On this week’s episode of the Pod, Kylie and David welcome friend and fellow student, Andrew Plunkett. Andrew talks to what it’s like being an RA, a campus tour guide, and life-long stan of 39th President of the United States Jimmy Carter. Join us this week as we welcome Andrew and his hot topic to the Collegian Pod!
Credits:
Hosts: David O’Brien, Kylie McGovern
Video: Emily Allgair
Guest: Andrew Plunkett
Originally published Apr. 14, 2022
David O’Brien, Editor
Header Image: The Cheap Place
For the first time since the peak of the Obama Administration, the American presidential approval rating is above 67 (that would be a D+). The people of the U.S. are happy not only with their president but also their Congress and judicial branch. All three branches of government are being run properly and the majority of people outside of moderates are happy with the way things are going. There is no internal strife within the United States and above all, Americans are united in their efforts to build a better country along with a better world. The government is doing great. The government is guiding us to a better future. The government is efficient.
Americans are totally fine with gas prices being above four dollars as long as they help us in our battle for global hegemony. Americans are totally fine with the U.S.’s response to the Ukraine crisis. Americans have all collectively agreed to only trying to stop war crimes and global crises as long as they are being caused by nations we are not allied with. As the United States continues to combat climate change, the new policies are WAY better for the environment. Lithium batteries are not manufactured in a method that is equally destructive towards the ozone layer as well as towards the ecology of the region they are mined in.
The majority of Americans have acknowledged the fact they live in a society dominated by technocrats, financial interests and the almighty dollar, and as the days go by it becomes more obvious that the U.S. will not simply try to appease the general populace through constantly manufacturing crises to distract us but actually try and build a better government and country so the youth of today and tomorrow will have a future that is not dominated by social, political and economic instability.
The U.S.’s taxpayers are making a worthwhile contribution towards a better society. Each new political debate aired in the news demonstrates that the average politician, media outlet and citizen is focusing on what is really important. Each and every person should be happy with the principles and actions of the U.S. government and its policies. The military, court system, NSA, CIA, FBI and other agencies are regulated properly and the average citizen has the ability to be involved with the important mechanisms of the American government. Change is clearly possible. The system clearly cares about each and every person in it. The government is efficient and utilizes the money coming out of your wallet in a positive manner. Each and every person should be overjoyed with the policies of the United States and the U.S.’s attempts to institute these policies to help improve society. Why bother with federal voting reform bills when the federal government votes on all major policy decisions behind closed doors?! The government is efficient.
Above all, the youth of today are happy with their ability to be involved in government and help provide new insights to building back a better country. Sure, the average age of Congress is 57 and the average age of the Senate is 62. Sure, the president is 79 years old (three years younger than the average nursing home resident) and the opponent to the president being 75 years old. But hey, the youth of today are completely fine with living in a gerontocracy where the people who have put no effort in maintaining the economic conditions they grew up in for their children and their grandchildren are in charge.
For this year’s Fool-egian episode of The Pod, we finally reveal the face behind the camera (kind of…) Kylie and David welcome Pod producer Emily Allgair to the hot seat, learning about her interests, hobbies, and hot takes. Join The Pod this week as we learn all about our puppeteer who pulls the strings!
Credits:
Hosts: David O’Brien, Kylie McGovern
Video: Emily Allgair
Guest: Emily Allgair
Originally published Apr. 1, 2022
David O’Brien, Editor
Header image: IMDb
Since I have stopped taking my medication (Nyquil), I have realized that there are people in my walls. Every day, from when I wake up and when I go to bed, people continually mess with me. I know everyone I have ever met has been paid off in a “Truman show”-esque kind of situation. Everyone I confide in about these problems says that all of this is “in my head” and that I should “get help” but I know that is nothing but a bunch of malarkey. I am so sick of being gaslit by both my visible and invisible friends. The doctors have been constantly trying to make me take pills that will block my clairvoyant visions, but I know it’s all just a plot by the banks and the CIA to stop me from finding the truth. I have been unjustly harassed since the day I was born and I just want to be left alone and allowed to worship the almighty Lord in peace.
I continue to be unjustly harassed by the wall people. I wake up every morning to them singing “Say So” by Doja Cat. Each time I sit down for a meal, someone runs up to my food, throws up invisible vomit onto my food, then runs aways. I have tried to catch them on film but they run too fast for my camera to track and I am starting to believe this individual(s) is also invisible. My state-mandated doctor said the man is not real, however, I know that he is merely perpetuating the government’s lies with each “therapy” session I am forced to attend. I even put up really expensive cameras to catch him. Luckily, I have devised a solution where I drink twelve raw eggs blended together with unpasteurized milk and a can of sardines along with a multivitamin each day. This way, the wall people will not be able to throw up in my beverage due to the fact the scent is beyond unbearable for the average person. Luckily for me, it still somehow tastes better than B&G! Each time I lay down for bed, they begin singing “Island in the Sun” by Weezer to keep me wide awake. I have not been getting good sleep and it is all their fault. When I do sleep, I have nightmares surrounding the wall-people finally succeeding in their plot to put me in an asylum where the government has full oversight over my condition and finally taking over my house. I cannot, I will not, allow them to win. They can keep trying all they want, but they will not defeat me. I will cement myself into the walls even if that’s what it takes.
I have quit my job as a professor at La Salle University to dedicate my time to something far more important — staring at my walls and cameras for hours in hopes of finally being able to stop them. Shockingly, the students I used to teach and even the faculty members I used to work with have agreed that this was a more valuable way to spend my time rather than spending another minute in Holroyd hall.
If anyone has any information on the people in my walls and/or how to stop them, please reach out. I have renovated my house four times in an attempt to find their hideout. Please contact me at 1-800-273-8255 or your mother’s bedroom with any further information on how to stop the people in my walls from harassing me any further.
David O’Brien, Editor
Header image: Today I Found Out
I entered the barbershop at 11:00 a.m. There was one customer and three barbers. After entering I approached the nearest barber and requested a haircut. She responded by prompting me, “Do you have an appointment?” I, of course, did not because it was 11:00 a.m. on a Tuesday and clearly not prime time for people to need a haircut. “No,” I responded, “but I can come back another time if you guys are busy.” The barber responded, “Ugh, I guess I have time for you.” Instead of receiving a smile and a thank you for being a valued customer, I was given a grunt and an eye roll.
There is no reason for barbers to require appointments, especially when no one is there. I understand the idea of reserving your appointment, or calling in advance to inform them you are on the way. I understand calling in advance to make sure they have the capabilities of fulfilling someone’s desire for a haircut. However, I do not understand this idea that everyone should have an appointment when they get an incredibly simplistic haircut. I get my hair buzzed on the sides and trimmed on the top and go to the barber in the morning. There is no need for me to call in advance.
It’s not like going to a doctor’s or lawyer’s office where the reasoning behind going is personal and individualistic, thus you need to provide information in advance so the doctor knows what to expect. A barber is just cutting hair, it should be first come first serve with appointments optional. They shouldn’t be required anywhere. I shouldn’t be ridiculed for entering a barbershop without an appointment. I shouldn’t have to call in advance to book a time for me to have to make awful small-talk with someone I see once a month. Barbershops should have an appointment situation based on the restaurant-structure rather than the doctor-structure. You should make reservations, you should call in advance in case it’s busy, you shouldn’t need an appointment to get some stuff cut off the top of your head.
As La Salle returns from Spring Break, we decide to hear from our student body by taking the Pod to the quad! Join Kylie and David as they take us around campus to hear some of the thoughts and hot takes our students have to share!
Credits:
Hosts: David O’Brien, Kylie McGovern
Video: Emily Allgair
Originally published Mar. 24, 2022
This week, Kylie and David welcome La Salle junior Leah Brown on the Pod to talk about her independent research project. Revolving around restorative justice in relation to the public school system, Leah added interesting information that she gained from her immense work with non-profits. Join the La Salle Collegian Pod as Leah takes Kylie, David, and the listeners through her experience with multiple La Salle University clubs.
Credits:
Hosts: David O’Brien, Kylie McGovern
Guest: Leah Brown
Video: Emily Allgair
Sound: Sam Long
Originally published Mar. 10, 2022
On the first double-digit episode of The Pod, Kylie and David welcome La Salle University’s own Father Frank. The trio discuss growing up in the Philadelphia area, Church reform, and how to figure out what to do after college. Join us this week as The Pod dives into the many contests and travels of our very own campus priest!
Credits:
Hosts: David O’Brien, Kylie McGovern
Guest: Father Francis Berna
Video: Emily Allgair
Originally published Mar. 3, 2022
This week, David and Kylie welcome the fourth and final of David’s roommates, Veljko Kotarica. He talks about the differences between life in Serbia and life in America, including the differences of soup, stores, and burgers. Join The Pod as we hear what it’s like to move continents from the first-hand experience of La Salle’s very own women’s water polo Assistant Coach.
Credits:
Hosts: David O’Brien, Kylie McGovern
Guest: Veljko Kotarica
Video: Emily Allgair
Originally published Feb. 24, 2022
David O’Brien, Managing Editor
Header Image: USA Restaurants
After a few weeks of tackling major university changes and the internal politics of the institution, the editorial staff has decided to take a step back this week and discuss something very near and dear to our hearts, and the hearts of the student body: food. La Salle’s on campus population is large and while it does not represent our entire readership, it represents nearly all of our editorial staff, so please allow us to vent this week about the slop La Salle passes as food.
One of the most often-heard complaints around La Salle’s campus revolves around the dining hall. This week the editorial will attempt to address what problems La Salle faces surrounding dining and some possible solutions that will allow the University to resolve them.
The decline
At the beginning of last semester, it was said by many students that the Blue and Gold Dining Commons was better than ever. No more crusty, run down Beeg, but rather something new, something that had quality. The conveyor belt was fixed, there were no longer rats running around and the food was amazing. Yet, it seemed that this fame was short-lived. Weeks after, the quality of the food significantly went down. Rather than providing high-quality meals, Beeg started pushing out low-quality, mass-produced food that had very little to no taste and had often been sitting for hours. While Beeg is better able to manage the dinner time rush, the quality of the food (including taste) has been greatly sacrificed. The removal of condiment stations, the constant breakdown of drink machines and a general lack of quality have all become trademarks of B&G. For those reading this that aren’t on campus students, B&G is currently the only available traditional university dining hall option at La Salle after the conversion of TreeTops Cafe into a COVID testing site.
One of the major problems with La Salle dining is the constant use of food products that are bound to have poor quality in any dining hall setting. B&G should not have a fish option, end of story. Students do not expect food at La Salle to be great quality, they are not asking for organic grass fed beef or fish flown in from the coast. However, there are certain foods, like fish, that need to be good quality in order to be consumed safely. Since the fish at B&G is typically of low quality, many students are fearful of getting sick from it, and it might as well not be served. This editor does not think any student would or does complain if and when there is not a fish option being served.
Now, time for nitpicks
La Salle dining should not push these bizarre meal combinations. There is no reason for there to be hamburger patties on rye while chicken sandwiches are on hamburger buns. That simply does not make any sense whatsoever. People like both chili and pasta, this does not mean they like them together. People may like to experiment, but overall, students like simplistic meals.
The majority of the time, the person running the burrito station is unable to properly wrap the burrito. It is not too much to ask that the person working this station learn how to properly wrap a burrito so it does not all fall out immediately. This very basic idea that is not too much to ask would drastically improve the quality of B&G dining.
Throughout the 2021-2022 school year, B&G has progressively removed amenities, two of which include ice cream and condiments. While removing ice cream is somewhat understandable due to the weather, many students have found this incredibly frustrating because ice cream is a very predictable dessert which the consumer knows what they are getting every meal. At the beginning of the fall semester, B and G had a plethora of condiments to choose from, but now the options are often only ketchup, mustard and maybe mayo. There is no obvious reason for this shift. The students miss hot sauce, buffalo sauce, honey mustard and other options that have been taken away. Condiments are not very expensive and go a long way when it comes to the dining experience. B&G should bring back ice cream and condiments because they radically improve both the bland and more erratically bizarre meals served in the dining hall.
Why it’s important
According to a study from the American Psychological Association 41.6 percent of college students suffer from anxiety disorders. Additionally, sources ranging from Harvard University to BBC News have stated that poor nutrition is a primary cause for stress. So, while this may seem like a petty callout, we genuinely mean it when we say that this editorial needs to be put out there just to show the student body that they need to speak up to get better, predictable food options, not just to be more comfortable, but to take one more stressor off their plates in this time where stress comes from seemingly every corner. We know students who will actively skip meals if B&G is their only option, particularly during exam season, which is just unacceptable. If B&G was improved, not only would college students be healthier and better fed, but campus-wide mental health issues could also decrease.
The University should not only improve B&G for the sake of students’ diets and nutrition, but also for their mental health. We are not asking for La Salle to change its budget to give us more expensive foods. We are not even asking for wider varieties of foods. We are just asking for basic changes that would drastically improve the quality of life for the students both physically and mentally. A proper diet is necessary for good health. It is hard enough to maintain one with all of the stressors of the post-COVID world — the least the school can do is provide food that is actually edible for the students of La Salle.
The La Salle Collegian 