Allison Ringsdorf, Editor 

We are in the swing of autumn now that it is mid-October, but if you are searching for some fun this Halloween season, then look no further than this article for ideas to spend your nights and weekends!  

Spooky Mini Golf 

Located in Franklin Square between Chinatown and Old City, Philly Mini Golf provides a scary twist. From Oct. 1 to Nov. 1 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., one can enjoy the season for a low price. Adults pay $15 and children are $12. Thursday through Sunday nights between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. the Boo-zy Bar will be open for the 21 and older crowd. Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights are the busiest, so advance order tickets are required for those nights. Buying a ticket at the door will not be available. 

Manayunk Fall Fest 

If you are searching for wholesome fall fun, check out the Manayunk Fall Fest Saturday, Oct. 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Here one will find local vendors and artisans, food trucks and a family-friendly atmosphere lined up along Main Street. The big event for the day will be a “Mac n’ Cheese Crawl,” which is a joint event with restaurants along Main Street. Check-in will be held at the Manayunk Welcome Center. Entry into the event will cost $25.  

Cityside Pumpkin Patch 

Cityside Pumpkin Patch offers a family friendly carnival atmosphere for the 21 and older crowd. For two-hour sessions, one can expect pumpkin smashing areas, carnival games, a ghost slingshot, face painting and opportunities alongside the scenic Delaware River. Important information regarding ticket times and fees are available on the website.  

Nightmare Before Tinsel 

Tinsel Bar, located in the Midtown Village of Center City, presents Nightmare Before Tinsel until Nov. 2. Tinsel, known for its eccentric Christmas decorations and themed drinks, takes on a spooky theme for the first month of its opening season. Craft cocktails are served in souvenir cups and the haunted artifacts say, “Don’t Touch.” Open from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, this two-story experience supports local artisans who handcraft the decor.

Ghost Tours 

Philadelphia is known for its illustrious history. However, alongside the glory comes haunting baggage. Ghost tours of Philadelphia run well beyond Halloween and into late November depending on the group. Philadelphia Ghost Tours or Spirit of ‘76 Ghost Tours allow one to scratch the spooky itch without breaking the bank. For $24 each, one must pack their walking shoes, as the chilling tour of Philadelphia’s past extends over one hour.  

Dinos After Dark 

For museum lovers, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University provides a Halloween twist to the Dinos After Dark series. On select Friday evenings, the museum hosts pay-what-you-wish evenings from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. This Halloween happens to be a Friday; therefore, a creaky, crawly evening is in order. Music and the Dino Drafts Beer Garden are offered to liven up the mood. After 8:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m., Dinos after Dark turns into a 21 and older event with a $30 cover fee for non-members. Take the time to dance, participate in karaoke or enjoy dinosaurs after hours.

Sean Musial, Editor

The American Dream. A term first coined nearly 100 years ago by historian and writer, James Truslow Adams, in his 1931 bestselling book, The Epic of America. Though the phrase was initially conceived in the book, the concept has been around since the birth of our country. The idea is deeply rooted in the Declaration of Independence, with things that were written like “all men are created equal” and “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.

The original and more detailed meaning is the following: the belief that anyone can achieve success and prosperity through their hard work and determination, rather than social class or circumstances of birth. Back then, sure. It could be something attainable by any American citizen if they put the work in. In modern society, those notions of “social class” and “circumstances” are becoming blurred through different economic, social, internal and external means. The American Dream is pissed off and looking for a rewrite. 

Plenty of writers throughout history have written on the subject. With these myopic views and personal interpretations, the “Dream” has been seen in different lights. F. Scott Fitzgerald offered up a cynical look with The Great Gatsby by exploring themes of wealth, class and the pursuit of a materialistic version of it during the Jazz Age. The writer of Death of A Salesman, Arthur Miller, gave his audiences a ruinous critique of the concept, presenting an ordinary man’s spectacular failure. In The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck depicts it as a luxury that can be rarely affordable for those living in poverty.

These novels and plays are very early glimpses of what had come of The American Dream during the 1920s and 1930s. Even though it has been over 100 years since the mentioned books came out to the American public, the overall ideas portrayed have been present throughout the past century. The argument can be made that it is prevalent in modern society more than ever. 

The American Dream was supposed to be a promise… now it feels more like a punchline. When it was originally created, it was a less saturated and convoluted time. We live in a consumption culture now that has started to delude people into the certainty of what they can’t have. The illusion of mobility dangles in front of us like a carrot on a stick. We chase it endlessly, but the closer we get, the further it seems to move out of reach.

The crisis of identity comes into play through the uncertainty of someone not knowing if they’re doing too little or overdoing it. Anxiety towards that unknown path an individual takes often causes burnout. The disconnect between effort and reward breeds existential rage, making one question their hustle in a system that is already rigged against them. 

How can one truly “be themselves” in a culture that commodifies authenticity? Being yourself is pursuing your dream. It’s a part of your foundation no matter how little or grand that idea that you long for is. Many who have still opted to chase it have started to find themselves with a different kind of struggle. Different struggles like social media backlash are oftentimes being overlooked because of the recurring factor of oversaturated content.

For Gen Zers and Millennials, they seem to be dreaming differently. They are branching off from that “white-picket fence” but rather towards freedom from depth, asking the grand question of what it all means, and granting mental peace. Some reject that systematic repression completely. Many are the people who choose the van life, embrace anti-work or become digital nomads as they still long for their own sense of peace. 

This built-up anger isn’t a result of laziness or too much enlightenment, but it’s rather the result of a promise that has already been broken. We sometimes want something so badly that we can feel we can reach out and grab it. When we go to touch and nothing’s there, that’s when we start to get pissed off. It’s not unattainable. It just hasn’t reached that point yet. What happens when society loses its central myth? What replaces the Dream when belief collapses?

An argument can be made that it could turn us into a “copy and paste” society, meaning that each person will be identical then the person that came before or after them. An emotionless and predetermined life that is created for the higher-ups to rule over us at will for their own beneficial success. The anger we possess towards this idea that we won’t get to our overarching goal is sacred. It is a signal of life, resistance and the internal hunger for something real.

The success should be redefined and reimagined for it to stay alive out of what has come out of the modern world. It’s not accumulation but rather alignment. Yes, we accumulate knowledge, relationships and other things for the success of our dream to eventually become true. Letting everything align together like a jigsaw puzzle or a star constellation before you rush through it is what should feel more natural during the pursuit. It shouldn’t be consumption but rather connection. The connection with the ones closest to you and the connection with the audience you are trying to accumulate for the vision to inevitably come into fruition.

Community should come first over what is deemed your “competition.” As much as someone is the central driving force for the dream to come true, no one in history has done it without the help of others by their side. Mutual aid, collective care and decentering form the idea of the self-made man. Ego kills the dream even if you think it drives it. The dream could have never been a destination at all, but rather a mirror into one’s unconscious thoughts, feelings and hidden conflicts. That internal reflection evaluates your potential so it can bleed out into the real world. 

The American dream is pissed off… and maybe it should be. Maybe that anger is something more honest, more human. Maybe it’s a path towards a more enlightened tomorrow rather than the limited past that it came from. Choose the present over the nostalgia of the past because it keeps you from longing for what was rather than what is. We may not want the old dream back, but we can make that choice to dream differently.

Our dreams in life are what make us human beings. That yearning for an idea or plan that feels so far away, even through hard work and major perseverance. Pursue the dream. Live, breathe and sleep it. Getting pissed off when you’re not there yet is a natural response to something you want and can imagine so clearly; it’s like you can reach out to touch it. Dream big or go home.

Isabella Teti, Editor

Since late January, students in La Salle University’s “U.S. Foreign Policy & Haiti” class, taught by Dr. Mark Thomas, have spent the semester preparing for the trip of a lifetime. However, not without first understanding the significance behind the reason for our journey.

As participants in this class, we studied Haiti’s political and governmental conditions, which have become nothing short of tragic. The people of Haiti are suffering immensely, living under the constant threat of gang violence, human rights violations and widespread food insecurity. By examining the effects of a full governmental collapse, our class was able to discuss not only what the United States is doing to help, but also brainstorm our own solutions to the overall crisis.

Through both textbook study and in-depth class discussions, we developed a well-rounded understanding of Haiti’s situation, equipping us to advocate for the country during our travel study experience.

Our travel study took place over La Salle’s spring break and was nothing short of unforgettable. We visited some of the nation’s most beautiful and significant landmarks, including the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Capitol Building, the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery. We also visited the U.S. Senate’s Hart Building where we met with the staff of Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), and the U.S. House’s Longworth Building where we spoke with the staff of Representative Dwight Evans (D-PA). We discussed the situation in Haiti and learned about their efforts to develop a plan of action. Both offices shared their insights and allowed our class to offer our perspectives and propose potential solutions for U.S. involvement. One of the most exciting moments of the trip was touring the Capitol and receiving passes from Representative Evans’ office to visit the House of Representatives gallery.

Another highlight was our visit to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where we were briefed by Think Tank staff who have been studying Haiti’s economic and political conditions for many years. This experience offered a different perspective than our meetings on Capitol Hill. We also had the privilege of meeting the Ambassador of Kenya to the United States, David Kerich. He and his staff provided detailed information about Kenya’s peacekeeping missions in Haiti, explaining how their country is helping to reduce violence and restore security. We were able to ask thoughtful questions and learn about both the progress and challenges they’ve encountered.

One of my favorite experiences was touring the Pentagon. We explored the history of the U.S. military branches and visited the moving 9/11 Memorial where we heard a touching story about one of the heroes who lost their life that day. It was a place I had always wanted to visit, and I’m grateful to have finally experienced it. Later that day, we visited Arlington National Cemetery where we witnessed the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier—a rare and emotional moment. I was especially honored to see both a male and a female soldier perform the ceremony. We also toured the Holocaust Museum, a place I had long wanted to visit. Though somber, the museum provided extensive insight into both the origins and the aftermath of the Holocaust, far more than I had previously known.

During the trip, we also connected with La Salle alumni working in various government roles, from lawyers to federal agency employees. We even met alumni currently in law school, who offered helpful perspectives on the law school experience—guidance that was particularly valuable to students like myself.

All in all, the trip was a tremendous success. It was educational in the truest sense, as we applied what we learned in class at La Salle to conversations at some of the highest levels of government. This experience proved that La Salle is not only educating us about global issues like Haiti’s crisis, but is also preparing us—as future lawyers, politicians and public servants—to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. Through this opportunity, La Salle has shown its dedication to shaping the future of our country with integrity and purpose.

Chude Uzoka-Anofienem, Staff Writer

When I first began writing for The La Salle Collegian, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. I thought I’d string some sentences together, maybe cover a few events, toss in a joke or two and call it a day. What I didn’t anticipate was how deeply this paper would weave itself into my week, my thoughts and, most unexpectedly, my sense of purpose.

Writing for a student newspaper isn’t glamorous. You’re not chasing Pulitzers or making headlines across the country. But The Collegian was never about that. It was about something much quieter—and in many ways, more important. It was about community. It was about giving voice to student concerns, celebrating achievements that might otherwise go unnoticed and capturing what it feels like to be part of La Salle University.

I remember my first article vividly. It was about Elon Musk purchasing Twitter and turning it into a complete hell site. I agonized over every word, double-checking facts, trying to strike the right tone, writing from my own perspective. When it finally went live, I refreshed the page more times than I care to admit, wondering if anyone would even read it. Someone did. A classmate stopped me after a lecture and said, “Hey, I read your Elon Musk article. That was cool.” That two-second exchange gave me more confidence than a dozen English classes in middle and high school ever could.

From there, I found my rhythm. I wrote about things that interested me, straying away from the typical school newspaper topics related to campus issues and towards more broader stories filtered through a La Salle lens. Some topics were fun and breezy—ranking the best and worst songs released in a given year. Others were more serious, like examining the WWE’s less than stellar reputation. Whatever the subject, I tried to write with empathy and curiosity. If there was one thing The Collegian taught me, it was how to listen—really listen—to people and their stories.

Of course, none of this happened in a vacuum. The editorial team was the engine behind the whole operation—smart, driven, slightly sleep-deprived people who made magic happen on deadline week after week. They held the bar high, but always with grace and humor. I owe every polished article to an editor who pushed me to my best.

Now, as I write this final piece, I feel the kind of bittersweet gratitude that comes with leaving something meaningful behind. I’m proud of the words I’ve written, but even more so, I’m thankful for the experience itself—for the friendships, the late-night brainstorming sessions, the thrill of seeing my byline and the hundreds of tiny moments that made The Collegian feel like home.

To everyone who read, responded or rolled their eyes at my work—thank you. You made me a better writer, and a more thoughtful person. And to future writers picking up where I leave off: write boldly, edit kindly and never underestimate the impact of your words.

Goodbye for now—but the story always continues.

Andrew Noel, Editor

I don’t know why, but as a kid, I used to always think about college. It seemed like, to me at least, a far away place that I may never get to. As I write this, I am three weeks away from graduating. Calling the feeling “weird” would be an understatement.

When I was picking which college to go to, I knew I was making a big choice. I just didn’t realize how big of a choice I was making and how much, for the better, it would impact my life. Given that I am so close to graduating, I’ve done a lot of reflecting on the last four years. It’s perhaps no surprise that I’ve had a lot of mixed emotions this semester, with the main one being thankful.

I’m thankful for La Salle, for challenging me both inside and outside the classroom, and forcing me to grow as a person.

I’m thankful for my professors–namely Dr. Brian Wyant, Dr. Kathleen Bogle and Dr. Caitlin Taylor–all of whom made my experience as a criminal justice major a good one. I always knew that they had my back and only ever wanted to see me succeed. One of the many things I learned in college was how impactful professors can be, and I will be forever grateful for the support and encouragement they showed me along the way.

A few weeks ago, I was watching the NCAA men’s hockey national championship broadcast. The announcer calling the game said that the best part of college is the friends that you make for life. Now that this journey is so close to being over, I can’t agree anymore with that statement. La Salle has given me a lot of good things, but the best thing is without a doubt the friends I will have for the rest of my life.

When I was picking which school to attend, I had a lot of options. Yet, I think it’s safe to say that I hit the jackpot. I can only hope that everyone finds their college experience as fulfilling and life changing as I did.

So that’s it. The quickest and best four years of my life are over. While I’m excited for the future, I will certainly miss La Salle and be indebted for everything it has given me.