well as rewarding when you get to see what you’ve created. 5. Playing an Instrument Another great way to pass the time indoors is to play an instrument. Maybe it’s a new skill you want to learn or just something you want to get better at. The change in season can be the time for you to change your routine. Practice makes perfect, and maybe you’ll even be able to teach yourself some fun songs to impress your friends. 6. Art When it comes to art, the sky’s the limit, especially during the fall season. The fall foliage is the perfect inspiration for your art, making it the perfect fall hobby. Some might even use leaves they find outside in their creations. With art, there are many different mediums to try. Some might prefer drawing and painting, while others might like something more hands on like using clay or sculpting. Some might even have creative and sustainable ideas like using recycled materials. Whatever your preferred medium may be, art offers something for everyone. You just need to be open minded to trying new things and think outside the box, perfect things to do during a new season.
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Things To Do in NYC: Oct. 19-Oct. 25
Features
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Your guide of activities to do in New York City this week. Syriana Pazmino | October 18, 2026
RSVP is required for entry.
Photo Courtesy / YouTube Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Animal Society Peanuts PopUp: Oct. 23-24 Best Friends Animal Society and Peanuts have partnered up to shed light on adoptable dogs and cats. From 11 a.m to 7 p.m., the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in New York City will feature tote bag and hat giveaways, life sized photo-ops with Snoopy and his siblings and an exclusive Best Friends hat that will only be available while supplies last. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet adoptable dogs and cats.
tin Grand Prix Race Day Watch Party beginning at 4 p.m. at their flagship store in New The Art of Snail Mail: Oct. 21 York City. Besides being able to watch the race, fans will To celebrate Martina Calvi’s new book, have the chance to win giveaways, customize “The Art of Snail Mail,” which guides readers their caps, try out racing simulators, shop from through the art of letter writing, Shopify NY is official and exclusive team products and more. hosting a snail mail swap and book signing at 131 Greene Street. Safety Week: Oct. 19-23 Guests will have the opportunity to write, create, swap and shop from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Last but not least, Safety Week is finally for free with an RSVP. upon us. St. John’s University Public Safety, From 7 to 8 p.m., guests who have RSVP’d Resident Life and Student Government, Inc. for the “VIP Signed Copy & Meet & Greet” are hosting a week full of fun events focusing event will have the opportunity to meet Calvi on safety, wellness and community. and receive a signed copy of “The Art of Snail Students will have the opportunity to take Mail” along with a secret special edition gift. a self defense class, meet K9 and therapy dogs while enjoying Insomnia Cookies, build their New Era NYC F1 Race Day Watch Party: own safety kit and more. Oct. 25 Students who sign in at each event will also be entered into a giveaway to win two tickets New Era, the official teamwear partner of to the St. John’s vs. Texas exhibition game at Atlassian Williams F1 team, is hosting an Aus- Madison Square Garden on Oct. 25.
How to Stay Connected With Loved Ones
The importance of putting effort in and maintaining your close relationships. Katie Caruso | October 11, 2026
In our digital age, staying connected should be an easy task. Unfortunately, technology can often act as a divider between us and those we love. Among many, there is a tendency to think that interacting with someone through social media whenever they post is more than enough. You fulfilled your obligation to “keep in touch” despite failing to strengthen the bond. But in our busy day-to-day lives, how does one stay in contact with others? We have so much on our own plates, and it might be hard to give a lot of our time to others, even if we wish we could. Luckily, it isn’t that hard to resolve this issue. However, being a good friend will always involve sacrifices. They don’t have to be extreme, but they will inevitably mean you have to act in selfless ways from time to time. A good way to stay connected to your friends is through classic calling and texting. Shooting your friends a text to ask them about their day or plans you know they were excited about is the perfect way to show you care, that you’re thinking about them and
strengthen your bond by talking to each other. If you find you have some spare time and a quiet space, a phone call is another great way to do this. It’s also important to reach out frequently. Only messaging your friend on holidays isn’t building a meaningful connection. Casually reaching out just to chat about each other’s day is one of the best ways to keep your bond strong. There doesn’t need to be a point to the conversation. You could also invite your friends to come along on random last-minute plans. Imagine you have plans to go for a walk or a shopping trip. If you know your friend isn’t too far away, there’s no harm in inviting them along. The hangout may be brief, but you still managed to make time to connect. Even if your friends aren’t able to come along, it’s very important that you continue to make an effort to show them that you’re thinking about them. Inviting your friend out for lunch and constantly being shut down doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t want to see you anymore. They could be busy, or even struggling with
something you can’t see. Maybe your invite was the thing that made their whole day, even if they declined. Especially now that the colder weather is coming, it’s crucial to reach out and stay connected. During these months, people are more reluctant to leave the house. For some, seasonal depression is a challenge during this time. Staying connected in other ways and continuing to invite your loved ones to hang out is an important thing to keep in mind. Being there for those we love is very important, especially in this stressful world. There are plenty of ways to keep in touch and create meaningful connections; you just need to find what works best for each relationship.
Photo Courtesy / Unsplash Melissa Askew
6 Opinion
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Cornell and The Collapse of Gen Z Men
Why cases like this keep occuring and the uniquely problematic behaviors of men in Gen Z. Micah Grayson | April 10, 2026
To characterize Gen Z’s current outlook on society as pessimistic is Torch Photo/ Sky News Australia an understatement — a major understatement. It’s easy to say that the recently resurfaced allegations surrounding the so-called “Cornell 7” are serving as an “inflection point” for society’s view on consent, sex and college life in general. The term seems to be thrown around so often, even with cases that garner much less attention. But the truth is, despite the calls for death, doxing, essays sent and every other understandable retaliation against these students, nothing will change until the root causes of “rape culture” are addressed. Part of, if not the majority of, the issue stems from the lack of reverence government and local authorities have for these types of cases. In the case of Jane Doe at Cornell, our “trusted” public servants in the police force flat-out neglected the “I can say with 100 percent confidence I was raped” statement, making the case a lot more difficult to navigate for the already incompetent district attorney. One could also bring up the “voluntary intoxication loophole,” which complicates the prosecution of assault cases in which the victim drank of their own accord. We could also talk about the Epstein files and the reality that a significant number of influential figures in American government, including the President himself, are alleged sexual abusers. Why wouldn’t only one percent of rapes lead to felony convictions when those influencing the system are benefiting from the lax approach? The U.S. legal system’s failures are numerous and well-documented, but it’s equally important to address the underlying attitudes the majority of Gen Z men carry with them. To be specific: the misogynistic worldview that implicitly impacts their decisions, and the lack of knowledge, whether intentional or unintentional, about what consent is. It’s easy to say that “men have always been this way,” and while that’s true to a certain extent, it’s important to analyze why a more progressive view on gender, relationships and sex is fostered amongst Gen Z women and not their male counterparts. The first and most obvious answer is that, simply put, women are more progressive across all age groups. It’s not only evidenced through voting habits, either, as policies such as increased government intervention also receive significantly less support from men. We still live in a misogynistic society, where men make more, are hired more, get into better schools, etc. This naturally leads to women, similarly to people of color, trusting the current system less. And rightfully so. But for Gen Z, it goes beyond a simple analysis of the genders as a whole. The so-called “manosphere” is not nearly as popular as it once was, but its long-term effects on how young adults view relationships in particular have been devastating. Many reporters and pundits alike tended to, and still do, associate the 2022-2024 era of online discourse primarily with a rise in popularity for conservative political ideas, such as the free market, less immigration, anti-LGBTQ initiatives, etc. But as someone who is part of the age demographic targeted,
deep political analysis was rarely included in the “red-pilling” that so many of my own peers went through. The universal takeaway from the messages of Andrew Tate, Myron Gaines and the like was, to put it bluntly, “bi%ches ain’t sh#t.” New studies have disproved the notion that Gen Z men swing for people like Donald Trump and Nick Fuentes, but the sad reality is that many of the young men who have become attached to figures such as Zohran Mamdani still hold onto misogynistic tendencies. It’s oxymoronic in many ways, but most young men across the country will chant free Palestine one day, then pejoratively slut shame every woman at their college the next. And in the worst cases, completely ignore every indication of a lack of romantic interest. This leads into my second point: the warped concept of consent as a whole. Some men will always knowingly disregard it; evil people have always existed and always will. But it can’t be discounted, nor should it serve as an excuse, that sexual education in the United States is completely outdated. In my personal experience, and in red states especially, an abstinence-only approach to sex ed remains the standard in public and private schools. This, ironically, not only leads to higher rates of teenage pregnancy and, subsequently, abortions, but also leads to the concept of consent being introduced through outside sources of education. Parents, YouTubers and friends can have a wide variety of opinions on the subject, ranging from slightly crazy to flat-out rape-normalizing. A universalized, clearly defined approach needs to be taught early on in a teen’s development. Not only for social cohesion amongst a generation, but to prevent cases where the perpetrator unknowingly commits a sex crime simply because their dad did the same thing when he was his age. It was already enough of a hurdle for Gen Z men to avoid the manosphere, but add in an education system that doesn’t teach the basics of consent, and instances like the abuse against Jame Doe become more and more inevitable. I, in no way, shape, or form, am excusing the actions of those abusers, or any fraternity, young man or old man who takes advantage of someone in that capacity. But I firmly believe that severe instances of injustice should serve as an opportunity for action. Not just in the form of social punishment, but through education and advocacy for solutions to the root cause. Jane Doe is a victim not only of the perpetrators, the police and Cornell University, but of a system that created a hostile environment for Gen Z women as a whole.
Opinion 7
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Literary Look-Back: A Complaint About Portnoy’s Complaint
Phillip Roth and the unbearable need to be clever. Jorge Gonzalez | Oct. 19, 2026
Oh! The smug self-deprecation! Oh how assertingly self-doubting! Oh, 104TH EDITORIAL BOARD and the cheap literary devices! Don’t torchonline.com let Roth lose a little momentum in JAMES WILLIAMS @stjtorch EDITOR-IN-CHIEF this meta-autobiographical diary of ALEXANDRA PRETTITORE safe perversions because he’ll panic CO-MANAGING EDITOR and throw out four easy motifs in the 718-990-6444 ISABELLA ATHANASIOU @sjutorch CO-MANAGING EDITOR & CO-SOCIAL same long-winded paragraph! ‘Portnoy’s Complaint’ made PhilJACK BULIK MICAH GRAYSON torcheic@gmail.com @sju_torch ip Roth a literary beast, especially in torchads@gmail.com NEWS EDITOR OPINION EDITOR cosmopolitan circles and it’s written JASON PETRUCCI SYRIANA PAZMINO — in its entirety — exactly like that SPORTS EDITOR FEATURES EDITOR sju torch The TORCH. AND OUTREACH NICHOLAS ST. CYR productions first paragraph. St. John’s MANAGER CHIEF COPY EDITOR University He published the novel in 1969, O’Conner Hall DEAN SEBASTIAN ZELYAYA B Level attempting to startle the: “gorgeous, KOUTOURATSAS PHOTO EDITOR & 8000 Utopia ASST. SPORTS CO-SOCIAL MEDIA healthy, and blonde!” WASP Middle Parkway EDITOR MANAGER Queens, NY 11439 America with his open and decadent SAMANTHA descriptions of masturbation, sex AGOURSALIDIS CONTRIBUTIONS and very explicit Freudian fantasies. CULTURE EDITOR All letters submitted for publication must Roth uses the alter ego ‘Alexander STAFF & CONTRIBUTERS include the author’s name, email, and affiliation Portnoy’ as an almost obvious standto St. John’s. Limit letters to 350 words. Subin for himself, a commonality with Katie Caruso missions may edited for clarity. Please submit Jorge Gonzalez the rest of his work. Here is a Jewletters to John Pagnotta torchopinion@gmail.com ish, lower-class “genius” boy raised Brianna Amelia Baez in Newark, New Jersey with a stern ABOUT THE TORCH The TORCH is the official, independent student mother and a repressed father. newspaper of St. John’s University. The Torch A Complaint About Portnoy’s is written, edited, designed and produced by Complaint: students of the University. The TORCH is pubEDITORIAL POLICY Amid the comprehensive list of lished throughout the week at torchonline.com. Editorials are the opinions of the Editorial There is a weekly newsletter on Wednesday grotesque euphemisms for penis BOARD of the TORCH. Columns and other afternoon, as well as a full digital publication and semen and other sexual obcontent are the opinions of the authors(s) each month and are not expressed in editorials, columns, jects, Roth’s imaginative writing can letters or cartoons are not necessarily those sometimes slip through his attempt ADVERTISING of the student body, faculty or adminstration To advertise in The TORCH, contact torchads@ at an intellectualized riff on degenerof St. John’s University. All contents are the gmail.com. Adverstisements can be purchased acy and emasculated machismo. sole responsibility of the editors and the for placement on our website, in our newsletter editorial board and do not necessarily repreTake his mother, a tyrannical giand within our full digital publication. For more sent the views of the administration, faculty antess who can get to be so madinformation, please see The TORCH Media or students of St. John’s University unless Package located on our website. dening and neurotic it borders on specifically stated. caricature. Big red hair and round brown eyes on a tall, slender figure, which is almost condescending to his Interested In father’s stockiness. Emotionally voljoining the torch? atile, Mama Portnoy stomps around her New Jersey apartment looking Email us at: for something to be mad at. Yet Roth is able to humanize her. When she is angry, she is caring, and outreachtorch@gmail.com when she is motherly, she is austere. She becomes so complex in the first 75 pages that you can run your fingers through her hair and feel the Interested In curlers. You can, until Roth makes her readvertising with the torch? curring, violent menstrual bleeding Email us at: a grand symbol of maternal tyranny and of his inability to view his mother as a person and not a mother, torchads@gmail.com wraps it up and says: here’s your mo-
tif. Then he persists by saying Oedipus about 10 times on the same page, and his mother once again becomes words on a page. Yet Roth is still, at times — when he is not being so self-indulgent in his intelligence that he forgets to be more intelligent than you — a capable entertainer. There are passages about faith, virginity and class that make you laugh and understand, sometimes simultaneously. This happens particularly in the sections about The Monkey, his lover and partner who comes from a starkly different background. Roth is sometimes able to mimic her folksiness without patronizing her, but then sometimes she becomes flattened by his exhaustive interpretations of himself and of his pretentious arrogance. And yes, the whole point of this book is for Portnoy (Roth) to vent about how he knows he’s pretentious and high-minded. He is supposed to be; he’s supposed to annoy you. Yet Roth doesn’t realize that nobody likes to feel dumber than anyone, even when the smart person is waving their hands and telling you “it’s fine, I know I’m an asshole.” Roth is clearly a very skillful Writer™, who, throughout the whole book, paints you an imaginative picture of a hilariously pedestrian childhood in Jewish New Jersey. There is his mother, who refuses to relinquish authority over the poor boy’s perception of life. And there is the writer who is, in a way so meta it hurts, doing unto us the exact same thing. Photo Courtesey / YouTube Cliff Notes
8 Culture
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Why ‘The Social Reckoning’ Can’t Escape Its Predecessor’s Shadow
Aaron Sorkin fails to redo the magic of “The Social Network.”
Brianna Amelia Baez | Oct. 15, 2026
“The Social Network” is widely considered to be one of the greatest movies of the 21st century, and its sequel “The Social Reckoning” hit theatres nationwide on Oct. 9. Unlike its predecessor, it was met with mixed reviews from both critics and regular movie-goers. Aaron Sorkin wrote both “The Social Network” (2010) and its sequel, with the first major difference between the two being that Sorkin also directed “The Social Reckoning.” Sorkin, who wrote the Emmy-winning television series “The West Wing” (1999-2006) and Oscar-nominated movie “A Few Good Men” (1992), is considered one of the greatest screenwriters of all time. Still, his directing has been considered very hit or miss. This becomes clear when you watch “The Social Reckoning,” which sorely lacks the direction of the first movie, which was done by Oscar-winning director David Fincher. Fincher opted to make the first movie more of a thriller, focusing on Mark Zuckerberg’s cutthroat personality throughout his journey to becoming the world’s youngest billionaire. Starting off when Zuckerberg was a student at Harvard University, the movie shows how willing Zuckerberg was to abandon and betray the friends that helped him found Facebook. By the end of the film, the viewer is left with a sinking feeling that the character we’ve been following now has such a
large influence over the world. Sorkin deviates from this, instead demoting Zuckerberg’s storyline to the B-plot, and focusing on journalist Jeff Horwitz and Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen. This change turns the story from a potential thriller of Zuckerberg’s career to a legal thriller, focusing on the situation Horwitz and Haugen find themselves in. While Sorkin’s dialogue remains sharp, the tone of the movie is nothing like that of its predecessor. By shifting the focus away from Zuckerberg, the cold and intense focus that defined the first film is replaced by an at-times mediocre workplace drama as we follow Horwitz and his interns. At the same time, the film offers more commentary on current events than its predecessor, choosing not to shy away from the January 6 insurrection, which occurs at the movie’s climax. The performances by Jeremy Allen White as Horwitz, Mikey Madison as Haugen and Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg are also strong and can hold their own to the original movie’s cast and portrayal of real-life events and people. “The Social Reckoning” attempts to comment on how much power social media has over us, but sixteen years after the release of its predecessor, it ultimately fails to meet the mark.
The Smashing Pumpkins Play on Tour at Barclays Center
The band performed for their Rats in a Cage Tour, celebrating the 30th anniversary of their album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Katie Caruso | Oct. 18, 2026
On Oct. 4, The Smashing Pumpkins played at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, for their Rats in a Cage Tour. The tour celebrated the 30th anniversary of their album “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.” The band consisted of Billy Corgan, James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlin and Kiki Wong, a newer member who joined back in 2024. Their names might seem familiar to longtime fans—even with the original guitarist D’arcy Wretzky missing. At the venue, there were multiple merch stands where fans could buy T-shirts, hoodies, keychains and tote bags to show their support for the band. The lines at the stands were very long and winding, showing just how many people were happy to be there. The audience was very enthusiastic. The band rose to popularity in the early ‘90s, so a large majority of the audience were members of older generations coming out to see one of their favorite bands from back in the day on tour. Also in attendance were many younger Gen Z members. The audience was a great mix of longtime fans and younger people who are into music from the past. The band played a large number of songs with a very long and exciting setlist. The show lasted for around three hours. The band had no opener, so as soon as it was time to start, they came out playing one of their most popular songs. There were certain songs where the audience was full of energy and excitement, with everyone standing up and singing along. Some of these included “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” “Zero” and “Ava Adore.” They also played some of their other hits such as “Disarm,”
“Galapagos,” “Mayonnaise,” “Today” and “Cherub Rock.” In addition to these nostalgic hits, The Smashing Pumpkins showcased some of their more recent releases off of their 2024 album “Aghori Mhori Mei,” such as “Edin” and “Pentagrams.” The Smashing Pumpkins even performed one of their most popular songs from decades ago, “Tonight Tonight.” On a screen in the background, they played a video inspired by the silent film “A Trip to the Moon” that paid homage to their original music video for the song, released back in 1996. The concert was the perfect way to bring together fans of The Smashing Pumpkins, both young and old alike. Everyone in the audience was very enthusiastic and happy to be there. It wasn’t just a concert; it was a whole nostalgic experience.
Torch Photo / Katie Caruso
Culture 9
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‘Digger’ Review: A Satirical Look at America’s Future Tom Cruise leads a wild satire that takes aim at American politics, corporate greed and the climate Thomas Grasso | Oct. 14, 2026
At first glance, “Digger” seems like an outrageous movie about an eccentric oil tycoon, but underneath all the absurdity is a much bigger story. Tom Cruise takes on one of his strangest roles yet as Digger Rockwell, an exaggerated caricature of a wealthy oil tycoon caught in the middle of political and environmental chaos. While the movie uses a lot of absurd humor and satire to tell its story, it also serves as a serious warning about climate change and the consequences of putting power and profit ahead of the environment. “Digger” can feel out there at times, but that’s what makes this movie special. Spoilers ahead for “Digger.” The Absurdity of Power One of “Digger’s” biggest strengths is how it uses satire to portray the American government and those in power. The movie exaggerates political corruption and greed to the point that they become absolutely ridiculous. John Goodman plays the president of the United States, putting him at the forefront of the movie’s satire of American politics. Throughout Photo Courtesy / YouTube Warner Bros. the movie, the president and his cabinet come to Digger to find a solution to the exploding oil rig, which is melting the ice caps and sending the year. Cruise will definitely be in contention for Best Actor at the a massive glacier on a collision course with the United States. Oscars after this performance. The president and his cabinet decide to blow up the glacier to stop it, but this only creates smaller ones that head toward Europe. This The Bigger Picture particular instance highlights the incompetence of the people in powWhile “Digger” is filled with absurd humor and satire, it has a very er, adding to the movie’s satire of the American government. serious message about climate change. The movie uses Digger’s oil While the glacier is heading toward Europe, Digger and the presbusiness and the melting ice caps to show the consequences of putident agree to put up an informational firewall so the scale of the ting money and power ahead of the environment. The massive glacier glacier won’t reach the public in time. This shows how those in power heading toward the United States takes this idea to an extreme, turnwould rather shift the blame than take responsibility for the conseing climate change into a threat the characters can no longer ignore. quences of their actions. However, instead of actually solving the problem, the government tries to cover it up to avoid taking responsibility. The movie’s message A Role Unlike Any Other becomes even more powerful when we find out the big twist. Cruise is virtually unrecognizable as Digger Rockwell, taking on his Thirty minutes into the first act, we learn that everything we’ve been most unique performance yet. Cruise is known for playing serious watching is actually a play recreating the events that led to Digger action heroes, but in this role, he gets to take things in a completely Rockwell destroying the world. At the very end of the movie, people different direction, embracing the eccentricity of Digger Rockwell. begin to leave the theater and return to the world outside. As unusual as it was, it is most certainly one of the best performancAs we see them leaving the theater, the world is revealed to have been es of the year and some of the best acting seen from Cruise’s career. destroyed. People are wearing filtration masks because of how bad the A big part of bringing Digger to life is the prosthetics Cruise had air has become and are navigating through the now-broken world. By to wear for the role. The extensive prosthetics help make Cruise look this point, it is already too late to change anything. older and bring Digger Rockwell’s larger-than-life persona to the big The play itself becomes a way for people to cope with what hapscreen. pened to their world, which helps explain why the movie’s comedy is Another aspect that makes Cruise’s portrayal of Digger so impressive so over-the-top. is that he also plays an actor named Curtis, who portrays Digger in the Humor can be a way for people to cope with difficult situations, and production of the play “Fossil Fools”. Balancing both characters adds “Digger” takes that idea to an extreme by turning a devastating story another layer of complexity to the role and strengthens his case for a into an absurd comedy. This is where the movie’s message becomes best actor nomination at the Oscars. most effective because everything we just watched was essentially a The biggest highlight of Cruise’s performance comes from a onereflection of the world that was lost. take, ten-minute monologue that Digger gives while testifying in front “Digger” shows us what happens when it’s already too late to undo of a court. What makes this scene impressive is how Cruise is able to the damage that we’ve caused. hold the audience’s attention for the entire ten minutes. The monologue is easily the best scene in the movie and one of the best scenes of
10 Sports
Prospects For Jets Fans to Watch
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The Jets have a chance to retool in the 2027 NFL Draft. Red Storm Rank No. 13 In Preseason AP Jason Petrucci | October 19, 2026
Photo Courtesy/ YouTube New York Jets
John Pagnotta | October 18, 2026
In the first five weeks of the 2026 season, the New York Jets have started 2-3, but there are certainly positive signs. They dominated the Titans, controlled most of the game against the Packers and kept pace offensively with the Lions. Unfortunately, Gang Green was steamrolled by the Chicago Bears in Week 4, but managed to respond with a comeback win against the 3-1 Browns. Looking ahead, the Jets face a softer part of their schedule, with some very winnable games. During the rest of October, the Jets play the Patriots (32) and the struggling Dolphins (0-4), who lost starting running back De’Von Achane to injury for the remainder of the season. Is it crazy to believe that the Jets can be 4-3 or 3-4 by the end of the month? Absolutely not. It’s a small sample size, but this looks like a much better and more competent Jets team than most fans expected, and it appears the players are beginning to buy into Aaron Glenn’s culture. College Prospects to Watch Some early targets that fans should be watching in college football include: QB: TEX Arch Manning (64% COMP, 1,295 YDS, 11 TD, 5 INT) CB: ND Leonard Moore (13 TOT, 5 PD) DT: OU David Stone (22 TOT, 0.5 sacks)
Ideally, the Jets would take a quarterback if Geno Smith struggled and the team feels that a rookie would show better results. However, the team can instill a strategy like what the Las Vegas Raiders are doing with No.1 pick Fernando Mendoza, as he’s been sitting behind and learning from Kirk Cousins. Mensah or Carr would be phenomenal picks, and Eli Manning recently announced that he wouldn’t mind Arch Manning being drafted by the Jets. In addition, the need for a cornerback is significant for the Jets’ secondary, as Leonard Moore or Ashton Hampton would fit seamlessly into the defense. The last time the Jets had an impact cornerback was Sauce Gardner, whom they managed to acquire two first-round picks and Adonai Mitchell for. The future is very bright for the New York Jets, as it is necessary for Darren Mougey to record a second consecutive A+ draft with his first-round selections. David Bailey has looked exactly as advertised, delivering a strong September before having his true breakout performance last Sunday. Against the Cleveland Browns, Bailey made DeShaun Watson’s life hell, as he recorded seven tackles, three TFLs, three sacks and four quarterback hits. He ranks first among rookies in pressures (26), sacks (5), and total tackles (25), which makes him the early favorite for Defensive
Rookie of the Year. Meanwhile, Kenyon Sadiq is still being somewhat eased in after a hernia setback, but has been very explosive when healthy. He’s posted 14 catches for 146 yards with a ridiculous touchdown catch and a creative touchdown run. In addition, Sadiq already recorded his first career 100-yard game in Week 3, while posting a 62.8 run-blocking grade. Rookie Omar Cooper Jr. was a steal of a selection at No. 30, but he’s only played in one game due to his ankle injury in his debut. Jets fans saw a flash of what type of receiver he can be, as he made a 30-yard catch and eluded multiple Titans defenders before being tackled at the 5-yard line. The foundation is also there with Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Demario Davis, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and others contributing to the start of the season. This is a Jets team that sits at 2-3 but can easily be 3-2 or 4-1 with a more experienced coaching staff and player group. Fans have to be patient and remember that this is a very young Jets squad, as the average age of the players is 25.9. There is a lot of youth on this team, and some of these rookies will only get better as the season progresses.
For the first time since 1990-91, St. John’s will be featured in the preseason AP Top -25 season in backto-back seasons. The Red Storm will join UConn as the only two Big East programs to be featured in the rankings. The rankings come just one day after the exciting quadruple OT Johnnies victory over Rutgers, with both Ian Jackson and Keyshawn Hall leading the way with 24 points apiece. With regular season kicking off on Nov. 2 at home against Monmouth, the Red Storm will play one more exhbition contest on Oct. 25 against No. 7 ranked Texas, a matchup that will surely show how ready St. John’s is for the upcoming season.
AP Top-25: 1. Florida 2. Duke 3. Illinois 4. UConn 5. Arizona 6. Michigan State 7. Texas 8. Tennessee 9. Virginia 10. Houston 11. Louisville 12. Arkansas 13. St. John’s 14. Miami 15. Gonzaga 16. Michigan 17. Kansas 18. Iowa State 19. Texas Tech 20. Alabama 21. USC 22. UCLA 23. Kentucky 24. Vanderbilt 25. BYU St. John’s began the 2025-2026 season at No. 5, they finished No. 10.
SPORTS VOLUME 104:02, OCT. 21, 2026 ISSUE
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St. John's Survives Rutgers
In Quadruple OT Thriller Photo Credit/Sebastian Zelaya Torch Photo / Sebastian Zelaya
Jason Petrucci | October 18, 2026
Just the second pit-stop of October before the long-awaited regular season tip-off, St. John’s made their return to Madison Square Garden for an exhibition contest against Rutgers in what could be considered the Subway vs. Turnpike Showdown. The Red Storm would first erase an 18-point deficit, then put the finishing blow on their opponent in a double-overtime thriller, downing Rutgers 104-99. Sunday was just another reminder that exhibition play must be light, serving as a learning experience for the Johnnies before regular-season play begins. The overtime thriller Ian Jackson emerged as the leader he’s poised to be this season, following up his strong second half from their win over Drexel with a headlining performance, totaling 24 points on the day while showing aggressiveness on the defensive end with a steal and a block. “Ian has to get better fundamentally,” said Pitino when asked for a takeaway on Jackson’s performance. “He can score, but he needs to get better fundamentally. He is having a good fall, and will be a good basketball player once improving fundamentally.” In his first game as a starter for St. John’s, Keyshawn Hall would impress, filling the box score with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Outside of the stats, international transfer Quinn Ellis would show his elite playmaking ability, tally-
ing nine assists while also being a major impact on defense with two steals and four blocks. The first half, to put it, wasn’t pretty. The Red Storm had zero answers on both ends through the first half, getting outworked on the glass 22-14, going 11-for-30 from the field while ending the half 2-for-15. Another story from the opening half would be the early foul trouble, the Red Storm putting themselves in trouble early, totaling seven team fouls through the first eight minutes alone, allowing the Scarlet Knights to enter the bonus, scoring 10 points from the charity stripe through the first 20 minutes. The Red Storm would enter the locker room looking like victims of a potential blowout, trailing Rutgers 46-28 after ending the half going 2-for-15 from the field. However, St. John’s would come out of the locker room showing some fight, going on a 12-2 run through the first four minutes of the second half, cutting the Rutgers lead to 48-40. The sudden surge would force a timeout from the Knights, which did absolutely nothing, the Johnnies, continuing their dominant stretch of play, would find themselves in the driver’s seat, taking the lead with 11 minutes to play thanks to a strong transition dunk from Ruben Prey. With less than a minute to play, Hall would be assessed his fourth foul — sending the Scarlet Knights to the line, where they regained T
their first-half lead, 71-69. With zero timeouts remaining, the Red Storm would have to produce in the final 39 seconds — which they did, Ellis finding an opening in the paint, tying the game with a beautiful layup. The buzzer sounded; overtime would be played — a treat to every fan in attendance. Instantly, the Red Storm would shoot themselves in the foot, tallying two quick fouls, with Prey fouling out. However, Ellis would serve as the hero, knocking down a three-pointer to tie the game 74-74, following the offensive sequence with a dominant block to keep the contest tied. Again, both teams would exchange haymakers, Jackson sinking a three with under a minute to play, Rutgers guard Tariq Francis immediately matching. Neither team could deliver a final blow, sending it to a third overtime. The third extra period would show the same thing: back-and-forth play where neither team was able to capitalize on a short-term lead. A fourth overtime would be played at MSG. This time, however, the Johnnies would put the final nail in the coffin, sending Rutgers home, 104-99. “You get to play four OT quarters at Madison Square Garden, that’s pretty damn good,” said Pitino.