Fall Festival in North Providence

by Janet Newman ’27 on September 18, 2025

A&E - Music

Fall in New England is one of the beautiful times of the year and the best season in the region according to many. It provides the perfect weather to enjoy time outside and take in the atmospheric scenery. Providence has many fall festivals that offer seasonal fun and hosts events from Oktoberfest to the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo. More notably, Providence is holding its 4th Annual Fall Festival this Saturday, Sept. 20 in the Jewelry District.

The Fall Festival takes place on Richmond Street from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. with free admission. During this event, there will be live music from Rory and the Blue Hounds and Lisa Bello, along with over 30 local vendors, where one can find treasures and support small businesses.

Amidst the live bands bringing the energy and tunes all day long, there will also be delicious food and various kids’ activities. Some of these activities will include face painting, balloons, and costumed characters for magical meet-and-greets.

Throughout the Fall Festival, there will be surprises, community fun, and a whole lot more! So grab your friends and take in the spirit of fall. The Jewelry District is the place to be this September!

While many still refer to this area as the Jewelry District, it is also widely known as the Innovation District. Located on the southeast side of downtown, adjacent to I-95 and the Providence River, it has long since evolved into a modern center for innovation as a result of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and parts of the Johnson and Wales University campus. Its walkability and accessible public transportation only add to the district’s modernization.

The 4th Annual Fall Festival, hosted by The District, The Tiny Bar, Xaco Taco, Somo, Seven Stars, Nick-A-Nees, and Jarit, is without a doubt the perfect New England fall activity. I hope that many will take advantage of the seasonal fun!

Welcome Back—New Year, New Studies, New Friars

by Clara Johnson ’26 on September 18, 2025

Opinion - Campus

On Sept. 2, the 2025–2026 academic year officially kicked off. The beginning of every school year is marked by novelty, excitement, and new beginnings. This year is certainly no exception. From new faculty, programs, and majors to the addition of Huxley Pockets to Alumni Dining and the new ice cream shop to Eaton Street Cafe, this September has brought lots of new opportunities to Friartown.

The most exciting part of the beginning of the year is welcoming the fresh faces eagerly embarking on their Providence College journeys.

On Aug. 28, first-year students from the class of 2029 began moving into their dorms in preparation for the 2025–2026 academic year. Orientation coordinator Gabe Staples ’26 told The Cowl, “I couldn’t be more excited to have welcomed [the first-year students] to campus, and I can’t wait to witness their growth and success within our Friar family.” He went on to say, “The incoming class brought a roller coaster of emotions, experiences, backgrounds, and interests to our PC community.”

The class of 2029 is comprised of 1,188 first-year students. These students come from 34 states, Washington, D.C., and 14 countries outside of the U.S. Among that group, 106 are studying in the Honors Program, 100 are student athletes, and 126 are first-generation college students. The most popular majors for the class of 2029 are finance, marketing, management, nursing, health sciences, biology, psychology, and political science.

Though the majority of students arrived on campus Aug. 28, several first-year students participated in pre-orientation programs, arriving early to forge community, explore interests, and serve locally. In addition to the tried-and-true programs, Faithworks, Urban Action, and Transitions, first-year students were also able to participate in two new programs. Fostering Reflection Arts Meaningful Expression gave students the opportunity to learn about the city of Providence, social issues, and meaningful expression through the medium of art. Additionally, the Department of Rec Sports hosted Rec Connect, allowing incoming students to become familiar with campus life, develop skills, and build community through a variety of games, adventures, and social events.

The class of 2029 was not the only group embarking on its PC journey. 85 transfer students—the largest number in recent history—were welcomed to campus this fall. Additionally, 22 full-time professors from a diverse range of disciplines joined the faculty for the upcoming school year.

In addition to the new perspectives and exciting conversations brought by new faculty and students, the campus community will also be enriched by Providence College’s new communication and data sciences majors.

The Director of the Communication program, Andrea McDonnell, Ph.D., told The Cowl, “PC’s Communication program is excited to welcome majors for the very first time this academic year.” Students can apply for the new major for this semester by visiting the Providence College Communications website and completing the application before Sept. 30. As McDonnell explained, “The program offers a wide range of theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of visual, oral, written, and mediated communication.”

Welcome new students and welcome back to everyone else! The 2025–2026 year at Providence College is off to a running start, and we here at The Cowl are eagerly awaiting the amazing things coming up this semester!

Supreme Court’s Decision on Immigration

by Shannon Kelly ’26 on September 18, 2025

News

On Monday, Sept. 8, the Supreme Court overturned a federal judge’s ruling that had found immigration enforcement agents were engaging in discrimination based on race, language, location, and occupation in a 6–3 decision. In July, Judge Frimpong of Los Angeles ruled that federal agents were likely infringing upon the Fourth Amendment when making stops. With this ruling overturned, federal agents under the guise of ICE and DHS are permitted to stop people based on parts of their identity. This includes race, ethnicity, language, possible accents, and their presence at specific sites of work.

This case has shifted national attention to the Fourth Amendment, which protects the right of the people to not be unreasonably searched and seized by the government. This ruling has brought an intense amount of fear across the United States, specifically in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. This ruling from the Supreme Court also comes at a time of heightened anxiety regarding the Trump Administration’s recent attempt at a federal takeover of our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

Since June, armed and masked federal agents have utilized roving patrols to carry out sweeps of immigrants who may lack proper documentation. This overturning by the Supreme Court was concurred by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who stated that immigration officers must be able to use their experience to stop suspected undocumented immigrants. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that, “Because this is unconscionably irreconcilable with our nation’s constitutional guarantees, I dissent.”

This case reflects the current political leanings of the 6–3 conservative majority of the Supreme Court. All six of the conservative Supreme Court Justices upheld that the Constitution likely allows for federal immigration agents to use blunter tactics when selecting suspected undocumented immigrants to interrogate. All three liberal Justices voted in dissent of the bill, ultimately pointing out the polarization in the Supreme Court based on the political party of which they are a part.

This case symbolizes the division, the collective inability to engage in uncomfortable conversation, and the constant dehumanization of those who have been othered that currently define the state of our nation. Many feel unsafe at their place of work and now risk being targeted for the parts of themselves that they should take pride in, rather than feel the need to hide. With immigration being one of the most controversial topics at this moment in time, we must be able to engage in meaningful dialogue that recognizes the humanity, dignity, and care that all people, regardless of immigration status, are worthy of.

Carrie Underwood to Perform at the AMP

by Molly Oldread ’26 on September 18, 2025

News

To kick off another year of Big East basketball, Providence College is hosting its annual Late Night Madness event at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. This year’s main event is set to be a performance from American singer-songwriter Carrie Underwood. This event will include introductions to both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as several performances from student clubs. Student groups like PC A Cappella, Dance Club, and others will gather to showcase the diverse talents of the school’s student body.

Just a couple of weeks ago, the school announced that country singer Underwood will be the evening’s main event. Underwood, most famously known for her songs “Before He Cheats” and “Blown Away,” is set to perform on Oct. 4. As one of the single best-selling touring music artists in history, she has sold 85 million records worldwide and has been named one of the highest-grossing female touring artists. Underwood rose to fame after winning season four of American Idol. Later, she outsold all previous American Idol winners and went on to be a judge of the 23rd season of the show. Her first album, Some Hearts, quickly became the fastest-selling debut country album in history. Underwood, now 42 years old, has 8 Grammy wins and 16 nominations. She was only the second country artist in history to win Best New Artist at the Grammys.

Tickets are still available for purchase for the Oct. 4 concert for students through the Friar Athletic Ticket Office. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.

Conservative Icon Charlie Kirk Assassinated at Campus Event

by Erich Rumson ’28 on September 18, 2025

News

The State of Discourse in the Modern Age

On Wednesday, Sept. 10, the nation was shocked when right-wing activist and influencer Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while holding an event at Utah Valley University. Around 20 minutes into the event, shortly after beginning a debate with a student in the crowd, Kirk was hit by a single shot fired from a nearby rooftop. He was rushed to a hospital by private security, but died shortly after. The suspected assassin, later identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was taken into custody two days later, and is expected to be charged with Kirk’’s murder. The shooting has been seen as another alarming example of a recent wave of political violence taking place in a deeply divided nation.

Kirk, 31, had long been considered as one of the leading conservative voices in America and was a key ally of President Donald Trump in each of his election campaigns. Entering the political scene at age 18, Kirk co-founded the conservative organization Turning Point USA, a prominent activist group with a presence on many college campuses. Kirk became more widely known for his Prove Me Wrong speaking events in which he would debate college students who held opposing views. These debates generated many viral clips that contributed to his large following, especially among young conservatives. He was also the host of the popular podcast The Charlie Kirk Show and gave speeches at prominent political conventions, including Conservative Political Action Conference and the Republican National Convention. He leaves behind his wife, Erika Kirk, and two young children.

Kirk’s murder was met with shock and grief by people across the nation. Trump ordered all flags to be flown at half staff until Sunday in Kirk’s honor. In an address to the nation Wednesday night, Trump referred to Kirk as “a patriot, who devoted his life to the cause of open debate, and to the country that he loved so much.” Prominent figures from across the political aisle, including Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, and Hakeem Jeffries, condemned the act of political violence and offered their condolences to Kirk’s family.

Following the shooting, the FBI and local law enforcement quickly launched a full scale investigation into finding the perpetrator. Images of the shooter captured by surveillance cameras were released to the public the day after the murder, along with the posting of a $100,000 reward for information. That evening, Robinson, a resident of the small town of Washington in Southwest Utah, was turned in to authorities by family members who recognized him in the security footage and heard that he confessed being the shooter to a friend. Robinson, who according to the Wall Street Journal was known as a gifted student, reportedly had “grown more political in recent years” and had developed a strong online presence. According to family members, at a recent dinner Robinson had talked about Kirk’s then-upcoming event at the Utah Valley campus, and expressed hatred towards him and his views. Robinson is currently being held at the Utah County Jail.

Kirk’s murder is the latest incident in an alarming wave of political violence that has been escalating in recent years. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump was the target of two assassination attempts, one of which resulted in the death of a rally attendee, Corey Comperatore. Last December, United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was murdered on a sidewalk in Manhattan while walking to a conference. The suspect, Luigi Mangione, had expressed opposition towards the American healthcare system and allegedly engraved messages on the shell casings used in the attack. Other notable examples include the murder of two Israeli embassy staffers in May, and the attacks on two Democratic Minnesota lawmakers last June. These shocking incidents have demonstrated the growing divide in American politics, which may perhaps be at its worst point in decades.

In order to get a better idea of the broader context behind these shocking attacks and to find out what the proper response should be, The Cowl reached out to an on-campus expert Dr. Adam Meyers of the Political Science Department at PC. Meyers noted a trend of tribalism in American politics: “it’s not just that we disagree with each other more, but we increasingly view our political groups as our identity groups and our political opponents as threatening our identity.”

Kirk’s assassination have revived calls for an end to the politically motivated violence that has recently plagued the nation. Kirk had long been known for bringing about open debate on college campuses, which, while often heated, always remained peaceful. Meyers agrees with more dialogue and conversation, but concludes that the purpose of such dialogue should be open-minded: “when debating politics with someone, you should be open to the possibility of changing your mind based on things they say. Talking politics just to express righteous anger or convince yourself that you’re right will only make the situation worse.” With the uncertainty brought about by Kirk’s tragic death, one can only hope that the nation will return to the peaceful discourse that is essential to remaining a free country.

McPhail’s Hosts Huxley Hangout: BOP and Campus Ministry Collaborate on a Memorable Event

by Kaitlyn Hladik '25 on February 10, 2023
News Staff

News

McPhail’s had a “pawty” on Tuesday night co-sponsored by the Board of Programmers and Campus Ministry: “Huxley Hangout,” an event that included stuff-a-Hux, doggy bags, Scooby snacks, and “pupcakes.”

The event was a major hit and many people were able to adopt stuffed Huxley plushies or take part in some painting activities. McPhail’s remained crowded for a couple of hours with people from all around campus. Campus Ministry was represented by several Peer Ministry groups at the event that were advertising the kickoff of the second semester of Peer Ministry on the week of Feb. 6.

Stuff-A-Hux was a major draw to the event. Everyone who was able to receive a Huxley was excited to leave with their new pup. The fact that they ran out so quickly is a testament to how successful the event was.

Attendees also enjoyed sweet treats from DeLuise Bakery, located on Chalkstone Ave. in Providence.

Chris Azar ’24, a member of BOP and Campus Ministry, spearheaded the event.

“While I worked really hard on this event and I’ve been planning this event for several months, I never expected such a great turnout,” Azar said. “I am so honored by the love and support I received from the PC community for my event, and I am looking forward to planning more events in the future that celebrate friendship and fun!”

Student-made doggy bags proved to be popular amongst attendees. On the table were Huxley keychains, curly straws with pawprints, and snacks. One student expressed that she was especially excited about the Scooby Doo doggy treats, as they brought a sense of nostalgia to the event.

A member of the Class of 2023 who attended the event said, “I think this event was very meaningful to help better understand the traditions here at PC, as well as a great time to hang out with my friends.”

The tradition of Huxley dates back to the use of Dalmations in the Dominican tradition, stemming from a dream St. Dominic’s mother had of a dog with a torch in its mouth setting the world on fire prior to his birth. BOP and Campus Ministry were able to make an enjoyable event drawing on these historical traditions.

Nurses Striking Worldwide

by Olivia Coletti '24 on February 10, 2023
News Staff

News

Currently, there are massive nursing strikes and hospital walkouts in both the US and the UK. Though the reasons for these international nursing strikes correlate, the circumstances differ. These differences stem from healthcare systems, as the UK has universal healthcare, and the US does not.

Both the strikes in New York and in London have to do with post-COVID-19 working conditions. Staff shortages make for unsafe working conditions, and excessive patient input and cyclical staff sickness weigh heavily on the healthcare community. In the UK, hospitals have tremendous staff shortages and are overworking their nurses, who demand higher wages. One UK protester said, “With the high stress and skill that our work represents, we desire the wage we give” (Daily).

Although British and American nurses are striking for similar reasons, it is important to consider the different healthcare systems between these nations. In the US, hospitals are mainly for-profit organizations; therefore, healthcare becomes expensive. Although there are non-profit hospitals in the US, they usually charge the same as for-profit hospitals. Providence Hospital (a non-profit) serves as an example of why nonprofits are similar to for-profits: “Providence turned to the consulting firm McKinsey & Company. The firm’s assignment was to maximize the money that Providence collected from its patients” according to five current and former executives (New York Times). They often juxtapose their purpose against their profit prioritization. They might as well just call themselves for-profit. But how else would they compete with for-profits?

Also, due to the privatization of hospitals in the US, travel nurses and healthcare workers get paid far more. In the US, nurses get paid the highest in the world (not factoring in their higher student debt—the US nursing debt average is 44,999 USD, while the UK nursing debt average is 27,295 pounds). In the UK, all nurses get paid roughly the same depending on their education level (30-45k pounds). This is far less than the national average of $82,750 in the US. Because of the higher pay, the US nurse labor force is larger and, on average, provides higher quality care. Also, privatized hospitals in the US can move nurses around to avoid staff shortages and unsafe

labor conditions. The US pays travel nurses more. The UK does not have this ability because their universal healthcare system pays nurses the same.

This divergence in pay and quality can be seen in various aspects of healthcare. For example, ambulances in the US have an average fee of USD 1200, whereas in the UK, they are entirely free in an emergency. The US sees frequent fatalities because people want to avoid the cost of calling for help. However, this price discrepancy does not account for the significant disparity in the quality of care. In the US, the average ambulance comes in around 8 minutes. This is minimal compared to the record-low average in the UK of 60 minutes in 2022.

These strikes are historical, as the COVID-19 pandemic shook global health and gave the world a new appreciation for healthcare. The different systems in the US and UK may foster different circumstances for these strikes, but internationally, it is undeniable that without nurses, the physical and emotional health of patients would be disastrous.

Monument Dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. is Met With Contention

by Kaitlyn Hladik '25 on January 29, 2023
News Staff

News

Jan. 13 marked the unveiling of “The Embrace,” a monument in Boston dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. The sculpture by Hank Willis Thomas was inspired by a hug the two shared after Dr. King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. The 20-foot-tall statue sits in the Boston Common, where Dr. King led a civil rights march 50 years prior.

According to The New York Times, Thomas said that “with so many monuments dedicated to war, he [wanted to craft] a sculpture that spreads a message of love and reiterates the Kings’ message of nonviolence and solidarity.” He also shared with the Arch Paper, “The Embrace is a testament to what we can achieve when we come together, “… the sculpture embodies people’s capacity for love, change, and hope for the future.”

Despite its heartwarming origins, the monument has sparked country-wide controversy. Some online sources cite the controversy as stemming from the abstract nature of the statue. The statue only forms their arms, which led people to view it as “disrespectful,” according to CNN, and shared that, although unintended, there were suggestive undertones.

Martin Luther King III, Dr. King’s son, defended the statue, sharing that he did like it and admired that others could witness the love story of his parents. Others were grateful for the message of unity it encapsulated. However, Seneca Scott, Coretta King’s cousin, shared that she disliked the artistic interpretation of the expensive monument.

As with most art, the audience is expected to release varying opinions based upon individual tastes and preferences. The controversy this sculpture evoked attracted a lot of attention to the statue, and may inspire people to think about the messages intended and the history behind “The Embrace.”

Featured Friar: Maggie McKenna ’20

by The Cowl Editor on December 5, 2019

News

McKenna’s friends cheer her on during her winning shot. Photo courtesy of Maggie McKenna ’20.

by Kyle Burgess ’21

News Co-Editor

According to ESPN, the odds of making a half-court shot on a basketball court are roughly one in 100. However, for Maggie McKenna ’20, all it took to be that one was her closest friends, her lucky sweater, and a dream.

The road to this moment began five years ago and almost 1250 miles away in her hometown of Orlando, FL. Having seen her older brother leave the Sunshine State to attend Syracuse University, McKenna wanted to follow in his footsteps to attend college out-of-state and set her sights on universities in the Northeast. She credits her father as the one who put Providence College on her radar, as he believed that her decision to enroll there would be based on the men’s hockey team’s success against Boston University for the championship title in 2015; the rest was history.

“In addition to the luck and destiny of the hockey team’s success, I truly fell in love with PC after experiencing its culture of family, Dominican spirit, and all-encompassing curriculum at Accepted Students Day,” McKenna added. “In the end, I chose PC because it was the only place that felt like home despite being over 1,000 miles from my hometown.”

Since then, McKenna has made the most of her experience at her home away from home. She is extensively involved in many organizations such as Admissions Ambassadors, freshman orientation staff, and women’s club basketball. McKenna is also a member of the liberal arts honors program and has travelled with fellow honors program students to the settings of her DWC books like Florence, Italy.

Aside from her club basketball commitments, McKenna boasts a growing collection of intramural t-shirts, already having won four this semester alone. Additionally, McKenna feels fortunate to have made so many friendships in her four years at Friartown and take in all it has to offer. “Some of my favorite PC memories include living on second floor Ray as a freshman, finding my accounting study squad as a sophomore, going to the Big East Tournament at the Garden as a junior, and living on Eaton Street with my six best friends as a senior.”

McKenna plans to spend big this holiday season with her recent winnings. “The first thing I’m spending my $5,000 on is Christmas presents for all my family and friends. The rest is going into my postgrad savings account.”

When asked about potential strategies for future shot-takers, McKenna responded, “Wear your lucky sweater, imagine you’re shooting anywhere but the Dunk, bring all your best friends to cheer you on (it helps a lot with the nerves), and, most of all, believe in yourself!”

While reflecting on her PC experience, she wished to offer underclassmen some sage advice to get the best out of their own four years. “My best pieces of advice for underclassman are to be patient and understand that while the four years can sometimes be tough (especially academically), as years go on everything gets so much better—friends, memories, possibilities, etc. I encourage all underclassmen to get involved in as much as you can and soak up every last experience as it goes by faster than you could imagine. “

Following her graduation from PC this May, McKenna plans to travel the world as well as her home state of Florida while preparing for her CPA exam. She will then trade in balmy beach days for northeastern winters once again when she moves to the tri-state area with her PC roommates in anticipation of working as a public accountant at RSM International.

EcoPC Hosts America Recycles Day

by The Cowl Editor on November 14, 2019

ECOPC Updates

by Matthew Mazzella ’20

News Staff

The Environmental Club of Providence College (ECOPC) and the Sustainability Representatives will be hosting an America Recycles Day Celebration on Nov. 15, which will take place on Slavin Lawn from 3:30–5:30 p.m. The event is in tangent with the nationwide celebration of “America Recycles Day,” and will dedicate the day towards educating students about recycling and sustainability.

The event will host numerous activities to encourage students to stop by and learn more about making the Earth a cleaner place. The America Recycles Day Celebration will feature games and activities designed to educate the community about the importance, logistics, and benefits of recycling. The event will also offer snacks and prizes.

Payton Morse ’20, co-president of ECOPC, has always been passionate about recycling and is really looking to improve environmental conciousness around campus.

Morse stresses the importance of being environmentally conscious by saying, “We are focusing on recycling awareness at our event. We want the PC community to get a solid grasp on how to ‘recycle right’, because has an awesome and very accessible mixed recycling program that we want to take full advantage of.”

Another serious issue on campus is the disposal of trash in designated recycling bins. If there is any trash in these bins, the products will end up in a landfill.

Morse expresses her concern regarding this issue, stating, “Here at PC we often get truckloads of recyclables sent to the landfill because our recycling is so contaminated that it cannot be recycled. It is either contaminated with food or non-recyclables such as plastic bags and trash. This is why we want to raise awareness about recycling correctly!”

Lindsey Cartier ’21, marketing executive for ECOPC, believes recycling can be easy for students to adopt and implement into their lives.

In anticipation for the upcoming event, Cartier says, “The goal of the Environmental Club of Providence College is to spread awareness and educate our college community on ways to live a more sustainable life while on campus and post-grad! I think this event will be a great opportunity to spread awareness to PC students about how important and easy it is to recycle, and more importantly to recycle correctly!”

Jack Carson ’20 has always taken sustainability seriously, and always makes an effort to cut back on using any resources he knows he can cut back on.

Carson speaks on sustainability on campus by saying, “I always try do my part when it comes to helping out the environment. Whether it be turning off the water when I brush my teeth, separating my trash from recycling, or simply turning off the lights after I leave my room, I know even the smallest actions can make a big difference when it comes to sustainability. I admire the Earth we live on and its beauty, so I try to do my best to keep it that way by recycling and conserving resources, and I hope this event will teach others the importance in doing so.”

ECOPC hopes to have a big turnout on Friday as they look to spread awareness about the environmental issues that are taking place on campus and will look to educate students on ways they can help. The club hopes attendees of the event will learn that doing your best by making an effort to be more sustainable, no matter the size of the act, can go a long way in making the world a cleaner place.