by Ian Gualtiere ’27 on March 19, 2026

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Portfolio - Poetry

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There’s a growing cloud on the other side.
It rumbles across the fence posts and barns.
Bursts of light will come down on animal hide
running away from drops, away from alarm.
For now, let’s sit and wait for daylight dark,
whistle with the winds as they blow the sheets
across the yard, where chasing dogs bark
in an oncoming storm molded by summer heat.
Chimes pick up, green trees breeze to white.
Our porch starts to creak with the new traffic
of footsteps, lamenting lost yellow kites.
Pattering rain reaps the dirt, tilling horrific
streaks of mud across the driveway.
Table lights flick on with giddy cheers,
awaiting the bleak end in a wooden hideaway.
Waiting for thunder to roll with joyful tears.

by Ian Gualtiere ’27 on February 27, 2026

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Portfolio - Poetry

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The silence that seeps into my mind
keeps me staring, looking up into the night.
Snow lands evenly, knowing it will be kind
to the passers. Treading their steps so light.
Out here, only lampposts break the walk
across the land. Disturb the sleeping world
when harsh beams break. No animal stalks 
small their prey, icy pack, with feet unfurled.
Colder the air, warmer the thoughts that 
treat me. Dreaming of mountains draped 
across my view, God’s ordained matte;
dripping colors, dotting lines in landscape.
To where I am going, I know not where 
I journey. Into the dark, I am off the path 
which lights my way. Eyes out there 
protect me, saving me from their wrath.
Deeper into the frost, no voice can carry
what I see. Winds thrash, tug my bones
from their warm hidings. The longer I tarry,
the farther I get. Time has come to roam.

by Andrew Auclair ’29 on February 27, 2026

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Portfolio - Poetry

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Within the white and wintry snow,
I tread along the shrouded path.
My destination is unknown,
but I hope it leads to you.
Each step I take a quarried mark
as I wage through the towered banks,
my leather boots leave a fine art—
just to be filled anew.
When it’s your turn to trek the storm,
with luck you’ll find my engraved gift.
look for the grounded snow I formed—
I pray you step there too.

by Sam Silva ’28 on February 27, 2026

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Opinion - Campus

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Many professors would call artificial intelligence usage a crisis in the classroom, and I do not disagree that AI is becoming an issue. Nonetheless, this raises the question; who is going to protect the students from being wrongfully accused of using AI? In the ongoing conversation of where AI belongs inside schools, is the use of AI detection programs adequate? Oftentimes, students who are good writers are accused of using AI when utilizing proper grammar or professional punctuation such as the Oxford comma.

While I have never been accused of using AI, many people I know have. My sister, for one, who is the best writer I know, has. For some context, when I need someone to peer edit my essay, help me word a sentence, or group my thoughts, I ask my sister. Last semester after submitting a writing assignment, she received a very poor grade from her professor, with one comment highlighting that she used AI. Immediately, she emailed the professor that she definitely did not use AI and could share the transcripts of her writing to prove it. He then professed that her writing was too “pedantic,” meaning too wordy or detailed, but he said he would raise the grade. He only raised it to an 80 percent, which in itself was not an accurate representation of her writing. So, the 80 she received was likely an unjustified poor grade on a well-written paper because a professor had an inclination. My sister is not the only person to have been wrongfully accused of using AI. Another friend of mine was accused of using AI for a final paper and the professor was so sure of it. When the student met with the professor and confessed their innocence, the professor wouldn’t hear it and kept the grade a 0 percent.

While I will acknowledge the difficulties that come with AI use, how can a professor just be allowed to accuse you of using AI, when so many studies show the inaccuracies of AI detection tools? A study published by Advances in Simulation investigated the ability of humans and AI detection tools to accurately detect AI. They used three different detection tools (GPTZero, Grammarly, Phrasly AI) as well as humans to differentiate between a few different levels of AI usage and human-written work. They found that human detection of AI is indistinguishable from just guessing if it is AI-generated. While the AI detectors were more reliable, they still heavily ranged in accuracy from 57 percent to 95 percent. The conclusion of this study found that while these detectors can be helpful in potentially determining AI use, they should not be relied upon. 

Here is the problem with AI detection: it has a much more significant bias towards great writers and people whose first language is not English. Detectors look for small grammar mistakes, predictability and structure of the writing, as well as natural human tone and style. Yet, in the case of academic writing, a great writer does not make mistakes, the tone of their writing would be less human and “conversational.” Instead, it would be formal and effectively polished, it would most likely sound impersonal. Furthermore, someone whose first language is not English would be targeted by AI detection. The detector looks for predictability and often non-native writers will use shorter sentences or simpler grammar, which is identified with AI-generated writing. AI is trained from native English speakers, it understands how they write and it copies that. So, when a non-native English speaker writes, it is detected as AI-generated because it has not been trained to understand the grammar and structure of those writers.

Students should be protected from the accusations that too often get thrown around. The damage from being wrongfully accused of AI is detrimental for a student’s academic career and more importantly their mental well-being. And until AI detection makes leaps and bounds of progress in accuracy, it should not be used for judgment.

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 Grace Batsie ’28 on February 27, 2026

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Portfolio - Poetry

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All Toyota Camrys are driven by teenage girls.
Girls, who can give you the definition of love by citing their best friend.
The friendship that makes them consider that soulmates are not necessarily always romantic.

These girls worship pop music played on the car’s crackly stereo system, and corner store snacks,
The same way that devout religious figures worship God.

They carry lip gloss and felt tip pens,
But forget to bring their wallets places.

These drivers feel their feelings so deeply.
Their tears melt into the fabric of the seats the same way salt off their fries does.

They can see heaven in their side mirrors.
And the meaning of it all in their glove compartment.

by Greg Lahr ’26 on February 27, 2026

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Sports Shorts

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Women’s Ice Hockey:
The women’s ice hockey team had a solid weekend, going 2–0. On Friday night, Feb. 13, the team defeated rival Boston College 2–1 in overtime at Chestnut Hill. Goaltender Hope Walinski ’26G recorded 35 saves while allowing only one goal against. Sami Snyder ’29 scored in regulation, while Reichen Kirchmair ’26 had the game winner in overtime. On Saturday night, Feb. 14, the Friars returned to Schneider Arena to take on the ranked College of the Holy Cross. Walinski had 23 saves in the victory and only allowed two goals. Jessie Pellerin ’28 had two goals in the game, including the game winner, and Kirchmair contributed with a goal as well. The Friars improved to 11–21–2 overall and 8–14–2 in Hockey East play.

Men’s Ice Hockey:
The Friars men’s ice hockey team split the series against Northeastern University this weekend, going 1–1. Looking to extend their winning streak to double digits, the Friars fell 4–2 to the Huskies on Friday night, Feb. 13. Netminder Jack Parsons ’29 recorded seven saves with three goals against, while John Mustard ’28 and Roger McQueen ’29 had the pair of goals for the Friars. Trying to rebound on Saturday night, Feb. 14, the team picked up a 4–1 win. Goaltender Michael Simpson ’29 secured the win with 17 saves and one goal against. Jonathan Fauchon ’29, Donovan McCoy ’29, Tanner Adams ’27, and Will Elger ’28 each had a goal. They are now 21–8–2 overall on the season and 16–4–1 in Hockey East play. The Friars remain in first place in the conference with a nine-point lead over Boston College.

Men’s Lacrosse:
The men’s lacrosse team fell to No. 12 Harvard University this weekend, 10–4, on Saturday, Feb. 13, in Cambridge, MA. Matt Lazzaro ’27 had two goals in the game, while Rhett Chambers ’27 and Richie Joseph ’26 each contributed with a goal of their own. Harvard forced 19 turnovers while also outshooting the Friars 35–23. Goalie Cam Sterritt ’28 had nine saves. The Friars are now 2–2 on the season and return to Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 12 p.m. against Brown University.

Men’s Basketball:
Men’s basketball lost both games this week. On Feb. 11, the team traveled to Seton Hall University to take on the Pirates. Despite Jaylin Sellers ’26G scoring 23 points and Stefan Vaaks ’29 adding another 20 points, the Friars were defeated 87–80. On Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, they took on former Friar Bryce Hopkins and St. John’s at the AMP. Again, after a scuffle and a few ejections, the team was defeated 79–69. With another loss, they now fall to 12–15 overall on the season and 5–11 in Big East play. They are tied with Marquette University for last in the Big East conference.

by Chris Sama ’27 on February 12, 2026

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Athlete of the Week

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The athlete of the week is Jason Edwards ’G26, who made his return against DePaul University on Saturday, Feb. 8. The Friars desperately needed a true point guard to run the offense and struggled without Edwards’ presence. It was unclear whether he would return at all for the rest of the Friars’ season, but fortunately, he is back and playing extremely well. He scored 25 points on efficient shooting, going five for eight from three and eight for13 from the field overall. He also had two assists and four rebounds, which is especially impressive considering his role as a guard.

On the season, Edwards is averaging 17.6 points, three rebounds and 3.2 assists on 43.9 field goal percentage, showing his efficiency. He has an extremely quick release that, despite his size,  allows him to get shots up from anywhere, even with defenders closing him out. He is also extremely quick and drives to the basket well. The Friars need him if they want any chance at winning the Big East Tournament, let alone making it to March Madness, as he is their only true point guard. Before joining the Friars in the Big East, Edwards played at Vanderbilt University, where he averaged 17.0 points, 1.3 assists, and two rebounds. He made the All-SEC Third team and scored in double figures in 29 of 31 games. He has shown significant improvement in his passing game from his time at North Texas University to Providence College, going from a 1.4 assist average to 3.2.

Without Edwards’ impact, PCwas playing noticeably worse; it felt like something was missing. While the Friars have a great back court consisting of talented players like Stefan Vaaks ’29, Jaylin Sellers ’26G, and Jamier Jones ’29, none of them fit the point guard role; they function better as shooting guards or small forwards. It’s clear from the games where he was present that Edwards was recruited by coach Kim English to run the offense and be a leader on the court.

by Sarah Wolff ’28 and Dorothée Durivage ’28 on February 12, 2026

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Sports

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Kawhi Leonard

There were more than just a few snubs in the initial 2026 National Basketball Association All-Star Game roster. However, Kawhi Leonard’s absence was one that gained the most attention, so much so that he was later added to the roster as a corrective measure for the new format. I do recognize this reform, as
key players like James Harden have been left completely off the list. Still, to not include a player
like Leonard in the initial voting process was absurd. He has had arguably the best statistical season
of his career, and for coaches to find that other Western Conference players were better equipped
for the challenge felt unfair. This was a decision that many basketball fans, analysts, and even 
Los Angeles Clippers’ head coach Tyronn Lue have called out. As the first half of the 2025–2026 season comes to a close, Leonard has undoubtedly proved himself. He is currently averaging a career-high 28 points per game (No. 7 in the NBA), with 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.1 steals (No. 2 in the NBA). These numbers are tangible evidence that not only make him one of the best league performers, but also place him on par with, or even better than, the players who were initially selected. There were two key points that critics of the voting highlighted. First, amidst all the players not initially selected for the game, Leonard’s scoring average was the highest. It’s the first time in NBA history that someone with his averages has not been selected for the team. Second, despite being out a few games due to injury, Leonard was actually on the court more than several selected All-Stars. For example, Damian Lillard is participating in the 3-point contest, although he hasn’t played a minute this season. Among all NBA fan communities, Leonard was no doubt one of the most deserving All-Stars, disregarding any sort of fame narrative. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue publicly expressed his dismay about this decision, saying, “But Kawhi, I think, to me, the last six weeks has been the best player in the NBA. Like you said, 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three, and 90 percent from the free throw line, averaging 28 points per game, and what he’s done to bring his team out of the hole. We started 6–21 and to be where we’re at today, it was just tough to see.” Lue’s attitude was shared by many fans and commentators, many of whom felt that Leonard’s greatness was overlooked to secure legacy picks such as LeBron James. As I mentioned, Leonard was not initially selected through the traditional voting process, but was later added to the All-Star player pool by Adam Silver, commissioner of the NBA commissioner.. So what does this mean? Does a player performing at an All-Star level not get the chance to be recognized until the league steps in? Leonard was an obvious pick for the 2026 All-Star game, and his snub is the blueprint example of how reputation and relationships may matter just as much as performance in the league.
– Sarah Wolff ’28
Sports Staff

Michael Porter, Jr.

Brooklyn Nets player Michael Porter, Jr. was snubbed from a spot on this year’s National Basketball Association All-Star Team. 27-year-old Porter is having his best personal season to date, which led many to think that he might be deserving of his first spot on the All-Star roster this year. However, no Nets players were selected to be a part of this year’s team, which is surprising considering the Eastern Conference votes. Porter was ranked No. 9 in fan votes and No. 10 by both players and the media. Ultimately, NBA coaches also decided not to name Porter as a reserve, which may be the most shocking choice of all considering his season so far. Porter is leading the team in terms of points, averaging 25 per game. After starting 48 games this season, he has started the most out of any player on the Nets. This season, Porter has also been averaging 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three-point range. His best month of the season was in December when he averaged 28.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Sadly, Porter’s performance since then has not been as stellar. Since the new year, he is down to averaging 23.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, which could not have helped his chances of making it to the All-Star game. After hearing that he did not make the roster, Porter, who has been a very important player in the Nets’ rebuild this season, said, “I thought I had a chance, for sure. But I knew it was out of my control. I know the record probably plays a part in it, even though there’s guys that are in there that don’t have the most amazing record.”. His reaction shows that he was a deserving athlete for this year’s All-Star game, making his absence even more surprising. 
– Dorothée Durivage ’28
Sports Staff

by Andrew Vines ’29 on February 12, 2026

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Sports Shorts

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Men’s Basketball 
The men’s basketball team hosted two Big East opponents this week: Butler University and DePaul University. On Wednesday night, Feb. 4, the Friars hosted Butler in a close game. Butler’s Finley Bizjack sent the game to overtime with two missed free throws. Nilavan Daniels ’28 hit a big three that helped push the game to double overtime, where the Friars ultimately pulled away to win 97–87. Jaylin Sellers ’26G led the way with 36 points. Jason Edwards ’26G made his return Saturday, Feb. 7, against DePaul and led all scorers with 25 points. The Friars controlled this game from start to finish, winning 90–72. The next home game is a 1:00 p.m. tip-off on Saturday, Feb. 14 against St. John’s University. 

Men’s Ice Hockey 
The men’s ice hockey team extended its winning streak to nine in a row this week. The weekend started off at the University of New Hampshire on Friday, Feb. 6. The Friars went down one goal early, but responded with six unanswered goals. Will Elger ’28 led the way with two goals. Hudson Malinoski ’27, Aleksi Kivioja ’28, Tanner Adams ’27, and Logan Sawyer ’28 all scored one. The Friars returned to a home crowd Saturday night, Feb. 7, to take on the University of Vermont. The Friars once again won 6–1. Kivioja led the way with two goals, and Malinoski, Donovan McCoy ’29, John Mustard ’28, and Clint Levens ’27 all had one. The Friars are atop the Hockey East Conference by eight points. Northeastern University comes to town on Friday, Feb. 13, and Saturday, Feb. 14. 

Women’s Basketball 
The Friars played three games in the last week. They ended January with a 62–57 home loss to St. John’s University on Jan. 31. On Wednesday, Feb. 4, they traveled to Marquette University, where they suffered a 78–61 loss. On Sunday, Feb. 8, the Xavier University Musketeers came to Alumni Hall. After the first quarter, the score was 17–11, and the Friars didn’t look back from there. The Friars played a great game, outrebounding Xavier 42–28. Sabou Gueye ’G26 led the way with a career high of 29 points, going 13/23 from the field. She didn’t just control the game on the offensive side of the ball—defensively, she had five steals, leading the way to a Friar victory. 

Men’s Lacrosse 
Friday, Feb. 6, the men’s lacrosse team hosted in-state rival Bryant University on Chapey Field. At the end of the first quarter, the Friars were trailing 3–2, but by halftime the tides had turned, and the Friars were up 7–6. The Friars would ultimately advance to 2–0 with a 16–11 victory over the Bulldogs. Rhett Chambers ’27 and Richie Joseph ’26 both had four goals. Sam Brezell ’28 and Matt Lazzaro ’27 each had a hat trick. Chris Matia ’28 and Chris Jaskiewski ’28 rounded out the scoring, each adding a goal in the Friars win. The Friars next home game is Saturday, Feb. 21, against Brown University after an away game on Saturday, Feb.14, at Harvard University.