Mental Health Awareness Month

by Rachel Barter ’27 on October 2, 2025

Opinion

The Importance of Prioritizing Our Mental Health As College Students

Although Mental Health Awareness Month is only one month out of the year, this does not mean we should only monitor or prioritize our mental health during October. Instead, I think of mental health awareness as a yearly reminder for us to reevaluate our mental health and how we could be doing more to improve it. Additionally, it encourages everyone to become aware and educate themselves about mental health conditions, reduce stigma associated with seeking treatment, and highlight the availability of mental health resources and support systems, such as the Personal Counseling Center here at Providence College. Overall, the importance of this designated month is to educate people about mental health, normalize conversations around mental health, and foster a more compassionate society where individuals feel empowered to seek help.

Particularly, I find that as a college student whose main task is to study for our classes and do homework, it is easier to let our mental well-being slide in order to accomplish our academic goals while balancing clubs, jobs, family, and friends. Hence, college seems to be a breeding ground for poor mental health and for neglecting to value our mental health over other priorities. For instance, rigorous studying can cause us to neglect exercise, spending time outside, eating, and having fun with friends, which are all influential factors on our mental health.

It is important to correlate our ability to complete assignments with our ability to successfully retain information. If we let our mental health slip in our list of priorities in order to prioritize academics, we are actually degrading the quality of work we attempt to complete. This is not to say it is easy to take this advice and begin to prioritize our mental well-being over our academics, but even taking baby steps towards this goal, like occasionally making active choices, are great ways to approach this goal in a comfortable way.

One way I accomplished this last week was taking a walk before I started homework that had been stressing me out that I had consequently been pushing off. This simple 30-minute break calmed me down to a point where I could focus on the work at hand and approach the assignment in digestible sections. Another way that I worked on my mental health last week was by saying yes to my friends and roommates when they asked to hang out. Instead of scheduling this around my homework time I had set out, I scheduled my homework around what we wanted to do. This solution is simple, and it helps to take the anxiety away that comes when I feel like I am forced to take time away from my studies. I get to feel like I am truly maximizing my study time when I know my activity schedule first. Lastly, I find that the most important thing I do for my mental health is to set limits on how long I will devote time to academics. It’s important that I know when to stop studying because I have gotten to a point where I will not be very productive and can better utilize this time by taking time for myself.

Similar to how Mental Health Awareness Month is about encouraging improvement rather than forcing you to change your routine or list of priorities, I simply want to offer my opinion as a friendly encouragement to consider what small steps you could take to improve your mental well-being. Lastly, I encourage everyone to seek information on the different types of support you can receive either here at PC or elsewhere, and to understand that it is not necessary to carry our mental health conditions stoically without the help of others.

The Importance of Save the Bay

by Courtney Wight ’26 on September 25, 2025

Opinion

As a native Albany, New Yorker, I’ve never had the experience of just driving for half an hour and spending time at the beach. I still am not a big beach person (I prefer the lake), but I can appreciate the appeal of living so close to the ocean. During my time at Providence College, I’ve had the privilege of participating in a beach clean-up with the Save The Bay organization.

Save The Bay is an incredibly important organization that works throughout the state of Rhode Island. From their shoreline clean-ups to a variety of educational activities, Save The Bay is creating an atmosphere that acknowledges and cares for the surrounding environment. Save The Bay even runs seal watching tours and operates their own aquarium in Newport. Additionally, this organization amplifies the voices of local communities in Rhode Island as it fights to protect environmental areas from developers and projects that would harm the waters and local wildlife. From supplying small tips on how to be more environmentally conscious regarding lawn care to providing resources for local petitions, Save The Bay plays an incredibly important role in protecting Rhode Island’s coastline and beaches.

Many students at PC, like myself, are not from Rhode Island, and should thus take advantage of all that it has to offer as the Ocean State. Through Save The Bay events, students can see different parts of Rhode Island and experience the beauty of its beaches while also volunteering and helping to keep these lands clean.

Save The Bay clean-ups occur almost weekly in a variety of locations across the state. Students just need to create an account with Save The Bay to have access to all of the clean-ups across the state. Save The Bay provides all of the supplies, including trash bags, gloves, and trash pickers, so students simply have to show up and pick up trash.

While my willingness to spend a Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning picking up trash might be tied to my larger love for the environment, it also feels amazing to participate and be able to physically see how your efforts are improving the coastline. Sometimes we all need a break to experience nature, especially as classes start to pick up. Also, once you finish the clean-up, you’re at the beach! So, try at least once in your four years at PC to grab a friend, pick a beach, and help keep Rhode Island’s beaches clean.

Ed Column

by Olivia Gleason '26 on September 25, 2025

Editor's Column

Hi Cowl readers! I hope you are settling into your fall schedules and finding some time to rest and recharge as the semester gets busier. As I settle into my senior year, I have found myself reflecting on how my habits as a student have changed from when I first set foot on Providence College’s campus three years ago. I’ve always been someone who puts their studies first. My time as a high schooler was marked by what felt like endless hours of homework and studying as I juggled AP courses, athletics, friends, and family, and more often than not would intentionally miss out on time with people I cared about and time for myself in exchange for more time for schoolwork. This came with consequences: over the years of living out this attitude, I basically developed a mindset that equated success and hard work with extreme burnout.

I carried this mindset with me into the first semester of my freshman year at PC—it was what had given me success in the past, and most importantly at the time, it was familiar. At a point in my life where everything felt so uncertain and alien, my studies were something I could dive into headfirst with an all-or-nothing approach, and I took this opportunity at full force. While this gave me successful academic results, as it had in the past, I found myself feeling less fulfilled than I had in high school. No longer surrounded by my family or hometown friends, spending this much time on schoolwork without giving myself time to recharge or socialize was affecting me more deeply. Slowly, somewhere in between that first semester and the fall semester of my senior year, I recognized this and took small, baby steps to remedy this dilemma.

These steps were far from monumental on their own. In fact, all of them are incredibly simple and easy for me to implement into my daily routine. Sometimes, this looks like carving out some time in my day to catch up with my roommates and ask them about their classes or life happenings; sometimes, it looks like lighting a candle and putting on quiet music while I read a chapter from a novel I’ve been meaning to start; sometimes, it looks like going out to eat with friends. When implemented altogether, such simple things as these have provided me with the ability to succeed academically while also avoiding constant burnout and unfulfillment. In fact, creating a more balanced life for myself has given me a deeper focus on my education, as I am now much more intentional about how I spend my time when I do dedicate it to schoolwork.

All of this is to say, make sure you are taking time for yourself and unwinding once in a while this semester—even if this looks like a 20-minute chat with a friend. Burnout is real and inevitable at times, but it can be alleviated by putting yourself first in simple ways.

A New Kind of Change

by Grace Pappadellis ’29 on September 25, 2025

Opinion

It is a given that at some point when young adults are trying to decipher who they are, disheveling emotions can arise, and the line between who we want to be and who we actually are becomes blurry. During these youthful years, there’s a certain standard that one sets for themselves—a standard that is different for everyone—and has the ability to shift someone’s mood, lifestyle, goals, and even their entire personality.

My parents believed that they were preaching to the choir when they would remind me over and over that I have time to figure out who I am, what I want to do, and what I truly value in life. However, I never understood this idea until I got to college, and I’ve still only now begun to grasp it.

In high school, I was far from appreciating who I was, never mind understanding myself. I had a close-knit group of friends, played sports, worked in a hot dog and ice cream shop, and studied often. Although this is seemingly the ideal high school experience, I had little self-confidence and struggled to uphold my individuality. I felt judged by people, even though I would inadvertently judge others, too.

As time progressed, it became clear that my identity was emerging, and I’m sure I can speak for other high schoolers when I say this: it felt like I was peeling back layers of myself, shedding old skin, and swimming up to the surface in order to reveal my new beginning. It didn’t happen quickly. It was a methodical process, where I lost friendships and ideals for myself but gained new ones as well. There’s always going to be an element of fear with change. Whether the change is small—like getting a new haircut and doubting if it suits you—or if the change is much larger—moving to a new city, state, or even an entirely different country, and realizing how big the world really is. Regardless of how change feels, it should be a comfort to know that these situations are subject to change again. Your hair will grow, you’ll get a new job, the weather will get warmer, and you’ll realize that winter in a new state wasn’t so bad after all.

In college, it is safe to say that nobody here cares about who you once were. Your status in high school is completely null and void. Certainly, aspects of your personality inevitably come to light, and the nature of who you are is what truly attracts people. Nonetheless, there should be no expectation that those aspects are corroborations of your past self. You’ve undoubtedly changed. Stepping foot in a new place, your mind and body has started to grow to fit a new habitat. Looking around, new faces pop up everywhere, a ubiquitous, flourishing garden of people, all here for the same reasons. There’s an incomparable beauty in experiencing something brand new, all at once, without much guidance on how to grow your own garden.

The Burden of Exam Policy on Long-Distance Students

by Kaelynd Brouillette ’29 on September 25, 2025

Opinion

I don’t let myself skip class. In fact, I usually think there is little point in doing so. However, I was ready to make an exception to my personal rule on the Friday before Columbus Day. Like many other students, I had made travel arrangements to go home that day, booking a flight in advance due to living significantly far away. Missing that one day of classes seemed like a small trade-off for spending extra time with my family, whom I had not seen since move-in day. What I did not anticipate was that my Development of Western Civilizations (DWC) professor had scheduled an in-class exam for that day. This exam is worth a significant portion of my grade, and I debated with myself over whether this was really my fault or not. After all, I was the one who decided I needed to go home and booked the flight. When I asked my professor if I could take the exam earlier, I was told that it was not an option.

This whole situation left me thinking about fairness. On the surface, the professor was not doing anything wrong, as this exam was scheduled, and I failed to take that into account when booking my flight. Nonetheless, when an exam falls right before a long weekend, it creates an almost unavoidable clash between academic obligations and the logistics of student life. For those of us who have to fly home, we know that it is not as easy to simply go home on a weekend, making us have to take advantage of the few three-day weekends we do have. Sometimes, that means we take a Friday off to optimize the little time we have with our families. In other words, it’s not just skipping class for “convenience,” it’s a matter of balancing our responsibilities as students with our lives beyond campus.

Providence College’s Student Congress recognizes how disruptive exam timing can be. That’s why it has passed legislation regulating the use of out-of-class assessments, as they place additional burdens on students’ time. However, since my DWC exam was during regular class time, it did not fall under the policy. Technically, no rules were broken. Still, it raises an important question: if the spirit of the legislation is to protect students from unfairly timed assessments, shouldn’t in-class exams scheduled right before breaks also be part of the conversation?

I want to be clear: this is not about blaming professors or attacking the administration. I get it. If you make an exception for one person, then you have to do it for everyone. Faculty have their own curriculum goals and deadlines, which unfortunately don’t always necessarily align with our goals and lives as students. From the perspective of a student who simply wants to see her family, these policies reflect the reality that our schedules don’t exist in a vacuum. A Friday exam is brutal enough as it is, especially the week leading up to a long weekend, but then it forces me, as well as many others facing the same issue, to make decisions about time, family, and whether taking the zero is worth it.

Personally, this issue is bigger than just one DWC exam. It points to a broader gap between academic expectations and student realities. When we talk about fostering a supportive learning environment, we need to ask ourselves if policies, whether professor-specific or directly from Student Congress, account for the lived experiences of students, especially in moments where academic calendars collide with travel demands and family responsibilities. I believe that fairness isn’t just about following the letter of the policy, but honoring the spirit of what those policies are meant to do for the students. If PC can already recognize that timing matters when it comes to exams, maybe it’s time to broaden the scope and ask how we can make sure assessments are rigorous, without being unnecessarily burdensome?

Although I still have not quite figured out what I am going to do about my situation yet, I do know that it is not unique. Plenty of long-distance students face the struggles of navigating travel and big exams before breaks. Fairness should not end at what the policies say, but truly working with students to take into account their realities and demands of college life.

The Cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

by Rachel Barter ’27 on September 25, 2025

Opinion

A Systematic Attack on Freedom of Speech

Recently in the United States, we have seen a vast number of attacks on freedom of speech from both political parties, most notably regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk earlier this month and the cancellation of both The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and, most recently, Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Understandably so, Republicans and Democrats were both disgusted by the killing of Kirk and the attack on his freedom of speech, which was key to his career as a Republican advocate and debater. However, Democrats seem to be the only people to be disgusted by the cancellations of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, as well as other attacks on Democrats’ freedom of speech.

In fact, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was cancelled because Kimmel made comments regarding conservatives’ responses to Kirk’s death and the investigation that followed. Kimmel said, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”

Kimmel’s comment was likely referring to Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s comments that the suspect, Tyler Robinson, had a “leftist ideology” and had also been in a romantic relationship with his roommate and alleged partner, who was in the process of transitioning from male to female. Cox’s inclusion of these comments makes me agree with Kimmel that investigators appear to be desperately trying to pin Kirk’s death on an out-of-control Democrat motivated by his alleged tie to the trans community, which demonstrates Republicans’ willingness to stretch the narrative to find a connection to the trans community.

It is also important to note Governor Cox made these remarks despite the reality that Robinson is a native Utah resident, is not registered to any political party, and grew up with conservative parents in St. George, a fast-growing conservative city defined by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thus, Kimmel’s comment did not attack Kirk at all; instead, it questioned the bias regarding the investigation of Kirk’s alleged shooter.

Whether I agree with Kimmel or not, I believe it is not appropriate to silence his speech. Just as the overwhelming conservative response to Kirk’s death demonstrated how many people think of gun violence as bad only when it affects someone they agree with and care about, the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live! highlights how some conservatives condone attacks on freedom of speech when it benefits them and their party. Furthermore, please note ABC decided to pull the program after an unusually threatening comment was made by the Federal Communications Commission’s chair.

The First Amendment is supposed to apply to all citizens of the United States, regardless of their political views and who they would like to criticize, including the President of the United States. It was not meant to be revoked when public figures say things attacking the government or certain political parties. Hence, the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, despite how short it may have been, is extremely important; these two events are instances of our current administration taking creative liberty with the First Amendment by pressuring television networks to conform to the liking and opinions of President Donald Trump.

Additionally, it is essential that we, as college students, acknowledge these systematic attacks on freedom of speech and strive to combat them to preserve our right to free expression, which is not only crucial to our day-to-day lives but also vital for our education and the ability to have a well-rounded and informed understanding.

Charlie Kirk’s Death

by Anonymous ’27 on September 18, 2025

Opinion

A Wake-Up Call For Conservatives on the Epidemic of Gun Violence

Last week, on Wednesday, Sept. 10, Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist credited with helping to mobilize America’s youth to vote for President Trump, was shot in the neck and killed while holding a debate with college students at Utah Valley University. Kirk’s death reverberated across the nation and has already made a huge impact on the country’s politics. Across social media, people have been posting pictures of Kirk to remember and pray for him and his family, as he leaves behind his wife and two young daughters.

Unfortunately, Kirk’s death has sparked further animosity between the two major political parties of our country. In particular, I have been struck by some conservatives’ claims that the Democratic Party as a whole is happy about Kirk’s death and is celebrating it. Although I cannot speak for the entirety of the Democratic Party, I have observed across the board that Democrats are not happy that Kirk was killed and we are saddened to witness another instance of gun violence. I believe that nobody deserves to be murdered, no matter their political views, and I feel for Kirk’s family, friends, and followers who are mourning his loss.

From what I have observed, conservatives often value their right to bear arms under the Second Amendment over many other issues and rights, such as gun violence deaths. In fact, on April 5, 2023, Kirk said, “I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational.” If only it were that simple.

As I mentioned, when Kirk died, millions of Americans mourned his loss and are currently distraught. Yet, the same people who Kirk radicalized to view deaths of gun violence as simply “unfortunate” are now expressing empathy and deep sorrow for a man who would view his own death as a worthy cost to keep gun rights in our country. This time, the gun violence death was personal for a lot of conservatives, and they are feeling a hint of what the family and friends of gun violence victims face every day of their lives. This is why I believe Kirk’s death should serve as an eye-opener for people who do not wish to change our laws regarding firearms in this country.

I also want to call attention to the fact that none of the other victims of gun violence this year or in the last few years have received such an outpouring of love and sadness over their loss. For instance, President Donald Trump ordered all flags to be lowered to half-staff until sunset on Sunday, Sept. 14 in the wake of Kirk’s death, but he has not done this for other instances of gun violence such as the assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman, a Democrat. Moreover, Kirk’s death highlighted the disproportionate love and compassion for celebrities and prominent figures holding weight and more power, especially in death. It has called into question why many people who posted about Kirk have not posted or prayed for the victims of the many school shootings and other incidents of gun violence just this year.

For instance, on the day that Kirk was shot and killed, there was a school shooting in Denver, Colorado. Yet the majority of people who posted for Kirk on social media did not post for the children who were injured, nor did they post when Rep. Hortman and her husband were killed in another politically motivated shooting. I want us to respond to every such shooting with the same compassion and prayers for the victims, whether we knew of them or not, and regardless of whether our political views aligned with theirs. The silence that has plagued many conservatives during other shootings must be recognized and criticized.

Perhaps if we didn’t ignore the shootings that did not affect us directly, then everyone could recognize the significance and urgency of gun violence in the U.S. I hope that after the heartbreaking impact of Kirk’s death, we can all agree that we have a serious problem on our hands that needs to be addressed rather than ignored because it is the so-called cost of the Second Amendment. If it were your family member or friend who was killed in another instance of gun violence, then you would take action to stop this tragedy from happening to other people. Unfortunately, if we all wait until gun violence affects us directly to recognize the true magnitude of it, then it will be too little too late.

As college students living on or right off of a college campus, it is important that we acknowledge the problem of gun violence in the U.S., considering schools are, unfortunately, likely places for violence. Now that we are of age to vote and create a political footprint, we need to do our part to protect not only ourselves but everyone in the U.S.

Providence College: Our Home Away From Home

by Courtney Wight ’26 on September 18, 2025

Opinion

As I enter my final year at Providence College, I hope to leave a mark on this campus and encourage all those at PC to treat our home with care and dignity. Every weekend, I am discouraged and disgusted by the amount of litter left on our campus. Our campus does not magically look this clean all the time. There are hardworking individuals at UG2 who work tirelessly to ensure our campus, including residence halls, academic buildings, and grounds, are spotless.

Students need to start treating all of campus as their own home because for many, including myself, it is home. Over the past few years, this campus has become a home for me as I have found a favorite place to study, my favorite bench to call my parents from, and even my usual table at Ray. Additionally, this campus is not just our home. There are various forms of wildlife who may be harmed by littering, including squirrels, birds, and bunnies.

It is with this in mind that I ask all returning students to remember that freshmen are watching and modeling their actions after yours. Show the new members of the Friar family how we treat our campus by ensuring no litter ends up on the grass or in our plants. There are tons of trash bins throughout campus where students can dispose of their trash. Another option is simply to hold onto it until there is a trash can where you can properly dispose of it. There is no reason to be throwing one’s trash onto the ground.

Finally, students need to hold each other accountable. If you see another student litter, call them out or pick up the trash and properly throw it away. These actions will show other students, particularly freshmen, that littering is unacceptable on our campus.

Would you litter in your own yard or kitchen at home? No, because most people understand that if they don’t clean up after themselves, someone else ultimately will. Our campus is not people’s personal trash can. PC’s campus is beautiful and is supposed to be a welcoming place, home to not only current students but to future students and alumni. Going forward, I urge my fellow students to start noticing the trash left on campus and improve their own behavior to ensure our campus is clean.

The Importance of a Home-Cooked Meal

by Grace Pappadellis ’29 on September 18, 2025

Opinion

Growing up, my mother only partially peeled the potatoes before mashing them, mixing garlic, velvety butter, and countless aromatic herbs into a big silver pot. My father grilled salmon and steaks, leaving the edges crispy for me because he knew I liked it that way. Broccoli, brussels sprouts, caesar salad with homemade dressing, thick, toasted garlic bread, and heaping spoonfuls of decadent gravy. These are all foods familiar to me, foods I adore to this day—yet upon my arrival to college, I realized I’ve taken them for granted.

My connection to food is one that I directly relate to my family. I grew up with the privilege of fresh food, home-cooked meals, and parents who had the freedom to cook whatever they wanted for my brother and me. Coming home from school, practice, or even a long day, I knew I would have a warm, inviting meal waiting for me on the table.

Arriving at college, I knew I would be homesick, as I was always close with my family and there were plenty of aspects of home worth longing for. I had been looking forward to college for what felt like my entire life. I was thrilled to meet new people, learn new things, and create my own routine. My mother and I consistently kept in touch, and her reports of family dinners made me miss home even more. As my mother described the baked sweet potatoes lathered in butter, tender slices of grilled chicken, and piles of steamed vegetables, my mouth watered and my heart ached for home.

One night, soon after move-in, my roommate and I, both food-lovers, took a trip to Ray Dining Hall. We were hoping to find some sort of replication of home. We filled our plates with every type of food you could imagine, all at our fingertips. To our surprise, we enjoyed all of it. The chicken, the quesadillas, the burrito bowls, the pasta—each day, a new flavor adventure filled with excitement before every lunch and dinner. Ray Dining Hall quickly became our meeting spot, a place for laughs, deep conversations, and much-needed quality time. All of our friends gathered, tried new foods, shared stories, and soon, we had our own family dinners.

No matter what food you are eating, food is nourishment, it is enjoyment, it is comfort. Food is warmth, memories, and revitalization. Food is more than just something you can taste. You feel the food, you crave flavors, your favorite flavors, and when you eat that food, suddenly you’re satiated. You are nurtured and sustained.

I urge you to try new foods, do laps around Ray, and find all your favorites. Fill your plate, even if you don’t finish all of it. Find your piece of home, even if it is not food-related. Now, although my friends and I are a mere two weeks into the semester, we find ourselves enjoying Ray food and, as much as possible, setting up long dinners together each night. Even though we aren’t explicitly stating our intentions, I know we all want to simulate the feeling of a family dinner. Not everything about Ray may make you feel like you’re at home, but there is no restriction on one place being home; home doesn’t even have to be a place. Home is your group of friends, your favorite sweatshirt, and the music playlist you made before entering college. Home is your dorm room, filled with your favorite snacks and all the pictures of your hometown friends scattered across the stark walls. Home is your hobbies, a good book, and a long walk. Most importantly, an immense piece of home is food. Eat until you are full, even uncomfortably full, and let that energy rush through you, sustaining your body. I heard it may even kill your homesickness.

Free Speech Under Attack

by Kaelynd Brouillette ’29 on September 18, 2025

Opinion

Nationally and On Campus

On Wednesday, Sept. 10, the illusion of free speech in America was shattered. Charlie Kirk, a conservative political activist whose messaging was aimed at the youth of America, was shot and ultimately killed in what I deem a political assassination. Many disagreed with Kirk’s strong and sometimes controversial opinions, but in no way does that mean he should have died because of them. Not only was this event a tragedy, but it was also a turning point for America and for how we think about speech and political disagreement.

For all the weight we give the First Amendment, it feels less like a guarantee of free speech and more like a guarantee of conflict and violence. This is not just about one man, but rather about whether college campuses can be considered safe places for debate and disagreement. College campuses are historically supposed to be institutions that allow free thought to flourish, and spaces where students can express ideas, hear perspectives they disagree with, and form independent opinions based on their perceptions.

Reality on campus, and in society in general, is much messier. Many students claim they believe in free speech, but when met with controversial views, the instinct is to “cancel” them, which effectively suppresses our freedom. Social media acts as a catalyst for this problem. Platforms popularly used on college campuses, such as YikYak, Instagram, or X (formerly Twitter), turn disagreement into mob shaming where free speech is not met with dialogue but with hostility and ridicule.

The Kirk incident forces us to ponder a deeper question: what happens when words are no longer met with words, but with intimidation, threats, and even outward violence? On college campuses, free speech now carries a price tag, ranging from at best, backlash, to at worst, life itself. The fact is, PC is not immune.

While our campus may not face violence on the scale of the Kirk assassination, the underlying problem is still here, simmering beneath the surface. Apps like YikYak, which thrive on anonymity, create spaces where hostility and hate can spread unchecked. Instead of encouraging honest debate, they often promote mockery, hate, and dehumanization. I’ve seen firsthand how, in the context of Kirk’s death, conversations on our campus have not always leaned towards respectful disagreement, but rather snide comments and outright hate. This doesn’t just poison our school community, it undermines the very freedom of speech we claim to value. If we want PC to be a place where free thought can flourish, then we cannot afford to dismiss this culture as harmless online venting or say that these snide comments are normal.

The death of Kirk is a national tragedy, but the lessons it forces upon us cannot only be heard at a national level. Free speech isn’t some lofty ideal we only talk about in theory, but rather something that plays out day after day in our classrooms, our group chats, and on social media. The right to free speech means nothing if our culture punishes anyone who dares to use it. Here at PC, we cannot pretend we’re immune.