by Greg Lahr ’26 on January 29, 2026

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Sports - Men's Basketball

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The Providence College men’s basketball team suffered a tough loss to Marquette University on Monday, Jan. 19. Unfortunately, the team capped the week off with an even tougher loss to former Friar head coach Ed Cooley and Georgetown University on Saturday, Jan. 24, dropping to 9–11 for the season.

On Jan. 19, Providence led Marquette by three with four seconds left, up 94– 91. According to ESPN’s gamecast, they had a 95.3 percent chance of winning that game. They had the ball. Then, a turnover, foul on a three-point shot, and overtime, where the team lost. A common theme with this year’s PC men’s basketball team: they were unable to close out a tight game. The Friars ended up dropping a heartbreaker, adding another OT loss to their resume, 104 to 105.

Still, the team had a chance of keeping fans bought in for what is left of this season. They had a chance at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, against former head coach Cooley on his third trip back to Providence to face the Friars. PC versus Georgetown, which always draws a big crowd and generates angst among fans and students, did not yield the result most expected after the halftime score. 

The Providence Friars led 43–25 at halftime against their Big East rival, the Georgetown Hoyas. Again, it was a tale of two halves, according to head coach Kim English. There was 13:04 left in the second half, and guard Jaylin Sellers ’26G slammed a dunk to make it 59–39 Friars. Again, according to ESPN, the Friars had a 99.4 percent chance to win the game at that point. Yet, they lost, 81–78.

In a game where the Hoyas seemed more than disinterested, they came into Providence, overcame a 21-point deficit, and finally beat PC on their home court for the first time during the Cooley era. They scored 56 points in the second half, and the Friars had no answer. The Hoya’s lead guard, KJ Lewis, had a total of 26 points, 21 of which came in the second half to carry them to the win.

Again, this has been common with this year’s men’s basketball team. On Nov. 8 vs. Virginia Tech, the Friars were up two with five seconds left. They lost in overtime. On Jan.  7 vs. the University of Connecticut, the Friars were up 11 with 3:12 to play. They lost in overtime. On Jan.19 vs. Marquette University, the Friars were up four with one minute left. They lost in overtime. Now, on Saturday vs. Georgetown, the Friars led by 20 with 13:04 left, but they lost. They watched their 21-point lead dwindle rapidly with star Jamier Jones ’29 sitting on the bench for the majority of the second half. Closing out games has not been the team’s strong suit this year.

With an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament pretty much impossible now, the team will need to build momentum heading into the Big East Tournament. “Don’t count us out,” guard Sellers said after the game. One thing is for certain: this team has won at Madison Square Garden this year. If the Friars can string a few wins together, they can build that momentum needed to compete for a Big East Tournament championship at Madison Square Garden.

by Sarah Wolff ’28 and Andrew Vines ’29 on January 29, 2026

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Sports

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BC

As Providence College sports fans, we are spoiled with high-stakes rivalry games throughout the year. Whether it’s Big East basketball or nationally recognized hockey, Friars fans are rarely left without something to rally behind. Still, the question remains, is there enough energy for both sports? And which rivalry brings more excitement: the Boston College-Providence College hockey game or the Georgetown University-Providence College basketball game? Both draw major crowds and have long-standing traditions. Yet, when it comes to the pure atmosphere and investment in the sport itself, hosting BC in Schneider Arena remains unmatched.

There is no denying the significance of when Georgetown basketball, a Big East team with a nationally recognized name, comes to the Amica Mutual Pavilion. However, the excitement with this game in particular stems from Ed Cooley’s history at PC. His success with the program defined a whole wave of PC basketball, and his quick departure left his reputation here in the dust. So, for many fans, the Georgetown game is less about the game happening on the court and more about its storyline. The boos and chants are driven not by deeply rooted rivalry between programs but by school loyalty and memory. 

On the other hand, hockey thrives on a different kind of energy. While PC hockey does generate a similar sense of community, the crowd in Schneider is there to watch hockey. The  BC-Providence rivalry is more about regional pride than anything else. These are two very elite New England programs with years of shared history and a level of intensity and pressure that basketball rarely sees. The atmosphere at a PC hockey game is uniquely electric. As a sport, hockey is fast, physical, and has an unpredictable pace that keeps viewers fully engaged, because they could miss something game-changing in a second. If you combine that with a competition against a nationally prominent team like BC, attention will reach far beyond campus, and the energy runs purely through the game.
– Sarah Wolff ’28 
Sports Staff

Georgetown

 The Providence College versus Georgetown University men’s basketball rivalry heated up in March of 2023 following the departure of former Providence Head Coach Ed Cooley. After 12 years at the helm of the Friars and following a Sweet 16 run, Cooley decided to leave PC to take the head coaching job at a fellow Big East school: Georgetown. 

This departure greatly upset Friars fans, asCooley’s focus during the NCAA Tournament run seemed to shift from his team to his next job. With Cooley leaving for a fellow Big East school, he would face Providence twice a year and make an annual trip back to the community he betrayed.  

Cooley made his first return to Providence on Jan. 27, 2024. A betrayed fanbase welcomed him with loud boos. Students waited for hours to get into the game and let Cooley hear it. The environment was one of the best in the sport. Combining one of the top fanbases with the pure hatred they had for Cooley led to an inevitable showdown. In his first return to Providence, Cooley and the Hoyas suffered an 84–76 defeat. Devin Carter ’24 led the way with 29 points.  

Cooley returned in 2025 and was greeted by another restless crowd, and once again suffered a loss with a final score of 78–68. This year, on Jan. 24, Cooley and the Hoyas walked into a packed Amica Mutual Pavilion. With a full crowd, Cooley definitely heard the hate. Cooley walked out about 90 minutes before tipoff to boos, which then continued throughout the game. Cooley and the Hoyas emerged victorious after coming back from being down by 21 points, winning 81–78.  

Despite the loss, the fans still showed up and brought the noise to a game that featured two of the worst teams in the Big East. Both teams entered the game at 9–10. This matchup shows both the strength of the fan base and of the rivalry. 
– Andrew Vines ’29
Sports Staff

by Dorothée Durivage ’28 on January 29, 2026

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Sports

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This edition’s Providence College’s athlete of the week is Callan Fahey ’29, a member of the men’s golf team. The freshman from Wheaton, IL wrapped up his first fall season in October as the Friars’ golf team made its return for the first time since 2002. Although he was born in Massachusetts, Fahey attended Wheaton-Warrenville South High School in Illinois where he was awarded DuKane All-Conference all four years. During his high school career, his team was the conference champion in 2023 and 2024, when they finished fourth in the Illinois state competition. Individually, Fahey set records for most conference points earned and scoring average in a season and was named DuKane Conference Player of the Year his senior year. In 2025, he advanced to the U.S. Open final qualifying stage and qualified for the Junior Worlds Championship at Torrey Pines. In his personal life, Fahey is a fan of everything about New England sports. He has previously stated that he is deaf in both ears and has worn cochlear implants his entire life. Having lived with his disability, he has learned advocacy and communication skills that have been useful in furthering his career in both golf and business.

Since Fahey’s debut on the PC men’s golf team, he has appeared in all five events the Friars attended this fall season. His best finish was at the Sacred Heart Fall Classic where he played three rounds and finished No. 10 with a score of 221, five over par. This was the team’s best individual finish of the event and one of three top 25 finishes for Fahey. He shot a career-best four over par at the Bash In The Boro at Georgia Southern Golf Course where the team finished No. 5, their best for the fall season. Fahey’s scoring average this fall was 73.5 which was the best on the team, showing his skill and value. For their first season back in over 20 years, the Friars placed No. 10 or better in the five events they participated in and are to play in six more events as the spring season unfolds. The team’s return will take place next month, on Feb. 22, as the Friars travel to Puerto Rico for the Dorado Beach Collegiate hosted by the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

by Pippa Jones ‘28 on January 29, 2026

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Sports Shorts

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Men’s Basketball

On Saturday, Jan. 24, the men’s basketball team fell short to their Big East rival Georgetown University, 81–78. This game was a major upset as the Friars maintained a strong lead for the majority of the game. Recently, Stefan Vaaks ’29 was named Big East Freshman of the Week and Jamier Jones ’28 was named to the Big East Honor Roll. With a conference record of 2–7 and an overall record of 9–11, the top scorers this season are Vaaks, Jaylin Sellers ’26G, Ryan Mela ’28, and Oswin Erhunmwunse ’28. The team fell to UConn on Jan.27, losing 87–81.

Women’s Ice Hockey

On Friday, Jan. 23 and Saturday, Jan. 24, the Providence College women’s ice hockey team faced the College of the Holy Cross for a double-header matchup where the Friars lost both games. Their record for the season is 7–17–2, with their top scorers being Reichen Kirchmair ’26 and Jessie Pellerin ’28, both with nine goals. On Friday, Jan. 30, the Friars will play the University of Vermont away. Three former PC women’s ice hockey players were just selected to play in the 2026 Winter Olympics for their respective national teams: Sandra Abstreiter ’23 will play for Germany, Noemi Neubauerová ’23 for Czechia, and Sara Hjalmarsson ’23 for Sweden. Abstreiter will make her first Olympic appearance for Germany, while this will be Neubauerová’s second appearance for Czechia and Hjalmarsson’s third Olympic appearance for Sweden.

Men’s Lacrosse

Leading up to the Providence College’s men’s lacrosse spring season, the Big East released awards naming attack player Richie Joseph ’26 as the Pre-Season Offensive Player of the Year and both Joseph and attack player Rhett Chambers ’27 to the preseason All-Big East team. On Saturday, Jan. 31, the team plays the Holy Cross Crusaders away in Worcester. The first home game is on Saturday, Feb. 7 at Chapey Field against the Bryant University Bulldogs. Last season’s top scorers were Jack Horrigan ’26 with 43 goals, followed by Joseph with 37 goals.

Women’s Basketball

On Tuesday, Jan. 27, Providence College’s women’s basketball team faced their rival Villanova, losing 83–68. Earlier in the season, the Friars fell short to Villanova in a 85–55 loss. In that game, Payton Dunbar ’28 recorded 13 points for the Friars. The team’s top scorers are Dunbar, Sabou Gueye ’26G, and Teneisia Brown ’26G. Gueye was named to the Big East weekly Honor Roll for the fifth time on Jan. 19. In the conference, the team has 958 points and is ranked No. 8 in the Big East with an overall record of 10–11. The team averages 59.2 points per game.

by Isabelle Camoin ’26 on January 22, 2026

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News

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Before winter break, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Providence College’s Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Thomas Smith. I had written about our school’s previous Provost last spring before Smith’s official arrival. Meeting in person was much more exciting and getting to know the Provost led me to feel our Office of Academic Affairs is in good hands. Smith humbly introduced himself to me first as a political theory professor and joyfully described that he is lucky to be the Provost of the College. 

The Provost, for those who are unfamiliar, is the Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer. The Provost meets with the President’s Cabinet about curriculum and academic quality, ensuring they are worthy of the students and that the faculty are flourishing. 

Smith has an extensive background in academia, particularly in Catholic education and  higher education. After receiving his bachelor’s degree at Georgetown University, he also earned a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame. Smith worked at Villanova University for 27 years, where he helped found their Catholic Studies program. Beginning in 2020, Smith served as the Dean at Catholic University for five years. Overall, he has been working in higher education for 35 years. He described his work as a vocational career dedicated to young people flourishing, in both education and in their private lives. 

For Smith, education is as John Henry Newman puts it: “Mind meeting mind, heart meeting heart.” To begin his introduction to Providence College, Smith embarked on what he noted as a listening tour—listening in on and engaging with about 80–90 faculty members of the school. He found that the faculty here at PC “have a deep abiding affection for their students.” Meeting with Smith, it is clear that he cares about his work and the people he works with. Smith explained that he was inspired by a teaching workshop he attended where a beloved mentor shared a 30-second guide to what is most important in education. He began to choke up when sharing the words he most remembered, “Teach what you love, in a place you love, to people you love.” 

Smith met his wife during his time in undergrad at Georgetown. They fell in love and attended Notre Dame together. She works in psychology. Both have many publications in their field. If you walk into Smith’s office, you will find photos of his wife and his family, a testament to his care and affection for those who he cherishes. Smith and his wife have three children, one girl and two boys. 

In his free time, Smith loves to read biographies, historical fiction, and political theory. He also loves to travel, cook, and “even though you probably couldn’t tell,” workout. He also enjoys fixing things through construction and engaging in electrical manual labor. He noted that his father-in-law kindly showed him basic car repair after getting married, and that kind of work developed from there. 

Moving from Washington, D.C., Smith still noted that Providence has lots of great restaurants and great art and that he has been warming up to the city. 

Smith wanted to leave students with something he claims to always share, “If looking for yourself, find something to devote yourself to and to love, and the paradox is you will find yourself.”

by Sophia Caneira ’29 on January 22, 2026

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A&E - Film & TV

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Just last week, Marvel and the Russo Brothers released a new trailer for
Avengers: Doomsday, coming to theaters this December. The trailer featured the brief
appearances of three iconic characters from the X-Men franchise: Professor X (played
by Sir Patrick Stuart), Magneto (played by Sir Ian McKellen), and Cyclops (played by
James Marsden). The upcoming film has received a lot of attention as several
announcements were released about the host of classic characters set to appear in it.
Theories about the characters and plot are circulating on social media, with some going
as far as to predict the film’s ending based on the stylized lettering of the movie’s title.

The X-Men franchise, particularly the films from the new timeline—X-Men: First
Class (2011), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), and Dark
Phoenix (2019)—are very close to my heart. While I do look forward to seeing fan-
favorite characters back on-screen, I fear my hopes for the film’s success may be too
high. I worry this new film will ruin a perfectly good series. It’s no secret that Marvel films
have been less successful and far less popular since the release of Avengers:
Endgame in 2019. Of the subsequent films, I’ve only seen a handful, but for the most
part, I was more than disappointed by what I saw. Thunderbolts* (2025) restored some
of my hope for Marvel’s future, but there is a caveat when it comes to Avengers:
Doomsday: I honestly lose interest when Marvel decides to merge the paths of separate
teams like the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men. Don’t get me wrong, I love
each of these franchises individually, but in my mind, they always existed on separate
planes within the Marvel Universe. There was a sense of magic that came along with
the fact that the Avengers and the X-Men were two completely different stories that both featured scenes in two different New York Cities.

Moreover, this isn’t the first time Marvel is experimenting with introducing the X-Men to other franchises. I wasn’t impressed by the way Professor X was already incorporated into the Doctor Strange franchise in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) was somewhat entertaining, but I lost interest when it came to the breaking timelines plot.

With a few exceptions, I feel like many films and spin-off shows nowadays
receive a lot of promotion, but leave you disappointed when the screen goes dark.
Some of this, I think, is due to lazy writing and a money-grab mindset. This is true within
other big franchises, like the Star Wars universe. The trilogy referred to as the sequels
proved to me that some movie franchises are better left alone. Christopher Nolan’s Dark
Knight trilogy is a fantastic exception to this phenomenon. Nolan gave us a neat set of
three films and never took advantage of their enormous success by making a spin-off or
a sequel. The trilogy comes to an ideal, satisfying ending, and needs no further
expansion. Of course, there are always exceptions—Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
(2016) is a beautiful piece of cinema. I also found the TV series The Mandalorian highly
enjoyable. It’s obvious when you watch these movies that the filmmakers in charge of
them cared deeply about their projects. Director Dave Filoni worked on both of the
projects I mentioned, and he has spoken about his heartfelt love for the Star Wars
saga—not just as a filmmaker, but as a fan first and foremost. His passion for Star Wars
is evident in his storytelling, with which he tries to honor the spirit of the original films.

With a mass of mediocre films piling up, dare I ask when Marvel will stop making
movies? Or at least, when will they stop adding onto preexisting franchises and explore
a unique vein? I suppose it’s a rhetorical question. As long as fans continue to visit the
theaters (only to leave somewhat disappointed), Marvel movies will endure—especially
when there is so much fanfare surrounding the release of a film like Avengers:
Doomsday, with the countless announcements of beloved characters returning in the
latest installment. Online, fans are joking that characters like Yoda, Lightning McQueen,
and Kermit the Frog will also be joining the cast. I had to laugh when I saw a user
comment, “I will return in Avengers: Doomsday.”

I hope that the filmmakers in charge of this task are people who truly love the
Marvel stories. I say this even as I fight back my own excitement in seeing the new
trailer. It’s hard to resist when you see Professor X and Magneto playing yet another
game of chess and Cyclops shooting laser beams into the sky.

by Anonymous on January 22, 2026

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Portfolio - Prose

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He likes his coffee with milk and two sugars, his eggs scrambled, his toast burnt, and his barstool—the third one from the end of the counter. At least, he likes to think it’s his barstool. He’s been sitting there since he was a young boy, when his legs used to dangle underneath him like vines and a cheeseburger only cost 50 cents. He had a gap-toothed smile then, and a face full of freckles that have since metastasized into the age spots on the backs of his hands. 

Time has stood still here, bolted to the ground like the base of the stool that he sits on. The frames fixed on the walls hold portraits of old beauty queens and faded snapshots of old hometown landmarks that were torn down years ago. Through it all, this room, with its chrome finishes, vinyl booths, and squeaking barstools has held down the fort, a last veteran among the rubble of the good old days. Back then, suited businessmen sat shoulder to shoulder in squadrons at the counter before catching the next train to the city. The trains barely run here anymore; he often feels like he sits at the last stop at the end of the universe. 

 A few years ago they tore off the old taupe wallpaper that sparkled under the haze of its own grime, memories smeared into its stripes by grubby-handed children covered in grease and ketchup. The new tile is teal and shiny and far too garish for so small a space. Worse, it is easily cleaned and he knows its slick, cool surface will not be able to grab memories by the hand the way the wallpaper could. 

He orders his food and wishes that the walls could still talk and his legs could still dangle off the edge of his stool. His coffee is burnt and he knows his toast won’t be, so he sits at the end of the world and waits for nothing to change.

by Clara Johnson ’26 on January 22, 2026

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Portfolio - Prose

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A Fragment of a Memory

I must have been a little thing to be so tangled in my mom’s arms. I must have been so small.
It is night. We rock back and forth in the blue rocking chair in the corner of the dark room. Shadowed branches scratch the windows and thunder gurgles, though no rain falls, not yet.
Scritch…Scratch…Rumble
It is night, and the thunder cracks this time, and the branches slam a little harder on the window. I feel the rumble in my throat and my stomach. I let out a little yelp, and my hands clench against the yellow plastic sippy cup.
It is night. It is stormy, but she feels like golden afternoon. She pulls me closer to her. She smells like old books and cinnamon tea. She smells like hot chocolate in my yellow plastic sippy cup. I must have been so small to be tangled in her ringlets.
It is night, and she does not sing. She does not sing except for one song every night. A single, listless note, high and sweet to drown out the storm
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
Mama, what happened?

My Old Oak Tree

Weathered and tethered we return to the fields in the woods behind my parents’ house where once my bare feet squelched on soggy earth.
Where once there was a gateway to a deciduous world abounding in the hazy ecstasy of wonder which twisted through the stalwart poplars. That haze which entangled with the wildflowers at their base. Where once fairies wound flowers through my hair and daylight danced and flecked over the woods. Where once, we were warriors and mermaids and mages.
Where once, the oak tree stood.
But now we return, my sister and I, taller and with backs more rigid.
The wind whispers through the wooden squadron and softens their fragility into gentleness like mother’s arms, swaying and waving and staying. Like mother’s arms wrapped around you in the old blue rocking chair, smelling like cinnamon and paper. The wind like mother’s voice,
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
Early in the morning, when the sun is still peaking and glancing, the dawn creaks, and the old mingles with the dawning new. The crickets croak on, and night owls still croon, and the moon holds steady above. But the sun haloes the horizon, and the morning doves chirp too, and mingle with the night sounds.
Everything is cast in gold or maybe silver, cast in the surreal light of almost.
So we return, my sister and I, to collect wildflowers from the fields in the woods behind our house.
Behind our old house.
We sink our feet into the earth like yesterday and tread over leaves dried and fallen, their crunch softened to a rustle by the fall of early spring rains. It smells like rain too, like rain on the earth. What is that smell? Someone told me once it’s bacteria in the soil that the rain coaxes or wrenches into the air, but someone else told me it’s the blood of god defused—how different are those things anyway? Wildflowers peak through the rotting leaves, which smell like bacteria or maybe god. They press on, undaunted by the decay, the winsome smell of almost. We will put the wildflowers in glass bottles of my favorite peach tea and press them in thin pages of my mother’s Bible to capture them, in the moment between.
How long can we stay here between, before the sun crests and the wildflowers die?
How long can we stay here…before we have to move?
How long do you think?
How long?

by Rachel Barter ’27 on January 22, 2026

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Opinion - Campus

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For student drivers with sedans and other smaller vehicles, the student parking lots are a pothole nightmare. When I drive through student parking areas such as the Cunningham/Mal Brown Lot or the Schneider Lot, it has become increasingly bumpy, to say the least. Although I am from Maine and have driven through many dirt roads with extreme potholes, I have never driven through such an urban, highly trafficked parking lot that has had such a major issue with potholes. I acknowledge that these potholes have been exacerbated by the snow, rain, and plowing, but I have noticed this since the beginning of the fall 2025 semester, expecting them to be filled in; they were not. 

With inclement weather on its way, I think it would be wise for the school to at least lightly fill in the potholes to prevent the parking lots from becoming more dangerous. As potholes fill with ice and snow, they leave cars at risk of sliding into other vehicles given the limited space in parking lots. Additionally, some students are not familiar with driving in snow or navigating a parking lot covered in ice-filled potholes. This makes me wonder: what has to happen before the college decides to fill the mass of potholes on this campus? 

Considering that every student who has a parking pass pays either $400 for the year or $200 for the semester, I would think that we would not have to risk damage to our vehicles, and the college could fill in the potholes more than once a year to prevent them from ever reaching their current state. Therefore, given the amount that we pay, I would expect better parking and not for the student-designated parking lots to be poorly maintained in comparison to all of the other pristine lots on campus.

by Olivia Gleason '26 on January 22, 2026

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Opinion

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Welcome back to The Cowl and to the spring semester! After a restful break, the return to college is often thought of as a return to normalcy. Oftentimes, though, this return can feel incredibly unfamiliar and disjointed: new classes, new daily routines, and even new living situations for some are all a part of this transition back to school. As a senior now entering my fourth spring semester, I have felt the stress and discomfort associated with this so-called return to normalcy every year, even with the genuine excitement I always feel coming back to academics and time with friends. As this is the last time I am coming back for the spring semester, I hope that I can alleviate some of this stress for others, even if on a small scale.

Getting into a new routine at the start of the semester can be incredibly daunting. In many ways, it feels as if we spent an entire semester getting used to our schedules, becoming comfortable with our day to day life, just for the familiarity to be upended. Particularly as a freshman, I remember how rattling this was. Suddenly I found myself having to navigate an entirely new set of courses, in new academic buildings, with new classmates I barely knew. Even as a senior, this transition can feel like freshman orientation at times. 

What I’ve learned over the years, however, is that this change can actually be a source of excitement. Once I taught myself to lean into the discomfort, to embrace the change that was inevitable before me, I found myself viewing the uncertainties that come with the new semester as fresh opportunities for growth and new experiences. Instead of dreading the growing pains that come with entering a new classroom for the first time and getting to know new classmates, I shifted my mindset to see this as a chance to meet new people. Instead of feeling intense anxiety about the thought of having to start over with classes, I decided to view it as an opportunity to exercise skills I have gained so far while learning something new. As simple as these things sound, they have been monumental for me in adjusting to a new semester. 

This is not to say that this mindset shift eliminates all struggles associated with a new semester. The transition can still be hard, and it is important to give yourself grace as you lean into the adjustment. Maybe you’re feeling homesick, maybe you’re uneasy about a course you have to take, or maybe you’re just feeling scatterbrained from all of the changes you are experiencing. Whatever your emotions may be, remember that it is more than likely that most people on campus are experiencing something very similar. So as we enter the spring semester, open yourself up to lean on others, embrace discomfort, and get excited to learn and meet new people—speaking from experience, I promise this will make a difference in your life here at PC.