by Katherine Torok on April 4, 2019

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Opinion

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Ballin on a Budget

As a college student, money is scarce and often used for off-campus food and transportation. Naturally, shopping for clothes is not a priority for broke college students, but it is necessary.

In order to save money while buying clothes, many college students shop at discount stores such as Marshall’s and TJ Maxx that offer inexpensive, high-quality clothing.

Some may argue that these stores do not offer clothing that is as stylish as brand-name stores, but this is untrue, as department stores often carry name-brand styles and incorporate clothing that complies to current styles.

“The good thing about stores like TJ Maxx is that they keep up with the styles,” Lauren Petrillo ’22 said, “As a college student, I find it hard to find clothing that is stylish with a low price tag.”

Unlike name-brand stores, stores like TJ Maxx and Marshall’s offer multiple options in brands and styles. Instead of selling one type of clothing, these stores incorporate all different types of clothing from maternity to beachwear to nightwear.

“There is a variety of options at every store and a bunch of different brands all at discounted prices,” Cassidy Molinare ’22 said.

In order to save money for Postmates and Ubers into the city, college students should shop at discount stores that allow them to stay stylish at affordable prices.

—Emily Ball ’22

 

McDermott Boys Do Not Stink

There are several distinct smells around the Providence College campus—some more pleasant than others; however, the best smell on campus comes from a surprising source: McDermott Hall.

Yes, the all-boys freshman dorm is providing upper campus with the homey scent of clean linen, all while proving to their mothers that they are, in fact, still doing their laundry.

You can encounter the delightful smell behind McDermott Hall on the main pathway that runs from the Ruane Center for the Humanities to St. Dominic’s Chapel. While it is most prominent during peak laundry hours, it is a nice surprise for your nose.

Unlike the area between Raymond Dining Hall and the Arthur F. and Patricia Ryan Center for Business Studies—which has an indescribably horrid smell—the McDermott laundry room literally provides campus with a breath of fresh air.

Thus, McDermott is like an air freshener for upper campus.

In the few seconds that it takes to walk past the back of McDermott, you feel like you are being engulfed by a warm, freshly washed blanket.

Although you can find a similar smell emitted from the front of Suites Hall, McDermott’s central location on upper campus and its residents are what makes the fresh laundry scent even more enjoyable. How often can you walk past an all-boys freshman residence hall and think that it smells good?

While other parts of campus may smell, one thing is for sure: McDermott boys do not stink.

—Katherine Torok ’20

 

Fight the Flu and Wash Your Hands

Sickness spreads fast, especially when you live with and share a bathroom with 30 plus other people, or even just a few. As a courtesy to our fellow students, everyone at Providence College should add something quite simple to their daily routine: wash your hands!

It sounds like something a kindergarten teacher would say to her five-year-old students, but it is a problem on this college campus as well.

This season, like many others, the College has seen bouts of the flu, the stomach bug, and a plethora of other illnesses.

PC’s campus is small; once one person gets sick, it will spread. That is nearly undeniable.

Some students argue that these coughs and colds are unavoidable, that they are bound to happen. While that may be true in some cases, you can never be too safe. For that reason, it seems necessary to take precautions to prevent these ailments.

Not only is it an issue of sanitation, the handswashing issue is one of respect. Once you exit the bathroom, you are bound to touch doorknobs, elevator buttons, and many other objects.

If you are one of those people who enjoys going out while sick, take your peers into consideration: wash your hands, cover your mouth, be polite.

It is all really just a matter of courtesy and respect, we are all adults and we should understand the consequences of spreading illnesses, and especially how to prevent them.

—Julia McCoy ’22

by The Cowl Editor on May 3, 2018

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Opinion

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“POP! Mark Polanzak’s father exploded. A puff of smoke.”

Those are the opening lines to Mark Polanzak’s book, POP!, which is often found in the self-help or parenting section of a bookstore.

Yet, the book is a memoir—well, a fictional and fabulist memoir. So, is it really a memoir? What is this book?

POP! is a coping mechanism for not only Polanzak, but for anyone trying to overcome grief or grave loss.

When Polanzak was 17 years old, his father allegedly combusted while playing in one of his weekly tennis matches. There was a pop, a puff of smoke, and his father was gone. It is also completely possible that his father actually died of a heart attack, but Polanzak’s humor redefines the traditional grieving narrative.

He proves that grieving is not an exact step-by-step process that works for everyone, but rather a process unique to everyone. He makes it clear that using humor to lighten a difficult situation is a way to overcome the issue as long as you do not completely disregard reality. 

While much of Polanzak’s book recounts somewhat fictional encounters before and after his father’s death, the nonfictional plot discusses the week leading up to Polanzak being a guest speaker for a children’s bereavement group and his struggle to figure out exactly what he should tell these kids.

Polanzak visited Providence College’s campus on April 25 to give a reading of his book to the Development of Western Civilization Colloquium class, “Me, Myself, and I,” which spends the semester examining how various authors choose to present themselves in autobiographies. After reading various amusing yet serious chapters, Polanzak took some time to answer any questions and explain his writing process.

When asked whether this entire experience was mentally draining for him, Polanzak answered, “It was a therapy for me…I hadn’t admitted this [stuff] before, and it was thrilling.”

Polanzak also explained that he and his family never sat down and talked about their emotions in the time following their father’s death.

“We, as a family, had to talk about this stuff… My mom didn’t know I was thinking about this stuff,” explained Polanzak. His mother and brother finally got a sense of what he was going through emotionally after he asked them to read one of the first drafts of POP!. Even though he compiled the book several years after his father’s death, this book allowed him to express his grief in way that made him feel comfortable.

This idea is crucial to the grieving process, and parallels May’s Mental Health Month theme: #CureStigma.

One in five Americans are affected by mental health conditions, and stigmas can be toxic to them. Stigmas create environments filled with shame, fear, and silence which can prevent people from reaching out and seeking help.

While Polanzak may have felt some of these stigmas following his father’s death, his book ultimately helped him break through some of these pressures and—quite literally—put his thoughts and feelings down on paper. He started to #Cure[his]Stigma through POP!.

Whether it is through words, art, or any other form of expression, it is important to be like Polanzak and express how you are feeling in the way that makes you most comfortable. We must #CureStigma and create environments where everyone feels welcome to express themselves and how they feel.

Grieving is a complicated process unique to everyone. While we cannot force people to express their emotions how and when we want them to, we must encourage them to take their time and do what is best for them. Whether this is giving them the time and space they need, letting them make light-hearted jokes about a grave situation, or being someone they can talk to, we must create welcoming environments and #CureStigma.

Not everyone’s father mysteriously combusts while playing tennis, but everyone has their own way of dealing with confusing, depressing, and unforeseen situations.

The Personal Counseling Center is always there to help and is located in lower Bedford Hall Monday through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 401-865-2343 to make an appointment, or if you have an on-campus emergency after hours, call the Department of Public Safety at 401-865-2222.

by The Cowl Editor on April 19, 2018

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Campus

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The liberal arts core curriculum at Providence College serves as the foundation for students’ education. Between the rigorous Development of Western Civilization program and an abundance of core requirements—which cover topics such as intensive writing, fine arts, diversity, and oral communication—the liberal arts are rightfully stressed throughout academics on campus.

While a large handful of students on campus have chosen to major in various types of business or STEM- related subjects, it is crucial for students to still receive some sort of liberal arts education in order to better prepare themselves for life after college and the future in general.

Dr. Stephen Lynch, English professor and the director of the Liberal Arts Honors College, explained, “Science and technology have done wonders for us, and I would not want to live in a world without them. But science and technology provide tools—and tools don’t tell us how to use tools. We now have the capacity to manipulate the genes of virtually all plants and animals (including humans), but science and technology in themselves cannot determine whether that is good or bad or how such power should be used or controlled. For that we need a broad range of knowledge in the humanities and the social sciences. With the advances in sciences, we need the humanities and social sciences more than ever.”

Even though many news websites, such as U.S. News & World Report, put out recent lists that dub various types of engineering and business as the “Top College Majors” or “College Majors with the Highest Starting Salaries,” it is important to think about all the overlooked skills that come with having a liberal arts education; some of these include critical thinking, an increased awareness of social factors and culture, and soft skills. These are skills that computers and technology cannot possess, and are what make humans so unique.

While the liberal arts core curriculum at PC may seem tedious from time to time, it ultimately allows students to become better equipped to face society’s unforeseen challenges. Not everything can be solved through a computer program or math equation; thus, it is necessary for students to spend time developing key social skills that are only accessible through studying liberal arts.

-Katherine Torok ’20

 

Providence College is known for its Development of Western Civilization program and its emphasis on humanities courses. Likewise, Providence College has an excellent biology program that attracts many students, and this is the selling point for many students during the college-searching process.

For those who major in the humanities, it may seem that the core curriculum at PC is unparalleled; for who that major in something outside of the humanities sphere, however, the academic core can feel overwhelming and impossible to accomplish.

The core curriculum at PC requires two courses in theology and philosophy in addition to four semesters of DWC. Along with these, the civic engagement, diversity, intensive writing I/II, oral communication proficiency, fine arts and natural science requirements it makes it nearly impossible for a science-based major to graduate on time without taking extra summer or winter courses.

With the amount of money that students have to pay to attend PC in general, it is ridiculous that the core curriculum at PC could put students in a position where they may have to pay thousands more dollars to graduate on time, or on the other hand, thousands more dollars to stay an extra semester.

In addition, the intensity of the core curriculum can makes it very difficult for students to balance all of their classes per semester. Oftentimes, it feels as if as soon as I catch up on one pile of work, there’s another four waiting for me to tackle.

The nature of the core curriculum and its attempt to build well-rounded students is important, however, it needs some remodeling. Instead of taking two semesters of theology or philosophy: one would suffice and the College could make certain classes count for numerous proficiencies at once.

At the very least, the amount of money it costs to take summer or winter classes should be reduced. Alternatively, there should be more realistic information given to potential PC majors in terms of exactly what their schedule will resemble for various semesters.

-Laura Arango ’20

by The Cowl Editor on March 15, 2018

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Campus

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by Katherine Torok ’20

A recent bulletin board found in St. Joseph Hall proved that the Providence College community still struggles to fully accept some students’ identities—even though it is 2018.

The bulletin board was decorated with the phrase, “Marriage: The Way God Intended It. One Man. One Woman,” a quote from Pope Francis which states, “We just reaffirm the right of children to grow up in a family with a father and mother,” and a variety of pictures emphasizing the belief that marriage should exclusively be between a man and a woman.

While PC was founded on Catholic and Dominican beliefs which support the ideas expressed in the bulletin board, these ideas should not be forced on students, especially in a residence hall, which should be one of the safest places on campus. This is also not PC’s first time receiving attention for homophobic sentiments. In 2011, The Princeton Review—an organization that collects their statistics from student feedback and surveys—gave PC a spot on “The Least-LGBT Friendly Colleges.” In the seven years since that ranking, PC has remained off the list, but the College still has a lot of growing up to do.

Small, colorful “Safe Space” stickers on some professors’ office doors are not how the College will successfully tackle this issue. Students have the right to feel safe on this campus, especially in the residence halls in which they live.

A dorm is a student’s “home away from home” where he or she should feel comfortable and respected by all other residents and resident assistants, not threatened, attacked, or disrespected. If the only true safe spaces on campus are located in academic buildings and various offices, PC gives the impression that they do not put the safety, respect, nor comfort of all students first. This simply must change.

The year is 2018, and people need to start having open and respectful conversations. SHEPARD (Stopping Homophobia, Eliminating Prejudice and Restoring Dignity) collectively commented on the recent bulletin board put up in St. Joseph Hall.

They stated, “This incident is representative of homophobic behavior on this campus. Sweeping it under the rug or turning a blind eye to it is directly detrimental to PC’s LGBTQ+ community. We have to have face the reality that individuals with queer identities do exist on this campus and they deserve equal amounts of respect as any other student. PC’s LGBTQ+ community resides in discomfort because of hostile attitudes that directly influence interactions between those who choose to live openly about their identities and those who adhere to conservative ideologies. There is no justification for differential treatment on any basis or for regarding a person as a second-class citizen because of their identity. SHEPARD will continue to fight through to ensure that the LGBTQ+ community and its allies are adequately represented and heard on this campus.”

On Monday, March 12, 2018, the Board of Multicultural Student Affairs (BMSA), Kristine Goodwin, vice president of student affairs, and several other PC staff members addressed the bulletin board issue at the weekly BMSA board meeting in Moore Hall.

Goodwin clarified some details regarding the situation. She explained that she could neither approve nor deny the bulletin board since there is no clear, specific policy regarding what kind of content is allowed to be posted on them,    and because the message of the board lines up with the church’s beliefs. She then let the student audience take control of the conversation.

However, this quickly became less of a conversation and more of a way for students to express their anger, frustration, and concerns towards the various social issues on campus. Throughout the meeting, Goodwin made her point very clear: How do we—as a community—tackle these issues?

“Where do we need to get to, I guess is my question?” Goodwin questioned. She went on to state, “My hope is that [at] some point this year, with the help of my friends from SHEPARD—because we spent some time together talking about what it’s like to be an LGBTQ+ student, a transgender student, a non-identifying student on this particular campus—because I want to understand and I want to be an ally to you in that space, and to help you love and be loved at Providence College.”

In the second pillar of the Friar Four, a set of foundational principles that PC promotes through various Student Affairs programs, the final “Learning Outcome” states, “Students will create and maintain inclusive communities that respect the essential dignity of every individual.”

However, this bulletin board proved that these intended “Learning Outcomes” are not being fulfilled whatsoever. This bulletin board is simply an expression of exclusivity.

Daniel/Hieu Nguyen ’20, a resident of St. Joseph Hall, expanded on this idea, stating, “I have always considered Providence College as my second home because of the loving and supportive community. I am from Vietnam, so I don’t get to go back home as frequently as most of the students here and it is hard, but the friends that I made here have become my family and they offer me the same love and support that my real family would. Because of that, I feel really disappointed, hurt, and angry to see that such a controversial message was put up on the bulletin board on the floor that I live in. The bulletin board promotes the exclusion of a whole community and it is inflicting pain and fear among so many people…I really hope the school administrators address the problem and give us a solution as soon as possible.”

During the BMSA meeting, Goodwin made it very clear the PC does not have a policy regarding what subjects RAs can and cannot use for their bulletin boards. While it seems extreme for Residence Life to be policing and preapproving what resident assistants put on their bulletin boards, it is clear that this incident was also an abuse of power.

Gloriana Navarro Delgado ’18, head resident assistant of McVinney Hall, touched on this idea during the BMSA meeting and further expanded her thoughts on this issue. She explained, “As RAs we have the role of encouraging our students to become the best version of themselves, as well as to host a community where everyone feels safe, included, and respected.”

While PC is a Catholic institution and thus supports the beliefs promoted by the St. Joseph’s bulletin board, the bulletin board directly targets a community that is present on campus—no matter how small they may appear to be. They are Providence College students; therefore, their safety is just as important as every other student’s on this campus.

Amber Silva ’18, head resident assistant of West Apartments, commented on the intended meaning of the bulletin boards: “They can really be anything. They always strongly encourage it to be something uplifting, or holiday-related. It’s either student promotion or self well-being for students. It’s really promoting community.”

Students and administrative staff need to seriously start talking about the discrimination that occurs on this campus and figure out ways to tackle this consistent issue. A plan of action needs to be created and publically promoted. Issues and plans of actions directly concerning the student body cannot be kept under wraps anymore. If the administration wants to solve issues with the student body, they must begin to seriously listen to what students have to say.

“My hope is that we—during this year—are going to have conversations about this where people can say how they feel and what they think about this matter,” stated Goodwin, “And part of that is going to start with the solidarity march.”

SHEPARD’s solidarity march against transphobia and homophobia is set for Wednesday, March 21, at 6:30 p.m. in front of Moore Hall.

This is allegedly the event that will catapult the PC campus into a new chapter filled with open conversation and respect; yet who knows if change will actually come?

One thing is for sure: students are rightfully breaking the silence and demanding respect on a campus that many consider their second home.

So, at this moment, where are your safe spaces, PC?

by The Cowl Editor on February 15, 2018

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Opinion

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Under the Kardashian Spell

The Kardashian-Jenner family has managed to break the internet—again.

On Feb. 1, Kylie Jenner and rapper Travis Scott announced the birth of their first daughter, Stormi Webster, in an 11-minute-long YouTube video titled, “To Our Daughter.” But why do people care so much?

Maybe it is because Jenner’s pregnancy was never officially confirmed by the family, despite heavy media speculation.

Perhaps it is because people were able to see how loyal, supportive, and enthusiastic Travis Scott has been throughout Jenner’s pregnancy (how sweet, right?).

Or maybe it is because people are fascinated by Stormi’s name (“Stormi” with an “I,” not Stormy with a “Y”). Yet why do we care so much? They are just people, right?

Well, maybe people are so infatuated with the Kardashian-Jenner family because they just seem so unrealistic. Remember when Kim cried over losing her diamond earring and Kourtney had to remind her, “Kim, there’s people that are dying?”

But, still, so what?

While there’s no singular reason as to why the Kardashian-Jenners are so infatuating as a whole, you simply cannot deny the amount of power and influence they have on society.

Nevertheless, why do we care if Kylie Jenner had a baby or if Kim Kardashian was married for 72 days?

If anyone has figured out how to break the infectious Kardashian-Jenner spell, please explain.

-Katherine Torok ’20

 

No More Stressful Saturday Nights

Once sunlight begins to fade on a Saturday night, only a few pockets of light brighten up Phillips Memorial Library. Motion sensors begin to shut out the lights in empty areas, leaving lone light bulbs shining over the remaining students like stage-lights. Only the sound of clattering keyboards echoes through the library halls, as students race to finish papers before the dreaded midnight deadline.

Walking back to their dorms after writing a small paper, the irony begins to set in. Their Sunday and Monday nights are free, and they do not even have that class until Tuesday! Frustratingly, had the deadline been the start of class, they could have spread out the work over the three days. Saturday night could have been relaxing. Instead it was spent nervously racing to meet the deadline in the dimly lit library.

Exhausted from a week of lectures and readings, burnout is at its worst on Saturday. Eyeing a break from the workweek, weary students typing in the library are not doing their best work, nor will they feel recharged for the next week, as the workweek seemingly never ends. Yet by moving the deadline to class-time, rested students will have an energy boost and craft better assignments.

-Nicholas Moran ’19

 

Shaky Stage Set for PC Dancers

Dancing on elevated surfaces is great, but not in front of Providence College alumni, students, and families.

Friday’s Friarcon festivities offered guests some great food, a beer garden, live music, and a wonderful showcase of student performances.

A number of campus dance groups performed, including PC Step, Dance Company, Dance Club, Irish Step Club, and Motherland Dance.

Performing in and of itself can be nerve-wracking, but dancing on a semi-precarious mobile stage is particularly daunting. The first reason is because no matter how solid the structure, one cannot help but think that landing the first leap is going to result in mass destruction.

The nature of a raised platform is to have space underneath it, space for students in matching outfits to fall through and onto the floor.

Secondly, the stage might be sturdy, but it is still mobile. It is hard to suppress that creeping paranoia telling you that the whole situation is on wheels and going to roll out of control.

Thirdly, mobile stages are always smaller than you think they are. If choreography involves leaps and rolls, or, God forbid, aerial stunts, you are in trouble.

You will not be fully dancing the choreography, and if you are, you are doomed to trip over the speakers, fly off the stage, and land on the unsuspecting crowd below.

At least the Friarcon stage was one continuous platform; many events have featured stages made up of multiple smaller platforms questionably connected to one another.

The Friarcon stage was a step in the right direction, but an end to the small, shaky, raised platforms altogether would be best.

-Lela Biggus ’18

by The Cowl Editor on February 8, 2018

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Opinion

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Keep the Ball “Black and White”

The Black and White Ball is making a much anticipated appearance later this month, thanks to the Board of Programmers (BOP). That being said, is it really going to be a Black and White Ball?

Right after the dance was announced, BOP cleared up some wardrobe confusion by expressing that students can wear any color they want. They are not highly encouraged to just wear black or white like last year.

Because of this change, the Black and White Ball is not a black and white ball anymore.

Although it is nice that BOP decided to take the theme in a completely different direction, they should have renamed the dance to something more inclusive.

Names like sophomore Friar Ball or the freshman Spring Fling would be perfect for this type of school-wide dance. They are simple, flexible, and do not imply a specific theme or color scheme, unlike the Black and White Ball.

While this is definitely not the most pressing issue on campus at the moment, it is a little confusing. If BOP wants to keep the name of the dance the Black and White Ball, students should then be highly encouraged to wear black and white. However, if BOP does not want to restrict students to certain colored attire, they should consider renaming the event.

However, regardless of what color students wear, the Black and White Ball is still going to be a night to remember.

So, what color will you be wearing?

-Katherine Torok ’20

 

At Least We Still Have the Memes

As Patriots fans are mourning their way through this tragic week for New England, we can perhaps still take away at least one positive from Super Bowl LII: all of the memes that have come and will come from Justin Timberlake’s Super Bowl selfie with a young fan.

If you happened to miss his halftime show, in the midst of a compilation performance of throwbacks and new songs (and even a commemorative Prince performance), JT walked up into the stadium seating to sing and dance with fans.

During this celebration, Timberlake posed for what appeared to be a simple selfie with a young boy. Yet after the photo was taken, the boy’s reaction was anything but that of a happy fan.

Totally frozen, the boy continued to stare at his phone despite JT standing right next to him. Whether he was in awe, complete shock, or in denial of the selfie that had just been taken, this young boy could barely lift his eyes from his phone screen. An expression of sheer confusion seemed to take over his face.

After this was captured on film, social media has done what it does best, creating countless memes narrating this boy’s experience while he stared into his phone in the midst of Justin Timberlake’s performance. So while we may cry over the Super Bowl, we should not forget to smile at the memes we now have from the halftime show.

-Sarah Kelley ’18

 

#TimesUp Grammys

The Grammy Awards, while an entertaining tradition, have unfortunately become another brick wall women have to face on the long-standing and challenging road to gender equality. Only one woman was broadcasted receiving a solo Grammy award during the 60th Grammy awards show this past weekend.

When confronted about the lack of inclusion in the awards show, Neil Portnow, the Recording Academy president, responded with a rather insensitive and ignorant response: “[They need] to step up because I think they would be welcome.” In light of the recent #MeToo and #TimesUp movement, it is not only morally incorrect, but obviously false to say that women have done nothing besides “step up” this past year.

To make matters worse, the Academy’s hypocrisy in terms of the gender equality movement was evident as they hosted Kesha’s performance of “Praying,” a powerful audio and visual display of the #MeToo movement while simultaneously snubbing Kesha for an award. Kesha gave an emotional performance that referenced the abuse she had to endure at the hands of Dr. Luke, an American music producer whose colleagues were also in attendance at the awards show.

It seems that the Academy supports the #MeToo and #TimesUp movement on paper because it is the path of least resistance that will grant them the least amount of problems. However, when it comes to actually taking meaningful strides towards equality—they fall short.

-Laura Arango ’20

by The Cowl Editor on February 2, 2018

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Opinion

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by Katherine Torok ’20

Opinion Staff

As the second semester continues on and the number of days until graduation decrease, upperclassmen find themselves starting to think seriously about their professional lives after Providence College.

However, is it ever too early to start thinking about your professional life after college? The answer is no.

Is it ever too early to start networking and making your presence known in the professional world? Once again, the answer is no.

Over the winter break, a handful of students traveled to New York City with the Center for Career Education and Professional Development and embarked on three different career “treks”: finance, nonprofit, and communications and media.

Students were warmly welcomed to the offices of well-known companies, including Linkedin and Nasdaq, where they toured the offices and learned about particular careers in those companies. The day ended with a PC alumni and student networking night filled with an informative alumni panel, general networking, and an assortment of snacks and refreshments.

While many of the students who attended were part of the junior and senior classes, all years were represented, proving that it is never too early to start networking or thinking about life after PC.

While students are always told that connections with others in their field are encouraged, why is networking so important?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, networking can be defined as “the exchange of information or service among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically: the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business.” In other words, networking is all about creating and maintaining solid, meaningful relationships.

While some students may find this appealing, others can find it simply terrifying. Because of this, students oftentimes misunderstand what networking truly is.

Tess Povar, assistant director and career coach for the Providence College School of Business, sat down with me to debunk these outdated networking fallacies.

“I think that the common misconception [about networking] is that it’s intimidating and awkward, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s really about having a conversation and getting to know someone on a professional level. However, it takes effort and a resourceful student to plan and prep in advance, as it is a skill that doesn’t come easy to everyone.”

Povar went on to explain the Center for Career Education and Professional Development’s extensive list of student resources. Their resources include daily Slavin 108 and PCSB drop-in hours, weekly mock-interviews conducted by guest professionals in different industries, the upcoming Career Expo, and their “Weekend Update” emails sent out every Sunday.

From day one of freshman year, it is clear that PC wants its students to utilize all the resources they possibly can. It’s hard to go a day without seeing someone wearing the notorious “Don’t Wait…Slavin 108” shirt, but what happens if you do wait?

“I don’t think it’s ever too late,” said Povar, “because there are so many opportunities on a daily basis, but it becomes more difficult as time goes on. It’s all about relationships, and relationships take time and effort. Therefore, the earlier you start, the more connections you will have so that they can advocate and mentor you throughout your college career.”

The professional world today is truly all about who you know and the connections you have made. That being said, you never know exactly where your connections will take you. They may lead you to other people, or they may lead to your dream job.

Now, this is not a call for all students of all grades to drop everything and start sprinting to the Career Center. Just know that it is truly never too early to start networking and thinking about your professional life after college.

To reiterate what Povar said, networking is all about relationships, and relationships take time and effort. The earlier you make a connection and form a professional relationship, the more valuable and meaningful the relationship will become.

Although networking may seem intimidating and awkward at first, it truly is one of the most important parts of your professional career.

So, don’t wait… Slavin 108.

by The Cowl Editor on January 18, 2018

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Opinion

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College Football Playoff Needs To Be More Inclusive

At the conclusion of the 2004 college football regular season, five teams were undefeated. Only two, the University of South Carolina and Oklahoma University, could play for the national title, so three teams were left to play in lesser bowls.

The College Football Playoff was instituted in 2014 and includes four teams, as opposed to the previous two which squared off in a single game. It was also created to provide, among other reasons, a chance for lesser-known teams to compete for a national title despite their lack of affiliation with a major conference.

Yet so far, the committee that chooses which teams will play in the playoff has failed to include worthy schools that play outside the well-known (Read: higher revenue-generating) conferences.

This past season, the University of Central Florida finished with an undefeated regular season record and beat multiple nationally-ranked opponents, yet the committee failed to include them.

No team that made the playoffs went undefeated. UCF also beat Auburn in the Peach Bowl, a team that defeated two of the four playoff teams. Their exclusion has proven that the committee’s agenda does not include finding a spot for laudable teams outside the major conferences. The Selection Committee is able to rely on the argument that because schools like UCF do not play the same level of competition as the major conference schools, they do not pass the eye test and thus do not deserve a spot on the game’s highest stage.

The refusal to include UCF invalidates one of the original purposes of the playoff and forces casual college football fans to question how big of a role money plays in determining a national champion.

-Kevin Copp ’18

 

Alumni Hall Should Stay Open on Sundays

For those Providence College students who rely heavily on their campus meal plan for food, their dining options have suddenly been reduced thanks to the changing hours of operation for Alumni Hall and the Eaton Street Café. These are not minor changes.

Although Alumni Hall is only scheduled to close an hour earlier during the weekday—11:00 p.m. instead of midnight—the biggest, and quite possibly, most upsetting changes lie within the new weekend hours.

On Friday and Saturday nights, Alumni will now close at 11:00 p.m. instead of 1:00 a.m. This means that students will not be able to satisfy their midnight mozzarella sticks and curly fry cravings any longer. However, this is nothing compared to Sunday’s new schedule.

Students will no longer be able to get food from Alumni on Sundays at all, because it will remain closed until Monday morning. This means no more baked chicken penne, Ben and Jerry’s, sushi, or Yella’s wraps on Sundays. While students will be able to get food from the Eaton Street Café from 10:00 a.m. until midnight, it can be a trek for those who are stuck doing work on upper campus all day.

Another option for food is Raymond Dining Hall. However, weekends in Ray can be incredibly frustrating for those who attempt to eat three meals a day. Ray only serves two meals on the weekends; breakfast and dinner. Because of this, many students can find it rather challenging to find something to eat for lunch. They are left with bagels, salad, fruit, desserts, and cereal.

This is why Alumni is so valuable on the weekends. Students can get everything from yogurt and granola bars to grilled chicken sandwiches and hummus cups throughout the entire day. Also, Alumni is quick and easy. All foods can be made to-go, allowing students to return to their workspace with their food.

Although the Eaton Street Café can have their food prepared to-go, it is not the same as Alumni. Alumni’s location in the Slavin Center makes it easy for all students on upper campus, who do not have access to kitchens or kitchenettes, to enjoy quick and easy food on the weekends.

It will be interesting to see if this drastic change lasts the entire Spring semester.

While the change does greatly benefit the hardworking Alumni Hall staff members, this is definitely a frustrating change for students.

-Katherine Torok ’20

by The Cowl Editor on November 30, 2017

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Campus

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by Katherine Torok ’20

Opinion Staff

The Providence College Men’s Hockey Team did more than just compete in a hockey tournament during their recent trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland; they strengthened the bond and cultural ties between the United States and Northern Ireland.

Over Thanksgiving break, the men’s hockey team traveled about 3,000 miles to participate in the third annual Friendship Four Tournament in Belfast. The other three teams included fellow Hockey East member University of Maine, and ECAC members, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and Clarkson University. Although all of the teams crossed the pond to play hockey, they did more than just compete for the Belpot Trophy. They visited primary schools, promoted the sport of hockey, and celebrated the special Boston-Belfast Sister City agreement that was signed in 2014.

The Sister Cities Agreement was signed by Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Belfast Lord Mayor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir on May 12, 2014.  Mayor Walsh explained, “Together, Boston and Belfast will strive to foster educational exchanges, promote cultural understanding, and stimulate economic development through our new Sister City relationship.”

As Boston is the Irish-American capital of the United States, the Sister City Agreement was a perfect way to link not only Boston and Belfast together, but also the United States and Northern Ireland.

Overall, the agreement was designed to strengthen and foster economic growth, trading, tourism, youth, and culture between the two cities and nations.

And in 2015, Belfast and Boston agreed that college hockey was the perfect way to accomplish a handful of these objectives. In November of that year, Belfast welcomed four NCAA men’s hockey teams: Brown University, Colgate University, University of Massachusetts-Lowell, and Northeastern University.

In addition to promoting the sport of hockey, a STEM festival runs alongside the Friendship Four Tournament in order to encourage science, technology, engineering, and math in Northern Irish schools. This educational festival strengthened the link between the United States and Northern Ireland even further, as the United States is a prominent leader in the growing STEM movement. Overall, all three tournaments have been giant successes.

The 2016 tournament included St. Lawrence University, Quinnipiac University, University of Vermont, and University of Massachusetts-Amherst. In that year, the tournament became one of Northern Ireland’s most televised sporting events in history.

Although the Friendship Four has clearly been a success in the past, both on and off the ice, have the Friars been pulling their weight when it comes to promoting the Sister City agreement? Or has this been just a fun team trip to Northern Ireland?

The truth is: The Friars have not taken this trip for granted at all.

Besides taking time off the ice to do sight-seeing in both Dublin and Belfast, the men’s hockey program sat down to have dinner with fellow Friars abroad and has visited Dundonald Primary School in Belfast.

During a post-game interview, team captain Brian Pinho ’18 explained that they went to the primary school “to play street hockey and answer some questions, and they [the students] all raised their hands when someone asked if they’ve been to a Giants game [Belfast’s home hockey team]. It was pretty cool that they all liked hockey here.”

While hockey is the main reason why the men’s hockey team traded in turkey and pumpkin pie for Irish soda bread and Ulster fry this past Thanksgiving break, it is clear that they have not taken this experience for granted.

It is not every day that a hockey team from a small liberal arts college in Providence, Rhode Island, has the opportunity not only to play for an international audience, but also to strengthen the special bond between Boston and Belfast.

Despite the outcome on the ice, the men’s hockey program has truly made PC proud. Although some may believe that the trip was unfair to other athletes and a waste of money, the men’s hockey team proved that this trip and experience was more than just a Thanksgiving vacation and tournament.

The team helped to bring two cities and countries closer together, all while showing the world what it means to be a Providence College Friar.

by The Cowl Editor on November 9, 2017

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Opinion

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by Katherine Torok ’20

Opinion Staff

Fall is arguably the most beautiful season to experience in New England. Vibrant fire-colored trees line the sides of small backroads, crisp air stirs some fallen leaves around, and the cheers of football fans are heard throughout small towns and big cities every Sunday night.

For many years, professional football has been dubbed as “America’s favorite sport,” surpassing other all sports such as baseball and basketball. Even on the Providence College campus, it is hard to go a day without a large handful of students sporting some type of New England Patriots apparel. Yet, why is America so in love with a sport that causes deadly mental illnesses?

The National Football League has been in the spotlight for the past few years, as doctors and the media have started to seriously press the league about the issue of concussions and head trauma more and more. The NFL has since then implemented various new rules and hefty fines in order to keep their players safer. However, this does not mean that American football players are entirely protected.

In 2015, America was given a harsh reality check when the biographical sports movie, Concussion, starring Will Smith, was released. The movie proved to Americans, and the world, just how damaging and life threatening concussions are to athletes, especially those who play football.  In a sport like football, in which players receive constant blows to the head, repeated concussions can lead to a degenerative brain disease known as CTE, or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Symptoms of CTE include erratic and impulsive behavior and have caused retired NFL players, like safety Ray Easterling, linebacker Junior Seau, and defensive back Dave Duerson to commit suicide.

Monday, October 30, marked the beginning of Providence College’s Mental Health Awareness Week. The week was devoted to both spreading mental health awareness around campus and showing support for peers. Mental illness is not something that should be taken lightly in any way. In general, the most common mental illnesses found in college students are depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and addiction. In retired pro-football players, the most common mental illnesses include conditions similar to Alzheimer’s disease, erratic behavior, and depression.

Although symptoms of professional football  players share mental illnesses similar to college students, there is one big difference between the two of them—CTE. College students typically do not develop their mental illnesses as a symptom of CTE, unlike pro-football players who do. CTE is caused by repetitive brain trauma, meaning it is fair to blame pro-football players’ crimes, murders, and suicides on their CTE developed from playing in the NFL.

Why do Americans find such joy and entertainment in watching football players slowly destroy themselves?

Maybe it is because of the action and thrill that comes with the game itself, as players purposely throw themselves around in order to stop the ball from entering the end zone. Maybe people enjoy the social aspect that comes with football too, such as team rivalries and super fan groups like “Pats Nation.” Maybe it is simply because it is an all-American sport and has become an iconic part of American culture.

Regardless of why certain people find football entertaining, it is impossible to disregard all of the health studies and facts conducted and gathered over the years.

Although injuries during a football game can be severe, the mental illnesses that develop in the years after a player stops participating on the field can be just as detrimental, or even worse. But that is not going to stop Americans across the nation from tuning into Sunday Night Football almost every weekend.

It is impossible and unreasonable to outlaw contact football at the professional level and other levels of play. But the long term health issues that come with playing such an intense sport really need to be better recognized. The nation also needs to reevaluate how much money the NFL is making and how much they are putting into solid and effective concussion research.

Although these changes will not happen magically over night, they are just some things to keep in mind as years go on and more and more former football players suffer.

Just remember, even though NFL players may be living successful lives with every hit to the head, their future becomes darker and more uncertain.