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. 

by Grace Pappadellis ’29 on January 22, 2026

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Opinion - Entertainment & Society

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Ever since I was a small child, I have been fascinated by books. I try not to sound trite when I say this, but I have always found a profound ease in getting lost in a good book. To delve into the characters, the setting, the interpersonal relationships and deep honesty of a good author—it is reading and learning and understanding that has made me want to become an author of books myself.

I can understand that the concept of reading is not thrilling to every person, especially in college when various majors require tedious forms of reading, other strenuous types of work, or simply no reading at all, and therefore one could be unaccustomed to the beauty of an enjoyable story. However, I wholeheartedly believe that with the right amount of exposure to impactful, high quality books, anyone is bound to find their own significance and relevancy to their life in reading.

Reading brings me a sense of peace that feels only perceptible to me. It feels like a massage for my brain, a reset, a reminder that words can hold so much meaning, they just need to be paid attention to in the same way everyday stimuli are given our time and attention. I was raised around books; I was told that reading can only strengthen my brain, and it also opens your brain to collections of knowledge that cannot be attained by a quick web search or skimming a couple pages. Reading takes time and requires a meditative, comfortable state of mind that every person should enter, even if reading is not part of their routine or required within their work.

I strive to write books that anyone can lose themselves in, regardless of their prior opinions of reading. It is perfectly reasonable not to get excited about reading in the same way that I do, but I am a firm believer that one who dislikes reading is one who has not found the right book. Every day we aim to find meaning, of any sort, whether we find it through our

friends, our families, the places we travel to, the things we study, or even the food we eat. What means the most to us is what pushes us to be better for ourselves, thus we are better friends, siblings, students, employees, and overall people. To find meaning is to be open, honest, and

receptive. There is so much to read, so much to learn, even if we are reading a simple, direct news article about the state of the world today or a 500 page novel by our favorite author.

I will forever thank my parents for insisting that I read, because without the development of that skill, I wouldn’t have learned how much I enjoyed writing. There’s an

excitement in reading, a burst of happiness and inspiration I feel when I know the characters and they represent a part of my life that I haven’t been able to put into words myself. Even if my assigned reading for school doesn’t fully align with this feeling, I promise myself that I will do the best I can to dig into the words with the same alacrity that I give to the books that I choose

for myself. No matter how successful I am, I am guaranteed to gain something from what I am reading—a new meaning so slight that it can mean the whole world.

by Chris Sama ’27 on January 22, 2026

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Sports - Men's Basketball

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The athlete of the week is Stefan Vaaks ’29, the 6’7” freshman guard from Tabasalu, Estonia. Vaaks was named Big East Freshman of the Week on Monday, Jan. 19 for his excellent performances against Creighton University on Friday, Jan. 16, and Villanova University on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Over the two games, Vaaks averaged 22.5 points and four assists on 50.75 field goal percent and 100 free throw percent.

On Friday, Vaaks had a career-high 24 points as well as seven assists, which were crucial in the Friars’ win against Creighton. He played extremely well by creating shots for himself off the dribble and drawing contact under the basket. Vaaks is a great playmaker who is able to draw defenders toward himself and create opportunities for his teammates. He has the most made three-point shots on the team. He has great chemistry with Oswin Erhunmwunse ’28 on pick and rolls where Vaaks is able to draw both defenders to him and lob it up to Erhunmwunse. He is a versatile defender, playing well off switches with his height and quickness.

This past week, Vaaks became the first freshman in the Big East to have three consecutive 20-point games in conference matchups since St. John’s University’s Marcus Lovett in 2017. While averaging four assists in these two games, he only had one turnover; he has a tight handle and makes smart passes, rarely giving up the ball. While he isn’t a flashy player, Vaaks is able to play calm and make smart decisions, relying on crafty footwork to create a perimeter shot or an open look while driving to the basket. He plays similar to Luka Doncic, who is known not for his speed but his strength and acceleration to blow by defenders. Vaaks shoots especially well on the right side of the court, especially in the corner. He usually is well positioned on the right wing in transition to get a catch and shoot three off before the opposing team can set on defense.

Vaaks shoots extremely well off the dribble, or catching his defender off balance and driving to the basket. He has been one of the most reliable scorers for Providence and has contributed immensely to the Friars’ two wins in conference play. Vaaks shot 66.7 percent from the three-point line against St. John’s at Madison Square Garden (MSG), scoring 16 points and six rebounds. Vaaks was assisted greatly by Erhunmwunse under the boards against Zuby Ejiofor, who had a career-high 33 points and 15 rebounds, showing Vaaks’ versatility in his role. He made a clutch 25-foot three-point shot off an assist from Jamier Jones ’29 to put the Friars up 72–70 against St. John’s. With 32 seconds left in the game, Vaaks scored a drive to the basket off an assist from Ryan Mela ’28 to put the Friars up by six, guaranteeing the Friars’ win at MSG, which is arguably the most notable win this season for the Friars so far.

by Greg Lahr ’26 and Flagg Taylor ’27 on January 22, 2026

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Sports

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UMiami

Not too long ago, the University of Miami Hurricanes looked straight down the barrel of their season when they were 7.5 point underdogs against Ohio State University, who were looking to repeat as National Champions.

Nobody believed in them, and many were questioning how they even made the College Football Playoffs over the University of Notre Dame. Now, they will compete for their first national championship since the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, where they fell to Ohio State.

They face an Indiana University team that has steamrolled its way through the playoffs, is an 8.5-point favorite, and has everyone behind them as the Cinderella story of college football. They will need all hands on deck to try to cement themselves in history as the first team to win the national championship at their home stadium.

Miami will have to win this game in the trenches and take care of the football, two things the University of Alabama and the University of Oregon could not do against the national champ favorites. If Miami can do those two things, they just may find themselves in a one-possession game with a few minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

Defensive ends; that is how Miami will be able to control the line of scrimmage and limit Indiana’s lethal ground attack. Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Meisdor, two possible first-round draft picks in the coming NFL draft, can flip the script upside down. Having one of them, let alone two, can drastically affect the outcome of the game. They will need both to get after Fernando Mendoza and bring him to the ground to be successful.

Miami also has Carson Beck. He’s been in this position before and knows how to handle pressure when the lights are bright. With the combination of standout wide receiver Malachi Toney, power running back Mark Fletcher, and veteran college quarterback Beck, the Miami offense can find multiple ways to get the ball in the end zone against a stout Indiana defense.

If Miami can limit the turnovers, keep the ball out of Mendoza’s hand, and limit Indiana’s time of possession, this game will be much closer than people think. Indiana does not want to be in a shootout with Miami’s defense, especially with a close game in the closing minutes. As head coach Mario Cristobal preaches after every game, Miami needs to go 1–0 one more time to find themselves at the top of the college football mountain.
– Greg Lahr ’26 
Sports Staff

IU

On Monday, Jan. 19, the Indiana University Hoosiers will take on the University of Miami Hurricanes for the College Football National Championship title. I believe the Indiana Hoosiers will emphatically win the first championship in school history. Led by head coach Curt Cignetti and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers will cap off their historic season with the biggest prize possible: the College Football National title. 

Perhaps the biggest story surrounding this Indiana squad is their historic program turnaround, led by Cignetti. When Cignetti was asked about his plans to turn around the program and culture, he responded “It’s pretty simple. I win. Google me.” He took James Madison University to an 8–3 record in his first year coaching. The following ’23–’24 season, the JMU Dukes had a record of 11–1 reaching No. 18 in the AP Poll at one point. That same season, the Indiana Hoosiers finished with a 3–9 record and in last place of the Big 10. Next season, Indiana would hire Cignetti as their new head coach, and in his first season (’24–’25) Cignetti led them to a 11–2 record, their only losses coming to No. 1 ranked Ohio State and No. 10 ranked Notre Dame in the first round of the playoffs. This season, Indiana has a record of 15–0, a Big 10 championship title, and the national championship seems completely inevitable. Cignetti wins.   

This season, Indiana has defeated five top 10 ranked opponents by a combined 135 points, a truly insane stat. In their Rose Bowl and Peach Bowl wins against Alabama and Oregon, the two preceding playoff games to their matchup against Miami, the Hoosiers won by 69 points total. The story of this team has been dominance since day one. I see no reason this squad won’t continue this pattern in their final game of the season. 

Indiana is led by the Heisman winner, Mendoza, the school’s star quarterback. Mendoza has had an amazing season leading his squad on and off the field with fantastic play and work in the community. He’s a very easy guy to root for. This season, Mendoza has completed five games where he had more touchdowns than incompletions recorded in the game. No other quarterback in the 2000s has completed this feat more than twice in one season. Last game against Oregon, Mendoza had five passing touchdowns, a completion percentage of 85 percent and rushed for more than 25 yards.

The Indiana Hoosiers have all the momentum and the nation rooting for this underdog story. Cignetti wins and Mendoza is a fantastic leader and player. I believe the Hoosiers will make history behind a great game from Mendoza and his teammates, and the genius coaching of Cignetti and his staff.
– Flagg Taylor ’27 
Sports Staff

by Andrew Vines ’29 on January 22, 2026

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Men's Basketball

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The Friars’ men’s basketball team tipped off Big East play on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025 at Butler University. Coming into conference play with a record of 7–4 and only one major win over Penn State, a below average Big Ten team, Kim English and his team needed to start conference play hot. At the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse the Friars had a halftime lead of four points and things looked promising. At the end of regulation, the score was all tied up at 89–89. After the first overtime, it remained tied. The Bulldogs would win the game in double overtime with a score of 113–110. Jason Edwards ’26G had a huge game in the defeat where he scored 32 points off of the bench, shooting 6–13 from beyond the arc to go along with six assists.

The Friars conference home opener was against Seton Hall University. Shaheem Halloway and his squad came into the game 10–1 after a strong non-conference campaign. The Friars looked to bounce back in front of a home crowd that was without students. The game was close the whole way through, but the Pirates pulled through in the end, winning 72–67. Once again English and his squad could not pull out a win in a close game. With the fanbase upset after a rough start to conference play English needed a win.

After a 15-day break English and his team were headed to Madison Square Garden to face Rick Pitino, Bryce Hopkins, and the St. John’s Johnnies. Despite the team being 7–6, the fans showed up for this big game. St. John’s took a 13–0 lead and things did not look good. The Friars took their first lead of 25–24 with 4:44 to go in the first half. By the end of the half this lead was gone and would not return until Stefan Vaaks ’29 hit a three to take a 72– 70 lead with less than two minutes to go. The Friars held the lead the rest of the game, with the final score being 77–71. Vaaks had 16 points shooting 4–6 from the three-point line and Jamier Jones ’29 had 15 points and led the team in rebounds, leading the way to a Friar victory. The belief was back in the fanbase after this huge win.

This belief and momentum were heard at the Amica Mutual Pavilion when No. 4 University of Connecticut came to town. This game was controlled by the Friars who had the lead from about five minutes left in the first half up to 13 seconds left in the game. This lead peaked at 13 points. The Huskies ended up winning 103–98 in overtime. Ryan Mela ’28 had a very impressive game off of the bench with 19 points, which included some big buckets late in the game. The fanbase was crushed after this loss. Things only got worse as the Friars would then drop their next two games. These included a road loss to Xavier University, which was never close, and ended in a 97–84 Musketeers victory. The next loss came at home to a strong Villanova University team. Jaylin Sellers ’26G had an impressive 24 points in the loss.

The Friars hosted Creighton University on a Friday night with the fanbase very upset with English. The team put up a great performance against a bubble team. Oswin Erhunmwunse ’28 played a great game where he grabbed 13 rebounds, which had been a struggle for the team all season. Vaaks once again put up a great performance with 24 points and seven assists in a 93–88 victory.

Overall, the team has looked talented in conference play, but the results have been disappointing. The team has been in most of these games yet has not been able to pull out wins. The rest of conference play and the Big East tournament will be very important for the future of this team.

by Dorothée Durivage ’28 on January 22, 2026

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Sports Shorts

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Women’s Basketball

Our Providence College women’s basketball team’s first game of the week was at home on Sunday, Jan. 11 during which the Friars lost 85–55 to Villanova University. On Wednesday, Jan. 14, they traveled to Indianapolis for a game against Butler University where the Friars fell to the Bulldogs 62–52. For their return on the home court on Saturday, Jan. 17, the Friars won 80–77 against Creighton University. It was a good week for Providence’s Sabou Gueye ’26G who scored six points on Sunday, 22 points on Wednesday, and 22 points on Saturday. The Friars’ next game is on Tuesday, Jan. 20 away at Seton Hall University.

Men’s Basketball

The Providence College men’s basketball team played at Amica Mutual Pavillion twice this week. On Tuesday, Jan. 13, the Friars lost 88–82 to Villanova University. The Friars ended this week with a 93–88 win over Creighton University on Friday, Jan. 16. This brought the team’s record to 9–9 overall and 2–5 in the Big East. Stefan Vaaks ’29 was the only player to score over 20 points for each game with 21 points on Tuesday and 24 on Friday. Another top scorer was Jamier Jones ’29 with 24 and 18 points. On Monday, Jan. 19, the team will travel to Milwaukee for a game against Marquette University. 

Men’s Ice Hockey

This week, the Providence College men’s hockey team played against Boston College. On Friday, Jan. 16, the Friars traveled to Chestnut Hill for an overtime win of 4–3. On Saturday, Jan. 17, the Friars played in Schneider Arena and won 4–3. This completed their sweep of the Eagles for the first time since 2002. This weekend brings the Friars’ record to 13–7–2 overall and 8–3–1 in Hockey East. Logan Sawyer ’28 secured the Friars the win with his overtime goal on Friday and scored the final point on Saturday as well. The Friars’ next game is on Friday, Jan. 23 against Boston University.

Women’s Ice Hockey

The Providence College women’s hockey team traveled to Chestnut Hill on Friday, Jan. 16 for a game against Boston College. The Friars lost to the Eagles 8–2, bringing their record to 7–14–2 overall and 4–8–2 in Hockey East. The first goal was scored by Sarah Davies ’26, assisted by Audrey Knapp ’27 and Cristina Cavaliere ’26. The last goal was scored by Jessie Pellerin ’28, assisted by Peyton Blaney ’27 and Kiara Kraft ’27. This game brought Knapp and Pellerin’s points to 23 for the season. The Friars’ next game is Monday, Jan. 19 at Yale University.

by Courtney Wight '26 on January 22, 2026

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Uncategorized

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This past week, I went out to dinner with a couple of friends. It was a celebratory first-week-back meal, so we got some drinks and an appetizer in addition to our main meals. The total bill for the four of us (after tip) came out to around $200. While the food was good and we had a great time, I don’t think it was worth $200. This dinner is just one instance of a larger feeling I’ve had building over the past years: my money does not go as far as it used to.

Over the past few years, it feels like every aspect of life has become more expensive, particularly for students. Whether it is our tuition, meal plans, or student experiences, it constantly feels like nothing is affordable anymore. 

Each year, I’ve watched my Providence College bill increase. Now this is partially because I moved from the traditional housing—which is cheaper—to an on-campus apartment, but the increase is not just this. Tuition and meal plans have consistently risen in price over my time at PC. Tuition during my freshman spring cost $28,490, which is not cheap by any means. Now as a senior, my spring tuition was $32,435.

Now I’m not an idiot; I know inflation exists. However, it can begin to feel like the increases in prices are unnecessary. For example, all students are charged an activity fee. As an avid event attender, I acknowledge this is a necessary charge that should be paid for and that attending college events adds to my college experience. However, since my freshman year, the activity fee increased from $175 a semester to $230 a semester without any explanation as to why.

The PC administration has quietly made the college experience more expensive and simply hopes no one notices. One of these areas is student tickets for games. Despite my protest to $10 hockey tickets, prices have not gone back to $5. Instead, for this most recent game against Boston College, men’s hockey tickets were $15. Treating student ticket pricing like a concert sale on Ticketmaster with dynamic pricing is ridiculous. Last year the ticket to the Boston College game was $5, just as every other game last season!

Some may argue that if students want to save money, they should simply not go to events that cost money. I find this extremely stupid because PC is a sports school. Part of campus culture is attending games and the administration knows this. Student tickets no longer feel like a bargain, instead, it feels like PC’s administration and athletics department are taking advantage of their dedicated student fanbase.

To freshmen, a $10 hockey ticket seems normal, but seniors remember when those same tickets were $4. Freshmen are not receiving the same quality of student experience, despite paying an increased amount. Seniors remember Food Truck Fridays or when the Global Station at Ray Dining Hall used to change everyday and how huge it was to see either the orange chicken or ravioli that day.

I’ve felt my student experience decline over my time at PC. Every big event has become more and more expensive, from dances to Senior Ring Weekend, Homecoming, and the Spring Concert. Elements of the PC student tradition are no longer affordable and students are losing out on amazing experiences. I’ve loved my time at PC and I have met some of my lifelong friends here. I feel bad for underclassmen who may not be able to have the same experience I did because it is financially out-of-reach. Many of my favorite moments have been at student events and sports games. I encourage all students to take advantage of the free events across campus as a way to save money, but students should not have to consider if they’re going to the game with their friends or not because it is too expensive.

by Rachel Barter ’27 on January 22, 2026

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Opinion - Campus

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As an upperclassman or even a sophomore living in on-campus apartments or in suites, such as McCarthy Hall, you have multiple options for which meal plan you want to sign up for. There is a two-week window at the beginning of each semester for you to reduce or cancel your meal plan depending on your housing situation and meal plan requirements. As a junior living in an apartment on campus, I am not required to have a meal plan, so I reserve the right to select a meal plan and test it out for just under two weeks before deciding whether to adjust my selection or not. Similarly, if you are living in an off-campus building and currently have selected a meal plan that is higher than the required plan, then you should have received an email asking if you would like to reduce or cancel your meal plan.

Although I am grateful that we are allowed this two-week grace period to change our minds and adjust our dining plans to meet our specific needs and habits, as someone who has reduced my meal plan in the fall of 2025, it is important to note that even if you lower your meal plan, you may not be lowering your tuition bill. In fact, I had originally selected the 14 Meal Plan and decided to lower it to the Friar 165 Block meal plan during this grace period and this increased my tuition bill by $41.52, despite the 14 Meal Plan being $240 more expensive than the Friar 165 Block meal plan. Instead of crediting me the $3,440 semester cost of the 14 Meal Plan and charging me the $3,200 of my new Friar 165 Block plan, PC reduced my reimbursement to $3,158.48 to account for the portion of my meal plan that I had used in that less than two-week window.

In my opinion, it would make sense for the Office of Residence Life or the Bursar’s Office, depending who deals with this, to deduct what I had used from my new meal plan rather than from my old meal plan. This would  leave me to pay the difference and not use up my new meal plan, essentially paying for 18 weeks of a meal plan and studying at PC for only 16 weeks out of those 18. For instance, if I used 20 meal swipes and $20 in Friar Bucks, I would have expected my new meal plan to have 145 meal swipes rather than 165, and $305 Friars Bucks rather than $325. Instead, I was charged an additional $281.52 to cover what I had used and an additional $3,200 for the Friar Block 165 plan, which I had already decided would last me a full semester.  Otherwise I would not have decided to lower my meal plan.

Overall, if you are considering lowering your meal plan, it could actually cost you more money than remaining on your current plan, especially if the two plans are close in price. In fact, even if you lower your meal plan to an option that is significantly cheaper, you cannot count on the entire reimbursement.