by Grace Pappadellis ’29 on March 19, 2026

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Opinion - Society

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I don’t necessarily endorse the hackneyed phrase: “If he wanted to, he would.” I also don’t see the benefit in gendering such terms, as no person is bound to a certain relationship restrictions. I am a young woman, I want many things, and I do them. If I don’t want something, I won’t give it my energy, unless it is required of me. However, I find it true that the absence of effort will lead to the absence of an ideal or well-rounded relationship.

Thoughtful humans seek companionship in all its forms. When my father shares stories about his friends growing up, I can feel the compassion carefully threaded through his words as memories infiltrate his head. At that juncture in his life, his friends were all that he needed. Friends were the center of his life, providing the reliable laughs, promised mischief, and trusting other halves. The friendships people share reveal their ability to bond with everyone else. 

Romantic relationships are also built on developed, loving friendships. My father and mother have been married for over 30 years, and I believe the success in their marriage emanates from the committed friendship they nurtured during their younger years. Even when they were romantically dating, they spent real time together, traveled, explored, and shared meaningful experiences—in the same way that best friends would. Their relationship and marriage were not successful merely because my father “wanted” to make it work or because my mother recognized that he was displaying effort as the saying seems to imply. Sure, effort is integral to a relationship where two are both seeking the same outcome—marriage, children, commitment—but how is that effort balanced? How is it allocated throughout the relationship? A fulfilling relationship where both parties are happy and continuously satisfied does not depend on one party deciding that they want to be there and acting accordingly. The relationship calls for equilibrium. It calls for a steady, balanced scale.

If I wanted to, I would. Friendships, romantic relationships, and even being a dedicated family member, all warrant the desire to be there. The compassion one feels towards another person only enhances that magnetism, a force that leads people towards each other who are just meant to be there, to connect, and to experience each other. Each day, from the moment I wake up to the moment I end my night, I am making perpetual decisions that lead me closer to an outcome I wish for. My energy and the choices I make based on what my heart sings for linger around the relationships most important to me. I am emboldened by the hobbies that fulfill me, and my personal achievements that build my identity, or my foundation to be a steady, applied member of a relationship. Without any idea of who I am, what I enjoy, or where my values lie, I would be unable to sufficiently dedicate myself to anyone else. It can be a work in progress, a continuous climb towards who I long to be, because no one can ever truly be there at all times. If I start at the grassroots, promise myself to remain authentic and consistent, I’ll understand a great deal about myself and I’ll feel confident that I can show these parts to another person.

There have been junctures in my life where I was unsure of who I was and what outcomes I’d like to strive for. I knew I loved to write, but I never made the time to exercise my creativity. I loved sports, physical activity, and being outside, but I’d make excuses for myself like, “I’m too tired today,” “I am busy with something else,” or “I’ll start tomorrow.” These common phrases do not so much indicate a lack of interest in what I love, but are telling that I hadn’t learned the power of applying myself and my effort, and seeing how those outcomes expand, flourish, and reflect who I want to be in new, profound ways.

It is not always a feasible process in discovering your own potential, and how your potential becomes transferable throughout your relationships. Maybe you can expect a comfortable, healthy space for growth between yourself and another person when you are learning who you are, but finding the people who are willing to stay with you, as staunch supporters of your flexible, fluid identity, is a representation of secure compassion. They are the other side of your scale, your balance, the anchor to your drifting boat.

We need to meet people where they are. It is impossible to bind someone to the notion that they must do something just because they want to. We do things when we realize how important they are to us, which is a concept we can only grasp when we’ve dug deep enough into our core in an attempt to scoop out the answers. Humans are always seeking answers, so eventually, we’ll all be doing what we want because it matters to us and because our passions are guiding us through what is still left undiscovered. We must stop placing trust in cliché phrases and allowing our relationships to be dependent on them. Instead, we can trust that with time, trial and error, and through quiet, thoughtful states, we’ll all find what we deem the most valuable to us. Our cores will breathe with clarity, bursting with light, and we’ll share these passions with each other. Then, after great consideration of what one desires to fulfill in their life, the phrase, “If he wanted to, he would,” could be justified.

by Courtney Wight '26 on March 19, 2026

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Opinion - Society

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Driving on the highways is a necessity for most Americans. Being from a small town means I had the luxury of avoiding highways for as long as possible. When I started driving, I thought highways were a scary place, mostly due to the other drivers on the road. Despite what some of my passengers might say, I would like to think I have upgraded my skills in recent years, unlocking the highway as an area in which I am comfortable driving. For spring break, I drove home to Albany, which is a straightforward drive, as it is basically just the Massachusetts Turnpike for 100 miles.

On my drive home, I experienced a frustration with highway driving that I have been feeling for a while now. I believe many on the road do not abide by the key concept of keeping right except to passNow, I understand driving on the highway is not a part of the driving test, and driving on the highway might not be a part of a person’s daily life. However, I think the concept of keeping right should be pretty self-explanatory and easy enough to follow for most drivers.

On my drive home, I experienced many scenarios where a fellow car was simply hanging out in the left lane. While this might not be a problem on a wider highway, the majority of the Mass Pike for my journey is only two lanes. This means that drivers looking to pass are forced to either wait and hope the person driving slowly ahead catches on and moves over, or pass the car while in the right lane

Despite never officially being taught how to drive on the highway, the one concept I remember from my training course was to not pass on the inside (the left lane), as it is considered more dangerous. However, many times on my drive, the individual in front of me in the left lane, contently driving barely 70 mph in a 65 mph zone and passing no one, left me with the option to either wait for them to notice, or to pass on the inside. Many did catch on and move over, yet there were times I felt forced to pass on the inside.

I would like to make it clear I am not advocating for people to speed on the highway, but I would argue it is generally accepted to go at least five mph over the posted speed limit. As many know, most drivers will go faster than that, usually using the left lane to pass the righteous law-abiding citizens.

I know many drivers may feel embarrassed about being passed, but it is a part of life since there will always be someone on that road going faster than you (unless you are the person going over 90 mph on the highway). I also know many might use the justification that their slow driving in the left lane is to send a message to other drivers to slow down. I would argue this reasoning is foolish, as those who want to speed will do so anyway, so the slow driving in the left lane is actively causing more danger than the speeding of other vehicles.

In many cases, my frustration was due to the congestion caused by drivers hanging out in the left lane. It created stressful situations where I was unsure if they were going to move over or if I should pass in the right lane. Additionally, in the cases where they did not move, it caused anxiety as I tried to time my quest to pass them on the inside.

Overall, my journey home taught me that many drivers cannot follow basic directions. I am not saying drivers should be constantly switching lanes. Obviously, a person can pass multiple cars at a time before tucking back into the right lane. Yet, I argue the issue stems from an underlying root problem of drivers not paying attention to their surroundings. I passed drivers blatantly utilizing their phones while driving, or cars that seemingly never noticed the car behind them was a foot off their bumper. Tailgating, as a result of slow cars hogging the left lane, is also inherently dangerous.

I am not here to preach that I am the greatest driver ever and know everything. I acknowledge that I am not the best driver. I get probably unreasonably angry at slow drivers obstructing my path in the speedy left lane. Being from a more rural area means I think any car on the road restricting my movement from lane to lane is traffic. But, in all my highway driving, I constantly remind myself to stay in the right lane unless I am actively passing another vehicle. While it might be more annoying for me, it is the best course of action to ensure I am not creating an unsafe situation where a fellow driver feels forced to pass on the inside. Drivers need to have a greater awareness on the road and actively check their surroundings to ensure the safety of all those on the highway.

by Rachel Barter ’27 on March 19, 2026

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Letters to the Editor

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Dear Editors of The Cowl,

The Feb. 27 edition of The Cowl included a letter to the editor objecting to the Heated Rivalry portfolio section insert cover that appeared in the Feb. 12 issue. 

Foremost, I disagree with the author’s sweeping statements that, “…the Church is not okay with same-sex relations,” and therefore that the insert cover is in opposition to Providence College’s Catholic tradition. I want to recognize that the Catholic Church does not condone gay marriage or same-sex sexual acts (neither of which were depicted on the insert cover). However, the very existence of SHEPARD as a club on PC’s campus, a group for all members of the LGBTQQIAA* community whose name stands for Stopping Homophobia, Eliminating Prejudice and Restoring Dignity, contradicts the statement that the Heated Rivalry insert cover, as well as any other “explicit[ly] homosexual” representation, is in opposition to PC’s Catholic tradition. Objecting to and attempting to suppress a representation of two gay men in The Cowl is an example of homophobia, prejudice, and alienation, which PC recognizes, through the existence of SHEPARD, is unacceptable. The language of the letter to the editor and its assertions are extremely harmful and hateful which is, in itself, arguably contrary to Catholic teachings.

Moreover, I found it contradictory to believe in the freedom of the press and a student’s ability to openly share opinions “even if they happen to oppose Catholic teaching,” while objecting to the inclusion of two gay characters in our student newspaper. In fact, this letter silences the voices and representations of people who have opinions that “oppose Catholic teaching” and are using their voices to “express counter-cultural media, content that is overlooked and even reviled by the majority,” as demonstrated by this letter in response to the insert cover.

Lastly, I want to address the letter’s assertion that the insert cover as well as any other “explicit[ly] homosexual” representations have “no business being published in a Catholic school’s newspaper” because the “prominence of [insert cover] represents the student-body views as a whole.” First, as a student-run newspaper, The Cowl includes opinions and material for all students who choose to participate rather than pieces deemed to “represent[] the student-body views as a whole.” Second, the entire student body is not Catholic nor is the entire student-body “not okay with same-sex relations,” so using the logic of the letter, it would be representative for The Cowl to include a singular representation of gay love, accompanied by numerous heterosexual representations of love in the Valentine’s Day edition.

Here at PC, we should welcome everyone. But we should never welcome homophobia.

Sincerely, 

Rachel Barter ’27

Vice President of SHEPARD

by Rachel Barter ’27 on February 27, 2026

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Opinion - Campus

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Although I was not familiar with Lent before I came to Providence College, I have come to understand Lent as a “40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday, …[preparing] to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter.” 

I originally found out about Lent freshman year when I witnessed Ash Wednesday for the first time and could not find meat in the dining halls on the following Friday. Of course my initial reaction as a non-Catholic PC student was confusion and eventually anger that I could not eat meat on Fridays not because I was Catholic, but rather because I could not find meat on PC’s campus.

As a current junior at PC, I have come to have a lot of respect and admiration for Catholics participating in meatless Fridays during this 40-day celebration. However, I cannot stop considering why PC does not offer accommodations and options for non-Catholic students at PC who do not intentionally or willingly participate in meatless Fridays. Afterall, 62 percent of PC’s Class of 2029 are self-identifying Catholics, so there are approximately 38 percent of the Class of 2029—456 students—that are ignored during Lent and are forced to participate in meatless Fridays (unless they leave PC’s campus or buy alternative groceries ahead of time).

However, I am not going to argue that PC Dining Services should continue as normal because that would fail to accommodate Catholics and ignore the needs of the vast majority of students here at PC. I would instead like to propose that Dining Services provide a limited number of stations at Ray Dining Hall and meat options at all the other dining locations on campus to provide options for non-Catholic students at PC to carry on as normal rather than giving them no other option than to reluctantly participate in this Lenten practice. 

I also want to acknowledge that currently, student clubs on this campus are not allowed to order meat options for events on Ash Wednesday or Fridays of Lent. This restriction on clubs and organizations on campus prevents students from serving cultural food that does not align with the Catholic practices of Lent. Thus, this rule should be adjusted to still require clubs to accommodate Catholic students by ordering perhaps, at least 50 percent of their dishes to be meatless and meat options be separated from non-meat options. 

Furthermore, in order to protect Catholics participating in Lent from accidentally eating meat with the addition of these stations and options, we could put extensive signs around each dining location reminding students it is Lent, so they can make the conscious and informed decision not to eat meat on Fridays of Lent. That way, PC can appeal to the beliefs and practices of all students while prioritizing and mandating the needs of Catholic students given that we are a Catholic institution. 

Additionally, although I am not Catholic and cannot speak to the Catholic experience, it was always confusing that abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays of Lent was not a conscious and willing abstinence, but rather a mandated obligation at PC given that there are not meat options offered during these specific days of Lent. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “The hope [is] that the Catholic community will ordinarily continue to abstain from meat by free choice as formerly we did in obedience to Church law,” and abstinence from meat is a “deliberate, personal” choice that is “no longer required by law” as “an outward sign of inward spiritual values that we cherish.” So why is it that PC takes away Catholic students’ free choice to abstain from meat by eliminating the option to choose?

Although I cannot answer this question, I argue that adding limited meat options on Fridays of Lent and Ash Wednesday could strengthen Catholic students’ abstinence during Lent by ensuring it is a deliberate, free choice with the intention of “honor[ing] Christ who sacrificed his flesh on a Friday.” This new addition to PC’s practices could potentially strengthen Catholic students’ self-discipline as intended by the no longer mandated practice of abstaining from meat on such days during Lent. 

Hence, I propose the introduction of meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent as a way to accommodate all students of vast backgrounds and beliefs at PC while also emphasizing the spiritual fruit of deliberate, intentional abstinence, honoring Christ who sacrificed His flesh for the human race.

by Maria Mantini ’26 on February 27, 2026

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Opinion - Society

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Who could forget the rush of excitement? Once the sliding doors opened, every toy currently on the market was available to you. A seemingly infinite amount of aisles contained the newest Barbies, Legos, Hot Wheels, Crayola products, and everything from alarm clocks to giant stuffed animals inspired by the latest animated movie. The shelves loomed far larger than your four-foot frame and stretched far longer than the hallways of your house. There was no better phrase to hear when getting in the car than, “If you are good, you can pick out one thing at Toys “R” Us.”

With a 4 and almost 3-year-old cousin, these past few years have reintroduced me to the modern toy market. Family gatherings are spent helping put together Bluey puzzles on the floor and sorting through the cards for Candy Land. The joy they get from inventing games or opening a new toy reminds me of the excitement I felt as a kid. Don’t you remember when there was no better feeling than waking up on Christmas morning and no greater disappointment on your birthday than when the colorfully wrapped box turned out to be a new sweater?

While I am able to remember some childhood experiences through their eyes, there is one experience that we will unlikely share to the same degree: spending time in a toy store. While there are some that remain, the availability of online shopping has made many retailers obsolete. According to stories published by The New York Times and CNN, Toys “R” Us closed all of their stores in 2018 after filing for bankruptcy. Their formerly infamous presence as the place to find every toy has now been relegated to a corner of Macy’s.

Arrangements like this do not even come close to replacing what is lost, though. Toy stores are entire stores devoted to children and their interests. The wonder of seeing aisles filled with your favorite games and characters cannot be matched with five shelves of dolls and stuffed animals across from the perfume counter. Many stores like the Disney Store and the American Girl store also had interactive displays and decorations to further enhance the experience for young kids.

Toy stores were not only places for fun and exploration, they also created some memorable lessons. I can still remember when my kindergarten class raised money to buy toys for charity during the holidays. Instead of simply donating the money, our parents took us to the store and we all picked out things we thought other children would like. The ability to hand-pick the gifts and know they would end up with a child who otherwise would not have them provided a much more impactful lesson than looking at pictures on Amazon.

The changing landscape of the market is evident, however. In the past several years, I’ve seen the Toys “R” Us, Disney Store, and American Girl store I went to growing up close. It is disheartening to think that these places that held so many great childhood memories will not be there for younger generations to experience. While it is undeniable that online shopping offers measurable convenience, the unique assets of retail should not be ignored, especially when it comes to the experiences of children.

by Marcus Howley ’28 on February 27, 2026

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Opinion - Society

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This past week in Philadelphia, PA, a federal judge ordered the return of a plaque detailing the lives of slaves owned by George Washington. This plaque had been removed by the Trump administration under an executive order titled, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” The title of the order alone raises serious concern about the actual objective of it, especially when issues of slavery, colonization, and discrimination have fallen straight into its crosshairs.  

From the very beginning, the field of public history—that being the remembrance of the past through monuments, museums, memorials, signs, and other public-facing displays of history—has been an ideological battle zone. Organizations like the United Daughters of the Confederacy used the creation of monuments honoring Confederate generals and leaders to advance the myth of the Lost Cause after the Civil War and through Reconstruction and the rise of the Civil Rights Movement. The Lost Cause is the myth of the antebellum South as being all Southern belles and slavery as just lemonade picnics. In this context, the Civil War is framed as a Southern fight for states’ rights against an oppressive Northern aggressor. This myth obviously ignores the realities of the horrors of slavery and the politics that caused Southern secession. 

The Lost Cause is relevant to today because the idea of reshaping the past through public memory is the exact objective of this executive order. The specific targeting of issues that pertain to race and discrimination suggests an attempt by the  Trump administration to erase or cover up the darker elements of America’s past. The order states that it seeks to eliminate displays that “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living,” with the intention of emphasizing the “greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people.” The first half of the order on disparaging Americans past or present should bring about genuine concern. While figures such as Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and others are commemorated as national heroes, they are not infallible. If we want to understand the whole picture of who these people were, we need to include the ugly elements,like, for example, the plaque in Philadelphia detailing the lives of slaves under Washington. Our national heroes are not gods to be worshiped, but real people who deserve both praise and criticism.  

The second segment on celebrating the achievements and progress of Americans will initially appear to make perfect sense. Many of our public history displays celebrate great progress made in American history, yet the actions of the current administration raise the question of what or whose progress we are celebrating. This is highlighted by the Trump administration’s removal of the LGBTQ+ pride flag from the Stonewall Monument, the monument celebrating the moment that jumpstarted the LGBTQ+ rights movement. The administration seems keen on not celebrating this kind of progress. The removal of signs about the exploitation and removal of Native Americans at Grand Canyon National Park shows what the actual progress being celebrated is. That progress is the idea of Manifest Destiny, the expansion and domination of white Christian Americans across the entire continent. Progress is not the hard-fought battles of civil or workers rights, but instead the mythical travels of horse drawn wagons into a supposed savage wilderness in need of Christian civilization. Progress is the rise of true domination and superiority of white America over the rest. 

The very slogan of Trump’s campaigns shows this ideal. “Make America Great Again” implies the need for the country to go back to how things were in some other time: a time when America was supposedly great. A perfect past of white picket fences and the nuclear family. A time of peace and unity among all Americans, free of the division and so-called anti-patriotism of the modern day. This past very clearly did not happen and never existed. The real past, regardless of attempts to cover it up, still exists and still happened. You cannot change history, no matter how hard you try.  

Organizations like The Heritage Foundation, Turning Point USA, and Prager U have all helped push this false mythical narrative of the past into education. Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, even told reporters, “Children will be taught to love America. Children will be taught to be patriots.” Teaching history does not mean turning people into patriotic robots who dare not consider the wrongs of their country. It should instead encompass an understanding of the whole picture of what the country itself is, the highs and lows. To quote famed civil rights activist Frederick Douglass, “The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful and virtuous.” We must be honest as to what our history actually is, or we risk falling into ignorance of the lessons it teaches.  

by Grace Pappadellis ’29 on February 12, 2026

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Opinion - Entertainment & Society

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I am going to take a trite term and do my best to infuse it with some sort of comfortable nostalgia, but also with the notion that we must stay well-informed, vigilant, and understanding of society at all times. History repeats itself. It is repeating itself. 

Sure, the New England Patriots were in the Super Bowl, and whether that was an exciting idea or a completely devastating fact for someone, it is reminiscent of 2016, when the Pats were on top, and New England families, like my own, were ecstatic and proud. Snow has been falling, similar to our childhood holidays, we are embracing fashion from the early 2010s, and young voices are prominent in the way 2016 had a sudden hankering for new types of internet culture and development of aesthetics. On the other hand, society is once again experiencing an increased amount of political polarization, and regardless of your level of privilege or conscious decision to engage or disengage, politics are affecting everyone. Changes that we were facing in 2016 felt monumental, and although a decade has passed and the country has undergone different structural changes, it seems we are in a very similar place—possibly living through the consequences of our previous political choices. 

With that being said, although nostalgia is a wonderful feeling, and understanding the political and social state of society does not mean we have to collectively ignore the avenues for joy, we should acknowledge every event, every issue, and every accomplishment. We need to let go of the concept that joy, or political neutrality, rather, and being knowledgeable, empathetic, and proactive around topics we may be removed from, should not be mutually exclusive. To add my own essence of where I stand politically—remaining neutral won’t get us anywhere, and you can be a happy, well-rounded person while staying informed, advocating for those who cannot, and remembering that cutting yourself off from the real news, the real truth, will forever hinder your authentic understanding of the society you, yourself, live in. 

2016 marked an enormous political divide. Social media was making a huge impact on society, creating new exposure to opinions, news, and all sorts of nuanced ideas. People were emboldened by such a polarized society, their interest in politics increasing, and although real human involvement is important to support a democracy, the politics circulating harbored heavy partisanship, hate, and a lack of consideration for different people living in this country. Today, in 2026, TikTok has become a main news source for people, in lieu of credible news stations, newspapers, and web articles. When having conversations about current events today, you’re more likely to hear a person, especially a young person, say, “Did you hear about x, y, and z? I saw a TikTok about it,” than referencing a news station. Thirty-second social media clips are accessible, easy to understand, and allow people to neglect their accountability to read and learn about what is really happening in the world. The inability to absorb credible news is leading to ignorance of the parallels between 2016 and 2026. 

President Donald Trump built his 2016 campaign on building a wall to keep immigrants out of the country. Today, the Trump administration funds and defends Immigration and Customs Enforcement that actively terrorizes citizens of our country. Repetition is not a comfort when the repetition is detrimental to the livelihood of people living in the country, living in constant fear that they are subject to ICE’s brutal modes of operation. Ignoring these parallels and deeming the state of the country as “not our problem” sets us back not only to 2016, but to eras when voices of marginalized groups were considered invalid and meaningless. 

As 2026 rolls on, we must stay keen on learning, so we can have an abundance of knowledge on the state of the country, knowledge that can never be taken away. Consuming credible news and listening to multiple sources makes us more credible people! Since history is repeating itself in many forms, we can appreciate our need to reminisce, but we can also appreciate our obligation to change. We need to plan our future so it can be different from our reality, and we can maneuver through every hardship and indefinite struggle with more intelligence, fortitude, and veracity. More than 2016. Even more than this moment in time.

by Grace Pappadellis ’29 on February 5, 2026

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Opinion - Entertainment & Society

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You are an intentional being whether you like it or not. Even in your subconscious mind, you act based on what you value most. You practice, you perfect, you frantically seek gratification—success originating from what you truly want to succeed at. The goal to master something you love is an immense goal, something humans don’t always let themselves achieve. You can work tirelessly, aiming to rise to the standard you have set for yourself—pure flawlessness—and the realization that perfection is nearly impossible only makes you strive for it with more alacrity. You want to achieve this perfection because you love what you are doing, you care about it, and you want your achievements to reflect who you are to the world. To hold something in high esteem is to devote time and effort, passion and energy. Therefore, the outcome always matters to us; even when your success is obvious and bountiful, it may not be enough to satisfy you. 

I believe people have a tendency to ignore their own accomplishments when they’ve set high, sometimes unrealistic, standards for themselves. They love what they do so vehemently that their ability to recognize that they have attained what they once sought for is diluted by perfectionism. There is an addicting zeal conjured from a relentless love. 

My contention is not rooted in any specific psychological study, but in experience of my own. Throughout the past couple of years, I developed a strong love for running. Although I did other sports when I was younger, running was not an activity integrated into my athletic life, never mind my daily routine. The more running I do, the better trained I am, and I am more apt to want to get even better—push my own limits—because that particular feeling of accomplishment is irreplaceable to me. I can’t say that my success is linear; in fact, the lethargy and time commitment that comes with daily running and training can hinder my mindset and overall consideration of myself. Not every run is the same  and such a fluctuating sport can make it difficult to track how much running I should be doing, how to fuel, when to sleep, when to go harder, or when to take a momentary rest. However, I’ve grown to love all parts of it. I’ve found the satisfying soreness to be proof of my progress, proof of my dedication. Even when the peak feeling of running is hard to reach at all times, I know it is getting easier, courtesy of my longstanding efforts and ongoing love. 

You will never be able to master what you love most because you will always be doing what you love most—it is your priority. To continue to do something is to get better at it, even when you are forced to take two steps back before getting to that new and improved place.  Instead of getting stuck in the mindset that your successes will never be enough, you must relish in the process leading to success, experiencing the significant accomplishments, and also acknowledging the ones that seem trivial. When you love something, and you work at it, completely “mastering” this activity is not feasible. However, you have mastered something less tangible, that being indisputable love so personal to you that only you can understand it. You should feel accomplished with that in itself.

by Georgina Gamble ’29 on February 5, 2026

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Opinion - Campus

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Nothing can quite compare to the feeling you get when you run down Esplanade in Pelham Manor in New York.

There is something special about the way the world looks when you are running down that two-way street and all the ingredients for a perfect run blend together. The way the hot concrete pounds beneath your feet, and how the early evening sun bounces off of the trees and reflects on the roofs of the gorgeous houses. The feeling of your lungs working just right, and if you close your eyes, it almost feels like you’re flying because you are running so fast. Your playlist—some conglomerate of Gracie Abrams, house music, and Charli XCX—blasts in your headphones.

I don’t think anyone quite gets Esplanade like I do. Esplanade makes me forget all the sweat sticking to my skin and how I want a glass of water so badly I can almost taste it. When I’m running on that street in early August, I shake my head at the fact that I whined as I laced up my sneakers because I would’ve rather been lying in bed.

I daydream about my runs back home a lot more than I think the average person does. I have new views during my runs now—I traded the sprawling front lawns dotted with hydrangeas for a snow-covered campus with trees all too barren for my liking.

I like to miss my hometown. I like to feel the lump in my throat when I remember how invincible I felt in the days before I knew how cold a New England winter could truly get. My summer tan is still there if I squint hard enough.

Contrary to popular belief, treadmill runs aren’t all that bad. My runs feel a bit different—a bit more stationary than I am used to—but sometimes, I get that familiar feeling in my breathing that almost makes me feel the hot August sun if I close my eyes. I don’t see anything wrong with nostalgia. I think it’s healthy for the insulation of your winter coat to contradict with the feeling of ultraviolet rays on your skin. I’m sure that someday I will yearn for these winter months too, and I will miss the first time I discovered how such thick blankets of snow can hush the world, just as my music drowns out the sound of my footsteps on the concrete.

by Sarah McCall ’26 on January 28, 2026

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Opinion

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Happy spring semester! I hope everyone had a restful break and a good start to the semester. I know that I usually keep my ed columns pretty silly and focus on whatever my current random thoughts are, but unfortunately, due to the state of the world, I have had less time to think about these trivial things. As a white college student, I hold a significant amount of privilege in this country, which protects me from having to face most of the cruelty happening around us. However, that does not mean that this cruelty does not exist. Every day, we hear more and more stories of children being ripped apart from their parents, children being used as bait by law enforcement, people being shot and killed for disagreeing with the government, and people being racially profiled and detained. The world we are living in is not normal, and it is completely inhumane. 

I graduate in May, and at this point, I should be concerned about where I will get a job, but instead, I am worried about the state of our country. The federal government has completely locked the state of Minnesota out of the investigation into the murder of Alex Pretti. The Trump Administration is pushing a narrative that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who murdered Reneé Good and Pretti were acting out of self defense, which is actively disputed by both the governor of Minnesota and the mayor of Minneapolis, as well as by countless witnesses. The administration of President Donald Trump is consolidating the authority of government to the federal level, discouraging independent thought and media, using brute force against citizens, and tearing apart communities. I feel immense outrage at what the administration has done and most likely will continue to do. There have been countless anti-ICE protests throughout the country, including many in Providence and Rhode Island. There is a protest at the Rhode Island State House on Friday, Jan. 30, at 2 p.m., and I encourage everyone to attend and make their voices heard.

America is a nation of immigrants, and our country, just like any other, is unable to function without immigration. Our country is also not able to function when thousands of hardworking members of American society are inhumanely ripped from their communities. Or if the federal government continues to undermine the legal and judicial systems that form the basis of our democratic society. Or if government officials attempt to radicalize the population into hatred of different demographics. Or if people are murdered in broad daylight by a militarized police force. I can only imagine where our country is headed and what else is happening behind closed doors. 

As I approach the end of my college career, I am hopeful for the opportunities I may encounter, but I am also reflecting on the treatment of members of my community. With that, I wish everyone a good rest of the semester and a better world for all.