Tag: Hannah Langley ’21
In Memoriam: Rev. William David Folsey, O.P.
by The Cowl Editor on September 27, 2018
Campus
By Hannah Langley ’21
On Saturday, September 23, Reverend William David Folsey, O.P., passed away at the age of 85.
Rev. Folsey, originally from Trenton, Vermont, received his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Providence College.
After being ordained in 1957, he pursued teaching philosophy and theology at several universities in Washington, D.C. and in Ottawa, Canada. He then returned to PC in 1996 as an associate professor of theology and religious studies.
During his time at PC, Rev. Folsey was also assistant chaplain, director of the Guzman Hall pre-ecclesiastical program, assistant director of the religious studies program, assistant dean of undergraduate studies, and was a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) faculty representative.
Rev. Folsey was also a dedicated hockey and soccer fan and could be seen cheering on the Friars at most home games.
A wake was held in the Chapel for Folsey from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 25, and a funeral mass was held at the Chapel at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 26.
Rev. Folsey was buried in the Dominican Friars’ Cemetery on PC’s campus.
Rev. Folsey will be dearly missed by the PC community and all those who knew and loved him.
Flowers and donations can be sent to the Office of Institutional Advancement at the College.
Tropical Storm Florence Wreaks Havoc In the Carolinas
by The Cowl Editor on September 20, 2018
National and Global News
By Hannah Langley ’21
Natural disasters are a horrible and scary reality that the whole world must face at one time or another.
This past weekend, Tropical Storm Florence hit both North and South Carolina. The result has been catastrophic, as dozens of people have lost their lives and hundreds of people have been left injured or without a home.
Originally a Category 4 hurricane, Florence was downgraded to a Category 1 storm, making it a tropical storm before it made landfall in North Carolina on Friday.
However, residents of both North and South Carolina were still highly advised to evacuate, as the powerful storm was expected to cause massive flooding and destruction.
The storm moved through both of the Carolinas, causing massive floods with nearly 30 inches or more of rain in certain areas. Rivers, dams, and other waterways began to flood neighborhoods and cities, leaving hundreds of people stranded.
Winds were reported to have been as fast as 35 miles per hour. Fallen trees have caused major damages to properties and have caused the deaths of several people.
Fortunately, many people were evacuated from the areas with the most flooding and damage before the storm began.
However, current reports say that 32 people have died since the end of the storm on Sunday, and as rescue teams continue to move throughout the Carolinas, this number may rise.
One woman reported that her town in North Carolina began to flood around midnight on Sept. 14. She spoke about how her husband, a 6’2 man, went out to try and help people, but the water was already above his chest.
“My husband kept hearing people yelling for help,” said North Carolina resident Annazette Riley-Cromartie.
On Sunday, Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina reported that the storm has “never been more dangerous than it is right now,” and advised residents to evacuate immediately, if they had not done so already.
Jeff Byard, associate administrator for response and recovery at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, commented, “We want citizens to follow state and local warnings. There is a tremendous amount of flooding.”
Along with damage, Tropical Storm Florence has caused hundreds of thousands of power outages.
Duke Energy, North Carolina’s energy company, has reported that while the power outages are a concern, their biggest issue at the moment is a coal ash spill caused by the rain. The spill displaced 2,000 cubic yards of waste, resulting in contaminated drinking water.
Some of the worst damage has occurred in Wilmington, North Carolina, where roads have been completely flooded and access to the town has been completely cut-off.
This means basic necessities, such as clean drinking water, have been cut-off as well.
“If we do not get the needed fuel within the next 48 hours, we will not be able to continue water service for public health and safety,” stated the public water utility department.
Only time will tell if Wilmington will have access to clean drinking water and other resources in the coming days.
Volunteers from the National Guard and aircraft carriers have tried their best to begin rescue missions throughout the Carolinas.
They have also attempted to begin recovery efforts, but it will take much time and energy before these southern towns will be restored to normal.
Florence continues to make her way up the coast, now as a tropical depression.
The storm moved toward Virginia on Monday, and will continue North.
Donations are currently being accepted by various relief organizations to help the Carolinas rebuild and restore their towns.
Remodeled, Repainted, Removed
by The Cowl Editor on September 13, 2018
Campus
Ray Revamps Over the Summer with Redone Stations and Color Scheme
by Hannah Langley ’21
News Co-Editor
Coming back to Providence College this year, many returning students were shocked and confused by the multiple changes Raymond Dining Hall had made to its décor and service stations.
Stuart Gerhardt, general manager of Ray, explained that these changes were long overdue. Gerhardt has been working as Ray’s general manager for eight years now, and noted that this was the first renovation the building has seen since his coming here. “The colors were old and tired,” Gerhardt said. “We want to keep the facilities fresh… something that gives you a ‘wow’ factor.”
To help with the redesigning, PC hired a design build company which specialized in researching trends and preferences across various college campuses through statistics, surveys, and observations. “It’s about being proactive and looking at trends,” said Gerhardt.
Among the several changes made to Ray, one of the most noticeable and prominent is the change of color scheme inside. The walls and pillars, which were once simply white and black, are now a vibrant green and yellow. Gerhardt talked about the colors, saying he was skeptical about the change at first, as well. “When the green first went up, I kind of went ‘Oh no,’” he noted, “but you get used to it, and it does what it needs to do. It brightens the space and grows on you in a positive way.”
Another change was the addition of icons on the entrance windows and above each of the stations. “Today everything is based on an icon,” Gerhardt explained, “instead of words we switched to icons that make sense” in regards to the food served.
Another prominent change was the removal of the “theme station.” Gerhardt explained that the station was taken away in an effort to reduce lines and maximize space. “We wanted to look at the overall flow of the space,” Gerhardt noted, “and the easiest thing to do was eliminate theme and open up the area.” The decision, according to Gerhardt, has made other stations much more accessible.
Gerhardt also emphasized the point that the dishes typically served at the Theme Station have not been completely eliminated from Ray’s menu. “We eliminated the station, but we didn’t eliminate the items,” Gerhardt reassured. Gerhardt said that once the first few weeks of school are over and the freshmen get acclimated to the school, favorites, such as the mashed potato bar, will be reintroduced to the menu at different stations.
The vegetarian station, which is now the comfort station, is operating under a similar idea. “What we took away from the vegetarian station is still accessible,” Gerhardt noted.
One idea Gerhardt wanted to focus on was the fact that while certain items may no longer be on the menu as frequently, students are still more than welcome to create their own dishes and meals with what is available to them. “Sometimes students need to have a little bit of creativity,” said Gerhardt. He continued, saying, “Students should look at what’s available at each station to create what they want.” For example, Gerhardt pointed out that an extra panini grill has been added near the condiment station so that students can create their own sandwiches and paninis without having to wait in line. “You need to be creative in your own way,” Gerhardt said.
Another point that Gerhardt wanted to make is that while this is the first renovation in many years in Ray, it will not be the last. He talked about how the plan for Ray’s future includes renovations if not every semester, every year, so that the space does not become outdated. “By renovating over an extended period of time, we will be able to keep the ‘wow’ factor,” Gerhardt commented, “and add new things to replace things that didn’t work so well.” For the future, Gerhardt sees the beverage stations being reorganized to make things fresher and more accessible.
Gerhardt understands that change can be difficult for everyone. “What’s different for current students isn’t new for incoming students,” Gerhardt explained. “We do things because we’re looking for positive impact. We’re always trying to improve.”
Students should continue to look for future changes in Ray during the coming years.
Celebrating School Spirit at Clam Jam and Friar Fest
by The Cowl Editor on May 3, 2018
Campus
Friars Enjoy the Warm Weather on Smith Quad
by Hannah Langley ’21
Assistant News Editor
During the stress of finals and the end of the semester, students could really use some good food and fun activities to relieve anxiety and lessen the countless hours in the library. To help with this, Providence College’s Board of Programmers (BOP) in conjunction with the Office of Student Activities held Clam Jam and Friar Fest, renaming it Clam Fest, this past weekend.
Clam Jam, which is held annually, is a fun-filled day of events for all PC students. BOP chose “boardwalk” as the theme of this year’s Clam Fest, featuring many of the fun games and food one would find along the boardwalk of the Jersey Shore or in a summer town on Cape Cod.
Carnival games were set up along the Smith Lawn, including a wave slide, a speed pitch machine, and a tiki tower climbing wall.
BOP also handed out free frisbees for people to throw on the lawn and sold “Clam Jam” T-shirts at the event. As students enjoyed themselves on the lawn, they could listen to covers of their favorite songs sung by the Cape Cod Slackers, a crowd favorite according to Elizabeth Jancsy ’18 and Courtney Holland ’18.
There was no shortage of food options at this year’s Clam Fest. The event featured best-selling options from Iggy’s Doughboys & Chowder House, located in Warwick and Narragansett, RI, as well as pizza, Dippin’ Dots ice cream, a smoothie bar, kettle corn, and Haven Brothers food truck.
When asked what she was most excited about for Clam Fest this year, Jancsy noted her enthusiasm about the boardwalk theme. “I really think we do a good job at transforming space for an event,” Jancsy said, “and I know Smith is going to feel like a beach!” Holland also mentioned how she loves Clam Fest, as it brings the whole school community together. She said, “Every year when I look at the crowd that Clam Jam brings together, it reminds me why I love this school so much.”
Friar Fest is another annual event that students look forward to in the midst of finals, featuring great food, good music, and energetic school spirit. Sharon Hay, the director of the office of student activities and cultural programming, described Friar Fest as “a spring celebration open to all PC students.”
This year’s Clam Fest, offered a variety of options from local food vendors, such as Like No Udder Ice Cream truck, Insomnia Cookies, and Championship Melt, all free of charge to PC students. The event included a cash bar for those students 21 and over, as well as entertainment by The Naticks, a local band from East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Lawn games, such as corn hole and spike ball, were also set up throughout Smith Lawn.
With all the free food, live music, and entertaining games, Clam Fest allowed students to blow off some steam before the hectic time of finals and enjoy one of their last weekends at PC. “These events take me back to my college days,” said Hay “and I hope PC students will create memories that will last long after they’ve graduated.”
The Largest RCIA Class in PC History
by The Cowl Editor on April 26, 2018
Campus
Thirty-Four PC Students Receive Sacraments at RCIA Mass
by Hannah Langley ’21
News Staff
RCIA, or the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, has given Providence College students the opportunity to learn and grow in the Christian faith for many years. This year, PC saw its largest participation in the RCIA program yet, with a total of 34 students receiving the Sacraments of Initiation.
This year’s RCIA class was directed by Father Dominic Verner, O.P., who had help from Sister Anne Frances Klein, O.P, assistant director of the RCIA program, and Kelli Jenney ’19, the RCIA student coordinator. The class, consisting of eight seniors, six juniors, six sophomores, and 14 freshmen, met with the RCIA team once a week to “study the Catholic faith, ask questions, and learn about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ,” explained Fr. Dominic.
While all 34 students received the sacrament of Confirmation, several received multiple sacraments at the same time. The RCIA service allows students of the faith to receive each of the Sacraments of Initiation—Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion—at one time, as well as receive full communion with the Catholic Church if switching from another Christian denomination. Of the 34 students receiving Confirmation, five also received Baptism and First Holy Communion, two were received into the Catholic Church and received First Holy Communion, and six received only First Holy Communion.
The RCIA Mass, which took place on Sunday, April 22, proceeded as a typical Mass, but the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation were administered following the homily. The Liturgy of the Eucharist followed the reception of these sacraments, and those students receiving First Holy Communion for the first time participated in receiving the Eucharist.
In preparation for the RCIA mass, the students went on several retreats throughout the year, where they assisted organizations such as My Brother’s Keeper, as well as participated in other fun activities. The retreats were also a time of prayer and reflection for the students in preparation for their full reception into the Catholic Church.
The RCIA program had 21 students participate last year and 13 the year before. As the record proves, this year’s class was substantially larger than the previous years, and Fr. Dom was extremely happy with the large turnout of students. Abby Mansolillo ’21 talked about why she decided to participate in the RCIA program at PC. “I grew up Catholic,” she explained, “but never had anything more than the ‘go to mass with your parents but never really understand what’s happening’ type of relationship with my faith.” She mentioned how she realized that she wanted to expand upon and grow in her faith when she came to PC, so she joined the RCIA program to fulfill the sacrament of Confirmation and become a full member of the Church. She continued, “I am so grateful to RCIA and PC for bringing God into my life at a time where I needed Him the most.”
Following the Mass on Sunday, Jenney spoke about her experience as student coordinator for this year’s RCIA group. “It was beautiful watching each student go up to the Bishop to get confirmed during the Mass,” she said. “Knowing the students’ stories of their faith life helped me recognize how important this sacrament is.” Jenney wanted to emphasize how honored she was to be part of this process and journey for all the students, and that she is proud of all of them.
Social Work Class Aims to Start Student Advisory Board
by The Cowl Editor on April 19, 2018
Campus
PC Students Working With the Personal Counseling Center
by Hannah Langley ‘21
News Staff
College can present many stressful situations in the life of students, and Dr. Susan Grossman’s community and political practice social work class is working to address this problem. The class, which consists of seven Providence College juniors, explained, “There is a lot of disconnect between the student body and the Personal Counseling Center about the resources and programs offered.”
To bridge this gap, the students have implemented a Personal Counseling Center Student Advisory Board, which will work in conjunction with the Personal Counseling Center, PC’s Care Team, and the chaplains in Campus Ministry. According to the class’s proposal, this group will “support the Counseling Center in providing resources and services that satisfactorily meet the varied… needs of all students.”
According to Kelli Jenney ’19, one of the students working on this project, the advisory board will “include students from every school of study and represent all races, genders, and class grade, as well as student clubs, organizations, and athletes.” By representing students from various areas in the PC community, the advisory board will “enhance the Personal Counseling Center’s services… through its advocacy, feedback, and democratic representation of the student body,” as stated in the class’s proposal.
This initiative began last semester when classmates Brian Barr ’19, Clara Che ’19, Thomas Heavren ’19, Kelli Jenney ’19, Kelsey Doyle ’19, Katherine Nardodillo ’19, and Mackenzie Lawler ’19 worked with Generation Citizen, a national organization where democracy coaches come to local schools and work with students on addressing prevalent issues and helping them solve these problems.
“One thing we found to be a community issue at PC was the concern about student mental health and the lack of knowledge regarding the resources available,” said one of the social work students. To determine whether or not this was an issue the majority of PC students at cared about, the students created a survey to gather their data. Nearly 250 PC students participated in the survey, and the students got an overwhelmingly positive result. “We found that 89.7 percent of students who took the survey wanted a student-run organization to support mental health,” stated one of the students. From there, the students structured their advisory board based on other data collected from the survey, which included student knowledge of basic provisions and safety regarding mental health.
As the proposal states, the goal of this advisory board is not only to facilitate the communication between the Personal Counseling Center and the student body, but also to plan events to promote mental health awareness as well. To promote this, the class has created three different committees that students can apply for when joining the advisory board. These three committees—Outreach, Events, and Awareness—will promote the connection between the student body and the Personal Counseling Center through scheduling events and programs, addressing the concerns of the school community, and furthering student education on mental health.
Another interesting aspect of the advisory board is its specificity in addressing issues with student-athlete counseling. “If a student-athlete wants to go to the counseling center, they can only go to a psychologist who will provide them with counseling about performance-related problems,” said Che. “The sports psychologist is only available for a limited time frame,” explained Heavren, “so each athlete gets probably a fifteen-minute time slot.” This is an area of controversy, as student-athletes’ schedules and lifestyles can become extremely hectic and stressful. The class wants to encourage student-athletes to join the advisory board so that issues like this can be addressed and, hopefully, resolved with work and better communication between the Personal Counseling Center and the student body.
Dr. Grossman commended her students for the dedication they have put into creating this program. “This was all class-driven work, and all the work was done as an incredible unit. They decided their issue and worked on everything themselves. This was a genuine grassroots community-led project,” said Grossman.
While Grossman praised the students for their work, everyone in the class talked about how they could not have accomplished what they have done without her help and support. “Dr. Grossman doesn’t give herself enough credit,” said one student. “She was really a driving force and a great support.” The students also talked about how they are extremely proud of what they’ve achieved and proud of the fact that they are going to leave a lasting impact at PC with this advisory board, saying, “This is our way of making our mark.”
“The Personal Counseling Center is in support of having a committee form to help us with improving communication with the campus,” said Dr. Rosemary Mugan, director of the Personal Counseling Center, “and are excited about the student interest…about the reduction of stigmatization around mental health issues.”
The Personal Counseling Center Student Advisory Board will be a concrete institution by the end of this semester, and students can expect to see an application available soon.
A Comprehensive Look at What The Heath Center Offers
by The Cowl Editor on April 12, 2018
Campus
What Students Can Get Out of a Trip to the Health Center
by Hannah Langley ’21
News Staff
The Health and Counseling Centers, located in Lower Bedford Hall, are provided by the school and students can rely on them for various incidents and services. These services are all included in the cost of tuition, meaning general appointments, whether for medical reasons or counseling, are at no additional cost to the student. Because these appointments are cost effective and easily accessible to students, Catherine Kelleher, RN, Director of Health Services and Dr. Rosemary Mugan PsyD, Director of Personal Counseling Center, have explained and expanded upon information students should know so they can remain healthy and happy during their time at PC.
Why do more students seem to not take advantage of the health staff at PC? While talking to some students, a recurring idea that the health center is ineffective and unhelpful kept coming up. To address this, Kelleher answered, “College students’ schedules are crazy. It can be hard to keep up with both the schoolwork and staying healthy.” She explained how getting sick, especially during freshman year, is extremely common and expected.
She also explained why it is sometimes hard to diagnose certain illnesses, saying, “The average cold is 12 days, and the average cough is three weeks. A high percentage of students will also get mono by the time they leave. If we can help it, it’s better not to treat with antibiotics if the symptoms initially look like something that will get better in time.”
Another frequent comment among students was that they were not sure exactly how the Health Center handles laboratory tests and other tests, such as X-rays and STD screenings. “If a student has a lab order from a primary care physician, they can come to Health Services,” Kelleher explained. However, Kelleher expands, “Should a student need lab work, off-campus X-rays, ER visits, or a referral to a Specialist their medical insurance will be charged.” Despite this extra fee, though, the Health Center does work in partnership with a Providence taxi service and will provide a voucher for any off-campus treatment needed, such as for physical therapy appointments or X-rays.
For students concerned about STD screening and testing, Kelleher assured that such tests are done confidentially. She also mentioned that testing and screening for STDs can even be kept confidential with the front desk when making an appointment and be disclosed during the appointment to the health care provider.
In cases of sexual assault, Kelleher said, “I think if someone comes here first, it’s easier to facilitate the incident.” In the case of female sexual assault, Kelleher highly recommends going to Women and Infants (WAI), which can be found in the same complex as Rhode Island Hospital, and recommends males go to Rhode Island Hospital. “We have to fill out a report in cases of sexual assault or any violent act,” Kelleher explained, “but a name is never given under the Clery Act and Title IX.”
“Ultimately, who the student goes to first is up to the them,” Kelleher said. “They can go to the dean or counseling first, but I recommend an STD screening for any student sexually assaulted.”
The Personal Counseling Center is also a helpful, yet underutilized, option for students. Mugan mentioned some of the most common reasons students come to the Counseling Center, which include adjustment issues, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and grief. Generally, students can get an appointment within a week or so after calling, or can be sooner in urgent cases. “Counseling sessions are typically between 45-50 minutes,” Mugan explained, “and are confidential within the limits of the law and professional ethics, [which] includes what is said… [and] even attendance.” Mugan mentioned that students typically attend six to seven sessions, however, these are “based on each individual student’s needs.”
Mugan also talked about how the Counseling Center works throughout the campus community, saying, “We do quite a bit of prevention and outreach programming with other organizations on campus.” Mugan addressed the issue with students not wanting to come into the Counseling Center, saying, “Sometimes students will say that they don’t want to come in because they wonder if their concerns are not ‘bad enough’ compared to their peers.” Mugan highly recommends making an appointment before the situation becomes too stressful, though, saying, “We encourage students to make an appointment at any point of their college career… even before something turns into a crisis in hopes that we can help maximize self-care and coping skills.”
In regards to both the Health and Personal Counseling Center students can easily make appointments by either calling or walking in, and appointments are available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday with no additional charge for students. In cases of emergency, the school provides after hour services Monday through Friday and 24 hour EMT availability on the weekends. Students can contact the Health Center by calling (401)-865-2422 and the Personal Counseling Center by calling (401)-865-2343.
Featured Friar: Ryan McSweeney ’18
by The Cowl Editor on April 12, 2018
Campus
BOP Puts on Third Annual Mr. Providence College
by Hannah Langley ’21
News Staff
Last Friday night, Providence College held its “Mr. PC” competition, a fun-filled event and “night of hope for all you ladies,” according to Father Dominic Verner, O.P. One male senior from each of the major clubs and organizations on campus competed in various rounds to determine who was the best of the best. Ryan McSweeney ’18, BOP’s representative in the event, was reluctant about competing, saying, “A lot of people did get nominated by their clubs… I did not. I was just asked to step up and do it.” Despite this, however, the odds ended up being in his favor, as he came away with the title of Mr. PC 2018.
McSweeney is a marketing major who, along with being one of the leaders of BOP, is known as “DJ Chicken Parm” on PC’s WDOM radio station. “My friends and I started our show sophomore year, and we wanted to think of the lamest DJ name,” McSweeney said, “so I suggested DJ Chicken Parm, and it stuck.” McSweeney began the competition strong, walking in to the song “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” by Kanye West, dressed in a turtleneck, overalls, and gold chains. When asked why he chose the song, he answered, “It’s like the biggest narcissist song, and I’m just like the most average human being of all time, so I thought it would be funny to come out and be like ‘I’m the man.’” The whole crowd began laughing and cheering as McSweeney entered.
The competition then proceeded with the talent portion, in which McSweeney used his creativity and ingenuity to come up with his talent, a PowerPoint presentation of “really good ideas.” When McSweeney was asked what he was going to do as his talent for Mr. PC, he figured he would do something different. “A lot of people do like singing and dancing and stuff,” he was saying, “but I’m just gonna make it a complete joke and have fun with it.” He explained how he has been keeping an idea journal since the beginning of freshman year, saying, “Basically, any time I thought of something funny or random, I wrote it down… you know like hypotheticals and stuff.” For his talent, McSweeney compiled some of his ideas, such as ‘SMOT, the opposite charity of TOMS, playgrounds for adults, and KONY 2018, into a PowerPoint presentation that brought the entire audience to tears from laughter. He knew the presentation would be risky, but he figured, “If the crowd’s into it and everyone’s into it… the only one I’ll really be disappointing is Fr. Dom.” Overall, the judges found the presentation to be a great success.
While McSweeney seemed confident and calm on stage, he was actually extremely nervous. “I genuinely thought there was a chance I would pass out or throw up on stage,” he said, “but like you can’t win if you’re in the ER.” Although he was nervous and anxious, he explained how he calmed himself down, saying, “I honestly thought I had no shot at winning, but I was like, ‘This is just stupid, and I can have fun with it.’ That’s why I was just having fun on stage.” He also mentioned how his friends were really excited when they found out he was participating in the competition. “My friends all came, and I knew they’d get a kick out of it,” he was saying, “They know I get nervous, so they were just hyping me up all day.” His friends continued to cheer and give him standing ovations all throughout the competition.
After the talent portion, the candidates were asked to come back on stage to answer one question each. McSweeney was asked which one word he would choose to describe himself best. “I said goofy, which is probably the goofiest answer I could have chosen,” McSweeney was saying. When asked why he chose that word, he said, “I don’t know, it’s just a funny word that describes something funny.” After the competition, though, McSweeney mentioned how he was between the words goofy and sweaty. “I went from wearing overalls and a long sleeve to a turtleneck to a tight tux, and I was so nervous, so I was just drenched,” he was saying, “but I just felt like I needed to give a genuine answer after that nonsensical PowerPoint.” Even though McSweeney was not thrilled with his answer, the judges seemed impressed with his overall performance, and (literally) crowned him with the title of Mr. PC.
Afterwards, McSweeney emphasized how he and all the other candidates just had fun with the whole competition. Being a senior, he talked about how he is going to really miss fun experiences like this and fun times with his friends. When asked what one of his favorite parts of the whole Mr. PC competition was, he talked about how he and Ben Capuano ’18, his friend and fellow Mr. PC candidate, were having fun setting up beforehand. “He started playing piano and I was singing poorly,” he recounted, “I just had fun that half hour before, like messing around.” When asked what he’s going to miss most after graduating, he replied, “I think it’s gonna be living with my friends.” He then went on to say, “I lived in Aquinas, and doors were open all the time. Even now I live in a house with all my best friends. It’s going to be weird not being with my friends all the time.” Above all else, McSweeney is grateful for the experience he has had being a member of BOP at PC and the amazing friends he has made these past four years.
Alumnus Dr. Robert Gallo Creates Global Health Fellowship
by The Cowl Editor on February 15, 2018
Campus
Fellowship Will Allow Students to Conduct Medical Research
by Hannah Langley ’21
News Staff
Last May, Dr. Robert C. Gallo, M.D. ’59 and ’74Hon., and his wife, Mary Jane Gallo, made a generous donation to create a fellowship dedicated to global health and medicine, which will allow Providence College students to develop technology through medical research in impoverished countries.
Dr. Gallo is most well-known for his 1984 co-discovery of HIV as the cause of AIDS. At the time, AIDS was a newly developing threat in the United States that was killing thousands of people, and the cause of the virus was unknown. It was due to the research of Gallo and his colleagues that the cause of AIDS was detected which prevented future infection by developing a blood screening test, which prevented the spread of future infections by blood transfusion. He is also responsible for discovering HTLV, one of the only known viruses proven to cause leukemia. He used this research to create a therapy that is still used to treat certain cancers and AIDS.
Gallo is the co-founder and director of the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and he is the director of the Global Virus Network (GVN). In 2013, he was named the Homer & Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professor in Medicine.
The idea of a global health fellowship program was initiated by Dr. Charles Toth, chair of the biology department. “I started working on this in 2009 after I had Dr. Gallo visit my HIV class,” Toth said. Following this, he formed a group of professors who all had extensive knowledge and backgrounds in global health, including Dr. Nicholas Longo, professor of global studies and public and community service studies, Dr. Tuba Agartan, associate professor of health policy and management, Dr. Terence McGoldrick, associate professor of theology, and Dr. Stephen Mecca ’64 and ’66G, professor of physics.
Earlier this year, Gallo decided he would use his career and success to benefit his alma mater’s current students aspiring to help those in need of medical assistance, and help Toth’s idea come to fruition. With Gallo’s support, about $185 million was raised to fund the fellowships. This money then went to the Office of Institutional Advancement, which works with alumni, students, and others to “build, cultivate, and steward relationships, as well as secure the necessary resources and financial support to enhance the PC student experience,” according to the College’s website.
The fellowships will take place each summer, beginning this year with a trip to Ghana led by Mecca. The current plan for the two-week trip is that students and Mecca will set up an electronic health portal, which will allow for health workers in Ghana to access information more efficiently, and an AIDS hospice. Commenting on the effect the fellowship will have on students, Mecca stated, “Our hope is that the new Gallo Fellows will be impacted by their first-hand experience with health conditions and practice in the developing world in a way that influences their course of study and practice in the health and allied health professions.”
While this summer will be in Ghana, future fellowships will take place in many different countries. “Dr. Gallo has promised he would help arrange fellowships with his world-wide clinics,” said Toth, “giving the students multiple sites to go to.”
The trip is open to students of various majors, which is one of the reasons why Toth likes it so much. “The fellowship is open to everyone,” said Toth. “It provides an opportunity for majors in biology, global studies, public health, public and community service, theology, and the list goes on.” Toth hopes that this fellowship will allow for students of many different majors to blend together in the pursuit of helping others. Dr. Gallo has the same hope for this program. In an interview with Debbie Hazian, Gallo mentioned, “It’s nice that this is not just for science majors… We need people from all kinds of fields to fight these diseases.”
Dr. Toth talked about his excitement about the fact that his nearly 10-year plan has finally become a reality. “There’s so much interest in global health by PC students,” Toth said, “and I think it’s going to be a really attractive program.”
Healthy, Inside & Out
by The Cowl Editor on February 8, 2018
Campus
Inside Out Week Enourages Students to Practice Self-Care
by Hannah Langley ’21
With college being a time of newly presented freedom and independence, it can be hard for a lot of students to balance sleep, work, and healthy eating. This week, Providence College celebrated its annual Inside Out Week, four days full of events, classes, and inspiration helping to promote healthy living and mindsets for PC students.
Inside Out Week is normally held during NEDA, or National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, which begins Feb. 26. Inside Out Week was held early this year, for several reasons. The message of the week, as stated by Courtney Mackey, assistant director for fitness and programming in the Department of Recreational Sports, is to make people think of the “bigger picture” and the “whole spirit of wellness,” rather than focusing on just body image.
NEDA Week is still an important time, and will probably receive its own awareness event at the end of February, but Mackey wanted this year’s Inside Out Week to focus more on the idea of intuitive self-care, and “making decisions from the inside out, rather than the outside in, which is commonly portrayed in the media.”
Mackey also hoped that by moving up the week, there would be more participation from the student body. Students tend to be busy during NEDA week, as it coincides with midterms and is the week before spring break. By moving Inside Out Week up to the beginning of February, students would have more spare time to participate and volunteer and be less stressed about having to get work done.
Traditionally, Inside Out Week features booths set up outside the Concannon Fitness Center, as well as fitness classes and other fun events, which all help promote the message of self-love and self-care. While all those things were still included, the booths were moved to Lower Slavin. “Our usual targets are those coming into the gym for classes and workouts,” Mackey said, “but we decided moving the booths to Lower Slavin would help reach out to more people.” The booths also incorporated a broader range of topics surrounding the message of living a healthy lifestyle, as it was not so concentrated on body image, but more on wellness of the whole self. Each day, booths were set up from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and centered around a different aspect of health.
Monday focused on “myth busting” surrounding health and nutrition as portrayed by the media, as Marianna Martinez ’16, the graduate assistant for the recreational sports and fitness department, explained. The day ended with their kick-off event, which began with a reading of The Good Body by the author herself, Eve Ensler. The reading was followed by a fun cardio class, led by fitness trainer Brittany Price ’18, and a frozen yogurt bar.
Price talked about why she loves Inside Out Week, saying, “It gives us a chance to really remind people that they need to be in tune with how they feel on the inside instead of solely focusing on what they look like on the outside. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and that message needs to be portrayed more.” By holding her class, which she described as a “huge dance party,” on Monday, she hoped to inspire this message in everyone who attended.
Tuesday’s booth, according to Martinez, was all about “learning how to use exercise, food, and energy management practices to find balance.” There was also an Embody Love Workshop, which was all about empowering women and helping them speak their minds and begin to think differently about themselves and others. Wednesday had a “Set Your Intention” event, which allowed people to create their own inspiration boards for healthy living and also featured PVDonuts.
To end the week, those who participated in the events or classes throughout the week could come to the “Relaxation Café.” Those who participated in four or more events, as proven by a whole punch card they received, won an Inside Out double walled tumbler and could receive a chair massage. People who went to some of the events could also trade in their whole punched card for raffle prizes and baskets, which included PC gear, fitness and gym equipment, or beauty products.
To promote Inside Out Week, Mackey also coordinated with Sarah Ereio, RD, LDN, registered dietitian for Providence College Dining Services, to create healthy meal options available at Raymond Dining Hall throughout the Week. Some of the meals they came up with included a grilled Asian chicken salad, turkey Bolognese with whole wheat pasta, and a make your own guacamole bar.
Mackey looks forward to coordinating this event each year and especially enjoyed planning this year’s Inside Out Week. By celebrating Inside Out Week earlier in the month, she was able to put more time and attention into some of the ideas she wanted to emphasize. “It’s about getting in touch with what your own needs are rather than working for the perfect body,” she said. Briana Alberti ’19, president of the Simply Healthy club at PC, also talked about how she always looks forward to Inside Out Week.
“It gives students the opportunity to learn more about personal well-being and loving oneself from the inside out. The events on campus throughout the week really teach the importance of self-love, spreading a great vibe around PC.”