The Aquinas, December 2019

ISSUE NO. 14

NOVEMBER 2019

THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON

21 SIGNS YOU’RE FROM NEPA

MEET YOUR FIRST-YEAR SENATORS

THE FALL 2019 ATHLETIC SEASON

All the ways to spot a true Northeastern Pennsylvania Native

Four students claiming leadership roles within their first semester

Highlights from every fall sports team on campus

The Student Voice of The University of Scranton Volume 89, Issue 3

AQ

aquinas.scranton.edu

THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES

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@ScrantonAquinas

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Friday, September 25, 2015

Faculty protest again At Leahy Hall dedication, FAC rallies for ‘fair’ contract

“The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket” debuts

Page 8

Interest rates remain, but for how long?

Page 10

The University celebrates Pope Francis’s presence in the U.S.

Club rugby team plays annual Pink Game

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INSIDE Campus Notes.......................... 2 News ...................................... 3-4 Feature ....................................... 5 Forum............................................6-7 Arts & Life ............................ 8-9 Business ............................ 10-11 Science & Tech....................... 12 Faith ......................................... 13 Jump......................................... 14 Sports .................................15-16

CONTACT US Phone: (570) 941-7464 Email: aquinaseditors@gmail.com

AQUINAS PHOTO / EMMA BLACK

FACULTY AFFAIRS Council members gather at Jefferson Avenue and Linden Street for their second protest this year. They feel the proposed contract by administration is unequal and insist on getting a ‘fair’ contract.

KAYLA SHEA News Editor The Faculty Affairs Council protested the proposed contract by administration for the second time Sept. 18.

FAC members stood at three of the four corners of the Jefferson Avenue and Linden Street intersection holding signs that read “A fair contract for faculty,” “Tuition dollars wasted,” “Teaching is the mission,” and more, some of which were held at the

previous protest Aug. 22.

After being in Minimal Compliance – Stage 1 since July 13 and peacefully protesting, FAC members hoped the second demonstration would not be necessary.

Daniel Townsend, Ph.D., of the biology department held a sign that read “A fair contract for faculty.” He explained that the FAC did not want to have a second protest.

“We hoped we wouldn’t have to do this one,” Townsend said. He then repeated himself two

more times. “We hoped we wouldn’t have to do this one. We hoped we wouldn’t have to do this one.”

The contract negotiations began months ago and, in explaining what a typical negotiation entails, Townsend explained why there is friction between administration and faculty.

“The context of a negotiation is to do just that,” Townsend said. “To negotiate the give and takes, so that each side, in effect, gets some of the things that it would like and is willing to

give up some of the things that the other side is less excited about or less willing to accept, and that’s not happened. It has not happened to any reasonable extent.”

Stan Zygmunt, director of news and media relations at The University, provided a statement on behalf of The University.

“We respect the right of our faculty to draw attention to their perspective of contract negotiations.”

Zygmunt wrote in an email.

“Nevertheless, protests or demonstrations have no in-

fluence on our commitment to providing the faculty with a fair, competitive and sustainable contract that recognizes the financial pressures facing The University and all of higher education.”

Jessica Bachman, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the exercise science department who chose to hold a sign that read “Teaching is the mission.”

Bachman explained that the purpose of the

SEE ‘PROTEST’ PAGE 3

Behind the Scenes of

Sister talks death row Leahy Hall dedicatedSpringfest ANNA PUCCI News Correspondent Sister Helen Prejean visited The University to discuss her experience with death row Monday.

She was featured at the annual Ignation Values in Action Lecture, where she informed listeners of her advocacy for the abolishment of the death penalty.

Sister Prejean has worked with several inmates as they served their time on death row.

She told her heartwrenching journey through New York Times Best seller, “Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty,” and her book “The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions.”

“Dead Man Walking” begins with an explanation of how Prejean originally got involved with death row.

“When Chava Colon from the Prison Coalition asks me one January day in 1982 to become a pen

pal to a death-row inmate, I say, sure,” Prejean wrote.

Pat Sonnier was the first execution she witnessed, but what Prejean did not mentioned in the book was the moment when he told her he did not want her to come to his execution, because he wanted to protect her. “‘Pat, if I am there and am able to witness what they do to you, I will tell your story around this

SEE ‘DEATH ROW’ PAGE 3

MICHAEL MAZZUCA KAYLA SHEA The new building for physical therapy, occupational therapy and exercise science, Edward R. Leahy Jr. Hall, was dedicated Sept. 18.

The eight-story building is the latest addition to the Panuska College of Professional Studies. With 116,360 total square footage, Leahy Hall has 25 laboratories, nine classrooms, several simulation environments and more.

Peter Leininger, Ph.D., O.C.S., chairperson of the physical therapy department, is excited over the influx of high-tech equipment. He described a couple of new rooms with optimal technology, including an anatomy space that will open next semester.

“That’s going to be, pretty much, (a) state-of-the-art ventilation system — excellent lighting, projection system to help with the anatomy,” Leininger said.

He pointed out some of the differences between the

>> p.14

past location, Old Loyola, and the current location, Leahy Hall, for some of the departments, including an absence of natural light. He explained that students worked in dark rooms across the basement level, which lacked windows and interior temperature.

“We were in the basement of the hall, so some of the rooms had no light even during the day,” Leininger said. “Some rooms

Q&A with Student Body President >> p.4

SEE ‘LEAHY HALL’ PAGE 3

Senior Athlete Spotlight

>> p.10

Relay for Life Recap

>> p.16

INSIDE ISSUE NO. 15 / DECEMBER 2019

4

6

8

So Fabulous & Fun

New Competition

21 Signs You’re from NEPA

11

12

14

Fall Sports Review 2019

Q&A with the First-year Senators

Graduating Early

16 Campus Comment

SO FABULOUS & FUN Style your clothes better and look chic while doing so…

Jamie Lynn Rizzotti will lead the way BY:ISABELLA TRAVAGLIA

I had the pleasure of meeting with Jamie Lynn Rizzotti, a senior here at The U, to discuss her blog So Fabulous & Fun. Originally from Yardley, Pennsylvania, Jamie is a community health education major and was recently inducted into the Community Health Honors Society here at The U. She is largely involved with the Peer Health Educator Program and Her Campus’ InfluencerHer Collective, an influencer community targeted for the female college student demographic. Jamie’s blog So Fabulous & Fun is a large part of her life here at The University, and has allowed her the ability to self-express on various platforms. She was eager and willing to share this passion with me in our interview.

IT: How did you come up with the name So Fab-

ulous & Fun? JLR: “My mom and sister helped me come up with the name. We got inspiration from my favorite blogger ‘Southern Curls & Pearls.’ I really liked how she uses the ‘&’ symbol in her logo and wanted to do the same. I am also a really big fan of alliteration and thought using this literary device would create a name that is memorable to my audience. My mom, sister and I brainstormed words that I liked that started with the same letter and came up with ‘fabulous’ and ‘fun’ and we soon after established ‘So Fabulous & Fun.’ I love the name and hope that my blog can inspire my audience to add some ‘fun’ to the already classic and ‘fabulous’ pieces they have in their closet!”

IT: Why did you start the blog?

JLR: “I started the blog because I wanted an outlet to

explore my passion for fashion. I really enjoy community health education and am very passionate about health and wellness, but I still felt like something was missing while I was in college. I always knew deep down inside that I should do something with my love for fashion so once I discovered fashion blogging I knew it was the perfect thing for me. Shopping is one of my favorite things to do and I really enjoy styling outfits while keeping up with the latest trends, so I knew that starting a fashion blog would help me pursue that passion.”

IT: Do you have any inspirations?

JLR: “One of my biggest inspirations is Southern Curls and Pearls; she is someone I have followed for a long time. She is much older than I am, however, her posts and blog have always resonated with me. Southern Curls and Pearls has transitioned from only styling outfits to more lifestyle blogging which is something I look forward to doing with my own blog in the future.

Some other inspirations include CCmcoving, Champagne&Chanel, Dressupbuttercup and Daniaustin.”

IT: Who takes your photos and when do you take your photos?

JLR: “My mom is my photographer. She also helps me brainstorm all of the locations for my blog pictures based on the outfits that we are shooting that day. We like to find places that have a background that matches my outfit which gives off an aesthetic appearance. I take all of my photos when I am home from college for breaks to stock up on photos so that when I am back at school I can put my main focus into creating blog posts.”

IT: Do you have plans for your business after college?

JLR: “I plan on continuing my business after college and would love to merge into lifestyle blogging. I plan on creating posts about my beauty and skincare routine, healthy recipes, fitness, and home decor. Maintaining the blog and updating it regularly is a lot of work and can be considered a “full time job” so I look forward to being able to dedicate more time to this after college and seeing how it will grow.”

IT: Where do you shop?

JLR: “I have a lot of stores that I enjoy shopping at but lately I have been purchasing outfits for the blog at Target, Francesca’s, Anthropolgie, and Urban Outfitters! I try my best to advertise affordable pieces and sale items in hope that it will entice people to shop my looks and

www.sofabulousandfun.com // @sofabulousandfun in hope that it will entice people to shop my looks and stick around for my fashion finds.”

IT: Do you have any sponsored posts, if so how did you get them and which companies have reached out to you?

JLR: “Through Her Campus I receive the majority of my sponsorship opportunities. The Her Campus community has allowed micro-influencers, like myself, to connect with their respective clients to create sponsored posts. The application process is different for each company but most brands ask us for information on personal blogging data and our audience insights; including number of followers and their demographics such as their gender, age range, and location of where they live. Some of the companies I have collaborated with include: Garnier, L’Oreal, Alba Botanica, Clarisonic, Kiehl’s, Febreze, Steripod, LUNA Bar, OtterBox, LeSportsac and Victoria’s Secret PINK. Other than Her Campus, companies will reach out to me and ask if I would like free product in exchange for a post.”

IT: Do you collaborate with any apps to make it easier for your followers to find specific outfits?

JLR: “Through rewardStyle I collaborate with LIKEtoKNOW.it. which is known as the single largest influencer shopping app! LIKEtoKNOW.it technology has made it incredibly quick and easy for followers to find specific outfits I post on my blog. Through this app my followers can purchase whatever catches their eye without all of the trouble of sifting through old posts trying to figure out where I bought my outfit. The app is free and simple to use so it is extremely beneficial for those

who enjoy fashion and want to shop from their favorite bloggers and influencers.”

IT: What are some of your favorite pieces to wear?

JLR: “Fall is one of my favorite seasons so my favorite pieces are clothing items that can be worn during the Fall. I love leggings, high waisted jeans, big comfy sweaters, thigh high boots, booties, big blanket scarves, and pom hats. I think adding a unique and fun accessory can really complete any look!

IT: What do you find is the hardest part about being a micro-influencer while also being at school?

JLR: “I am extremely grateful that I was able to become successful with my blog and to be able to receive sponsored posts with some of my favorite brands, but what makes it hard about being a micro-influencer while also being at school is that I don’t want to come off as over the top. There’s a fine line between being authentic and being in it for a sponsorship. I blog because I love fashion and really enjoy writing and being creative. Doing sponsorships are just an amazing perk that I receive in exchange for doing a hobby that I love. It is very hard to share with other college students the wonderful opportunities that I obtain, especially when I am gifted with free products because I never want people to perceive me as being ostentatious with the items that I receive.

Being considered an “influencer” is something that I am very proud of achieving, especially at such a young age but at the end of the day I am just an ordinary college student and I hope that people can see that.”

New Competition

Four Senior Helath Administration Majors flew down to South Carolina to apply their education to a case study competition in their field

BY JOE DIBENEDETTO & MARISSA LEMBO

In the middle of October, four undergraduate Health Administration students participated in the first inaugural health administration case competition at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. The four senior students, Joseph DiBenedetto, Marissa Lembo, Christian Bahara and Phuong Nguyen along with health administration professor, Steven Szydlowki, Ph.D. traveled to the beautiful city of Charleston to not only compete in a competition against other colleges nationwide, but also to get a taste of southern hospitality in the great city of Charleston.

Dr. Szydlowski, an alumni of the Medical University of

South Carolina (MUSC), was more than eager to show the four students around Charleston.

Every team at the case competition consisted of either three or four students who are studying and planning careers in healthcare administration. The University students also got a chance to meet other teams from different schools and learn about some of their backgrounds. The other 14 teams that were competing included, Loyola University Chicago, University at Alabama Birmingham, Weber State University, University of Minnesota Deluth, Central Michigan University, Western Kentucky University, Auburn University, East Carolina University, Francisican Missionaries of Our

Lady University, Stonehill College, Winthrop University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of North Florida and Penn State. The teams were able to meet and talk to each other at dinner the night before.

“It was so nice that everybody was super friendly and we definitely had that friendly competition aspect that relieved a lot of nerves for what was a very nerve wracking situation,” Lembo said.

The main focus of the case was centered around the future of Telehealth and specifically Telestroke expansion for MUSC and the creation of equitable, daily on-call pricing models to charge sites that implement these stroke services. The rising stroke issue has placed an impediment on the state of South Carolina, yet today, because of the continuous work of MUSC professionals, all South Carolinians now live within an hour of Telestroke services. Students were able to formulate their own reactions to the case in order to finance the services. Students had to present their pricing model to a number of judges and panelists in a room, where they were given 15 minutes to present and five minutes for any questions from the judges. Throughout the morning, teams were randomly assigned one of the five different time slots and one of the three rooms. The only listeners of the presentation were four healthcare professionals and Masters of Health Administrators (MHA), and a number of healthcare administration graduate students at MUSC. However, only the four judges were able to talk and ask questions when the 15 minutes were up.

The University’s team were chosen in their room as the winners to move on to the final round, which was a distinct honor and pleasure for the students.

“When we were chosen as finalists we were excited, but by drawing the first time slot a half hour after we found out we placed, we knew it was go time and we wanted to win,” DiBenedetto said.

The final round was a little different than the first, where the team presented in an auditorium style room and the other non qualifying teams could also attend the presentation, which was not allowed in the first round. Each team in the final round were to present in front of 5 judges at different times between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. However, the final teams could not listen in on each others presentation. The final round judges consisted of Matt Reich, MHA, Amelia Bischoff, MHA, Shawn Valenta, MHA, Patrick J. Cawley, M.D., MBA,

and Rick Toomey, DHA, FACHE.

Though the University of Scranton did not get first place of the case competition, they were more than proud of themselves for placing as finalists. Dr. S was also very proud of them, as well, and thought they did a magnificent job and represented him well in front of former colleagues. This team of four students had the distinct honor of not only attending the first inaugural health administration case competition, but also were the first ever University of Scranton team to place in a healthcare related case competition. These competitions are typically held at the graduate level, but with the success of MUSC’s first undergraduate competition and University of Scranton’s success we hope that there are more case competitions for health administration majors in the future.

21 Signs you’re from NEPA Because our little sector of Pennsylvania has its own set of unique quirks, here’s 21 signs you’re from Northeastern Pennsylvania, and for those of you who aren’t local, here are 21 things you should have known before getting here, but didn’t.

BY ANN SIOCK

1. “T’s” and “H’s” are optional

Part of the Coal Cracker brogue, the Scranton glottal stop has been annoying linguists for generations. When does the “T” get pronounced? When does it not? There really is no rhyme or reason to it. Scranton, is typically pronounced “Scra-en” the “H” in “Throop” is seen not heard. What happens when you have a “TH” as in “the?”

It would be a “D,” duh.

2. You kick off your summer workout routine with The Running of the Saints

Think nothing’s better than La Festa? Think again. The folks of Jessup, a little town just fifteen minutes north of Scranton, take their Italian and Catholic heritage to the extreme with their celebration of St. Ubaldo. St. Ubaldo was the bishop of Gubbio, Italy who saved his flock from the wrath of Frederick Barbarossa in 1155. Many of his descendents settled in Jessup. Jessup and Gubbio are the only two places ON THE PLANET that celebrate this daring saint’s feast.

3. It is entirely normal to spend nine summer nights in a row at Church

Ubaldo is not the only Catholic saint to receive a king’s treatment in the summer. Saint Ann, the mother of The Blessed Virgin Mary, is given a celebration fit for a queen. As the patroness of coal miners and mother’s, devotion to St. Ann runs deep in local families. Not only would she be protecting the region’s mothers, but for a long time its sons, fathers, husbands and brothers, as well. Not only was she the constant companion of many of the region’s citizens, she is credited for saving the basilica which bears her name. As the story goes, St. Ann’s Monastery was founded by the Passionist order back in 1904 with the promise of growing a strong parish community. The first signs of disaster reared their heads in 1911 when a mine subsidence damaged the monastery. Two years later (1913), a second subsidence forced the Passionist Community to evacuate. Local mining experts believed that a huge slide would shift the monastery to the east and had the potential of destroying the complex. On July 28, 1913 while praying for a miracle, the parish community was disturbed by a thunderous rumbling sound followed by a deadly silence. Upon investigation, they found that what was supposed to be a gigantic slide was actually two boulders settling beneath the monastery, placing it on firmer ground than ever before.

4. The phrase “Go Joe” means the end of summer break

Go Joe is a yearly fundraiser run by Joe Snedecker who bikes his way back to the Saint Joseph’s Center in Scranton from various points in and around the state. His return is celebrated by the Saint Joseph’s Festival, which is yet another picnic, this time to raise money for the very same St. Joseph’s Center. According to the St. Joseph’s site, “St. Joseph’s Center continues to honor the core values of Care, Concern, Compassion and Commitment.”

Through pregnancy, family and adoption services; outpatient therapy; and extensive residential and community-based programs for children and adults diagnosed with intellectual disability, St. Joseph’s serves hundreds of people throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania on a daily basis.

5. The phrase “Ryan’s Run” is the little brother of “Go Joe”

Ryan’s Run was started by TV journalist Ryan Lecky, back in 2009. Lecky raises money for Allied Services as a way of raising money to support children and adults with disabilities by running in the New York City Marathon.

6. You don’t mind if someone insults your area, but a slight on the area’s pizza is cause for a war.

Just don’t do it. You can call us backward, but our pizza is superior and we have Old Forge to prove it.

9. Summer is not complete without potato pancakes

Italian Ice and trays of superior Old Forge pizza aside, potato pancakes are the heart of the area. This Eastern European dish is at all celebrations from the Italian Festival or Fourth of July celebrations

10. The spelling and pronunciation of Polish last names make sense.

Sajak? Nowak? Kowalzych? We’ve got you covered.

11. The phrase “up the Eynon” actually has meaning to it.

Yes, Eynon is a place. No, we don’t mean Eynon in general (well now maybe, but that is wrong). Surgarman’s Department Store in Eynon used to be a mainstay for everything from snow tires to pianos. Now the phrase is more commonly used to denote stores in the same plaza as the old department store.

12. You are bilingual in English and Heynabonics

Jeet? No, joo? Nah. Wot doin’? Nah mu,choo? Gon’ta a have ta get back soon, family’s goin’ on a pitnick. All makes sense to someone from around here. And let’s not forget the King of Scranton Slang: Heyna! This is a word that pretty much encompasses the entirety of the phrase “ain’t that/it so?” heralding back to a time before emojis and text talk, heyna was the first step in effective communication through sentence fragments. It is still used with reverence today.

13. Haluski, Perogies, and Oplatki are staples of a Christmas Eve Dinner

Haluski is cabbage, onions, and noodles sauteed in butter. Perogies are mashed potatoes (with cheese sometimes) wrapped in dough and then either fried in butter or boiled with butter and onions poured over the top. Oplatki is the more religious side of things. It is a flat wafer depicting scenes from the Christmas story. The oplatki is left on each person’s plate at the table and is broken among guests as a sign of family and Christian unity.

14. A mango is NEVER mango

Sausage and mangoes is a very normal plate here. Particularly because “mango” is a word that North Eastern Pennsylvanians have come to use when referencing bell peppers. Why that is, nobody knows.

15. Also if you are frying something you may get skited.

It is a word in the English language, but I have never heard anyone outside of the area use it when hit with hot grease while cooking, which is why it is on this list.

16. Sheetz was your primary high school hang out.

It is the N.E.P.A. version of Wawa. Wawa fans are just going to have to deal with it. For some reason we only have Sheetz.

18. You have a wheat lamp and know how to use it.

The wheat lamp was a revolution in mining. First produced by the Kohler Company in Wilkes-Barre, the wheat lamp was named for its inventor Grant Wheat. The lamp itself was attached to miners’ hard hats by a hook. A cable connected the light to its rechargeable battery that was fastened to the miner’s hip. Given the popularity of carbide lamps, which relied heavily on the use of a flame, the wheat lamp made mining easier and safer.

19. You just shake your head when someone tells you the road is closed due to a mine subsidence.

It happens fairly frequently. Given the popularity of mining in the area, most towns and cities in the area have a labyrinth of old veins running underneath them. When the companies pulled out, they were supposed to find ways of stabilizing the ground before they left. However, decades without a check up would make even the most thorough job a little unreliable.

20. You have been taken to the coal mine tour in McDade Park on a class trip at least three times.

In an area where most people had at least one ancestor who was connected to the mining industry, it is important to know what your ancestors endured. Going on the coal mine tour at McDade Park and then to the Anthracite Heritage Museum in the same complex is a field day for most students. The coal mine tour takes visitors down into an old pit mine where foremen and registered miners educate them on the daily life of an anthracite miner. The Anthracite Heritage Museum deals with a very similar topic, however it focuses less on the daily life of a miner and more on the history of coal country. Covering events from the Avondale Mining Disaster to the artwork of C. Edgar Patience and photography of Scott D. Herring. This museum not only preserves the history of the original anthracite miners but showcases the contributions of new ethnic groups to the region in a post mining era.

21. In the event of a tornado, your first instinct is to seek shelter in a flower tent.

We get tornadoes. Sometimes they are bad. Sometimes they destroy a lot of things. After seeing photos of wreckage in which entire buildings have been destroyed while seeing a lowly flower tent has weathered the storm, locals have pretty much learned that in the case of an emergency your nearest flower tent may be the best place to seek shelter.

Graduating In The Winter: The Untold Challenges And Opportunities

BY JOE KOTKE Most undergraduate seniors at The U expect to graduate in May, wearing full cap and gown attire, at a familiar celebration that all of us fondly look forward to. But some seniors will not be graduating in May (and no, I am not referring to the individuals who flunk senior year).

Whether they needed to take a semester off, or simply plan on graduating early, an estimated 45 students are expected to graduate from The U after this semester.

Many will receive their degrees in December of 2019, and those taking their final courses over intersession will receive them in January of 2020. Like all other graduates, these winter graduates need a plan of action after they receive their diplomas. I wanted to know how their plans may differ because of their differently-timed leap into the workplace. Additionally, what’s it like graduating separate from most others? Do these students face challenges most of us fail to consider? And do they still plan on walking at graduation in May?

“I think it’s a unique opportunity to be able to graduate early, and you know if I’m done, I might as well,” Julia DalCeredo, a journalism and electronic media major planning to graduate in December, said.

An early graduation means that graduates can enter the real world months early, an aspect of early graduation that Dalceredo is happy about. On the other hand, an abridged academic year means leaving behind the familiar life at The U that we’re all accustomed to.

“I feel like now I’m starting to appreciate and recognize all of the wonderful things that college is providing me with,” DalCeredo said. “If I had advice for

first-years, I would say definitely get involved on campus.”

DalCeredo said she plans on walking at graduation with the Class of 2020 in May. That leaves her and the rest of the December grads walking in May a full five months of non-studenthood that the rest of seniors will be spending still in college. Many of the December and January grads will have prime opportunities to begin work or internships during their first months out of school. Many companies see a surge in hiring and interning around the New Year, as they cycle through their summer hirees and look for new employees who graduated after the fall semester.

“I think I’m going to be interning for a Catholic publishing company called Bayard,” DalCeredo commented. “I haven’t had any internship experiences just because I think I’ve been so focused on academics and trying to graduate early.”

Scheduling classes while planning to graduate early is no easy task. Because The U offers many classes only during the fall and spring semesters, winter graduates need to plan their schedules far ahead, and often are inconvenienced when a class they wanted to take won’t fit in their schedule. Additionally, some companies don’t look for new winter graduates the same way they look for summer graduates, which can also pose a challenge.

Graduating in the winter brings several new opportunities and challenges for undergraduates. Their unique circumstances highlight an untold story of college life, and reminds us how all experiences are diverse.

BY LAUREN EARNSHAW

Men’s Cross Country

Fall

sports

review

2019

The Men’s Cross Country team finished fourth at the Landmark Conference Championships. Three runners recorded a top-20 finish in the race. As the top finisher for the Royals, Jack Patwell ‘21 placed 17th in the race, followed by Shane McKeon ‘22 who was 18th and Liam Mead ‘23 who was 20th.

Women’s Cross Country

The Women’s Cross Country team placed third at the 2019 Landmark Conference Championships. Jessica Hoffmann ‘22 and Rachel Kerr ‘21 both registered top10 finishes at the championships. This accomplishment earned both runners All-Landmark Conference honors.

Hoffmann placed seventh to earn All-Landmark First Team honors, and Kerr finished eighth and earned Second Team accolades.

Field Hockey

The Scranton Field Hockey team went 13-8 in the 2019 season, with a 6-1 Landmark Conference record. This conference record earned the Royals their first ever No. 1 seed for playoffs. The squad defeated Elizabethtown 3-0 at home in the semi-final game, which set them up for a Landmark Conference Championship rematch with Susquehanna. In the 2018 championship game, Susquehanna came out on top, but this year, the Royals won 4-1 at home on Weiss Field. This victory earned the team an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament, in which the Royals hosted MIT in the first round-- a game which ended a historic season for the team. Gracie McClatchy ‘20 had a team-leading 13 goals on the season, followed by Allie Benadon ‘22 with seven goals.

Benadon led the team with six assists, and McClatchy and Brianna Witt ‘20 followed with five assists each.

Goalkeeper Claire McAllister ‘20 started all 21 games for the Royals-- with a Goals Allowed Average of 1.20 and five shutouts. As for awards, Coach Colleen Moyer was named the Coach of the Year title and five players earned All-Conference honors. The All-Conference honorees were McClatchy (First Team), Benadon (First Team), Christina Motz ‘21 (First Team), Amelia Sharp ‘21 (Second Team) and McAllister (Second Team).

Men’s Golf

Men’s Golf had a record of 10-0 this fall season. The group placed second out of seven teams at the Land-

mark Conference Fall Preview. Nicholas Campanelli ‘22 took home the individual championship honors for the day, followed by Thomas McAuliffe ‘21 placing fourth in a tie and Matthew Fleming ‘23 placing eighth also in a tie.

Women’s Golf

The Women’s Golf team went 4-0 on its fall season.

At the Landmark Conference Fall Preview, the team placed third out of six teams. Katie Pagano ‘23 led the Royals on the afternoon, placing 11th in the field, with Molly Lennon ‘22 placing 14th and Emma Nemitz ‘22 placing 15th behind her.

Men’s Soccer:

The Scranton Men’s Soccer Team went 11-5-2 on the season with a 6-1 in the Landmark Conference regular season. This conference record earned them the No. 2 seed in the Landmark Conference playoffs, which gave them home field advantage for their semi-final game against No. 3 Elizabethtown. The Royals fell in overtime with a final score of 1-0 to end their season. The leading scorer this season for the squad was Jon Roberts ‘20 with seven goals, followed closely by Christian Acros ‘23 with six goals. Three players: Acros, Justin Hammert ‘20 and Riley Smith ‘20 all had three assists each, a team-leading number. Goalkeeper Jake Hodlofski had an outstanding season while starting all 18 games, with a Goals Against Average of 0.67, a save percentage of 0.845 and 5 shutouts on the season. As for awards, Acros earned the title of Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year, and other All-Conference honorees were Jake Nubbemeyer ‘22 (First Team), Roberts (First Team), Smith (Second Team) and Hodlofski (Second Team). In addition, Donnelly was named to the CoSID Academic All-District team.

Women’s Soccer

Women’s Soccer had yet another great season in 2019.

They ended with a 11-5-5 record on the season and a 5-2 conference record, which put them at No. 3 for the Landmark Conference playoffs. The Royals traveled to Elizabethtown for the conference semifinals, where they beat the Blue Jays 4-1. Next up was the Landmark Conference Championship at Susquehanna, which was a rematch of last year’s championship game, when Susquehanna came out on top. The Royals beat the River Hawks 3-0 this year, earning them their third Landmark Conference Champion title in the past four years. Mazie Stiles ‘21 led the team in goals with seven, with Steph Lowrey ‘22 following closely with six goals. Callie Deola ‘22 and Grace Elliott ‘22 both had three assists apiece, which was the leading number for the squad. The Royals went onto the NCAA tournament, in which they defeated No. 10 Centre in penalty kicks with goalie Amanda Steinberg ‘22 saving a crucial goal, but ultimately fell in the second round to No. 17 Ohio Northern in penalty kicks. As for awards, Becca Russo ‘20 was named to the CoSID Academic All-District team and First Team All-Landmark Conference.

Other All-Landmark Conference honorees were Erin Toburen ‘21 (First Team), Elliot (Second Team), Stiles (Second Team), Deola (Second Team) and Shae Guilfoyle ‘21 (Second Team).

Volleyball

The Women’s Volleyball team went 15-18 on the 2019 season, with a 3-3 Landmark Conference record. The Royals earned the No. 4 seed in the playoffs. The squad traveled to Susquehanna for the semi-final game, where they fell 3-0 to the River Hawks. Carah Vitkus ‘23 earned All-Landmark Conference Second Team in the 2019 season.

Q&A with the First-Year Senators

Claire Sunday

Josephine Middleton

Aaron Asiedu-Wiafe

Diya Patel

BY JOSEPH BARRY

The Aquinas speaks to First-Year Senators Claire Sunday, Josephine Middleton, Diya Patel and Aaron Asiedu-Wiafe on their experience in student government during their first semester at The University of Scranton.

What inspired you to run for a first-year senator seat?

J: We had student government elections in high school (which I did not win) but, I was really interested in joining here, because I wanted an opportunity to help other students.

D: I have always been interested in government; I’ve served on my state student council board and worked for local political leaders. I wanted to use my background to advocate for students who could not advocate for themselves, especially with the pressures of college.

C: My sister graduated from the University of Scranton last year, and she was a part of student government. I remember her always discussing what was going on and always being excited about it. Hearing how beneficial student government was at connecting her to campus drew me in. Like Diya, I’m interested in government and want to use that passion to help others.

A: I did student government in high school it was nice to find something familiar to try. I enjoy serving and being a voice for others.

Did you have any expectations of what student government would be like here? Has anything changed since?

D: I didn’t expect it to be as involved as it was regarding different aspects of campus life. We now have a much wider responsibility not only to the first-year class but the entire student body for their well being.

J: Me too. In high school we expected student government to be able to do different things but wouldn’t be able to, but now we have a say on behalf of the students and their needs.

C: Agreed.

A: At Orientation I was wondering if student government existed and if it did, how much of an impact it had. Thankfully, we make a big difference here.

How has student government affected your experience in the first semester, especially regarding academics or extracurricular activities?

C: I have definitely found ways to apply my experiences in student government into my classes as a political science major, education from the classroom can also be applied to what we do in government. On top of that, we have all been able to expand our connections with others.

J: When I first came to Scranton I had trouble adjusting, trying to make new friends after years with former school peers. Running for election allowed me to get involved and meet new people through its process.

Student government in itself is a huge family too.

D: Yeah. I’d bounce off with what both Claire and Josie said about the family-aspect of student government. I will just be sitting in DeNaples and people in government will come up and strike conversations frequently. I’ve made more connections with faculty and students I didn’t even realize were around before. It’s great to see people open up and discuss their concerns.

A: I’ve been able to meet upperclassmen and network with other students and organizations. It’s been helpful to find resources.

How has the Senate been working on behalf of the Class of 2023?

C: Josie and I are members of the Academic & Scholastic Affairs Committee, so we meet with different deans and provosts and have discussed adding more service work into the general curriculum to utilize your major in ways to help others.

J: We are looking to open the third-floor of the Library open twenty-four seven and open more room to study.

D: Most of what we work on at the beginning of the term is developing budget for clubs and activities, but now we are focused on addressing student needs directly, like ensuring wider food options for students and increasing maintenance and service efficiency.

Any opinions or comments on the relationship between the Senate and the current University Presidential Administration?

D: They’re the best people.

C: As a freshman coming in you can really look up to them, not in an intimidating way, instead they are so welcoming to us and our ideas. I absolutely love them.

J: They are really understanding and are always open to questions.

A: They really helped me grow closer to new people.

Do any of you have personal ideas or projects, things you would like to see government work on in the future.

J: I’d like third-floor DeNaples to open earlier with cereal and other quick foods for students that would like to get up in the morning.

D: Opening up food options and accessibility and improve choices.

A: We need to fix the photography and quality on ROYAL Cards.

J: Opening service opportunities in academics is also something we are focusing on.

Do you have any other comments or things you’d like to mention?

D: I think we all really love representing our class and are grateful for the experience.

C: It’s been a very humbling experience.

J: If you want to get involved, a good way is to follow our Instagram or approach members of student government!

@uofssg

Campus Comment Aquinas staff asked students: "What is the worst Christmas present you have ever received?”

BY NICK BARONE

Joe Layaou ’21

Taylor Leckemby ’20

“I was about 11 years old and my grandma gave me a Bob the Builder Christmas ornament. It definitely was not what I was expecting at all. I expected so much more from Grandma. I still hang it on my Christmas tree every year, though.”

“My grandpa got me and my sister Toys R Us gift cards. I was 17 and she was 27.”

“When I was a senior in high school, one of my relatives got me a nice jacket… fitted for a baby.”

Emma Dougherty ’22

“Last year for Christmas, I suggested that a group of friends from Scranton and I do a Secret Santa, where everyone randomly is assigned someone and they get them a gift. Well, the person who was assigned to me never got me my gift, despite this whole entire thing being my idea. So, I guess that’s the worst gift I’ve ever received.”

Mike Minogue ’22

“I was like 12 years old and my mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas, so I told her that I wanted an Xbox 360 or a Nintendo DS. I was so excited when I woke up on Christmas morning. I went downstairs to see what I got, but my mom bought herself a ticket to Ecuador Brian Vega ’23

“I’ve never received a bad gift for Christmas in my entire life. All of the gifts I get are gifts that I am so grateful for. It could be anything.

It’s the thought that matters. That’s the best gift to me.”

Danny Yuresko ’20

“The worst Christmas gift I’ve ever gotten wasn’t even a gift. I got my wisdom teeth out right before Christmas, so I couldn’t eat anything and had to watch my family grub out all day while I sat there miserable.”

Colleen Tressel ’21

“The worst thing I got for Christmas was a Nintendo GameCube, back in 2004. It was only bad because I caught my parents playing Super Monkey Ball on it the night BEFORE Santa was supposed to give it to me. The box was even opened when I ripped the wrapping paper off of it.”

Pete Gentile ’21

The Aquinas Crossword 1 2

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Down 1 You can typically find him firing up pasta on first floor 2 The shortened name of the street that is home to pizza slices and students living on and off-campus.

3 The name of the Players’ most recent show 5 The informal name of LSC 439 6 The one thing every student dreads at this point in the semester 8 This animal may not be our mascot, but you can find one pretty much everywhere on campus.

Across: 3 The Residence Hall Closest to Granteeds 4 The Hogwarts house of the chair of the History department, Dr. David Dzurec (Can be found for the answer in STT 308B) 7 The newest installation at big POD

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Lauren Gallagher MANAGING EDITOR & GRAPHIC DESIGN

Colleen Boyle ART DIRECTOR

Minahil Sami SPORTS EDITOR

Lauren Earnshaw PHOTOGRAPHER

Amanda Boland SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Laura Freedman DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Abbey Donaldson STAFF WRITERS

Nick Barone Joseph Barry Samantha Calderone Dominick M. Melara Isabella Travaglia Phil Rauch FEATURED WRITERS

Ann Siock Joe DiBenedetto Marissa Lembo EDITORS

Karly Johns Joseph Kottke

Katie Rising Julia Dalceredo

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