Maya Martin, Editor

La Salle had the pleasure of welcoming two former congressmen, Brian Baird and Mike Bishop, to campus this past Sept. 16-18. The two former representatives visited through a program called Congress to Campus.

Congress to Campus is a bipartisan program that brings former members of congress to college campuses to provide civic education and discussion. According to FMC, the nonprofit that hosts the program, “These dialogues bring today’s issues to the forefront and showcase the benefits of healthy partisanship and civility within disagreement.”

Students and staff were able to take part in a variety of activities and discussions during the Congress to Campus visit at La Salle. The schedule consisted of a reception, meet and greet, and an interactive Q&A session. During the sessions, the former congressmen spoke about the increase in polarization, restoring trust in institution leaders and a range of related issues.

Baird and Bishop also made their way to classrooms throughout campus in various departments to have class discussions and answer questions from students.

“It was refreshing to have an hour-long discussion with the two former congressmen in class,” said junior Allison Ringsdorf. “Learning about their experiences, opinions and aspirations about mass media’s effect on politics from both a Republican and Democratic point of view was engaging and informative.”

During Baird and Bishop’s visit, it was evident that their focus went beyond political barriers and tensions. Both representatives even said that they were not intending to go into Congress.

“I think we’re brought up in families that believe in public service in one way, shape or the other, not necessarily elected government, but just, you know, making sure that you do whatever you can to give back to your community,” said Bishop. “It was really a value of virtue that was ingrained in me.”

Baird and Bishop’s extensive backgrounds in service did not go unnoticed during their time at La Salle. Bishop served on the Ways and Means committee, founded his own law firm and has received numerous awards for his work. Baird served six terms in the House of Representatives and has an extensive background in psychology, science and engineering. 

“The best thing we can do with our life is give of ourselves to make a difference and make the world a better place,” said Baird. “It’s the best thing about our country, the country really, the democracy, won’t succeed if people aren’t motivated by service.”

La Salle’s mission and dedication to service and building community was apparent to the congressman.

“We’ve been all over the country to big schools, small schools. This is every bit as active, as attentive and as motivated as any student body that I’ve ever met,” said Baird. “Environments like this, universities like this, it just proves that the next generation has it figured out.”

Similarly, Bishop said, “​​I’m so impressed with the students here and their care and respect for each other, their commitment to try to make a difference in the world, their involvement in so many things… I have not met a student here who I believe can’t accomplish great things, and so, just believe in that.”
Undoubtedly, the Congress to Campus program brought a great sense of pride to La Salle and exemplified how well the institution promotes service and community. For more information about Congress to Campus, visit usafmc.org/congress-to-campus.

Claire Herquet, Editor

Throughout the weekend, over 600 new undergraduate and transfer students settled into our residence halls. Our 2024-2025 academic year marks the largest first-year class we have had in the past four years at La Salle.   

On Aug. 21, La Salle University welcomed back all freshman residential students and kicked off Explorientation! Explorientation is an opportunity for new students to settle into their new lives as Explorers by attending campus-wide activities and learning important information related to their academic successes, safety, wellness and involvement in student organizations on campus. 

The first day of classes on Monday, Aug. 26 kicked off as students returned to campus, excited to return to their studies. Main campus was filled with friends reconnecting, and professors eager to meet their new students.  

That Thursday, La Salle hosted its annual fall involvement fair upstairs in the Student Union during free period. The fair featured student organizations including Greek Life, on-campus job openings, campus event info, service opportunities and much more. With more than 100 students and faculty in attendance, the fair provided a vibrant opportunity for attendees to explore ways to get involved on campus, connect with peers and learn about opportunities that can enrich their experience here at La Salle. 

Week 2 continued with welcome week activities such as painting with a twist, compass pub (for those 21+), Stuff-a-Bear activity, improv 101 and milkshakes with mini golf. 

With La Salle being an official partner school for Campus Philly’s Collegefest, an annual event that welcomes over 20,000 college students back to Philadelphia, students had the unique opportunity to visit 25+ museums and historical sites completely free of charge on Sept. 14 and 15. CollegeFest tickets also included FREE access to the Campus Philly Block Party at 19th & Race Street, featuring local vendors, live music and giveaways. 

While these events have been a success, La Salle students continue to look forward to the events and experiences ahead.  

Editor’s note: We wish our readers the best of luck in their endeavors this semester ❤ The Collegian team looks forward to a successful academic year here at La Salle University!

Donny Argoe, Writer

Many years ago, the City of Brotherly Love launched a rebuild project to make physical improvements to parks and recreation centers around Philadelphia to strengthen community engagement. Seven years later, the Belfield Recreation Center is just one of the many organizations suffering from this unfulfilled promise. On the inside, Belfield Rec. is an amazing facility that sits as the hub of one of the main resources that individuals can utilize in the Northwest Philadelphia community. However, with chipped paint, broken walls and stereotypes related to a shooting that happened over a decade ago, they are struggling on the outside and seeking help from the city to truly begin a rebuild.  

​“We see Belfield as the center in the hub to help individuals combat violence and to bring the community back together,” said Belfield Recreation Center Advisory Council President, Alexis Noland, “and we’ve been doing this holistically with all the different programs that we have here because we want to bring everyone back to the hub.”

​Their mission at Belfield is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for individuals of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy recreational and social opportunities, and to contribute to the overall well-being and health of our community. They aim to promote community engagement and participation in recreational activities and to ensure the center meets the needs and interests of the local community. The recreation center comes with a community garden, a playground, a football and baseball field, a kitchen, two classrooms and an indoor and outdoor basketball court. Working inside and outside, day after day, Belfield is working on providing educational and active experiences that allow kids to be kids while in a safe space away from home. 

​“Today our biggest obstacle is to get our rebuild, we aesthetically do not look welcoming to our community,” said Noland, “that’s the only way that we can combat some of the fears of our community members returning back to the hub.”

​While Belfield is pursuing their mission, they are facing adversities that are not benefiting them within the community. From the outside, they just look like any old building in the city that has almost been forgotten about, the condition of their walls, the basketball courts that aren’t up to par and the unforgettable tragedy that happened there almost 12 years ago. Between parents thinking Belfield is unsafe due to community gun violence and local residents who don’t even know that the building is a recreation center;, they are trying and fighting to rebuild and make their name stronger in the community. 

​“I can actually see the Belfield Rec. Center from my dorm room, and I had no idea what it actually was until recently,” said Maddie Geyer, a La Salle University student who is currently working with the Belfield PR team. “But now, working on PR initiatives alongside the advisory council to strengthen Belfield’s ties with the local community has revealed how much potential the space holds.”

​Without a rebuild from the city, the Belfield Recreation Center is only becoming more susceptible to a lack of community engagement, which is the opposite of the mission they’re trying to enforce. They are here to better the community and the city, regardless of how much they are willing to give in return. 

​“Many years ago, the city put out a plan to do a re-build project for all the parks and recreation centers in the city of Philadelphia, but today, Belfield has not even gotten started,” Noland said. “We just want to restore people’s faith and assure that the hub is still here. It’s still thriving, and we’re here to serve the people in the community.”

​Years after this promise, Belfield has not given up hope, and they have not given up on trying to make a difference within the community for a better and safer place. In doing so, they need help from the city to rebuild their facility into a stronger and more uplifting environment.

​Noland said, “What we’re asking is if the city could please push us up on the list, we definitely need to rebuild not only for aesthetic purposes, but just for safety and for our community.”

​With every successful day that passes, this recreation center is working for a better tomorrow and happier community. It’s been seven years since the initiation of the rebuild project, and even if it takes seven more, Belfield will continuously fight to make the community healthier and stronger.

Claire Herquet, Editor

In the bustling world of university athletics, the voices and achievements of female athletes have often found themselves in the shadows of their male counterparts. However, within La Salle, a new initiative is on the rise to change this narrative. Madison Jack, a driven female student-athlete has founded a new platform on Instagram titled @lasalleexplorhers. 

In an interview on La Salle TV’s SportsLine, MJ shared her journey, motivations, and aspirations for her growing platform, which has already accumulated over 200 followers in the first three weeks of launching. Drawing from her own observations as a member of the rowing team, MJ spoke regarding the challenges faced by her teammates, both in and out of the water. She expressed her belief in the importance of acknowledging and celebrating the accomplishments of others; she says, “Something our team is really good at is being happy for our teammates – knowing that as long as we know we’re doing a good job, it doesn’t matter what other people think. External appreciation is always great, but we do a great job at building each other up and showing appreciation for our friends.” 

Inspiration hit MJ through seeing the sports innovation competition, the Business of Sports Club activities, and last month’s March Madness basketball games. Witnessing the success stories of prominent female athletes like Angel Reese & Caitlin Clark further fueled her determination in finding a space to recognize the person behind the player on La Salle’s campus.  

With ExplorHERS, Madison aims to amplify the voices of female athletes by dedicating two posts per week, sharing stories of success and resilience to those in their sport. Beyond representation, she envisions a community-driven platform where athletes and supporters alike, called ambassadors, will come together to uplift one another. Her main goal right now is to have 100% participation throughout all women’s sports teams on campus and begin hosting various fundraising events and activities (such as a 3v3 tournament) during the Fall 2024 semester. With this, she plans to encourage unity and engagement within the ExplorHERS community, ensuring that no success goes unnoticed or uncelebrated. 

Two weeks ago, the Business of Sports Club had the privilege of welcoming Angelo Cataldi (former radio host of the 94 WIP morning show) to La Salle for an insightful discussion about his remarkable career journey. During his talk, Cataldi provided Jack with a notable piece of advice for her budding platform – do not shy away from controversy. She appreciated his advice to not only focus on positive successes, but also to dig into controversial topics that might be difficult or uncomfortable to talk about. For Jack, ExplorHERS is not just about showing off wins; it is also about creating a space where female athletes can open up for honest and personal conversations.  

Looking ahead, MJ sees lots of potential for ExplorHERS to grow and evolve. From expanding participation to incorporating male athletes into this initiative soon, she remains committed to having members of all teams showing support for one another. 

ExplorHERS shines brightly as a place where La Salle’s beloved athletes get the spotlight they work hard for.  

Emily Allgair, Editor-in-Chief

The month of April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a month dedicated to highlighting this important issue while honoring the strength and healing of survivors. We, as a community of advocates, encourage everyone to come to these events and share their stories and support. Everyone is welcome!

Tuesday, April 2: Chalk Up Campus

Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: The Hansen Quad

Description: To kick off Sexual Assault Awareness Month, information about sexual assault and its prevalence will be written in chalk around the Quad, along with a table that will have additional resources and information.

Wednesday, April 3: Cookies & Consent

Time: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: Union Building

Description: Come decorate some cookies and talk about the importance of consent!

Tuesday, April 9: Light Up the Night

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Union Patio

Description: An event to celebrate and support survivors. Join us for a bonfire, s’mores, hot chocolate and a craft to help light up the night. This event is a safe and open space for all La Salle community members to gather.

Friday, April 19: Trivia Night (in partnership with Late Night La Salle)

Time: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Location: Union Food Court

Description: Put your knowledge to the test during our Sexual Assault Awareness Month trivia night! Topics will include history, activism, sexual health, campus and community resources and pop culture. There will be prizes and free food!

Wednesday, April 24: Denim Day

Time: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: Union Building

Description: We invite the LaSalle community to take part in Denim Day this year by wearing denim to express solidarity with survivors. Stop by our table at the Union Building to take pictures with our mascot and make a commitment to one thing you can do to end sexual violence on campus.

(Denim Day originated from a 1999 ruling by the Italian Supreme Court overturning a rape conviction. The justices reasoned that since the survivor was wearing tight jeans when she was harmed, she must have helped the perpetrator remove her jeans, thereby implying her consent. The following day, the women legislators in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the survivor—a particularly significant show of support because jeans defied the Parliament dress code. Denim Day has since grown into a national campaign that encourages our leaders, community members and students to wear denim to protest the misconceptions surrounding sexual violence and show their support for survivors.)

For more information, please email the Associate Director of Sexual Misconduct Advocacy and Education, Maggie Szeder, at szeder@lasalle.edu.

Claire Herquet, Editor

La Salle is experiencing exciting new developments, thanks to President Dan Allen.  

His strategic five-year plan, Ascend, has been aimed to focus on six pillars that will guide La Salle to be a leading Lasallian Catholic educational institution. The following pillars are believed to provide the foundation to lead the University and those involved in it to success from now to the far future. 

Pillar 1: “Deliver an exceptional teaching and learning experience built on quality and academic rigor.” 

This pillar establishes a comprehensive academic framework of goals rooted in Lasallian Catholic principles. It fosters a rigorous academic experience for students, enhancement of student support services, upgraded facilities and an increase of assessment mechanisms to continue its mission. 

Pillar 2: “Provide a transformational, holistic, mission-focused student experience.” 

The goals outlined in this pillar are to utilize career development opportunities into both curricular and co-curricular activities, prioritize educational programming on mental health awareness and resources and ensure that students are preparing for the challenges of living and working in a diverse democracy.   

Pillar 3: “Foster a culture of innovation and collaboration throughout the university.” 

A university-wide culture of collaboration offers value in the curriculum at La Salle. This general goal includes establishing an advisory council, streamlining program implementation and providing funds for grants.  

Pillar 4: “Build bold, sustainable international partnerships.” 

The goals written under this pillar focus on the importance of preparing students for global initiatives and experiences for academic excellence. Moreover, the outlined motives aim to design diverse exchange programs and extend collaborative research opportunities to foster an internationally inclusive community on campus. 

Pillar 5: “Integrate Lasallian formation opportunities throughout the campus community.” 

The goals outlined in this pillar are in regard to the Lasallian Catholic traditions celebrated within the university. This comprehensive plan involves creating orientation aligned with the university’s values, collaborating with other faith communities for intellectual enrichment, monitoring campus climate and engaging with local communities to aid specific issues such as health, education and technology. 

Pillar 6: “Chart a sustainable financial future.” 

These goals express a need for student recruitment, branding and fundraising. These strategies range from diversifying enrollment, improvement on market presence, securing funds and creating a vibrant, sustainable campus environment. 

The university’s recent recognition by U.S. News & World Report, particularly for value, social mobility and its undergraduate nursing program, is an outstanding reflection on its commitment to academic excellence. Campus improvements, such as the upcoming renovation of the Trumark Financial Center and the remodeling of the lasalle.edu site, underscore the university’s dedication to enhancing the student experience at 20^th and Olney. 

President Dan Allen expresses optimism for the future and looks forward to achieving further success, together as one.