by Rachel Barter ’27 on October 23, 2025

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News - Campus

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Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Protecting & Supporting Our Fellow Friars

As a person who has friends and family members who have been survivors of domestic violence, Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a very important month full of reflection and education, which is not often enough brought to the forefront. The goal and purpose of Domestic Violence Awareness Month is to raise awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence, encourage support of survivors, honor victims, and, perhaps most importantly, mobilize people to take action to prevent it. By raising public consciousness of domestic violence, Domestic Violence Awareness Month encourages people to get involved, support preventative legislation, and build communities where everyone feels safe. Similar to Mental Health Awareness Month, which is also observed in October, the month-long observance helps to bring this often-silenced issue into the open and to empower survivors to seek safety and support. 

In the U.S., “an average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner… more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year.” Additionally, more than “one in three women (35.6 percent) and one in four men (28.5 percent) in the U.S. have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.”  

Given that around 30 percent of men and women in the U.S. have experienced domestic violence during their lifetime, Domestic Violence Awareness Month should not be taken lightly and should be used as a stepping stone for taking action against domestic violence, rather than a pit stop on our journeys throughout the year. Domestic violence does not cease during the other 11 months of the year, so it is very important to utilize Domestic Violence Awareness Month as a consciousness-raising tool, but not to let our efforts stop there.

As demonstrated by the statistics above, no person is disconnected from the effects and experiences of domestic violence, whether we have personally experienced it or are connected to other people who have or are currently experiencing domestic violence. We are all connected to domestic violence in one way or another, and if you are someone who has not experienced or interacted with domestic violence, then we have an obligation to take action against domestic violence and the broader interpersonal violence; survivors should not be perceived as responsible for fixing a society and an issue that they were violated and discriminated against by. However, survivors and victims of domestic violence should be the very people using their unique personal experiences to guide the actions against domestic violence because they are the only people who have comprehensive knowledge about how to protect themselves and others.

Recognizing the importance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and taking action is also particularly relevant for us as college students when considering the following statistics about domestic violence for teens and young adults: about one in 12 experienced physical dating violence, about one in 10 experienced sexual dating violence, and 33 percent of teens who were in an abusive relationship ever told anyone about the abuse. Additionally, it is important to highlight that certain marginalized groups are more at risk than others, including female students, students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, and students of color, which points to a larger societal discrimination.

Lastly, I want to discuss how we can do our part to help take action against domestic violence and support survivors. One of the most important things to remember is that it is never the victim’s fault that they experienced domestic violence, and we should not be using any language or acting in such a way that explicitly states or implies it; for example, we should not ask the survivors questions like, “Why didn’t you leave sooner?”, “Why didn’t you report it sooner?”, “Why didn’t you just say no?”,  “What were you wearing?” or “You were drunk.” Such lines of questioning are all too common today, especially regarding female college students, yet they are so damaging and hurtful to victims, considering one of the greatest barriers to seeking help and reporting abuse is the victim feeling they are to blame for what has happened to them. Therefore, when people speak or behave in a way that reinforces this feeling of self-blame, the impact of the abuse may be greater, leading to a longer recovery. Instead, we want to be there for them and let the survivors tell us what they want/need from us so that we can best support them without taking charge of how they want to begin taking action against it or begin the never-ending journey or “healing.”

As Dr. Driessen, an Assistant Professor of the Social Work Department and an Affiliated Faculty with the Women’s and Gender Studies Department, states, “PC is a place where community is so important to our values. We can all draw upon the strength of this community, such as being part of the Friar Family, to break the silence, debunk stigma, remind each other that you are never alone, and encouragement of just how powerful and impactful a nonjudgmental, listening, and empathetic presence can be.”

Overall, we are responsible for educating ourselves on domestic violence and doing our best to support ourselves or the people around us who have experienced domestic violence. We cannot ignore the important and life-threatening issue that the month of October reminds us about every year, and we need to carry this momentum with us throughout the rest of the year by treating survivors with dignity and respect, as well as looking out for your fellow Friars and neighbors to keep everyone safe. “And remember that there are many resources for everyone on campus, including the opportunity to speak to a confidential victim advocate to learn more about resources, rights, and processes.”

by Sarah McCall ’26 on October 23, 2025

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Editor's Column

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Hi again Cowl readers. We took a week off, so I hope you didn’t miss us too much. My thoughts this week are still about the future, so I will try to stray from the existential and focus more on the random things I have been thinking about. I just finished another book, and I decided to revive (start actually using) my Goodreads account. I would let you all follow, but I probably will forget about it again. I just started A Little Life, and I have heard mixed reviews, but I am enjoying it so far. I still have approximately 600 pages left, so it will be a while before I can update Goodreads anyway. I may start adding my books for class to Goodreads in the meantime, but also probably not. 

I am so excited that SNL is back! I have a few thoughts about this season, but a 500-word limit, so I will list them with no explanation. I miss Ego Nwodim, I don’t like Jane Wickline, I think that Jeremy Culhane will be one of the best on the cast, I am so happy Andrew Dismukes is in every sketch, and Weekend Update has, and will always be, the best part of each episode. I haven’t been watching much TV, but I have been deep into YouTube. I am still obsessed with Gabby Windey, Matt and Bowen, Quen Blackwell, and Caleb Hearon. I have also been listening to a ton of Lorde.

I also am so happy that it is fall and I can break out my sweaters. The only issue with that is I got a new sweater this summer and unfortunately I have to wear it every day, so the rest of my sweaters remain in my closet (what they said about me back in high school). I want to get more sweaters soon, so maybe you will find me in a different outfit for once (probably not). Speaking of clothes, finding a dress for Senior Ring Weekend has been horrific. I have gone through every mini dress on every website and have not liked a single one. Not sure what to do about that, but at the end of the day, it is not my circus nor my monkeys. I do have a new signature scent though! Counting my blessings.

Right now I am figuring out postgrad plans and scared out of my mind, but I am trying to remember to live in the moment and celebrate the little things that are keeping me going. Enjoy the fall in Providence and give yourself space to let go a little. Talk soon.

by Courtney Wight ’26 on October 9, 2025

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Opinion

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As October rolls around and fall begins, I get excited about all of the fun activities to do in the upcoming months. Fall’s best holiday, Halloween, is always one of my favorite times of the year as people get together to celebrate and let loose with a variety of creative costumes. My mom still has most of our childhood Halloween costumes in the basement, just in case we ever need them. However, now many people are planning multiple costumes and buying brand new items for each outfit, which they never intend to wear again.

This issue with Halloween costumes highlights the more serious underlying problem of fast fashion. A majority of clothing companies have shifted from creating quality products to producing cheaper and poorer quality items to hop onto trends before they change. Fast fashion is extremely bad for a variety of reasons, including from an environmental standpoint and a labor rights perspective.

The fashion industry as a whole is responsible for roughly 10 percent of global carbon emissions. From 2000–2014, clothing production doubled, with these problems continuously getting worse, resulting in over 90 million tons of textile waste every year. Additionally, fast fashion clothing is bought with the intention of wearing it a few times before discarding it; therefore, less than 1 percent of fashion textiles are recycled and many of these items end up in landfills.

To combat this growing issue, governments have started to propose potential solutions to minimize the negative impacts. France has been the first major nation to acknowledge fast fashion as a major issue and enact legislation to penalize companies for selling fast fashion. Additionally, the state of New York has proposed legislation to attack the other main con of fast fashion, which is exploitative labor conditions. The proposed bill would require clothing companies to disclose their supply chain in an effort to encourage companies to use properly sourced labor and reduce their excess waste in the supply chain.

Nonetheless, legislation can’t change everything. Ultimately, it is up to consumers to better educate themselves on the impacts of their actions. Social media has created a culture of constant consumption of goods, including clothing, leaving many feeling a constant need to buy and shop more. With the rising costs of necessities and a potential for a recession, consumers need to avoid falling for micro-trends and purchasing cheap, poorly made clothing that they will only wear twice.

Now, I’m not saying don’t have more than one costume, or not to buy clothes online anymore. I just ask that students take a second thought before buying more things online. Are there fun costumes you can do from pieces you already own? Do you have any existing items, either at home or from your friends, that you can wear instead of buying something new? Can you and your friends take a trip to the thrift store or Spirit Halloween to buy items in person, instead of online? Small changes like these matter, and it is necessary to change our mindsets regarding fast fashion for real progress to be made.

by Courtney Wight ’26 on October 2, 2025

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Opinion

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The Ever Complicated Question

Recycling is extremely important on campus, and all students should know how to properly recycle. It is disheartening to take my recycling down to the trash room and see that our recycling bins are absolutely disgusting and full of non-recyclable items. I understand not everyone may know how to recycle, but that’s okay! College is a place to learn, grow, and develop skills that will be used for the rest of your lives. Therefore, Providence College must emphasize recycling education to ensure the students who graduate from PC enter the world with the knowledge of how to live sustainably.

Recycling is simple and boils down to one rule: when in doubt, throw it out. If there is ever something that may or may not be recyclable, just throw it out. The contamination of recycling is detrimental, as all the properly recycled items may have to be discarded. Contamination is costing Rhode Island taxpayers, as the rejected loads of recycling have a fee of $20 per rejected ton and a maximum of $250 per load for the city or town where the load originated. Contaminated loads risk the overall operation, as there is a chance of equipment breaking due to the improper materials entering the recycling machines. While Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC)—the main organization that handles recycling within the state of Rhode Island—admits its equipment needs an upgrade, that does not change the need for recycling education across the state.

I have witnessed numerous instances on campus where students are confused about whether or not their items are recyclable. One case I frequently see is a half-full or almost finished Dunkin’ or Starbucks plastic drink cup. If the student deposits their cup into the recycling bin, it can contaminate all the other items in the recycling bin since the liquid inside will likely leak. To be properly recycled, all plastic containers must be emptied and rinsed before being placed in the recycling bin. In this case, to prevent contaminating the entire bin, a person should engage in the previous rule by throwing out their plastic cups.

Another recycling mistake I see many fellow students make is forgetting to break down cardboard. Cardboard is one of the easiest things to recycle, but many students fail at the final step. All cardboard must be broken down before it can be recycled. I have seen numerous recycling bins full in the trash room, simply because there are a couple of cardboard boxes that haven’t been broken down. Breaking down cardboard is an easy step that goes a long way to make sure the recycling is properly done and to make our trash rooms cleaner by reducing the likelihood of the recycling overflowing.

Finally, PC needs to promote the multipurpose recycling area located in Lower Slavin by Dunkin’. For example, there is a specific place to dispose of batteries since it is hazardous to throw them away with regular trash. This is a serious safety concern, and more needs to be done to educate students so they can enter the world with the necessary knowledge to not only live sustainably, but also safely.

I believe PC needs to do more to educate incoming students since they are least set in their ways and most willing to learn new habits. PC should mandate proper and updated signage regarding the recycling policies on campus, especially since recycling policies vary. Furthermore, all students living on campus should have a recycling bin in their dorms. I know this is not always the case; therefore, all students should know that if there is no recycling bin, students can put in a work order and Physical Plant will supply them with one.

I know many students across campus who want to do their part, learn to improve our campus, and keep it safe. However, without mass-scale initiatives pushed by the administration, widespread change is not possible. As a member of ECOPC for over three years now, we have tried to push recycling to be included in Freshman Orientation, yet we have not received the proper support to make this a reality. In my final year at PC, I will continue to educate others about proper recycling, but without the support of the administration, I am not confident the change I want to see is possible.

by Georgina Gamble ’29 on October 2, 2025

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Opinion

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How Much is Too Much?

Everyone’s favorite showgirl is on the verge of dropping her twelfth studio album—what does this mean for the environment? 

The short answer: nothing good. During her last era, The Tortured Poets Department album, Taylor Swift managed to sell 36 vinyl and/or CD variants for an album that had only 31 songs. Each variation has its own special qualities: a new deluxe song, a collectible album sleeve, or a different black and white album cover. We’ve all seen the TikToks—the completely absurd Swiftie shrines, the crazy, over-the-top merch, and vinyl unboxings. I feel it is safe to say Swift officially has world domination in both pop culture and landfills. 

It is important for me to say that I really do love Swift. Having the opportunity to see The Era’s Tour completely changed my life. Over the past few years, she has sparked a new meaning of girlhood for me and others across the world. As much as I love the glitter and screaming the bridges at the top of my lungs, I also have a lot of concern for the lack of sustainability at hand. 

Vinyls and the plastics used to create them are bad for the environment as it is. This, combined with the frantic feeling of exclusivity and novelty that comes along with owning every part of Swift’s anthology, is a complete recipe for environmental disaster. The overconsumption of the Swiftie community is real, and the carbon footprint is high. How many Taylor Swift albums can (or should) a person really own? How much Swift can we (the planet) handle? It’s easy to say many (at least a good handful) of these collectibles will end up in landfills at some point. However, it is also worth mentioning that while sustainability is being lost to the well-earned frenzy, a sense of artistry is losing its way as well. A perfect album cover should encapsulate the energy and aesthetic of the songs all inside one photo. It should be the most accurate snapshot of the music, like you know what you’re about to listen to just by looking at the cover. If it takes an entire collection of photos to even try to capture the vibe, then what’s the point? More so, what’s the point in hurting the planet in the process? This idea has been most prevalent to me more recently as Swift has been releasing new vinyl variations for The Life of a Show Girl. From the standard orange and green to the “Shiny Bug” and “Tiny Bubbles in Champagne” editions, it feels as though Swift is trying to let the Swifites pick their own aesthetic for the era. This push for fans to make the album their own seems genuine, but at the same time, it feels like another play that will keep consumption at an all-time high and leave the environment in the trenches.

by Grace Pappadellis ’29 on October 2, 2025

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Opinion

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I’ve been on campus just about a month now, and it is evident that the words that mean something to me might mean nothing to someone else. I’m not referring to greatly important words—like having a kind conversation, respecting each others’ opinions, or sharing special details about oneself with friends. I am talking about words we use every day, common colloquialisms, nicknames, slang, and our own ideas of what certain words mean.

To toss out an example, a few evenings ago, my roommate, who is dear to me, stood in the laundry room doorway and spoke the words, “When my friends and I play billiards.” The chuckle I let out was not prompted by any sort of silliness, or never hearing the word before, I had just never heard someone use it in lieu of “pool,” never mind as if it was second nature to her.

Following this interaction, I also learned some people say “script” instead of “cursive” and others refer to the post office as a “package store.” “Rotary” or “roundabout?” How about “water bubbler” or “water fountain”? Although these variations in words aren’t remarkably important, I find it remarkably interesting that we can say all these different words, yet we are referring to the same things. 

Over the weekend, I was lucky enough to meet my close friend’s family for dinner in Providence. We shared pizza and pasta at a wonderful Italian restaurant, and started talking about Rhode Island jargon. I was pleasantly surprised when my friend’s father brought up the term “grinder” as a popular term for “sub” in Rhode Island. As Massachusetts people, we discussed that we’ve heard “grinder” plenty of times in our neck of the woods—oftentimes more than “sub.” In fact, I have fond memories of my parents ordering meatball grinders from our local Italian restaurant or sharing grinders with my elementary school soccer team. 

We use words all the time, unaware of their meaning in other places, or if they mean the same thing at all. We eat certain styles of food, oblivious to their true significance. Here in Rhode Island, calamari is topped with hot peppers, clam chowder has clear broth, and pizza has no cheese! You may have never known that these styles of beloved food items came from Rhode Island, similar to “carriage” referring to a grocery cart, and “cabinet” meaning a milkshake. 

Going to college in itself is a privilege, as well as going to a new place or exploring a city much different from your own. Before college, I’d been to Providence numerous times, and aside from my home state of Massachusetts, Rhode Island was my most-visited state. However, as a younger, less culturally adept person, I never picked up on vocabulary differences, varying phrases, and subtle accents. Looking back, it feels as though I was unmindful of the way people talked, or at least less observant, to a fault. It is so cool to notice these things. Even small things. It makes for not only an enjoyable, satisfying experience, but an authentic one, too.

by Rachel Barter ’27 on October 2, 2025

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Opinion

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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.

by Courtney Wight ’26 on September 25, 2025

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Opinion

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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.

by Olivia Gleason '26 on September 25, 2025

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Editor's Column

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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.

by Grace Pappadellis ’29 on September 25, 2025

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Opinion

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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.