Tag: campus
A PC Tradition: Homecoming Weekend
by Isabelle Camoin ’26 on October 9, 2025
Campus
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.
The Way of the Words
by Grace Pappadellis ’29 on October 2, 2025
Campus
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.
Mental Health Awareness Month
by Rachel Barter ’27 on October 2, 2025
Campus
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.
Care of Creation
by Isabelle Camoin ’26 on October 2, 2025
Campus
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.
The Arts, Democracy, and Public Life
by Shannon Kelly ’26 on October 2, 2025
Campus
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/.
Student Congress Update
by Amanda Ayres ’26 and Ava La Bruno ’27 on October 2, 2025
Campus
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.
Congress Update
by Amanda Ayres ’26 and Ava La Bruno ’27 on September 25, 2025
Campus
On Tuesday, Sept. 16, Student Congress was pleased to welcome Dr. Kyle McInnis, the Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, to our general assembly meeting. We learned that he was specifically recruited by Father Sicard O.P. ’78, ’82G due to his previous experience creating a nursing school at Merrimack College. According to Father Sicard, the introduction of the nursing and health sciences programs was able to“naturally flow from and support the Catholic and Dominican mission of Providence College.”
Dr. McInnis shared the creation of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences was a three and a half year project from conception to completion, with the Ben Mondor School of Nursing and Health Sciences being constructed at a record pace of 18months. This building now holds the title of the largest construction project in the school’s history, dethroning the recently completed Shanley Hall. The massive building is a symbol of the growth mindset that Providence College is known for. “Every student needs a 15 foot mahogany door,” said Dr. McInnis, and behind these doors is a world of scientific inquiry and educational innovation.
This new building features various state-of-the-art technologies, such as 33 simulation manikins, a human performance lab, and an environmental chamber able to simulate temperature, air pressure, humidity, and other conditions of any environment on Earth. Dr. McInnis also presented one of the most advanced pieces of technology: an AI-powered manikin, “Hal”, who can simulate different medical conditions, respond to AED paddles, and even offer information about his alternate personalities, one of which is a surfer!
He then began detailing the three different Bachelor of Science degrees offered: nursing, health sciences, and health policy and management. This program has proven to be highly competitive, despite only being created three years ago. Students in the nursing program also complete over 800 hours of clinical work at various sites throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts, such as Brown University, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, and UMass Memorial Hospital.
Executive President, Jack Brodin ’26, then opened the room to any questions and Caroline Stanton ’26 asked Dr. McInnis about the plans to expand the breadth of programs offered. He said that within the next few years they hope to introduce graduate programs to the school. This would hopefully include a generic direct entry nursing program in partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and physical therapy programs. Student Congress was grateful to Dr. McInnis for presenting what the Mondor School of Nursing and Health Sciences currently is, and being open and honest about where it plans to grow. For the rest of the meeting, SCB 7601 regarding the Elections Calendar for the 2025-2026 academic year was passed, and no new legislation was introduced.
A New Kind of Change
by Grace Pappadellis ’29 on September 25, 2025
Campus
It is a given that at some point when young adults are trying to decipher who they are, disheveling emotions can arise, and the line between who we want to be and who we actually are becomes blurry. During these youthful years, there’s a certain standard that one sets for themselves—a standard that is different for everyone—and has the ability to shift someone’s mood, lifestyle, goals, and even their entire personality.
My parents believed that they were preaching to the choir when they would remind me over and over that I have time to figure out who I am, what I want to do, and what I truly value in life. However, I never understood this idea until I got to college, and I’ve still only now begun to grasp it.
In high school, I was far from appreciating who I was, never mind understanding myself. I had a close-knit group of friends, played sports, worked in a hot dog and ice cream shop, and studied often. Although this is seemingly the ideal high school experience, I had little self-confidence and struggled to uphold my individuality. I felt judged by people, even though I would inadvertently judge others, too.
As time progressed, it became clear that my identity was emerging, and I’m sure I can speak for other high schoolers when I say this: it felt like I was peeling back layers of myself, shedding old skin, and swimming up to the surface in order to reveal my new beginning. It didn’t happen quickly. It was a methodical process, where I lost friendships and ideals for myself but gained new ones as well. There’s always going to be an element of fear with change. Whether the change is small—like getting a new haircut and doubting if it suits you—or if the change is much larger—moving to a new city, state, or even an entirely different country, and realizing how big the world really is. Regardless of how change feels, it should be a comfort to know that these situations are subject to change again. Your hair will grow, you’ll get a new job, the weather will get warmer, and you’ll realize that winter in a new state wasn’t so bad after all.
In college, it is safe to say that nobody here cares about who you once were. Your status in high school is completely null and void. Certainly, aspects of your personality inevitably come to light, and the nature of who you are is what truly attracts people. Nonetheless, there should be no expectation that those aspects are corroborations of your past self. You’ve undoubtedly changed. Stepping foot in a new place, your mind and body has started to grow to fit a new habitat. Looking around, new faces pop up everywhere, a ubiquitous, flourishing garden of people, all here for the same reasons. There’s an incomparable beauty in experiencing something brand new, all at once, without much guidance on how to grow your own garden.
The Burden of Exam Policy on Long-Distance Students
by Kaelynd Brouillette ’29 on September 25, 2025
Campus
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.
Women’s Soccer is Back
by Elsie Husted ’28 on September 18, 2025
Friar Sports
The Providence College women’s soccer team’s 2025–26 season is underway. Last year, the Friars had a disappointing end to their season, narrowly missing out on the playoffs with a record of 6–9–2. Although the Friars had a less than satisfying season, several players found their stride and will make key contributions this year. Additionally, the team has added 11 new players in the offseason: nine freshmen and two transfer students. The Friars are focused on winning more games and clinching a postseason spot.
The Friars’ hard work has shown through in the first games of the season. Currently, the Friars have a winning record of 3–1–1. With three wins already under their belt, the Friars are ranked No. 1 in the Big East Soccer standings. The Friars can build on this early success, keep the momentum going, and keep the wins coming.
In the first game of the season, Providence beat Army University at Chapey Field, 1–0. Lily Gibbs ’29 scored her first career goal to clinch the game. On Aug. 24, the Friars beat Northeastern University 2–1 in Boston. The following week, the Friars fell to the University of Rhode Island with a score of 2–0. Later, the Friars got back in the win column at home against Sacred Heart University, 1–0. Most recently, Providence tied Cornell University this past week, 1-–1. Several PC players have already been recognized by the Big East for their outstanding academic and athletic achievements this season.
Stephanie Schoeley ’28 was named Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 1–7. Schoeley came off a successful summer, winning the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football U20 Championship with Team Canada. She kept the momentum going when she helped Providence’s defense hold Sacred Heart to 0 goals. Last year, Schoeley started all 17 games for Providence and has logged 445 minutes so far this season. There’s no doubt that Schoeley will be a key player for the Friars this season.
Isabella Kloock-Jensen ’29 was named to the Big East Honor Roll for Player of the Week. From Denmark, Kloock-Jenson was a key player in the U16 National League, scoring 21 goals in just 16 games. Kloock-Jenson scored her first goal for Providence in the last minute against Sacred Heart University. Make sure you get down to Chapey Field to help cheer on the Friars to victory. Providence will take on Big East rival, St. John’s University, on Wednesday, Sept. 24. On Saturday, the Friars will travel to New York to play Butler University, who currently holds a record of 3–1–3. Finally, the Friars will kick off October by playing the University of Connecticut on the first of the month. It is shaping up to be another thrilling soccer season in Friartown.