Kylie McGovern, Editor

On May 7, La Salle University’s Spring Full Semester Courses End, and the Spring Full Semester Final Examinations will be on Monday May 8, Tuesday May 9, Wednesday May 10 and Thursday May 11. Final exam time seems to draw students to the library and into a more stressful state of affairs as they prepare for final exams, end-of-semester projects and papers. However, the university and The Collegian have some tips to mitigate some of the stress that comes at the end of a semester. 

La Salle Student Wellness Services and the Office of Student Conduct are helping students prepare for finals week by making their own survival kit on May 1 from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. in the Union Lobby. On May 2, La Salle Student Wellness Services and the Art History Club are teaming up to give students an opportunity to take a break from studying and enjoy some creative art therapy from 12:00 p.m. until 2 p.m. in the Union Lobby. On May 5, Student Wellness Services and the Office of Residence Life will present Pause for Paws, an event for students featuring adorable animals brought to campus for an hour of snuggles. This event will be from 12:00 p.m. until 2 p.m. on the Quad, and it is part of Student Wellness Services Stressbusters Week, the week leading up to final exams. 

Aside from the stress relief from La Salle Student Wellness Services, La Salle’s academic support department will offer an opportunity for students to take a moment to reflect on the semester so they can make an effective plan for final exams, papers, and projects.  In this workshop, students will organize themselves, set goals and learn active study techniques to prepare for finals. This event will be on Monday May 1 at 5 p.m. on a Get Ready for Finals Zoom.

The La Salle library also has lots of study resources. The current hours are Monday from 8:00 am – 12:00 am, Tuesday from 8:00 am – 12:00 am, Wednesday from 8:00 am – 12:00 am, Thursday from 8:00 am – 12:00 am, Friday from 8:00 am – 6:00 pm, Saturday from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm and Sunday from 12:00 pm – 12:00 am. The Library also typically offers extended hours during the week of finals. The Library has 24-hour online chat with a librarian, sources for papers, online and free access to various databases, research support and more. In addition to these stress-busters and resources, it is helpful to connect with professors during office hours, create study groups to stay accountable, eat healthy meals and get enough sleep. 

Kylie McGovern, Editor 

April has been a busy month for student activities at La Salle University. A range of events has filled La Salle students’ calendars from athletics, the arts, wellness, greek life, and more. La Salle Wellness’s programs this month begin with a Take-Back the Night event on April 4. This event was an opportunity for La Salle community members to gather and share stories of “survivorship, hope, and advocacy.” This event is aimed at taking a stand against sexual violence. This event included music and sign making, group and confidential discussion, and s’mores and hot chocolate after the program! From April 11 until April 14 La Salle Wellness hosted the clothesline project to honor survivors of sexual violence.  Students were encouraged to stop by the Union between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to decorate a shirt and share a story of love, support, or survivorship for Campus Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The shirts were then displayed in the Union. During the rest of the month La Salle Wellness will host a planting event about “seeding your dreams” and a mental health roundtable on April 20. 

Late night La Salle hosted a s’mores event after the Masque’s production of “Drinking Habits.” This play is about two religious nuns who secretly make alcohol, but two reporters are suspicious of their activities.  In addition to this event, Late Night La Salle also hosted a popcorn event and plans to host an event in partnership with OLAS, one with different kinds of cookies, a PJ party and movie night and a tea tasting. 

On April 18 the career center will host one of their spring career check-ins. These check-ins are a series of tabling events geared toward the graduating senior class, and any other students looking for career-related assistance. This is a chance for students to check in on their career prep and exploration with the Career Peers & Counselors in the Union Lobby. They will be there ready to answer any questions and provide you with handouts.

On April 25 there will be an around-the-world wine-tasting event for students who are 21 years old. Students can enjoy an evening of food and wine pairings from around the world. Wines from 5 different countries will be featured with a brief history provided. 

On April 26 La Salle Student’s Government Association will host a General Assembly meeting, which is open to all members of the student body. 

Off-campus, students have a rich selection of activities. On Sunday, April 23 from 11 a.m. until  5 p.m. students can head to nearby Manayunk for the annual StrEAT Food Festival where they can enjoy food, shopping and music. In addition, on April 30 La Salle Students will be running in the Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run 10-Miler which has been a proud Philadelphia tradition for over 40 years.

Kylie McGovern, Editor 

La Salle University students will be departing for travel studies over the spring break this week. There are two classes participating in travel studies this semester. MKT 305: International Marketing led by Dr. Swee-Lim Chia. will travel to Germany and France and Dr. Volpe will be traveling with his HON 336: Contesting Narratives Versions of Vietnam War class to Vietnam. La Salle University believes in the importance of providing students with a global perspective that helps to connect local and wider world issues. The intent of La Salle’s travel/study courses is to help bridge cultural divides and prepare our students to be citizens of the world. Travel study courses are semester-long courses taught at La Salle, with a 7 to 10 day trip over spring break. Travel studies courses have been to Germany, China, Chile, France, Quebec, Bermuda and England. 

The Vietnam travel course is taught by Philosophy department professor Dr. Volpe, a Vietnam war veteran. Through the class, Dr. Volpe and his students have read histories, memoirs, fiction and poetry. They have also watched documentaries and dramas. The class has examined different perspectives of the war through this media. The class’ travels will not only be informed, animated and directed by their readings, but also by their attempt to identify the ways in which the Vietnamese represent what they call “the American War.” This group of 15 students accompanied by Dr. Volpe and other faculty will travel from Hanoi to Saigon with stops in Hue City, Khe Sanh and My Lai. Students in the Vietnam travel study are eager to experience the nation where both the emotional and historical narratives they have studied take place. 

 Students in International Marketing class have been studying international business and comparative business practices. Adriana Puelo expresses her excitement about the class and the trip saying, “This class has taught us all about the global aspects of marketing and how it applies to the broader audiences, beyond the scope of one country. Specifically we focused on Germany and France. We learned a lot about its many areas of history, culture and various industries of those countries. We then put what we learned into action by actually traveling to Germany and France over spring break to visit the different companies we learned about!”

 This class gives students ​​a managerial view of the marketing function from a global perspective. It also describes and explores the complexities, problems, and opportunities of worldwide marketing. Eric Wilson, a student in the International Marketing travel study explains, “it has been very interesting to learn how businesses and products adapt to different cultures around the world. I’m excited to experience these cultures and see how business is done abroad during our time in Germany and France.” Another student, Jake Cooper, says, “This class is giving us a unique opportunity to immerse ourselves in different cultures to better understand how business is conducted overseas.” Both of these classes provide students with worldwide perspectives that are important to their education and later their professional lives. 

Kylie McGovern, Editor 

On Saturday, Feb. 18, Temple University police officer Chris Fitzgerald was shot and killed around 18th Street and Montgomery Avenue responding to a student who was being carjacked. Fitzgerald, 31, joined the force in October 2021. Fitzgerald’s wife and 4 children are mourning the loss of a father and husband. Fitzgerald was also an integral member of his community as a founding member of the Hood 2 Hood Run Series. 

A suspect, 18-year-old Miles Pfeffer is caught on video saying “give me the keys or I’ll kill you.” The suspect drove off in the car but was later picked up by his mother on 29th Street and Ridge Avenue. Pfeffer was arrested on the 2300 block of Quarry Road in Bucks County around 7 a.m. Sunday. Pfeffer was charged with Murder, Murder of a law enforcement officer, Robbery, Carjacking, Carrying a firearm without a license and possession of an instrument of crime. 

A growing memorial for the fallen officer has also been started by fellow officers and his Temple community on the 1700 block of West Montgomery Avenue. Temple University released a statement that read: “Officer Fitzgerald gave his life to selflessly serve and defend this community. The courage and bravery he displayed highlights the day-to-day sacrifice made by our Temple University Police Officers to keep our community safe. This loss leaves an enormous hole in all of our hearts. He was a father, a husband, a son, a colleague, and a friend.”

Unfortunately, the La Salle community and the greater neighborhood are no strangers to violence. Last week, an undergraduate student was the victim of an armed carjacking at the intersection of 20th Street and Chew Avenue. Both La Salle Public Safety and the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) arrived within minutes of receiving notification from an eyewitness. In addition, there was a shelter in place on Wednesday, Feb. 15 for off-campus and St Katherine residents because of a situation at the 5700 block of N. Woodstock St. The Division of Student Development and Campus Life (SDCL) at La Salle University is proud to partner with the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) and its 35th District to provide the opportunity to attend one of two safety education sessions at 12:30–2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21, in Holroyd Hall atrium and 8–9:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 22, also in Holroyd Hall atrium. 

Editor’s Note: The Staff at The Collegian is thinking of Fitzgerald’s family and the Temple University community, as well as students here at La Salle affected by the incidents this week. 

Kylie McGovern, Editor

On Friday, Feb. 10 and Saturday, Feb. 11, La Salle University’s student theater group The Masque took the stage to perform Mavericks which consisted of five one-act plays both written and produced by students. The one-act plays this year were titled “Jimmy,” “The Breakup,” “Clowning Around,” “America’s Next Top” and “Over the Top.” Elia Nash and Crystal Barkie produced the show and Adian Tyksinski, Edward Cosgrove, Izzy Hill, and Joe James all directed one-acts. In addition, to the directors and producers, Adian Brant, Dang Ngyuen, Kyla Renegar, Lee Bishop and Maria Hernandez-Pancesso. Mercury Foderson served as VP of Technical Affairs. The carpenters were Jack Wagner, Allie Ringsdorf and Joni DeFilippo. Izzy Hill and Nigist Legesse worked together on the lighting. Dominic Grillo worked on the sound. 

The Mavericks ranged in genre and content from show to show. “Jimmy” was a humorous and thrilling story about friends running into bigfoot. “The Breakup” was an emotional one-act play about the trials of a relationship with a hint of humor throughout. “Clowning Around,” “America’s Next Top” and “Over the Top” were hilarious enough to make the audience erupt in laughter throughout. 

The Masque’s productions are often at the same time as a Late Night La Salle event. These events often have snacks and games so many students both in the plays and audiences headed to enjoy some chocolate-covered strawberries after the show. 

In addition to Mavericks, the Masque performs monthly improv shows. There are a few improv shows on the calendar for Feb. 18, March 4, March 25 and April 1. All the improv shows begin at 7 p.m. Later on in the semester, the Masque will perform their spring play “Drinking Habits” on April 14. This play is about two religious nuns who secretly make alcohol, but two reporters are suspicious of their activities.  

Through all of these performances, The Masque of La Salle University aims to provide students with opportunities to experience the theatrical arts whether on stage, off stage or in the audience. The Masque is committed to various goals through their work. These goals include, service through the development of productions, education of its members about theater and developing an appreciation for it, and the development of the theater community.    

Editor’s Note: I want to extend congratulations to all those involved with the Masque. Your performances unite the student body and provide a unique form of entertainment that creates a sense of community. I look forward to future shows.