Tag: Marie Sweeney ’20
Tangents & Tirades
by The Cowl Editor on September 13, 2019
Tangents
Normalize Mug Carrying on Campus
If you take a look around campus on any given morning, you will notice an abundance of students carrying travel mugs to bring their coffee, tea, or other hot beverage to class. Although travel mugs are a commonly used vessel, they are not the only option.
A much smaller population of students prefer to fulfill their beverage transportation needs with regular mugs. However, these students often have to weather strange looks from people as they walk around with a mug in hand.
Mug-carriers seem to be misunderstood at Providence College.
There is a certain feeling that results from sipping out of a mug, a unique feeling that cannot be felt when using a travel mug. Travel mugs have narrow openings, causing you to take less satisfying sips and blocking the pleasant aromas of your drinks from enhancing your experience.
Also, some versions of Keurig machines are not tall enough to fit a travel mug underneath. Therefore, in order to prepare yourself a drink, you must first brew your beverage into a mug and then transfer it over to a travel mug.
Not only does this require a lot of effort, but it also creates more waste that could be avoided if you decide to enjoy your beverage in a mug.
In a world full of judgment and divisions, let’s not add to the hostility of it all by making mug-carriers on campus feel unwelcomed.
—Kelly Wheeler ’21
Capturing the Moment
College is such an exciting and memorable time in one’s life, so why not document it? Taking photos is a way to stay connected to moments in your life that matter to you. This allows you to look back and appreciate your experiences and how things may have changed as time flies by.
We are lucky enough to live in a time in which cameras are always at our fingertips, so we should take advantage of our ability to take photos of all the exciting, fun, and beautiful moments in our lives.
This is especially true during one’s college years as people are constantly changing, getting involved in new things, and meeting new people. Therefore, taking pictures makes it easy to reflect on these memorable times and to remember connections with others.
This generation is criticized for always being on their phones, constantly taking pictures, and posting on social media instead of living in the moment. However, it is possible to still live in the moment while digitally capturing memories in photos that will last forever and can make life more fun and memorable. Also, pictures do not have to be taken just for the sake of posting them.
As college years fly by, one should take as many photos as possible before graduation to collect fun and exciting memories with your lifelong friends.
—Marie Sweeney ’20
Learning to Separate Politics and Personality: Judging Others Solely on Political Beliefs is a Divisive Practice
by The Cowl Editor on August 29, 2019
Opinion
by Marie Sweeney ’20
Opinion Staff
In the past decade, political debate has grown increasingly partisan and intense, making positive dialogue and progress almost impossible. In these times where consensus seems unattainable, it is important to remember that although you may disagree with someone’s beliefs, political disagreement should not be cause to judge someone’s character.
In today’s heated political climate, it is utterly impossible to read a news platform without a report on congressional or citizen political disagreement. This could be attributed to the recent controversial debates regarding gun control, border and immigration issues, abortion rights, healthcare, and more.
What these issues have in common is that they are mostly driven by emotional, moral, and sometimes religious beliefs and therefore can elicit intense emotions of fear, passion, and anger. Recently, these divisions in opinions have spiraled out of control and have become so extreme that politics-driven hatred and violence is common.
It is these strong beliefs that are dividing our country and causing hatred among citizens, solely due to their political opinions. Because of this, people do not take into consideration one’s character and personality before they judge them based on politics.
This can lead to insecurities and discomfort in social situations, even to the point where it can ruin friendships and even divide the closest of families.
Maddie Reilly ‘20 states, “I think that we all should respect our different viewpoints and beliefs and be open to listen to one’s thoughts and opinions of all subject areas without judgement.”
Especially in places like college campuses, people come from different backgrounds and have unique experiences that everyone should be open to. At this age, college students are developing their political beliefs and should not be intimidated or targeted by other people’s judgements of their opinions.
Karl Reidel ‘20 adds, “I want to be able to be open about my opinion around others without the feeling of being judged or looked at differently for my beliefs. It definitely happens to people and it is upsetting to see.”
While it is accepted to express and to be passionate about your political beliefs, politics should not be something that turns into a toxic and difficult conversation topic. It needs to be understood that the fact that people have different opinions is part of our human nature and we are lucky enough to live in a nation where we have every right to express them.
It is unfortunate that people look past the positive qualities of a person and automatically choose hatred or judgement before getting to know a person. This is something that needs to change before the division in our country becomes more extreme.
As this semester begins and we enter into the tumultuous 2020 election, it is important to be aware of the intense emotions that can stem from political agendas.
Be sure to remind yourself that someone’s political beliefs do not always reflect their personality or character, and one should not be judged solely based upon how they vote.
Writer vs. Writer: Exams or Essays for Finals?
by The Cowl Editor on May 2, 2019
Opinion
EXAMS:
by Kelly Wheeler ’21
Asst. Opinion Editor
As finals week approaches, stress and panic loom in the air around campus. Finals can come in many different forms, but most professors assess their students’ absorption of knowledge throughout the semester by way of either final examinations or final papers. Although neither option is particularly desirable, there are many reasons why exams prevail as the more pleasant option of the two.
When you sit down to take a final exam, you must complete it within a two-hour time frame. You do not have distractions like cellphones, laptops, and talkative friends around you to compromise your concentration.
This forces you to focus and be productive, and once you finish working hard for those two hours, you are done. Courtney Salinsky ’20 said, “Even though exams are very stressful—especially the night before—once you take them, they’re over and you immediately feel a huge relief.”
Papers, on the other hand, can take an untold number of hours to complete. You are bound to waste several hours scrolling through your social media feeds when you get bored or worse, develop writer’s block. Once you finally get all your ideas on paper and meet the mandatory word count, you must then devote a considerable amount of time towards editing your work. The writing process can easily become prolonged, and as a result it can be an extremely painstaking experience.
Additionally, professors often grade final papers more rigorously than they do exams. Professors know that students are pressed for time when they are taking exams, so they are much more lenient when grading them. With papers, however, professors realize that students have access to endless resources and have copious amounts of time to complete them. Therefore, professors have higher expectations for the final product, and they are more likely to deduct a disproportionate number of points for minor blemishes.
Every student has their own personal preference when it comes to finals. However, when you factor in the procrastination, distractions, and high expectations that come along with final papers, finals week is considerably less excruciating when professors stick to giving final exams.
PAPERS:
by Marie Sweeney ’20
Opinion Staff
Papers and exams are very familiar and frequent assignments to the average college student, especially in the midst of finals week. Although everyone has their differing opinions and preferences in terms of assessment, writing a paper is more enjoyable and beneficial to a student and is a better assessment of critical thinking and overall learning than taking an exam.
Not only are you able to use a wide variety of resources when writing an essay, such as books, the internet, and more, but essays also allow for more creativity and critical thinking. There are no strict right answers when it comes to writing an essay, especially because you have the ability to support your points with evidence.
On the other hand, exams are much more concrete and specific. Most of the time, especially for multiple-choice questions, there is strictly one right answer that can cost you a substantial amount of points if you fail to choose it. In an essay, you have much more room for error. Furthermore, essays grant students more time to develop their ideas, whereas exams require a time limit that can be difficult for some students who need more time to develop their thoughts.
Another benefit of an essay is the ability to read over your work and even have others edit it for you. Sometimes professors will offer the option of allowing students to ask questions regarding the prompt and in some cases, they will offer to check over your paper before it is due to give you feedback on your draft.
Caroline Mallon ’20 stated, “I prefer papers because they give you more room to show how much you know about the subject and to back yourself up, which is usually impossible in most exam formats.”
Although every student is different and some may strongly prefer taking an exam over an essay, there are countless reasons why essays are a much better form of assessment of students’ learning that more professors should consider.
McPhail’s 2.0: Bring the Excitement Back to McPhail’s
by The Cowl Editor on April 11, 2019
Campus
One very unique aspect of Providence College is McPhail’s, the College’s very own on-campus bar where every student can hang out and 21+ students can even kick back and enjoy a beer without having to leave the campus.
Although an on-campus bar seems enticing to most college students, McPhail’s is, for the most part, relatively empty unless there is an organized event or gamewatch going on. PC students are lucky enough to have a place like McPhail’s on campus and should make an effort to hang out there and socialize with fellow students instead of hanging out in their residence halls or off-campus houses.
Catherine Flugel ’20 explained, “I would totally go to McPhail’s more if people went there more frequently and if the scene was more exciting. But because not a lot of people go that often, I don’t usually go.”
A lot of students feel the same way as Flugel and only head over to McPhail’s for certain events such as BOP-sponsored events, other club events and meetings, fundraising activities, game watches organized by Student Activities, and more. But on a regular afternoon or evening, McPhail’s is almost completely empty and sometimes even quiet enough for students to study.
Established in 2002, McPhail’s was created as a place for students to casually drink and enjoy time with their friends and other classmates. However, current students are failing to help McPhail’s live up to its potential.
According to Tiffany Gaffney, assistant dean of students, “McPhail’s was designed to be a space for students. If students are not using McPhail’s consistently, it is wasted space and a wasted opportunity.”
Not only does McPhail’s serve alcoholic drinks ranging from $3-5 for 21+ students, but anyone can go to McPhail’s to enjoy some of their $3 specialty milkshakes with flavors ranging from classic vanilla to pumpkin spice and nutella. Along with that, McPhail’s is always serving free popcorn for everyone to come by and enjoy.
Elizabeth Connor ’20 says, “McPhail’s is honestly very underrated for how awesome a place it is. I love going to bingo on Thursday nights and now that I am 21, I love the fact that I can casually get a drink and make a night of it with my friends.”
McPhail’s also offers several other fun activities that are open to all students, such as a stage, multiple TVs, ping-pong tables, pool tables, shuffleboard, basketball, and more.
With all of these options at hand, it seems obvious that any college student would make McPhail’s their go-to spot on campus to hang out.
McPhail’s is also a safe place for students to enjoy a bar atmosphere without having to travel far. This removes the issue of spending money on Ubers or walking around unsafe areas at night time to get a drink.
Along with that, McPhail’s can become a place for students to socialize and feel a sense of community and Friar camaraderie right on campus. This will have a positive impact on campus culture if students make an effort to attend and make McPhail’s the place to be.
Working together, the College and the student body should make an effort to bring back the excitement of McPhail’s that existed when it was first brought to campus.
Luckily, PC has realized the lack of student presence in McPhail’s and has begun to take the necessary steps to improve it. During this academic year, the school has asked for student feedback and has been working to implement the suggestions.
They have started to expand the food and drink menu and have begun to use more marketing tactics to bring students in. Their ultimate goal is to also consider physical changes that they can apply to the space.
However, the most important aspect is student involvement. Dean Gaffney stresses this and states, “Student feedback and input is critical. We need to know what you want from McPhail’s.”
It is important that PC students recognize how great of an opportunity it is to have an on-campus bar and a place to socialize in a non-academic setting, and it should not be taken for granted. Do yourself and your classmates a favor and head over to McPhail’s and be sure to offer your feedback so the space can reach its fullest potential.
Tangents and Tirades
by The Cowl Editor on March 21, 2019
Opinion
Maymester: An Alternative Abroad Experience
Studying abroad for a whole semester is a big commitment that may not be right for everybody. But at this young age, college students should take any opportunity they can to travel and explore other cultures.
Luckily, Providence College offers several Maymester options for students to take classes in a different country after the school year ends. These programs typically consist of one three-credit class that is taken over the course of two weeks, usually from mid-May to the beginning of June. These opportunities are also offered during winter break.
This is a great opportunity for students who would like the opportunity to study in a foreign country without having to miss a whole semester at PC. Due to their shorter time span earlier on in the summer, Maymesters most likely will not conflict with internships or other summer job commitments.
As of now, PC is offering a 2019 Maymester in Ghana: “Sustainability & Social Value: Systems Approach to Complex Problem Solving” and also one in Eastern Europe: “Flashpoints: The U.S. & the Cold War in Eastern Europe.”.
Before the real working world begins for college students, one should take any opportunity to travel and explore other cultures and study in another country.
If studying abroad for a semester is not for you, take the time to check out upcoming Maymester opportunities and get out of your comfort zone before you lose the opportunity.
—Marie Sweeney ’20
Ending the “Beach Body” Stereotype
Now that spring break has come and gone, many of us may be breathing a collective sigh of relief that we no longer have to worry about going to the gym every day or straying too far from maintaining a healthy diet in order to have that perfect beach body.
During the weeks leading up to spring break, it always seems as though both the media and even our own peers make it almost impossible not to second guess our own self-confidence.
However, the pressure to have a certain body type does not just exist around spring break. For many, it is constant, and social media apps such as Instagram often make it feel inescapable. While many companies have made noteworthy efforts to be more inclusive and body-positive, there is still an underlying pressure to look a certain way and to have a specific body type.
If you spent your spring break on a beach or by the pool, hopefully you felt completely comfortable and confident in your own skin, because you should.
It is a complete waste of time to compare your body to anyone else’s, especially to those photoshopped influencers you probably follow on Instagram.
There is no such thing as a “beach body.” All you can do is learn to ignore this type of pressure and remember that your body in no way defines who you are.
—Bridget Blain ’19
Reading Past the Headlines
When it comes to talking politics, many choose to refrain from discussing political issues and tend not to keep up with a news source. This is completely acceptable for those that do not have a passion for politics.
It is, however, not acceptable to express interest in politics and advocate for a cause when one is completely blind to what they are actually advocating for. I noticed this type of political ignorance firsthand while interning at the Rhode Island State House and seeing daily protests in response to an upcoming women’s health bill.
With the exception of my boss, every person I had spoken to about this bill was under the impression that it was identical to the bill that recently passed in New York. However, the Rhode Island bill is entirely different.
This type of ignorance in political discussion today is very common and is rooted not in ideologies, but in lack of awareness of the issues.
In the U.S., we are presented with a variety of news forums, and need to carefully select those that contain the least amount of bias. Many seem to base their knowledge of current events simply off headlines that fail to encapsulate the full story.
Whenever you see an important headline, remember to read the full story. Educate yourself before taking a stance on political issues.
—Savannah Plaisted ’21
Alumni and Family Weekend: Separate the Events, Not PC Families
by The Cowl Editor on March 7, 2019
Campus
In recent years, Providence College has combined Alumni Weekend and Family Weekend into a single weekend filled with several different events and activities for the visiting alumni and parents.
Although this seems like an efficient and fun way to couple the two events, it comes with a plethora of issues which has led the school to separate them once again.
This positive change will benefit alumni, families, and students by creating more focused and less overwhelming weekends for all to look forward to.
Starting next semester, the College will host a Homecoming Weekend sometime in the fall for alumni to return to campus and attend several fun and enlightening events about what is happening on campus. They will also have a chance to interact with fellow alumni. This is important in order to focus on strengthening and improving alumni relations for PC, which will benefit recent graduates, as well as the entire student body.
The College, as always, will host Family Weekend in the spring specifically for students to see their families and enjoy several exciting events such as basketball and hockey games, campus tours, student performances, and more.
By separating these two weekends, the school not only offers more events for students to enjoy but also allows PC and coordinators of events to focus their attention further on the guests that will be attending.
In past years, the combined weekend has caused congestion on campus with various events and programs that can be overwhelming for both the attendees and organizers of these events. Not only that, but the city of Providence also becomes packed with so many people that finding restaurant and hotel reservations becomes a difficult task for visitors. Sports games easily sell out and even popular meet up places like McPhail’s or The Abbey on Admiral Street reach full capacity, causing frustration for many people.
The combined weekend also has caused conflict for parents who are alumni themselves as they try to balance spending time with their fellow classmates and also with their sons and daughters who are students.
Along with that, alumni who do not have children studying at PC may not want to attend the weekend so that they do not intrude on family get-togethers.
Legacy student Sarah Kerrigan ’20 said, “Being an alumnus and a PC parent, my dad often finds Alumni Family Weekend to be pretty overwhelming and often struggles balancing seeing his classmates who he hasn’t seen in years and also spending time with my family and me. I think he’ll be thrilled to hear that they are separating the weekends. He could use any excuse to come visit campus.”
With this new change, PC is facilitating easier and more focused weekends that will benefit attendees as well as students by bringing excitement to campus and more events to look forward to.
This will also benefit campus organizations, such as Student Alumni Association, Board of Programmers, Friars Club, Board of Multicultural Student Affairs, and more, who attempt in every way possible to get alumni and parents involved in their clubs.
Now that the weekends will be separated, it gives clubs and organizations on campus more time slots and chances to voice their purpose and provide fun and interactive events for attendees.
Overall, this beneficial change allows these two very important events to be more focused and specified to their respective attendees, which is just another way to make PC an exciting and lively place to be all year round.
Tangents and Tirades
by The Cowl Editor on February 28, 2019
Opinion
Extra-Murals: Make Intramurals Casual Again
Joining an intramural team is usually a fantastic way to be active, socialize, and try to win the infamous league T-shirt for the sports’ best team or players. While it can be fun and games (excuse the pun), sometimes getting beaten mercilessly by dodgeballs can take part of the amusement away.
Some teams can be in it to win it all, and they recruit the best of the best, even varsity and club athletes. Stacking teams in this way, mixed with sheer competitiveness, results in an utter beatdown and demolishment of the other teams.
For those teams and players that join for enjoyment only, getting pummelled, despite one’s best efforts, detracts from the meaning and overall experience of intramural sports.
For the more popular sports, like ultimate frisbee or soccer, two leagues are offered. The A league is more competitive, while the B league is more for recreation. While this works in theory, some athletes join the B league for less competition and easier wins. And in less popular sports, no division exists at all.
A solution to this problem could be the introduction of an option when registering a team that identifies it as competitive or non-competitive. The teams can still play in the same league, but know what to expect when game time comes.
A more competitive team can play with less ferocity, managing to gain the win without compromising the honor of the opposing team. The non-competitive team will fully achieve its goal of enjoyment without the embarrassment of a total loss.
—Elizabeth McGinn ’21
10 p.m. Mass Time: A (Mass)ive Improvement
Chaplain changed the classic, school-wide favorite 10:30 p.m. Sunday Mass to 10 p.m., due to a survey they asked students to participate in during the previous spring semester.
While 30 minutes may not seem like a substantial difference, the 10 p.m. Mass is far better than the 10:30 p.m. Mass time and saves students a considerable amount of time to sleep and finish up school work for the week ahead.
The 10:30 p.m., now 10 p.m., Mass has always been a student favorite. At this Mass, one should expect the chapel to be packed with fellow Friars, a chorus’ of amazingly talented student singers and instrumentalists, a beautiful homily, and, of course, post-Mass bash.
So, of course, there is a strong reason why PC students prefer the later Mass time over the other options. PC student Maddie Reilly ’20 describes 10 p.m. Mass as “a truly awesome way to end your weekend and start your week.”
Sunday nights are always daunting for students as they are cramming their work in for the week to come while also trying to catch up on some sleep. The chance to get an extra 30 minutes of sleep or extra time to do work before heading to bed is crucial for college students after a busy weekend.
While some may argue that the 10:30 p.m. Mass gives students more time to finish their work before Mass, so far almost a year into this change of timing, the majority of PC students seem to have a favorable opinion of this earlier Mass time and would like it to remain this way.
If you or any of your friends have never been to 10 p.m. Mass, be sure to check it out and see what all the hype is all about.
—Marie Sweeney ’20
Procrastination Is Not the Key to Success
With two midterms, papers, and analyses, last week was hectic to say the least. This overwhelming feeling of every line in our agendas being full and the constant feeling of unrest are relatable to many college students.
Another feeling the vast majority of students can relate to is procrastination. In your head you say, I know I have to do this; but do I have to do it now?
It almost seems as if for some people, or at least myself, the more I have to do, the more I find myself leaving everything until the last minute. This results in incessant stress that builds inside us.
You are not calm because you know you have to do something, but you are stressed because you are not doing it. This could have an easy solution that could abruptly terminate your tension.
Start doing the work early. And by early I do not mean early the day it is due, but early as in five days before.
As an innate procrastinator, I know the struggle. Something inside you pulls your body into your bed as soon as you want to start working on that paper or studying for that midterm.
You try to fool yourself by saying, I really do work better under pressure. Some people can procrastinate, but I am not one of them.
As true as these words may be, I would invite you to ask yourself, is procrastinating really worth all the stress?
You are going to end up doing it anyways. Do not be a masochist and cause yourself any more pain than you need to. Start early and leave the excuses behind.
—Angela Bueso ’22
Writer vs. Writer: Have Recent Campus Additions Been a Good Use of Donor Money?
by The Cowl Editor on February 7, 2019
Campus
by Elizabeth McGinn ’21
In 2019, the beautiful Providence College campus is very different from the same grounds only 10 or 15 years ago. The busy Huxley Avenue used to separate upper and lower campus, and both dorms and academic buildings were outdated by at least 30 years.
Now, the picturesque campus is the epitome of a classic New England college. A plethora of new facilities, monuments, and buildings decorate the grounds. In beautifying the College, funds have been extremely well-spent.
Suites Hall, the Arthur F. and Patricia Ryan Center for Business Studies, the Science Complex, Ruane Center for the Humanities, Slavin Center, and the Ruane Friar Development Center are just a few of the new buildings to grace the campus.
In addition to the facilities, new features have also given the grounds a facelift. One of the most prominent changes to the landscapes is the elimination of Huxley Avenue, which created a unified campus.
By updating the campus and its grounds, all aspects of student life are improved, including academics and sports.
Within the past 15 years, almost all of the major academic buildings have been built or renovated. Through these modernizations, PC maintains its primary commitment to education. The newer buildings also boast the most up-to-date technologies, which aid students of all majors in learning.
However, some buildings have not yet been treated to a much-needed makeover, like Phillips Memorial Library. If the recent spending trends continue, hopefully the library will be next in line for a refurbishment.
Sports facilities have also been a focus of spending. The Ruane Friar Development Center, with study areas open to everyone, increases PC’s desirability for prospective athletes. Top of the line amenities also engender the best sports teams and players.
Through these additions and beautifications, PC can physically demonstrate its success to its community, alumni, and prospective students. The College has risen in status and prestige over the past few decades, and the campus and grounds reflect this.
Because a physically beautiful college attracts students and faculty, these updates will continue PC’s upward climb. We know how much heart PC has to offer, but now its exterior is finally equal to its laurels.
by Marie Sweeney ’20
College campuses all over the U.S. are constantly under construction to maintain their physical development and appearance, and Providence College is no exception.
In the past decade, PC has undergone several construction jobs, spearheaded by the Campus Transformation Project after the purchase of most of Huxley Avenue in 2013.
While PC has made some efficient and positive changes to the appearance and accessibility of campus within the past few years, the College is not utilizing its funds effectively or beneficially to promote the betterment of campus life.
While projects such as Huxley Avenue and the Science Complex have been successful and beneficial, there are several new structures and developments that are not necessary compared to other campus needs.
In the last few years, PC has faced a housing issue in which there is almost not enough housing available for the amount of students.
This has led several of the first-year dorms to not only implement forced quads, but also to assign sophomores to live in freshman dorms.
Additionally, a lot of the residence halls at PC have not been updated or renovated in decades.
Since one’s room on campus is a very important aspect of one’s life at school, this can have a negative impact on student life and the image of the College for prospective students.
The College needs to recognize the needs of students and prioritize them over massive structures such as the Calabria Plaza and the Ruane Friar Development Center. Catherine Flugel ’20 said, “The college needs to focus their attention on more important projects that students have spoken out about. I just don’t understand the purpose of some of the newer buildings when there are so many other more urgent fixes.”
While physical beautification, renovation, and upkeep of campus is important to maintain PC’s image, the college needs to recognize that student comfort and contentment is just as, if not more, important.
The allocation of funds should be focused on improving outdated buildings such as Aquinas Hall and St. Joseph’s Hall or even to construct a new residence hall to fix the housing issue. This will create a more comfortable environment for students and have a positive impact on student life.
Expand Your Providence Palette: How Two PC Seniors Ate Like Kings on a Budget
by The Cowl Editor on January 31, 2019
Opinion
One of the biggest complaints that Providence College students have regarding campus is the food. Students are constantly disappointed with the food served at Raymond Dining Hall and wish the College would offer better quality and variety food options on campus.
However, what a lot of PC students do not realize is that the city of Providence itself is one of the best “foodie” cities in America. Therefore, we should all make an effort to explore the delicious options off campus.
A lot of students have the misinterpretation that the off-campus options such as the restaurants on Federal Hill, Thayer Street, and other popular areas of Providence are too expensive.
Two hungry PC seniors have explored the city’s food choices to find the best delis in Providence that won’t break your budget.
When Brian Crowe ’19 and Sean Sweeney ’19 realized they were getting sick of the campus food, as well as their usual spot to escape campus food, Anthony’s Italian Deli on Admiral Street, they decided they wanted to explore other options. “We realized that it was our senior year and we haven’t fully experienced the great food that the city of Providence has to offer,” stated Crowe.
Both being from the New York area, these two students decided to go on the hunt to find the best deli for a delicious, yet cheap, sandwich in Providence.
They did their research and started with a list of six delis that they were going to try every Friday for lunch. These delis included Anthony’s Deli, Hudson Street Deli, The Sandwich Hut, Mercer’s Delicatessen, Ocean State Sandwich Company, and Geoff’s Superlative Sandwiches. All of these delis are located in Providence, only a quick drive from campus and all within the price range of $7-$12 per sandwich.
In their rankings, Sweeney and Crowe took into consideration not only the taste and quality of the sandwiches, but also sandwich variety, authenticity, and atmosphere of the deli.
After tasting and discussing each of the delis and their sandwiches, they concluded that Geoff’s Superlative Sandwiches was the best deli, but they still want to explore as many as they can before graduation.
While everyone has their own specific opinions on sandwiches, these two students are a great example of how eating off-campus does not have to be difficult, expensive, or elaborate. They also exemplify how you can easily explore off-campus food in a fun way and avoid continuously going to the same spots or chains, such as Chipotle or Chick-fil-A.
Providence is a city full of different cultures and interests, which is reflected in the city’s diverse food options. Ranging from authentic Italian to trendy health foods such as Pokéworks and Nitro Bar, Providence has it all. So why are we limiting ourselves to Ray or Alumni every single day?
As PC students, we should take advantage of our proximity to all of these amazing food spots and explore what Providence has to offer before, as Sweeney and Crowe mention, we run out of time. It also does not mean spending a ton of time and money to accomplish this.
There is a plethora of cheap food options in Providence that are of great quality, and you can even split something with your friends to save some money, too. As for time, try to make it a goal of eating off-campus once a week or once every two weeks just to explore, enjoy, and go out of your comfort zone.
Living in the city of Providence, we are very lucky to have amazing food options at our disposal, and it does not mean spending more than you can afford.
Next time you want to get offcampus for a quick bite, be sure to check out some of these great delis that Sweeney and Crowe have explored.
Tangents and Tirades
by The Cowl Editor on January 24, 2019
Opinion
VenNO: Why I Prefer Paper Money
In the last few years, Venmo, a money transferring app, has become increasingly popular. But the rise in the popularity of Venmo has had a tragic consequence: the phasing out of paper money.
Admittedly, I have a Venmo account. I find it necessary to have one as a college student, as no one seems to carry cash around in their wallets anymore. Most people even prefer to be paid via Venmo instead of being handed cash.
However, Venmo falls short of paper money in many ways.
In order to access the money in your Venmo account, you need to transfer it to your bank account, which takes from one to three business days. Therefore, if you opt to do an instant transfer Venmo to your bank account, Venmo charges a fee.
Moreover, Venmo has become another form of social media. Although there are settings that allow your transactions to be hidden from the public, the default setting allows the entire world to view who you are sending money to and what you are sending it for. In an age where Instagram, Facebook, and many other social media sites consume so much time and energy from people’s lives, Venmo does not need to be added to the list.
Lastly, there is a certain satisfaction that comes along with physical money. Your Venmo balance may be $500, but you can’t hold that form of money in your hands or roll around in it on the ground. Paper money may be old-fashioned, but it still has a leg up on Venmo.
—Kelly Wheeler ’21
Friar Friendliness: AirPodsí Next Victim
In this era of AirPods, Beats headphones, and easy access to music streaming services, more and more people are plugging in and individually listening to music on their phones.
While it is great and convenient that people can effortlessly listen to and enjoy their favorite songs on the go, this habit of constantly wearing headphones in public places hinders people from properly interacting with others.
This is an issue on our own campus, where a multitude of students walk to class or to other areas of Providence College completely plugged in with their heads down.
This may not seem like an issue to some, however looking up and saying hello to someone can really make someone’s day, as well as improve your own social skills and awareness.
Along with that, some people may view those with their headphones in as people who have no desire to interact with others at that moment, which may not be the case.
Being a smaller school, the likelihood of running into someone you know during your walk across campus is high, and people need to be more open to saying hello even if you are not the best of friends.
As a Friar Family, we should be more open to being friendly around campus and one of the best ways we can achieve this is by unplugging and embracing our Friar friendliness.
—Marie Sweeney ’20
Lighting the Way Through Winter
The winter months are some of the darkest times of the year. Daylight hours come and go with lightning speed, leaving gray skies above our day-to-day activities.
December offers a brief respite from all the darkness, with many homes lit up in holiday decorations, candles in windows, and beautiful multicolor lights. For one month, we can forget the literal and figurative darknesses of the winter season.
Almost as fast as they go up, though, these decorations return to their respective attics within days of Dec. 25 or even Jan. 1, leaving us to once again carry on our daily lives in the lack of sunlight and warmth.
Even here on campus, the rapid disappearance of boughs and garland by the start of the second semester starkly contrasts to the lights and projected warmth that was found across campus in the first semester.
Although it can be expensive to use electricity for all the holiday lights, one does not need to leave the elaborate displays up through the new year. By just keeping a few candles in the window or some colored light strands, the goodwill of the holiday season would continue and make the transition to the new year smoother.
In a season defined by its lack of daylight and extremely cold temperatures, passing houses and buildings with lights in the windows on our everyday travels offers welcome moments of warmth and distraction, making these harsh winter months all the more bearable.
—Joshua Chlebowski ’21