Author: Kylie McGovern

The Rounds feature: zero-waste delivery of everyday essentials

Business

Kylie McGovern, Editor

Header Image: The Rounds

The Rounds is a company focused on delivering everyday essentials in a more sustainable way compared to large corporations like Amazon. Two University of Pennsylvania alumni, Alexander Torrey and Byungwoo Ko, used their skills to develop The Rounds in 2019 and the two now lead a growing company working towards bringing sustainability and convenience to cities across the United States.

The Rounds’s goal is to be a local type of delivery that delivers low-waste household, personal care, pantry, baby and pet items right to your door. Their website explains that “The Rounds is a zero-waste refill and delivery service for the stuff you use every day. We keep your kitchen, bathroom and vanity stocked with local favorites and sustainable basics.” These essentials are delivered to doorsteps via e-bikes — just one of the ways The Rounds reduces their carbon footprint. 

The Rounds launched in Center City, Philadelphia, but has since expanded to surrounding neighborhoods like Fairmount, Fishtown, Graduate Hospital, Queen Village, Manayunk, Chestnut Hill and Germantown. In addition, The Rounds is expanding to Washington, D.C., and is preparing to launch in Miami soon. The sustainable company is already seeing environmentally positive results because the neighborhoods have experienced a reduction in trash since using the service. The Rounds estimates that its members will save an average of 50 pounds of package waste from their homes each year.

The Rounds boasts their environmentally-conscious message by using zero-waste packaging, including reusable containers and bags. Customers can leave their empties on their doorsteps and The Rounds swaps them out for new ones. The company explains that this model is like the modern day milkman, but for all essential goods. As for the actual products, The Rounds partners directly with manufacturers and local businesses to give their customers the highest quality, most sustainable staples. 

The rounds utilizes a membership business model, so there are no delivery fees and the weekly refills are included with your membership, which is $5.95 a month. With a membership customers get access to:

Truly free delivery and no order minimums

Overall, The Rounds is a step into the future of environmentally-conscious consumerism and was begun by our fellow Philadelphian students. Their success shows your passion can turn into a business idea or, better yet, a business idea that will help the local and global communities someday.

La Salle’s new menstrual product pilot program

News

Kylie McGovern, Editor 

Isabelle Pope poses with the feminine hygiene products in the Union

On Feb. 16 La Salle University’s Students Government Association (SGA), Residence Life Association and All Women Every Color (AWEC) teamed up to announce a feminine hygiene initiative to provide tampons, pads and panty liners to students and faculty at La Salle University funded by the campus activity fund. @Lasallesga posted a video on Instagram to launch the menstrual product pilot program making period products available in St. Kat’s and the Union for women on campus, but also for any student regardless of their gender by having some baskets outside of the restrooms as well. Isabelle Pope, the president of SGA; Jua Brooks, co-founder and co-president of AWEC and Acie Barry, co-founder and co-president of AWEC explained the initiative via this Instagram video. This initiative has been in the works since 2019 and today the three organizations came together to announce their progress. SGA encourages anyone to reach out to them with any question as well as using the QR codes next to the products to provide feedback. This initiative will continue for the rest of the semester and if successful this program will likely continue in the future. 

In 2021, bills related to period equity were introduced in 37 states, according to Women’s Voices For The Earth, a nonprofit advocacy group. However, only five states require schools to provide menstrual products. Recently, California became the latest state to mandate that public schools and colleges stock free pads, tampons and other products in their restrooms. Therefore, this initiative at a private and small school like La Salle is a triumph for adequate menstrual product access. 

Barry explains that AWEC is “an organization founded by myself and Jua that is intended to be a safe space for women of color and allies alike on campus to join together and have important conversations. We are dedicated to creating social bonds within our organization and other organizations on campus all whilst also engaging in philanthropic efforts within the local community. We partnered with La Salle SAVE and hosted a hygiene product drive where we collected various items such as pads, tampons, razors, body wash, etc. and will be donating to a local organization called Women Against Abuse. Since the beginning of last semester, we have been researching period poverty amongst students and working with SGA and RSA to make menstrual products free and accessible to more students on campus. The pilot program started today and will run through the course of the year. Hopefully, if everything goes well, they will be in the majority of bathrooms across campus next year.”

In addition, Pope explained that originally, the proposal was supposed to be to get better dispensers in all of the women’s restrooms. The university explained that this was logistically difficult and expensive because matentience would have to be involved. So, baskets with free products seem easier and faster. The project began primarily with SGA in 2019 and 2020. But, by the end of 2021, the process was tough because of COVID-19 and funding issues. However, things began to look up when Pope joined as a member of AWEC and AWEC discussed access to feminine hygiene products. Pope made a connection between the two projects. The partnership made the entire project much faster, and Pope calls the collaboration a “huge learning experience.” She looks forward to cultivating better relationships with all the clubs on campus. 

La Salle’s business school gets its Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation extended

News

Kylie McGovern, Editor

Header Image: Photo courtesy of Kimmel Bogrette

On Feb. 8, La Salle University announced that the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) extended its accreditation of La Salle University’s School of Business through 2027. This accreditation involves a rigorous review process every five years. To achieve accreditation, the school or program must adhere to quality standards like business management and knowledge through faculty scholarship, high-impact teaching and curricula, meaningful interaction between faculty and students and the achievement of specific learning goals. The AACSB accreditation is considered the highest standard of excellence in business education. This accreditation is prestigious because less than five percent of the 13,000 business schools globally earn AACSB accreditation. Therefore, this accreditation makes La Salle’s School of Business one of the leading business schools in the world. 

Yusuf Joseph Ugras, Ph.D,  professor of accounting and the school of business’s  interim dean, explains, “AACSB accreditation is a source of tremendous pride for our faculty, staff, students, and alumni and it serves as the benchmark credential of exemplary business education—one that is reserved for the top tier of business schools globally.” He continues saying, “earning this accreditation extension from AACSB further validates the quality of our teaching, learning, and programmatic offerings at La Salle.” 

According to the AACSB, business schools should familiarize their faculty and administration with the AACSB accreditation guiding principles and standards along with the initial accreditation process. Taking the time to understand the accreditation process and standards before submitting an eligibility application provides a greater understanding of AACSB accreditation, which is typically reflected in a school’s application. To maintain this accreditation, La Salle’s business school must pay an annual fee of $5,950 and maintain the AACSB’s quality standards. This accreditation to last until 2027 is positive news for the business school in particular as well as the posterity of the entire university. 

Member of the business school Nicholas “Nicky” Signoretta, who is studying business systems and analytics (BSA) and finance said that this accreditation is “exciting for me and my classmates in the business school as well. I feel like getting the AACSB accreditation extended only makes my degree more valuable while also congratulating the business school for its prestige that its students already know. I am so proud to be a part of this program and I am excited for what the future holds now that its AACSB accreditation has been extended.” 

Eagles launch program for female athletes

Sports

Kylie McGovern, Editor 

Header Image: NFL

To celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day, the Philadelphia Eagles announced a  female sports equipment donation and the creation of a high school girls flag football league, providing more opportunities for girls to participate in sports. The Philadelphia Eagles are launching the flag football league for female athletes in the Philadelphia area as well as donating the equipment for this league. The goal of this project is to encourage more females to be involved in sports, especially in a male-dominated sport like football. 

“This is a chance to really be first, go first in the league to support girls and women in this capacity,” explains Jen Kavanagh, senior VP for marketing and media for the Eagles. The Eagles tweeted that they are “committed to providing more access to sports for girls, we are donating $100,000 worth of female sports equipment to @LPFsports and have worked with local high schools to create the 1st Girls Flag Football League in Philly.” 

Leveling the Playing Field, Inc. (LPF) is receiving this donation from the Eagles to redistribute sports equipment to expand access and equity within youth sports and recreation programs in under-resourced communities — in this case, high school girls in Philadelphia. 

In collaboration with the NFL Foundation, the Eagles purchased $100,000 worth of sports bras for girls in need and 6,000 sports bras will be donated to every female athlete that needs one in the school district of Philadelphia. “While it may not be as widely known, sports bras are yet another equipment barrier that can prevent girls from under-resourced communities from engaging in sports and are one of our most requested pieces of gear. This incredible donation of new, quality sports bras is helping to break down those gendered barriers and get more girls from the Philadelphia community off the sidelines,” said Kaitlin Brennan, director of operations at LPF. 

The league will consist of 15 schools based on interest level across the city’s public and Catholic schools for an eight-game season — one of which will be played on the Birds’ home field: Lincoln Financial Field. Each school will receive custom uniforms from Nike and NFL, flag kits, including equipment and instructional materials and a $3,000 stipend from the Eagles for costs associated with the implementation of a team.

This new league, one of the first of its kind, is a huge step for female athletes everywhere. The Eagles team is creating an opportunity for females in sports and working to level the playing field. 

La Salle needs to start recycling

Commentary

Kylie McGovern, Editor

Header image: lasalle.edu

Can La Salle please start recycling? I will get into research and logistics in a moment, but I am genuinely embarrassed and upset that I am writing this article in 2022 amid a literal climate crisis. Why would an institution of higher learning and research refuse to invest in recycling? I will never understand. 

There are recycling cans on main campus (which I personally think are probably just dumped into a dumpster with the regular trash) and the university claims on this website that the Grounds Division at La Salle University consists of technicians who are very knowledgeable in their profession. They are dedicated to keeping the La Salle Community looking exceptional and free of debris. Their tasks include the following: lawn maintenance, landscaping, removal of trash, recycling and snow removal, as well as the Custodial Division at La Salle University, who are responsible for trash/recycling pickup. However, there aren’t recycling bins in any of the residence halls. 

Living close to campus, I take a bag of recycling home every now and then because my conscience literally cannot bear throwing away single-use plastic just because I don’t have access to recycling at my apartment. 

There are many benefits to recycling: according to Eco-Cycle,  many items that are recycled can be repurposed into different things rather than sitting in landfill for the next 100+ years. For example, steel products can be recycled over and over again. In addition, plastic can be recycled into so many different things like carpet, clothing, auto parts and new bottles. Similarly, paper is recycled into new paper. Some types of paper can be recycled up to seven times. Just by recycling about 30 percent of waste every year, Americans could save the equivalent of 11.9 billion gallons of gasoline and reduce the greenhouse gas equivalent of taking 25 million cars off the road. In addition, the process of recycling can also create jobs as for every one job at a landfill, there are ten jobs in recycling processing and 25 jobs in recycling-based manufacturing.

This lack of proper and adequate recycling at La Salle is not the only issue — the University is being wasteful in other ways. The lights in the business building are kept on 24 hours a day, seven days a week! Also, can we talk about the straws and plastic utensils in the dining hall? This article is my call to action for La Salle University — both the administration and the student body — to put time and perhaps even money into making the university more sustainable. I learn about climate change in my classes and then exit the classroom to see vending machines full of plastic bottles that we do not have the resources to recycle, which seems a little backwards to me.

I think there are various solutions to La Salle’s recycling and sustainability issues, starting with turning off the lights in Founders Hall, providing recycling in residence halls and using more reusable materials in our dining halls. This is just a list of options I thought of in about 13 seconds. 

I know that there are perhaps logistical and financial barriers to these solutions on the front end, but in the future  if the university puts some funds into these things, the effects will certainly pay off both financially and environmentally. To both the higher ups at La Salle and its student body: let’s get better, because I do not want my grandchild to die from climate change or to be living the same non-recycled plastic in 50 years. If this enrages you also and you have answers regarding sustainability at La Salle, feel free to email me.

Daniel J. Allen will be La Salle’s 30th president 

News

Kylie McGovern, Editor 

Header Image: La Salle University

On Feb. 1, 2022 La Salle’s Board of Trustees Chair William W. Matthews, III, ’90, announced La Salle University’s 30th president. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Daniel J. Allen, Ph.D., as La Salle University’s new president. Dr. Allen’s presidency begins April 18. The search for the president was a nine-month long process that concluded with select finalists meeting with stakeholder groups across our broader university community in late January. The board of trustees explains that Dr. Allen emerged as their candidate of choice to lead La Salle University. Matthews explains in his message, “I have every confidence, as does the Board of Trustees, that Dr. Allen will build upon our impressive foundation and elevate La Salle to significant new heights.” In addition, interim president Tim O’Shaughnessy, ’85 will serve on the Executive Cabinet and provide support in the transition for Allen.

Since 2015, Allen has served at DePaul University in a vice presidential capacity, ending his career as Senior Vice President of Advancement and External Relations. Prior to that, he worked in Catholic higher education for over 20 years and received education from Catholic universities as he completed his Ph.D. in education with a concentration in higher education at Loyola University-Chicago and his M.A. and B.A. in English literature from Loras College. 

In his previous role, Allen provided, led and managed all fundraising, alumni relations and advancement communications strategies at DePaul University. In addition to his work at DePaul University, Allen served as the senior associate dean for external relations at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy as well as being Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Lewis University in Romeoville, IL, a Lasallian institution. President-elect Allen has expressed interest in the area of postsecondary educational access for low-income students. In addition, he has presented work on improving opportunities for academically qualified, low-income students to the Association for Institutional Research and has had his research published in “Research in Higher Education.” 

In addition to continuing this work at La Salle University, Allen is looking forward to including the voices of students, those in leadership positions and student organizations when planning for changes and goals. In a discussion with the Collegian editorial board, Allen said that one of his goals is for students to think their time at La Salle University “is as robust and as challenging as it can be” so that “students feel it is a vibrant experience.” In addition, Allen plans on being present on campus by attending student activities and sitting down to talk with students to better know and become part of our community at La Salle University. The Collegian staff welcomes President-elect Allen and looks forward to what his presidency has to offer. For more details of Allen’s sit-down with the Collegian, please look to our Editorial section this week.

Campus COVID-19 Update

News

Kylie McGovern, Editor  

La Salle University student wearing a mask on campus

On Jan. 5, La Salle University released an update on COVID-19 and the spring semester. This notice included information about a booster requirement, updating vaccine information, testing, masking and student programming. Regarding the vaccine, La Salle University is requiring all members of the campus community receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose within 30 days of eligibility to minimize the number of community members who may become infected or need to quarantine because of exposure. Those who are vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 will have more flexibility with quarantine and isolation protocols per newest CDC guidance. Some members of the La Salle community already have an approved exemption on file with the University and will continue to be exempt, but unvaccinated individuals must either double-mask or wear a KN95 mask while indoors per The Philadelphia Department of Public Health. La Salle University has created a deadline and community members must receive a COVID-19 booster shot and submit verification to the University by Tuesday, Feb. 15.

In addition, Once a member of the La Salle community has received the COVID-19 vaccine and/or booster, students and employees must update their vaccination records on file with the University. In addition, for non-residential students and employees, entry testing is available and strongly encouraged. Testing is available at no expense and without an appointment. In addition to residential student entry testing, The Treetops Café testing center has expanded the hours of operation. 

In addition, unvaccinated individuals are required to complete weekly testing. Students who do not comply with testing requirements will face disciplinary action through Student Conduct. Failure to comply with one test will result in a temporary restriction to campus. Failure to comply with two or more tests will result in suspension. Faculty or staff who do not comply with testing requirements will face disciplinary action through HR with action up to termination. However, there was a 95% vaccination rate as of Dec. 15, so only a small percentage of the community needs to adhere to this testing. 

Furthermore, masks continue to be a requirement in all indoor settings on La Salle’s campus. Since the omicron variant is more transmissible than previous variants, La Salle University recommends surgical-grade masks and KN95 masks. The University has a supply of surgical, N95, KN95, and University-branded cloth masks that are available to students and employees. Limited quantities of each supply can be obtained at the on-campus testing center at Treetops Café as well as in each residence hall security desk reception area and Union Information Desk. 

As for in-person extracurricular activities, student Organization Programs and Meetings will need to be virtual through the end of February. Student organizations are encouraged to wait on hosting in-person events until after February, after a review of the institutional positivity rate has been conducted. However, the university has identified some Office-led events to host in-person to provide some limited safe interaction, and student organizations will be permitted to table in the Student Union Lobby. Overall, with the week of in-person classes, La Salle is operating to best facilitate in-person learning while mitigating the risks of COVID-19. 

The semester should end before Thanksgiving

Commentary

Kylie McGovern, Editor 

Usually, if someone asks me about last fall semester, I will just groan about how much I hated Zoom. Although I despised an entirely online format last year, I loved the expedited semester that finished before Thanksgiving. I wish that this year we could have come to school two weeks earlier in August and began the semester two weeks sooner so that we could have finished classes and finals before Thanksgiving break, because my motivation at the end of this semester is at approximately zero.

A longer winter break that includes both Thanksgiving and the normally scheduled winter break would also give students the opportunity to perhaps work an internship, make some money, or just have uninterrupted rest.

In complaining to my friends about my lack of focus after the break, we can conclude that Thanksgiving break is a tease. The nice restful time spent with family to the jump to the end of semester assignments and finals has been brutal.

 If anyone has seen me attempt to do homework, my motivation is certainly sub-par. The other day I was writing a paper and had to listen to Cardi B’s “Money” to hopefully regain some focus to complete my work. If we had an expedited semester, the format would prevent Thanksgiving break from interrupting our motivation. In terms of other breaks, we already have fall break, which is a shorter and necessary break midway through the semester.

In conclusion, I support bringing back the expedited semester from last year. I would be happy to come to school two weeks early if that meant finishing two weeks early as well.

Presidential search update

News

Kylie McGovern, Editor 

          Via La Salle University  

On Dec. 3 La Salle University students received an email from The Presidential Search Committee regarding an update about the search for La Salle University’s 30th President. The Committee members convened just before Thanksgiving because the application period closed. The committee members reviewed application materials for the robust pool of qualified and intriguing candidates. The committee then assessed the candidates based upon the characteristics outlined in the position profile.

 The position profile is available to the public. It refines the group to those that best match such characteristics of the university’s next president. The position profile includes contact information and then explains the following: “La Salle University celebrates its mission, traditions, and identity as a Lasallian, Catholic, and comprehensive liberal arts institution that promotes excellence in teaching and respect for all people, as it seeks its next President. La Salle offers a remarkable leadership opportunity for its next president. With a mission-driven sense of direction and faithfulness to its values, the Board of Trustees is positioning La Salle and the next president to proactively enhance the university’s reputation for excellence and achieve national prominence. The board’s commitment provides important momentum and opportunity for the next president who will provide innovative thought leadership, create a bold and new strategic plan, build community on campus and in the broader Philadelphia area and achieve long-term growth and financial sustainability.” 

Sophomore Luke Szyszkiewicz explains that he is “frustrated about how long the search is taking,” however, he understands that the process of the presidential source should be done “meticulously and thoroughly.” 

These presidential candidates have been invited to an initial round of interviews with the Search Committee that will occur this month. The committee will provide additional updates as the committee’s important work continues.

La Salle ranked #1 in the nation for athlete graduation success rate

News

Kylie McGovern, Editor 

On Dec. 2 La Salle University was ranked among Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, Harvard, Holy Cross, Lafayette and Yale as number one in the nation for athlete graduation success rate. La Salle earned a near-perfect score of  99 on Graduation Success Rate (GSR) report. 

“La Salle student-athletes have proven year after year that they are fantastic representatives of our institution, both on the fields of play and in the classroom,” Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Brian Baptiste said. “The student-athlete experience at La Salle, to which our department is steadfastly committed, is centered around teaching and learning — two primary tenants of the Lasallian educational mission. We are thrilled that the hard work of our student-athletes has been recognized. This is a significant achievement that all Explorers should be proud of.”

11 La Salle teams received perfect scores of one hundred on the GSR report and the overall department score was first among all Atlantic 10 schools. The men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s cross country/track & field, women’s cross country/track & field, men’s golf, field hockey, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s swimming, women’s rowing and men’s rowing all received perfect scores.  

Since the GSR program launched, La Salle University has had 120 teams with a perfect score over the years. The women’s soccer program has been recognized 13 times, the most by a single La Salle program. This year is the women’s basketball team’s tenth consecutive year obtaining a perfect score. Additionally, the men’s basketball team has done so in each of the last seven years.