Sarah McLaughlin '23


Editor-in-Chief


Love Taught by the Mockingbirds

Lily pads freeze under winter’s touch Waiting under ice for spring’s promised thaw Do they know it will come And leave just as soon? Do they know the moon’s glow Is an illusion of the sun? Do the black-faced squirrel and the white-tailed deer Ask why the trees in the middle of the pond Are […]

Sarah McLaughlin '23

Keeping Our Community Clean

Pick Up After Yourselves, PC “Darty” season is once again upon us, and for those who remain blissfully unaware of what this entails, don’t expect it to be pretty. Each weekend, the Providence College student body never fails to demonstrate blatant lack of respect for their neighborhood, the environment, and their fellow Friars’ off-campus homes […]

Sarah McLaughlin '23

Are Robots Taking Over?

What AI Means for the Future of Writing What if we never had to write another essay in our lives? What if someone—or something—could do it for us?  Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) has become  capable of exactly that and much more. This summer, the OpenAI research group released Playground, which is free to use for […]

Sarah McLaughlin '23

Brazilian Politics Left Reeling After Attack on Capitol

During the months following his electoral defeat to leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro aimed to discredit the results of the October election. Bolsonaro’s use of such inflammatory rhetoric incited mass violence outside of Brazil’s National Congress in Brasilia on Jan. 8, and was eerily similar to the Jan. […]

Eileen Cooney '23

Finding Beauty in Uncertainty

Heading into winter break, I considered writing a column titled something along the lines of “Five Ways Seniors Can Make the Most of Their Winter Breaks.” I was going to write about applying for jobs, getting ahead on independent study work, and taking a break to read a novel you’ve been wanting to pick up […]

Sarah McLaughlin '23

Writer vs. Writer: Is Santa Claus Coming to Town?

Let Them Believe by Sam Dietel ’23 The magic of Christmas is once again upon us. It’s time to decorate your tree, hang the stockings, and blare “Jingle Bells.” Many of us have memories—fond ones, hopefully—of a jolly fat guy in a red suit breaking into our homes, eating our cookies, and leaving gifts under […]

Meghan Mitchell '23

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas: How to Have a Sustainable Holiday Season

I love Christmas, but I also love the planet. I won’t be the Grinch and take away your wrapping paper and plastic trees, but it’s important to consider the environmental impact of this holiday so that we can celebrate in a way that is more sustainable and less harmful to our planet. One way that […]

Kaelin Ferland '23

A Totally Unnecessary Rant About Hallmark Movies 

This article might be upsetting both to regular viewers of Hallmark movies (if such people really do exist) and to children who still believe in Santa Claus. To the latter group, I offer my sincerest apologies.   Ah, Christmastime—the season for caroling, hot cocoa, and…bad Hallmark movies. Why humanity must suffer through that last one is […]

David Salzillo Jr. '24

All I Want for Christmas is Taylor: She Belongs with Friartown

With the Ticketmaster crisis casting a sense of despair over Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and the Christmas season, there is one way the Grammy Award-Winning artist can help her fans right here in Friartown. All Friars want for Christmas is for Taylor to perform at Providence College.  Not every college student can dish out thousands […]

Christina Charie '25

Incessant Cycle: Mass Shootings Continue in America

It’s happening again and no one should be surprised. Mass shootings are nothing new, and the more we hear about them, the more desensitized we become. Late at night on Saturday, Nov. 19, another deadly shooting took place at an LGBTQ+ bar called Club Q in Colorado Springs, CO. The shooter murdered five people and […]

Samantha Dietel '23

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