by Chris Sama ’27 on December 11, 2025

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Men's Basketball

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With Big East conference play starting soon, fans are eager to see where each team stands
before they face off. Here is a summary of the five Big East teams with the highest records going into conference matchups:

Seton Hall University: Seton Hall has a 9–1 overall record right now, only losing to the University of Southern California by two in the Southwest Maui Invitational Semifinals. Although they have had a relatively weak schedule thus far, they had an impressive win over No. 23 North Carolina State University. Point guard A.J. Staton-McCray is their best player, averaging 13.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and two steals on 44.7 field-goal percentage and 39.6 three-point percentage.

University of Connecticut: UConn has an 8–1 overall record with its only loss being to No. 4 University of Arizona by four points. They have had a strong schedule, beating opponents such as No.7  Brigham Young University, No. 13 University of Illinois, and No. 21 the University of Kansas. They have strong depth and many star players, most notably point guard Solo Ball, center Tarris Reed Jr., returning senior forward Alex Karaban, and freshman star Braylon Mullins.

Villanova University: Villanova has a 7–1 overall record, only losing to No. 7 Brigham Young University by five. They have had a relatively weak schedule, but have won most of their games by 20 or more points. Their star player is Bryce Lindsay, who is currently averaging 18.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists on 51.1 field-goal percentage and 49.1 three-point percentage.

Butler University: Butler has a 7–2 record overall, losing to Southern Methodist University by two and Boise State University by nine. They have had a relatively weak schedule, but have had notable wins against tough opponents such as the University of South Carolina and the University of Virginia. Their best players are guard Finley Bizjack, averaging 18 points, three assists, and a steal on 49.5 field-goal percentage and 41.9 three-point percentage, as well as forward Michael Ajayi, averaging 16.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists on 48.1 field-goal percentage.

Xavier University: Xavier currently has a 7–3 record, losing to the University of Georgia, the University of Iowa, and Santa Clara University. They have had a decently strong schedule so far, and have solid depth among their roster. Forward Tre Carroll is their star player, averaging 17.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists on 48.6 field-goal percentage and 37.5 three-point percentage. Point guard Roddie Anderson III is averaging 13.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on 38.1 field-goal percentage and 34.6 three-point percentage.

by Riley Londraville ’27 on December 11, 2025

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Portfolio - Poetry

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The cafe’s website read: Bring in a nonperishable food or a personal care item, we’ll cover half
your tab, and we’ll match your donation, item for item.

A chance she couldn’t pass up. The girl notices a stain on the cement outside the cafe and
wonders where it came from. It could be red wine or something more sinister. Inside, she takes
note of the pin on the jacket of the man who stands in front of her. Make America Great Again.

She wonders when it was so great.

Yesterday, she had watched footage from 1963 in Birmingham, AL. The Children’s Crusade. Torn skin and flesh flushed. Pressure piercing through fire hoses. Justice too long delayed is justice denied.

And later, she saw a video filmed by shaky hands. Skin is still torn on pavement today. Rusted
stains leaving people wondering: Is it red wine or something more sinister?

“Ma! Ma!” the boy cried out, trying to stabilize the camera. Useless evidence without due
process. He sounds young, although the youth in his voice could be his primal fear taking over, deprivation of nurture on the line as his mother’s face scrapes across cement and crimson fills the cracks. Pebbles stab in her skin and her mouth and her palms.

“I have papers,” she says to nobody. The ICE agent readjusts his mask. It almost slipped while he was just doing his job. Making America Great Again.

In line, the girl holds a can of chicken breast that her grandma had sent her to college with.

“You’ll need it,” her grandma said, but the girl didn’t believe she would open the can. They were both right. This was the last day of the promotion. A nine dollar coffee becomes $4.50, and a family without their regular SNAP benefits can have some canned chicken breast. What she refused to eat is another’s fortune. Justice too long delayed is justice denied.

At the counter, she asks the barista for a latte

“Hot or iced?”

Anything but ice.

Make America Great Again.

The barista tells her she can drop her can in the box up front with the rest. Aluminum spills out of cardboard, but she had hoped for more. It’s been eight days without money loaded onto EBT cards, and the president threw a party. Jewels drip from skin in giant glasses. Flappers strutting by, their lavish headpieces held high. Feathers float to the floor as the billionaires grin and mothers can’t buy formula. The girl just learned that children make up 39 percent of all SNAP benefit recipients. Another Children’s Crusade. Justice too long delayed is justice denied.

The girl walks past the stained cement on her way out. She hopes it’s red wine, not something more sinister. She wonders if those billionaires would notice, if their expressions would even change. They’re too far gone, she decides. Drunk with greed, their stoned faces would stay cold as ice.

Make America Great Again.

by Grace Pappadellis ’29 on December 11, 2025

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Portfolio - Poetry

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Fitful night sleep,

flitting of birds,

they dance like tree ornaments in a cove of blonde light.

I watch from my window,

the streets are bleak and clean.

Will the snow fall as it did last year?

My lively breath has been rapid and full of anguish,

let me stare at the sky.

A glimpse of a star

created a blanket for my heart, a quilt of fabric, spun from moonlight,

the fairytales you read about,

threads of light, feathers, flakes of ice and snow.

Spun around, fast and blizzard-like,

the colors are tangible, clear, the material falls over me,

protective, sheeny, its magic cures me of my restlessness.

I can sleep with the intertwinement, the rays of the moon, all in one place.

I don’t need snow as I did last season.

I would never turn down its arrival,

only delegate it as another layer.

Moonlight trickles in through my window,

Winter will never be the same.

by Olivia Gleason '26 on December 11, 2025

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Opinion

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Hi Cowl readers! It’s hard to believe that Christmas is only two weeks away and that we have reached our final issue of the semester. The past three months were full of exciting learning experiences with The Cowl as Sarah and I navigated coming into this role together, and how quickly they flew by has gotten me into a very reflective mood. 

To me, reflecting on your life feels especially natural in the wintertime, particularly in December as the calendar year comes to a close. This is probably why, ever since I downloaded the Spotify music app, I have always enjoyed the arrival of Spotify Wrapped in December, and it’s almost too perfect timing. For those who have not heard of this before, Spotify Wrapped is a marketing tool used by the music app that provides each user with a summary of their top artists, albums, and songs throughout the calendar year. Every year, as the days get shorter, the campus quiets down, and we prepare ourselves for the new year, Spotify users (and Apple Music users, I suppose) receive this little present on our phones, serving as a miniature time capsule of who we were and who we have become throughout the year. 

The music we gravitate to is more often than not a reflection of our emotions, wants, and needs at any given moment. We reach for specific songs, genres, and artists for a plethora of reasons—comfort, motivation, nostalgia, or simple joy, to name a few. Maybe this comfort is found in a Beatles song your dad used to play in the car growing up, or the soundtrack to your favorite Broadway show. Maybe you queue an artist you’ve never listened to when you’re feeling like your life needs a change. Whatever the reason may be, it becomes clear that the music we gravitate towards, and the playlists we build in our Spotify apps, serve as emotional time capsules of ourselves. 

One of my favorite parts about the Spotify Wrapped release is getting to share and compare results with friends. In many conversations I’ve had with them, we’ve discussed our frustration with how we might not exactly relate to the results now. For example, one of my listed top five artists is someone I barely listen to now, but was playing nonstop at the beginning of this calendar year. The more I thought about this, though, the more I realized that this disconnect is actually something to embrace and hold close. Something as simple as Spotify Wrapped, by capturing these previous versions of ourselves, can remind us that we are constantly evolving, and that is an exciting thing. I don’t remember exactly when I stopped listening to this particular artist and started gravitating toward others, but this shift is a subtle reminder that I have grown over the course of the year; I have coped, celebrated, learned, and let go through a variety of different songs. 

All of this is to say, I think it is worth taking the time to reflect on your life and experiences in 2025 as it comes to a close, and your Spotify Wrapped is the perfect place to start.

by Grace Pappadellis ’29 on December 11, 2025

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Opinion

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While putting away laundry, one of my closest girlfriends asked me a “would you rather” question that left me stumped. She carefully placed her shirt on a hanger in a much neater fashion than I ever do, and said, “Would you rather have no say in your style whatsoever and have someone choose your wardrobe for the rest of your life, or only own the same items forever and never shop for new clothes again?” I was flummoxed and disturbed to hear this question, and suddenly it felt like I had to answer as if my life depended on it. 

I absolutely love clothes, fashion, and creating my own sense of style—not just because my mother was a fashion merchandising major in college—but because when I pair my clothes together, when the colors meld and mix and match, when my skirts flow and sweaters rest on my shoulders and my shoes have me skipping down the street, I feel like myself. Clothes are everything! They are direct manifestations of our self-expression. Regardless of the clothes that are available to us, however we place the pieces that we do have together, we are able to display our own sense of style. 

Therefore, my answer to the question was suddenly unobstructed, and it all made sense. I could never allow someone to dictate my wardrobe, even if it meant wearing the same outfit every single day. Maybe I am particular with my clothing, or I have an avid interest in fashion, but the thought of having no jurisdiction over my outfits is terrifying to even suggest. Sure, I appreciate variety. I have the privilege of wearing different outfits based on my mood, based on what makes me most comfortable, and I am also able to shop around within reason. In fact, shopping for new clothes is a special thing—especially finding items that I know I’ll wear forever, and they’re unlike anything else. 

However, I stay particular when it comes to picking out clothes. The idea of somebody creating my wardrobe not only violates my autonomy, but it also builds a wave of anxiety when imagining walking out of the house in a state of discomfort, helplessly dressed in clothes I hate the color of, or detest the fit of, or simply don’t feel like me. Maybe I’m being a little dramatic, or irrational, but I cannot emphasize enough the power I feel when everything just fits, when the clothing arrangement is effortless and complete. To be frank, there is no better feeling than slipping on the same pair of jeans, weathered, stretched, flawlessly forming to your body, without any hesitation or second thought. This goes for t-shirts with just the right amount of gap for your arms in the sleeves, tank tops with soft straps, denim shorts with slight discoloration, and sweaters that slouch and hang like lush leaves on a strong, sturdy tree. 

To adorn outfits with accessories is a beautiful thing—accessories that mean something to you, represent something, reminding you of special parts of life. When my childhood best friend moved away for a spell of time, she gave me her old jewelry box, cherry wood, just the right size, and filled with jewelry that had once meant a lot to her, but she didn’t wear much anymore. I cherished every piece, heedlessly pairing them with all of my outfits at the end of middle school and early high school. 

Sometimes I can’t help but wince when I look at old photos of what I once called “my style,” and what I deemed to be the most chic and effortless. Regardless of the quality of the outfit in my eyes today, at the time, the outfit felt great, felt like me, and I can never blame myself for wearing something that once made me feel so comfortable and fashionable. 

There’s a noticeable tastefulness in finding the clothes that work best for you, and sticking with them. Sure, I rarely follow this rule—in fact, I prefer to alter my style, attempt to acquire multiple, and embrace variety. On the flip side, I love watching others build their style based on the clothes they find most interesting, creating their own personal patterns that are sometimes only perceptible to themselves. It’s an intimate, exclusive practice that I see as a key component for self-expression. 

by Courtney Wight '26 on December 11, 2025

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Opinion - Campus

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Christmas time is coming around, which means fun movies, baking, and decorating. Yet, I find myself stressed for the upcoming weeks, and not just from finals. Christmas time also means buying gifts for loved ones. Choosing and buying gifts can be stressful! While Christmas gifts are a central part of the holiday season, the excessive waste that goes along with buying gifts is often overlooked. 

Whether it is a new book for your brother or another sweater for your grandma, gift giving to most people means buying something new. Choosing which gift to buy can be hard to figure out. No one wants to open a present and see something they’re never going to use, creating a need to balance buying things people actually want without making it boring. I am ashamed to admit it, but I have reached the age where a new pair of socks for Christmas is actually a great gift. While they may not be flashy, like a new iPad or Xbox, they will be used constantly.

Another tip to reduce waste could be to not buy a “thing” at all. Instead, think about giving an experience. I love watching musicals, and my mom likes to give me tickets to see a show on Broadway as part of my Christmas gift. This can also be something as small as gifting your family a Spotify Premium subscription. Again, while this might not be the most glamorous gift, physically sitting underneath the tree, it will definitely be used consistently throughout the year.

It can also be hard to find a gift for everyone, especially in large groups. To reduce gift-giving stress, try to organize a Secret Santa-style gift exchange if possible. This will reduce the overall amount of gifts purchased, not only helping your wallet but also leading to better gifts. For example, if you need to buy all of your cousins’ gifts, you probably cannot spend as much on each person. However, in this case, you can focus on finding one really good gift for a singular person, hopefully reducing some holiday stress.

Finally, try to find gifts locally if possible. Whether it is going to your local thrift store or Christmas market, there are amazing secondhand and handmade gifts for the Christmas season. It may be easier to simply order everything on Amazon, but a truly thoughtful gift cannot be chosen and shipped overnight. I recently visited the Providence Flea Market and found an amazing gift for my sister. While I could have bought something similar on Amazon, it felt better to support a local artist who is actually passionate about their work rather than a corporation.

So this holiday season, try your best to find a thoughtful, useful, and hopefully locally purchased gift for as many of your loved ones as possible.

by Rachel Barter ’27 on December 11, 2025

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Opinion - Campus

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This holiday season, I want to remind everyone of the importance of visiting with your grandparents and older relatives. For a retired person, the holidays can either be a time of longing for company or being connected and supported by loved ones—especially ones they may not see often. We all have the ability to make sure our older relatives feel extra love and appreciation during the holiday season.

Although your presence and company are certainly enough to show your love to your relatives, we can be inspired by the holiday season to do more for them when we have the time off from college. You do not need to buy your grandparents or great aunts and uncles extravagant gifts, but you can offer acts of service which show your love and appreciation while also taking the weight off of your grandparents.

For instance, this past weekend, I was inspired to help my friends’ grandparents bring up all of their Christmas decorations from the basement and decorate their house for the holiday season. Not only did we show our appreciation and gratefulness for them by taking our own time off from studying, but we helped them decorate for Christmas which took something off their to-do list and prevented them from having to complete any strenuous tasks that could affect their health. 

I want to inspire you to do the same, not just for your own grandparents, but perhaps your neighbors or even your parents. No matter the age of the person you are helping or whether they would have been able to complete the task without your help, it shows your love for them and alleviates stress, especially during the busy holiday season.

In general, acts of service are important and accessible ways that we can express our love and kindness to everyone, including strangers. At Providence College, we pride ourselves on holding doors for others (an act of service); I implore you to extend your acts of service when you go home for the holidays and when you come back to campus in the spring. 

After all, Christmas and the holiday season is the perfect time to remind ourselves of the love and kindness we should be showing others throughout the entire year, and perhaps we can start with acts of service.

by Kaelynd Brouillette ’29 on December 11, 2025

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Opinion - Campus

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As my first semester of college comes to an end, I continue to realize that I am not the same person I was when I first stepped foot on campus in August. Senior year of high school feels like a distant memory, replaced by numerous adventures, friendships, and lessons throughout the beginning of my time here. Speaking of lessons, I’ve learned quite a few of those. Nothing can truly prepare you for the transition into college, despite TikToks talking about it, your parents telling you about their experience, or your high school teachers saying, “college is nothing like high school.” There are just certain things you cannot understand until you’re actually living through them yourself. With finals week quickly approaching, I have been reflecting on what I have learned, not just academically, but about surviving and existing in college. Looking back, two lessons in particular stand out as the ones that defined my first semester and taught me what college life is actually like.

The first lesson, which seems obvious, is that it is so incredibly important to actually go to class, despite the struggle it can be. I have Development of Western Civ at 8:30 a.m., and it feels like it is the biggest struggle of my life to get out of bed and attend that lecture. In the mornings, the very thought of having to get out of bed to go will just convince me to skip. I also did not understand how much my sleep schedule would truly change here. In high school, I was up at 6:15 a.m. five days a week without blinking an eye, but in college, 8:30 a.m. is like 6:30 a.m., or at least it feels like it. At night, you end up staying up later because of noise in the hallway, having homework to do, or your roommate having people over late at night. Nothing is more difficult than making it to morning classes, especially if it was a late night or it’s 11 degrees outside, but despite it all, it is essential that you go to class. Anyway, skipping class even just once can lead to a full-on spiral, making it so easy to just keep skipping and skipping. I quickly figured out, after I received a 50 on a seminar quiz, that it is imperative you go to that 8:30 a.m., despite how horrifying the idea seems when your 8 a.m. alarm goes off. Once you start skipping class, it also becomes exponentially more difficult to catch up. Content moves quickly, and even missing one 50-minute class of material can cause you to be very behind. Although this lesson was definitely learned the hard way, it is, by far, one of the most important. Go to class. 

The second lesson, and arguably the most wrenching, is that academically, high school is nothing like college. In high school, I was a very high-achieving student, often getting close to perfect grades without really trying, and being involved in every club I could. College breaks that pattern—fast. My first reality check on this was my first calculus exam, which I did not really feel the need to study for. It goes without saying that not studying did not work out in my favor. From that moment, I had to make adjustments, like learning how to properly study, and scheduling time to go to the library and prepare for important exams. To be honest, it was a terribly uncomfortable sensation of having to apply myself in a way I was not accustomed to doing. The responsibility of it all was quite different, too. Your professors don’t remind you of due dates or hound you about doing the reading. It’s on you, which was new for me. It is so easy to procrastinate when no one is preventing you from doing so, but the importance of staying on top of your work and building routines for yourself cannot be stressed enough. Although it can be overwhelming, it will pay off. 

Speaking of overwhelming, college can be perfectly described as just that, which can take a toll on mental health, as it did for me. Between losing the academic identity you were used to, the weight of imposter syndrome, and the pressure of everyone around you seeming like they have it together, it can be a lot to manage. Having resources is important, whether that be friends and family to talk to, something you do to relieve stress, or visiting the Personal Counseling Center. It is imperative that you have methods to keep your mental health in check. In the end, this lesson taught me that college doesn’t just challenge what you know, it challenges who you are and how you show up for yourself. High school is nothing like college, for the better and for the worse. 

It is hard to believe how much things can change in just a couple of months. These two lessons reflect only a fraction of what I have learned during my time here at Providence College, but they have been the most distinct in shaping who I am today. Both lessons, going to class and adjusting academically, pushed me out of old habits. My personal growth did not come from what was easy, but from what felt uncomfortable, embarrassing, or overwhelming at times. A more general lesson I’ve also learned is that college is not solely about academics and social life, but a big part of it is also a process of learning how to exist as a functioning member of society on your own, with this semester teaching me more about responsibility, resilience, and self-awareness than a single class ever could. Although I still don’t think I have this whole college thing completely down yet, I do know that with the coming years, I will figure it out, one lesson at a time.

by Logan Cook on April 20, 2023

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Opinion

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While you can find Colleen Hoover’s novels in the Providence College bookstore, wedged between the checkout line and candy aisle, it may not be in your best interest financially. Instead, I’d recommend the Phillips Memorial Library as your top contender for not only price but experience as well. The simple notion of checking out books free of charge paired with the library’s convenient location and accessibility from 8 a.m. until midnight are just a few of the many reasons why you should check off your reading list here. 

After a jam-packed summer of reading romance novel after romance novel, I was pretty disappointed when the fall semester rolled around and my Hoover supply dwindled. Thinking I’d no longer have the time between my schoolwork and extracurricular activities and plagued with the inaccessibility of my hometown library, I inadvertently dropped recreational reading altogether. In fact, it wasn’t until Christmas break neared that I became open to the idea of checking out books again. 

 The library does carry some great comparable titles to Hoover and recently acquired her novel Never, Never as well. Titles found on the library’s bestseller bookcase were Cover Story by Susan Rigetti, which follows three female leads who work at ELLE Magazine; More than Words by Jill Santopolo, which follows a mayoral candidate speechwriter; and In Five Years by Rebecca Serle, which follows a  high-powered corporate lawyer. All have their own backstories, character development, budding romances, and staggering plot twists, and all three were intriguing and exciting. 

These three authors did a great job describing the New York City setting, from the apartments to the workspaces to the social scene.

The bestseller section in the College’s library is one of the best sections, but it is often overlooked as students rush to class. My recommendation is that all students who enter the library glance at this shelf at least once or twice before leaving; you can find the shelf just past the 24-hour space. Whether you’re there to study, attend tutoring, or just to use the printer, it’s in your best interest to check out a book or two before you go. You never know what adventure your next novel will take you on, or whose life it’ll have you envisioning as your own one day.

by David Salzillo Jr. '24 on April 20, 2023
Opinion Staff

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Opinion

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Business to Benefit the Local Community

Across many college campuses—including rival Catholic colleges like Boston College—the laboratories of entrepreneurship empower students to transform business skills into real-life success. At their best, they challenge students to see business as public service: how can I make my life and the lives of those around me better?  

Luckily, the head of Providence College’s new Donald Ryan ’69 Incubator for Entrepreneurship in the Arts & Sciences, Kelly Ramirez, shares my perhaps expansive definition of entrepreneurship. When she discussed the College’s plans for the Incubator with the Student Advisory Council at Providence College, she made many of the same points. Her most interesting suggestion at that meeting was to have the Incubator foster partnerships between students and local Rhode Island businesses. I share her enthusiasm for such a plan. In my later discussions with her, she has tied it to a socially responsible model of business she believes the College ought to promote. She has mentioned the example of Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, who recently transferred the ownership of his company, worth about $3 billion, “to a specially designed trust and a nonprofit organization.” I, again, agree; Chouinard’s community-centered business model should inspire our program to set out an ambitious new vision for laboratories of entrepreneurship.  

Still, how do we implement our Providence College business vision? To answer that question, we must ask ourselves: what opportunities does Rhode Island offer that other states like Massachusetts don’t? And how can we exploit those opportunities? To those questions, I reply: look no further than the Rhode Island Foundation. Under the leadership of Neil Steinberg, the organization has been leading the way in philanthropy. During the 15 years that Mr. Steinberg has been President and CEO, it has created a whole host of programs to aid many of Rhode Island’s struggling communities, and it has funded a whole host of scholarships to help mold the next generation of Rhode Island leaders. From the Foundation’s Community Grants program to its Carter Roger Williams Scholarship awards, it has provided scores and scores of opportunities to people in a state that desperately needs them. Finally, from my personal experience, I can tell you this: the staff of the Rhode Island Foundation are people who appreciate the value of personal relationships and community engagement, and who will always see their work as a vehicle of positive social change. 

A Ryan Incubator partnership with the Rhode Island Foundation has many benefits. To start, it allows the Incubator to target its initiatives better to Rhode Island’s needs. Political campaigns require grassroots organizers, and so will Providence College’s business initiatives require the expertise of local activists. But a Rhode Island Foundation partnership could also improve Rhode Island’s business climate. How? Because local philanthropists like Neil Steinberg often start out as local business leaders; Steinberg himself began his career as a banker and fundraiser. If Providence College is educating the next generation of business leaders, why not hold up these local examples of philanthropy as the touchstone of the “Providence College business philosophy”? Why not challenge Providence College students to give back to Providence College by giving back to the community that made Providence College possible?  

Now, am I suggesting that the Ryan Incubator pursue a partnership with the RI Foundation at the expense of other great community-based organizations in Rhode Island and even beyond? Certainly not. I applaud Kelly Ramirez’s plans to coordinate with organizations like the United Way and Half Full, LLC, and I expect that these efforts will yield lasting success. However, I also believe the RI Foundation could have an especially promising part to play in the Ryan Incubator’s community outreach program.  

Providence College, then, has a great opportunity to make its Incubator program stand out. And, with Mr. Steinberg retiring as President and CEO, and (soon-to-be former) Congressman David Cicilline taking his place, who knows what the RI Foundation and Providence College can accomplish together? In the words of Rick Blaine from Casablanca, this might just be “the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”