by Victoria Miele ’28 on February 5, 2026

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News

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On Thursday, Jan. 29, the political science department hosted an event titled “Change or Rupture: The U.S. and the World!” featuring Dr. Ruth Ben-Artzi, Dr. Thea Riofrancos, and Dr. Gizem Zencirci. The panel presented a well-rounded idea of their geopolitical concerns, and they each addressed different areas where they found particular concern regarding the United States’ political relationship with the rest of the world.

Dr. Riofrancos started the discussion by highlighting that her area of expertise is mainly in Latin America, and so for this event, she would primarily discuss that area, although she was open to answering questions from all over the world. She provided historical context on the Monroe Doctrine, which was created in the early 19th century, and stated that no European powers should have intervention in the Western Hemisphere. Since its establishment in the early 1800s, corollaries have been added to this doctrine. Most recently, the doctrine has been referred to colloquially as the Donroe Doctrine, after current President Trump.

The Donroe Doctrine, as explained by Dr. Riofrancos, is a more modern approach or interpretation of the earlier version, and it now prioritizes the current administration’s concerns. It now asserts U.S. dominance throughout the Americas, most notably through military and economic pressures. These pressures are supposed to show power over adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran, and it gives the U.S. the right to intervene in countries such as Venezuela to secure U.S. interests and resources.

Dr. Riofrancos ended her sections of the talk by discussing U.S. relations with China, saying the U.S. is taking a less direct approach to opposing China than it has in the past. She provided two theories; the U.S. could be focusing on their own sphere of influence and backing off from China in general, or they could be preparing to take on China closer to home by focusing on Latin American countries with Chinese influence.

Next, Dr. Ben-Artzi spoke about the shifting world order. She also provided a lot of historical context revolving around the United Nations and the ways in which the U.S. has historically had a lot of control in global decision-making. According to Dr. Ben-Artzi, the U.S. has used their veto power in the U.N. more than any other country. She mentioned Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he essentially said Canada was tired of following the U.S. ‘s rules and was going to be focusing its alliances elsewhere. Dr. Ben-Artzi predicts that this will be a trend all over the world—countries will be taking a step back from the U.S. and creating new trading blocs and alliances.

Dr. Zencirci finished off the panel by addressing some concerns she has with the current state of the U.S. as a democracy. She addressed the ways in which the media within the U.S. is no longer independent, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to find media that is completely unbiased. She discussed “accessive government crackdown on protestors,” as well as increased censorship and data mining by U.S. official organizations. She finished off by discussing how the government manipulates the media to “vilify protestors” and distort the public’s views.

The three professors then answered students’ questions for close to an hour, providing interesting and meaningful insight on topics such as where to find trusted news, the use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in the U.S., and how to better understand what the initiatives of the Board of Peace really are.

The event was well attended and the professors left hopeful that they would be able to host another panel with rotating professors again soon.

by Isabelle Camoin ’26 on January 22, 2026

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News

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Before winter break, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Providence College’s Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Thomas Smith. I had written about our school’s previous Provost last spring before Smith’s official arrival. Meeting in person was much more exciting and getting to know the Provost led me to feel our Office of Academic Affairs is in good hands. Smith humbly introduced himself to me first as a political theory professor and joyfully described that he is lucky to be the Provost of the College. 

The Provost, for those who are unfamiliar, is the Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer. The Provost meets with the President’s Cabinet about curriculum and academic quality, ensuring they are worthy of the students and that the faculty are flourishing. 

Smith has an extensive background in academia, particularly in Catholic education and  higher education. After receiving his bachelor’s degree at Georgetown University, he also earned a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame. Smith worked at Villanova University for 27 years, where he helped found their Catholic Studies program. Beginning in 2020, Smith served as the Dean at Catholic University for five years. Overall, he has been working in higher education for 35 years. He described his work as a vocational career dedicated to young people flourishing, in both education and in their private lives. 

For Smith, education is as John Henry Newman puts it: “Mind meeting mind, heart meeting heart.” To begin his introduction to Providence College, Smith embarked on what he noted as a listening tour—listening in on and engaging with about 80–90 faculty members of the school. He found that the faculty here at PC “have a deep abiding affection for their students.” Meeting with Smith, it is clear that he cares about his work and the people he works with. Smith explained that he was inspired by a teaching workshop he attended where a beloved mentor shared a 30-second guide to what is most important in education. He began to choke up when sharing the words he most remembered, “Teach what you love, in a place you love, to people you love.” 

Smith met his wife during his time in undergrad at Georgetown. They fell in love and attended Notre Dame together. She works in psychology. Both have many publications in their field. If you walk into Smith’s office, you will find photos of his wife and his family, a testament to his care and affection for those who he cherishes. Smith and his wife have three children, one girl and two boys. 

In his free time, Smith loves to read biographies, historical fiction, and political theory. He also loves to travel, cook, and “even though you probably couldn’t tell,” workout. He also enjoys fixing things through construction and engaging in electrical manual labor. He noted that his father-in-law kindly showed him basic car repair after getting married, and that kind of work developed from there. 

Moving from Washington, D.C., Smith still noted that Providence has lots of great restaurants and great art and that he has been warming up to the city. 

Smith wanted to leave students with something he claims to always share, “If looking for yourself, find something to devote yourself to and to love, and the paradox is you will find yourself.”

by Olivia Gleason '26 and Sarah McCall '26 on November 20, 2025

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News

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With Insights from its First Female EIC

Sunday, Nov. 16 marked 90 years of Providence College’s student-run newspaper, The Cowl. Since 1935, students have come together to provide campus, local, and global news to the PC community. The Cowl plays an integral part in understanding the College’s history as it has documented important milestones and events ranging from the opening of the Ben Mondor Center for Nursing and Health Sciences, to the admission of women at PC, to coverage of the Friars’ football team. While social media and the internet have drastically altered the way college students consume news and media, The Cowl has remained a fundamental part of campus life. Whether it be through submissions of Letters to the Editor, picking up a copy of the most recent edition at any corner of campus, or even posts related to the newspaper on YikYak, the PC community still sees The Cowl’s impact and purpose as it strives to provide a platform for student voices and a space for its members to delve into the dynamic world of journalism. 

As we reflected on The Cowl’s history in preparation for this week’s anniversary edition, we knew that the discussion of its history and significance would be greatly enriched by insights from its first-ever female editor-in-chief, Kendra Bogosian-Marasco ’87. Currently a Title IX advocate and formerly the director of field education at PC, Bogosian-Marasco made Cowl history in the ’86–’87 academic year when she challenged the status quo of the male-dominated publication to become its leader. Her experience in this position provides a glimpse into both how The Cowl has changed and, in many ways, how it has stayed the same in its general mission. We asked Bogosian-Marasco what it was like to come onto the scene as The Cowl’s first female EIC, to which she revealed that it “was the first time in my life that I experienced what being a woman in our society (at the time) meant in an institution that had only had women as part of its student community for 25 years.” Bogosian-Marasco had to jump hurdles of past social norms at the College, including having to “go through multiple ‘interviews’ with administrators” that her predecessors—male EICs—did not. Her perseverance, despite pushback and doubt, allowed her to pave the way for future women of The Cowl, forever changing its power and richness. To get a sense of what marked her time at The Cowl—and to also highlight historic moments for both the publication and PC—we asked Bogosian-Marasco if there was a pivotal moment that stood out to her during her tenure as EIC. Without hesitation, Bogosian-Marasco said, “This is an easy one. . . I was editor-in-chief for the 1986–1987 academic year. Our basketball team had a tremendous season that year and went to the Final Four; Billy Donovan ’87 became a household name.”

Coverage of such success for Friars basketball was undoubtedly thrilling for The Cowl. Its documentation of this historic season continues to serve as a reminder of the power student journalism has to define the collective memory of the College, and the great responsibility the publication carries as the storyteller of such monumental moments.

As we have all seen, technology has altered the way we interact with both the world and media. The same is true in media and news production. Our writing, editing, and publishing practices now are much different than they were throughout The Cowl’s history. For example, Bogosian-Marasco reflected on a major technological advancement during her career with The Cowl: “During my four-year involvement with The Cowl, we acquired word processors and were thrilled to be able to electronically type our articles. They’d be printed out, pasted onto mark-up boards for layout, and then we’d take those layouts off-site (to a local newspaper in Warwick) to be printed.” This 90-year anniversary calls for the recognition of all of the changes and people who have made The Cowl what it is today. It is not just the late nights on Wednesdays or the tireless work by the editorial board that keep The Cowl running. It is also 90 years of adaptation to keep up with technological advancements and a rapidly changing world.

In many ways, the archives of The Cowl serve as a collective PC time capsule, providing direct insight into student voices of the past and their reactions to the defining moments of their time. This history, however, is more often than not overshadowed, simply by the nature of the fact that our newspaper has stayed true to its original mission of covering current events. As such, for this 90th anniversary edition of The Cowl, we have decided to feature pieces of past editions (as well as publish our usual articles covering issues of today) to give glimpses into this history and to commemorate the work of every member of The Cowl, both past and present, that has shaped our student publication into what it is today. We hope you enjoy this step back in time as we seek to uphold the strong legacy of The Cowl. As Bogosian-Marasco told us, “Please continue to write—and to consume—newspapers throughout your lives. Never compromise integrity in your coverage and always seek out Veritas,” and it is our hope that this issue, and every issue after, does just that. 

by Ian Gualtiere ’27 and Tom Marinelli ’26 on November 13, 2025

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A&E - Art

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Recently placed in the Ruane Center for the Humanities 105, three wonderfully large and impressive paintings will dominate the wall of the lecture room for the rest of the fall semester. In an attempt to respond to a long and celebrated tradition of Italian art, mingled with a heavy influence of Christian iconography, artist Bruce Herman’s ambitious piece on the story of the Blessed Virgin Mary is presented in bold colors along with an extreme reverence for the subject matter. Herman has stated that, “Tradition is the substrate of every thought, every feeling, every work of art—whether acknowledged or not. Our very ability to communicate at all is contingent on tradition.” 

Imbued with the knowledge and respect for both Italian Renaissance art and Christian teachings, Herman explores three important stages of the Blessed Virgin before even giving birth to Jesus Christ. The series is meant to be viewed from right to left, the same as Hebrew is read. Lifted directly from the Gospel of Luke is the Annunciation, where the angel Gabriel announces to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she will conceive and give birth to the Son of God. The middle scene, adorned with gold coloring to show the all-encompassing glory of the Lord, is the Incarnation, where the Word of God became flesh through conception. Though it is not directly stated in the Gospels, this is usually celebrated on March 25 (nine months before Christmas). The third scene is the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin to her cousin Elizabeth, also with child, who would later become John the Baptist, and where the famous lines of “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:42) are spoken. With a twinge of modern boldness and traditional reverence, Herman expertly creates a triptych of three of the most consequential events in Christianity.  

These three paintings, passed by all the Development of Western Civilization students, fit perfectly in the large classroom. To me, they almost look like a dreamscape, or a fresco, something from an old, but not forgotten, world. The colors in particular are vibrant: blues, yellows, and white mountains in the back. It’s not a traditional piece whatsoever, but that only adds to its appeal. This Friday, Nov. 14, at 3:30 p.m., you and your friends can see it in Ruane 105, where the Humanities Department will host Herman to share insights on his work and answer any questions. At a school like Providence College, where the humanities are arguably valued as much as any other discipline, it’s always nice to have active engagement from scholars and artists alike who are willing to present to students.

Herman’s visit is a great opportunity to witness a dialogue between faith, tradition, and creativity—the cornerstone of Providence College. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a theology student, or simply someone who’s genuinely curious, this forum will be right up your alley, and everyone is encouraged to attend. Again, that’s Friday, Nov. 14, at 3:30 p.m. in Ruane 105, so don’t miss it!

by Rachel Barter ’27 on November 6, 2025

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Opinion

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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 on traumatic events that occurred in their lives and how they were able to begin healing and navigating life after their trauma. 

Malala Yousafi’s Finding My Way details how Yousafi navigated her life after being shot in 2012 by the Taliban in Pakistan while advocating for girls’ education. This attack was intended to silence her activism. She discusses how after being shot and becoming a world-renowned activist overnight, she still struggles with her trauma; it has taken her a lot of time and effort to adjust to being a “normal” person who goes to college, while simultaneously being expected to lead the charge for the right for girls to receive an education across the world.

Dr. Mallary Tenore Tarpley’s Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery explores the difficulty and daily challenges that accompany recovering from an eating disorder, including slips. Tarpley highlights the never-ending struggles when you are on the road to recovery for an eating disorder and how a “middle place” exists where survivors of eating disorders can inhibit, which emphasizes the inevitability of slips while still remaining on the road to recovery and moving forward.

Despite never having experienced a threat to my education as a woman nor having an eating disorder, I found these two books to be extremely valuable, given that they specifically expose me to other points of view and issues across the world that I may never have actually had to think of or personally deal with otherwise. 

At Providence College, one of our main slogans is that we should seek more, which encompasses how I felt after both of the book talks. Instead of learning and reading about an experience or perspective, I am stepping into someone else’s shoes to better understand their diverse perspectives and situations. This practice of seeking more through diverse knowledge serves to broaden our worldview and develop empathy for other people and their experiences. I have effectively expanded my knowledge, raised my awareness on such issues and experiences, challenged preconceived notions by questioning my own assumptions and biases, and, lastly, encouraged critical thinking, which helps me to question and reflect on my own beliefs and perspective.

I encourage everyone to expand their reading palates to seek more knowledge and attain more diverse perspectives in order to create a more inclusive and empathetic society, especially for those who are marginalized and have traumatic experiences. It is important to remember that it is not the job of the oppressed or the victims of societal pressures to fight against and raise awareness, but it is through our privilege as people who have not experienced such traumatic events or conditions to call attention to the problems in our society and across the greater world. Our new knowledge and understanding can assist us with making positive changes to benefit others, which we should view as benefiting ourselves as one human race.

Perhaps we can take pages from Yousafi’s and Dr. Tarpley’s books to strive to create an inclusive and empathetic world we are proud to call home!

by Mariel Surprenant ’26 on October 30, 2025

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Through a GoFundMe and a darty, Providence College students were able to raise $2,000 in just five days towards breast cancer resources. Organizers from the class of 2026 threw a “Pink-Out Darty,” in which students of all grades were welcome to dress in pink, have a good time, and donate to breast cancer resources through QR codes. Darty attendee, Jack Lefebvre ’26, commented, “The darty was lots of fun. It was great to see our whole school dressed in pink to support a great cause.”

Breast Cancer Awareness Month occurs every October. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer “is the most common cancer in women in the United States, except for skin cancers. It accounts for about 30 percent (or one in three) of all new female cancers each year.” However, early detection and treatment advances have significantly improved survival rates. Each October, organizations, survivors, and supporters nationwide participate in fundraising walks, educational campaigns, and outreach events to support research, promote early detection, and honor those affected by the disease.

Students raised money to donate to the Gloria Gemma Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources to individuals and families impacted by breast cancer in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Its mission is to “celebrate and nurture life in our local community before, during, and after a cancer diagnosis by providing education, access to wellness resources, and support programs to all those touched by cancer.”

“The Gloria Gemma Foundation has a longstanding partnership with Providence College, and we deeply appreciate the continued support the Friars have shown over the years,” said Maria Gemma Corcelli, the foundation’s executive director. “The compassion and generosity of PC students and staff are truly a blessing to the people we serve, and we are forever grateful.”

Breast cancer has hit far too close to home for many PC students, including David Figueroa ’26. The Gloria Gemma Foundation is lovingly named after his grandmother, Gloria Gemma, who lost her courageous fight with breast cancer in 2002. “It was really awesome to see my school come together and raise money for a cause so close to my family. We appreciate everyone here at PC who donated,” said Figueroa.

Additionally, about 20 PC students participated in the 2025 Gloria Gemma 5k on Oct. 5, resulting in approximately $1,800 in additional donations.

Set up by the class of 2026, the event that the organizers created strove to give back to the community that has given so much to them over their four years at PC. Dave Guden ’26, the primary organizer of the darty and the GoFundMe, said, “My friends and I thought it would be a great idea to host a ‘Pink-Out’ fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We were very satisfied to see that Friartown was able to raise $2,000 for the Gloria Gemma Foundation here in Rhode Island. It truly shows how when us Friars come together, we can create a positive impact on the community.”

“It was super awesome to see our senior class come together to organize something bigger than ourselves and to show support for the local Rhode Island community,” said Jack Coyle ’26, a representative for the class of 2026.

by Amanda Ayres ’26 and Ava La Bruno ’27 on October 30, 2025

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On Tuesday, Oct. 21, Student Congress was pleased to welcome Simone Tubman ’14, the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Equity Compliance, and Title VI and Title IX Coordinator, within the Office of Equity Compliance (OEC). She is a proud alumna of Providence College and is committed to PC and “its success in advancing social justice, equity, access, and inclusivity.”  

Tubman described her work as a key role in shaping the campus community. A huge aspect of her work focuses on maintaining an environment where students, faculty, and staff are treated with respect, as we are created in the image and likeness of God. She said this was a legal obligation, as well as a moral obligation. The legal aspect of her work focuses on institutional compliance. She ensures that PC is compliant with Title VI and Title IX, meets expectations of policies on discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, and has the appropriate mechanisms in place to address complaints. Tubman wanted us to know that there is a person behind the computer in the OEC office, and she keeps a strict 24-hour response time goal for herself. 

The other aspect of her office’s work is more student-facing. Tubman emphasized how she is a resource to all students, and the OEC is a hub for resources and support for those with concerns about things like bias and discrimination. She does work with campus partners to implement culturally relevant prevention education training and student engagement opportunities. 

Tubman shared that a new initiative this year is SPEEC: Students Promoting Equity, Education, and Compliance. It is focused on leadership development, intercultural engagement, and collaborative program design. The first cohort has begun with opportunities to join the initiative, opening in the spring. Additionally, there will be a speaker series focused on words and how they can affect the community, coming soon. 

When asked how we as students can promote the Office of Equity Compliance’s work, she said the best way is to “share and attend, connect and collaborate, feedback and suggest.” She urged Student Congress, as student leaders, to set an example and attend both the passive and educational events the office hosts throughout the year. 

As for the rest of the meeting, the recommendation regarding the inclusion of General Chemistry I and II in the neuroscience major requirements passed. Amendments to the Student Congress Constitution regarding the establishment of the Subcommittee on Safety, Security, and Transportation and the renaming of a subcommittee to the Subcommittee on Residence Life and Physical Plant. Additionally, the Theology Club was proposed. 

This was our first meeting since our annual retreat, and spirits were very high. After an enjoyable weekend on Cape Cod, Student Congress is ready to continue to reach new heights.

by Christian Cintron ’28 on October 30, 2025

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On Wednesday, Oct. 22, Grace Pierson ’26, the chair of Student Congress’s Committee on Advocacy, held a meeting open to all members of the campus community in Moore Hall 118 regarding the proposal of a Turning Point USA chapter at Providence College. Attendees of the meeting included representatives from Student Congress, the Board of Multicultural Student Affairs (BMSA), SHEPARD, and other interested PC students.

Turning Point USA is a nonprofit organization co-founded by conservative political activist and commentator Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in September. Their official website proclaims, “We are committed to identifying, educating, training, and organizing students to promote freedom.” The overarching goal of the organization is to educate students nationwide on conservative values and uplift civic engagement in youth, grounded in a patriotic attitude and readiness to act. A movement largely rooted in traditionalism, Turning Point USA provides resources for both college campuses and high schools to promote these values on school grounds, including open applications for grants and providing guest speakers from their Speakers’ Bureau.

Pierson made it evident that the meeting did not have a specific agenda, but rather was an open forum for students to express their concerns about the proposed chapter, which could then be brought up at the pending club’s presentation to Student Congress. A document was maintained listing these concerns, and attendees voiced items that they wanted to be added to the list. The two primary talking points that are intended to be raised regard the club’s disposition as a non-partisan organization and the national group’s Professor Watchlist, with the goal of documenting college professors who impose leftist values on students. The meeting’s attendees questioned the chapter’s presentation as non-partisan when the national organization infamously has conservative implications. They were also skeptical of the organization’s connection to the Professor Watchlist and its consequences for PC professors, but the proposed chapter rejects involvement with the Professor Watchlist.

Pierson asserted that the presence of this chapter on campus could impact the experience of marginalized communities attending PC, describing the ideals of Kirk and other Turning Point USA founders as “white Christian nationalism.” She is chiefly concerned with the implications for professors due to the aforementioned Watchlist, believing that the potential for persecution could bring a culture of negativity to campus, stating, “everybody is negatively affected by that.” She also expanded on the distress regarding the chapter being presented as non-partisan, which was emphasized by the proposed chapter’s executive board when they met with Student Congress’s Committee on Clubs and Organizations on Wednesday, Oct. 15, arguing that DEI initiatives would suffer as a result. She discussed the optics of on-campus initiatives proportionally, noting they are “already being labeled as far-left” and will “be viewed as way farther left by comparison.”

The chapter will present to Student Congress on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and elected members of Student Congress are tentatively set to vote on the chapter’s passage a week later on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Both meetings will be open to the student body.

by Isabelle Camoin ’26 on October 30, 2025

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Last Wednesday, Oct. 22, the Dialogue, Inclusion, and Democracy Lab hosted a dialogue in Moore Hall 125: “AI Unpacked: A Dialogue about Ethics, Impact, and our Responsibility.” The event, structured as a World Café dialogue, brought together professors, faculty, and students to discuss the reality of what our classrooms on campus are facing and the societal implications of using artificial intelligence. Professors, faculty, and students from various departments and areas of study— ranging from marketing and finance to arts and the humanities—came together to discuss how AI is being used in the classroom, whether as a supplement to learning or not. Different topics of discussion presented in the World Café format included: the rapid growth of AI, relationships to AI, AI and its social impact, and policy around AI on the PC campus. 

The event opened with an introduction from Yessenia Tavarez ’27, a D.I.D. Lab fellow who shared background on why they were hosting the event and setting community guidelines for engaging in respectful conversation with one another. Ultimately, the style of conversation was chosen to allow for a space where everyone could express their perspectives and concerns, and ask questions. Tavarez also presented some of the D.I.D. wall responses that have been written around campus in response to the question, “Do you use AI? What are its implications?”, opening the floor for attendees to discuss the answers. In particular, some were concerned by the response, “I use it for therapy.” 

Attendees rotated their discussion topics, giving the opportunity to integrate conversations of classroom experience and the technicalities of how AI has come to the forefront of most discussions outside of the college campus. During the final 10 minutes of the event, each group gave a recap of the overall takeaways in their discussion. 

The table discussing our relationship to AI reflected on the demands of academic culture and the pressure to complete too many assignments leading to the use of AI to shortcut time as a means of completion. The table discussing social impact highlighted being able to think for yourself and the hindrance of this exercise when using AI. 

The table discussing policy explored how AI is integrated into classroom policy and the need for a transparent understanding when providing guidelines on how to use AI. One professor shared that their policy was created and agreed upon by the class in the first week, with the understanding that AI can be used as a prompt for generating research, but not as a replacement for original thought. A student shared that there was an unequal footing in the classroom when assignments were graded because all other students had used ChatGPT to curate the assignment, while they did not. 

A general understanding amongst most professors was that there has been no clear guidance on how to go about navigating the reality of this rapidly developing technology. Many professors and faculty expressed that they have not had sufficient training in understanding and using AI outside of what students have shown them. Peter Rogers, head of research in the Phillips Memorial Library, shared a multitude of insights on the different platforms and ways to use and understand AI in an academic setting. He also called attention to the work the library has done in sharing helpful tips amidst the confusion on when and how AI can be used in classwork. There are two pages on the Phillips Memorial website that one can look to if they are interested: one titled Generative AI and another titled AI and the Research Process. Both pages explore how AI works, what its purpose is, and some guidelines on best practices if one were to choose to use AI for assistance. 

Ultimately, the spectrum of how and if AI has a place on campus varies based on the area of study and one’s perspective. The multiple conversations held on campus in the past week on this issue demonstrate the necessity to develop a collective understanding of how to move forward. Questions brought forth in the event that could be worth considering include: “How has AI changed the way we interact with technology in the past few years?”, “What are some examples of AI applications that aren’t chatbots (like ChatGPT)?”, “What are your reasons for using AI for assignments and studying?”, “Is AI changing our relationship with learning?”, “Has its accessibility decreased the value of scholarly information?”, “What policies do you know to already exist in regards to AI?”, and “Is there a need for a transparent policy of AI use in the classroom?” It was a thoughtful conversation that engaged a lot of people’s concerns and is worth continuing it in the future.

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.