by The Cowl Editor on April 6, 2017
Opinion
Going Nuts for PVDonuts
Although I am not a paid sponsor for any bakeries or doughnut shops, I would be doing a great disservice to Providence College and greater Rhode Island community if I did not bring to light the magic that is currently happening at 79 Ives Street, Wednesdays through Fridays, during the hours of 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at one incredible artisanal doughnut shop.
PVDonuts, Providence’s first specialty doughnut shop, is not only drawing attention from their local customers for their amazing doughnut creations, but has also gained widespread recognition from media outlets such as The Boston Globe, Buzzfeed, Daily Mail, Cosmopolitan, and Spoon University. If you have not tried their amazing doughnut creations yet, you are missing out on an amazing culinary experience unlike any doughnuts you have ever tried before.
With locally sourced ingredients, PVDonuts hand makes a wide variety of brioche yeasted donuts, traditional old-fashioned, and even vegan style doughnuts. PVDonuts is a true game changer for anyone looking for a sweet addition to their morning coffee. Their menu changes every month, so customers can expect a wide variety of imaginative flavors. From their ’90s-themed menu of March, including the “Dunkaroo” and “Oatmeal Cream Pie Donut” to their current April menu which includes, “The Elvis” and “Brown Butter Coffee Milk,” PVDonuts has established a sound reputation as a leader of the artisanal doughnut world that everyone should try.
-Sarah Kelley ’18
Lift the Laptop Ban
As we enter April, my notebook and folders are in tatters. Weeks of stuffing them into my packed backpack has shredded my notebook, and my folder is bursting at the seems with useless papers. Sifting through the mess is a nightmare, as important papers are impossible to find. Yet all of this could have been easily avoided! Everything I need could be in one convenient place: my laptop!
For someone as disorganized as myself, my laptop is essential. Everything can be neatly organized in virtual folders, and nothing can be forgotten or lost. Most importantly, I can write legible notes fast without worrying about my awful handwriting.
Yet every semester, a well-meaning professor bans laptops in their class. “Studies show on average they are not good for students,” they say, or “I think they’re distractions.” As noble as their intentions are, they are forgetting that people learn differently.
Everyone is different—it is impossible for studies to show what is good for everyone. Perhaps some find laptops distracting, but they are vital for others who are disorganized or have bad handwriting. Even if someone is irresponsible and spends class zoning out on ESPN, the rest of the class should not suffer for their mistakes. They should suffer the consequences, not others who are missing out on a crucial tool.
-Nicholas Moran ’19
Bring Back the Trees
One of the many great features of the Providence College campus is its vast stretches of greenery, but it is safe to say that the sudden lack of trees is probably not the vision most have in mind. The newfound stumps, particularly the one on Slavin Lawn, ,came as a surprise to many students. Not only has this abrupt change had a negative impact on the aesthetic of the campus, but more importantly on the environment.
When the weather is favorable, it is not uncommon to see students sitting under the shade of the trees, and it is easy to see why. On warm spring days trees are the perfect place to settle down and get homework done. The tree on Slavin Lawn was an especially popular spot for relaxing.
But these trees are more than just a means for students. Every tree that is cut down contributes to the increase in greenhouse gases reaching the atmosphere, leading to air pollution. Additionally, without trees, the soil becomes dry, losing its uniformity and its ability to produce food.
If not carefully done, replanting trees can also be harmful. Leftover sawdust can distort the ratio of carbon and nitrogen, and nitrogen is needed in order for a new tree to grow.
While there may not be an extensive diversity of species, trees are essential to the cultivation and protection of the environment of the campus.
– Hannah Paxton ’19