Students for H.O.P.E.
Kidney and Diabetes Screening Event for Student Health Benefits and a Look Into Their Organization
Emma Gabrys
Editor-in-Chief
Saint Xavier University’s (SXU) Students for H.O.P.E. organization will host a Free Kidney and Diabetes Screening on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. The organization collaborated with the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois (NKFI) to make this event possible.
“Students for H.O.P.E. is a national network of student organizations founded by the Maddog Strong Foundation” and their mission is to “inspire the next generation of organ and tissue donation advocates by providing education, promoting donor registration, and encouraging conversations about this life-saving topic,” said Cyndi Grobmeier, Ed.D, Director of Faculty Development.
According to Grobmeier “Most people do not think about organ and tissue donation and transplantation until it directly touches their lives. But with over 100,000 people waiting on a life-
saving organ transplant, and with 13 people dying each day in the U.S. still waiting, it is a topic that is touching all of us. We need to engage in conversations about this topic so together, we can help save lives.”
The screening will occur from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Warde Academic Center (WAC) in a KidneyMobile vehicle. Participants must be 18 or over to apply for a screening.
To register for the screening, participants are asked to visit the NKFI’s website and complete the attached questionnaire before their appointment. Walk-ins are also welcomed.
Participants may also scan the QR code to register below:
SXU Hosts Advising Career Success Day and College to Career Expo
Emma Gabrys
Editor-in-Chief
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, Saint Xavier University (SXU) hosted an Advising Career Success Day and College to Career Expo. Each event offered students the opportunity to get an understanding of their majors and requirements while also speaking with different employers about internship and job opportunities.
During the Advising Career Success portion, three workshops took place. Career Readiness,
Interview with Sean Kirchman
an organization created to educate the youth of Lyons Township on the understanding of local government problems.
Deputy Editor-in-Chief
On Saturday, March 8, The Xavierite interviewed Prairie Trails Public Library Trustee candidate Sean Kirchman.
At just 24 years old, Kirchman is currently a co-founder of and the President of the Young Democrats of Lyons Township,
He also assisted in JB Pritzker’s gubernatorial re-election campaign as a digital assistant and is currently the chess coach nearby at Brother Rice High School.
After receiving his Master of Arts in Political Psychology from Arizona State University,
Kirchman decided to return to his hometown of Burbank, Illinois. It was at this time that he began learning about local politics.
“I work on getting more involved in my community (in Burbank) by attending the City Council meetings and speaking with residents. Learning about everyday people’s experiences has really encouraged me to run for office because I’d like to be someone that can make life just a little bit better for others in any way that I can,” Kirchman said.
However, there was one place in Burbank that Kirchman felt closer to than others: the Prairie Trails Library. It made him reminisce about his times in college, endlessly studying or even attending free events. As he decided to run to be a Library Trustee, there were a few things he kept in mind.
“I would like to expand the library’s native plant garden, survey community input for improving library programming,
Advising Fundamentals, and Social Networking. Each workshop dived into different informative sessions to help students better prepare for their futures in the workforce.
Mendoza spoke at the Career Readiness portion of the event and fostered the importance in trying to relate to first-year students’ experiences to make sure that they “get the thought of career development and they get an understanding of their major career requirements by that first
year so that once they become a sophomore, junior or senior, it isn’t necessarily foreign to them.”
During his presentation Mendoza spoke on different topics. These topics included; graduation requirements, popular majors, program updates, professional opportunities, popular professions for specific majors, companies attending the College to Career
“Advising and Career Success Day and College to Career Expo” Cont. pg. 3
The Xavierite Wins Big at ICPA Confrence
Honorable Mentions in Graphic Illustration, Sports Column, and Front Page Layout.
On March 1, during the annual Illinois College Press Association (ICPA) conference, The Xavierite won thirteen awards, more than double of last year’s wins. Since Saint Xavier University (SXU) contains 2,999 students or fewer, The Xavierite competed in the Small Schools category.
These awards included: first place in Sports Column, second place in News Story, Critical Review- Other than film, General News Photo, Headline Writing, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Coverage, third place Column, Advertisement- Best Digital AD, Editorial, Sweepstakes, and
Among the winners this year was Deputy Editor-in-Chief Brian Raica Jr., who won 2nd place in Critical Review - Other Than Film, open division. When asked about his win, Raica described the impact writing has had on his life, and how he plans to move forward in his career as a journalist.
Raica described attending the conference as a transformative experience that “gave me everything I needed to see clarity on my
Tables at College to Career Expo
The Xavierite
Brian Raica
Gabrys & John Street
Photo of Kirchman at Prairie Trails Public Library with yard sign Sean Kirchman
The Xavierite staff holding their awards at ICPA Conference The Xavierite
Registration QR Code The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois
“Students for H.O.P.E.” Cont. pg. 2
Prairie Trails Public Library Trustee Candidate
“Interview with Sean Kirchman ” Cont. pg. 2
“The Xavierite Wins Big at ICPA Conference” Cont. pg. 2
“The goal of the KidneyMobile® is to identify kidney disease and its causes early so that people can prevent kidney failure and avoid dialysis,” according to the NKFI.
The organization is asking for volunteers to help out at their event. There are no requirements to be a volunteer.
Volunteers will be asked to help with one of the following; checking blood pressure, blood glucose, and Body Mass Index/Waist Circumference, a Urinalysis, Blood Draw, Private Consultations, or assisting participants with registration.
Volunteer expectations and responsibilities include; arriving at the screening approximately 45 minutes before the scheduled time of the event ready to work, and wearing business casual attire or scrubs. Volunteers will be assigned a specific area to assist in and will be trained in that area on the day of the screening.
“NKFI actually requires volunteer support before they commit to hosting a screening, which is reasonable given the significant amount of time and resources it takes to engage in this work,” explained Grobmeier.
Grobmeier believes that hosting this event at SXU can benefit nursing, pre-med, and exercise students by providing
them an opportunity for community service related to the professional field they are studying for. Although this event is health-related, students of other majors are also welcomed to volunteer.
“Learning about running a large-scale event can benefit communication and business majors. And volunteer work is always an important piece for every college student’s resume.” said Grobmeier.
“We wanted to make our organization more present on campus, as well as get our message across. We figured that a great way to do this was to host an event where students can learn about organ and tissue donation, as well as receive care themselves, as we feel this would further demonstrate the positive nature of what our organization stands for and spreads awareness about,” shared John McNamara, Vice President of Students for H.O.P.E.
This is the organization’s first event of the ‘24-’25 school-year, however, they have previously held tables at the Resident Student Organization (RSO) fairs to spread awareness about organ donation and to fight against any misconceptions about organ donations, according to Giuliana Islas, Orientation & Belonging Coord.
The organization is currently in the process of planning more events to work with local healthbased facilities.
“We have ideas for a variety
He acknowledged that there were computers and study rooms, but it didn’t show livelihood.
start a Burbank chess club, and foster a mental health initiative.
I believe my experience and commitment to successfully revitalizing the Brother Rice High School chess program this year will serve me well as I look to help the library expand its offerings of creative and competitive outlets for young people,” he explained. Kirchman went on to explain that libraries are important for all generations of citizens, no matter where they live. He made it clear that libraries aren’t just places where people can check out books.
“One day in the summer I gave directions to a resident who had taken a bus and was walking to the library just for access to a computer since she couldn’t afford one but wanted to login to her old Facebook account for photos of her brother who had passed away. It was a rather heartbreaking story that hasn’t left me. The library serves different purposes for different people, and regardless of what people use it for, I know that it’s important,” Kirchman recalled.
As a recent graduate, Kirchman knows how important libraries are for students. However, during a college visit years ago, he noticed that the Robert and Mary Rita Murphy Stump Library was quite empty.
of possible events that are not set in stone yet, such as a bake sale, various arts-and-crafts activities, hosting events where we have guest speakers who have direct experience with organ and tissue donation, such as donor families and recipients,” explained McNamara.
To share ideas for events,
join the organization or for further information on Students for H.O.P.E., contact hope.sxu@ gmail.com or visit the SXU Den.
For further information pertaining to the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois visit, nkfi.org.
“The Saint Xavier library should host events at times, but not ones that distract students from their studies. Even a simple coloring event would be able to suffice. I know from my own experience that commuter students don’t always attend events, but an accessible one such as this could possibly be successful,” Kirchman suggested.
Although he is the youngest person on the ballot, he remains confident that if elected he will bring about positive change to the community.
“As a young voter myself, I recognize that politics often feels very frustrating, especially when it seems like issues that matter to young people aren’t being addressed. I think part of learning about politics is realizing that really it’s about community. There are things we can do to improve our lives and the lives of those around us starting at the hyperlocal level, such as at the library. It may not seem like much, but organizing among our friends, coworkers, and within our communities is where we start building movements for change,” Kirchman said.
For those curious about the Prairie Trails Public Library, visit their website for more information. The Prairie Trails Library Trustee election takes place on April 1.
Expo, popular programs, graduate school preparation, and next steps.
“For seniors that get in here and think to themselves ‘Oh man, I wish I would have known that this place existed four years ago, I wish that I would have known that this job was available.’ That’s what we are hoping our freshman can do is encounter those jobs at an early point,” stated James T. Miller, B.A., Associate Director of Employer Engagement and Internships at the Career Development Center.
The College to Career Expo took place in the Shannon Center where there were 90 tables present. 87 contained employers and the other 3 included Human Resources, Transfer Admissions, and the Center for Inclusive Belonging.
Students had the ability to share resumes, speak with employers and find jobs/ internships that resonate with their interests. Each employer offered advice that students are able to take in for when they are ready to go into the workforce.
Though there were 87 employers present, every major was not represented.
Miller explained, “For the student who says ‘I didn’t see my actual major represented when I went through the list of employers,’ I understand that completely. The truth of it is that every one of these companies have something to offer, almost every major. The hospitals have IT departments, the schools have
marketing departments. Even if it doesn’t say marketing or ABC digital solutions, there are going to be solutions for those students.”
When sharing a resume with an employer, students are allowed the opportunity for them to remember them when sending an application to a company and to broaden their network.
“If some won’t take resumes at least you can be compelling enough with them to remember you so that when you send your resumes they are going to remember you,” said Miller. Today, most resumes are not read by human eyes until they go through an applicant tracking
system. This system sorts through and ‘reads’ resumes before humans get the chance to see them. This system was made to separate the “good” resumes from the “bad,” making for a quicker process.
“If you’ve ever been frustrated with sending in your resume and feeling like it’s never going to be seen by human eyes, you’re like
‘What am I doing here? I sent this and some computer is going to screen it out, no person’s ever going to see this.’ A career expo like this gives you the opportunity to interact with humans on a human level and ask them what they think of your resume.
You are actually networking,”
explained Oluwakemi Robbin, M.A.HigherEdAdm, Career Readiness Coordinator at the Career Development Center. Miller shared, “When we look at the average student’s LinkedIn, it just doesn’t have connections. Here are 90 people that you can connect with and Link in with and build your network so that when you decide to look for the job that you are looking for whether it’s connected or not.”
Miller further explained, “You are building your network, connections, and your ability to speak to the world around you and do it in a really organic way. I’m not a big fan of just firing off
resumes into the void hoping that they are going to land somewhere. This is a way to actually interact with real people and to do it in a real way.”
For more information pertaining to Advising and Career Success Day visit the Student Advising Center located at room L-208 in the Warde Academic Center (WAC), email studentadvising@sxu.edu or call 773-298-3131.
For more information pertaining to the College to Career Expo visit the Career Development Center located at room A-209 in the WAC, or contact careerdevelopment@sxu. edu.
“The Xavierite Wins Big at ICPA Conference” Cont. from pg. 1 literary defects. I have studied others, and the feedback I’ve been given myself. It is with this that I will pursue greatness, rather than drown in the depths of glory.”
Jason Jimenez-Garrido, former Sports Editor for The Xavierite and host of 808’s & Body Slams on WXAV 88.3FM was awarded Honorable Mentions both open division and small schools for the Sports Columns and Graphic Illustrations categories. As his time at Saint Xavier University will soon come to an end, he had this to say about the recognition he received from the ICPA:
“For me, this win is a perfect cap to not only my time with The Xavierite, but my overall college career. As a senior, I am reaching the end of my college experience. These awards are just a reminder that all my hard work over the last four years has been worth it.”
Emma Gabrys, Editor-inChief, won second place in News Story for her article on the app, Fizz. The article spoke on how the app affected SXU students and their different perspectives on the matter.
Grace Van Cleave, SXU Almuni and previous Editor-inChief of The Xavierite, won first place in Sports Column. This story covered the “Depreciation of Women’s Athletic Accomplishments.” and dived into the experiences women athletes face against such as sexism and
misogyny.
Javell Sheppard, SXU Alumni and previous Videographer for The Xavierite, won second place for a General News Photo of a demonstration hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).
Shealyn Scott, SXU Alumni and former Copy editor at The Xavierite, won second place for her Headline Writing titled, “How Limited Series are Limiting Series.”
Deana Elhit, former Deputy Editor-in-Chief, won second place for a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Coverage article titled “Living as an Indigenous Palestinian in Exile.”
Giuliana Islas, Orientation & Belonging Coord., and former Opinions Columnist, won third place for a Column she wrote on “The NAIA’s New Title IX Violating Policy.”
Melanie Marquez, Designer, won third place for Best Digital Advertisement.
According to illinoiscollegepress.wordpress. com, “Membership is open to all four-year colleges in Illinois.” Its current version was founded at Eastern Illinois University in April of 1983, though the organization has existed since the 1920s.
Every year, schools that are members of the association “nominate their journalists for awards in 29 categories each year and are eligible to have members of their staff attend the convention” as a way to celebrate student journalists across the state.
Student Life Hosts Synergy Leadership Summit
News Editor Athena Reum
On Friday, Feb. 21, Student Life held their annual Synergy Conference with presentations from the Counseling Center, Leadership Development, and Career Development.
Blanca Correa, Student Development Specialist, stated, “Synergy is an annual student leadership conference designed to help students develop their leadership skills through educational presentations, engaging activities, and a service project. It provides an opportunity to enhance their understanding of leadership and explore ways to be inclusive and innovative leaders
within our campus community.”
Throughout the conference, students learned about different approaches to leadership from different departments.
The conference began with Jacqueline Morris, Director of the SXU Career Development Center discussing the importance of being a leader. After Morris, students heard from departments throughout SXU. Raul Andrade & Dennis Garrido Aviles, two counselors, presented Leadership Styles.
Andrew Rossini stated, “There are many different types and styles, so just because you do things differently than someone else who is a leader, doesn’t mean
you’re bad at leading. I hadn’t considered how different people’s leadership styles could be and it’s an important lesson to take forward when I eventually enter the workforce.”
In the last hour of the conference, the students heard from Adrian Hernandez, SXU Leadership Development Coordinator about recognizing their implicit biases. Throughout this presentation, Hernandez displayed to the students that everyone has biases. One of his examples was with McDonald’s.
If students hear the phrase, I’m loving it, they might immediately think of McDonald’s.
Rossini continued, “The way Adrian Hernandez engaged everyone in a light hearted way with brand recognition and transitioned into a fairly serious topic was very interesting to me and I definitely learned a lot from it.”
Kennedy Adams, SXU Community Engagement Coordinator, presented a slideshow displaying Imposter Syndrome.
Adams stated, “I was prompted to present at this event by my supervisor, Blanca Correa. She also suggested the idea of presenting on Imposter Syndrome. I enjoy public speaking, so I didn’t hesitate to accept the opportunity.
I was especially honored to be the closing presenter.”
In her presentation, along
with the metaphor of trees, she shared personal stories to explain how she has felt like an imposter in the past.
Some of the photos that she shared to attendees were of her cheerleading, when she first embarked on her journey at SXU as a Graduate Assistant, and when she began her internship.
Adams proceeded with, “I chose those three milestones in my life that I talked about during my presentation not only because they are meaningful to me, but because I knew students could relate. The pressures of being a college athlete, wondering ‘what’s next’ after you graduate, and ultimately having to make life-changing decisions to either grow or to remain in your comfort zone are all canon events that aren’t talked about enough.”
The students that attended the conference gave feedback on what they learned.
Taylor McDonald stated, “I learned that God definitely positions us in the places where he wants us to be . Although being a student leader is anything but easy, I am capable of doing great things and I belong in the spaces that I am in. These roles are helping prepare me for what is to come.
Correa continued, “The summit looks a bit different this year, in that, SXU staff will be presenting but it will still provide an opportunity for students to engage, gain valuable information, and make connections to support
their journey while at SXU.” In the past, it was challenging to get student leaders to submit proposals to be a presenter at Synergy. In order to get more presenters, Student Life decided to open up the proposal to faculty and staff for this year. This let staff members pick topics that student leaders could relate to as they continue to go through college, according to Correa.
Correa explained that student presenters were encouraged to submit a workshop proposal. Then the Student Life committee would review them and select the topics that they felt were appropriate/ useful for student leaders to learn. Once the workshop was selected, they would reach out to the individuals whose topic was selected and we would provide them with the date/time of their presentation.
McDonald stated, “I went as a returner applicant for the x-factor process, but attending synergy is always thought-provoking.” Students were prompted to attend the conference if they were seeking a X-Factor position for the upcoming 2025-2016 academic year. However, Correa stated, “Although it is a requirement that all X-Factor applicants attend, it is not exclusively for them. The summit is open to all SXU students, staff and faculty.”
If students have any questions about upcoming conferences, contact correa@sxu.edu.
Employers for By Your Side Autism Therapy Services
The Xavierite
Organization promotional flyer Students for H.O.P.E.
“Students
“Interview with Sean Kirchman ” Cont. from pg. 1
Kennedy Adam’s presentation at Synergy The Xavierite
Opinions
Possible Greek Life at Saint Xavier University
Potential for Cults of Personality, or an Opportunity to Build Community on Campus?
John McNamara
Opinions Columnist
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, the SXU Student Life Office sent out a survey to students inquiring them about how they felt regarding the potential start of fraternal organizations on campus.
My initial reaction was a negative one, and one I shared with a number of my peers. Fraternities and sororities tend to have a bad reputation due to a large number of hazing incidents and stereotypes of other inappropriate behavior.
According to a study conducted by North Carolina State University, there has been at least one death related to hazing incidents in college Greek life every single year in the United States since 1970. It can be easy for organizations like these to become conformist and of those outside of it, as all members share similar experiences and are part of the same organization with the same name, in which members are all expected to follow the same rules
and share similar values.
“The cons definitely outweigh the pros for me,” current student and former member of a sorority at Western Michigan University Drew Mannion recounts her experience. “My sorority was very exclusionary, and they would judge other girls in other sororities. They believed they were better than everyone in a way because of their status as a member of that sorority.”
Fraternal organizations at colleges and universities are also widely thought to foster environments that promote heavy drug and alcohol use. While alcohol and drugs are certainly present within our student body, SXU is a so-called “dry campus,” and partying is not as prominent of an aspect of campus life for students here as it is at other schools, which I would argue is largely due to its lack of Greek life.
But, is the risk of Greek life turning into bodies of underage drinking or cult-like groupthink bigger than the pressing need for community on campus?
SXU is a majority commuter campus, with only about fifteen percent of its student body living on SXU-owned property according to a statistic on US News & World Report. This, combined with how easy it is for anyone nowadays
to fall into isolation due to our phones, social media, etc., are two major contributing factors as to why SXU does not have a strong, widespread sense of community within its student body. Many students are not involved on campus and struggle to find a place on our majority-commuter campus.
“I was very hesitant to spend time on campus when I first transferred. It was very easy to just go to my classes and then go home immediately after,” SXU student Samantha Langowski reports what seems to be a common theme on campus.
Despite its problematic areas, Greek life has proven to be quite enriching for students for a variety of reasons, especially considering the sense of friendship and brother or sisterhood it can provide.
“These college years can often feel like a heavy weight, especially as I juggle classes, friendships, family, and everything in between,” sophomore at Northern Illinois University and member of the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority Rylee Mondschean describes her college and Greek life experience.
“But being part of this sisterhood has completely transformed how I experience this time in my life. It feels amazing to have found a group of women who not only share my values but who also
I Rode and Survived the Red
Sports Editor Drake Hayes
I’m a small town guy. I come from a town called Minooka. On a daily basis, I’m used to cornfields, subdivisions, and minimal job opportunities.
I’ve gone to this school for two years and I haven’t traveled off campus too many times. I haven’t traveled any farther than the CVS on 103rd, the same one right next to the Health Center.
One thing my father told me before I started here at Saint Xavier is to try things and I
did. I’m a part of the school’s newspaper, Track and Field team, and Drama Club. As many opportunities I’ve had to try things, there are things that I will never do again and one of those is taking the Red Line. This weekend, I had an opportunity to not only see some sights of the historic city of Chicago, not only that but also to attend the ICPAs. Although I didn’t win any awards, I did learn some things about journalism, as well about how to navigate Chicago. With all
understand the importance of connection and lifting each other up.”
With this, it is fair to say that experiences in fraternity and sorority programs certainly differ from sorority to sorority, university to university.
One unique thing about SXU fraternal programs, should they come to fruition, is the fact that they will not have their own houses in which their members will be able to reside, as most universities do.
However, this quality of offering Greek life without designated houses for fraternities and sororities would not be unique to SXU; Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama also offers fraternity and sorority programs, but no buildings to house the organizations in.
Member of the Sigma Chi fraternity at Spring Hill College
“Possible Greek Life at Saint
Line for the First Time
things of life that come your way you learn lessons.
I remember the second day of ICPAs. Waking up, getting ready, and meeting my fellow classmates to embark on a journey to downtown Chicago.
After meeting everyone, as a group, we headed towards the train station. We all sat in gusts of cold winds, it felt like Chicago was giving us an insincere hug. We all boarded the Metra Train and all showed the conductor our tickets. As I sat on the train ride, it creaked and
squeaked desperately for some WD-40 to be applied. The ride was pretty quiet as everyone still tried to recoup after having a long day prior to that day.
After arriving at LaSalle Station, I was glad because I could finally stretch my legs and get some walking in, at least I thought I was getting my steps in. We walked a little bit and by unanimous vote we decided to take the subway. In the back of my mind I was uncertain.
Like I said before I am a small town guy. I had never been on a subway ride prior to this day and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but on this day expectations turned into reality.
I descended into the abyss of the subway. Reluctantly, I opened up my Ventra app and purchased my train ticket.
I tapped my phone on the scanner and walked through the wheel-locking mechanism.
I descended further into the actual subway station along with my classmates. I looked around and it startled me. It gave off an ominous feeling: the dirty floor, the tight-spaced room, along with the sketchy people that plagued the area made me feel uneasy.
In the meantime I had to listen to some random guy letting everyone know he was listening to music, which annoyed me a little as I prayed this train would arrive soon. As I looked down at
My Love for Vinyl is not Going Anywhere
Keyasia Garcia
Even though apps like Spotify make music easily accessible, it will not hold the same specialty as my collection of vinyl. The adventurous process and the love it spreads will keep me coming back.
On my fifteenth birthday, my mom came home with a box almost as big as her and gave me a record player. I had been eager to place the needle into the grooves of my first record. The second I did, I fell in love.
The process of collecting can be fun or challenging depending on each person’s search. I find it thrilling to flip through boxes of crates with a specific album in mind. Even looking at the records I’m unfamiliar with as well.
Each flip holds anticipation, determination and at times a surprise. There is shock value when finding an album that I wouldn’t expect or coming across the one I hoped for.
When I’m in a record store, I feel like there is an unsaid connection between everyone in there. We are all strung together by a hardcore passion for music. It does not matter our age or the genre we love the most.
We all have respect among each other for our commitment in collecting, which makes it feel like a community. It has taken me four years to collect what I have
the tracks that were filled with trash I saw something rustling underneath the trash in the corner of my eye. As I looked closer to see what it was, there was a rat digging through an empty Portillo’s fry cup.
At this point, I am pleading that this train arrives at the snap of a finger. Finally, the subway train arrived flying past us a little before coming to an abrupt stop. The doors slid open and we advanced into the doors. Within a few short seconds, the doors shut. When I walked in the train accelerated like a formula one car almost launching me onto the people sitting near me.
The train started, then stopped, then started again, then stopped again. My eyes raced around, looking at the people around me. Everyone treated it like it was a normal day. I hadn’t felt so out of place, but I bit my tongue and held on to the germ infested pipe.
8 minutes later, we arrived at our destination. As soon as I stepped out of the train, I was greeted with the smell of urine.
I briskly went up the stairs and ascended out of the subway and returned to the light. I never wanted to see the light more than that day and I made an oath to myself to never take the Red Line again. And that was the story on how I survived the Red Line.
now. In comparison to others, they’ve collected longer than I’ve lived.
The long and adventurous search makes the find feel all the more special, since I’ve put in the hard work. It feels like an achievement well-earned.
There have been times where I’ve spent numerous hours in thrift stores trying to find something worth buying and I’ve gone home with nothing. At times it can get frustrating or feel like I’m wasting my time.
I’ve learned to not let that disappointment make me discouraged. I find it as a sign
Palestine And Arabic Studies
Program Reflection
Mariam Jaber
Opinions Columnist
As a Palestinian living in diaspora, I would sometimes get jealous seeing my cousins living back home in Palestine attend Birzeit University. When it came time to apply to colleges and universities, I told my mom and aunt that wanted to apply to BZU, just to try my luck and see if I would get in, and instead I lectured by both of them.
was told that I should be happy to have grown up in the United States, and that I have better opportunities here, and that anyone would kill for the same opportunities as me, and yet, I want to apply to a university back home. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed with their reactions, and applied elsewhere.
After returning to the U.S. from my summer vacation to Palestine in July 2023, I realized just how much I truly loved Palestine and the atmosphere there. I told myself that after I graduate with my bachelor’s degree that I’m going to immediately move back home, and continue a master’s program of some sort at BZU.
Fast forward to Spring 2024, I began scrolling the many programs available at BZU, trying to find the one that interested me the most. As I kept looking, stumbled upon a program called the Palestine and Arabic Studies (PAS) Program. They have a range of courses from learning Arabic, both Modern Standard and Colloquial, to political science and history courses.
Though this program is usually taught face-to-face, due to increasing tensions in Palestine, they decided to conduct it online, over Zoom during the summer semester. thought this was finally my chance to become a BZU student, but knew that taking a summer course wouldn’t be possible for me.
contacted the number available on the flier and asked if the program would be online during the fall semester
as well, to which they replied and said it depended on the situation in the country.
Anyways, after much time, I heard they were offering courses for the fall semester online, and applied to take “The Palestine Question” course, which went over Palestinian history, starting from the end of the Ottoman Empire, all the way to present-day.
I, however, made sure to get permission from my advisor and the deans at Saint Xavier if I could be dually enrolled.
When I got accepted into the program, felt so happy that my dream from all those years ago of attending BZU was coming true, even if it was from afar.
The program ran from Sept. 2024 to Dec. 2024, and class was every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30-1:50 p.m..
I thoroughly enjoyed taking this class, and would look forward to it every week. Each class we would go learn a different topic, and each topic would build on the last. We learned about Palestine pre-occupation, early Zionism in Palestine, the Nakba, the first and second Intifadas, and so forth.
The class was also not very difficult at all, don’t think anyone had a hard time in it, or earned anything less than a 90%. We were graded on very few things as well; we took two midterms, did two presentations, one academic paper on a topic of our choice, and a final. Just for reference, the midterms and final was just about three questions you had to answer based on your own personal opinion.
I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to learn more about Palestine and immerse themselves in Palestinian culture. Under better circumstances, the class would be conducted face-to-face, and students can actually take field trips across the occupied West Bank. How I wish could’ve gone to Palestine and taken this class there, but I’m still happy to have been able to take it online nonetheless.
much it made him
on his childhood.
These vinyl records hold a history and generations of cherishing. They’re almost like a family heirloom. I love that I’m trusted enough to take them into my hands until it’s time for me to pass them on.
This is one of the few things my dad and I were able to bond so closely over. Additionally, he handed down all of his knowledge on storing and how to keep them in pristine condition. I could see his excitement in my curiosity.
With that, I’ve been able to spread my knowledge to my friends or people who are beginning to collect. This has turned into a form of love language for me.
from the universe that something else was meant to be found or it’s not meant to be found yet.
I remember finding a specific album called Negro Swan by Blood Orange last year. I was shell shocked because I was visiting this particular record store (Reckless Records) regularly without coming across it once.
I felt the luckiest checking it out. As the cashier scanned the vinyl he gave a smile and said “I love this one, this is a good buy.”
Money was not the only exchange happening at that counter, but also a sign of recognition.
Striking up a conversation
with people in record stores is always my favorite thing to do there. When I see someone pick up an album I adore I share my admiration for it. The atmosphere is a perfect opportunity to make friends.
Love among the community is not only shared through places like the record store, but I’ve also found it through the act of gift giving or handing down vinyl. My father passed down to me a bunch of seven inch records he kept from his mother so long ago. The sounds of ABBA played loudly through my room, while my father expressed to me how
I’ve been lucky enough to give one of my own vinyls to a friend. I distinctly remember giving them Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, mainly because a part of me felt sad to see it leave my hands. The art of collecting vinyl is filled with a journey of obstacles and hard efforts. With time well spent, it taught me perseverance pays off. I’ve found love in a group of people that’s as passionate about music as me. This community of collectors are age boundless. I’ve barely scraped the surface in collecting. With that, I’m ready for much more.
An exterior view, Feb. 7, 2017, of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston. Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune/TNS
The Xavierite
Me in Reckless Records
Opinions Columnist
reminisce
What Happened to Folk Music?
Grace Tynski Features Reporter
Whether it was the lilting soprano voice of Joan Baez or the tinny banjo of Pete Seeger, folk music has largely defined historical times of social turmoil.
It’s an expansive genre with songs detailing the workers’ union struggle of the thirties all the way to the Vietnam War in the sixties.
It goes without saying that we live in a time of intense political and social tension. There’s countless things to be angry about, which means there’s countless things to write folk songs about.
Where is the Woody Guthrie of our generation? Who will write the much-needed protest songs?
Is folk music a relic from a bygone era, lost in favor of more modern genres, or could it make a comeback?
First, it’s important to take a look at what defines the American folk genre itself. Folk music began as oral tradition—songs passed down through families or communities through word of mouth alone.
These easily memorable songs are embedded in multiple cultures across centuries. For example, “We Shall Overcome,” a folk song popularized by Pete Seeger in the late fifties, traces its origins back to enslaved Black people who would sing a version of the song combined with gospel music. Later, folk music set itself
apart from mainstream music with political lyrics. This isn’t to say folk is the only genre to ever get political, but it’s what the genre was most known for. Folk music was also known for connecting strongly with working class people. Folk songs were about the struggles of the average American, and they were often sung by people who experienced these struggles firsthand.
The sixties and seventies shifted folk music into the public eye more than ever before. It wasn’t just an underground genre on the outskirts of pop culture anymore; it topped charts and sold out festivals.
Songs like “Tear the Fascists Down” by Woody Guthrie and “Draft Dodger Rag” by Phil Ochs didn’t fall in with the psychedelic rock or twanging country of the period, but they were popular nonetheless.
These songs were a sign of the times. They immortalized the social upheaval of the era and became a way to rebel and protest against the powers that be.
Fast forward fifty years or so, and the powers that be are as ominous as ever. Where’s the folk genre when we need it?
One explanation for this supposed lack is the theory that other genres have taken up the mantle and now provide us with what folk music once gave us. When people think of folk, they
Stanza Bonanza
Fall -By: Richard Hurley
In the house of setting sun timbers, those banisters fly the banners of change. For like eyes, their once emerald green, now foggy with a crimson deeper than velvet red, plucked and now pilled on by frigid winds.
Like fire spun through astaire bronze marble, welcoming to see, yet numbing to touch.
Here is where a priory gathers, where pews are set in earth for the ant and the antlered; as wood saved for preaching, teaches more than in staining oils. For a sermon has begun again. One born before rine, yet extolled only after rhythm came and went with man’s time.
Forested enchanter is its surname, and it has come to ordain a slumber again.
The songbirds have quitted their quire, inquiring about the fern’s answer.
The trents entrench to listen closer to sentiments settled in sediments.
The furs now poised to rest with burs and pines nestled with thistle-like tinsel.
However, as much as the covenant critter may want for countless stars never to come, a night must rise, as a day must fall. So too must winter arrive, and summer to Fall.
If you would like to submit poetry for the bonanza, please send your submission to thexavieritenewspaper@gmail.com
may think of acoustic guitars and banjos. However, the instruments don’t matter as much as the lyrical content.
Folk music is all about reflecting the American experience. Plenty of modern artists are doing that, even if they don’t sound like the next Bob Dylan.
A recent Grammy winner, “Cowboy Carter” by Beyoncé, is an album which focuses on being Black in modern America. Songs like “YA YA” touch on the working class experience specifically.
Smaller artists like Sofia Isella also fill the gap left behind by folk music. In her song “Us and Pigs,” Isella criticizes the way America treats women and their reproductive rights.
Although not many artists today sound like the folk music from decades long past, the spirit is just as alive as ever. To me, it doesn’t matter what genre these songs take on, as long as artists are still writing about their anger toward the world we live in.
The folk genre itself isn’t necessarily dead, though. Artists like Lizzy McAlpine and Noah Kahan have a recognizably folk sound, even if their lyrical content doesn’t carry the same political themes the genre was popularized for.
A select few artists remind me of the iconic folk troubadours of the sixties and seventies.
One would be Hozier, whose Grammy-nominated song, “Take Me to Church,” was a protest of homophobia in the Catholic church.
Another one would be Jesse Welles, a smaller artist popularized on Tik Tok with songs like “War Isn’t Murder” and “Whistle Boeing.”
A song like “what are you praying for?” by Marieke Liebe is particularly reminiscent of the sixties folk era not only on account of the song’s sound, but also it’s message. The song is a protest against the Palestinian genocide, and the sentiment is hauntingly
similar to songs of the sixties protesting the Vietnam War.
Like every other genre, folk music has evolved and shifted through the decades. It’s nowhere near as popular as it once was, but its core messages echo through all genres of music today.
As long as there are atrocities and inequalities in the world, artists will make art about them. Songwriters will sing about them in their respective genres, and these songs will rally people together. If that’s not keeping the spirit of folk music alive, I’m not sure what is.
A Mighty Meal: Au Cheval in Review
Brian Raica Jr.
Deputy Editor-in-Chief
According to Food Network, Au Cheval has the best burger in the nation. With its original location being just downtown, I decided to give it a try.
Previously, I got to eat at the restaurant’s sister location in New York City. It wasn’t the best experience, but it was still decent. However, I was mind blown by the Chicago location.
To begin, the words “Au Cheval” are French. As a literal translation, they mean “on horseback,” but in food terms it means “topped with a fried egg.”
With that being said, many of the food options include fried egg: cheeseburgers, fries, etc. I’m not much of a fan of eggs, but it was worth a try.
Walking into the restaurant, it was very tiny. They did not accept reservations, and tables fit only a maximum of four people.
The restaurant also has a dress code. One should be dressed business casual to enter.
However, the service was extraordinarily quick. I entered the restaurant with my party a minute after they opened, and nearly every patron inside had their food and was eating.
When we were seated, we were asked what we wanted to drink. I heard from my uncle that the root beer was homebrewed. Not even five seconds after I said that’s what
I wanted, it was brought to me in an extremely fancy glass.
Just the aesthetic of it was unique, and the taste was unlike any root beer I’ve had before. It went down smoothly, without any kind of carbonation that rises in one’s throat. It also tasted delightful. I regret not getting it as a root beer float.
I then ordered a single cheeseburger, with bacon on the side. I almost made my burger a double cheeseburger, but I think that would’ve been a mistake.
The host of my table, a very kind and descriptive man, revealed that single cheeseburgers have two patties and double cheeseburgers have three. Honestly, that helps make up for the price of the burger.
For a side, I decided to simply just order French fries to share. However, they too had a fried egg on top, along with a warm cheese sauce.
Not even five minutes later, our food was brought to the table.
Photo of menu, fries, and burger
Sorry Gordon Ramsay Burger, Au Cheval takes the win.
The fries were heavenly, and they came with two dipping sauces. One was a mornay sauce, and the other was a garlic aioli.
Additionally, the bacon was thick and incredibly flavorful.
I was sad to say that I didn’t have any leftovers; the food was
Something I noticed was that the restaurant chef’s are always cooking, due to the mass amounts of people that wait outside to get a table. I was even told that the outdoor standby line has even had people waiting more than three hours for food. The commitment just proves that the restaurant was worth it. The food looked absolutely stunning, and the ratio of cheese to burger was perfect. If only I could stay in that moment of taking the first bite. It was heaven; the melted cheese, the buttered bun, and the juice of the burger.
The Xavierite too good. It was a quick meal, especially since the restaurant was beginning to get busy. However, my party had leftovers.
It was then that the restaurant gave plastic containers for both our food, and small cups with lids for the sauces. Additionally, they gave us a very nice bag to put these in. It’s absolutely worth the price.
Speaking of price, it was relatively similar to Gordon Ramsay Burger. The traditional cheeseburgers ranged from $17-
$19, and sides were around $8. The price was absolutely worth it. My meal at Au Cheval was an unforgettable experience, but may be saved for special occasions. I have nothing but good things to say about the restaurant and its service.
Au Cheval is located at 800 W. Randolph St, Chicago, IL, 60607. They are open daily from 10AM to 11PM, but make sure to arrive early since they don’t accept reservations!
Avan Jogia’s Latest Book Releases a Glimpse Into the Dark Side of Fame
Barbara Lunsford Features Editor
On Feb. 11, 2025, Avan Jogia released his second poetry book, “Autopsy (of an ExTeen Heartthrob).” The work provides new insight into the fame he gained as just a teenager, demonstrating the complexity of his emotions and the dangers of the industry.
In the book’s first poem, Jogia notes the disorientation he experienced from “too much vanity, fame, love, lust, anger, sadness, shame, rage, fear, and booze.”
Some of these ideas might be commonly shared by the everyday individual, but Jogia’s fame led him to feel the emotions in unique ways.
It all began in 2010. Jogia was
casted to play “Beck Oliver” on the Nickelodeon sitcom “Victorious,” which would be his ultimate breakthrough.
The show attracted a primary audience of children and teenagers, directed by none other than Dan Schnieder. Schnieder was behind many hit Nickelodeon shows at the time, including, but not limited to, “iCarly” and “Drake and Josh.”
Yet there has been a lot of controversy surrounding Schnieder’s behavior around the actors, some being underage, and what really happened on set. Starring in “Victorious” led Jogia down a scary road. According to Glamour, “He posted a TikTok in which he wrote that he had no memory of the series thanks to alcohol.” This unfortunately rings true for several of his co-stars, many
who were not of legal drinking age at the time of production.
While Jogia has spoken out on a few occasions about events like this on set, his experiences only shed light on some issues. The young actors were not only victims to LA partying, but allegedly found themselves submerging to sexual acts for their bosses.
“Autopsy (of an Ex-Teen Heartthrob)” does not call out “Victorious,” by name, but the ways in which “The Show” impacted his life are laced through various poems throughout the 225 pages. We get a glimpse into a young child’s dream: starring in a famous show, living in California, living the “perfect” life.
But we also get a glimpse of the sexualization of the young actor, the outwardly glamorous lifestyle, the sprouting of selfconfusion, and so much more.
Jogia’s words are meant to be his own autopsy in a way – the back cover explains it as a “selfdissection.” He not only dives deeper into the emotions and objects expressed in the beginning, but considers it a collection of pieces that can bring him and his fans closer together.
Going into reading the book, I was pretty excited. Being a fan of “Victorious” growing up, I was interested to learn more about Jogia’s life and learn more about him.
With the excitement came some doubts. When celebrity figures turn to writing and publishing, the product is not always the best quality. They can face some harsh criticism in being compared to those who have adopted writing as their main art form.
I looked at Goodreads reviews to see what other people were saying. The book currently only has an average of a little over 3.5 stars, with many readers considering it “mid” and commenting on the themes Jogia covers.
It can come off a little strange at first hearing a celebrity talk about the negative side of the experience. Yet I do see this work as more of an honest and raw reflection than Jogia complaining about his expensive lifestyle.
I have been a fan of poetry for a long time, writing some myself and reading every piece I can find in my free time. Poetry is something I feel everyone can find a voice within; it can also bring people worlds apart together.
That is what Jogia has done; he is bringing his fans and readers a little closer to his world and the way he views it. It is also worth noting that the format of the poetry captures Jogia’s unique voice and experiences. He uses free-verse storytelling and incorporates specific details to embellish what he is explaining. Contrary to a lot of poetry I have read in the past, this was not as relatable. I do not think it was meant to be, as most of us have not experienced the fame Jogia details.
Another thing to note before reading is that this book is not meant to call out Jogia’s experience working with Schnieder. It is not meant to capture the controversy that surrounds his shows in the way that other actors have done with their own released works (such as Jennette McCurdy’s “I’m Glad My Mom Died”). The “Autopsy” is instead intended to provide insight into a life readers have only heard of. We see so many glances into the luxury in the media, yet we are unaware of the hidden issues beneath it.
If you are typically a fan of poetry, this book might not be your cup of tea. However, it is one I would recommend to anyone who wants something to think deeply about. Something with meaning. Something that provides us insight into the unknown.
After all, that is what poetry is all about.
Joan Baez circa 2008 (Loona/Abaca Press/TNS)
Cover of “Autopsy (of an Ex-Teen Heartthrob)”
Xavierite
Saint Xavier Student Media Saved My Life
Sam Alcala Videographer
Those of you who came to
SXU undeclared will understand the relief that comes with finally deciding your major. For me, it felt like a heavy burden finally lifted from my chest.
I entered SXU in 2023 as undecided, a word that could not describe me better in all aspects.
Like many college students, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.
I had no sense of direction, zero stability, and I was doing anything I could to avoid reality.
Thinking about my future gave me terrible anxiety.
I originally wanted to go the careful route and pick a field known for job stability.
My family wanted me to pursue computer science, which was my “top” choice at the time. I also considered psychology.
Though, if you ask me now I’d rather eat glass than think about science or math in any capacity. Nothing against those types of majors, of course.
My first semester was spent exploring this option through introductory courses in the majors I was interested in. I quickly found myself in a deeper sense of dread as the semester went on.
It was a frightening and anxiety-inducing feeling to realize I absolutely despised the only choices I gave myself. I tried to reassure myself that maybe this is
how life is for everyone and I just had to endure.
Then, I went to the majors and minors fair and met a man who would change my life completely—Peter Kreten. He quickly became a beacon of hope in an otherwise downcast time period.
Kreten, who is director of student media and a communications professor at SXU, encouraged me to write at “The Xavierite”. This was not an offer I took lightly in the slightest.
I spent weeks deliberating and constantly discussing with my friends the pros and cons of going on this new path. I didn’t feel worthy of writing in a newspaper. It was something prestigious and otherworldly to me.
After lots of ruminating, I decided to stop letting my imposter syndrome cost me good opportunities. So, despite my apprehensions, I officially joined “The Xavierite” as a features reporter.
I felt intimidated and unsure at the start, fearing I would not be good enough or be able to fit in. I was quickly proven wrong.
My fellow staff were incredibly welcoming and included me instantly. I was constantly reassured that I was doing well and could soar even higher.
Over time through trial and error my confidence has grown to a place I never thought I could reach. I learned many lessons
and discovered a major I did not consider before: communication.
Many of my coworkers were and are communication majors. I did not have the best impression of this major before meeting them. I was always told it was a “useless” major.
Through them and Kreten, I discovered that communication is not useless. It is in fact a major that requires a lot of effort with high reward.
I was on the fence about committing to communication at first, but once I did felt like I could truly spread my wings. For once I adored my classes and felt happy to learn.
Nowadays, I will tell anyone willing to listen that I love my major and do not know what I would do without it. I now have a sense of direction, even if I’m not entirely sure of what the future will hold.
I owe this all to student media and Peter Kreten. I do not know where I would be now without either of them. Both student media and communication are now home to me.
I have discovered friendship, true passion, and a desire to live to the very fullest.
So, all this is to say, follow your heart. Take that opportunity, take that risk. It is easy to settle into what you think is the “safe” path.
Chasing your dreams is worth it.
What’s Your Warm Up Song?
Vanessa Orlando Features Reporter
With the abundance of student athletes on campus, the curiosity arises on what they listen to as they prepare for their games.
For this instance, four student athletes were asked about their warm up songs. Three were chosen from men’s volleyball and one from track and field. All were asked what their warm up song was and their reasoning behind their selection.
The first athlete to be interviewed was volleyball player, Kegan Olig, who shared his warm up song to be “HDMI” by the artist Bones. When asked why he picked this song, he said “it makes me feel powerful through the bass and dark beat.” This seems important when preparing for a game since everyone needs to be in a zone to achieve athletic performance.
Just as of recent, SXU Athletics reported Olig had a seasonal high of 10 kills in the teams play against Viterbo in Feb. where Olig also scored 10.5 points and had a total of 3 aces. His warm up song proves how much it prepares him as he always gives his all for every game.
The second being volleyball player Sean Carey, who admits his warm up song to be “Rich Baby Daddy” by Sexy Red. When asked the question about why this song, Carey responded with “I think Sexy Red is such a talented artist, her music really speaks to me and it just fires me up.” In Carey’s
perspective, it’s about feeling a connection with the artist to feel the best for a game.
For Carey, the hype got him to score 13 points in the team’s Jan. game scoring against Indiana Tech, 9 kills playing Mount Mercy, and 7 digs against UC Merced as reported by SXU Athletics. Carey’s vision of having a song that speaks to him allows for him to feel an emotional connection to both the music and the court.
Volleyball player, Caydann Cox, shared his output on warm up music from a different perspective. He doesn’t believe in a specific song for a warm up, but instead prefers a specific genre of music. Cox replied that “tempo music with good beats is what helps me get fired up for a match.”
Cox also notes that he feels “ready to go” after listening to a genre such as tempo.
Cox proves that not just one song has the energy he’s ready to bring to the volleyball court. He has been mentioned as 4x GPAC attacker of the week, GPAC player of the year (2024), and NAIA allAmerican third team (2024). With a record such as that, it’s clear that tempo music does well on Cox’s athletic performance and he picked the best genre of music to influence his preparation.
Track and Field athlete, Drake Hayes, also shared his input on his warm up song being “Kakarot” by Errol Allen. Hayes explained that “this song never fails to get me amped up for his next track meet
or when I have to write sports articles for The Xavierite”.
Hayes is known for his place on the throws division for track & field. His warm up song has allowed him to feel his best as he prepares for shot put for indoor field events where he is notoriously known for his lengthy throws and charisma both on and off the field.
When thinking about warm up songs, they’re all special to the individual and what their athletic goal is. When thinking about these four athletes, winning is on their minds and the music they choose helps them get there. All four athletes show how the right song can influence your emotions to perform your absolute best.
Thinking of Watching K-Dramas, C-Dramas or J-Dramas?
Here’s Where to Start
in Mobile, Alabama Jack McCall seems to think this isn’t a problem for Greek life on campus.
“I think not having a house has little to no impact,” McCall asserted. “I think having a house from my experiences at other universities would be beneficial just because to have more of a living space and get a more at home vibe, but I have saw no negatives about building a community and foundation with having just a couple apartments,” McCall further explained, noting apartment buildings in close proximity to one another in which all the members of Sigma Chi at Spring Hill live.
Living in close proximity to one another helps foster this sense of community and brotherhood
While I certainly acknowledge that fraternities and sororities can have their problematic areas in terms of their frequent use of alcohol and other illicit substances, as well as their rep for hazing incidents and exclusionary behavior, this behavior is not exclusive to fraternities or sororities and occurs on our campus regardless, just as it does everywhere else.
While I won’t personally be joining one, fraternities and sororities are a great and sure way to increase student involvement on campus, which is something that SXU undoubtedly needs. If this is something that a vast number of SXU students personally want as a new addition to campus, it should be implemented.
Kennema Hamilton Features Reporter
For many people, the love for Asian dramas can start with just a single episode. It could be from a friend’s recommendation, a small clip on TikTok, or maybe just from simple curiosity, which was exactly how it started for me.
At first, the fast moving subtitles might seem a little intimidating, but soon, the plot, the beautiful visuals or even the unexpected twists and turns start to pull you in, which makes it way too hard to stop watching.
It’s amazing. Once you start that first episode, it’s really easy to lose track of time. Before you know it, you’re up late at night, and you’re telling yourself, “Let’s just watch one more episode.” But if you’ve ever watched something truly engaging, you know how hard it is to stop, especially when the series is just that good.
What might have started out as curiosity, quickly turned into an interest, and you soon found yourself searching for more dramas from Korea, China, and so on. You weren’t alone. Over the past few years, Many Asian dramas have become a lot more popular around the world.
There are many aspects that always seem to pull viewers back in for more. As a person who likes many Asian dramas, there’s definitely something about the emotional part that always seems to draw me back in. It’s the way these shows make you feel so deeply connected to the characters,
and even their struggles.
Even though the episodes might seem a little shorter than Western dramas and they rarely seem to even have a second season, they always manage to wrap everything up in just one season.
This type of pacing for a tv show can sometimes feel like a relief since you don’t have to wait months or even years for new seasons and endings with cliffhangers that make you question whether you should have even started the show.
Personally, as someone who also loves watching TV shows, sometimes you want to be able to feel everything in just one season, so it’s nice to watch a show from beginning to end and experience the whole story in just a short amount of time.
The stories in these dramas might seem dramatic sometimes, but the plots are very engaging, which makes it easy to forget how fast the episodes are going by.
I personally love dramas that are focused on love and friendship, and these seem to be common in many Asian dramas and are often shown in a genuine way.
One of the things that I really like about these shows is the fact that they tend to showcase their culture in many different ways.
From the clothes the characters are wearing to the way family and traditions play such a huge role in the plot, every detail kind of helps you understand the culture more.
Personally, It’s amazing to see
how different cultures approach things like love, relationships, and even day-to-day life.
After all that, you’re probably curious about where to start.
So, here are a few dramas I’d recommend to get you started.
For Korean drama
Beginners:
Descendants of the Sun (2016) This drama falls under multiple genres, such as romance, action, and more. It’s a love story centered around a soldier and a doctor. They struggle in their lives due to their different professions but later reunite in a country at war. Together, they fight for love while saving lives.
Flower of Evil (2020) This drama falls under thriller and romance. It’s about a detective husband who has a rare disorder that stops him from feeling
emotion. She starts to investigate a murder, which leads to uncovering a few things that point right back to him. As his secret begins to be revealed, their relationship faces trouble.
For Chinese drama
Beginners:
My Journey to You (2023)
This drama falls under historical romance. It’s about an assassin from an organization sent to infiltrate a powerful family. There, she meets a young master. They start to form a connection. As her secrets unfold, she has a choice to make.
The Untamed (2019)
This drama falls under fantasy and historical. It’s about two cultivators from different sects. Despite their differences, they form a strong bond and work together to uncover many secrets.
For Japanese Drama Beginners: Silent (2020) - This drama falls under romance and drama. It’s about a young woman who falls in love with a man who is slowly losing his hearing. As they grow closer, she learns to communicate through sign language. Their relationship faces many challenges, but they try to get through it. Alice in Borderland (2020) - This drama falls under thriller and action. It’s about a few friends who are transported to a place where they must play deadly games to survive.
Whether you’re looking for thrillers, romances, or fantasy, there’s many dramas to choose from that will suit your taste. Check out IQIYI, Netflix, and VIKI. Happy watching.
Opulence And Honor: The 97th Annual Oscars
John Street
Opinions Editor
On March 2, the 97th Annual Oscars took place at Dolby Theater, where the night was filled with well-deserved wins, funny gags, beautiful tributes, and a whole host of technical difficulties.
Rather than have Jimmy Kimmel reprise his role as a subpar host, The Academy opted for the more beloved and endlessly funnier Conan O’Brien. Truly, no one mourns the wicked.
O’Brien proved to be a creative, earnest, and all-around entertaining emcee. While the show did run long, between the honors given to LA Firefighters and the sandworm from Dune playing chopsticks, not a second felt wasted. His mix of ridiculous gags and risky jokes kept life in a ceremony that’s known to dazzle in its first hour, and drag in its last.
Hulu was a dumpster fire when it came to streaming The Oscars this year. While Paramount+ wasn’t perfect for the 96th Annual Oscars, this year it felt like there was a monkey in the control room orchestrating the mess.
Multiple friends told me that they couldn’t watch the ceremony despite Hulu promising access to all subscribers, and several news outlets reported issues with the broadcast in its opening hour. Likewise, there were a few glitches and live editing problems, though
things seemed to calm down toward the end of the show.
There were plenty of wellearned wins throughout the night. At least, I think there were. I only saw two of the nominees. Sean Baker took home four Oscars for Best Editing, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Picture, the most any individual has won at The Oscars.
This is where I’d make a little joke, but again, only had time for two of the nominees. If only Sonic 3 had got the recognition it deserved.
The night was also full of spectacular musical moments, chief among them the Bond Tribute held to honor the passing of the franchise to Amazon, as after decades of upholding the franchise’s legacy, the former producers have decided to sell out on a random Tuesday. Despite the sour moment in cinema history, Lisa of the kpop band Blackpink, Doja Cat, and recent Grammy winner Raye gave spectacular performances of “Live and Let Die”, “Diamonds Are Forever”, and “Skyfall” respectively.
The “shut up already” music returned with class, sorry, crass, to cut off several heartfelt moments, including Adrian Brody’s beautiful (yet admittedly long) acceptance speech for Best Lead Actor. I had no idea the guy could talk for so long. Maybe that’s why The Brutalist is 3.5 hours long.
Speaking of Brody, there was a lot of fun to be had
outside of the auditorium. On the red carpet, Halle Berry went and kissed Adrian Brody to congratulate him on his win, not without apologizing to his wife, who was less than three feet away. Whatever happened to a pat on the back?
Despite “A Complete Unknown” winning no awards, Timothee Chalamet still managed to steal the scene during the ceremony. He didn’t particularly do anything, but you couldn’t miss that bright yellow suit in any of the crowd shots.
I’d like to end this article with an abrupt cutoff, as Hulu ended The Oscars broadcast for millions of other viewers. The stream was scheduled to end at 9:32 PM CST, and that’s exactly what it did, despite the winners for Best Actress, and Best Picture not having been announced.
The cut off ruined a beautiful speech from Sean Baker, who passionately called for the support of moviegoers and film distributors to keep the movie theater experience close to their hearts. It seems that for the most prestigious night of award season, you can either have a good host or a good service provider, but never both.
Despite the issues with Hulu, this year’s Oscars still managed to be a fantastic night of honor and… oh, they’re playing the “shut up already” music in the office because I’m over my word count. Well, until next year folks!
Iris Blue is a local indie-rock band from Chicago, Illinois who announced their tour last month. They have toured in the past, but now they are back on the road reaching new cities to enlarge their audience.
The band announced dates in Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Their Spring tour began in Feb. and will continue until mid-March then returning in June for Northeast Music Festival in Toronto, CA.
Iris Blue has also been doing recordings for future albums in hopes to release their EP in the first week of March. Their lead singer, Quinn Pokora, shares the work progress with SXU Student Media that the band anticipates to release more music prior to their tour.
The band originally consisted of Pokora and Catanese who created an alternative indie-pop sound for their listeners. Then
adding Montoya, Garza and Glyman, their sound has been described as catchy riffs, tasty drums, and melancholic melodies that are both fun and pessimistic. Iris Blue made a guest appearance on my radio show, The Vintage Vault, that aired on WXAV 88.3FM over the summer. The band shared their bonds with music, how they all met, and what work looks like for them now. As the band went from just three people to now adding up to five. They offer personal testimony of growing up as individuals, but also musicians. All of them have such an optimistic and outgoing attitude towards their craft and all radiate passion for all to listen. Seeing them live was absolutely outstanding. They were one of my favorite shows and it was great to see them in a local setting that was casual and entertaining at the same time. I had the time of my life seeing Iris Blue perform and think about how strong their sound is.
It’s heartwarming to see your favorite local band continue to create the most outstanding music and continue to share it with the rest of the world.
Hearing that they will be performing at the Northeast Music Festival in Toronto, CA from June 11th to the 15th was not only exciting, but being proud of a talented group of people who became your friends along the way.
Picture taken of Roku Backdrop
The Xavierite
Barbara Lunsford (left), Sam Alcala (right) The Xavierite
Barbara Lunsford holding a Xavierite print edition The Xavierite
“Possible Greek Life at Saint Xavier University”
Cont. from pg. 4
Drake Hayes (left) and Sean Carey (right)
The Xavierite
Iris Blue Announces Spring Tour Vanessa Orlando Features Reporter
(Back left) Will Garza & Ilana Glyman
((Front left) Alec Montoya, Dave Catanese & Quinn Pokora Luke Robinson
address
• Whether you’re a teacher looking to expand your classroom library, a student trying to dodge the high price of books, somebody that just wants a good read, or anything in between, Bookie’s New and Used Books is happy to provide you with what you need.
• Our everyday prices for used books are usually half the original retail price, and we offer new bestsellers at 20-25% off cover price.
• We offer gifts, games, puzzles, audiobooks, new bestselling books, and much more.
• We have children’s books, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, romance, classics, history, biography, sports, cookbooks, self-help, and just about everything else.
Saint Xavier Track Places 53 out of 66 at Nationals
Adedolapo Ogunleye
Sports Reporter
The Cougars gave it their all and put in the effort to finish strong at the NAIA Indoor National Championship. The women’s track squad tied for 28th place out of the 60 teams competing. The men’s track squad placed in a three-way tie at 53 out of the 66 teams that competed at Nationals last weekend.
NAIA Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Championships T-28th of 60- 8 points
The Saint Xavier University (SXU) women’s track squad selected only six female athletes to represent SXU at the Indoor Nationals. The athletes being, senior Kristin Booker, senior Lexi Clarke, senior Olivia Mathis, junior Alanna Rodriguez, sophomore Amaya Rique, and junior Yanira Deana Paninka.
The women’s squad came and dominated at the Indoor Nationals as three members from the squad earned NAIA AllAmerican honors.
One of them was Paninka, who earned the honors by placing seventh in the 600m finals. Paninka finished with a time of 1:35.11
Mathis also came away with NAIA All-American honors as she placed fourth overall in the 800m, with a time of 2:15.65
This
During the preliminaries for the 1000m, Sytsma broke his own school record when he posted a time of 2:26.26 which is the second-fastest
Mathis and Clarke repeated as NAIA All-Americans and the girls earned a total of eight points for the Cougars. Paninka also set a program record in the preliminaries of the 600m, finishing at a time of 1:34.72 which led her to qualify for finals.
During the prelims of the 800m, Mathis set a new PR as she ran the second-fastest mark in SXU history. Qualifying with the quickest time of 2:14.55.
Clarke is the third and final member of the SXU women’s squad to come home with All-American honors, Clarke finished the 800m with a time of 2:20.65.
Clarke clutched up and took the last spot in the prelims by finishing with a time of 2:15.58. Rodriguez competed in the 3000m Race Walk, she finished with a time of 17:41.30 which is her fastest time this season. Rodriguez finished 13th overall. The 4x800 Relay Team consisted of Clarke, Paninka, Booker, and Mathis. The team also had an alternate teammate in Rique. The girls established a new school record in the prelims as they got a time of 9:24.73.
NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Championships T-53rd of 66- 4 points
SXU track squad selected only nine male athletes to represent SXU at the Indoor Nationals, and those athletes were, senior Lendale Franklin, Senior Luke Snedden, senior Ayobami Arokoyo, junior Rohindeep Bhattal, senior Ronnie Foster, seniorJonathan Jacobo, sophomore Myles Money, junior Charlie Zufan, and senior Isaac Sytsma.
The star that shined brightest this weekend was senior distance runner Isaac Sytsma. Sytsma took part in the 1000m and dominated, placing fifth in the finals with a time of 2:26.76.
Day Two
attempts. With the Indoor portion of the Cougar’s season coming to an end, both squads will pick things back up and resume their season for the Outdoor portion. Look out for their meets later this month.
You Can’t See Professional Wrestling As A Sport?
Sports Reporter Drake Hayes
“Finish… the… story,” Cody Rhodes pinned Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania 40 and Rhode’s music hit. The crowd roared and vibrated Lincoln Financial Field. I watched this happen along with four of my best friends and we were ecstatic. We watched as Rhodes received his first WWE World Title and it was one of my most memorable moments as a wrestling fan. And yet, people will say this isn’t a sport.
It’s disheartening as a sports entertainment fan to hear people utter the words, “It’s not a sport.” I don’t understand how people can say that, yet they watch reality television and say that’s real television. It’s a major double standard in the sports that people subscribe to and normalize.
Sports entertainment is a display of artwork from athletes. In a way, it is acting but it’s more sophisticated than just acting. It’s a fight. Every move you see performed that person takes damage. Although the athletes do protect themselves from some hits or their opponent, they have to take that hit.
Can you blame someone for trying to protect themselves from Professional Wrestler Roman Reigns, leaping from six feet away to tackle them? Even if that doesn’t sound too bad, what if you had Professional Wrestler,
Nia Jax, dropping her full body weight on top of you. If you really want an excuse to protect yourself in a ring, try getting slapped across the chest from Professional Wrestler Gunther who has a whip for an arm. Some of these athletes do actually get hurt from performing. Injuries are a part of any sport including sports entertainers. On the night of Jan. 27, 2025, Professional Wrestler JD McDonagh suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung off of a failed move. McDonagh was attempting to jump off of the ropes and fell onto his opponents out of the ring. When he jumped, McDonagh landed and his momentum carried him too far and he collided with the announcers table. The replay was very scary, and luckily for him, he was able to finish the match. Currently, he is taking time off.
“But wrestlers aren’t real athletes,” that is far from the truth. Professional wrestlers are some of the most athletically gifted people on the planet. From strength to speed and leaping ability they have it all. Most professional wrestlers are former athletes. For example, Professional Wrestler Bianca Belair was a former collegiate track and field athlete. According to an article on RingsideIntel.com, Belair was All-SEC and an All-American
Honors. Professional Wrestler Bobby Lashley had a career in MMA. According to Sherdog. com, Lashley had a 15-2 record in his time in MMA.
All names I’ve given are in the World Wrestling Entertainment brand, with an exception of Lashley who is now with All Elite Wrestling. Lashley signed in the fall of 2024 after WWE decided not to re-sign him. Professional wrestling is a business and there is an economy in WWE just like the NFL, NBA, NHL, and etc. Like any professional sport, in order to be a part of the team you need a contract. The same goes for WWE and the same way people can get signed is the same way people can be released.
If that isn’t compelling enough to consider professional wrestling a sport there’s also another aspect that happens once a year which is a draft.
Yes, you can get drafted as a professional wrestler. It’s mainly an opportunity for wrestlers on the show NXT to get brought up to either Smackdown or Raw, which is considered, which is another show WWE owns that serves as a G League for wrestlers. Don’t underestimate them, there is a lot of talent there.
One of the most fascinating things to see is the emotional attachment. I’ve watched many sports in my lifetime and have seen many emotional fans, but none compare to diehard
professional wrestling fans. The same way they all sing along to Rhodes theme song, they will show their displeasure toward Professional Wrestler, Dominik Mysterio speak. Which gives all the more reason to why professional wrestling is a sport. In all, people need to accept professional wrestling not only as an artform, but as a sport.
Yanira Deana Paninka, Olivia Mathis, Isaac Sytsma, and Alexandra Clarke Pose Together to Celebrate Their All-American Honors SXU Athletics
earned Sytsma NAIA AllAmerican honors for Saint Xavier.
SXU Sees Defeat In CCAC Quarterfinals; Review of Season
Adrian Lopez
Sports Reporter
Saint Xavier University vs. Calumet St. Joseph 70-73 (L)
Saint Xavier University’s (SXU) basketball team was eliminated from the CCAC tournament 70-73 by Calumet St. Joseph on Tuesday, Feb. 25 on Bob Hallberg Court at the Shannon Center in Chicago, IL.
Senior guard Sando Hill scored a career high 27 points and he had a chance to tie the game as time expired, but this three-point attempt was off and their season was over.
Hill finished the game 9-14 from the field, and 3-7 from behind the three point line, 6-7 from the free throw line, along with rebounds in 35 minutes.
Forward Andre Brandon totaled 17 points, eight rebounds in 31 minutes of play.
Senior guard Jordan Jackson tallied eight points, and two rebounds.
As for the Cougars’ shooting stats, they were outshot 45.5% (22-42), to just 38% (24-63) from the field.
At one point, SXU found themselves down 37-17 in the first half before going on a 12-2 run to get the score to 39-29.
The Cougars fought hard to
climb back, and in the second half SXU was only down 49-47.
It was anyone’s game in the second half but St. Joseph had a tad bit more to pull out a win and advance into the next round.
It has been back to back years where the Cougars have lost their quarter final matches by small margins. Last year they were defeated by Indiana University at South Bend.
SXU’s goal was to make it far into the tournament, but they could not achieve that in the end. Their final record of the year was 19-10, a small improvement from last year where they were 16-13.
Players like Jackson had a very good season, averaging 16.0 points per game in 25 games played. Brandon had another great season for the Cougars as he averaged 13.3 points.
Men’s basketball commentator Jotham Israel, who was working the games, stated that, “ I thought this season was a roller coaster. This year’s team was very fun to watch, win or lose. The rise of the offense was insane. They averaged nearly 20 more points per game than last year’s team. Of course as an SXU student, I want to see them win every game they play, but as a basketball fan, I loved the thrill
of seeing a close, highly-contested game almost every night.”
Charles Haltom, who was also a commentator this season, conveyed that “there were some mistakes that we could have dealt with better. We knew how to score the basketball, but sometimes we gave up easier baskets on the other end. But overall, I would say it was a good and fun season. Just think we could have cleaned up a few mistakes”.
From my standpoint, I thought the team played well. There were some games where they dished out 20 or more
assists, which shows team basketball and effort to play the game the right way.
They have played some brilliant games like the one against Holy Cross College where they played an exceptional brand of basketball on both ends of the court.
The season is over, but the off-season starts now, along with getting better and getting ready for the new season where they are looking to play their brand of basketball and are looking to make it far into the tournament.
SXU cae derrotado en los cuartos de final de la CCAC
Adrian Lopez
Reportero deportivo
Universidad de Saint Xavier vs. Calumet St. Joseph 70-73 (D)
El equipo de baloncesto de la Universidad de Saint Xavier (SXU) cayó eliminado del torneo CCAC al cosechar un 70-73 contra Calumet St. Joseph el martes 25 de febrero en la cancha Bob Hallberg del Shannon Center en Chicago, IL.
El escolta senior Sando Hill anotó un récord personal de 27 puntos y aunque tuvo la oportunidad de empatar el partido cuando expiraba el tiempo, falló… poniendo punto y final a la temporada de los Cougars.
Hill terminó el juego con 9-14 en tiros de campo, 3-7 desde la línea de tres puntos, 6-7 desde la línea de tiros libres, además de varios rebotes en 35 minutos de juego.
Por su parte, el ala-pívot Andre Brandon sumó 17 puntos y ocho rebotes en 31 minutos de juego, mientras que el escolta senior Jordan Jackson también tuvo una actuación destacada con ocho puntos y dos rebotes.
En cuanto a las estadísticas de tiro de los Cougars, fueron superados en porcentaje de tiros, 45.5% (22-42) contra solo 38% (24-63) desde el campo.
En un momento, SXU se encontraba abajo 37-17 en la primera mitad antes de hacer una racha de 12-2 para poner el marcador 39-29.
Los Cougars lucharon con fuerza para remontar, y en la segunda mitad SXU perdía 49-47.
Fue un partido muy parejo en la segunda mitad, pero St. Joseph tuvo un poco más de fuerza para llevarse la victoria y avanzar a la siguiente ronda. Han sido dos años consecutivos en los que los Cougars han perdido sus partidos de cuartos de final por márgenes pequeños. El año pasado, SXU cayó derrotada en esta misma ronda ante la U de I, en aquella ocasión, en South Bend. Pese a que el objetivo marcado para este curso era superar la barrera de los cuartos, tampoco ha podido ser. En cualquier caso, SXU Cougars ha conseguido mejorar ligeramente los números de la campaña pasada, con un total de 19-10 frente al 16-13 de la temporada 23-24. Algunos jugadores como Jackson consecharon buenos números, promediando 16.0 puntos por partido en 25 partidos jugados. También fue destacada la participación de Andre Brandon, que tuvo otra gran temporada para los Cougars, promediando 13.3 puntos.
Jotham Israel, comentarista habitual de los partidos de los Cougars, ha declarado que “Pensé que esta temporada fue una montaña rusa. El equipo de este año fue muy divertido de ver, ganaran o perdieran. El ascenso de la ofensiva fue increíble. Promediaron casi 20 puntos más por partido que el equipo del año pasado. Por supuesto, como estudiante de SXU, quiero verlos ganar todos los partidos que juegan, pero como aficionado al baloncesto, me encantó la
emoción de ver un partido cerrado y muy disputado casi todas las noches”. Fue una temporada de mucha emoción que trajo un buen estilo de baloncesto.
Charles Haltom, que también era comentarista habitual de los partidos de los Cougars transmitió que “Hubo algunos errores con los que podríamos haber manejado mejor. Sabíamos cómo anotar, pero a veces regalábamos canastas fáciles en el otro lado. Pero en general, diría que fue una buena y divertida temporada. Solo creo que podríamos haber corregido algunos errores”. Habia unos partidos, en donde se comprometieron, pero en general fue una temporada llena de diversión.
Lo cierto es que el equipo
jugó bien. Partidos como más de una veintena de asistencias evidenciando un juego en equipo y acompasado así lo atestigua. También hemos podido disfrutar de partidos brillantes como cuando jugaron contra Holy Cross College donde pudimos disfrutar de un baloncesto brillante en ambos lados de la cancha. Ahora, con la temporada terminada, solo queda enfocarse en la preparación para la próxima campaña, donde los SXU Cougars tratarán de profundizar en su juego, cada vez más definido y ofensivo. En la cabeza de jugadores y cuerpo técnico está, una vez más, romper la barrera de los cuartos y, quién sabe, si la posibilidad de soñar con cotas más altas.
Men’s Volleyball-
St. Ambrose Tri-Match
March 15 @ Saint Ambrose University (Davenport, Iowa) at 11 a.m.
St. Ambrose Tri-Match
March 15 vs Clarke University (Davenport, Iowa) at 1 p.m.
Softball-
March 11 @ No. 22 University of Mobile at 3 p.m. (Mobile, Ala.)
March 11 @ No. 22 University of Mobile at 5 p.m. (Mobile, Ala.)
Women’s Basketball-
March 14 @ NAIA Opening Round at Marian University at 4 p.m. (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Esports-
Super Smash Bros.
Ultimate March 15 vs. Manchester University at 9 a.m.
Rocket League March 15 vs. Olivet Nazarene University (III.) at 11 a.m.
Overwatch March 15 vs. Manchester University at 1 p.m.
SXU guard Sando Hill SXU Athletics
El escolta de SXU, Sando Hill
Deportes de SXU