Author: News Staff

Fetterman, Shapiro, Biden, and Obama Visit North Philadelphia for Mid-Term Election Season

News

Mia Mattingly and Andrew Plunkett, Staff

via WHYY

On Sat. Nov 6, La Salle Students were fortunate enough to attend the Philadelphia grassroots event at Temple University’s Liacouras Center. Here, they spent their afternoon hearing from local, state, and federal leaders discuss the Democratic Party and their beliefs this election season. Some of these political leaders included La Salle alumni State Rep. Joanna McClinton and Rep. Dwight Evans, Lieutenant Governor candidate Austin Davis, current Governor Tom Wolf, incumbent Senator Bob Casey, and many other prominent leaders of the Democratic Party. A common trend among the speeches was the main goals for this midterm election. These include: creating pro-choice policies, funding public education, allowing the unionization of workers, combatting gun violence, and ensuring democracy for the future of our country.

While there are several tight races across the nation, Pennsylvania is again at the center of the political world. In the race for United States Senate, John Fetterman hopes to solidify a Democratic majority in the Senate over Republican Dr. Memhet Oz. The campaign between the two has been tight and has featured a ruthless political advertising campaign. Fetterman has criticized Oz’s allegiance to the commonwealth and personal character, while Oz has labeled Fetterman as a radical liberal and has attacked his health following a stroke Fetterman suffered this summer. Consequently, most polls find that the race is virtually tied heading into election day. 

Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro is running against Republican state senator Doug Mastriano at the state level . Mastriano, who was present at the January 6th insurrection and has been recently criticized for his antisemitic comments, faces a severe disadvantage. Shapiro holds a lead over Mastriano in both the polls and fundraising. An article from Penn-Live finds that Shapiro has outspent Mastriano by a margin of 6:1 and a recent Marist poll finds that Shapiro is leading Mastriano by 14 points (54%-40%). Nevertheless, the races in Pennsylvania are some of the most contentious in the country and have caught the eye of political leaders from around the country. 

As such, on Sat., both Democratic and Republican candidates made stops around the state to gain some last-minute traction and votes for their parties up and down the ballot. Mehmet Oz and Doug Mastriano traveled to rurals areas with former-President Donald Trump, where they called for stricter abortion laws and policies that is tougher on crime and immigration. It is also worth noting that Trump was adamant about the past presidential election being “rigged and stolen” and that he does not want to see that happen in Pennsylvania. On the flip side for the Democrats, John Fetterman and Josh Shapiro visited cities like Philadelphia, with President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama joining them on stage. 

After various state leaders made their case to the crowd, President Biden, former-President Obama, Fetterman, and Shapiro walked out on stage to encourage voters to get out to the polls on Nov. 8. Biden emphasized his legislative accomplishments, including the Inflation Reduction Act and the PACT Act and encouraged the crowd to vote for Fetterman and Shapiro. 

Shapiro promptly followed Biden, who commanded the room and was an engaging and passionate speaker. He emphasized being a governor for all the people of Pennsylvania, not just the ones who voted for him. On top of this, he reiterated the previously mentioned ideologies of the party and vetoed any anti-abortion law that was to come across his desk. 

Fetterman, who recently made headlines for having a stroke, engaged the audience with humor and confidence in his speaking. La Salle students admitted they were nervous to see him speak so publicly. However, the students who attended explained that Fetterman was concise and, quite honestly, if one did not know he had just suffered from a stroke, one would have had no idea by the way he spoke at that rally. In addition to a few zingers about Oz, Fetterman committed himself to protect reproductive rights and being the 51st vote in the United States Senate.  

After Fetterman and Shapiro spoke, Obama echoed Biden’s sentiments and encouraged the crowd to utilize their voices to enact real policy change. He was his usual charismatic self and captivated the room with his public speaking. Obama spoke about the importance of these elections and urged the crowd to get family and friends out to the polls. 

Writers’ Note: 

At the end of the rally, we left with a sense of pride and optimism toward the election. Not only were the candidates passionate about their stances, but the crowd was too. Josh Shapiro stated, “if you show up for me in two days…I’ll fight for you every day these next four years as your Governor,” and this sentiment stuck with us. 

These candidates are running to ensure democracy in our state and country and equality for all, which is something that is worth voting for. So, be sure to head out to the polls and vote on Tue, Nov. 8th, and vote for the future that you want to see, not only in Pennsylvania but in our country. 

Explore Career Options with the Explorer Shadow Program at La Salle University 

Features

Keri Marable, Staff

La Salle University offers many resources for career skill building and tries to position its students to be ready to enter the job field of their choice. One program strives to connect students with alumni or other professionals in the student’s field and gives them an opportunity to “shadow” professionals during a typical day of their work. Previous job shadow employers host partner companies, including the Eagles, Comcast, the Phillies, CBS, Penn Medicine, and more.

The Explorer Shadow Program takes place over winter break or a mutually convenient date for both the student and the host by Feb. 28th, 2023. Students get to network with professionals in their host’s workplace for a day, as well as observe, participate, and learn about the industry, the host’s role, and the organization. They receive a behind-the-scenes look at what professionals  in their field do and where they work by “shadowing” the host through a typical day’s activities. The day might include touring the office or place of business, meeting other staff members who work in distinct roles at the company, observing meetings, and working on small projects. A job shadow is also an ideal time to ask questions or get expertise and career advice.

Offered since the 2017-2018 school year, the program has served 260 students with Job Shadow matches. All students are eligible to take part in the Explorer Shadow Program at La Salle University. The Career Center recommends this program for students who are undecided about their career goals to explore options, students who are clarifying different options they are interested in, and students who know what field they want to go into and are ready to jump in. Students can participate in multiple sessions by reapplying and completing orientation each year. Students are expected to supply their own transportation to the job shadow site. The host of their organization will cover the cost of lunch.

The Student Program Contact, Noelle Stueck, believes this program can benefit any student at La Salle in a multitude of ways: “Explore a career field of interest, without the commitment of an internship, gain first-hand knowledge of a real work environment and on-the-job etiquette. Uncover opportunities for future careers. Connect directly with your host (an alumnus and/or other professional), who can serve as an excellent resource for career, job, and internship advice.”

Noelle recommends that students “come prepared with questions about the job, career field, the company, etc. in order to get the full experience of what the host does behind the scenes on a day-to-day basis.” She also highlights the importance of being able to enroll in the program each year: “Students have been able to see if the career they are interested in is the right path for them or create a contact and mentor from alumni to engage with about their future career path.” She adds that “the more involvement and growth this program has, the more likely it can expand into an every semester program where students can have multiple shadow experiences a year. It is an easy opportunity to gain experience in your field of interest and to continue building your resume.”

The application for the program is included on their online Canvas course. Students can enroll in the Explorer Shadow Program Canvas course at   https://lasalle.instructure.com/enroll/MGLEN6. Complete the first two modules of the Explorer Shadow Program Canvas course, including the application and orientation, by Oct. 14th, 2022. Students looking for more information can email the Student Program Contact, Noelle Stueck at stueck@lasalle.edu or the Program’s general email, shadow@lasalle.edu. Students can also stay updated on the program’s social media pages @lasalleuesp on Instagram and Facebook. More information can also be found on the La Salle University website at https://www.lasalle.edu/student-life/career-center/current-students-2/explorer-shadow-program/

The Nonprofit Center at La Salle University Offers Students Discounted Rates on Certificate Programs 

Features

Keri Marable, Staff

La Salle University’s well-renowned Nonprofit Center is a hidden gem amongst the students at La Salle. Despite being a beacon in the professional world of nonprofits in the Greater Philadelphia area and beyond since 1981, the students at La Salle know little about the Nonprofit Center, its offerings, and discounted rates for students.  

According to their website, the mission of the Nonprofit Center at La Salle University is “to build the capacity of the nonprofit sector.” While their primary focus has been the Greater Philadelphia region, they have a reputation in nonprofits throughout the country. 

The Nonprofit Center strives to enhance the “management, operations, and governance of nonprofit organization” through services including educational programs, consulting, leadership development and information sharing, with “the ultimate goal of enabling nonprofits to meet fully the needs of their communities.”

In accordance with their mission, the Nonprofit Center offers educational courses and certification programs. These certification programs include a certificate in Nonprofit Management and a certificate in Fundraising. Professionals can receive discounted certificate package prices by becoming a member of the Nonprofit Center. Undergraduate and graduate students receive a larger discounted rate on courses and certification programs. 

The Nonprofit Center’s web page on the Certificate in Nonprofit Management says it “provides…a diverse and well-balanced knowledge of nonprofit administration and operation.” The broad curriculum looks at the entire nonprofit ecosystem as a whole and in its individual components including board development, communications, financial management, fundraising, human resources, supervision, program evaluation, and strategic planning. The certification program aims to prepare “the leaders of our region’s nonprofit sector to be strategic, efficient and effective,” as stated on their webpage. 

They are offering the certificate in their traditional format (ten, full-day, in-person*, week day classes), as well as the option of online classes, both as a full-day and as evening sessions during the 2022-23 session. Participants can pick and choose from these options to complete the certificate over 5 months, 8 months or the 3 years given to attend all the classes. The center will also continue their partnership with Bucks County Community College, who will offer classes in a full-day and in-person option. The Nonprofit Center recommends this program to new executive directors, senior management on the leadership track, or anyone in the nonprofit sector looking to refresh their skills. 

The Nonprofit Center’s website describes the Certificate in Fundraising as being designed for anyone who wants to advance in the field of fundraising, even if they have no formal training in fundraising, but seek instruction in the basic skills and methods of resource development. 

The courses in this certificate provide a “foundation in the critical fundamentals of fundraising” and a continuation of “skills development in all the key areas of resource development.” The Nonprofit Center webpage on the Certificate in Fundraising says the program also gives participants a “strong grounding in the concepts, trends and practices that guide successful and ethical fundraising.” 

The courses needed to complete the program look at the importance of a strong mission, program strategy, management practices, and board and staff leadership in the more introductory classes, while the advanced courses focus on the major fundraising vehicles, where participants gain practical knowledge that will enable them to design and execute each activity. 

The Nonprofit Center recommends this certificate program to executive directors and board members looking to “gain increased confidence and knowledge to support their essential roles as fundraisers for their causes”. The 2022-23 session of the Certificate of Fundraising is offered fully online.

While directed at professionals working in the nonprofit sector, with discounts for those who become members of the Nonprofit Center, the courses and certifications are available to undergraduate and graduate students at discounted rates as well.  

The cost per course for undergraduate students is $20, and when paid for as a package, $200. They discounted the programs for graduate students as well, 50% off their member rate, costing $77.50 per course, $775 as a package. This compares greatly to $1,850, the total cost of the courses needed to complete a certification program for a non-member, as well as $1,395, the discounted rate for members, or even the program package rate, when the price for members drops to $1,188. Undergraduate and graduate students at La Salle can take advantage of these discounted rates and receive Certificates in Nonprofit Management or Fundraising while getting their degree.

To learn more about the Nonprofit Center, please visit https://www.lasallenonprofitcenter.org/.

To learn more about the Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management, please visit https://www.lasallenonprofitcenter.org/what-we-do/certificate-programs-in-nonprofit-excellence/nonprofit-management/.

To learn more about the Certificate Program in Fundraising, please visit https://www.lasallenonprofitcenter.org/what-we-do/certificate-programs-in-nonprofit-excellence/fundraising/.

Students’ Government Association class senator elections, college senator applications, and other ways to get involved 

News

Keri Marable, Staff

On Sept. 30, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Students  Government Association (SGA) will run elections via email for the elected representative positions. These positions can vote on issues during meetings. These positions include five Freshman Class Senators, three Sophomore Class Senators, four Junior Class Senators and three Senior Class Senator positions. Other voting positions available via application include three School of Business College Senators and three Nursing/Health Sciences Senator positions. 

The SGA is the official representative of the student body to the administration. One of three student governing bodies on campus, SGA advocates for a better student experience on campus through various events, activities, policy change/creation and initiatives. In the past, they have pioneered initiatives like the Period Pilot Program that provided free feminine hygiene products on campus as well as petitioning for the Pass/Fail option. They consider any full-time student at La Salle a member of SGA and welcome anyone to join them at the general assembly meetings on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. in the Union room 301.

A position students can run for this semester is Class Senator. Any full-time student can run as a class senator. Election voting for Class Senators is Sept. 30 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.  via email. Class Senators vote on bills, legislation, money allocations, and various other items at General Assembly meetings. Elected by their peers, they represent and advocate for the ideas and needs of their respective class. 

The required qualifications for Class Senators include having a GPA equal to or greater than 2.50, must not be on disciplinary probation, form a petition (25 signatures) due Sept.25, election posters, a campaign video, and be a full-time student.

SGA also has another voting representative position available by application only. This includes the College Senators, who represent each one of the academic colleges on campus. Three College Senator positions are available in each of the School of Business and the Nursing/Health Sciences. The deadline for these applications is Sept. 29 at 11:59 p.m.. The College Senators represent each of the colleges at La Salle (Arts and Sciences, Business, and Nursing and Health Sciences) as well as advocate for problems and ideas for certain colleges rather than class. They are voting members chosen by application.

College Senator requirements for qualification include having a GPA equal to or greater than 2.50 and must not be on disciplinary probation. College Senators must submit the application found on SGA’s Instagram (@lasallesga) on Google Forms by Sept. 29 at 11:59 p.m.. 

Any full-time student at La Salle can be a member of SGA and are highly encouraged to attend general assembly meetings on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. in the Union room 301 or via Zoom. Any member of SGA, regardless of holding a voting position or not, can take part and help SGA’s different task forces, currently including: Social Media, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Monthly Open Forums, Homecoming, Thanksgiving Can Drive, Volleyball Tournament, and Walk to End Alzheimer’s. If any individuals or groups on campus would like to help and collaborate on these task forces, SGA would love to hear from you and include you in their future communications.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Michaela Craner, the SGA President, at cranerm1@lasalle.edu. Be sure to follow SGA on all social media (@lasallesga) to keep updated with the election process, as well as future events and meetings for SGA! 

La Salle alumna announced as The First Chief Racial Equity Officer

News

Nya Griffin, staff
Header Image: Gail Carter Hamilton via Lasalle.edu

On April 28, La Salle University announced that Gail Carter Hamilton, an alumni of La Salle in 1998 and 2009 will address the health disparities in Philadelphia, as the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) appointed her to be the first Chief Racial Equity Officer in Jan. 2022.

Hamilton’s overwhelming passion for nursing and public health laid the foundation for her career. After extensive coursework, and training in epidemiology and faculty taking out time to help make sure that she not only understood the information but would succeed beyond her own expectations in nursing. 

“Our close-knit classroom style allowed for a more intimate learning environment,” she said. “Where more one-on-one time with our professor helped prepare us for the rigors of bedside nursing. I truly believe that it is because of this unique atmosphere I was more than ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.”, said Hamilton. Reflecting on her time at La Salle, her participation in Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania and the Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS) makes her connection to the La Salle community honorable. 

According to Phila.gov, this newly created position is intended to centralize efforts to ensure racial equity in Health Department operations and activities. Also, this position is to help guide planning to address health inequities in Philadelphia. Hamilton describes this role in healthcare terms, that the officer is meant to listen to the community, diagnose a problem, and then prescribe a solution, while keeping community members involved, instead of telling them what will be done. “The purpose of the role is to make sure that our department has equity at the center,” she said.

Hamilton having the foundational background from La Salle and the initiative and willingness to help our community is remarkable. “I am committed to working to address health equity and health justice in Philadelphia,” said Hamilton. “So many of our communities are struggling under the dual burden of systemic racism and the pandemic, which led to much worse outcomes in communities of color. I look forward to ensuring that racial equity is at the heart of our operations and that we are able to build sustainable partnerships throughout the city in order to maintain robust public health programs,” she said. 

Hamilton hopes that through her role she will accomplish mobilization and community engagement. “Many times, what happens is, people in government see the problem and they say, ‘A-ha, this is what will fix it.’ That’s not equity,” she explained. “Equity in part means that we’re bringing in the people who have the problem, to tell us how to help them fix the problem. What we really want is to decolonize the work to allow everybody to feel like they have a say in what happens to them in their communities.” 

As a Philadelphia native, Hamilton said framing its citizens as assets and embracing its diversity will help improve its public health strategies. 

As for her La Salle roots, Hamilton said she hopes to stay connected to her alma mater and hopes to include nursing graduates that will be able to work within the framework of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) as new initiatives are implemented beginning summer 2022 and beyond.

“My job is to help shape and change the future of how public health is delivered,” she added.

News Brief: Answering the Pope’s call for Synod here at La Salle

News

Emily Dorr , Staff

Header Image: CNBC

It is truly a historic time in the Church as Pope Francis has called for a Synod on just that: Synodality, and in doing so invited all levels of Catholic institutions to begin a two-year process of listening and dialogue. It is the hope of Pope Francis that through this journey together, the Church will be able to learn from and create action in topics of concern identified by its congregation to best live out its continued mission. Now you may be asking yourself, what does this mean and what does this have to do with me? 

Well, whether you are a practicing Catholic or not, a group of faculty, staff, and students are organizing listening sessions just for you. We will listen, document and report issues of concern that you, the student body, presents to us. In doing so, La Salle will join 14 other Catholic institutions of Higher Education in Philadelphia who have answered Pope Francis’ call to Synod. This gathering, listening and discussion is the basis of Synod, a community which comes together and provides feedback for the Church. It is our hope to present what we have documented in April, along with other colleges and universities to the Archbishop, and in turn the Pope. 

If this is something you are interested in, be on the lookout for flyers and information cards as we will be advertising these sessions throughout the following weeks. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Dr. O’Connell oconnellm@lasalle.edu, or Brother Ernest miller95@lasalle.edu. 

Our listening session will take place during the following dates and times:

Sunday Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 28 at 5 p.m.
Tuesday, March 1 at 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 2 at 5 p.m.
Thursday, March 3 at 12:30 p.m.
Friday, March 4 at 12 p.m.
Sunday, March 6 at 7 p.m.

Listening sessions on Feb.  27, and March 2 and 3 will be held in the Chapel. All sessions other than those immediately following Mass in the Chapel will be held in the McShain Board Room Lounge on the second floor of the Union The Archdiocesan collegiate listening session will be at La Salle on Monday, April 4 from 6 to 9; location to be determined

President-elect Allen discusses values and concerns

News

Jakob Eiseman, Editor-in-Chief
Nolen Kelly, Editor

Header Image: @LaSalleUniv via Twitter

Dr. Allen came to campus for the first time since the announcement of his presidency to meet with students and faculty.

La Salle University held a press conference on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022 during which President-elect Daniel J. Allen was able to give some remarks and share his thoughts about the LaSallian community on its campus. While this conference reaffirmed much of what was already known about Allen, and was certainly a major press beat for the University in local news, Allen appeared comfortable and confident in what he was saying.

Touting a blue and gold tie and “Big L” pin on his lapel, Allen slid into his role as La Salle’s next president during his speech at the conference, using language such as “our students,” “our campus” and other such phrases. Allen appeared comfortable in this new environment, even joking that he felt at home due to the “Chicago weather” Philadelphia was experiencing.

On the subject of his plans for La Salle, Allen said, “We begin by creating an inclusive and equitable environment where all learners regardless of background are welcomed.” During his speech Allen reaffirmed his commitment to underrepresented communities, civic engagement and social justice. Beyond these commitments, Allen also stated that “teaching and learning and our concern for social justice take place in an environment where we are committed to high quality academic programs.”

“Nearly 100 percent of our students at La Salle receive financial aid. That is a commitment that matters to me and that is a commitment that I think is important to post-secondary education in the United States,” said Allen. The president-elect confirmed that he will be working to serve many underserved communities in the La Salle community, not the least of which are students that require financial help to continue their education.

“I have a very ambitious agenda for this University,” said Allen. And while he could not share explicit details just yet, he reminded the community that “42 percent of our students identify as students of color, 37 percent of our students receive Pell grants, 28 percent of our students are the first in their families to attend a college or university” and that these populations are the ones he wants to serve and part of the reason why he was attracted to La Salle.

After the speech, Allen moved to the Union Food Court to meet and chat with students in a comfortable environment. He had lengthy conversions with several students, sitting or standing with them and asking about their ambitions. Allen was even seen returning to students much later in the afternoon to continue previous conversations. Senior communication sciences and disorders student Francesca Spinosi talked to Allen several times on Monday, and said, “He was very nice. He saw that I was working on schoolwork and asked me about it. We had a really good conversation and he was very immersed in it.”

Allen’s commitment to underserved communities, his apparent appreciation and understanding of students and reaffirmations regarding fundraising and university development show that Allen’s first public trip to La Salle was successful for the university’s perception of his plans. 

SGA News Brief: Elections

News

News brief provided by Keri Marable on behalf of La Salle Students’ Government Association 

Header Image: La Salle SGA

This October, the Students’ Government Association (SGA) will run elections for the elected representative positions. These positions can vote on issues during SGA meetings. These positions include all senator positions and the executive board.

SGA is the official representative of the student body to the administration. One of three students’ governing bodies on campus, SGA advocates for a better student experience on campus, as well as hosts fundraisers and events. They consider any full-time student at La Salle as a member of SGA and welcome anyone to join them at their general assembly meetings on Tuesdays at 9 p.m.

The e-board positions president and vice president require that a student have been a part of the SGA e-Board for at least one year. The other elected e-board positions are only available to those who have been a member of SGA for a year. The only e-board position open to anyone without experience in SGA is the Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, which is appointed via application.

Election voting for the elected e-board positions is Oct. 22 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The e-board positions currently up for election include student body president, vice president, secretary of academic affairs, secretary of public affairs, chief of staff and deputy chief of staff.

SGA considers the Student Body president as the Chair of the Executive Board and appoints senators to committees. The president is also the tie-breaking vote in the senate. They attend University Council and various Board of Trustees meetings as well as stay informed on activities within SGA and on campus. They employ an appointed chief of staff and visual direct line of communication between the president and administration. The president also delegates and supports e-board, senate and members of the student body.

The Student Body vice president works closely with the president. They attend relevant meetings together and the vice president assumes presidential duties when needed. They also prepare a calendar and budget with the secretary of Business affairs. The vice president also employs an appointed deputy chief of staff. They are the chair of general meetings and creator of general meetings PowerPoint slides.

The secretary of academic affairs attends academic curriculum-based meetings and committees to take notes and report back to SGA. They support and collaborate with the College Senators and their initiatives within their prospective colleges. They act as the liaison between the students/SGA and the academic program leadership as well as working directly with the provost.

The secretary of Business Affairs manages the budget with frugality by controlling all incoming and outgoing cash flows. They promote any fundraising ideas/programs approved by the e-board. They also utilize all resources available and gather, secure and re-distributes any funds brought in via these fundraising methods. They create funding proposals for all events that SGA holds that require a cash outlay in any capacity to be sent to the funding board for review as completed. The secretary of Business Affairs also sits on the funding board committee and submits a new budget proposal for SGA at the end of the academic year for SGA 2022-23.

The secretary of public affairs manages all social media platforms, including **Instagram @lasallesga, Twitter @lasallesga and TikTok @lasallestudentgov. They provide a visual display of SGA initiatives on campus and frontline communication online between the student body and SGA. *A demanding role

The chief of staff attends and takes e-board meeting minutes and attends any relevant meetings when asked. They work closely with the president, including on any initiatives they ran on. They also continue in their duties as a senator/representative.

The deputy chief of staff attends executive board meetings and any relevant meetings when asked. They also take general meeting minutes and handle attendance to be sent to the advisor. The deputy chief of staff works closely with the vice president, including any initiatives he/she/they ran on. They also continue in their duties as a senator/representative.

The required qualifications for president and vice president include having a GPA equal to or greater than a 2.75 and must have served on e-board for a year. The required qualifications for the other e-board positions include having a GPA equal to or greater than 2.75 and must have participated in SGA for at least one year. ALL Elected e-board Positions must not be on disciplinary probation, form a petition (50 signatures) due on Oct. 18 and be a full-time student.

For more information on what must be done for elected e-board positions, please contact Isabelle Pope at popei1@lasalle.edu.

Another position students can run for is Class Senator. Any full-time student can run as a class senator. Election Voting for class senators is Oct. 29 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Class Senators vote on bills, legislation, money allocations and various other items at General Assembly meetings. They represent and advocate for the ideas and needs of their respective class and are chosen by election. The required qualifications for Class Senators include having a GPA equal to or greater than 2.50, must not be on disciplinary probation, form a petition (25 signatures) due Oct. 25 and be a full-time student.

SGA also has two other voting representative positions available by application only. One of these includes the College Senators, who represent each one of the colleges on campus.

Applications will be made active on October 1. The deadline for these applications is Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. The College Senators represent each of the colleges at La Salle (Arts and Sciences, Business and Nursing and Health Sciences) as well as advocate for problems and ideas for certain colleges rather than class. They are voting members chosen by application.

College Senator requirements for qualification include having a GPA equal to or greater than 2.50 and must not be on disciplinary probation. College Senators must submit the application found on SGA’s instagram on Google Forms by Oct. 22 at 6 p.m.

The other position accepted via application is the Executive Board’s Director for Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion who works to make the campus more inclusive for our diverse student population. Applications will be made active on Oct. 1. The deadline for these applications is Oct. 22 at 6 p.m.

The Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion works closely with the heads of the Multicultural center in promoting events and addressing societal microaggressions. They create a small task force of members of the student body to address cultural differences and injustices that need to be brought to attention. They also promote voter engagement amongst eligible students, currently an 85 percent voter registration, highest in Philadelphia. The Director of D.E.I fully utilizes La Salle’s diverse culture and helps to foster a more comforting home for students of ALL races, ethnicities, gender identities and orientations, abilities, religions, socioeconomic status, etc.

The required qualifications include having a GPA equal to or greater than 2.75. *Students of historically marginalized identity are encouraged to apply* Candidates must submit the application found on the SGA’s Instagram on Google Forms by Oct. 22 at 6 p.m.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Kyra Spoto, the Election Committee Chair, at spotok@lasalle.edu or Isabelle Pope, the SGA president, at popei1@lasalle.edu.

Be sure to follow SGA on all social media to keep updated with the election process as well as future events and meetings for SGA.

AWC virtual internship panel perseveres

News

Karen Kerwick, Staff

On Tuesday, Feb. 23, La Salle’s chapter of the Association for Women in Communications (AWC) hosted a panel featuring seven past and present students who worked as interns during their time at La Salle. While the event takes place annually, this year the event faced several new challenges. 

One such hurdle was the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Because student and club programming was moved to an online format almost a year ago, making the panel virtual and utilizing tools like Zoom were simple changes. However, the pandemic also created the challenge of a smaller pool of interns. Many companies cancelled their usual internships or limited the number of interns they could take on in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. Because there were fewer students with internship opportunities, Brother Gerry Molyneaux, the organizer of the panel and director of the Communication Department’s internship courses, reached out to several alumni from the Class of 2020. Three of those alumni joined the panel and shared their experiences.

Nineteen students attended the panel, with representation from all four classes at La Salle. Interns with experience working for Philadelphia sports teams were well represented: interns who had worked with the Philadelphia Eagles, 76ers, Flyers and the since-disbanded Philadelphia Soul were in attendance. Many had both mass media and public relations experience and focused on garnering interest from different members of the audience. 

Among the topics discussed at the panel were how to find an internship, valuable lessons from experience and mistakes made on the job. One intern shared that it is not a reflection of weakness to acknowledge learning opportunities. Other students described their experiences in overdressing for an interview with the general consensus that a best practice is to overdress rather than underdress. “I think coming in dressed up for my interview helped how the other people there looked at me,” said Tyler Pitis ‘20. 

AWC will be hosting an alumni event on March 25 at 6 p.m. featuring an array of La Salle alumni. Because the Communication and Digital Art departments merged this year, this will be the first event hosted by AWC that targets both groups of students by featuring alumni of both disciplines.

kerwickk1@lasalle.edu

St. Joseph’s Proposes Merger with USciences

News

Jessica Conk, Staff  

St. Joseph’s University and the University of Science announced a possible merge between the two institutions on Feb.10.  Both institutes view this merger as a way of growing and thriving together. USciences would become one with St. Joseph’s University. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “Even before the pandemic, many colleges, private and public, had been struggling with falling enrollment and tight finances, with trends showing even fewer available high school students later this decade.” Mark Reed, President of St. Joe’s, is attempting to take initiative with this strategy to turn his campus around. Reed states that, “From my vantage point, you can take two entities, and if you put them together, you get a whole that is greater than the individual parts.” The U.S. Department of Education shows that in the “2010 and 2019 academic years, enrollment and nonprofit colleges and university have fallen 4.1 percent In the last 12 months, we saw a 4 percent decrease in enrollment rates. Reed sees this merger as a benefit for both institutes involved. He hopes to add on new programs with the help of USciences.

Though there is talk of a potential merger with USciences and St. Joseph’s, they insist that their name remains the same. Reed says, “The hawk will never die.” Mark Reed and Paul Katz (President of USciences) already signed the non-binding agreement. “They have signed a nonbinding letter of intent to evaluate the impact of a merger and develop an agreement.” However, Reed made it clear that the decision to merge with USciences is not final, and St. Joe’s is open to the idea of merging with another institution. All institutes will be allowed to keep their names and their sports teams as if they were not merged. Reed sees this as a chance of getting ahead of the COVID-19 impact on universities. While increasing enrollment rates, he hopes that this merger will also allow the institutes to expand on their programs they offer. St. Joes already had to make a few adjustments starting with decreasing the number of freshman students who attended in the Fall semester, with hopes that a smaller enrollment would increase the quality of academics. Due to COVID-19, Reed has not only lost students, but saw a decline in staff and faculty. Reed remains hopeful — “I am confident we will weather this storm and manage through as well as we possibly can.”

conkj1@lasalle.edu