Jamila Robinson, Staff Writer

Congratulations to the Class of 2025! 

You are officially graduating, and for those of you who haven’t worked during your studies, you’re about to step into the next chapter of your life: the workforce. The thrill of the nine-to-five grind will warmly embrace you, and you will be excited to be part of it. However, as you embark on this new journey into adulthood, remember that the lessons you’ve learned in education will be invaluable. All the knowledge and insights you’ve gained will support you, so prepare yourself to take charge and pave the way as a new employee.

Admittedly, this is the time that you are expected to make your mark and hopefully, leave an impression that is positive and memorable. The truth is, the journey ahead won’t always be easy, but with the support of your family, friends and the community that you have cultivated you will be able to survive. 

Additionally, during this period of adjustment try to work on your communication skills, where once you could hide within the classroom during a lecture you will now be asked to participate more and possibly lead; remain calm, this is your time to shine, be clear and concise when communicating and be an active and engaging participant. 

While we are on the topic of communication, your nonverbal communication skills are just as important as verbal communication. Be sure to use good eye contact, and use open body language to show that you are engaged in the conversation. No matter what has been assigned to you, if you are unsure, it is better to seek guidance and direction, don’t be hesitant to ask for help. 

It is also a good time to get better organized so the tools that you used for classes that worked, be sure to enhance them. Be sure to use the technology that you have access to for your advantage. This may include email, chat apps or even video conferencing software. Choose the tools that are most appropriate for the task at hand, and make sure to use it consistently. A caution to the wise, be professional in your use of technology. Your activity might be monitored, and you will be dismissed for inappropriate activity.

This period will be an adjustment, and you might stumble, but you can do it. Take breaks, yes, you will need that time to mentally unplug. It is important to take breaks and rest when needed to avoid burnout and maintain your productivity. Taking regular breaks can help you stay focused and clear-headed, which is essential. Also be sure to also stay flexible, and open to new ideas and approaches. You will need to be willing to adapt as the situation changes. This will help you stay agile and responsive in a fast-paced environment, and allows you to pivot quickly when necessary.

The workplace functions as an ecosystem, where every employee’s actions influence the overall environment. Keep in mind that simple behaviors—such as being considerate of shared spaces, communicating effectively, and expressing gratitude for colleagues’ contributions—can significantly enhance a positive and collaborative workplace culture where everyone can flourish.

Lastly, it’s essential to maintain a positive attitude, even in the face of challenges. This will help sustain high morale and promote a constructive work culture.

Chude Uzoka-Anofienem, Staff Writer

When I first began writing for The La Salle Collegian, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. I thought I’d string some sentences together, maybe cover a few events, toss in a joke or two and call it a day. What I didn’t anticipate was how deeply this paper would weave itself into my week, my thoughts and, most unexpectedly, my sense of purpose.

Writing for a student newspaper isn’t glamorous. You’re not chasing Pulitzers or making headlines across the country. But The Collegian was never about that. It was about something much quieter—and in many ways, more important. It was about community. It was about giving voice to student concerns, celebrating achievements that might otherwise go unnoticed and capturing what it feels like to be part of La Salle University.

I remember my first article vividly. It was about Elon Musk purchasing Twitter and turning it into a complete hell site. I agonized over every word, double-checking facts, trying to strike the right tone, writing from my own perspective. When it finally went live, I refreshed the page more times than I care to admit, wondering if anyone would even read it. Someone did. A classmate stopped me after a lecture and said, “Hey, I read your Elon Musk article. That was cool.” That two-second exchange gave me more confidence than a dozen English classes in middle and high school ever could.

From there, I found my rhythm. I wrote about things that interested me, straying away from the typical school newspaper topics related to campus issues and towards more broader stories filtered through a La Salle lens. Some topics were fun and breezy—ranking the best and worst songs released in a given year. Others were more serious, like examining the WWE’s less than stellar reputation. Whatever the subject, I tried to write with empathy and curiosity. If there was one thing The Collegian taught me, it was how to listen—really listen—to people and their stories.

Of course, none of this happened in a vacuum. The editorial team was the engine behind the whole operation—smart, driven, slightly sleep-deprived people who made magic happen on deadline week after week. They held the bar high, but always with grace and humor. I owe every polished article to an editor who pushed me to my best.

Now, as I write this final piece, I feel the kind of bittersweet gratitude that comes with leaving something meaningful behind. I’m proud of the words I’ve written, but even more so, I’m thankful for the experience itself—for the friendships, the late-night brainstorming sessions, the thrill of seeing my byline and the hundreds of tiny moments that made The Collegian feel like home.

To everyone who read, responded or rolled their eyes at my work—thank you. You made me a better writer, and a more thoughtful person. And to future writers picking up where I leave off: write boldly, edit kindly and never underestimate the impact of your words.

Goodbye for now—but the story always continues.

Andrew Noel, Editor

I don’t know why, but as a kid, I used to always think about college. It seemed like, to me at least, a far away place that I may never get to. As I write this, I am three weeks away from graduating. Calling the feeling “weird” would be an understatement.

When I was picking which college to go to, I knew I was making a big choice. I just didn’t realize how big of a choice I was making and how much, for the better, it would impact my life. Given that I am so close to graduating, I’ve done a lot of reflecting on the last four years. It’s perhaps no surprise that I’ve had a lot of mixed emotions this semester, with the main one being thankful.

I’m thankful for La Salle, for challenging me both inside and outside the classroom, and forcing me to grow as a person.

I’m thankful for my professors–namely Dr. Brian Wyant, Dr. Kathleen Bogle and Dr. Caitlin Taylor–all of whom made my experience as a criminal justice major a good one. I always knew that they had my back and only ever wanted to see me succeed. One of the many things I learned in college was how impactful professors can be, and I will be forever grateful for the support and encouragement they showed me along the way.

A few weeks ago, I was watching the NCAA men’s hockey national championship broadcast. The announcer calling the game said that the best part of college is the friends that you make for life. Now that this journey is so close to being over, I can’t agree anymore with that statement. La Salle has given me a lot of good things, but the best thing is without a doubt the friends I will have for the rest of my life.

When I was picking which school to attend, I had a lot of options. Yet, I think it’s safe to say that I hit the jackpot. I can only hope that everyone finds their college experience as fulfilling and life changing as I did.

So that’s it. The quickest and best four years of my life are over. While I’m excited for the future, I will certainly miss La Salle and be indebted for everything it has given me. 

Isabella Teti, Editor

Since late January, students in La Salle University’s “U.S. Foreign Policy & Haiti” class, taught by Dr. Mark Thomas, have spent the semester preparing for the trip of a lifetime. However, not without first understanding the significance behind the reason for our journey.

As participants in this class, we studied Haiti’s political and governmental conditions, which have become nothing short of tragic. The people of Haiti are suffering immensely, living under the constant threat of gang violence, human rights violations and widespread food insecurity. By examining the effects of a full governmental collapse, our class was able to discuss not only what the United States is doing to help, but also brainstorm our own solutions to the overall crisis.

Through both textbook study and in-depth class discussions, we developed a well-rounded understanding of Haiti’s situation, equipping us to advocate for the country during our travel study experience.

Our travel study took place over La Salle’s spring break and was nothing short of unforgettable. We visited some of the nation’s most beautiful and significant landmarks, including the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Capitol Building, the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery. We also visited the U.S. Senate’s Hart Building where we met with the staff of Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), and the U.S. House’s Longworth Building where we spoke with the staff of Representative Dwight Evans (D-PA). We discussed the situation in Haiti and learned about their efforts to develop a plan of action. Both offices shared their insights and allowed our class to offer our perspectives and propose potential solutions for U.S. involvement. One of the most exciting moments of the trip was touring the Capitol and receiving passes from Representative Evans’ office to visit the House of Representatives gallery.

Another highlight was our visit to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where we were briefed by Think Tank staff who have been studying Haiti’s economic and political conditions for many years. This experience offered a different perspective than our meetings on Capitol Hill. We also had the privilege of meeting the Ambassador of Kenya to the United States, David Kerich. He and his staff provided detailed information about Kenya’s peacekeeping missions in Haiti, explaining how their country is helping to reduce violence and restore security. We were able to ask thoughtful questions and learn about both the progress and challenges they’ve encountered.

One of my favorite experiences was touring the Pentagon. We explored the history of the U.S. military branches and visited the moving 9/11 Memorial where we heard a touching story about one of the heroes who lost their life that day. It was a place I had always wanted to visit, and I’m grateful to have finally experienced it. Later that day, we visited Arlington National Cemetery where we witnessed the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier—a rare and emotional moment. I was especially honored to see both a male and a female soldier perform the ceremony. We also toured the Holocaust Museum, a place I had long wanted to visit. Though somber, the museum provided extensive insight into both the origins and the aftermath of the Holocaust, far more than I had previously known.

During the trip, we also connected with La Salle alumni working in various government roles, from lawyers to federal agency employees. We even met alumni currently in law school, who offered helpful perspectives on the law school experience—guidance that was particularly valuable to students like myself.

All in all, the trip was a tremendous success. It was educational in the truest sense, as we applied what we learned in class at La Salle to conversations at some of the highest levels of government. This experience proved that La Salle is not only educating us about global issues like Haiti’s crisis, but is also preparing us—as future lawyers, politicians and public servants—to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. Through this opportunity, La Salle has shown its dedication to shaping the future of our country with integrity and purpose.

Peyton Harris, Editor

Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the La Salle Collegian Editorial Staff or La Salle University. The views expressed are strictly the author’s own.

Last semester, I wrote an article on the funding crisis that was engulfing SEPTA back in Nov. 2024. At that time, SEPTA was facing over $240 million in budgetary shortfalls and was reaching out to the state legislature for financial assistance. Governor Josh Shapiro had promised the funding needed to keep the agency solvent in his yearly budget, but the measure was blocked by state Senate Republicans.

Each day, the SEPTA is responsible for transporting an average of 750,000 riders containing workers, students and travelers from all across the region. These metrics include all buses, trolleys, Regional Rail and Metro subway services. Hundreds of thousands of our neighbors rely on these services to go about their daily lives. Come this summer, things might look drastically different.

In late Nov. 2024, Shapiro announced that his Department of Transportation would be rerouting roughly $153 million in state highway funds to cover shortfalls within the SEPTA budget for the fiscal year of 2024-2025. While it stopped the planned fare increases and immediate service cuts for January of this year, the state has yet to come up with a more permanent solution. 

“Governor Shapiro has thrown us a lifeline,” said SEPTA Board Chair Ken Lawrence at the time.

And now, barely four months later, we are back in the same situation: SEPTA currently forecasts a budget deficit of $213 million for FY2025-26, with support from Harrisburg locked up in the Senate. On April 10, the agency released a projected budget that would ultimately result in a 45% service reduction. All hiring is frozen, layoffs are expected, fares are anticipated to increase 21.5% and over 60 stations are to be closed. Let’s first lay out the proposed service cuts.

To mitigate the financial strain, SEPTA has identified key areas they say that service must be cut or severely curtailed to keep day-to-day operations manageable. Five regional rail lines are to be cut in their entirety: Paoli/Thorndale, Wilmington/Newark, Trenton, Cynwyd and Chestnut Hill West (CHW). The last two lines, Cynwyd and CHW, are to be cut due to low ridership. The others are an oddity within the network, for these lines are some of the busiest within SEPTA’s operating region, providing an alternative to Amtrak between many points. However, that is where the problem lies: SEPTA does not own these rails, Amtrak does. And because of this ownership, SEPTA must pay exorbitant fees to operate trains across their tracks. On all remaining Regional Rail services, service is to be cut 20% with a 9:00 p.m. curfew instituted. 

On Metro services including the Market-Frankford “L” Line and the Broad Street Line (B1 + B2), riders will see 20% service cuts, meaning less trains and longer wait times at the platform. The Broad/Ridge Spur (B3) will be eliminated entirely. Along with Regional Rail, remaining services will end at 9:00 p.m.. One important note along with this is the complete suspension of special service to the Sports Complex in South Philadelphia. What does that mean exactly? For starters, no more express services from Fern Rock Transportation Center in North Philadelphia to NRG Station at the Complex.

More importantly, in my view, is the impact this will have on any evening home game, concert or events held at Lincoln Financial Field, Citizens Bank Park or the Wells Fargo Center. Many attendees, myself included, rely on the subway to get to and from the Sports Complex for a late game, and many La Salle students utilized the train to get to the Big Five Championship. If any event ends after 9:00 p.m., there will be no Metro service to get attendees home. 

Prior to their Nov. 2024 corrective actions, SEPTA had conducted studies for what they termed their “Bus Revolution” proposal to revamp the agency’s aging bus network. By December, that plan had been scrapped and traces of the plan had been removed from SEPTA websites. Now, the agency intends to cut 50 bus routes across the city. Some trolley routes are to be converted to bus, and as with Metro and Regional Rail, we will see 20% cuts to their service. These services are not affected by the 9:00 p.m. curfew.

This might seem pretty technical, but let’s break those numbers down. With the 45% total service cuts, SEPTA estimates losing 350,000 daily riders, nearly half their current ridership. On those that remain, a 21.5% fare increase will be levied on them increasing prices from $2.50 on bus/trolley/Metro to $2.90, with Regional Rail zone fares changing proportionally.

 “Given the dramatic impact that these measures will have on ridership, the reality is that we would start the dismantlement of public transit for our city and region as we know it today,” said former COO, now-interim SEPTA general manager Scott Sauer.

Southeast Pennsylvania has relied on transit for centuries: the Pennsylvania Railroad and Reading Railroad both were headquartered within Philadelphia (3175 JFK Blvd., and 1136 Arch St. at the current Reading Terminal Market, respectively). The first trolley service began in 1883 in the Fairmount neighborhood, and the Market Street Subway launched by 1907. Transit has characterized the region. “The Main Line” area quite literally is in reference to the old PRR main line between Philadelphia and Harrisburg. Philadelphians have come to depend upon these services for their survival – to get to work, to visit with family, to make it to medical appointments and more;and now we face the grim prospect of losing them. 

The loss of the SEPTA service we know today isn’t just inconvenient for some; it is life-altering for many. The local economy will be in shambles. Many Philadelphians do not own a car or other personal form of reliable transportation. With less service, or none altogether, this potentially means that some must reconsider how they get to their place of work, or whether they can even continue at their current job without a way there or home. In 2021, The Urban Institute compiled studies out of New York where lack of transit options correlated to a 4.5% increase in unemployment and need for public assistance than those who lived near reliable transit options. Center City advocates note that these cuts will drastically impact the resurging nightlife around City Hall as partygoers will not have rail access to the city after 9:00 p.m. And still, the impact to the sports scene in Philadelphia is enough to cause worry.

“The Phillies, Flyers, 76ers, and Eagles collectively share deep concerns about the potential impact of SEPTA’s proposed budget cuts,” said a Comcast spokesperson to The Inquirer. “Ensuring the best experience for our fans, employees and the surrounding South Philadelphia community starts with sufficient access to public transportation to and from our venues,” they said.

SEPTA is vital – point blank period. The area cannot survive as it has without the reliability SEPTA provides. Not to mention, Philadelphia is set to play host to some major events next year: America250, celebrating the semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence; the MLB All-Star Game; FIFA’s World Cup; NCAA Men’s March Madness; and the PGA Championship. Are we really expecting to welcome millions to our city and not have transit options for our residents and visitors as well? As Sauer said recently, “On the eve of welcoming the world, SEPTA would go from driving Philadelphia’s economy to holding it back.”

The Pennsylvania House has passed a budget proposal with funding for SEPTA three times. Each time, Senate Republicans have blocked the amendment from passage. Sen. Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R) says that since this does not affect all Pennsylvanians, the state should not be obligated to act. However, does hamstringing the largest economic area in the state not affect us all? The logic doesn’t make sense, forn equitable solution benefits everyone.

Our officials need to hear from us on what these changes will mean and how they will impact us. Contact SEPTA directly. Get in touch with your city councilmembers. Make sure our lawmakers in Harrisburg hear your concerns. Consider signing on to a letter to urge the Senate to act. Do what you can do to protect the way of life for your fellow neighbors. It’s time to act.

Sean Musial, Staff Writer  

Former Philadelphia resident, Matthew Christopher Grau, more prominently known as ‘Matt Ox’, is a young rapper who rose to stardom with his 2017 single “Overwhelming”. The year prior, he collaborated with now deceased rapper, XXXTentacion, on the song “$$$” in his sophomore album. He has even collaborated with artists like Chief Keef, Key!, and Vallee with his debut Album “OX” later on in 2018. 

On April 5, he was arrested in Burbank, California on drug charges following a traffic stop that had two other individuals in the car. According to authorities, they had pulled the Lexus over initially for vehicle code violations. They then found probable cause to search the vehicle because they then searched and inspected the vehicle. Police stated that they found several cups that contained oxycodone, Xanax and a cocktail of promethazine-codeine, also known as “lean.” Ox was released on a citation and ordered to appear in court on April 30. 

Even with these serious charges, the 20-year-old posted his mugshot on social media. The caption reads: “F*** THE SYSTEM! FREE THE KIDS! NEW MUSIC SOON! LOCKED ME UP FOR NUN IM BACK THO!” This controversial post and reaction to something that should scare others adds to Ox’s persona and public image as a rebellious rapper that goes against the system. Not condoning these actions, the young rapper stays true to what he’s trying to convey– an image resemblance of ‘Emenem’ and what has become of the former child star in recent years. Ox has his own demons to deal with, but he’s here to stay to continue his creative form and garnish the controversies he has become known for. 

Ox, just like many other kid stars that came before him, have been affected greatly from everything that comes with fame and fortune. Other former singers that started in their youth, like Demi Lovato and Justin Bieber, got involved with drugs and other scandals later on in life. Micheal Jackson is one of the clearest examples of this, taking the matter that he was robbed of his childhood to a whole other degree once he made it the 90’s and 2000’s. Since they are more in the hip-hop field, rather than rap, it’s a clear representation to see how they got from point A to point B. The lifestyle that comes with ‘rap’ is much different from other song genres, still having remedies of the partying that rock garnished or the beats that Hip Hop has made mainstream. 

A deeper examination into Ox’s career reveals where he went from a young ambitious kid to a full-blown thug rapper. Ox was only 12 years old when he rose to fame, giving the world his catchy beats and music. Due to the amount of time that went into making his music videos, he eventually dropped out of school to pursue his music career more full time but his mom made sure to homeschool him so he could continue his education. As the years progressed and he got involved with more popular rappers in the industry, his craft grew into something new and even darker. Some people labeled his music as “dark trap music,” taking inspiration from some of his favorite artists like Soulja Boy and Lil B. Trap music is a subgenre of rap that explores themes of street life, drug culture, violence and ambition on top of the hard- hitting beats, aggressive melodies and candid lyrics. This music he has become most known for only contributes to the changes he has gone through throughout his early career, for the better or worse. 

The take away from this is to stay true to yourself when fame enters the picture, and money only adds to the individual’s new life. In its essence, music is a form of art that can help individuals gain recognition. People can lose themselves. The best thing someone can do when found in this situation is ask what they would have done in their lives when things were much simpler, rather than going in head first in the situation before thinking it over. Pursue your dreams but don’t lose yourself in the process.