Tag: Eileen Cooney ’23
Fight for Their Right: Friars March in Defense of the Unborn
by Kyle Burgess on January 30, 2020
Campus
by Eileen Cooney ’23
Assistant News Editor
This past Friday, Jan. 24, a large group of Providence College students and faculty made the long six and a half hour trek down interstate I-95 to participate in the 47th annual March for Life taking place at the National Mall in Washington D.C.
Tens of thousands of people descend on the National Mall every year and march on Capitol Hill in protest of the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision, Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion, making it the largest pro-life demonstration in the world. It began in 1974 and it is described not only as a protest, but also as a celebration of the sanctity and value of every human life.
When PC students arrived in the nation’s capital on Thursday night before the march, they attended mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and then enjoyed a dinner with the Dominicans at the Dominican House of Studies.
On Friday morning, the students and friars were up early to get ready for the march. They gathered at the Washington Monument where President Trump would be addressing those in attendance.
Other Republican Presidents have sent surrogate speakers to address the crowd at the March for Life, but President Trump is the first sitting President to do so in person, and thus his presence was a reason for enthusiasm among the pro-life supporters. In his speech, Trump told the crowd that “unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House.”
After hearing the rally, the students walked from the monument to the Supreme Court building for the march. This walk took three hours because of the thousands of people participating.
Catherine Flugel ‘20, said her favorite part of the trip was at the end of the march when they reached the top of a hill. She said “looking down and seeing thousands of people was incredible.”
Flugel believes that the march is “an experience of a lifetime” and one that she will continue to attend even after she graduates from PC. She added, “The opportunity to attend the march with the Dominican Friars is very unique,” as friars from all over the U.S. gather in Washington, D.C., for this march every year.
photo courtesy of Cameron McCauley ’21
Bursting the PC Bubble: Iran Admits Fault, Quashes Tehran Protests
by The Cowl Editor on January 16, 2020
National and Global News
Eileen Cooney ’23
Assistant News Editor
On Wednesday January 8, a Ukranian International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crashed just before dawn near Tehran, Iran.
Shortly after takeoff the airplane, headed for the Ukranian capital of Kyiv, burst into flames. Of the 176 people on board, no one survived. Sixty-three of the passengers were Canadians, many students or faculty of the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Citizens of Afghanistan, Iran, Ukraine, Sweden, and the United Kingdom were also on board.
The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his anger with Iran and said that Canada will not rest until there is a full investigation into the events that transpired.
The Revolutionary Guard has taken full responsibility for the plane crash, claiming that shooting down the plane with a missle was a mistake. This admission of guilt comes after Iranian officials initially denied that the plane was shot down.
The crash comes in the wake of increased tensions between the United States and Iran. The tensions began last week when the United States assassinated Iranian military general Qassem Soleimani, and Iran responded by launching attacks on US military bases.
Brig-Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace commander, says that the firing of a missile was a mistake and they will work to upgrade their military technology to prevent such events from occurring again in the future.
The families of the victims mourn the loss of their loved ones and are angered that these innocent lives were lost because of foreign conflict.
Hundreds of protestors have stormed the streets of the Iranian capital of Tehran to vent their frustration with Iranian officials. Protestors want Iranian officials involved in the tragic incident to be held accountable for their actions.
In the wake of such protests, violence has broken out, and some videos on social media appear to show tear gas being fired. In response, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani released a statement vowing that those at fault will be prosecuted and brought to justice.
President Trump has praised the protestors, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has released a statement saying that the United States hears the Iranians’ frustration and that they deserve a “better future.”
These protests in Tehran follow some of Iran’s most violent protests in history back in November in response to economic sanctions that resulted in a drop in fuel prices.
Many were arrested as the violence broke out, and the government even shut down the country’s internet in attempts to curb the protests.
BOP Hosts Trip to Cycle Bar
by The Cowl Editor on November 14, 2019
Campus
by Eileen Cooney ’23
News Staff
Because the month of October was Mental Health Awareness Month here at Providence College, PC’s Board of Programmers (BOP) organized many fun activities promoting self-care and wellness. Though the month of October has ended and November is now upon us, BOP’s message to students about the importance of taking care of themselves has not stopped. That is why on Wednesday, November 6 the club put on an event in conjunction with CycleBar in Providence.
In the past couple years, spin studios such as SoulCycle, CycleBar, Equinox, and many others have taken the fitness world by storm. Spin classes and studios are popular amongst the public because they offer an upbeat, positive environment for people to get a good workout and also feel a sense of community with others while doing so.
CycleBar in particular boasts that its wide array of different spin classes will “calm your mind, elevate your mood, and revive your senses.” Thus, the franchise promotes fitness as well as self-care and mental health.
This event was very well attended and very well-received by participants. Although at times travel events can be difficult to plan because people have to buy tickets in advance, the school usually provides transportation. This event “was definitely a hit and people seemed to really enjoy it,” says Wini Kennedy ‘20. Students loved the upbeat, accepting environment, and first-time spinners had a blast. It is something that Kennedy says BOP will definitely be doing again in the future.
In addition to the trip to CycleBar, BOP has also organized many other fitness events this year. Back in September there was an event called “HIIT and Flow” that invited Crossfit Providence and Barre and Soul Yoga to teach a fitness class on Lennon Field. Additionally, last semester BOP also planned a “Silent Spin Event.”
Yoga, cycling, and other fitness classes are great ways for students to take care of themselves and have fun with friends while doing so. All of the fabulous fitness events that BOP organizes on campus, offer students a fun way to make sure that they are continually taking care of themselves and prioritizing their health and wellness. The trip to CycleBar was another great reminder of this.
NORA JOHNSON ’20/THECOWL
Featured Friar: Peter Chin ’20
by The Cowl Editor on September 26, 2019
Features
by Eileen Cooney ’23
News Staff
For Peter Chin ’20, studying abroad was one of his favorite experiences at Providence College.
Chin decided to spend the spring semester of his junior year abroad in Rome, Italy, hoping he would experience new cultures and travel all over Europe. “I chose to study in Rome because of its reputation as a mecca of religious and historical significance,” says Chin.
Rome truly lived up to his expectations. Chin’s favorite part of Rome was the close proximity of all the major tourist sites: St. Peter’s Square was a three—minute walk from his living arrangement and the Colosseum was a 20—minute walk away.
While he loved to call Rome his home-base during his time abroad, Chin also enjoyed traveling to and exploring the cultures of other countries.
During his time abroad, Chin traveled to France, Monaco, Morocco, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and Greece. “These are experiences I wouldn’t trade for the world,” says Chin.
Chin’s favorite country he visited was Monaco. Although it is the second smallest country in the world, Monaco is home to pristine beaches, beautiful architecture, stunning hotels, and unique dining options. “Monaco’s architecture and wealth are breathtaking,” says Chin.
During his travels, Chin saw a plethora of famous landmark monuments, museums, and paintings, including the Statue of David, St. Peter’s Square, the Louvre, the Colosseum, and Monte Carlo Casino.
Chin’s one regret from studying abroad was missing the opportunity to visit Germany. Chin commented, “I heard that the food, beer, and culture in Germany is very cool, and I wish I could have made it there.”
Traveling to all of these places was a lot of fun, but Chin also had to focus a considerable amount of time on his studies. In Rome he took his 300-level theology class, art history, a Mafia history class, beginners Italian, and a management informations systems class.
He described these classes as “enlightening,” and as a finance major, very different from other types of classes that he took while he was at PC.
Chin’s biggest advice for students planning to study abroad is to try to go with people that you do not know very well. “Studying abroad is all about branching out, meeting new people, and stepping outside your comfort zone,” he says.
He also advises students to budget their money well. “While abroad, it is easy to blow through your money extremely quickly, especially when its only around six euro for six nuggets at McDonald’s. It’s key to budget your money wisely so that you can spend it on traveling experiences that you will remember forever.”
For Chin, studying abroad is an experience that he is extremely grateful for, saying, “Studying abroad opened my eyes to new experiences that I would not have had if I had chosen not to go abroad.”
Although Chin had the time of his life, he is excited to be back at PC to finish out his senior year.
Bursting the PC Bubble: Democratic National Debates for Presidential Candidacy Begin
by The Cowl Editor on September 19, 2019
National and Global News
by Eileen Cooney ’23
News Staff
On Sept. 12, the third round of the Democratic National Debates kicked off. It has been over a month since the candidates faced each other on stage in the last Democratic National Debate, and since then the number of candidates running has shrunk considerably. In the July debates, which spanned over two nights, there were twenty candidates, and in the September debates that number was down to ten candidates.
Going into the night, all eyes were on former Vice President Joe Biden, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, as many believe they are the frontrunners in the race for the presidency.
Many believe that Biden was the clear winner over Sanders and Warren, having a solid performance for the first thirty minutes, which is significant because this time block typically has the highest viewership.
Although he stumbled a bit later into the night, particularly when faced with questions about race and historically black colleges, and weathered attacks from other candidates including those from former San Antonio mayor Julian Castro about his age and memory, Biden appeared to be a strong and able candidate overall.
High expectations surrounded Elizabeth Warren and her face-off with Biden, but many were disappointed in her performance, particularly within the first hour of the debate where she did not participate as much as hoped.
Warren provided solid answers when questioned about education policy and public school funding, and she also championed her “Medicare For All” healthcare plan, but some of her policies remain unpopular, as she has not indicated how she is going to directly implement or fund them.
Both Warren and Sanders faced attacks on the “Medicare for All” plans by Senator Amy Klobuchar, who, when asked to speak on the topic, claimed, “I don’t think that’s a bold idea. It’s a bad idea.” This was not the only hit that Senator Sanders took. He faced criticisms from candidates who compared his idea of socialism to Venezuelan socialism, which is not a favorable comparison as political unrest plagues Venezuela.
Former congressman Beto O’Rourke shined when asked about his stance on gun-control. The crowd erupted in applause when he said, “Hell yes we are going to take your AR-15.”
O’Rourke has continued to call for stricter gun control and for a ban on AR-15 assault-style weapons, especially following the mass shooting at a Walmart in his hometown of El Paso, Texas.
Cory Booker also had repeatedly called for plans to end systematic racism and for criminal justice reform, allowing him to remain popular among voters.
Andrew Yang, who has surprised many by staying relevant in this race, stuck to his promises of giving every American adult over the age of 18 “Freedom Dividends,” or $1000 a month. Yang’s statements elicited chuckles from Senator Kamala Harris and Mayor Peter Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana.
Senator Harris stuck to her strategy of attacking President Donald Trump, mentioning him directly by name numerous times. The publicity she gained from her attacks on Biden for working with segregationist senators in the 1970s back in July seems to have worn off, and her complicated, ambiguous health care plan remains unpopular among some voters.
Castro also faced backlash for his attacks on Biden’s age and memory, repeatedly asking Biden, “Are you forgetting what you said two minutes ago?”
Castro claimed that his remarks were not an attack on the former Vice President’s age or memory, but an attack on their disagreement over healthcare policy.
Mayor Buttigieg made political history by being the first person from the LGTBQ community to talk about coming out as a presidential candidate.
He did so in his powerful closing statements where he talked about being a gay man serving in the military under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy” and being a gay man running for president. These powerful statements evoked enormous applause from the audience.
After the debates, Biden still lead the polls, followed by Sanders, Warren, and Harris.