by Isabelle Camoin ’26 on October 9, 2025

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News

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The time-honored tradition of homecoming and family weekend brought a multitude of lively energy to campus this past weekend, Oct. 3–5. Many faces, new and old, were seen on campus; returning graduates, legacy family members, cherished loved ones, and even pets were flourishing this weekend amidst the fall air. The vibes on and off campus were high, kicking off the weekend with an open house in Raymond Dining Hall, where families could get a taste of the notorious chicken nugget meal.

Saturday was packed with events that embraced the Friar spirit of bringing everyone together. Seniors living off campus opened their doors to family and friends, bringing the community together over potluck meals and live bands in their parking lots. The Friar 5K had a large turnout with over 1,000 runners, where participants, young and old, began their Saturday outside Harkins Hall, trotting through and around campus, and crossing the finish line at Ray Treacy Track. Braeden McDevitt won the men’s category, and Dana Bush ’00 won the women’s. Our very own Dean Sears finished the race at No. 11 with an impressive time of 19:49.

Slavin Lawn was packed with yummy bites from food trucks, lawn games, and entertainment varying from live performances from the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Film, live painting by Petal Pusher, and even a student band showcase. The hallmark of the weekend, Late Night Madness, featured performances from the PC Dance Club, PC Dance Company, Motherland Dance Group PC, the PC dance and cheer teams, and a cappella clubs before Carrie Underwood stepped on the stage to perform for the public and PC community.

The audience members for these performances were also introduced to the Friars men’s and women’s basketball teams, showcasing what is to come for their seasons this winter. This year was the first year the Amica Mutual Pavilion opened the floor to the public, and the student section was found in the higher seated sections. Friar students and family members filled the stadium with support for our on-campus groups.

Notable open houses of the weekend included visiting the new Ryan Incubator space in the Feinstein Academic Center, opening the doors to the new student entrepreneurship office, and Friartown’s Closet, the on-campus, student-run thrift shop supported by the Ryan Incubator, which was open for donations. Additionally, the Ben Mondor Center for Nursing and Health Sciences celebrated its first homecoming weekend in its new home on campus, inviting alumni to explore the new technology and areas of study the center brings to the PC community.

All in all, the sunny weather and the fall breeze made for a great atmosphere to spend outside with friends, family, and other loved ones, bringing the Friar spirit alive.

by Madison Benoit ‘29 on October 9, 2025

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News

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Dr. Jane Goodall, the founder of The Jane Goodall Institute, a United Nations Messenger of Peace, and a world-renowned humanitarian, ethologist, and conservationist, died on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the age of 91 due to natural causes.

Dr. Goodall was best known for her study of wild chimpanzees, most notably the primates’ use of tools and distinct personalities. Her technique famously included living among chimpanzees. This led to her documenting the chimps doing activities that were previously only seen among humans.

Her extraordinary work with chimpanzees began at the age of only 26 in the 1960s. In a time when British authorities insisted she have a companion to travel to Africa to study, she brought her mother. When her work began, she lacked any formal scientific training and was instead chosen for her open mind. This very open mind is what allowed her to gain the chimpanzees’ trust and study their behaviors in a way no other human had.

Her speaking engagements and documentary appearances led her to become a beloved household name around the world, transcending generations. In her later years, Goodall continued her humanitarian work in education and advocacy, rather than in the jungle. Even after she turned 90, she continued to travel for nearly 300 days a year for public speeches.

Her speeches were known for being unique and often included her whooping like a chimpanzee or arguing that Tarzan chose the wrong Jane. Nonetheless, her message always stayed centered on advocacy and conservation of the natural world. She spoke often on the dangers of the climate crisis to our world, which she worked hard to combat.

On Wednesday, Oct. 1, she had been scheduled to meet with teachers and students in order to launch the planting of 5,000 trees in areas affected by wildfires in the Los Angeles region. After organizers learned of her death, the first tree was planted in Goodall’s name with a moment of silence. The spokesperson for EF Academy in Pasadena, Shawn Marino, said, “I don’t think there’s any better way to honor her legacy than having a thousand children gathered for her.”

Goodall has left behind a legacy that has inspired many across the world to protect the Earth and appreciate the beautiful animals that live here.

by Kaelynd Brouillette ’29 on October 9, 2025

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Opinion

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Don’t Let the Media Think for You

I usually don’t get pulled into discussions of conspiracy theories. Although some have a factual basis, I typically like my information to be concrete and deduce my opinions from proven facts. After Charlie Kirk was assassinated, I did my research about what happened and looked into the narrative being pushed by the federal government and the investigation team. What I found was that many aspects did not add up. My gut feeling was that something was off, and clearly, others thought that too. For example, Candace Owens, a conservative political journalist and dear friend of Kirk’s, used her platform to perform her own investigation. She even went as far as creating her own tipline and constructing her timeline of events, based on her research. To be honest, I was intrigued. It is evident the mass media is lying to us about the situation. Why should I blindly follow what the feds are saying when their narrative has so many pieces that simply do not add up? Why are more people not questioning this? This does not mean that I believe everything Owens has to say about the situation, but I do agree that she has a point. Many points are valid and make me question everything I thought I knew about the assassination. 

The FBI’s version of events that took place on Sept. 10 paints a clear and confident picture. According to their timeline, Tyler Robinson was identified as the shooter through “overwhelming” physical and digital evidence, including DNA on a towel used to wrap the rifle, fingerprints found on a nearby screwdriver, and surveillance footage placing him at the scene. Within roughly 33 hours, they claim to have tracked him down and arrested him, citing the case as a model of efficiency and cooperation between state and federal agencies. Officials at the press conference repeatedly emphasized their certainty, even going as far as to label Robinson a “disturbed lone actor.” They have publicly stated he was suicidal when he turned himself in, and that he was placed in a suicide-prevention smock for his own safety. To the FBI, the evidence was clear, but things simply don’t add up.

Owens tells a story very contrary to the FBI. She has questioned nearly every part of the FBI’s narrative, starting with the photos and videos released to the public. According to Owens, the supposed shooter looks different in nearly every image, which raises doubts about whether the footage has been altered or selectively edited. She has also pointed out the FBI’s failure to release the full, unedited video footage from the scene, and claims that a woman seen with the shooter has been completely omitted from the official record. Most importantly, Owens rejects the idea that this was the work of a “disturbed lone actor,” as the FBI has repeatedly insisted. In her eyes, the details don’t add up to one man acting alone, but rather they point to something much bigger, something coordinated. Owens argues that Robinson’s decision to turn himself in wasn’t an admission of guilt, but a response to fear. She says he believed the FBI was going to show up at his home and kill him, so he went to the station first to protect himself. Despite that, Robinson has never confessed to the crime, yet the narrative of his guilt has already been cemented in the public eye. Owens’ questions don’t just challenge the FBI’s competence; they challenge the entire system of trust between citizens and the institutions meant to protect them. Owens’ claims on what happened to Kirk go much deeper than just what is summarized above, but regardless, we, as a country, are not in a position to simply dismiss her ideas as simply being “crazy” or “impossible.” 

The tensions between Owens’ questions and the FBI’s are certainly more than just a difference in interpretation. It’s a reflection of our country’s growing lack of trust in the media and government. Every time we’re told to “believe in the facts,” those facts seem to shift depending on who they’re coming from. I believe we live in a society where the loudest voice is mistaken for the correct one. The media feeds us headlines before the facts have even been completely settled, and government agencies speak as if their word is law, instead of just one collected version of the story. Blind trust is easy. It asks nothing of us except for obedience. Yet questioning authority, demanding evidence, and refusing to take anyone’s word as gospel is what real civic engagement looks like. The truth does not come prepackaged, tied with a bow from D.C., or filed down a teleprompter; it’s something you have to dig for yourself. I’m asking anyone who is reading this to listen to both the FBI’s official statements and Candace Owens’ investigation. Hear the contradictions. Notice what’s said and, more importantly, what isn’t. Then decide for yourself what feels true. Because in a country built on freedom, the most dangerous thing we can do is stop thinking for ourselves.

by Clara Johnson ’26 on October 9, 2025

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Francesca Bambara and the Food Recovery Program

Every Wednesday and Friday at 7:30 a.m., Providence College student Francesca Bambara ’26 can be found behind the wheel of a massive 12-passenger van. If you ask her about it, she will tell you how much of a pain it is to maneuver the massive vehicle. She will also humbly explain that she is driving leftovers from Raymond Dining Hall to the Providence Rescue Mission as a part of the Food Recovery Program.

The Food Recovery Program was initiated last year by Jazzlynn Goncalves ’25. Goncalves had an initial vision to build a community fridge at the Wanskuck Community Library as her project for her fellowship with the Dialogue, Inclusion, and Democracy Lab. She partnered with ECOPC, PC’s environmental group, where she first connected with Bambara to collaborate on this project.

The group quickly realized that the community fridge initiative would take a long time to get off the ground. Unsatisfied with waiting, they partnered with the Providence Rescue Mission, a local Catholic non-profit that provides both food and shelter to local folks experiencing homelessness. The food Bambara provides often serves as the base for the meals they serve in their soup kitchen.

When Goncalves graduated, she left the Food Recovery Program in good hands. Bambara has joined the DID Lab and, in continued partnership with ECOPC, she keeps the vision of the community fridge alive. She is currently working with the Wanskuck Library to submit a budget and build a network of local restaurants and businesses for the community fridge. In the meantime, she continues to drive the van, ensuring that folks are getting the nutrients they need.

Bambara’s leadership of the Food Recovery Program is far from her first foray into social justice. She has always loved to build connections with people. When she arrived at PC, she quickly learned through her classes that she could do that by studying global studies and sociology. Bambara’s passions have led her to want to become a human rights and immigration lawyer.

When asked why she is driven to do this work, she replied, “Somebody has to do it. Whatever you’re good at, whatever you are passionate about—that’s what you should do.” Bambara lives that concept out in her life, using her talents and abilities to serve and advance justice.

As a part of her passion for justice, Bambara decided to study abroad in Madrid, Spain. She overcame her fears in order to improve her Spanish and grow in her ability to help and serve others. While there, she worked for Helsinki Hispania, a human rights nonprofit named for Spain’s declaration of human rights. Through this work, she gained a diverse and global perspective on social justice.  

Bambara has also spent her college career as a member of ECOPC, and she currently serves as one of the co-presidents.

When I asked about her extensive range of passions, she told me, “When I think about social justice, everything just overlaps. You can’t care about one thing without thinking about another. You can’t care about immigration without thinking about society and culture. You can’t think about sustainability without thinking about racial justice.”

Bambara’s perspective on how intertwined people are and the connection within these issues is evident in her diverse work. PC is certainly fortunate to have a student like Bambara, who wakes up earlier than most students would ever consider to lug pounds and pounds of food, saving it from the landfill and serving our community.

by Shannon Kelly ’26 on October 9, 2025

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A Speech from Pope Leo 

On Wednesday, Oct. 1, Pope Leo XIV spoke at a conference centered on climate change in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. This was his first speech on the environment since becoming pope in May. In light of celebrating ten years of Laudato si’, an encyclical written by Pope Francis which focuses on the importance of caring for our common home, Pope Leo XIV centered his call around the need for global action to protect the world as we know it. As explained by Pope Leo XIV, “the challenges identified in Laudato si’ are in fact even more relevant today than they were 10 years ago.” 

Pope Leo XIV put pressure on the people to call on their respective governments to take action and involve themselves in addressing one of the world’s most pressing issues—climate change. He emphasized the fact that “We cannot love God, whom we cannot see, while despising his creatures.” Pope Leo XIV also spoke to the connection that is often formed between environmental degradation and poverty. He continually emphasized the bond that remains between having a concern for nature, seeking justice for the poor, remaining committed to society, and desiring interior peace. He stated that striving for the common good should always be at the forefront of all that we do, while sticking to the fact that there is no room for indifference or resignation in conversations centered on climate change. 

Pope Leo XIV acknowledged the need for upcoming international conferences, such as the 2025 Climate Change Conference, the 53rd Plenary Session of the Committee on World Food Security, and the 2026 Water Conference, to listen to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor, families, indigenous peoples, involuntary migrants, and believers all over the world. The Pope reminds us that we are all one family, who depend on one another and whose actions reap consequences both in the present day and in the future. Pope Leo XIV preached the need for unity in his own words: “We inhabit the same planet, and we must care for it together.”

Pope Leo XIV has recently spoken in regards to the political climate in the United States at this current moment. He weighed in on the dichotomy of those who say they are pro-life, but agree with the inhumane treatment of immigrants in the U.S., stating that he does not know if that is truly pro-life. Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich highlighted the divisions that exist in the U.S., saying that Catholics have been left “politically homeless.” In Pope Leo XIV’s final remarks, he concluded with a question regarding each and every one of us as people. After acknowledging that God asks us to cultivate and care for the world that he created, which we all are called to do as believers, we must reckon with taking true care of our brothers and sisters. Will we cultivate the earth, care for the environment, and support our loved ones for the benefit of future generations, or in the words of the Pope, “what will be our answer?”

by Amanda Ayres ’26 and Ava La Bruno ’27 on October 9, 2025

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Congress Updates

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On Tuesday, Sept. 30, Student Congress was pleased to welcome Providence College men’s basketball head coach, Kim English, to our general assembly meeting. Coach English began by reflecting on a productive offseason and sharing his excitement about the upcoming season. He highlighted the strengths of this year’s roster, including both newly recruited players and his veteran returning players. Coach English emphasized that the players on the current roster, and those who he will recruit in the future, all align with the team’s core values: toughness and hard work. He stressed the importance of achieving certain goals during their games, including shooting 40 percent from the field, holding opponents to no more than seven three-pointers and seven offensive rebounds per game, achieving 40 paint touches, maintaining a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, and shooting at least 75 percent from the free-throw line. 

When reflecting on the differences between last year’s team and this year’s, he told us that he is hopeful that there will be a stronger emphasis on brotherhood and commitment to PC’s mission this year. He also mentioned that he has begun inviting guest speakers to speak to the team about the distractions of social media commentary. Coach English commented on the effects of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and how he and the rest of the coaching staff are working to keep the team focused on the goals right in front of them. 

His expectations of the fans will not be hard to achieve for us Friars. He wants us to keep the energy up—keep coming to games and showing the opposing teams the Amica Mutual Pavilion (AMP) atmosphere we are known for, but he also emphasized how he expects our student section to show respect to our opponents and their coaches. Have fun, show school spirit, and make sure we keep the PC mission at the forefront, just like the team is expected to. 

The Friars have an exciting schedule lined up, and the first few games are very important. Their first game is on Nov. 3 at the AMP, and we cannot wait to see the team back on the court. Student Congress was grateful to Coach English for coming to speak to us about his goals and hopes for the season.

As for the rest of the meeting, the newly elected and selected members of the class of 2029 were sworn in, and we are excited to finally have a full 76th Student Congress! The legislation for the proposal of Just Dance Club was approved, and an amendment to the Constitution of Student Congress was proposed pertaining to the events hosted by the Outreach Committee, which will be voted on at the next meeting.  

by Amanda Ayres ’26 and Ava La Bruno ’27 on October 2, 2025

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Congress Updates

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On Tuesday, Sept. 23, Student Congress was pleased to welcome Eileen Wisnewski, the executive director of the Chirico Career Center. We all know and love the slogan, “Don’t Wait… Slavin 108,” and this perfectly encapsulates the message Wisnewski left with the 76th Student Congress.

The Chirico Career Center “works with students to identify, enhance, and accomplish their career development, internship, job search, and educational goals from college to career,” focusing on strengths and passions at the individual level. Wisnewski emphasized how the Chirico Career Center has “‘big school’ resources and a ‘small school’ feel,” with a large team of people that aim to see 100 percent of students come through their doors.

Wisnewski addressed the common misconceptions that she and her colleagues hear: that the Career Center is not needed if one is seeking to attend graduate, medical, or law school, that it only focuses on students in the School of Business, or the dreadful statement, “I’ll go when I’m a senior.” She emphasized how there are resources available to every major and career path at all points during a student’s four years at PC. They do more than just connect a student to job opportunities; they are there to assist in resume building, shadowing/internship experience, graduate school applications, practice/mock interviews, and even connecting graduates with resources after commencement. 

She also shared that over the summer, there was a reorganization of the student-focused coaches, so they now focus on specific majors. The hope for this change is that students feel more encouraged to utilize their resources, and potentially allow coaches to nag students enough that they will seek their coach out. Wisnewski then posed a question to the Student Congress, asking how they can achieve 100 percent utilization of the office by students, knowing it is not a required resource. Many members voiced ideas about the Center having more social media presence, having every major/career path-specific information easily accessible, and even going as far as implementing their services into an already mandatory requirement, like academic advising. 

Student Congress was grateful to Wisnewski and the Chirico Career Center for presenting their resources and goals, and appreciative of their receptiveness to our members’ feedback and ideas. For the rest of the meeting, a piece of legislation regarding the proposal of the Just Dance Club was introduced, and will be voted upon at the next meeting. We are also extremely excited to welcome our newly elected and selected first-year members at our next meeting.

by Madison Benoit ‘29 on October 2, 2025

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Rhode Island lawmakers are among those pushing back against a proposal that would rename a new type of Pell Grant to “Trump Grants.” Pell Grants are scholarships specifically reserved for undergraduate students with the most financial need. 

The grants are named in honor of former U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell, a Democrat who spent 36 years representing Rhode Island, making him the state’s longest-serving senator. He played a key role in enacting the grants and always said they were his greatest achievement.          

Through the current program, qualifying Americans can receive up to $7,395 annually for around six years. These grants don’t usually need to be paid back, but they also do not cover the full costs of attending college. In the 2023 fiscal year, 31 billion dollars in Pell Grants were awarded to about 6.5 million undergraduate students, according to the Department of Education.

The name change is included in a House spending bill for the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education for the next fiscal year. Although changes to the grants were made when President Donald Trump signed the major tax and spending cuts package in July, these changes include a new grant called the Workforce Pell Grant. Next year, students who are enrolled in certain career training programs will be able to receive Pell Grants. 

In a letter to the chair and ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, Congressmen Gabe Amo and Congressman Seth Magaziner of Rhode Island argued against the name change. They stated that Rhode Island’s longest-serving U.S. senator was a visionary public servant and any attempt to erase Senator Pell’s name was a “profound insult” to the senator’s legacy. They described him as a senator who saw the barriers that prevented millions of Americans from accessing higher education and wished to break them down. 

The Congressmen also pointed out Trump’s own record in education, which includes his efforts to dismantle the Department of Education and freeze federal funding at institutions of higher education. 

Senator Pell died in 2009 at the age of 90, but he is remembered by his longstanding service to Rhode Island and education. His other notable actions include helping to establish the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

by Isabelle Camoin ’26 on October 2, 2025

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Opinion - Campus

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A Call from the Bishop to Turn Towards Nature

On Wednesday, Sept. 24, a Mass for the Care of Creation was held on campus in Saint Dominic Chapel. The Mass was celebrated with Most Reverend Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., and Concelebrant Reverend Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. ’78, ’82G. 

The early evening of  Sept. 24 was filled with the spirit of stewardship. Providence College and Saint Dominic Chapel welcomed Bishop Lewandowski for the first time since filling his position in the Providence order. In turn, Bishop Lewandowski welcomed us all into a restorative tradition put forth by Pope Leo XIV on behalf of Pope Francis and the work he began to do with Laudato Si and with Creation. 

Mass for the Care of Creation is a new celebration brought forth by Pope Leo XIV as a continuation of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si. The Church has recently added this specific Mass to the Roman Missal. The first Mass for the Care of Creation was held on Wednesday, July 9, by Pope Leo in Borgo Laudato Si, at the historic papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. Borgo Laudato Si was Pope Francis’s project to actualize his encyclical writing on caring for our common home. 

Overarching themes found in Mass—and in the work done in the name of Laudato Si—pertain to growing ecological concerns within the framework of understanding human relationships and  the world around us. The encyclical asks us to consider: How do we care for others and the communities we belong to? How sustainable are both my views of the world and the actions I conduct based on these views? Bishop Lewandowski was appointed by Pope Francis on April 8 and officially became Bishop of Providence on May 20. Mass for the Care of Creation was both a celebration of the Earth and a call to celebrate the Earth. During Mass, Bishop Lewandowski asked listeners to examine both their friendships and their relationships to the world; how do we treat our friends? How do we treat and experience the world we belong to? He asked us to consider the world and the places we live as places to become friends with, to care for, and adore. During this mass, Bishop Lewandowski brought forth passion and honor in discussing these topics and helped to bring a resurgence in discussion of Laudato Si.

by Layca Figueroa Salas ‘26 on October 2, 2025

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Disclaimer: This article was written before the government shutdown on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

A potential government shutdown is drawing near as Tuesday, Sept. 30 approaches. Each fiscal year, Congress must approve funding for federal departments and programs beginning Oct. 1. However, if lawmakers fail to pass a full-year spending package or a temporary funding extension, a government shutdown would occur, forcing many agencies to suspend operations and hundreds of thousands of federal workers to be furloughed. 

Essential employees, such as those in national security and public safety, would continue working without pay until Congress allocates new funding. While most federal employees could receive back pay after the shutdown ends, delayed paychecks can create significant financial strain in the meantime. 

Since 1980, there have been 14 government shutdowns. During recent shutdowns, citizens felt the effects with students faced delays in obtaining tax documents from the IRS needed for financial aid and the Department of Agriculture warned it could only guarantee food stamp benefits through February. Fortunately, programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are funded through mandatory spending and would continue uninterrupted. 

In efforts to prevent another shutdown, House Republicans have passed a short-term spending bill that would keep federal funding at current levels through Nov. 21 and provide $88 million in emergency funds to bolster security for executive branch officials. However, Democrats have opposed the measure, arguing that the package must include an extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies and other priorities to gain their support.

Democratic leaders have also emphasized the urgency of addressing these subsidies before millions of Americans begin signing up for health insurance coverage in November. As of Sept. 26, President Donald Trump had dismissed these demands as “unreasonable,” but by Sept. 28, he agreed to meet with the four top Congressional leaders at the White House, just one day before the funding deadline.