April 30, 2026

Providence College's Student-Run Newspaper Since 1935

Rachel Barter ’27

Mar192026Letter to the Editor

Dear Editors of The Cowl, The Feb. 27 edition of The Cowl included a letter to the editor objecting to...

Rachel Barter ’27

Feb272026Offering Meat Options During Lent? Inclusivity on Campus & Freely Abstaining

Although I was not familiar with Lent before I came to Providence College, I have come to understand Lent as...

Rachel Barter ’27

Apr162026What Your Airplane Etiquette Says About You

by Rachel Barter ’27 on April 16, 2026

First of all, I know that comfort on an airplane is a first-world problem and is not a major problem that needs to be addressed, but I believe that people reclining their seats on airplanes is indicative of the person’s character.

Last week over Easter break I travelled to Edinburgh, Scotland to visit my friend studying abroad, which involved me taking practically every form of public transportation available including two flights on the way there and two flights on the way back. 

Out of all the methods of transportation, the flights were, as expected, the most uncomfortable due to the length and cramped space that is difficult to adjust to. However, I was not prepared on my final, seven hour flight on the way back into Boston, for the passenger in front of me to recline her seat all the way back to the point that the screen on the seat back was less than a foot from my face. 

First of all, the seat should never have been able to recline that far or, frankly, recline at all, given the discomfort it will inevitably cause the person behind them. Second, it is not necessary to recline your chair all the way back for five hours of a seven hour flight to the point that the screen is too close to my face that it burns my eyes and my tray table is literally in my lap, making it almost impossible to to eat, drink, or access my bag for the rest of the flight. 

If you are the person who leans your chair all the way back on a plane, especially if the person in front of you has not leaned their chair all the way back, then you need to learn to consider others before yourself. I refrained from leaning my chair back because there was a tall dad with a child sitting behind me and I felt like it was morally wrong to recline my seat into not only his lap, but also the baby’s limited area.

Maybe I am reading way too far into this, but reclining your chair all the way back on an airplane is selfish. At the very least you should ask yourself is the comfort of my neighbor worth sacrificing for my own, extra comfort? I would hope you answer no.

Jan292026Where is the Money Going?: Student Congress Club Allocations

Each year, Providence College’s Student Congress holds two allocation meetings that significantly impact club funding: one at the end of the academic year for distributing budgets, and another at the beginning of the spring semester to review how clubs have been spending their funds. The current process has led to clubs losing previously allocated funds […]
Rachel Barter ’27

Jan222026No More Potholes

For student drivers with sedans and other smaller vehicles, the student parking lots are a pothole nightmare. When I drive through student parking areas such as the Cunningham/Mal Brown Lot or the Schneider Lot, it has become increasingly bumpy, to say the least. Although I am from Maine and have driven through many dirt roads […]
Rachel Barter ’27

Jan222026Lowering Your Meal Plan, Costing More?

As an upperclassman or even a sophomore living in on-campus apartments or in suites, such as McCarthy Hall, you have multiple options for which meal plan you want to sign up for. There is a two-week window at the beginning of each semester for you to reduce or cancel your meal plan depending on your […]
Rachel Barter ’27

Dec112025Acts of Service: Expressing Love & Kindness During the Holiday Season

This holiday season, I want to remind everyone of the importance of visiting with your grandparents and older relatives. For a retired person, the holidays can either be a time of longing for company or being connected and supported by loved ones—especially ones they may not see often. We all have the ability to make […]
Rachel Barter ’27

Nov132025Are Meal Swipes a Scam?: Finding a Compromise Between Affordable, Enjoyable, & Fulfilling

Even though I find food at Alumni Dining that I like well-enough and is eligible for a meal swipe, I think it is frustrating for the foods that I love at Alumni to be, seemingly purposefully, left off the eligibility list. For instance, my favorite food at Alumni is the burrito bowl. This is not […]
Rachel Barter ’27

Nov62025Book Talks & Reading as Ways to Seek More: The Path to Creating an Inclusive, Empathetic World

During these past two weeks, I have gone to two incredible non-fiction book talks: Malala Yousafi’s Finding My Way and Dr. Mallary Tenore Tarpley’s Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery. Although the two books are different in topic and author experience, it was extremely interesting and enriching to hear two women’s perspectives […]
Rachel Barter ’27

Oct302025Halloween Has Lost Its Magic: How Can I Celebrate It Again?

I know it is not a popular opinion to have, but Halloween is my least favorite holiday, and it has lost its magic for me. I don’t like Halloween, probably because I am cut off from trick-or-treating, which was my favorite part of the holiday. However, I also think it is due to the increasingly […]
Rachel Barter ’27