by Ava Stringer ’28 on October 23, 2025

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Opinion

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There’s always a duo in a trio.

Triple dorms are the definition of unnecessary chaos: cramped, loud, and awkward. The math isn’t adding up. These rooms are built for two, yet somehow, we’re squeezing in three and pretending it’s “community living.” It’s like trying to have a dinner party in a broom closet and calling it “intimate.”

You can feel the tension before the semester even begins. There’s always an odd one out. Don’t even get me started on when it’s two friends and a random roommate. Two strangers, a communal bathroom down the hall, and barely any floor space? That’s a social experiment, not housing.

Let’s talk about the dimensions. Freshman triple rooms average around 15 by 13 feet, which is roughly the size of a one-car garage, except with three beds, three desks, and three sets of everything else. Sophomore triples aren’t much better, averaging the size of a small studio apartment cut in half. And let’s not forget, we’re paying upward of ten thousand dollars a year for the privilege of living in a glorified shoebox.

What better way to stress out new students than to confine them to a space smaller than most people’s bedrooms, all while they’re learning to live away from home for the first time? The college talks endlessly about wellness, community, and adjusting to campus life, but how’s anyone supposed to “find themselves” when there’s literally nowhere to stand?

Providence College can do better. Triples aren’t a solution to overcrowding; they’re a shortcut that makes students pay the price for poor planning. Everyone deserves a room that feels like a home, not a closet with three beds. At the very least, hand out noise-canceling headphones and emotional support water bottles on move-in day.

Triples might build character, but so does surviving a natural disaster. Neither of those should be a part of the “college experience.” If it is, hazard pay seems reasonable.

by Kaelynd Brouillette ’29 on October 23, 2025

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News - Campus

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If you have scrolled TikTok or Instagram lately or turned on the news, you’ve probably seen the panic surrounding the current government shutdown. Personally, I was scared. When I heard the shutdown was actually happening, I was worried about my flight home. Was it going to be cancelled or delayed? Should I get to the airport extra early in case the TSA takes forever? On Oct. 9, I flew out of Logan International in Boston to Syracuse, NY, and business was operating as normal. TSA took 10 minutes, and my flight took off on time. I prepared for the absolute worst going in there, but I was surprised by the relatively normal experience. After all,  TSA workers and air traffic controllers are federal employees who are affected by the shutdown. The situation left me thinking that maybe this is what America feels like right now—everything looks normal on the outside, but beneath, our system is cracking. That realization made me wonder how much the people around me actually understand what’s going on, not just at the airport, but across the country. To find this information out, I sent out a student-run survey regarding Providence College students’ perceptions of the shutdown. 

PC students’ reactions show how younger generations perceive government dysfunctions from the outside looking in. While most aren’t directly affected, many recognize the shutdown as a symptom of deeper political failure. Their voices reveal both frustration with leaders and a desire for better civic understanding, as only 14.8 percent of PC student respondents said they felt truly informed about the shutdown. Most reported that they get their news from social media, such as TikTok and Instagram, with only some getting it directly from well-known news sources. This highlights a broader issue: young people are surrounded by political content on every platform, and lack context or real, trustworthy explanations. Social media, although helpful in some capacity, is not an entirely reliable source of information regarding obtaining facts on the current state of our government, containing often biased and heavily skewed “information.” 

I also found it interesting that 52 percent of respondents said they were not personally affected by the shutdown in any capacity, and 74.1 percent said they only felt somewhat connected to the events happening in D.C., although several cited indirect consequences, such as their family and ROTC members being furloughed, as well as some stating they did experience TSA/flight struggles. This data makes it clear that students see through political dysfunction, yet struggle to feel connected to government processes. It is important to note that although we, as a generation, find it difficult to feel impacted by national government events such as this shutdown, we recognize the implications of it and see that it has real-world effects in society. One anonymous student stated, “We feel isolated in our own little world when we’re on campus, but there’s so much going on around us that is important to learn.” This quote really stuck with me because it holds true that when we are on campus, we do feel like we’re in our own little world, and although there are such frightening government events happening in our country, we don’t feel affected by them. Therefore, it is incredibly important that college students make any effort to learn about and care about the current state of the government. Although we don’t feel the direct effects, our society as a whole is facing the consequences. 

Through my collection of data, students also made it clear that the shutdown is not a good look for our government, with 74.1 percent of respondents saying that this has changed the way they see our government and its leaders for the worse. Two anonymous students expressed frustration with the way our administration is handling the shutdown, stating “The propaganda that has been plastered all over official government websites, calling this a ‘Democrat shutdown’ has worsened my feelings towards the Trump Administration,” with another stating “Misinformation and the control of news and media I feel is at an all time high attempting to divide the country with Democrat versus Republican without being genuine to the inherent ideals of the parties.” These responses reflect bipartisan frustration, as students are annoyed with the rhetoric on both sides of the aisle, and, from what I have gathered, believe it is important for both sides to work together to solve the bigger issue at hand. 

While many Americans view the shutdown as a distant political event, federal employees are experiencing a direct disruption of their livelihoods. I conducted an interview with an Environmental Project Manager who has worked for the federal government for 10 years now, and he gave us an inside glimpse as to what the work environment is currently like. He describes his frustration with seeing “highly respected people in their fields,” being scientists and engineers, labeled to be nonessential by “people unfamiliar with their work.” This label, he explains, is “demeaning to someone who takes pride in the work they do.” For these workers, it’s not just about a paycheck, but rather being told their contribution to society suddenly does not matter. The shutdown reduces public service to a checklist of expendability, reflecting a broader cultural disregard for labor that does not produce an immediate political or financial gain. When asked about the overall morale in his workplace, he stated, “Disruptions such as this shut down and callous decision making created a negative environment locally and I’m sure through the federal workforce.” Imagine going to work knowing your role is “essential,” yet your paycheck is suspended and some of your colleagues have been determined “nonessential.” This situation therefore corrodes morale and creates resentment towards leadership that appears indifferent to human cost. The government relies on the expertise of people like him to keep important systems running, but refuses to compensate him for his contributions in real time. He notes that essential workers must “adapt, find a solution and press forward” despite missing staff support and resources, showing that it is adaptability and the quiet resilience of people like him that keep the country functioning even when Congress does not. It’s a stark reminder that the strength of our institutions lies not in the politicians who run them, but in the ordinary professionals who continue to do their jobs day in and day out despite being furloughed. His words reveal the human face of government dysfunction and the emotional labor carried by workers unseen by the public. Shutdowns are often discussed in terms of cost per day or economic impact, but the true cost is personal: pride diminished, morale broken, and trust in leadership eroded. The story of this one federal employee becomes a mirror for a much larger truth, being that America’s “nonessential” workers are often the ones most essential to its stability. The government shutdown is therefore not just a budgetary failure, but a profound human failure, one that exposes the gap between political rhetoric and the lived reality of those keeping the country running.

Just like the airport seemed to be functioning normally, in my case at least, despite the chaos behind the scenes, so too does America, as we continue to move forward during this shutdown. Even in states of complete dysfunction, daily life goes on because of the people who choose to let it, such as our TSA agents, the National Guard, and environmental project managers. Make no mistake, the shutdown is a serious reflection of a larger failure within our government and its leaders, as well as political stubbornness and polarization. It reveals how fragile our systems can be when struggles for power on both sides outweigh public service. Yet, despite all of this, I still believe in the strength of our system. Our democracy is not perfect, but it is resilient, as it bends under pressure yet does not break. The American system has always found a way to adapt to change, and I believe it will again—not because of the politicians in D.C., but because of the people who keep it running. As students, citizens, voters, and future leaders, it is our responsibility to pay attention, to learn, to question, and to care about the government that shapes our daily lives, although we may not directly feel it. Understanding what’s happening beyond campus is the first step in ensuring the next generation leads with more empathy and accountability. The government may falter, but its people never do. Students, workers, and citizens together prove that America’s system, though strained, will always endure.

by Rachel Barter ’27 on October 23, 2025

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News - Campus

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Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Protecting & Supporting Our Fellow Friars

As a person who has friends and family members who have been survivors of domestic violence, Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a very important month full of reflection and education, which is not often enough brought to the forefront. The goal and purpose of Domestic Violence Awareness Month is to raise awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence, encourage support of survivors, honor victims, and, perhaps most importantly, mobilize people to take action to prevent it. By raising public consciousness of domestic violence, Domestic Violence Awareness Month encourages people to get involved, support preventative legislation, and build communities where everyone feels safe. Similar to Mental Health Awareness Month, which is also observed in October, the month-long observance helps to bring this often-silenced issue into the open and to empower survivors to seek safety and support. 

In the U.S., “an average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner… more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year.” Additionally, more than “one in three women (35.6 percent) and one in four men (28.5 percent) in the U.S. have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.”  

Given that around 30 percent of men and women in the U.S. have experienced domestic violence during their lifetime, Domestic Violence Awareness Month should not be taken lightly and should be used as a stepping stone for taking action against domestic violence, rather than a pit stop on our journeys throughout the year. Domestic violence does not cease during the other 11 months of the year, so it is very important to utilize Domestic Violence Awareness Month as a consciousness-raising tool, but not to let our efforts stop there.

As demonstrated by the statistics above, no person is disconnected from the effects and experiences of domestic violence, whether we have personally experienced it or are connected to other people who have or are currently experiencing domestic violence. We are all connected to domestic violence in one way or another, and if you are someone who has not experienced or interacted with domestic violence, then we have an obligation to take action against domestic violence and the broader interpersonal violence; survivors should not be perceived as responsible for fixing a society and an issue that they were violated and discriminated against by. However, survivors and victims of domestic violence should be the very people using their unique personal experiences to guide the actions against domestic violence because they are the only people who have comprehensive knowledge about how to protect themselves and others.

Recognizing the importance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and taking action is also particularly relevant for us as college students when considering the following statistics about domestic violence for teens and young adults: about one in 12 experienced physical dating violence, about one in 10 experienced sexual dating violence, and 33 percent of teens who were in an abusive relationship ever told anyone about the abuse. Additionally, it is important to highlight that certain marginalized groups are more at risk than others, including female students, students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, and students of color, which points to a larger societal discrimination.

Lastly, I want to discuss how we can do our part to help take action against domestic violence and support survivors. One of the most important things to remember is that it is never the victim’s fault that they experienced domestic violence, and we should not be using any language or acting in such a way that explicitly states or implies it; for example, we should not ask the survivors questions like, “Why didn’t you leave sooner?”, “Why didn’t you report it sooner?”, “Why didn’t you just say no?”,  “What were you wearing?” or “You were drunk.” Such lines of questioning are all too common today, especially regarding female college students, yet they are so damaging and hurtful to victims, considering one of the greatest barriers to seeking help and reporting abuse is the victim feeling they are to blame for what has happened to them. Therefore, when people speak or behave in a way that reinforces this feeling of self-blame, the impact of the abuse may be greater, leading to a longer recovery. Instead, we want to be there for them and let the survivors tell us what they want/need from us so that we can best support them without taking charge of how they want to begin taking action against it or begin the never-ending journey or “healing.”

As Dr. Driessen, an Assistant Professor of the Social Work Department and an Affiliated Faculty with the Women’s and Gender Studies Department, states, “PC is a place where community is so important to our values. We can all draw upon the strength of this community, such as being part of the Friar Family, to break the silence, debunk stigma, remind each other that you are never alone, and encouragement of just how powerful and impactful a nonjudgmental, listening, and empathetic presence can be.”

Overall, we are responsible for educating ourselves on domestic violence and doing our best to support ourselves or the people around us who have experienced domestic violence. We cannot ignore the important and life-threatening issue that the month of October reminds us about every year, and we need to carry this momentum with us throughout the rest of the year by treating survivors with dignity and respect, as well as looking out for your fellow Friars and neighbors to keep everyone safe. “And remember that there are many resources for everyone on campus, including the opportunity to speak to a confidential victim advocate to learn more about resources, rights, and processes.”

by Isabelle Camoin ’26 on October 9, 2025

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News

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The time-honored tradition of homecoming and family weekend brought a multitude of lively energy to campus this past weekend, Oct. 3–5. Many faces, new and old, were seen on campus; returning graduates, legacy family members, cherished loved ones, and even pets were flourishing this weekend amidst the fall air. The vibes on and off campus were high, kicking off the weekend with an open house in Raymond Dining Hall, where families could get a taste of the notorious chicken nugget meal.

Saturday was packed with events that embraced the Friar spirit of bringing everyone together. Seniors living off campus opened their doors to family and friends, bringing the community together over potluck meals and live bands in their parking lots. The Friar 5K had a large turnout with over 1,000 runners, where participants, young and old, began their Saturday outside Harkins Hall, trotting through and around campus, and crossing the finish line at Ray Treacy Track. Braeden McDevitt won the men’s category, and Dana Bush ’00 won the women’s. Our very own Dean Sears finished the race at No. 11 with an impressive time of 19:49.

Slavin Lawn was packed with yummy bites from food trucks, lawn games, and entertainment varying from live performances from the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Film, live painting by Petal Pusher, and even a student band showcase. The hallmark of the weekend, Late Night Madness, featured performances from the PC Dance Club, PC Dance Company, Motherland Dance Group PC, the PC dance and cheer teams, and a cappella clubs before Carrie Underwood stepped on the stage to perform for the public and PC community.

The audience members for these performances were also introduced to the Friars men’s and women’s basketball teams, showcasing what is to come for their seasons this winter. This year was the first year the Amica Mutual Pavilion opened the floor to the public, and the student section was found in the higher seated sections. Friar students and family members filled the stadium with support for our on-campus groups.

Notable open houses of the weekend included visiting the new Ryan Incubator space in the Feinstein Academic Center, opening the doors to the new student entrepreneurship office, and Friartown’s Closet, the on-campus, student-run thrift shop supported by the Ryan Incubator, which was open for donations. Additionally, the Ben Mondor Center for Nursing and Health Sciences celebrated its first homecoming weekend in its new home on campus, inviting alumni to explore the new technology and areas of study the center brings to the PC community.

All in all, the sunny weather and the fall breeze made for a great atmosphere to spend outside with friends, family, and other loved ones, bringing the Friar spirit alive.

by Grace Pappadellis ’29 on October 2, 2025

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Opinion

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I’ve been on campus just about a month now, and it is evident that the words that mean something to me might mean nothing to someone else. I’m not referring to greatly important words—like having a kind conversation, respecting each others’ opinions, or sharing special details about oneself with friends. I am talking about words we use every day, common colloquialisms, nicknames, slang, and our own ideas of what certain words mean.

To toss out an example, a few evenings ago, my roommate, who is dear to me, stood in the laundry room doorway and spoke the words, “When my friends and I play billiards.” The chuckle I let out was not prompted by any sort of silliness, or never hearing the word before, I had just never heard someone use it in lieu of “pool,” never mind as if it was second nature to her.

Following this interaction, I also learned some people say “script” instead of “cursive” and others refer to the post office as a “package store.” “Rotary” or “roundabout?” How about “water bubbler” or “water fountain”? Although these variations in words aren’t remarkably important, I find it remarkably interesting that we can say all these different words, yet we are referring to the same things. 

Over the weekend, I was lucky enough to meet my close friend’s family for dinner in Providence. We shared pizza and pasta at a wonderful Italian restaurant, and started talking about Rhode Island jargon. I was pleasantly surprised when my friend’s father brought up the term “grinder” as a popular term for “sub” in Rhode Island. As Massachusetts people, we discussed that we’ve heard “grinder” plenty of times in our neck of the woods—oftentimes more than “sub.” In fact, I have fond memories of my parents ordering meatball grinders from our local Italian restaurant or sharing grinders with my elementary school soccer team. 

We use words all the time, unaware of their meaning in other places, or if they mean the same thing at all. We eat certain styles of food, oblivious to their true significance. Here in Rhode Island, calamari is topped with hot peppers, clam chowder has clear broth, and pizza has no cheese! You may have never known that these styles of beloved food items came from Rhode Island, similar to “carriage” referring to a grocery cart, and “cabinet” meaning a milkshake. 

Going to college in itself is a privilege, as well as going to a new place or exploring a city much different from your own. Before college, I’d been to Providence numerous times, and aside from my home state of Massachusetts, Rhode Island was my most-visited state. However, as a younger, less culturally adept person, I never picked up on vocabulary differences, varying phrases, and subtle accents. Looking back, it feels as though I was unmindful of the way people talked, or at least less observant, to a fault. It is so cool to notice these things. Even small things. It makes for not only an enjoyable, satisfying experience, but an authentic one, too.

by Rachel Barter ’27 on October 2, 2025

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Opinion

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The Importance of Prioritizing Our Mental Health As College Students

Although Mental Health Awareness Month is only one month out of the year, this does not mean we should only monitor or prioritize our mental health during October. Instead, I think of mental health awareness as a yearly reminder for us to reevaluate our mental health and how we could be doing more to improve it. Additionally, it encourages everyone to become aware and educate themselves about mental health conditions, reduce stigma associated with seeking treatment, and highlight the availability of mental health resources and support systems, such as the Personal Counseling Center here at Providence College. Overall, the importance of this designated month is to educate people about mental health, normalize conversations around mental health, and foster a more compassionate society where individuals feel empowered to seek help.

Particularly, I find that as a college student whose main task is to study for our classes and do homework, it is easier to let our mental well-being slide in order to accomplish our academic goals while balancing clubs, jobs, family, and friends. Hence, college seems to be a breeding ground for poor mental health and for neglecting to value our mental health over other priorities. For instance, rigorous studying can cause us to neglect exercise, spending time outside, eating, and having fun with friends, which are all influential factors on our mental health.

It is important to correlate our ability to complete assignments with our ability to successfully retain information. If we let our mental health slip in our list of priorities in order to prioritize academics, we are actually degrading the quality of work we attempt to complete. This is not to say it is easy to take this advice and begin to prioritize our mental well-being over our academics, but even taking baby steps towards this goal, like occasionally making active choices, are great ways to approach this goal in a comfortable way.

One way I accomplished this last week was taking a walk before I started homework that had been stressing me out that I had consequently been pushing off. This simple 30-minute break calmed me down to a point where I could focus on the work at hand and approach the assignment in digestible sections. Another way that I worked on my mental health last week was by saying yes to my friends and roommates when they asked to hang out. Instead of scheduling this around my homework time I had set out, I scheduled my homework around what we wanted to do. This solution is simple, and it helps to take the anxiety away that comes when I feel like I am forced to take time away from my studies. I get to feel like I am truly maximizing my study time when I know my activity schedule first. Lastly, I find that the most important thing I do for my mental health is to set limits on how long I will devote time to academics. It’s important that I know when to stop studying because I have gotten to a point where I will not be very productive and can better utilize this time by taking time for myself.

Similar to how Mental Health Awareness Month is about encouraging improvement rather than forcing you to change your routine or list of priorities, I simply want to offer my opinion as a friendly encouragement to consider what small steps you could take to improve your mental well-being. Lastly, I encourage everyone to seek information on the different types of support you can receive either here at PC or elsewhere, and to understand that it is not necessary to carry our mental health conditions stoically without the help of others.

by Isabelle Camoin ’26 on October 2, 2025

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Opinion - Campus

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A Call from the Bishop to Turn Towards Nature

On Wednesday, Sept. 24, a Mass for the Care of Creation was held on campus in Saint Dominic Chapel. The Mass was celebrated with Most Reverend Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., and Concelebrant Reverend Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. ’78, ’82G. 

The early evening of  Sept. 24 was filled with the spirit of stewardship. Providence College and Saint Dominic Chapel welcomed Bishop Lewandowski for the first time since filling his position in the Providence order. In turn, Bishop Lewandowski welcomed us all into a restorative tradition put forth by Pope Leo XIV on behalf of Pope Francis and the work he began to do with Laudato Si and with Creation. 

Mass for the Care of Creation is a new celebration brought forth by Pope Leo XIV as a continuation of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si. The Church has recently added this specific Mass to the Roman Missal. The first Mass for the Care of Creation was held on Wednesday, July 9, by Pope Leo in Borgo Laudato Si, at the historic papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. Borgo Laudato Si was Pope Francis’s project to actualize his encyclical writing on caring for our common home. 

Overarching themes found in Mass—and in the work done in the name of Laudato Si—pertain to growing ecological concerns within the framework of understanding human relationships and  the world around us. The encyclical asks us to consider: How do we care for others and the communities we belong to? How sustainable are both my views of the world and the actions I conduct based on these views? Bishop Lewandowski was appointed by Pope Francis on April 8 and officially became Bishop of Providence on May 20. Mass for the Care of Creation was both a celebration of the Earth and a call to celebrate the Earth. During Mass, Bishop Lewandowski asked listeners to examine both their friendships and their relationships to the world; how do we treat our friends? How do we treat and experience the world we belong to? He asked us to consider the world and the places we live as places to become friends with, to care for, and adore. During this mass, Bishop Lewandowski brought forth passion and honor in discussing these topics and helped to bring a resurgence in discussion of Laudato Si.

by Shannon Kelly ’26 on October 2, 2025

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Opinion - Campus

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Dr. Shannon Jackson’s Talk

On Thursday, Sept. 25, Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar, Dr. Shannon Jackson, gave a talk in Ruane LL05 regarding the importance of publicly engaged art, the threats that currently face the arts, and the interconnectedness between democracy and expression. Dr. Jackson prefaced the talk by stating that Phi Beta Kappa, which is the nation’s most prestigious academic honor society for arts and sciences, will be celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2026. Phi Beta Kappa was founded during the American Revolution, and thus, the United States will be celebrating 250 years this upcoming year as well. 

Dr. Jackson started her talk by asking a vital question—how to sustain the love of learning at this moment in time, when institutions that we have relied upon for as long as we can remember are changing. She connected Providence College’s mission statement, which emphasizes the importance of bringing veritas to the challenges that we currently face, being in contemplation, and upholding the common good for all. Dr. Jackson also repeatedly stated that all domains of knowledge must be considered to truly promote civic virtue.

In light of the talk being titled “The Arts, Democracy, and Public Life,” Dr. Jackson initially engaged with the students and faculty by asking what words or phrases came to mind when asked about the term “the arts.” She asked the same question regarding the terms democracy and public life, which generated a fruitful conversation. 

Dr. Jackson brought up the importance of the First Amendment, while also tying in the ways in which artistic expression goes hand in hand with freedom of speech. Her touchpoints for this part of the talk were public expression, resistant expression, commandeering culture, and the collective system at play. She delved into our nation’s history, while acknowledging that art does not always promote democracy. 

Dr. Jackson spoke about totalitarianism, while relating this to the present day through the current administration shutting down spaces and places of art that do not agree with the opinion of the President. She gave countless examples, including the firing of former President of the Kennedy Center, Deborah Rutter, the erasure of “race-centered ideology” from the Smithsonian Museum, and the recent controversy with Jimmy Kimmel over comments he made regarding the death of Charlie Kirk. Dr. Jackson called us to acknowledge the cultural turn in our federal government and question why it is happening. 

Dr. Jackson talked a lot about the need for cultural practices that encourage the use of all sensibilities, her hope that publicly engaged art can once again reenchant citizens, and the weight that rests in cultivating lives of contemplation. We all must reckon with—and be sensitized to—  what being a true member of the public in a democratic space actually means. Dr. Jackson called upon the audience to question both what it means to trust and what it means to be trustworthy. In our fragmented nation, even when public trust is frayed, it is critical that we are able to sow faith in one another and in our institutions. The importance of creative resistance was expressed throughout the entirety of Dr. Jackson’s talk. Here is the link to read about Fall of Freedom, which seeks to unite the arts community in defiance of authoritarian forces: https://www.falloffreedom.com/.

by Amanda Ayres ’26 and Ava La Bruno ’27 on October 2, 2025

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Congress Updates

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On Tuesday, Sept. 23, Student Congress was pleased to welcome Eileen Wisnewski, the executive director of the Chirico Career Center. We all know and love the slogan, “Don’t Wait… Slavin 108,” and this perfectly encapsulates the message Wisnewski left with the 76th Student Congress.

The Chirico Career Center “works with students to identify, enhance, and accomplish their career development, internship, job search, and educational goals from college to career,” focusing on strengths and passions at the individual level. Wisnewski emphasized how the Chirico Career Center has “‘big school’ resources and a ‘small school’ feel,” with a large team of people that aim to see 100 percent of students come through their doors.

Wisnewski addressed the common misconceptions that she and her colleagues hear: that the Career Center is not needed if one is seeking to attend graduate, medical, or law school, that it only focuses on students in the School of Business, or the dreadful statement, “I’ll go when I’m a senior.” She emphasized how there are resources available to every major and career path at all points during a student’s four years at PC. They do more than just connect a student to job opportunities; they are there to assist in resume building, shadowing/internship experience, graduate school applications, practice/mock interviews, and even connecting graduates with resources after commencement. 

She also shared that over the summer, there was a reorganization of the student-focused coaches, so they now focus on specific majors. The hope for this change is that students feel more encouraged to utilize their resources, and potentially allow coaches to nag students enough that they will seek their coach out. Wisnewski then posed a question to the Student Congress, asking how they can achieve 100 percent utilization of the office by students, knowing it is not a required resource. Many members voiced ideas about the Center having more social media presence, having every major/career path-specific information easily accessible, and even going as far as implementing their services into an already mandatory requirement, like academic advising. 

Student Congress was grateful to Wisnewski and the Chirico Career Center for presenting their resources and goals, and appreciative of their receptiveness to our members’ feedback and ideas. For the rest of the meeting, a piece of legislation regarding the proposal of the Just Dance Club was introduced, and will be voted upon at the next meeting. We are also extremely excited to welcome our newly elected and selected first-year members at our next meeting.

by Kaelynd Brouillette ’29 on September 25, 2025

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Opinion

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I don’t let myself skip class. In fact, I usually think there is little point in doing so. However, I was ready to make an exception to my personal rule on the Friday before Columbus Day. Like many other students, I had made travel arrangements to go home that day, booking a flight in advance due to living significantly far away. Missing that one day of classes seemed like a small trade-off for spending extra time with my family, whom I had not seen since move-in day. What I did not anticipate was that my Development of Western Civilizations (DWC) professor had scheduled an in-class exam for that day. This exam is worth a significant portion of my grade, and I debated with myself over whether this was really my fault or not. After all, I was the one who decided I needed to go home and booked the flight. When I asked my professor if I could take the exam earlier, I was told that it was not an option.

This whole situation left me thinking about fairness. On the surface, the professor was not doing anything wrong, as this exam was scheduled, and I failed to take that into account when booking my flight. Nonetheless, when an exam falls right before a long weekend, it creates an almost unavoidable clash between academic obligations and the logistics of student life. For those of us who have to fly home, we know that it is not as easy to simply go home on a weekend, making us have to take advantage of the few three-day weekends we do have. Sometimes, that means we take a Friday off to optimize the little time we have with our families. In other words, it’s not just skipping class for “convenience,” it’s a matter of balancing our responsibilities as students with our lives beyond campus.

Providence College’s Student Congress recognizes how disruptive exam timing can be. That’s why it has passed legislation regulating the use of out-of-class assessments, as they place additional burdens on students’ time. However, since my DWC exam was during regular class time, it did not fall under the policy. Technically, no rules were broken. Still, it raises an important question: if the spirit of the legislation is to protect students from unfairly timed assessments, shouldn’t in-class exams scheduled right before breaks also be part of the conversation?

I want to be clear: this is not about blaming professors or attacking the administration. I get it. If you make an exception for one person, then you have to do it for everyone. Faculty have their own curriculum goals and deadlines, which unfortunately don’t always necessarily align with our goals and lives as students. From the perspective of a student who simply wants to see her family, these policies reflect the reality that our schedules don’t exist in a vacuum. A Friday exam is brutal enough as it is, especially the week leading up to a long weekend, but then it forces me, as well as many others facing the same issue, to make decisions about time, family, and whether taking the zero is worth it. 

Personally, this issue is bigger than just one DWC exam. It points to a broader gap between academic expectations and student realities. When we talk about fostering a supportive learning environment, we need to ask ourselves if policies, whether professor-specific or directly from Student Congress, account for the lived experiences of students, especially in moments where academic calendars collide with travel demands and family responsibilities. I believe that fairness isn’t just about following the letter of the policy, but honoring the spirit of what those policies are meant to do for the students. If PC can already recognize that timing matters when it comes to exams, maybe it’s time to broaden the scope and ask how we can make sure assessments are rigorous, without being unnecessarily burdensome? 

Although I still have not quite figured out what I am going to do about my situation yet, I do know that it is not unique. Plenty of long-distance students face the struggles of navigating travel and big exams before breaks. Fairness should not end at what the policies say, but truly working with students to take into account their realities and demands of college life.