Isabella Teti, Editor

What do Lady Gaga, Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone have in common? Yes, they are all actors, but they are also all Italian Americans! Italian American culture is filled with rich history and known for its loud, fun events and occasions. For me, growing up as an Italian American has brought many wonderful traditions and an abundance of love and happiness to my life, especially during the busy holiday season.

Every year my family partakes in many significant traditions that I have always looked forward to, and it has made the Christmas holiday season as special as it is. First, on Christmas Eve my family cooks the Feast of the Seven Fishes. This feast is traditionally an Italian American event that is believed to be linked to the meaning of the number seven in the Catholic Church. The number seven in the Church, with a wide array of importance, could represent the seven Sacraments of the faith, the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, or the Seventh Day of the week, commonly known as The Lord’s Day. 

While there are many different ideas of how and why the Feast of the Seven Fishes came to be, it is still an annual staple in many households. While my family’s menu changes every year, we usually have a mix between seven fish and seafood dishes. This year we will be having baccalà (salted cod), scallops, clams, mussels and linguine, shrimp, crab cakes and tilapia. We try to incorporate all of my family members’ favorite dishes as well as keep some of the seafood dishes, such as baccalà, which would be considered more traditional, a main item for dinner.

After our Christmas Eve meal, my entire family will go to Midnight Mass at our local parish. Growing up Catholic, especially attending Catholic school, it was always a tradition to attend mass on Christmas Eve, but as my younger brother and I started to get older, we started to attend Midnight Mass. This part is not for everyone, as by the end of Christmas Eve, mostly everyone is tired and ready for bed; but I always enjoyed going with my family to mass. For me, it is a special experience to be awake for the early hours of Christmas Day with my family and celebrate the real meaning of the holiday season as a community. 

Fast forward a few weeks after Christmas, on Jan. 5, Epiphany Eve, my family grew up with the folktale of “La Befana,” or the Italian witch. La Befana is an Italian witch who was a kind, old woman who brought little gifts, such as toys, candy or other small items, to the children who had behaved that year. Every Epiphany Eve, I would leave my shoes outside and wake up the next morning to small items in my shoes. I was always taught that La Befana was up at night rewarding the good children and spreading the news that Jesus was the Messiah who would save us all, keeping with the traditional Epiphany teaching. 

Perhaps I have outgrown some traditions, but each of them has created memories that have impacted my holiday season and allowed me to fully appreciate my culture and family. I am grateful for all of the sacrifices that generations of my family endured so that I may be able to celebrate accomplishments and achievements that were simply dreams to my ancestors. I love my Italian American heritage, and while not everyone celebrates exactly the same around the country or even in Italy, it’s what I have grown up with and am proud to celebrate!

Claire Herquet & Peyton Harris, Editors

Imagine a morning on campus without the hum of espresso machines, the smell of fresh coffee and matcha lattes, or a reliable spot on main campus to refuel between classes and sit with our colleagues. With the imminent closure of Starbucks in our Student Union, this is the reality we are facing. In an email released to the student body, Dr. Gaby shared that Starbucks will soon be replaced with a “vibrant space featuring new dining and beverage options designed to elevate your campus experience.”

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, the news of Starbucks’ impending closure spread rapidly across campus and its neighboring communities. Students woke up to several posts on Instagram and Fizz social app sharing details about the store’s contract termination at La Salle. As a result, it is expected to close before the start of our Spring 2025 semester. Student workers at Starbucks, speaking under anonymity, told Collegian staff that they were originally informed of the planned closure in September.

The Student Government Association (SGA) met Wednesday evening, with the news of the closure on their agenda. “The school is ending the contract because over the years there has not been any expected financial benefit from Starbucks. So, they will have a replacement which we do not know yet (but it might be ready made coffee),” says an anonymous member of SGA relaying information to the Collegian staff.

“Since prices have been going up, I think their [Starbucks] sales might have gone down sadly. I hope that maybe the students can convince the school to keep Starbucks open since we all love it,” says an anonymous student worker at Founders Brew.

Starbucks is located on the main campus, arguably where most students are during the school day. It has always been accessible and familiar; since it is a branded food and drink option, most customers know what they’re getting and can stop quickly between classes, athletics, meetings or other commitments during the week. Without it, there will be a noticeable gap, given the lack of other branded choices on campus, making the closure all the more disappointing for busy students and faculty alike.

We spoke to various students today asking them what they think about the news. “This morning I found out from some of the Starbucks employees that they are planning to close in December. I am furious,” said a student who wishes to remain anonymous.

“I’m actually very upset about it closing,” said junior Cassidy McGonigle. “It’s a big place where people study. Although we have the library, if you go into Starbucks, you’ll always see students and professors studying and doing partner work. It’s not gonna be the same.”

There is a petition on change.org regarding its closure, written by an anonymous student. The bio states: “While the replacement is unknown, it’s highly unlikely whatever it is will have the same variety and quality of drink and food that Starbucks offers.” So far, there have been 329 verified signatures and several comments asserting that they do not want Starbucks to go. The number of endorsers for this petition continues to climb.

In key features to the new space in the email, the administration shared that La Colombe Coffee Roasters will be served. They will feature rotating menu options and will be accepting Meal Exchange all-day. Possibly the largest change from the current Starbucks space will be “expanded evening hours with a twist (top)—beer on tap and various cans available at designated times.”

The University community remains shocked at the sudden news. “With the revelations that student workers were told as far back as September, students have a right to feel angry at the hidden nature of this news. Why would something so iconic to campus, specifically the Union – something directly pointed out to prospective students on their tours – be taken away without input from the broader university community?” says an anonymous transfer student at La Salle. 

“It’s a great time to be an Explorer—we can’t wait for you to come back for the spring semester to enjoy this new, fun, and exciting dining experience and raise a glass (or a coffee cup) to celebrate”, the administration shared. The future of coffee (and beer) on this campus remains uncertain with less than three weeks before finals and students returning home for the break. However, one thing is for certain– the outpour of sadness Explorers are facing. Many Explorers feel angry and blindsided while others simply want answers on why.

Jamila Robinson, Staff Writer

The election has concluded, ending the flood of texts, calls, commercials and requests for financial contributions to encourage you to vote. We hope you took the opportunity to exercise your right to vote, and regardless of your choice, the process is now complete. Witnessing that Philadelphia remained unharmed despite concerns about potential unrest following the election results was reassuring. A city-wide emergency plan was indeed prepared for such situations, as is standard practice.

As we usher in a new administration that prepares to assume power, with promises of major changes to the federal government, we the people await the hours, days and months that are ahead. To that point, how are you feeling right now; how are you coping and managing? It was certain that no matter how it ended, some people would feel great and some would despair. No matter how you are feeling, please be respectful of everyone’s perspective. Additionally, the major question many have is what will this Trump/Vance presidency mean for us?

So many are filled with extreme anxiety and uncertainty; we remember what the Trump/Pence administration was like and no, not everyone survived, you can see those exact numbers here. What we do know is there are discussions now that Trump will be removing agencies of the news media outlets, dismantling government offices and positions. 

Additionally, there will be mass deportations of non-citizens and the utilization of the military against the radical left inside the country, i.e., student protesting on college campuses, will be more closely controlled. There is also the possibility of the official pardon of members of the Proud Boys and those that were directly involved in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. All these things will directly affect us, our families and those we love and care about. 

However, no matter what happens, we all will be experiencing it together and it is with hope that we do not become enemies to each other. We hope that the love and respect for our neighbors, friends, families and colleagues will remain safe, respectful and civil. 

Unfortunately, there has been some very alarming imagery of how “not to act” continuously thrown at us, and this is not the right way. Hateful rhetoric and harmful presentations are not the way we as humans should act. We should attempt to carry ourselves with a higher standard of tolerance and dignity. Hate only begets violence which only begets us harm. The scriptures are necessary to carry and quote; but let us not forget using our common sense also is a major requirement during these times of change.

We should move forward and remain focused on our plans for the betterment of ourselves, should you need to talk with someone to further discuss how you are feeling and coping, please do and connect with others to help you navigate. Do not allow what is to come to consume you, nor steal your joy!

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” – Deuteronomy 31:8

Chude Uzoka-Anofienem, Staff Writer

Last month, three prominent YouTubers, MrBeast, Logan Paul and KSI launched “Lunchly”, a brand of lunch kits for kids to take to school. I guess it serves as a direct competitor to Lunchables. When I was a kid, Lunchables were the hottest thing on the market. Everybody was jealous of the kid who brought Lunchables to school with them. Everybody wanted them for their lunch. The only problem is that they were disgusting. Some processed cheese and circles of a meat product that you put between a couple crackers. Sometimes you might even get a mini chocolate bar or candy for “dessert.” Even the creator of Lunchables wouldn’t feed them to his children.

The three YouTubers were met with criticism for this, which was pretty much expected. YouTubers selling products to children? Thank goodness! For far too long, children have been deprived of the opportunity to incessantly beg their parents for the latest cheaply made plastic treasure advertised to them by someone their age, dressed as a superhero, screaming into a camera at 9 a.m. on a Tuesday.

Who needs public education when little Johnny can learn the value of consumerism at the tender age of five, all thanks to Ryan’s FunTime Explosion Awesome Squad? I mean, let’s face it: if your child doesn’t already have a bedroom full of branded figurines and merch from their favorite YouTuber, are they even being raised properly?All jokes aside, let’s actually talk about Lunchly.

The way these creators are pushing it, is that Lunchly is a “healthier” alternative to Lunchables. They have a section called “US vs. THEM” on their website where they compare the nutritional value. It’s junk vs. slightly better junk. The “-ier” in “healthier” must be doing a lot of heavy lifting, because in the end, it is just some crackers, cheese and heavily processed meat. Lunchly also contains a chocolate bar called Feastables and a hydration drink called Prime in each box. 

The whole idea seems more like a way to boost their sales. Logan Paul claimed that Lunchables had lead in it and was immediately reminded that Prime, which he owns, has at least three pending claims against it. The quality of this product is definitely up for debate considering that someone found mold in their kit a week after launch, suggesting it’s been sitting in a warehouse for quite some time.

If the product was marketed more as some kind of status symbol for many kids who watch these guys on YouTube, it would at least be more honest. I’m not against the general idea of marketing to kids. That may have something to do with the fact that I grew up in an era where TV shows were marketed to directly cater towards kids. Without it, shows like Transformers and G.I. Joe wouldn’t even exist.

The rules are different now, of course. The FCC recently issued $3 million in fines to TV stations that played Hot Wheels toy ads during a Hot Wheels cartoon, can’t do that anymore. You can make a Hot Wheels cartoon show and air ads for Hot Wheels toys or video games, but you can’t play them at the same time. 

Kids don’t do their own grocery shopping, so the question is will parents spend an extra dollar a lunch, $5 dollars a week, $200 a year, because their kid wants the YouTuber lunch? Must be a gamble, which brings me to the real reason why I don’t think these guys should do this: they aren’t very good at it. In response to the criticism, Logan Paul said “We spent our lives creating content and building our brands”, and he continued “Now we want to build businesses”.

So far, the businesses you built, Logan, are a crypto game that failed and duped a bunch of your fans that you talked into buying NFTs for a game that never got made and Prime is also tanking, with Paul backing out of a deal he made with the bottling company Refresco when he didn’t sell enough product. They are now suing him for breach of contract. Your brother started a school years ago. How’s that doing? 404 on the website, huh? Guess he’s free from worrying about those finances. 

MrBeast is still trying to scrape his name off of that awful burger company and they’re countersuing. He’s also facing a class action lawsuit from the contestants of an Amazon reality show he created, alleging unsafe working conditions and sexual harassment. It seems that the fame is fleeting and they’re trying to keep their little economy afloat by starting businesses that may outlast their YouTube careers.

Companies like Monster, McDonald’s, Hershey’s and of course, Lunchables, have established a legacy, as they’ve been around for a while, ranging from 22 years to over 100. That’s what these guys want. I know that’s what Logan wants. As he even used the birth of his child to promote it. All class, this guy. But maybe in 20 years that kid will grow up and one of his friends has a Lunchly box. He can say, “my dad made that,” and if the universe really has a sense of humor, that kid will say, “who’s your Dad?” “The guy who hired people convicted of crimes against children or the guy who filmed a dead body in Japan and ripped people off with NFTs?” It’s only then, that these legacies will truly be preserved better than the meat products you’re selling.

Jamila Robinson, Staff Writer

If you’ve engaged with any media in recent years, you might have noticed a familiar figure recurring in television shows, films and movies: the Devil himself. His presence is unmistakable, known by various names such as Lucifer, Satan and Beelzebub. With Halloween just around the corner, it seems fitting to address this ancient character. We do not wish to diminish the seriousness of this figure, as we are a respected Catholic institution of higher learning. This is a space for thoughtful dialogue, but we would like you to please tread carefully; if you believe in the concept of good, you must also recognize the existence of evil. Why are we so okay with saying his name, viewing his image and watching the carnage he orchestrates?

Could it be that “Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself?” as said by Hermione Granger, a character from “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” by J.K. Rowling. It was once very true for many. The fear of saying his name, even allowing it into your thoughts was a complete and utter no. But that has clearly changed as we are seeing this character plastered on screens across the world, and so many people have become very comfortable with it. It makes you consider the question: are we even fearful of the Devil anymore? 

In November, 2021, Pew Research reported that 62% of American adults believe in Hell; that is an increase from 58% in 2014, and pop culture appears to be taking full advantage of the curiosity that surrounds the Devil, Hell and its inhabitants. The Devil is front and center in movies, TV shows, podcasts and even children’s books. There are Satan After School Clubs, these proliferating Satanist groups even have their own political divisions. Not since 1973, when The Exorcist was a cultural phenomenon on its way to becoming the first horror film to earn an Oscar nomination for Best Picture has Satan been such a popular topic. 

We are humans. We crave spirituality, but a Gallup poll in 2021 noted that for the first time in U.S. history less than half of all Americans were members of a church, synagogue or mosque. And to fill the void, many are embracing a rejection of received social customs and expected behavioral norms in favor of embracing “me-first” pleasure. The adoption of Satan as a figurehead is merely another “shock” ceiling the movement has broken through. New-age, the occult, witches, warlocks, Satan—people are intrigued, and Hollywood feeds it to us. Hollywood is selling us demonic activity, and the masses are enjoying it. However, I must caution you that curiosity with respect to demons is dangerous, and meddling with the occult is flat-out not wise. 

Additionally, if we venture further beyond movies, TV shows, books and a bunch of video games featuring the devil, there is The Satanic Temple, which boasts of being the only religious organization recognized as a church by the IRS and the Federal Court System, given other church’s hadn’t the need to fight court battles in order to be recognized as such.

Regardless of your religious beliefs, it’s clear that Hollywood movies and TV shows have significantly influenced the public’s perception of the devil and evil. These portrayals can range from frightening to humorous, presenting a rather unsettling perspective. As the Halloween season approaches and you dive into parties, traditions, games and candy, it’s essential to be mindful of what you expose yourself to. Remember, “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” Here, we present a small selection of movies and series where the Devil is featured, mentioned or makes an appearance.

Kenneth Lynch, Staff Writer

VARIABLES

Dozens of different variables and letters, the “x”’ is involved and you are asking “y”? I am here to lecture you that math is equivalent to a mental breakdown. Some might say they lead to breakdowns, but that’s a different story… Every person you meet represents a letter, in one form or another, and they are involved in an equation. They either help you get the answer or are the problem. How many letters are creating problems in your life? Once you figure that out, ask yourself: is your equation solved? Solving one equation often leads to the spiral of another problem. 

EQUATIONS

The most challenging equations are those where you are unsure of where to start. Despite your efforts to solve them, you realize the problem might be unsolvable. Such friendships should not exist. However, there are times when an equation has repeated occurrences of the same letter, it becomes solvable. These often symbolize social circles, friend groups or family members. When these variables balance each other out, they vanish from your equation, leaving you with nothing.

EXPONENTS
The most irritating type of equations are when they are squared or even cubed. This means they are one problem times itself two or three times. These equations often represent doubt or self-deprecating individuals in relationships (whether they are romantic or platonic). You belittle yourself so much that the variable in your life increasingly feeds on your own worries.

RADICALS

When people say they don’t like change, I say, “Wait until you meet a constant.” I am not much of an outside type person, so I often take coverage within my radical. My friends who are outside of my shelter invite me to leave my roots, but when I do, I constantly feel like the odd one out.

FRACTIONS

Do not get me started about numerators or denominators. I have friends that prioritize their needs over me. You can see this recurring pattern with people when they cannot progress in life unless their friends in the denominator are all the same. The only time it is acceptable to be in the bottom is when you are their “1.” A fraction over one can be simplified to the value on the top. In this case, they view you as an equal to them. Keep those friends.

NUMBERS

Numbers kind of suck. A timeline of infinite numbers that decides your future. Four numbers announce the year of your graduation, a group of digits that rely on whether or not you eat or starve another day, the number of likes on a blatant, over-brightened beach post. Time is moving pretty fast. 1,568 days ago I was thirteen, and in sixty five days, I will be nineteen. I despise birthdays. They reveal ages and act as a reminder of how close you are to receiving the time of your death. A timeline of people predicted to be wiped out by the minute hands. 

Joseph Battista, Editor

Getting canceled on has to be in the top three worst feelings in the world. Honestly, I am pretty sure animals feel it too: I’ve seen the pain in my dog’s eyes when the daily walk is skipped. Like forgetting about leftovers after they’re too far gone, the feeling is an indescribable anguish of what could have been but never was. Sadly, for fans of the Looney Tunes, this is reality. Warner Bros. canceled the Looney Tunes film “Coyote vs. Acme,” a fully finished $70 million production, in November 2023.

Sit in the shoes of a Looney Tooner. It has been a year since the announcement trailer for your favorite franchise’s next release. Eagerly, you have waited in anticipation for the release. But then, the movie gets canceled. Worst of all, the movie is fully finished but not worth the effort of releasing, so it will be shelved away for you to never see just to save the producer’s pockets. Unless there were changes that allowed companies to save some coin on canceled projects while still allowing the public access.

Discarding finished movies for profit’s sake sucks, not only for franchise fans but for everyone. It restricts the breadth of expression art provides. No longer can these films entertain or inspire. Yet, that was their whole purpose, the reason teams sunk hours of effort and passion into the project to begin with. Warner Bros. is the only winner in this situation, while everyone else suffers a loss.

This film is not the first, but the third sacrificial lamb to the god known as tax write-offs for Warner Bros., the previous two being, “Batgirl” and “Scoob Holiday Haunt”. Warner Bros. has not cited a reason for the cancellation. But, Deadline reports the film’s cancellation is being used as a $30 million tax write-down, shown in Warner Bros. Q3 reports. Likely, these films were projected to be monetary losses, after marketing costs are factored in, so despite their completion, they are cut so that company profits can be preserved.

A simple proposal that likely is way more nuanced (which is for the professionals to work out, not me) is for the IRS to allow these canceled films to be released by a medium that cannot generate profit for the organization. Perhaps the film can be donated to a non-profit to host, a government database, or something of the like. It would be like Daffy Duck coming back from the dead, reanimated for his fan’s excitement. Publishers of the film could maintain the goodwill of fans while also getting their cost savings.