1 15 4146 https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/545e15abfa7b14641c92d22f14c8fd86.pdf 6cc8d460a8a76e987663edb9bfbb03d9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource This is Wilkes University's Beacon Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the Beacon's predecessors, The Bucknell Bison Stampede, 1934-1935 and The Bucknell Beacon, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>. Missing Issues: 1947 August 8th 1947 September 5th 1947 October 3rd 1947 October 17th 1947 October 31st 1947 November 21st 1947 December 19th 1948 September 9th 1950 April 28th 1953 April 10th 1962 February 2nd Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon, 2026 April 22 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/b8d201bdffb22ada74515379db36c50d.pdf 3d7496f442e3c5d90dfd35661b35dbad PDF Text Text The Beacon - April 15, 2026 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Pa. Newspaper Association Member Volume 78, Issue 20 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Oil and gas prices climb as conflict continues Photo/Andrew Marshallsay Home heating oil, as well as gas and diesel prices in NEPA have skyrocketed since early March. In Wilkes-Barre, gas and diesel are hovering around $4 to $6 dollars. See page 3 for full story. Under the Baobob Tree: Preview page 4 Food Review Finale: The Anthracite Cafe page 11 Editorial: Are breaks really breaks? page 14 Sports: Spring season checkin page 19 �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Student government notes: April 8 By Alli Lussi News Assistant Editor Student Government met on April 8 to discuss both internal and external business. The meeting started with the treasurer’s report at $24,952.99. The meeting then went into the first presentation coming from SAE Baja Racing Club. The club came in for week two of two, to propose a re-recognition from Student Government for future funding. The club explained that the activities within the club are unique and would draw a lot of attention to the school. The board quickly approved the proposal and the club will now be a Student Government recognized club. PPHS presented next for week two for a fund request for BLS (basic life support) materials, so the program can provide BLS training for a discounted price. The board voted, and chose to allocate a full allocation of $2,426.44 to PPHS. Table Tennis club came in for week one of two for a proposal for recognition from Student Government. The presentation was brief, hitting on points that the club can be a potential intramural as well as a fun club for new friendships. The board loved the initial presentation, and will decide next week if the club will be Student Government recognized. A Student Government constitution change was also proposed, adding that general board members will be required to complete 20 hours of volunteer work for events. The board had a brief discussion and will consider the change. A decision will be made next week. The final budget request presentation was also discussed. Michael Santini, executive treasurer explained that the overall budget was cut $26,000 from last year’s budget. Clubs, including the MEGA council, will be receiving funding from this budget. The board approved the budget request. The general board then finalized nominations for executive board voting, and then voted for each member who will take the positions. Sabrina Lateef will be executive vice president. Aiden Morgan will be executive treasurer. Alton Smargiassi will be executive recording Ssecretary. Saraiya Zaheer will be corresponding secretary. John Tondora, elected student body president, has chosen Ian Kunec for parliamentarian and Griffin Viola for sergeant at arms. The board then nominated staff and faculty of the Year, as well as sent out the forms for the student body to vote. The meeting was then adjourned and Student Government will meet again on April 15. Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events South Asian Society to celebrate Holi Join the South Asian Society from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 17 in the Fenner Quad to celebrate Holi, the festival of colors. Wear clothes that can get messy from the color powder. Contact bisma.chaudhry@wilkes.edu with questions. *** Crystal, rock and mineral sale The GeoExplorers Club is holding a crystal, rock, and mineral sale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, on the first floor of the SUB. *** Sigma Tau Delta collecting books Sigma Tau Delta is collecting new and gently used children's books and chapter books to support United Way's Annual Book Drive. Drop boxes will be located at Farley Library, Kirby Hall, and the SUB info desk. Donations will be collected from April 13 through 23 at 5 p.m. Contact madelyn.rex@wilkes.edu with any questions. *** University assisting with United Way annual book drive The Office of Civic Engagement and the University Staff Advisory Committee are partnering to assist the United Way of the Wyoming Valley for the 11th Annual Children’s Book Drive. Members of the Wilkes University community are asked to donate new or gently used children’s board, picture, or chapter books. Collection boxes have been placed in the following locations on campus: Henry Student Center, Starbucks, Stark Learning Center Lobby (near the POD). On campus donations will be taken until Thursday, April 23. Contact Jeanne Rabel (jeanne.rabel@ wilkes.edu) or Catie Becker (catherine. becker@wilkes.edu) with questions. *** Pain and addiction summit slated The Pain & Addiction Summit will be held in the Stark Learning Center on Friday, April 24. The full schedule of programming can be found at www.wilkes. edu/addiction. Faculty, staff & students are welcome to attend at no charge. Please call the Center for Continued Learning at ext. 4460 to participate *** Lavender celebration to be held This year’s Lavender Celebration will be held at 3 p.m. in the Miller Room. The celebration recognizes graduating LGBTQ+ students. Each participant will receive a lavender honor cord and certificate. To register for the event, check out Today @ Wilkes. This event is sponsored by the Wilkes University Gender and Sexuality Alliance and the Office of Diversity Initiatives. Please contact Dr. Helen Davis with questions. Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Commencement 2026 Wilkes University's 79th annual spring commencement will be held Saturday, May 16, 2026. Commencement celebrates the university's Spring 2026 graduates as well as Summer 2025 and Winter 2025 graduates. Ceremonies will be held at the McHale Athletic Center (MAC) in the Simms Center at 169 South Main St. The graduate student ceremony begins at 10 a.m., doors open 9 a.m. The bachelor's degree ceremony begins at 3 p.m., doors open 2 p.m. The MAC will close between ceremonies for cleaning and preparation. Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 News 3 Conflict in Middle East equals higher oil prices in NEPA By Andrew Marshallsay Managing Editor On Feb. 28, the United States and Israel launched a joint-military operation in the Middle East, primarily. One result of the activities has been an increase in oil prices, leading heating oil and gasoline prices to skyrocket. February marked the second time in under a year that the two nations have joined forces to launch strikes in the region. In June 2025, Israel launched their surprise attack on Iranian nuclear depots and manufacturing plants, aiming to dismantle the country’s nuclear weapons effort, with the conflict lasting 12 days. Iran has seized control of the Strait of Hormuz, and foreign oil tankers in the strait have been fired upon, resulting in The situation in the strait as well as the Persian Gulf has escalated to the point where tankers are stuck and in some cases, surrounded by sea mines that have been placed in the water by the Iranian navy. Wilkes University professor of global economics Dr. Mona Pearl explained that a large reason for oil prices increasing is panic on the market. Dr. Pearl explained that people ‘get panicky.’ As the conflict goes on, the people who were invested in long-term oil markets take their money out. She went on to explain that as the United States releases more barrels from the strategic reserves and the market stabilizes, prices will track down eventually. Closer to home, NEPA has been no stranger to the rising costs of fuel around the country. Many first think of gasoline and diesel when they think of rising oil prices, however another largely used fuel in the area is heating oil. In Pennsylvania, heating oil is a fairly common source of fuel for households in the commonwealth. According to the Northeast Gas Association, approximately 13.5 percent of households in the Keystone State use fuel oil to heat their homes. Heating oil is used primarily by those in areas in which natural gas is unavailable, mostly in rural areas, such Photo/Andrew Marshallsay With the rising prices of oil globally due to the conflict in the Middle East, gas and diesel prices have seen a high increase as well. Gas prices in Wilkes-Barre remain at over $4 per gallon. The Sheetz on Highway 315 in Plains Twp, Pa. has had their prices go up. Right now, a gallon of gas is $4.25, with diesel tracking well over $6 per gallon. as Shickshinny. Resident and Northwest Area High School principal Ryan Miner says his costs have risen. “When we first moved in, oil was all we had for heat. We added the wood pellet stove so we didn’t have to use so much oil,” he said. Miner went on to explain that his oil bill rose from $2.95 on Dec. 26, 2025 to $3.45 a gallon on March 2. The rising costs to heat his home are no different than other places in Pennsylvania. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, heating oil in February was about $3.88 a gallon. Just over a month later, the average price for a gallon of residential heating oil has risen to $4.79, an almost one-dollar increase. However, local gas companies in NEPA have seen their prices rise further than the average. On Feb. 27, Button Energy, located in Mountain Top, Pa. was selling their heating oil for $3.97 a gallon, which was prior to the conflict’s beginning. As of March 23 that price rose over a dollar to $5.26 a gallon. More specifically, it’s a $1.29 increase. With no end in sight to ‘Operation Epic Fury,’ one can only assume that the price of oil will only continue to rise globally. For local residents and fuel distributors, it’s not a matter of if, but when they will have to cope with rising fuel costs. “If we get low, we have no other choice because it also heats our hot water,” Miner said. “It does make us try to not use it as much.” There have been rumblings of a ceasefire agreement, with Pakistan serving as the mediator in talks. For now though, the U.S. has said it’s going to use its navy to open Hormuz. Of course, gasoline and diesel prices have also climbed. In Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding areas, gas prices are well above $4 per gallon, with diesel more than $6. "The high gas prices has been hurting my wallet very bad as of late.," said Wilkes student Billy Searle. "Being a commuter who travels over 200 miles per week, at times it feels like my whole entire paycheck is just going into my gas tank." �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 News 4 Women, rideshare and risk: Staying safe off-campus and on By Thaelis Andujar News assistant editor Nikki Steinberg Staff writer As rideshare services like Uber expand and evolve, new safety features are being introduced in response to ongoing concerns, particularly among women. A recently launched option allowing women to request women drivers has sparked both support and debate, raising broader questions about safety for college students navigating campus life and surrounding communities. At Wilkes University, built-in safety measures offer students structured protections not always present in the surrounding city of Wilkes-Barre. “I think that women on campus have more options to be safe because of protections that are on campus,” Nicole Langan, director of residence life and Title IX coordinator, stated. She pointed to features such as “the blue light call boxes” and Public Safety escorts, noting that “there’s a way that if you don’t have your cell phone… you can call for help.” However, those protections exist within an open campus environment. “You have to be the same level of cautiousness, because anybody could get into our campus,” Langan said. This balance between structured safety and real-world exposures reflects a broader challenge for students: navigating spaces that are simultaneously protected and public. Langan emphasized that safety is not only about infrastructure but also about individual choices, especially in social settings. “Students going to parties and drinking definitely lowers their inhibition and safety,” she said. She advises students to “stay with a friend group” and recognize that alcohol can reduce awareness and decisionmaking. This concern is especially relevant during late-night hours, when students are more likely to rely on rideshare services rather than walking. National data highlights why safety Screenshot from Uber.com remains a pressing issue. Between 2017 and 2022, thousands of sexual assault allegations were reported on Uber, including 5,981 cases from 20172018 and 2,717 cases from 2021-2022. While reports declined over time, this coincided with reduced ride volume during the COVID-19 pandemic. More broadly, 400,000 sexual misconduct complaints were reported internally during that same period, equivalent to roughly one report every eight minutes. Data from Lyft reinforces the gendered nature of these incidents. In 2020, “81% of victims were women,” and “91% of rape victims were riders,” indicating that passengers, particularly women, face the greatest risk. Although Uber states that 99.9% of rides occur without incident, the scale of usage means that even a small percentage results in thousands or reported cases. According to the Hazleton City Police Department, the local area remains relatively safe but not without concern. “In the Hazleton area, we are fortunate to have a community that is generally safe,” Jessica Surkin, public information officer of the Hazleton Police Department, stated. “However… we do encounter incidents that impact women, including harassment, domestic-related offenses, and occasional crimes of opportunity.” Surkin notes that “a higher number of incidents” occur “during late evening and overnight hours,” particularly on weekends, times that align with increased student activity and rideshare use. The department has responded by increasing patrol presence and prioritizing “public safety education” and victim support initiatives. In response to long-standing criticism over safety, Uber has introduced a “Women Preferences” feature that allows women riders and drivers to be matched with each other. According to reporting from the BBC and other outlets, the feature is designed to help women “feel more confident” when using the service. The option allows women to request female drivers, reserve rides in advance, or set a default preference within the app. It has already been rolled out nationwide after pilot programs in major cities. Langan views the feature as a positive step, particularly for those who feel uncomfortable. “For anybody who would feel uncomfortable going into a car with a man, I think that that’s a nice option,” she said. However, she also acknowledged practical limitations, noting that most rideshare drivers are men. This aligns with national data showing that only about 20% of drivers in the U.S. are women, which may affect availability. The feature has also sparked controversy. Critics argue it may raise legal concerns about discrimination, while supporters view it as a necessary response to persistent safety issues. From a law enforcement perspective, the Hazleton City Police Department supports the initiative but emphasizes caution: “Any initiative that aims to increase personal safety and comfort is a positive step.” Still, officials stress that it “should not replace personal safety practices.” Despite technological advancements, both campus officials and police stress that personal responsibility remains critical. “Just letting a friend know… ‘Hey, hopping in an Uber,’” Langan said, can provide an additional layer of protection. Similarly, the Hazleton City Police Department advises riders to “always confirm the driver’s name, vehicle, and license plate,” “share your trip details,” and “trust your instincts, if something feels off, do not enter the vehicle.” Langan echoed this statement: “If you feel weird about the person driving the Uber, just pick a different Uber.” The introduction of women-focused rideshare features reflects a larger issue. As the Hazleton Police Department noted, “features like this highlight ongoing concerns about personal safety, particularly for women.” While companies like Uber are introducing new tools, experts agree that safety requires a collective effort. “Safety is most effective when it is a shared effort,” Surkin stated, emphasizing collaboration between law enforcement, private companies, and the community. For college students, especially women, navigating this landscape means balancing independence with awareness, both on campus and beyond. �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 News 5 Professor profile on Assistant Professor Dr. Kailey Rocker By Mollie Kuhar Special to the Beacon Dr. Kailey Rocker is an assistant professor of anthropology at Wilkes University, specializing in southeastern European studies and passionate about sharing the discipline’s diverse perspectives with her students. Dr. Rocker began her academic journey with a Bachelor's degree in sociology and anthropology from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. She then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning both her MA and PhD in Anthropology. After completing her graduate studies in 2022, Dr. Rocker specialized in subfields such as archaeology, biological anthropology and medical anthropology. Her anthropological research focuses on Albanian and Southeastern European Studies. Following her graduate studies, she served as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Graz, working in the 'Dimensions of Europeanization' field. “During this time, I enjoyed engaging in interdisciplinary conversations with scholars from across Europe and Eurasia–united by our research focus on southeastern Europe,” Dr. Rocker said. “I knew this was the field for me as early as my junior year of high school.” She explained that most students “don’t have the pleasure of discovering anthropology until university." However, she became intrigued by traditions, histories and practicies and wanted to better understand the cultural perspectives. “I was particularly interested in Mississippian mine cultures such as the Poverty Point people responsible for the impressive mound structures at the Poverty Point site in Louisiana,” she said. In her teaching, Dr. Rocker uses her own research to explain new concepts, methods, and theories. She finds that real-life examples–either from her work or other anthropologists–make ideas clearer and more engaging for students. In her most recent project, she studied how commemoration is practiced in Southeastern Europe by examining remembrance activities at memory sites in Albania connected to its socialist past. “This builds on my general interest in exploring how the past is framed, encountered, and used to shape the present and future.” She will explore this topic further in a course on historical memory titled 'Ghosts of Our Past,' to be offered in the fall of 2026. Dr. Rocker plans to develop a project focused on working with the Albanian diaspora in the NEPA region. She wants to learn more about the Albanian American experience in small cities and “how such places shape community, connection, and what it means to be Albanian today–as well as how this community shapes WilkesBarre.” She also wants to start a network of students, faculty, and staff with connections to Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia. “Networking is an important opportunity to create connections, learn about the region, and stay up to date on current events, happenings, and funding opportunities.” At Wilkes, Dr. Rocker joins the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Her courses will include ANT 101: Introduction to Anthropology, ANT 102: Cultural Anthropology, and ANT 298: Crossing Lines: Human Migration. Looking ahead to Spring 2027, she is developing an Anthropology of Crime course. She is also open to course suggestions from students interested in the Anthropology program concentration. Dr. Rocker hopes students will leave her courses with the ability to use an anthropological lens to understand their daily lives in a diverse, globally connected world. “Anthropology provides a framework to reflect on our cultural assumptions and experiences, and to strengthen connections across cultural backgrounds and differences.” As an undergraduate, Dr. Rocker benefited from supportive professors and now aims to offer the same support to her students. “I am where I am today because of the support I received from my professors.” �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 News 6 Africana Studies invites campus to gather “Under the Baobab Tree” By Thaelis Andujar Assistant News Editor �� The Beacon wants to know what YOU want to read. What news matters to you most? Email leah.smith1@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor: Kailey.Vogel@wilkes.edu Fork Around and Find Out: Anthracite Cafe By Allison Lussi News assistant editor This week for Fork Around and Find Out, I went to the Anthracite Cafe on Scott Street in Wilkes-Barre for a very special event, my 21st birthday. I was super excited for this review because not only did I get to review food at the Anthracite, but I also got the chance to review for the first time ever, an alcoholic beverage. The restaurant is very spacious, having two bars and multiple different rooms to sit in while enjoying their delicious food. The Anthracite also has a wing night, which happened to be the night we went. What’s special about Wing night is that it discounts wings to 80 cents a wing. I first ordered my drink, which was a lavender lemon drop martini. I had very high expectations for this drink, especially as this was my first drink ever ordering out at a bar. I also ordered water with a lemon to stay extra hydrated. The martini was very pretty looking. It was a pale purple and smelle delicious. I took my first sip and it was not exactly what I was expecting. It was very strong as far as the lavender flavor went. However, it was still good, in fact my mom shared it with me. The Anthracite also has various draft beers to choose from as well as craft beers. I settled with a Miller Lite for the end of my dinner since I shared the martini. (I would like to put out a disclaimer that I do not condone drinking and driving, and that I did have a designated driver for the whole entire night.) Our food then came out and we got a variety of wings and appetizers. I ordered a bacon ranch dry-rub wing and another called the sweet tooth. The wings were absolutely phenomenal. The wings were crispy and had so much flavor. The dry rub was so flavorful and had little bacon bits that added a nice smoky touch. The sweet tooth was maple syrup-based and equally delicious. It was the perfect sweet and salty combination. We also got macaroni and cheese logs, which are said to always be a hit and they were certainly right about that. The outside of the log is crispy and crunchy, and covered the restaurant’s rocket sauce and cheese sauce. To my surprise, my mom told the waitress that it was my birthday, so the restaurant gave me a free piece of cake and the owner came out to sing happy birthday to me. The staff was amazing and so nice. The overall experience of the Anthracite Cafe was amazing. The food was delicious and the drinks were amazing. I am so glad that I picked this restaurant to celebrate my 21st birthday. I give this restaurant a 9.5/10. Photos/Allison Lussi Clockwise from top: Lavendar lemon drop martini, macaroni and cheese logs and wings. WUPB celebrates small businesses in last bingo of semester By Lynzee Andreuzzi Special to the Beacon On April 9, Wilkes Programming Board hosted Small Business Bingo, which placed a special focus on the local community. By combining entertainment with community involvement, the event brought students together while promoting the importance of shopping local. For this bingo, the prizes added a unique twist that made the event stand out. Instead of just the traditional prizes, winners received items and gift cards donated by small businesses in the area. This allowed students to learn and discover local shops, restaurants and services they might not have explored otherwise. The prizes included a variety of items such as a hat and blanket from Abide Coffeehouse and a mug and gift card to Pour, both coffee shops in the area. Other prizes included vouchers for nearby restaurants and products from small boutiques and specialty shops. Additionally, there were more prizes including free gems, music posters, records, an old Nintendo 3DS, games and many more. This variety of prizes made each round of bingo more exciting than the last. Beyond the fun and competition, the event also served as a reminder of how important small businesses are to the local economy. Another aspect of the Small Business Bingo event was the sense of community it fostered. Students from different majors and backgrounds came together, shared laughs and bonded over the friendly competition. It was a break from the usual stress of classes and provided a welcoming environment where everyone could participate. The energy in the room was positive and lively, making it clear that events like this play an important role in campus life. Photo/Lynzee Andreuzzi Sarah McAndrew, Sociology major, holding the South Main Street Tattoo Basket. �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Wilkes and King’s host women’s studies conference By Juliana Kresge Staff Writer Wilkes University and King’s College their annual Women and Gender Studies Conference on March 30 and 31. All events took place on the second floor of the Henry Student Center. Wilkes’ Director of Women’s Studies Dr. Jennifer Thomas and her Kings University counterpart, Dr. Jennifer McClinton-Temple, organized the multischool conference. This year’s conference theme was Gender and Citizenship: Past, Present, and Future. In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, speakers explored topics such as social progress and women’s roles in American history. On the first day of the conference, Dr. Lucia McMahon delivered the keynote address: “An Equality of Mind:” The Value of Women’s Education in Early National America. Dr. McMahon is a History Professor at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. She has written several books, including Mere Equals: The Paradox of Educated Women in the Early American Republic. Dr. McMahon shared her extensive research on American women’s education in the late18th and early-19th centuries. Shortly after the American Revolution, a number of women’s boarding schools and colleges were established. Primarily located in the northeastern states, these schools almost exclusively catered to young white women from wealthy families. “Going to one of these schools was considered a great honor,” Dr McMahon said. “College events were open to the public, so the whole town would go and celebrate the accomplishments of these educated young women. They would recite poetry and ‘test’ their knowledge.” These institutions intended to make women both “useful and ornamental members of society,” as Dr. McMahon put it. Academic courses were adapted to appeal to traditionally feminine interests. For example, science textbooks taught that cooking involved chemistry. Instead of taking tests, students made needlepoint and other crafts to demonstrate their knowledge. In 19th-century America, women’s education was mostly considered frivolous and unimportant. Still, Dr. McMahon pointed out that some women learned truly useful skills and made the most of these early educational Wilkes student Noor Almeky delivers a presentation in the Savitz Lounge. opportunities. The well-attended keynote address set the tone for the conference’s second day. Wilkes and King’s students presented their research papers on a wide variety of subjects. Presentations began at 9:30 a.m. and concluded after 6 p.m. Session themes included The Politics of Labor; Global Perspectives on Gender; Equity in Artificial Intelligence; and many more. Audience members were encouraged to ask questions and critically engage with the material. For the session Global Perspectives on Gender, Kings students Grace Tedford, Dynastie Thomas, and Marissa Valdez compared human trafficking rates in the United States, Norway, and Afghanistan. “Norway and other Scandinavian countries have low levels of human trafficking because they combine strict regulation with a social safety net,” they noted. Subsequent groups compared female access to education in the United States, India, and Afghanistan; and contraceptive rights in the United States and Afghanistan. Wilkes student Noor Almeky hosted an informative session on the hijab, the head covering that many Muslim women wear. Photos/Juliana Kresge Dr. Lucia McMahon’s keynote address in the JPAC. “I choose to wear the hijab to show my commitment to my values,” she explained. This led to a thoughtful discussion about culture and religious beliefs. The day concluded with a small group poetry reading. The annual conference primarily attracts students taking Women’s Studies courses. However, everyone with an interest in women’s issues is welcome. �The Beacon – April 15, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 WEBS offers activity to de-stress before finals By Kaydia Wright LA&E Assistant Editor With finals coming up soon, it’s important to take time to relax and de-stress. With the help of the We’re Empowered By Science (WEBS) Club, many students got the chance to do that Friday with “De-Stress Under the Stars.” The activity let students go inside the StarLab Planetarium and experience a video explaining the Artemis space mission and how it can help to understand more about space and the moon. “I work with another club called ‘Science in Motion’ that actually owns this mobile planetarium and thought it would be a fun idea to bring it to Wilkes [University] for kids to experience it and use it as a fundraiser for WEBS,” said Miquela Langan, the WEBS director. Langan also mentioned that she enjoys seeing the direct impact event money has on students. “Usually the money we raise from these events is able to sponsor at least one scholarship for a student that comes to the WEBS summer camp.” This also isn’t the first or last time “De-Stress Under the Stars” has occurred on campus. “We usually do this at least once per semester, typically around the end of the semester,” Langan said. “This is so everyone can chill out before the last of their exams and finals begin.” For more information about upcoming events hosted by WEBS club or how to get involved, email miquela.langan@ wilkes.edu. At right: image inside the StarLab Planetarium. Photo by Kaydia Wright. �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 The Mental Health Beacon: Don’t be mad at me, but... By By Gina Harrison Assistant Professor Passan School of Nursing Don’t be mad at me, but… Anger is a common experience that is a normal part of the human condition. People may feel angry in response to a real or imagined threat or as a response to provocation. Anger is typically an unpleasant experience that leads to increased arousal (not that kind of arousal). The biological arousal seen with anger includes increased heart rate, sweating, increased respirations and muscle tension. This arousal comes from our nervous system which has been hard-wired to protect us. Anger causes activation of the sympathetic nervous system, commonly called “fight or flight,” more appropriately “fight, flight or freeze.” This type of bodily activation can be overwhelming. People that feel overwhelmed with anger also demonstrate less empathy toward others. Students are particularly at risk for feelings of anger due to the increased amount of stress from their responsibilities. If anger is considered a common experience, why does it have such a negative reputation? Increased frequency and intensity of anger can have negative social results. For example, anger may result in violence, aggression, mistreatment of others, maltreatment, intimate partner violence and even homicide. Anger cannot be eliminated. We have a biological use for anger. Anger helps you to stand up for yourself. It helps you to recognize threats and navigate social situations. It is important to recognize anger and acknowledge it. Anger avoidance can lead to rumination. Rumination occurs when we repeatedly think about negative emotions. It can also lead to aggression, which is a form of behavioral avoidance of anger. There is a limit to anger’s efficacy as a coping skill. Inability to regulate anger can result in antisocial behaviors. For example, we may not need our full sympathetic nervous system activated for traffic jams or long lines at Dunkin. Snapping out at the cashier or crashing out over the munchkins being sold-out can have profound consequences. These types of responses indicate impulsiveness and irrationality, which may negatively impact your relationships with others. It is important to remember that anger is temporary. Working on skills to understand and manage your anger can be helpful. Anger management helps you recognize your triggers and control your onent of managing your anger is to decrease the arousal that you are experiencing. Arousal can be reduced through counting, deep breathing, meditation and muscle relaxation. If you cannot immediately decrease your arousal, remove yourself from the trigger and take some time for yourself. A common misconception about managing anger is to “get it out” by jogging, punching a heavy bag, or even punching a wall. Research has shown that these methods are not effective in decreasing your state of arousal and may result in personal harm and even increased feelings of anger. Learning to manage feelings of anger can be beneficial for your mental and physical health. Practicing coping skills like deep breathing and meditation not only help you to manage feelings like anger but also stress, burnout, and irritation. Remember, these are skills you must practice often for them to be most effective. �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 12 Wilkes University Communication & Media Studies Department Presents: 25th annual Tom Bigler Journalism & Media Conference Bigler The 25th annual Tom Bigler Journalism & Media Conference was held on April 10 in the Karambelas Media Center and JPAC. The conference brings students from different schools across Northeastern Pennsylvania to explore the fields of communication and media. It also allows student media to showcase their work and receive awards from articles, photospreads, broadcasts and more. This milestone year not only marks a quarter of a century, but also showcases the changing face of media PALive host Chris Bohinski speaks to students and faculty about his experiences and career in the ﬁeld of communications. Dr. Kalen Churcher,conference coordinator and associate professor of communication & media studies, presents awards to high school students for their achievements in their respective areas. �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 13 High school students in the Speech and Debate workshop learned what goes into a successful speech. High school students listen to Dan Mattern and as part of the TV studio workshop in the Karambelas Media Center. Jim Reeser, city editor of the Citizen’s Voice displays the front page of the Citizen’s Voice website. High school students in the Zebra Communications workshop in Karambelas Media Center. High School students in the radio station workshop, part of Wilkes’ radio station, WCLH. �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 Opinion Editorial Staff 2025-26 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Leah Smith Managin Editor - Andrew Marshallsay Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS News- Alli Lussi, Thaelis Andujar LA&E - Kailey Vogel, Kaydia Wright Opinion - Shawn Carey Sports - Andrew Marshallsay DESIGNERS Designer - Nikki Steinberg Photographer - Shannon Slominski STAFF WRITERS Topher DellaBella Natalia Williams Juliana Kresge Jake Mills Aster Rowland Brooke Lare 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: shawn.carey1@wilkes.edu Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. When did Easter break stop being a break? April and May are rocky times for college students. Known to many as “crunch time,” it is at this time when finals truly begin creeping up and assignments get thrown to the forefront of each student’s mind. The only saving grace in this time of chaos is holiday break where students can return home or take a quick trip away from campus to forget about all their school responsibilities and relax. The word break holds a connotation similar to that of a vacation or holiday, but the reality for college students couldn’t be any further from the truth. Instead, college students are expected to continue working on assignments, finish papers and study for exams that will be held the day that they return from break. Even if they don’t necessarily have work assigned specifically for the break, or they chose to procrastinate it adds up nonetheless. Yes, this break occurs only mere weeks before finals start and school ends, but the stress that looms over students can truly take away from their time at home. Especially in Wilkes University’s case the timing of Easter break for residents on campus can be an inconvenience. The holiday is Easter Sunday and for students traveling back home they lose valuable time with their families in the time it takes to travel back and forth and even less time doing work before Easter dinner. When classes recommence on Monday, students have to drive back on Easter to ensure they can get to their classes and submit any work that is due on time. A sophomore commuted two hours to return to his home in New Jersey for the holiday break. He shared his frustrations by stating, “I think that the expectation that professors have for students to ‘catch up’ on material during the so-called ‘break’ is a very high expectation. “While most of us have work or other activities during the break, it is really for the professors since they aren’t expected to have graded assignments returned to students after break,” he concluded. Even for commuters the work can be frustrating and a major inconvenience for similar reasons. Sophomore sports management major Jordan Medley claimed, “I feel like the workload during Easter break can differ with professors because certain professors make sure they don’t give any work that’s due the day we come back, but other professors like to give work and exams that are due the day we come back.” Medley went on to explain these differences in planning as, “annoying” and “stressful.” Jazmin High, a senior psychology major also shared similar thoughts on the Easter break workload. “I had some time to relax, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t working on school work and studying for exams.” said High. Additionally, High addressed the frustration of exams that were scheduled to be taken right after break. “I wiah more professors would assign exams before break so students can relax.” Overall, it’s hard to see why Easter or holiday break is considered a break due to the sheer amount of stress built up for students in such a small duration of time. With that being said, when did breaks stop being breaks? Letter to the editor policy: The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor from differing viewpoints. Letters must contain contact information, including name, city, state and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published but may be used for verification purposes. All letters to the editor must be sent using one of the following methods: Email: leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Phone: (570) 408-5903 (Voicemail: 30 seconds or less, please.) Mail: 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766 Attn: The Beacon �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 Opinion 15 The Icebox presents: Freeze’s top games By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer There are only three more issues of the Icebox left. It feels sudden, doesn’t it? Stay tuned for the grand finale, where I will be making a special announcement for my loyal readers. During three years of the Icebox, I have been able to introduce people to many different video games. I really like to promote the idea of playing a game for enjoyment, especially single player experiences. However, anyone can enjoy any game. I want people to understand that there are many types of gamers out there and that each of their tastes should be respected and considered. It’s about time that I provide you with my own comprehensive list of video games. Only the best of the best. The games that have truly changed my life. To make things short and simple, I will only mention my most favorite game for each genre. Super Smash Bros. is the first game, of course. Although it is categorized as a platform fighter, I consider it in its own category as “my favorite.” It’s a game that features Nintendo’s greatest creations and even borrows characters from a wide range of franchises like Sonic, Mega Man, Final Fantasy, Street Fighter, Tekken and even Minecraft. Not only is the game extremely fun for all ages, but it has done wonders for the gaming community. It spotlights unknown video game characters, helps others step out of their comfort zone and brings people together from different gaming backgrounds. You can thank Masahiro Sakurai, creator of Kirby, Kid Icarus and Smash. The next game is Mario Kart, which I categorize as a family-friendly party game. One of my earliest Icebox stories was about this game. For a more modern and diverse feel, I tend to play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which is the current standard for competitive Mario Kart. However, I enjoy Mario Kart in a leisurely capacity these days. That’s why Mario Kart World has been absolutely perfect for me. The visuals, the landscapes, the music and the character options make it a unique adventure. Nintendo is definitely cooking with the newest 3D titles, such as Super Mario Odyssey, Donkey Kong Bananza and the open-world Zelda games. These should be your go-to if you are trying to get into Nintendo gaming. One of my favorite 3D Nintendo games, however, is Super Mario 64. Who doesn’t love that game, right? For me, there is a huge aspect of nostalgia that sets it above the modern games, which are arguably more fun to play and have more content. If you really want to stretch the definition of 3D Mario; however, my ultimate recommendation is actually Super Mario Galaxy. This game is probably one of the most well-directed projects that Nintendo has ever put out there. In the realm of 2D platformers, my favorite is actually an indie game called N++. This is a speedrun-heavy game with cool technical themes. You play as a ninja in a maze full of deadly, robotic obstacles. Each level is designed like some kind of elaborate death chamber, and the goal is to open the exit door and leave. Another major genre in 2D is called “beat-em-up” where you are a character on a screen full of enemies and your goal is to, well, beat all of them up. My favorite game in this genre is easily Castle Crashers. The game is handdrawn, has a soundtrack that goes hard for no reason and is playable for up to four people. The game also features a wide variety of weapons, magic, pets and playable characters. The levels are surprisingly difficult. Also, the game developers have a fantastic sense of humor. The game has been around for eighteen years and still holds to this day. There are other genres that require you to beat up characters, such as my most favorite video game genre. Fighting games are difficult to get into, but once you do it’s a lot of fun and you open yourself to many options. If I were to pick just one that I recommend, I would say Tekken due to personal bias. However, the game is actually not that kind to newcomers and is currently in bad shape for competitive play. Therefore, I will recommend Marvel vs. Capcom. It is a fighting game that you are surely able to enjoy. It has characters you would recognize and uses mechanics inspired by the Street Fighter series, which is also a great starter game into the mix. Perhaps the aforementioned genres do not interest you. Not to worry, because I indulge in almost everything out there. Do you like being creative? Minecraft. Enough said about that one. I don’t believe that game requires an explanation. Sometimes you may get bored of it. In that case I recommend switching it up. If you usually play for leisure, try a hardcore speedrun. If you usually play hardcore, try to relax a bit and build something nice in creative. Maybe you like puzzles? Well, there are way too many puzzle games out there. I recommend Superliminal, a first-person, singleplayer experience that has a very unique take on objects. The game teaches you about perception! Actually, it fits into its own unique category within puzzle games. Another major category are games such as It Takes Two, which is a twoplayer experience that you shouldn’t miss. I recommend playing that with your partner or a sibling. The first-person world of games opens up a lot of opportunities. My favorite shooting game, for example, is probably Rainbow Six Siege. I don’t really enjoy shooting games all that much, but this is the one that I consistently enjoyed the most. The reason is because the game isn’t just about movement and grinding for hours. It requires actual thought and strategy. My favorite games that have shooting mechanics are slightly different, however. I recommend Doom Eternal, Neon White and Cuphead as very enjoyable and non-competitive shooting games. Another first-person genre is racing games. I haven’t had the chance to play them lately, but I distinctly remember Forza being one of my favorite racing franchises. I believe Forza has a pretty accurate direction on how racing games should be made. However, I also recommend Need for Speed if you ever stumble across it at an arcade. Racing games often have realistic graphics, similar to stealth games. My favorite stealth game is, of course, Metal Gear Solid! It’s a franchise created by the genius Hideo Kojima. Many video games have some type of salute to the Metal Gear Solid series because the games are that influential. Another stealth game that fits into its own realm is Superhot, which I will categorize as my favorite virtual reality experience. It’s a game where you get to be an assassin, tearing apart glass enemies in small, enclosed spaces. The opposite of stealthy would be noisy. Rhythm games bring about the noise. I have a few recommendations, with Beat Saber being my favorite. The other ones are more for anime fans, such as Project Sekai and Osu. Both are easy to be good at. Honestly, I think these types of games deserve more attention. Finally, I would like to end this list with a mobile game recommendation. To be honest, mobile games are my least favorite in general. However, I would recommend Bloons as the most top-tier mobile game out there. You can’t go wrong with the classic monkey-vs-balloon game from all of our childhoods. That’s going to do it for this issue. I hope my recommendations sound interesting. This is merely scratching the surface of the Icebox if you will! �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 Opinion What to read ahead of “The Punisher: One Last Kill” By Leah Smith Editor-in-Chief �� 16 �� ¡�� ¢�� Hang in there. It’s almost summer! �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 Opinion 17 �The Beacon -April 15, 2026 Opinion 18 A review of "Thriller" by Michael Jackson By Natalia Williams Staff writer Michael season is still here and I have another Michael review. This week, I was in between two albums…Thriller and Dangerous. Dangerous is definitely my favorite out of the two, but Thriller is more iconic and recognizable and I have yet to do Thriller so here we are. Thriller released on November 29, 1982, and became a pop staple. This album remains the best-selling album of all time globally with sales reaching 70 million copies worldwide. This album changed so much in the music industry, including production and music videos. With this album, Michael became the first black artist to play on constant rotation on MTV opening the doors for many black artists. This album in my opinion is a blueprint to music videos and pop music. Although it's not in my top three rankings, the cultural impact this album has is undeniable. With that being said, here is a track by track album review for one of the greatest albums of all time. 1. “Wanna Be Startin Something”: 10/10 First of all, you know it's going to be good with that beat in the beginning. This song is perfection. This song is the best way to open an album because it gets you so hype and ready to hear what's next. This track is a classic and staple in music and is one of the most recognizable songs just with the bridge and the melody. My favorite part of this song is the lyric, “If you can’t feed your baby then don't have a baby, and don’t think maybe if you can’t feed your baby”... because hello…if you can't feed your baby then don't have a baby! Anyway, since this song is so overplayed I do not listen to it often, but when it does come on best believe I am on that dance floor busting a MOVE. 2. “Baby Be Mine”: 10/10 This song is extremely underrated and I don't understand how or why. This song is perfection and makes me want to bust a move every time it comes on. This is a song I listen to when I need to pick myself up and it works every time. The key change, vocals and production are like gold in my ears. I wish this song got more recognition because it deserves it. This is another song that my dad thinks is a skip and once again…just loud and wrong. Overall, if a perfect song had a definition, this song would be it. 3. “The Girl Is Mine” feat. Paul McCartney: 10/10 This song is CUTE. It has been one of my favorite songs since I was a kid and it has stuck with me until now. The vibe is different from the other two tracks since it is a slower tempo but it is OK because the song is just so good. This is the second song they've done together. I also find it kind of funny that Michael outbid Paul for the Beatles catalog. It's hilarious because Paul told Michael to invest in music publishing. Sadly, that did kind of strain their relationship. My favorite part of this song is when they banter back and forth. I quote “Paul, I thought I told you I’m a lover not a fighter” at least once everyday. Overall, not much thoughts on this song as a whole. It is one I repeat often and this one also deserves more attention. 4. “Thriller”: 5/10 Giving this track a five out of ten is actually making me sick, but I am tired of it. It is basically the Halloween song so every single year this song is played, and I do not listen to this song outside of Halloween at all. It is such a great song and a timeless classic that everyone will know until the end of time, but I cannot stand it. This music video is also a rite of passage in childhood because every child has to be traumatized by this music video at least once in their life. I remember my grandfather always scaring us with this video, and it took a while for me to not be scared. But once again…canon event. This video also had such a huge impact on the art of music videos since it told a whole story; it was a short film and that's what Michael did with all of his music videos after the Thriller era. Once again, this song is not bad at all…I am just so tired of hearing it. 5. “Beat It”: 9/10 This track run starting from Thriller are his most iconic and played songs so all of these are ones I do not listen to on my own. With the guitar solo and Michael in his red jacket, this is one of the most recognizable songs. When people think of Michael Jackson this is probably the one of the first songs they think of. There are times where I do turn it on because it's stuck in my head but when it does play on shuffle I skip. Eddie Van Halen's guitar solo is literal perfection and the highlight of this song. I want to learn how to play the guitar so I can learn his solo. The production of this song overall is amazing and I love everything about it. Overall, iconic, timeless and a classic that will forever be remembered. 6. “Billie Jean”: 10/10 One word…ICONIC. Although this one is in that track run of overplayed Michael songs, this one I do listen to all the time. The bass line is so recognizable and the overall production is perfect. This music video helped Michael become the first black artist on constant rotation on MTV, and it is the music video of my childhood. I vividly remember always watching this in my Nana's living room when I was little. The Motown 25 performance to this song is also iconic because it is the first time he did the moonwalk. For Michael's tours, whenever he put the glove and the hat on, you KNEW Billie Jean was coming. During MJ The Musical, the audience reaction to the actor walking out with the suitcase in the black jacket and opening the suitcase to reveal the hat and glove made me so happy because those two pieces of accessories are so iconic, and I was happy to see everyone pick up what was about to happen. Overall, Billie Jean is such a pop music and culture staple and it is another one that everyone will always remember. 7. “Human Nature”: 100/10 I don't think I can express in words how perfect this song is. The production is so dreamy and beautiful. The melody is so recognizable and is perfect. I do not listen to this one often just because it is overplayed, and I hear it everywhere. However when it does come on shuffle, I do not skip it. My favorite thing about this song is that on the “Bad” tour and other tours he's done after that, is for the lyric, “See that girl” he is so dramatic with the word girl and it sounds like “see that gurlaaaa.” There isn't much I can say about this song other than that it is just iconic. 8. “P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing)”: 10/10 This is probably Top 3 on this album for me because it is one I always go to and replay. I wish it was higher on the tracklist cause I think it would fit better, but other than that I have no negative things to say about this song. It is the end of the “overplayed” track run, but I will never get tired of this one. Overall, such a classic and one everyone has to know, even if it's just the chorus. 9. “The Lady of My Life”: 100/10 We have reached my favorite song on the entire album. This one is so underrated and I wish it was replayed more often because it is so good. This is a track that highlights his vocals. We really didn't get ballads on this one and even though it’s not like a slow power ballad it's still good. According to Michael in his autobiography Moonwalk, this song was the hardest song to make. Thank goodness they worked heavily on this song cause it sounds perfect. Overall, one of my favorite Michael songs ever and my favorite song on the album. Overall, I give Thriller a solid 10/10. Although a lot of the tracks are replayed very often, that's what happens when you make a perfect album. This is an album that will forever be remembered as the album that changed Pop music and the art of music videos. This album is so perfect with zero skips and easy to replay. Thriller…you will always be that girl. �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 Sports 19 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: andrew.marshallsay@wilkes.edu Past the halfway mark: Wilkes spring sports check-in By Jake Mills Asst. Sports Editor With two weeks left in the spring semester, Wilkes University spring sports are past their halfway mark already. Let’s check in with our teams and see how they’ve been doing to this point. Both the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams are in their first season with new head coaches as Jordan and Taylor Drumheller take charge in 2026 The men’s team is trying to find their way as they are currently 4-10 on the year, but a bright spot for the Colonels this season has been freshman Anthony DiFrancesco, who has 30 goals through and 17 assists through 14 games played. The women’s team has had success this season after an 8-0 start which was the best in program history, but since starting Landmark Conference play, they have yet to win a game. Most notably for the Colonels this season, graduate student Alexis Guttilla leads the team in goals with 32. Softball currently stands at a 14-11 record and a 3-5 conference record. Most recently they split a senior day doubleheader against Misericordia. The team holds both current Athletes of the Week with Hana Cross and Mia Butka earning those honors, as chosen by the Beacon staff. Some seniors have also hit milestones this season as both Cross and Olivia Dougher both reached 100 career hits this season. Head coach Jackie Klahold also reached 200 career wins in the team’s win against Widener on March 30 After a few bumps in the road early on, Wilkes Baseball has gotten better each game. They are currently 12-3 in the Landmark, with their two ace pitchers Zach Lloyd and AJ Levandoski recently reaching 100 career strikeouts. Men’s Volleyball wrapped their season on April 2nd as they defeated cross-town rival King’s College in four sets. They finished the season with a 13-15 overall Colonels pitcher/outfielder Jack Veith on the mound against Albright in Fort Pierce, FL. record and did not eclipse a win in conference play Freshman Logan Maha led the team in points with 255.8, adding 178 kills in a very impressive rookie season. Spring seasons for both Men’s and Women’s tennis have been in full swing as well. The women’s team is currently 3-5 in their spring slate of matches, while the men are 1-4 overall as a team. Lastly, both the Men’s and Women’s golf teams are in the Spring portion of their seasons as well. The men are 2-1 while the women are 2-0. Kyleen McCance has continued her long-lasting run of form, leading the Colonels almost every time they’re in the tee box. There are lots of bright spots for spring sports here at Wilkes University so far. With under half a season remaining this semester, we’ll see how the squads fair the rest of the month. Tim Hartka takes a shot against King's College Photos/Andrew Marshallsay �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 Sports 20 Regular season near end, NHL playoff preview By Vin Santoro Staff Writer The NHL regular season is approaching the end, which means the playoffs are on the horizon. The Avalanche claimed the best record in the regular season, finishing with 114 points. The President's trophy curse has lived on, and a team has yet to win the Stanley Cup when winning the award since 2013. Many teams made impressive jumps and setbacks, with the Sabres putting it all together, the Panthers suffering injuries to their top players, and the Maple Leafs are at the bottom of the Atlantic Division. In the Metro, the biggest surprises were the Pennsylvania squads. Could the Battle of Pennsylvania be in effect for the first time since 2018? Dan Muse is a name to watch for the Jack Adams award for the job he has done in Pittsburgh. Vegas parted ways with Bruce Cassidy while being in the playoff picture. John Torterella will lead them into the playoffs, and this will be the first time he has been in the postseason since 2019. Edmonton might have the toughest path for an individual player because Connor McDavid will be without Leon Draisaitl to start the playoffs. The East is dominant, with four teams finishing with over 100 points. Three of those teams are all inside the Atlantic. Comparing the Eastern Conference and Western Conference, the east has more depth in terms of competition. The Western Conference is top-heavy with teams such as Colorado, Minnesota and Dallas. In the East, all the Atlantic teams are elite, and Carolina stands out for their consistency and well-coached squad. The Hurricanes have fared well against the other eastern teams with their conference-leading 32 wins and an outstanding 19-4-1 record against their Metropolitan Division opponents (swept Pittsburgh 3-0 and Flyers 3-0). Cole Caufield has been worth noting this season with 50 goals for Montreal, while Andrei Vasilevsky is back to peak form in Tampa, recording a 2.32 GAA and 38 wins. With Kucherov SECOND in points, Vasilevsky putting up elite numbers, the Lightning need to be caught in a bottle, or with their firepower, they can be a major contender to get back to the Stanley Cup Final. One downside is that they have been in the box more than any other team, with over a thousand penalty minutes this season. In the West, the Avalanche have been the storyline, with them leading in save percentage, goals against average, and their offense leads in goals for per game (3.72 goals for). Injuries to watch out for are Victor Hedman, who is expected to return on April 15, and Draisaitl, who is expected to be back on April 18. Edmonton continues to be a force on the power play, leading with a 30.3% success rate. Minnesota, Dallas, Vegas and Carolina are the other teams that have been dominant when having the man advantage. Goaltending is the most important, and the position can take over a series. Edmonton acquired Tristan Jarry in exchange for Stuart Skinner. The Oilers have gotten to the Stanley Cup in each of the last two seasons. Jarry is 2-6-0 in 8 games with a goals against average of 3.00 and a save percentage of .891 in the playoffs in his career. Can Dallas finally get over the hump? One of the biggest questions is whether they can reach the Stanley Cup. They have reached the conference finals in each of the last three seasons under Peter DeBoer, who is now with the Islanders. Jake Otteinger holds a 2.56 GAA and a .912 SV%. Is Buffalo going on a run, or is this a one-and-done? Regardless, the Sabres haven’t made the playoffs since 2011, and ironically, Lindy Ruff was under contract as their head coach. They have gotten great production out of their stars with Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been their best goaltender and could be their lead netminder once the playoffs start. The Carolina Hurricanes haven’t been able to get to the Stanley Cup final, but have put together great regular seasons. At some point, this core should be able to go on a run with how deep their team is. Their new additions, such as K’andre Miller and Brandon Bussi in the cage have done great things for the team. The playoffs will be full of energy and excitement. With new teams getting a shot to host the Stanley Cup, these playoffs are more optimistic. Does Dallas get to the cup after three straight conference final appearances? Can Carolina get over the hump? Will McDavid be able to get back to the Stanley Cup for the third consecutive year? Since Florida is out, a new champion will be crowned. The question is, who will be on that team? Many teams have shown this season that they have Stanley Cup aspirations, like Tampa, Colorado and Vegas. But for now, we wait until someone new lifts Lord Stanley’s fabled cup. Who will take home the Stanley Cup this year? Email andrew.marshallsay@wilkes.edu with your thoughts �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 Sports 21 Arsenal Football Club's potential slips By Brendan Williams Staff Writer WOMEN’S LACROSSE SCHEDULE Arsenal Football Club is in trouble. Still top of the Premier League table as of April 8 and quarterfinalists in the Champions League, one might wonder what could possibly be wrong? The answer is pressure. Arsenal are notorious around the footballing world for being serial “bottlers”, or missing out on trophies due to various tactical mistakes over the years. The 2025-26 season began with The Gunners winning their first two matches before losing their third to defending champions Liverpool. From there, they didn’t lose for nearly four months as their next loss was to Aston Villa in December. In the Champions League, they won all eight of their matches, scoring 23 goals and only conceding four. In recent times this season however, Arsenal seems to be losing its edge–an issue that has plagued them for years. After losing the League Cup final to Manchester City, they then lost the FA Cup quarterfinal to second tier side Southampton, reducing their potential historic quadruple to at maximum, a double. Their final seven Premier League matches of the season won’t be easy either. On April 11, they play host to Bournemouth, a club still vying for a place in a European competition. After, they travel to the Etihad to play the same Manchester City that just trounced them 4-0. Manchester City are nine points behind Arsenal at the time of writing, but have a game in hand. The onus is on The Gunners to not let another Premier League title slip out of their grasp. Another big concern for the club is their lack of attacking recruitment. Arsenal’s most recent transfers have been focused mostly on building up a strong midfield rather than a lethal front three capable of winning crucial matches. New striker Victor Gyokeres is currently the top scorer at the club with 11 goals in the Premier League while new attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze is tied for second place with Bukayo Saka at six goals. Arsenal's top scorers sit far behind the top three (Erling Haaland, Igor Thiago, and Antoine Semenyo) in the Premier League with their tallies being 22, 19, and 15 goals respectively. It is paramount that Arsenal not lose focus at the final leg of the season. A first Premier League title since the 2003-04 season and a first Champions League title in club history are both at stake. After finishing second place for three consecutive seasons, the pressure is higher than ever on the players to finally bring the elusive trophy to north London under Mikel Arteta. Manager since 2019, Arteta has enjoyed success in the FA Cup, winning it in 2020, and winning two FA Community Shields titles in 2020 and 2023. Yet his biggest goals have always been the last two trophies Arsenal still stand to win this season. With a minimum of eight more matches remaining in their 2025-26 season it will be interesting to see how the players and staff adapt to the mounting pressure. Premier League Table (as of April 12) Arsenal - 70 pts Manchester City - 64 pts Manchester United - 55 pts Aston Villa - 55 pts Liverpool - 52 pts Chelsea - 48 pts Brentford - 47 pts Everton - 47 pts Brighton - 46 pts Sunderland - 46 pts Bournemouth - 45 pts Fulham - 44 pts Crystal Palace - 42 pts Newcastle - 42 pts Leeds United - 33 pts Nottingham Forest - 33 pts West Ham United - 32 pts Tottenham Hotspur - 30 pts Burnley - 32 pts FEB. 21 12:00 P.M. - VS UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT BRADFORD FEB. 25 4:00 P.M. - AT GWYNEDD MERCY UNIVERSITY FEB. 28 1:00 P.M. - VS BRYN MAWR COLLEGE MAR. 4 5:00 P.M. - AT SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE MAR. 7 1:00 P.M. - VS NOTRE DAME OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY MAR. 11 7:00 P.M. - AT ELMIRA COLLEGE MAR. 14 1:00 P.M. - AT KING’S COLLEGE (PA) MAR. 18 4:00 P.M. - VS SUNY POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE MAR. 21 1:00 P.M. - AT JUNIATA COLLEGE MAR. 25 5:00 P.M. - AT SUSQUEHANNA COLLEGE MAR. 28 1:00 P.M. - VS CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA APR. 1 7:00 P.M. - AT GOUCHER COLLEGE APR. 8 7:00 P.M. - VS DREW UNIVERSITY APR. 11 1:00 P.M. - VS ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE APR. 15 4:00 P.M. - AT UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON APR. 18 1:00 P.M. - VS MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY APR. 22 7:00 P.M. - VS LYCOMING COLLEGE �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 Sports 22 This past week in Wilkes sports: April 8-12 By Jake Mills Sports Staff Writer Believe it or not, the spring sports season at Wilkes is past its halfway mark. With just a few weeks to go in the semester, the teams keep on rolling. From the field to the diamond and to the fairways as well, here’s the recent happenings in the past week of Wilkes sports. April 8 MEN’S LACROSSE SCHEDULE Softball vs. Scranton (DH): 1-3 L Softball vs. Scranton (DH): 6-5 W Baseball vs. Scranton: 0-3 L April 9 Softball at Leb. Valley (DH): 3-11 L Softball at Leb. Valley (DH): 2-10 L Baseball at Keystone: 4-6 L Men’s Tennis vs. Moravian: 0-7 L Women’s Tennis vs. Moravian: 1-6 L Women’s Golf at the Husky Invitational: Kyleen McCance - tied for fifth place April 10 No events scheduled. April 11 Women’s Lacrosse vs. E-Town: 7-22 L Men’s Lacrosse at E-Town: 2-23 L Softball at Haverford (DH): 0-6 L Softball at Haverford (DH): 7-11 L Men’s Golf vs. Misericordia: 322-330 W April 12 Women’s Tennis at Goucher: Men’s Tennis at Goucher:1-6 L Women’s Golf at Scranton: Softball vs. Misericordia (DH): 10-4 W Softball vs. Misericordia (DH): 5-10 L Team Records (as of April 12): Baseball: 16-11 (12-3 Landmark) Softball: 14-12 (3-5 Landmark) Men’s Lacrosse: 4-10 (1-5 Landmark) Women’s Lacrosse: 8-6 (0-6 Landmark) Men’s Golf: 5-4-1 (0-2 Landmark) Women’s Golf: Men’s Tennis: 5-6 (1-4 Landmark) Women’s Tennis: Baseball vs. Elmira: 10-4 W Baseball vs. Hobart: 5-6 L FEB. 14 1:00 P.M. - AT DELAWARE VALLEY UNIVERSITY FEB. 18 4:00 P.M. - AT MARYWOOD UNIVERSITY FEB. 21 3:30 P.M. - AT FDU-FLORHAM MAR. 3 7:00 P.M. - AT ARCADIA UNIVERSITY MAR. 7 1:00 P.M. - AT LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE MAR. 11 7:00 P.M. - VS KING’S COLLEGE (PA) MAR. 14 12:00 P.M. - VS MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE (NY) MAR. 18 7:00 P.M. - VS ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY MAR. 21 12:00 P.M. - VS JUNIATA COLLEGE MAR. 25 4:00 P.M. - VS SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY MAR. 28 1:00 P.M. - AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA APR. 4 1:00 P.M. - VS GOUCHER COLLEGE APR. 8 1:00 P.M. - AT DREW UNIVERSITY APR. 11 1:00 P.M. - AT ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE APR. 15 4:00 P.M. - VS UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON APR. 18 1:00 P.M. - AT MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY APR. 22 7:00 P.M. - AT LYCOMING COLLEGE �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 Hana Cross Outfielder, Softball Cross became the first student-athlete in program history to be named Landmark Athlete of the Week, earning those honors on April 6. How do you prepare mentally before a game? I tune out the background noise and focus on my goals for the game, listening to music and doing the same routine every game What's your favorite part about playing softball? Being a part of a team that always celebrates your successes and is there for each other during the difficult times. How has your team contributed to your success? My teammates motivate me, pick me up when things get tough, and celebrate wins together. Their energy and support make practices competitive and games enjoyable, which helps me perform my best What motivates you to keep improving? The team and my parents, always having my back and supporting me. Sports 23 Mia Butka Pitcher/Infielder, Softball Butka collected two hits at the plate and went five innings in the pitcher's circle in the DH against E-Town on April 4. Who is your role model? I would say my parents are my biggest role models. They’ve always supported me and pushed me to work hard, both on and off the field. They’ve taught me the importance of staying disciplined, having a strong work ethic, and keeping a positive attitude no matter the situation. Thoughts on your performance? tried to focus on staying composed and attacking hitters, and my defense really had my back the whole time. I gave up just one earned run on four hits and didn’t allow any walks, which I was proud of, but a lot of that came from the confidence I had in my team behind me. What are your goals moving forward? I really just want to make the most out of the rest of the games we have left with our seniors, and hopefully make it to the playoffs and make a run. �The Beacon - April 15, 2026 Sports DON’T SWEAT IT EARN SOME CREDITS REGISTER FOR SUMMER SESSION Enjoy the campus vibe with in-person classes or study wherever you are with online options. With five different sessions and start dates in May, June or July, you can hit the books and still have time to relax. PRESESSION | May 18 to June 5 FULL SESSION | May 18 to August 14 FIRST SESSION | June 8 to July 10 NINE-WEEK SESSION | June 8 to August 11 SECOND SESSION | July 13 to August 14 Make an appointment with your advisor and visit WILKES.EDU/SUMMER. Wilkes University is an equal opportunity institution. For information on the University’s Policy on Non-Discrimination, visit www.wilkes.edu/nondiscrimination. 24 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource This is Wilkes University's Beacon Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the Beacon's predecessors, The Bucknell Bison Stampede, 1934-1935 and The Bucknell Beacon, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>. Missing Issues: 1947 August 8th 1947 September 5th 1947 October 3rd 1947 October 17th 1947 October 31st 1947 November 21st 1947 December 19th 1948 September 9th 1950 April 28th 1953 April 10th 1962 February 2nd Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon, 2026 April 15 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/9aeac0f046ff1a8acbb5f614a9f543dc.pdf 9c51b82e56fa08370f2155f78225df16 PDF Text Text The Beacon - March 25, 2026 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 78, Issue 18 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Discussing the latest U.S.-Iran conflict Photo/Brooke Lare Wilkes professors and students came together to discuss the ongoing U.S.-Iran conﬂict this past week. More than two dozen people attended the event that included the opportunity to ask questions. University receives nursing care grant page 5 Fork Around and Find Out: The River Grille page 9 Editorial: who’s the best Spider Man? page 14 NFL Free Agency: winners and losers page 20 �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 News News Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Student government notes: March 11 By Alli Lussi Staff writer Student government met on March 18 to discuss fund requests and to finalize nominations for the upcoming elections that will decide the next student body resident. The meetings began with the treasurer’s report, at $36,935.71. The meeting then went to the week two of two Christian Fellowship Club’s fund request. A few members of CFC will be attending a women’s conference in April. The conference will be focused on the Book of Exodus and will only have underclassmen attending. The club asked for $675 after finalizing the amount of people attending the event. After a brief discussion, the board decided on full allocation for the club. The next order of business was a fund request for Big Event. Big Event is the largest community service event at Wilkes. Volunteering will begin at 10 a.m. and will conclude around noon. Food will be provided for all volunteers as well as a T-shirt. The first 100 students to sign-up will also receive a zip-up hoodie. Transportation will also be provided by the university. The presenter requested $10,750, and after consideration, the board decided to allocate the full amount to Big Event. After all presentations were concluded, the board’s attention then went to Adam Butterwick, the Student Body President, who asked the board for the last time if they wanted to nominate anyone for the elections for his replacement. The board did not have any new nominations, so the two nominees both had time to present their speeches. Alton Smargiassi spoke first, highlighting his involvement in the university outside of being in Student Government. Smargiassi is a part of the chamber singers, has been in Student Government for two years, as well as being a political science student in pre-law. Smargiassi spoke about his goals for if he wins the election, speaking about how he plans to strengthen the E-board for Student Government, as well as having an open line from all students directly to the board. John Tondora then spoke about his involvement in the university. Tondora has been a part of Student Government since his first year. He is a biology major and is also a part of Middle States section 4. Tondora spoke about his goals if he were elected president, speaking about how he would like to use all resources available to better the student experience on campus. The meeting then went to committee work and then adjourned shortly after. The Student Government will meet again on March 25. It's On Us PA initiative provides university grant From a press release State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski today announced that Wilkes University has been awarded a $21,795 grant through the Commonwealth’s “It’s On Us PA” initiative, a statewide effort aimed at preventing sexual violence and supporting survivors on college campuses. The funding is part of a broader $1.7 million investment by Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration to 43 colleges and universities across Pennsylvania. The It’s On Us PA program focuses on fostering safer campus environments through education, prevention strategies, and enhanced support services for students. “This funding is an important step in ensuring students at Wilkes University have access to the resources, education, and support they need to feel safe on campus,” said Pashinski. “No student should have to worry about their safety while pursuing their education, and initiatives like It’s On 2 Us help create a culture of accountability, awareness, and prevention.” The grant will support efforts at Wilkes University to raise awareness about sexual violence, promote healthy relationships, and expand access to resources for survivors. Programs funded through It’s On Us PA often include campuswide education campaigns, bystander intervention training, and strengthened support systems for those impacted by sexual assault. The It’s On Us campaign, originally launched as a national initiative, encourages students, educators, and community members to take an active role in preventing sexual violence and supporting survivors. In Pennsylvania, the program brings together campus leaders and communities to ensure students have the tools and knowledge to stay safe. Pashinski emphasized the importance of continued investment in programs that protect students and strengthen campus communities. “By investing in prevention and support, we are sending a clear message that sexual violence has no place in our schools or communities,” Pashinski said. “I’m proud to see Wilkes University leading the way in creating a safer environment for its students. “I would also like to thank Governor Shapiro and his administration for saying ‘It’s on us’ to combat campus sexual violence,” Pashinski continued. “If you see something, say something!” Supported by state funding through the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the state budget, the grant reflects the commonwealth’s commitment to preventing sexual violence and supporting survivors on college campuses. For more information about the It’s On Us PA initiative, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s website. Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Center..........12-13 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Events: Spring 2026 February 28 - Spring break begins March 9- Classes resume April 2- Holiday recess begins 6- Classes resume 30- Final exams begin May 16- Spring commencement Have a safe and anjoyable semester! Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 News 3 Wilkes expands AI education through Google partnership, upcoming campus summit By Thaelis Andujar Assistant News Editor Wilkes University is advancing its commitment to career readiness and innovation through a new partnership with Google, bringing expanded artificial intelligence resources and training opportunities to students across all majors. The university recently joined the Google AI for Education Accelerator program, a national initiative aimed at strengthening AI education and workforce preparation. Through the program, Wilkes students, faculty and staff will gain free access to a wide range of Google AI tools and professional development resources that are typically subscription-based. These include Google’s AI-powered platforms, such as Gemini, as well as certification courses offered through Coursera. Woojun Lee, associate dean of the College of Business and Engineering, said the partnership was the result of a deliberate effort by university leadership to bring cutting-edge educational opportunities to campus. “We wanted to find a way to become part of the AI accelerator program,” Lee said. “So I applied for the AI accelerator program on behalf of the college of business and engineering… and we were selected as part of the program.” The initiative is part of a broader global investment by Google in AI education and workforce development. “Google invests, I think, more than a billion dollars to enhance AI education across the globe,” Lee said. “They are investing on behalf of Wilkes University by giving us free AI resources, including Gemini… students and faculty and even alumni can access those resources for free.” A key component of the partnership is access to Coursera, an online learning platform that offers industry-recognized certifications in areas such as data analytics, digital marketing, cybersecurity and project management. These certifications, which typically require a monthly subscription fee, will now be available to the Wilkes community at no cost. “If you wanted to gain those certification and training through Coursera by yourself, you will be asked to pay… $60 or something,” Lee said. “But if you are using [a Wilkes] account… you can get that single discipline. “Any major and any student and faculty, even staff, can actually get that access,” he said. Faculty across campus have already begun exploring ways to integrate AI into their courses. According to Lee, programs are being customized to align with different academic fields, allowing “Our goal… was to become a leader in AI education in this region,” Lee said. “We are giving our students an opportunity to become excellent… expertise in AI related jobs… so that they will help them to land the job.” ~Woojun Lee, associate dean of the College of Business and Engineering education for free.” University administrators say this access provides a significant advantage for students entering an increasingly competitive job market. Abel Adekola, dean of the College of Business and Engineering, emphasized the value of combining traditional degrees with additional credentials. “This will be an added value… for our students when they have a degree and they can say that they have a certificate in AI,” Adekola said. He also noted that Wilkes is among a select group of institutions in the region participating in the program. “We are one of the few universities around here that is part of this,” Adekola said. Although the partnership was spearheaded by the College of Business and Engineering, both Lee and Adekola stressed that the initiative is designed to benefit the entire university community. “No matter what you study these days, AI is part of your generation… AI is becoming a must know,” Adekola said. Lee reinforced that accessibility, noting that the resources extend beyond any students to apply AI tools in disciplinespecific contexts. “She wanted to incorporate that program into her courses so that she is able to teach AI and educational leadership to her doctoral students, which is now happening,” Lee said. Beyond academics, the partnership also enhances students’ professional visibility. Certifications earned through the program can be directly linked to platforms such as LinkedIn, allowing students to showcase their skills to potential employers. “Once they complete the certification, they can be automatically linked to your LinkedIn account,” Lee said. “You can actually showcase your skill set… without showing proof, it is hard… but now you are able to showcase your credentials.” University leaders believe these opportunities will play a key role in shaping students’ career outcomes over the next several years. “Our goal… was to become a leader in AI education in this region,” Lee said. “We are giving our students an opportunity to become excellent… expertise in AI related jobs… so that they will help them to land the job.” Looking ahead, Lee said the university hopes to see both improved employment outcomes and continued innovation in teaching methods. “I hope that in five years… many of our students will get a better job thanks to those experiences,” he said. “At the same time, we can innovate our curriculum… not only changing how we think, but also how we teach our students.” As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries, Wilkes administrators stress the importance of adapting to new technologies rather than resisting them. “AI is not a threat,” Lee said. “AI will replace you if you are not innovating… but AI will strengthen what you do… and make everything… efficient.” To further introduce students and the campus community to these emerging opportunities, Wilkes will host the “AI Summit & Emerging Careers and Conference” on, April 10 from 12 to 2:30 p.m. at the Simms McHale Athletic Complex. The event will feature keynote speakers and discussions focused on the growing role of artificial intelligence across industries, as well as its impact on future career paths. The summit is expected to provide students with additional insight into how AI is shaping the workforce and how they can take advantage of the new resources available through the Google partnership. It also serves as an opportunity for students from all majors to engage with professionals and better understand how AI skills can be applied within their fields. With expanded access to AI tools, free professional certifications and new campus programming, the Google AI for Education Accelerator represents a significant step forward for Wilkes University. For students, faculty and staff alike, the initiative offers both immediate resources and long-term opportunities to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world. “Please take advantage of these great resources,” Lee said. �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 News Women's and Gender Studies Conference to be held By Thaelis Andujar and Leah Smith News assistant editor & Editor in chief Wilkes University will be holding a Women’s and Gender Studies Conference on March 31. The conference is in collaboration with King’s College. Women’s and Gender Studies is a minor program at Wilkes that critically analyzes gender. The program introduces students to the history of feminism and new ideas about how society should look at gender. The event will be held in the Henry Student Center, and will feature many speakers ranging from students, to professionals of the topic. Wilkes students like English major Sydney Ahrberg will be presenting at the conference. Ahberg is one of many students in a group with Dr. Amy Sopcak-Joseph, an associate professor on global cultures. Aherberg’s topic is titled, “The Politics of Disseminating Captivity Narratives in Colonial and Early America” and will examinine early American captivity narratives. Specifically, colonial America’s beliefs and how they influenced representations of Indigenous peoples and women. “I think that between myself and the other students presenting, we give a really thorough explanation of gender dynamics in colonial America for Indigenous, colonial, and enslaved women.” Ahberg said. Additionally, Ahberg noted what she wanted students to get most out of not only her presentation but the conference as a whole. “I hope people learn something new. I hope that attendees also come away from the conference thinking about how these historical discussions connect to our lives today.” Another student presenting will be Patrick Height who will be presenting the topic, “Pink-Collared Jobs: The History and its Effects”. This topic will be going into the old term, “pink collared jobs” that was popularized in the 1940s during WWII. Height will be navigating the jobs that were associated with women during this time period and how the term, “pink collar” was made to differentiate women and men in the workplace. More about the conference topics and presenters are on the Wilkes University website. On March 30, the day before the conference, there will also be a keynote address from Dr. Lucia McMahon, who will speak on the early American woman, and how there were limited opportunities for women to get educated. McMahon is a professor at William Pat t e r s o n University, in New Jersey. While her specialties lie in history, philosophy, and liberal studies, McMahon also studies women’s history and advocates for the recovery of “relatively ‘unknown’ women’s voices and experiences.” The conference will be an all day event, starting at 9:30 a.m. and ending at 8 p.m.. The event coincides with the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, which will be paired with presentations about women’s affect on American history. The goal of the event is to empower women and encourage them to 4 continue to stay educated. For more information, contact Dr. Jennifer Thomas. �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 News Wilkes University awarded funding for nursing program 5 Enhancements to the nursing simulation labs at Wilkes will allow nursing students to be even more prepared before they enter the workforce full time. Mollie Kuhar Special to the Beacon Wilkes University recently received $500,000 in federal funding, part of the $1 million allocated to northeastern Pennsylvania by Sen. John Fetterman. The gift, when combined with a previous $750,000 in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funding, paves the way for renovations to the Clinical Nursing Simulation Center in the Stark Learning Center. The move is expected to place the university at the forefront of nursing education innovation. More than 750,000 hospital errors occur annually, with approximately 10% proving fatal. This costs the United States more than $17 billion each year. Wilkes aims for the upgraded simulation center to offer immersive, cutting-edge and risk-free training environments. Here, future nurses can confidently learn, make mistakes and improve their skills, all while guaranteeing patient safety in practical situations. Wilkes' Passan School of Nursing offers an accelerated nursing program (ABSN), allowing students to earn a BSN in four years. The upcoming improvements promise to introduce state-of-the-art simulation spaces, advanced hospital equipment and a realistic home-care setting. A goal is to ensure that students are prepared to meet the continuously evolving challenges within modern healthcare with certainty and compassion. Some of the upgrades that students will be gaining access to include testing bays, manikins and hospital beds. These advancements from this investment give students a more accurate insight into patient care in the real world and to learn from mistakes without risking safety of the patient. Across the United States, a projected shortage of over 63,000 nurses nationally and 8,000 in Pennsylvania by 2030 (Health Resources and Services Administration) reinforces the urgent need for creative solutions. “Our students will really experience what nursing care is like," said Joyce Victor, associate professor of nursing at Wilkes. "They will learn what to do and what not to do. That gives us confidence that students will have the skills that they need and that patients need. “The bottom line is that we’re preparing to provide patients with really awesome nurses.” The $1.25 million total of RACP and federal funds in the Clinical Nursing Simulation Center will keep highly qualified nurses close to home. The majority of Wilkes University ABSN and BSN students stay in Pennsylvania after they graduate, according to a university news release. �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 News 6 Wilkes professors hold panel on war with Iran By Brooke Lare Staff Writer �� What topic would you like to hear Wilkes professors discuss? Email leah.smith1@ wilkes.edu �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor: Kailey.Vogel@wilkes.edu RHC hosts St. Patrick’s Day themed area party By Kaydia Wright LA&E Assistant Editor With the cold winter months being left in the wind, the Residence Hall Council decided to have some fun on St. Patrick’s Day. On March 17, the RHC hosted a campus wide Area Party from 6-8 p.m. The event featured food, games and even a surprise karaoke at the end of the night. With how much thought and effort went into this event, it took a lot of brainstorming by the RHC team. “My council and I really looked into what our residents were interested in doing,” said Amy Martinez, RHC president. “We really wanted to bring all of the areas together, whether they were from Towers or Evans.” She also explained how they chose the date. “We decided that St. Patrick’s Day would be a day where we could get everyone together and do a good theme for the Area Party.” The JPAC was covered in green decorations, and there was a door prize that attendees could only enter to win if they were wearing something green. “My favorite part of the night was the end of the night when someone asked to do karaoke,” Martinez mentioned. “In the beginning, there were students having fun, playing games, and some won prizes. But at the end of the night, we really got to know each other. “I personally got to know some new names and faces that I hope to be seeing in RHC or around campus.” However, there was also a lot of hype for the party the week before with RHC’s Spirit Week. “For Spirit Week, we wanted to get everyone involved since Spring Fling is coming up this Friday.,” Martinez said. “So we wanted to get some students involved, get to know RHC, and be able to come to the Area Party as we wanted a good turnout and Spirit Week was the best way to do it.” RHC will host more events this semester, with the next one being a Rita’s Ice Pop-Up on March 26 from 11 a.m. to 1pm at the SUB. To find more events follow RHC on Instagram @wilkes_rhc. �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment Fork Around and Find Out: The River Grille By Allison Lussi News Assistant Editor This week for Fork Around and Find Out, I went to the River Grille in WilkesBarre, a popular spot for the locals. The River Grille will occasionally have live music along with brunch on the weekends, and it is also known for its bar and signature cocktails. This week for the River Grille, I decided to go per my father’s request, as he doesn’t really go there a lot and I have actually never been. The parking lot is huge, and because it is also close to a McDonald’s, there is a little bit of traffic when pulling into it. The inside has a darker aesthetic with nice hanging light fixtures. The restaurant is very spacious with a relatively large bar area. The building is well lit and the staff was super nice. We started dinner by ordering our drinks, we all just stuck with water, which was brought to our table as soon as we sat down. We then looked through the menu, the menu isn’t super big. I appreciate that. Their menu has, in my opinion, a very good selection from what they have without overdoing it. We ordered the cheese curds for our appetizer. To my surprise, the cheese curds were very large in comparison to other cheese curds that I have had before. Cheese curds are basically just mini mozzarella sticks, with marinara sauce to dip. These cheese curds were a 9/10, absolutely amazing, I will be ordering these again. I then ordered the quinoa bowl with steak, located on the smaller plates part of the menu. I got my steak cooked mediumrare and when my bowl came out, it was so beautifully put together. The bowl had beans, guacamole, roasted corn and tomatoes and it was very good. I really enjoyed the bowl because it wasn’t super heavy and had a great blend of flavors between the guacamole and the actual steak that they put in the bowl. I would give the quinoa bowl an 8/10. We then wrapped dinner up, and got the check. Their prices are very fair for the amount of food you get. Overall, I was very happy with the experience at the River Grille. 8 Photo/Allison Lussi The quinoa bowl with steak was as delicious as it was visually pleasing. Art in context presentation to be held March 28 Thursday’s presentation by Dana Stirling is free and open to the public. A brief reception will follow. Join the Sordoni Art Gallery at 5 p.m. on March 26 at 5 pm for an Art in Context Artist lecture featuring Dana Stirling. A brief reception will follow with a free wine/beer bar. Stirling is a fine art photographer and the Co-Founder & Editor of Float Photo Magazine since 2014. She is currently based in Queens, New York. Stirling earned her MFA in photography, video, and related media from The School Of Visual Arts in 2016, following her earlier BA in Photographic Communications from Hadassah College Jerusalem. Dana Stirling’s work has been prominently featured in group exhibitions in the United States and internationally, including reputable venues such as Panopticon Gallery and Saatchi Gallery. Her photography has gained recognition in various publications, including Buzzfeed, Feature Shoot, Der Grief Magazine and others. �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 Manuscript Society, Theatre Club host Princess Bride screening By Leah Smith Editor-in-Chief Wilkes students gathered at Kirby Hall on March 19 for the Manuscript Society and Theater Club’s screening of the late Rob Reiner’s classic film, The Princess Bride. Prior to the screening, members of the Manuscript Society gathered snacks, ice cream, drinks and pizza from Franco’s to provide beverages for the viewers of the screening. Before the film was shown, the Manuscript Society’s adviser, Dr. Mischelle Anthony, addressed the students. “Make sure to check out the open positions for the editing team for Manuscript which also include tuition scholarships.” said Anthony, who is also an associate professor of English, . After Anthony informed the attendees about the editing team opportunities, students relaxed and enjoyed the film, with some audience members shouting out the film’s iconic lines such as, “Inconceivable!” The Manuscript Society’s assistant editor and head planner of this event, Kylie Kilvitis, stated that this event would be the last event of the semester for the Manuscript Society before finals arrives. “We wanted to put this event together for people to just chill and kick back to a classic movie,” Kilvitis stated. Additionally, Kilvitis said that the event was planned a year prior where the Manuscript Society wanted to screen a film that was an adaptation of a book to fit with the club’s creative writing background. “It was a unanimous vote; it’s the best book to film adaptation if you ask me.” Kilvitis said. Although it wasn’t intended at the time of voting for the film screening, Kilvitis also gave a shoutout to the director of the film, the iconic Rob Reiner who died in December. Freshman biology major, Autumn Evancavich is a member of the Manuscript and although she wasn’t a part of the voting process, she is a huge fan of the film and was happy with the choice. “It’s just so iconic, and I have so many exams coming up. Having this chill time and meeting new people is such a great opportunity,” Evancavich said. Similar to Dr. Anthony’s message at the beginning of the event, Evancavich was happy the event had a great turnout and wants more people to consider joining the Manuscript and show up to future events. “The Manuscript is amazing and it’s so impressive that we got this event done.” Evancavich stated. Manuscript Society and Theater Club Princess Bride film screening poster. Top right image: A scene from “The Princess Bride” viewed in the Kirby Salon. Middle right: Liz Keller and Karah Cruise indulging in ice cream before the film begins. Bottom image: Dr. Mischelle Anthony addressing the attendees about open Manuscript positions. �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 The Mental Health Beacon Stop talking and really listen to the world around you By Gina Harrison Assistant professor Passan School of Nursing Communication is an essential part of human interaction. Exchanging information helps us to solve problems and build important relationships. It seems straightforward but communication can be difficult. Rules change depending on context, individual lived experience and body language. Being a good communicator is a skill that can be acquired. It takes practice and patience. There are important components of communication. These may differ based on schools of thought. For this article we will focus on five. The sender, the receiver, message, medium and feedback. The sender begins the communication process with information which can be a question, command or an idea for others to consider. The sender must ensure that they are using a form of communication that can be understood by the receiver. The receiver will then interpret the sender’s message. The message itself is the information, this can be supported with the use of body language, tone, and context. In our digital age, we now must also consider the medium. For example, text or messaging apps. Finally, to close the communication loop, there will be feedback. Feedback occurs once the message has been received and understood. We frequently picture communication occurring in face-to-face format; however, it goes well beyond that. Digital communication can lead to confusion due to personal interpretation of messages. For example, the text from your bestie comes through in all caps, you think they are: yelling at you, really it is excitement or an error. There is no way for you to view the context of the text thus you apply meaning to it. This can lead to miscommunication and frustration. Working to improve your communication skills begins with your messaging. Try to use clear and concise language when you are communicating with others. Including insignificant collateral information or flowery language may result in confusion or your receiver losing the purpose of communication. Additionally, you should make sure that your body language is in line with your message. For example, if you are conveying a positive message with a scowl on your face, your receiver may be confused by the mixed messages. As the receiver, if you are crossing your arms and looking anywhere but at the sender, you may be conveying disinterest. Arguably, the most essential skill you can develop for communication is listening. Listening can be difficult, particularly if the message elicits an emotional reaction. Make sure that you are actively listening and not just waiting for your turn to talk. Being a good listener allows us to understand the message through active engagement, compassion and maintaining a nonjudgmental attitude. If you are not sure what the message is or means, ask for clarification. Our personal experiences and background heavily influence how we interpret messages. We must make sure that we are not misinterpreting the message due to our experience. As a member of the campus community, you are building friendships and relationships that will last a lifetime. Your peers, faculty, staff and other campus community members build a network of support that can connect us together, help us build our lives and our careers. Communication is the key to making that possible. Make sure that you are out there and communicating with our campus community. �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 12 Hobbies, Laughs and a Whole Bingo cards students used for Bingo night. a Emm y , y c ma add Phar macy, M y l r er in Ey ing - Pha v a G r ke ht, o rig y, Ari Pic t t f e l ac From - Pharm . y k Aftu - Biolog r e Bak Students in action playing bingo. From left to right, Madison Wall - Political Science, Bonnie-Jade Kinsman - Psychology, Mira DiMassimoPsychology, Delaney Borek - Criminology, Cecilia Ruyak - Environmental Science. �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 13 Lot of Bingo in the JPAC! Crochet set prize won by Craig Conville. Overview of the students who attended bingo night. From left to right, Becca Earnst - Marketing, Abigail Malin - Psychology, Kota Brown - Psychology, Vanessa Coyle - Sports Management. Standin g up fron t with t he mic is Loga n Colon na. �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 Opinion Editorial Staff 2025-26 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Leah Smith Managing Editor - Andrew Marshallsay Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS LA&E - Kailey Vogel Opinion - Shawn Carey SECTION ASSISTANTEDITORS News - Thaelis Andujar & Alli Lussi LA&E - Kaydia Wright Sports - Jake Mills DESIGNERS Photographer - Shannon Slominski STAFF WRITERS Nikki Steinberg Topher DellaBella Natalia Williams Brooke Lare Vin Santoro 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: shawn.carey1@wilkes.edu Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Who is the best live action Spider-Man actor? With the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s fourth Spider-Man installment, “SpiderMan: Brand New Day” coming out on July 31, an age-old debate has returned: Who is the best Spider-Man? This question has sparked up once again after the trailer released on March 18. Diehard fans of the webslinging hero believe that this film will be the most accurate to the comics of all of the Tom Holland Spider-Man films. This is because the trailer showed footage of Tom Holland finally portraying Peter Parker as he is in the comics: broke and alone. All of the Spider-Man actors have their pros and cons, because if we’re observing them all under the lens of comic accuracy, none of them really come close to how Peter Parker is like in the comics perfectly. Starting off with Tobey Maguire, his version of Peter Parker is quite perfect when it comes to how Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created Peter Parker back in the ‘60s. When he’s Peter, Maguire exudes the nerdy wallflower qualities that Parker should have. He’s a nerdy outcast which was always Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s intention so to have that be shown in the first big liveaction film of Spider-Man is quite a treat. His portrayal of Peter Parker may be exemplary, but as Spider-Man? There’s much to be desired. The biggest gripe with Tobey Maguire when he puts on the suit is that he’s still too nerdy even as Spider-Man. Not to say that Spider-Man isn’t corny or nerdy when he’s out fighting crime, there’s just not enough of the balance between goofy Spider-Man and a cool Spider-Man. There’s some decent fight scenes he has across his trilogy, but compared to how modern Spider-Man films pit him against his coterie of supervillains, it doesn’t come close. Now, onto Andrew Garfield’s SpiderMan. Right off the bat, his Peter Parker is not great. He’s not really an outcast because in his duology, he doesn’t get bullied by Flash Thompson and with the random skateboarding montage from his first “The Amazing Spider-Man” film, he gives off more as a punk bad boy than he does as a nerdy outcast. How’s his Spider-Man? People have said that his Spider-Man vastly outshines his Peter Parker and while this is true to a degree, his Spider-Man still isn’t that great. The greatest sin his Spider-Man commits is that he starts becoming Spider-Man out of vengeance for Uncle Ben rather than justice. Yes, Maguire does this to an extent in the first one, but he wasn’t Spider-Man yet. Garfield’s Spidey is much more sinister in the fact that this is his motivation to become Spider-Man. On top of that, whenever he jokes around during battle, it feels off-putting, especially since on screen, civilians are in peril while he’s joking around. Like, you’re a superhero, go do your job. Now, the last and current live action Spider-Man, Tom Holland. Tom Holland’s Peter Parker works quite well especially for the modern day. He feels less like a nerdy stereotype and has at least one friend to banter with. His Spider-Man is also good, especially since his fight scenes far exceed that of the previous two and he’s able to still crack jokes and be witty while also doing his job and saving people. However, the only really good villain Holland’s Spider-Man has had was the Vulture played by Michael Keaton. Mysterio was wasted in “Spider-Man: Far From Home” and of course, the returning villains from the previous films were fun to see again in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” but those aren’t really Tom Holland’s villains. Like said, there’s no perfect live-action Spider-Man, but each of them have qualities that any person can enjoy, which is the fun part about superhero adaptations. So, who do you think the best SpiderMan is? Letter to the editor policy: The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor from differing viewpoints. Letters must contain contact information, including name, city, state and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published but may be used for verification purposes. All letters to the editor must be sent using one of the following methods: Email: leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Phone: (570) 408-5903 (Voicemail: 30 seconds or less, please.) Mail: 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766 Attn: The Beacon �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 Opinion The Icebox presents: Studying abroad in Japan By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer If you have tuned into the most recent issues of the Icebox, you probably know that I have finally introduced my interests in the country of Japan. Here at Wilkes, I was able to take things a step further and visit the country for educational purposes. Today, I will talk to you about a study abroad opportunity offered at Wilkes that you do not want to miss out on. As an Honors student and recipient of the Stephen’s Scholarship, I was able to go on a fully-funded trip to Japan for three weeks in the summer of 2025. This was possible due to the wonderful professors at Wilkes University and the program director from Tamagawa University in Tokyo, Japan. The program director, Tetsu Nakamura, works very hard to welcome international students to the Tamagawa campus every year. He created the “Study at Tamagawa” which is open to a maximum of 15 students from Evergreen State College, Drexel University and our very own Wilkes University. Tetsu-sensei’s program has been running since 2024. The program focus, as of today, is “Current Issues in Japan.” Students attend lectures everyday about concerns in Japan regarding the economy, culture, arts, education, opportunities, preservation, technology and international relations. Each lecture is conducted by a new professor, according to their specialty, which means a student has the chance to meet many Japanese professors. There is also a class that introduces the Japanese language. The program also invites a dozen Japanese students from Tamagawa University, which is the host location to the program. These students are usually involved in cultural studies or international programs, but anyone from any major is welcome to attend. The Japanese students are very friendly and responsible for showing the international students around Tokyo. Finally, the program includes field trips to Hakone and Asakusa, where students can experience Japanese culture and history and learn directly from very reputable guest speakers. At the end of every lecture day there is plenty of time for students to make their own plans and go on excursions. If you require more information, you can visit the official website for the international program at Tamagawa University. There, you will find information about the program and the application. You will also see videos of the previous years and special interviews of me and my friends. If you need information about scholarships and funding from Wilkes, you can contact Dr. Andreea Maierean from Wilkes. My own experience in Japan is simply indescribable. There are no words that can truly capture how extraordinary it was for me. For perspective, I have traveled to a dozen countries and none of them even come close to my experience studying in Japan. I highly recommend studying abroad as your approach to visiting a country for the first time. Living like a native is much more authentic than falling into tourist traps. I could talk about my experience for hours, or pages, but I want to highlight the true value that this program offered me and contrast it to regular tourism. The key factor about this program is authenticity. Everything that I was able to accomplish with Tamagawa University enabled me to see a part of Japan left invisible to tourists. A lot of people idolize Japan without acknowledging its many faults. While the country is generally in a better place than the United States, there are still many problems and consequences of being a Japanese citizen. These are the kinds of issues I learned from professors at Tamagawa University, even outside of lecture hours. My Japanese classmates also provided insight on what life is like as a young adult in the grand city of Tokyo. To be more specific, Japanese people are very hard-working and tend to treat even the most mundane tasks with a sense of artistry. However, it is that expectation of them which became the driving force for the development of Japan as a country. As a result, it is basically the default option to be working all day everyday. This is the reason many Japanese people choose not to get married or have children, and that a lot of them commit themselves entirely to work. The younger generation, however, is against this culture and wants to diversify the workforce more. Rather than salaryman after salaryman, the youth in Japan want to present more independent opportunities that are common here in the United States. This was yet another theme that I learned about while studying in Tokyo. The final project of the program was to work in groups and discuss how to develop the country and address the issues in Japan. Aside from the nuances in Japan, I was able to truly grasp the culture and learn more about the city which I only previously admired from afar. Tokyo is spectacular. Technology is used very effectively, and the people have all kinds of character. Each night, I took it upon myself to visit a different part of Tokyo, even if my classmates were too tired. When you’re traveling, there is no such thing as being too tired. The friends I made during this trip have become lifelong buddies of mine, both from the American universities and from Tamagawa University. Our friendship was so great that many of the students went out of their way to be welcoming. For example, I was able to go to Tokyo 15 Disney Sea with a few of my Japanese friends. We also frequently ate dinner together and went out for karaoke. Recently, two of my Japanese friends visited New York City. As a way to return the favor, I made my way over there to show them around. I also drove them to Philadelphia so we could reunite with our buddies from Drexel. Spending time with friends in Tokyo is one of the best things you can do. If you are traveling there, I recommend having someone tag along or making friends in Japan beforehand if possible. However, even the experience on your own is amazing in its own way. There are many sights to see, many things to buy and lots of different foods to try. Food is probably the number one reason to go anywhere. I spent a few hours each day on my own, walking around the city or visiting sites that didn’t fit in the program schedule. I even attended BeatCity Japan 2025, which is a Japanese national beatboxing competition and a qualifier for the Grand Beatbox Battle. It was during this event that I met Japanese people with the same niche hobby. We ended up having a fun time despite the language barrier. The citizens of Japan are simultaneously the kindest and most critical people you will ever meet. When traveling, the skills of crosscultural conversation and reading the room are very important. In Japan, these skills are required at an extreme level. If you are interested in going to Japan to have an experience like mine, or possibly better, then I highly recommend studying abroad at Tamagawa University. Special thanks to Tetsu Nakamura, director of International Studies at Tamagawa University, and all of the staff who were very welcoming and accommodating. �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 Opinion 16 What to know about Lobo ahead of “Supergirl” film By Leah Smith Editor-in-Chief �� ¡�� ¢�� £� � �� ¤� �� £� Image from DC Comics Next Level press release. Artwork by Jorge Corona. �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 Opinion 17 The reason why Magical Girl cartoons rule By Aster Rowland Opinion staff writer Magical Girls. You can’t beat them, and unfortunately, you can’t join them. That’s why they live on TV though, to inspire younger girls and give older girls something to aspire to cosplay (at least in my case). What sucks is that there seems to be a need for a champion, but why? If you’ve ever seen Winx Club, W.I.T.C.H, Sailor Moon, Madoka, either version of SheRa or my fave Miraculous Ladybug, please keep reading. First off, no one would win. In their given universe, they are the most powerful forces of nature. Some teams are literally themed around the four elements, or abstract but powerful concepts. Take Miraculous Ladybug for example, Ladybug and Cat Noir are powered by the gods of Creation and Destruction respectively. Another example are the Winx; Bloom’s powers stem from the Dragon Flame, which quite literally created the Magic Dimension (think the Big Bang, but with a dragon) not to mention she and the rest of the Winx are the guardian fairies of their respective planets. In She-Ra, the princesses are all connected to crystals that power the planet. The whole thing would come to a stalemate, assuming they even fought in the first place. These shows also feature relatable characters such as Usagi Tsukino, the real name of the pretty guardian herself, Sailor Moon. I mean, who doesn’t relate to a girl simply trying to get through school who isn’t afraid to show her love for her friends, for boys and for candy. Think about it: How did you learn about girl code, the ‘magic’ of friendship, the idea that you are redeemable no matter how far you strayed? You picked it up from these shows! These girls typically only fight other girls if they’re actively doing harm to the people and communities around them, and even that’s after trying to reason with them initially. In the Ben 10 series, there is a character named Charmcaster and she’s typically an antagonist. There are moments where she works with the main characters, and without fail, Gwen Tennyson (the magical girl protagonist) always tries to convince her to switch sides, and get help for her evident mental health struggles. It’s a sad but sweet lesson about how you can’t help someone if they refuse, but you do what you can in the good moments. In She-Ra, it takes 5 whole seasons for Catra to see sense about the Horde, but every time she and Adora interact, she has hope (that admittedly falters sometimes) that Catra is a good person deep down. She literally ends up being a key piece in the defeat of Horde Prime. My final point, albeit a silly one, is the inevitable redhead convention. Almost every team has a redhead, and they’re also usually the most powerful? Different story, different day. But off the top of my head, Will Vandem (W.I.T.C.H), Bloom (Winx Club), Gwen Tennyson (Ben 10), Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tail. That last one’s a bit of a stretch, but I digress. Redheads are like 2-3% of the population, I think they would all just kiki (colloquial term for party) and complain about how dumb the boys in their lives are. To conclude, in reference to all magical girls in the multiverse, each individual is too smart and too much of a girls girl to start/get into a fight with each other. In my head, they did the Across The Spiderverse thing where there’s a multiversal HQ, and they do team ups. Okay, I’ve said ‘magical girl’ more times than I can count, I hope you had fun reading. Got an opinion you want to share? Email shawn.carey1@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 Opinion 18 A re-review of: Sabrina Carpenter's "Man's Best Friend" By Natalia Williams Staff writer Back in November, I reviewed Sabrina Carpenter’s album,"Man's Best Friend” when it was first released. After a few months of listening and gaining more favorites, I realized that the review I initially gave was absolutely insane. A lot of the takes on that review is just simply wrong and I will admit, I completely underrated that album as a whole. With fresh new ears, here is my track-by-track re-review of Sabrina Carpenter's "Man's Best Friend” album. 1. “Manchild” Old Ranking: 8/10 New Ranking: 10/10 This song grew on me so much. Much like the other songs on this album, it is just so much fun. In my past review, I said it sounded like the production of “Short n’ Sweet” and I don’t know what I was talking about to be completely honest. Yes, it sounds like a typical Sabrina type of style and production, but it is different from the prior record. The bridge is definitely my favorite song and it's the part that gets me the most hype. Overall, this song is definitely such a good album opener and deserves its 10/10. 2. “Tears” Old Ranking: 5/10 New Ranking: 9/10 Seeing that I gave this song a five is absolutely diabolical. Like mentioned in the first review, it is definitely disco vibes and I love it. I also said the lyrics don’t make sense and once again…I do not know what I was talking about. The writing is a typical theme for Sabrina and I genuinely do not know what was going through my head when I first heard this song. I am so glad I am doing this re-review because this song deserves its flowers. 3. “My Man on Willpower” Old Ranking: 10/10 New Ranking: 15/10 I may be dramatic with the new ranking but this song is just perfect. I did love it at first, thank goodness because this one is just too good. Like mentioned in the first review, the melody is definitely my favorite aspect of this song and the bridge is just so relatable. This one is so much fun and probably Top 3 for me on the album. This song is probably so fun and I hope she tours this album because I will be healed when I hear this song in concert. This one is another one where I was confused lyrically but much like track 2… what was I even talking about. Overall, it’s a fire track. I love her. 4. “Sugar Talking” Old Ranking: 7/10 New Ranking: 7/10 When listening to the album in full this is one I do skip frequently only because it's just not repeatable for me. It's a really good song, however I just need to be in a certain mood for it. Her vocals in this one, much like the other tracks, are really good which I do enjoy. I really don't have any crazy thoughts on this one, like in the first review, this one is just a track I don't replay or gravitate towards really. 5. “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night” Old Ranking: 10/10 New Ranking: 20/10 Now this one 100% deserves the dramatic ranking. I remember when I first listened to this track I repeated it like five times and then it was the only song I was constantly listening to for like a month straight. The melody? Beautiful. The vocals? Astonishing. The bridge? Amazing. This is probably my favorite Sabrina Carpenter song of all time and probably in my Top 30 favorite songs of all time. For me, it is the best song on the album and I will never ever get tired of it. Overall, a fire track. 6. “Nobody’s Son” Old Ranking: 5/10 New Ranking: 10/10 A five out of 10 is wild…but I digress. I mentioned in the first review that this song wouldn’t be replayed…just loud and wrong. This track is one of the most replayed on the album. I can relate to the writing so much and that is what also makes it a favorite. This one is so much fun, especially the bridge. I bust a move every time this song is played and I am so happy that I can finally give it the rating it deserves. 7. “Never Getting Laid” Old Ranking: 8/10 New Ranking: 10/10 This one took a little longer to grow on me, but I'm so glad it did. The chorus is 100% my favorite part of the song and the vocals are amazing. When I listen to this album in full I always repeat this song at least five times. The melody is so catchy and this one always gets stuck in my head. I am glad I had positive thoughts about this one the first time because if I didn't it would've made me really mad. 8. “When Did You Get Hot” Old Ranking: 4/10 New Ranking: 6/10 Okay nothing really changed with this one either. I actually do not listen to this song at all and I always skip it when it comes on. It's not a bad song at all, it's just one that I don't vibe with. I mentioned that the lyrically we were getting weaker which is just wrong because although this album might not contain the greatest song writing in history, it's not bad at all. Overall, nothing much with this one, just not one I listen to. 9. “Go Go Juice” Old Ranking: 6/10 New Ranking: 10/10 I cannot believe I gave this song a six. She knew what was doing with this song and during a night out this song is so fun, like so fun. Saying that is an “okay song” in the old review is making me question my ear five months ago. I love this song so much and I am so happy it grew on me. 10. “Don't Worry I’ll Make You Worry” Old Ranking: 5/10 New Ranking: 7/10 Nothing new with this one either. A five is crazy cause it is such a good song this is just one I don't listen to often or at all. Another vocally amazing song and I love the writing to this one. The melody is still my favorite part and I can definitely see this one growing on me if I took the time to listen to it often. 11: “House Tour”: Original Ranking: 7/10 New Ranking: 10/10 Another diabolical original rating. This one is another one that I am obsessed with. I love the 80s pop sound even more and the addition of the kick really solidifies the era she was trying to emulate because every song had a strong kick, and I mean every song. It lowkey sounds like a Janet Jackson production and I am obsessed with it. I love the underlying meaning of the song only because it took me so long to understand what it meant. 12. “Goodbye” Original Ranking: 7/10 New Ranking: 10/10 In my original review, I said that this was a bad album closer and that was just a crazy take. This one fits as an album closer because I feel like it closes the story she was trying to tell in this album. This song was so relatable and an anthem for me for about three months and I replayed it for weeks and it just made me feel so much. At the end of the day, my original review was just so wrong and I am so glad I have a better ear now cause dare I say this is one of her strongest albums. The vibes are so fun and I remember mentioning it sounding like “Short n’ Sweet” and I take that back. I love the old school sound of the production and I think she executed it so well and modernized it amazingly. In my original ranking, which I take back…kinda. Some of the songs are vastly different from each other but they still fit one sound theme. tIn the first review, I gave it a solid 7/10 but that is now changing to 9/10. This is not a 10 just because there are skips, but other than that it is a great piece of work. �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 Sports Sports 19 Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Asst. Sports Editor: jake.mills@wilkes.edu Women’s Hockey suffers overtime loss in NCAA Quarterfinals By Andrew Marshallsay Managing Editor The Wilkes women’s hockey team suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament this past Saturday against Nazareth. Despite a strong showing in goal by current athlete of the week Audrey Milne, the Colonels bowed out of the tournament, falling 2-1 against the Golden Flyers. A scoreless first period saw Wilkes and Nazareth trade scoring opportunities. In the first 10 minutes or so, scoring opportunities were hard to come by until the two sides figured each other out. Milne and Nazareth goaltender Mia Gonsalves combined for 15 saves in the first period. Late on in the second period, the Colonels broke through at 16:33. Megan Bell with a tremendous effort in front of her own goal poked the puck away and raced up ice. She found Gianna Pacilio on a two-onone, who then fired it home to make it 1-0. Nazareth answered back at 6:30 into the third period while shorthanded. Meredith Boettcher rifled it home past Milne on the penalty kill to knot things up at a goal apiece. The rest of the third period was as tight as it could possibly be. Both sides had the chance for the winner, with Nazareth almost scoring the game winner with just about six seconds left in regulation. Ave Meteyer had the net wide open but fired it against the post, with the puck ending up in front of Milne, who covered it up. To begin the overtime period, Wilkes’ penalty kill unit showed up largely as they denied Nazareth a power play goal. However at 4:33 into overtime, the Golden Flyers found the game winner. Logan Marchese picked up the puck after a Colonels turnover in neutral territory, and took it all the way to the net herself. Marchese then shot it between the legs of Milne, who got most of it, but almost like a slow motion video, the puck trickled across the goal line. Wilkes completed their best season in program history with a record of 25-21, recording just two losses all year. The Colonels went 20-1-0 in conference play, featuring historic seasons from Haylee Bouchard and Nina Hudakova. Bouchard was named the MAC player of the year and is a finalist for the Laura Hurd Award, which is given to the nation’s best player in Division III women’s hockey. Head coach Dave LaBaff was named the MAC coach of the year, and is a finalist for the CCM/ ACHA DIII coach of the year. Hudakova was named to the All-MAC first team alongside defenseman Hannah Franz. Milne was named to the second team, while Tilly Wierdsma was named an honorable mention. USA falls to Venezuela in thrilling World Baseball Classic By Jake Mills Asst. Sports Editor Eugenio Suarez was the hero as his RBI double in the ninth inning brought home Venezuela’s first ever World Baseball Classic title, as they defeated the heavily-favored United States. Venezuela joins Team USA, the Dominican Republic and Japan as the fourth winner of a WBC title in the tournament’s history. The score was 2-0 through eight innings as Venezuela’s scoring runs came from Maikel Garcia in the third, and a Wilyer Abreu home run in the fifth. In the bottom of the eighth and with the tying run at the plate, the United States’ fate was in the hands of Bryce Harper, who delivered a massive home run to deep center field to tie things up at two. However, Venezuela was unfazed. Suarez came to the plate with the goahead runner on second, and hit a double to center-field off a changeup from Garrett Whitlock changeup, giving Arepa Power the lead in the ninth. With one more shot to tie or take the lead, Daniel Palencia sent the USA home with silver after striking out two and forcing a pop-out. Eduardo Rodriguez got the start for Venezuela and pitched a little over four innings, allowing no runs and just a single hit. Nolan McLean started on the mound for the United States, pitching in four innings, while allowing four hits and two runs. Venezuela's performance on the mound was the key factor in their victory against a stacked lineup that included stars such as Harper, Aaron Judge, and Kyle Schwarber just to name a few. Team USA did not have a runner in scoring position all game, which contributed to their offensive collapse against a team many thought they would easily handle. Venezuela had to overcome some adversity to get to this point after losing to the Dominican Republic in pool play and a comeback win over Japan For now, Venezuelan players will hold onto the WBC title until the next edition of the tournament rolls around in 2029. �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 Sports 20 NFL free agency: Winners and losers abound By Vin Santoro Sports Writer NFL free agency is still rolling, but there’s already been some massive moves and big-time storylines across the league. One of the wildest moments this offseason so far came when a blockbuster trade involving star edge rusher Maxx Crosby fell apart. Crosby was reportedly heading to Baltimore, but after failing his physical, the deal was voided and he returned to the Las Vegas Raiders. It’s rare to see a deal collapse like that, and it immediately became one of the biggest headlines of free agency. Starting in the NFC West, teams were aggressive early. The Los Angeles Rams made a splash by trading for Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks took a hit, losing several key players, including Kenneth Walker, Tariq Woolen, Boye Mafe and Coby Bryant. They did bring back Shaheed and added Emanuel Wilson, but overall, Seattle lost more than they gained. The Arizona Cardinals made a shocking move by releasing Kyler Murray, while the San Francisco 49ers loaded up offensively, adding both Mike Evans and Christian Kirk. In the NFC North, there were plenty of changes as well. The Green Bay Packers lost Romeo Doubs and Malik Willis but added Skyy Moore. The Detroit Lions made moves to improve their offense, bringing in Isiah Pacheco to pair with Jahmyr Gibbs while also signing Tyler Conklin. The Chicago Bears reshaped their roster, losing Tremaine Edmunds and Kevin Byard but added Bryant and traded DJ Moore to Buffalo. The Minnesota Vikings now have Kyler Murray at quarterback after just one year of J.J. McCarthy, setting up a potential quarterback competition. Over in the NFC South, the Carolina Panthers were big spenders, signing Jaelen Phillips to a massive four-year, $120 million deal and adding Devin Lloyd. The Atlanta Falcons brought in Tua Tagovailoa and franchise-tagged Kyle Pitts while also hiring Kevin Stefanski as head coach. The New Orleans Saints added Travis Etienne and Noah Fant to boost their offense. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on the other hand, lost major talent, including Evans and Jamel Dean, though they did bring in Alex Anzalone. The NFC East has been very active, especially when it comes to the New York Giants. They hired John Harbaugh and brought in several former Ravens, including Isaiah Likely and Pat Ricard. The Dallas Cowboys tagged George Pickens, re-signed Javonte Williams and traded for Rashan Gary. The Philadelphia Eagles stayed relatively quiet, adding Tariq Woolen and keeping Dallas Goedert. Washington focused on defense, signing Leo Chenal and Odafe Oweh. Switching to the AFC, the AFC West saw major moves. The Raiders made a huge investment in their offensive line, signing Tyler Linderbaum to a threeyear, $81 million deal. The Chiefs added Walker from Seattle, but traded away McDuffie. The Denver Broncos made a late splash by acquiring Jaylen Waddle, while the Los Angeles Chargers stayed active, re-signing Khalil Mack and adding multiple offensive pieces. In the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens pivoted after missing out on Crosby and signed Trey Hendrickson instead. The Cincinnati Bengals strengthened their defensive line with Jonathan Allen and Boye Mafe. The Pittsburgh Steelers made several moves, including signing Rico Dowdle 'Blue 42!' by Geoffrey Fairchild and Jamel Dean while trading for Michael Pittman Jr. The Cleveland Browns focused on rebuilding their offensive line, adding Elgton Jenkins and Quincy Williams defensively. The AFC East had plenty of movement as well. The Buffalo Bills made headlines by adding DJ Moore and Bradley Chubb. The New York Jets were aggressive, trading for Minkah Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith while also adding Demario Davis. The Miami Dolphins went through a major reset, moving on from Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Waddle. Meanwhile, the New England Patriots added Alijah Vera-Tucker and brought in Doubs. Finally, in the AFC South, the Tennessee Titans made major coaching and roster changes, bringing in Brian Daboll and Robert Saleh while adding multiple former Giants and Jets players. The Houston Texans focused on protecting C.J. Stroud, adding Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith. The Indianapolis Colts brought back Daniel Jones and re-signed Alec Pierce, while the Jacksonville Jaguars stayed relatively quiet but lost Devin Lloyd. There are still plenty of big-name free agents available, including Stefon Diggs, Aaron Rodgers, Joey Bosa, and Bobby Wagner, so this offseason is far from over. With the draft coming up in less than a month in Pittsburgh, it’ll be interesting to see what teams get up to between now and then. �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 Sports This past week in Wilkes sports: March 18-22 By Andrew Marshallsay, Topher DellaBella Managing Editor, Staff Writer It was another action packed week of sporting events for Wilkes athletics last week. Some teams began conference play, while a certain group competed in the NCAA tournament. Here’s the latest scores from last week in Wilkes sports. March 18: Women’s Lacrosse vs SUNY Poly, 11-9 W Men’s Lacrosse vs. Alvernia, 8-13 L Men’s Volleyball vs. Drew, 2-3 L March 19: Baseball vs. Lycoming, 2-0 W March 21: Men’s Lacrosse vs. Juniata (senior day), 26-6 W Baseball vs. Moravian, 12-4 W Baseball vs. Moravian (DH), 9-8 W Women’s Lacrosse at Juniata, 6-19 L Men’s Tennis vs. Catholic, 1-6 L Softball at Moravian, 1-3 L Softball at Moravian, 2-0 W Men’s Volleyball at S. Virginia, 0-3 L Women’s Hockey at Nazareth (NCAA Quarterfinals), 1-2 OTL Women’s Tennis vs. Catholic, 2-5 L March 22: Baseball vs. Moravian, 5-4 W (10 innings) Upcoming this week: March 23: Baseball vs. Arcadia, 4 p.m. March 24: Softball vs. PSU Harrisburg, 4 p.m. Softball vs. PSU Harrisburg , 6 p.m. MVB vs. PSU Schuylkill, 7 p.m. March 25: Women’s Tennis at Scranton, 3:30 p.m. Men’s Lacrosse vs. Susquehanna, 4 p.m. Women’s Lacrosse at Susquehanna, 5 p.m. Baseball at Scranton, 5 p.m. March 27: MVB at Elizabethtown, 7 p.m March 28: 21 Women’s Golf at Marywood, 11:30 a.m. Baseball vs. Drew, 12 p.m. Women’s Lacrosse vs. Catholic, 1 p.m. Men’s Lacrosse at Catholic, 1 p.m. Softball at Drew, 1 p.m. Men’s Golf vs. King’s, 1 p.m. Men’s Tennis vs. Elizabethtown, 1 p.m. Men’s Volleyball at Juniata, 2 p.m. Softball at Drew, 3 p.m. Baseball vs. Drew, 3 p.m. March 29: Baseball Vs Drew, 12 p.m. Note: contest dates/times subject to change. For more info, visist www. gowilkesu.com �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 Sports 22 2026 Formula One season well underway By Brendan Williams Sports Writer History was made in China last week, as the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix produced the second-youngest grand prix winner in Formula One (F1) history. Kimi Antonelli, the Italian international racing for Mercedes, won the race at 19 years and 203 days, second only to current Red Bull frontman Max Verstappen–who won the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix at just 18 years and 228 days. After finishing in second place last season in the Constructor’s Cup last season , Mercedes has had a hot start to the new season with one-two finishes in the first pair of races this season. Antonelli did become the youngest F1 driver in history to take Grand Prix pole position in Qualifying, meaning he would be the first car in the lineup. Ferrari had a largely disappointing 2025 Constructor's Cup. After legendary English driver Lewis Hamilton left Mercedes for Ferrari at the start of 2025, many fans believed Ferrari would at last be front runners for the cup. What followed however, was a shocking mix of strategic and technical errors that left Ferrari in fourth place without a single grand prix win. Starting in Melbourne, the Italian team finished third and fourth, with Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc earning his first podium finish since Oct 26, 2025 by finishing third. Ferrari currently sit 31 points behind Mercedes who lead the constructors standings with 98 points. Newcomers Cadillac have yet to hit the ground running with Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas forced to retire at the Australian Grand Prix, later finishing 13th in Shanghai. Mexican driver Sergio “Checho” Pérez finished 16th and 15th in the first two races in Melbourne and Shanghai. The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix was also surrounded by controversy, with seven drivers retiring, with four cars not even starting. Last year’s Constructor Cup winners, McLaren are also having a disappointing title defense this year with Australian driver Oscar Piastri crashing out before his home grand prix, as well as having both cars out for the start of the Chinese Grand Prix. Defending world champion Lando Norris finished fifth place in the Australian Grand Prix, but both he and Piastri were disqualified before the Chinese Grand Prix due to separate electrical issues with their cars' power units. F1 rolled out new rule changes this year, a significant contributor to the controversy at the start of the 2026 season. The standard MGU-H engine was removed and the electrical component power was tripled to 350 kilowatts, making the power split roughly 50% combustion and 50% electric. This new change affects how the car drives with Verstappen even comparing the new season to “Formula E on steroids.” This comes from the fact the new electric batteries require drivers to carefully manage battery energy lest they “clip,” or suffer power loss on long straights. Overall, the start to 2026 has been a hot one. With surprises galore thus far, the rest of the season appears set to be an exciting affair throughout. �The Beacon - March 25 , 2026 Sports 23 ATHLETES OF THE WEEK Audrey Milne Goaltender, Women's Hockey Milne recorded shutouts in the MAC semi-final and final. She made a combined 67 saves in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. Thoughts on the games against Neumann? Throughout the two games, we sort of had a slow start but once we found our rhythm, we started to excel. Each line was impactful, whether they were setting up the next line for a solid shift, or finishing on their chances. Do you have any pre-game rituals? I get dressed left to right, and I always retape after warmups. Who is your role model? My role model is definitely my grandpa, as he has inspired me to become the player and person I am today. Any specific goals for the remainder of the season or any that you hit this season already? As a team, we obviously want to win the MAC, and go as far as we can in the NCAA tournament. Anthony DiFrancesco Attackman, Men's Lacrosse DiFrancesco scored a combined 21 goals in his last three games. The first-year has 37 points in 2026. What do you think has been the biggest factor in your success on the field this past week? I think the biggest factor has been the work our team has been putting in during practice and the way we have been playing together. My teammates have been putting me in great positions to score, and I’ve been focused on finishing the chances that come my way. How does it feel to share the single-game goal program record? It’s an amazing feeling and honestly something I didn’t expect going into the game. It means a lot to be part of the program’s history, but I also see it as a reflection of the team effort because I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my teammates creating opportunities. What are your goals moving forward? My main goal is just to help the team get a win. Whether that’s scoring, assisting, or doing the little things to help the team. �The Beacon - March 25, 2026 24 . . . R O F G N I K O O L E R WE’ WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS.. DESIGNERS..... MANAGERS...... News,La&E Opinion,Sports Graphics, Layout Distribution Advertising CONTACT: KALEN.CHURCHER@WILKES.EDU � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource This is Wilkes University's Beacon Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the Beacon's predecessors, The Bucknell Bison Stampede, 1934-1935 and The Bucknell Beacon, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>. Missing Issues: 1947 August 8th 1947 September 5th 1947 October 3rd 1947 October 17th 1947 October 31st 1947 November 21st 1947 December 19th 1948 September 9th 1950 April 28th 1953 April 10th 1962 February 2nd Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon, 2026 March 26 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/1bc6648cafd6e50de0a377f6e73f592e.pdf 7a50855637b482f48f11449010929a34 PDF Text Text The Beacon - March 18, 2026 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 78, Issue 17 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Everyone’s a little bit Irish on St. Patrick’s Day The Ceol Mor Pipe and Drum Band is a parade tradition, and the band certainly didn’t disappoint at this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Wilkes-Barre. Wilkes University students had an opportunity to watch as parade participants marched through campus, along South Main Street. Author Amor Towles visits Wilkes University page 6 Fork Around and Find Out: The Scratch Kitchen page 10 Editorial: shopping at small businesses page 14 Women’s hockey moves on in NCAA tournament page 19 �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Student government notes: March 11 By Alli Lussi Spring 2028. Student Government met on March 11 to discuss a few fund requests and the nominations for the next Student Body President position. That position witll be a replacement position for the current student body president, Adam Butterwick. The meeting began with the treasurer’s report, which is sitting at $38,508.69. The first presenter was Dr. Ruth Hughes who went over the process of the Middle States self-study, which will begin in April. Dr. Hughes explained that there will be a forum at 11 a.m. on April 7 in SLC 105, open to any students who would like to be more involved with the selfstudy process. The final review of campus will be Christian Fellowship Club presented a fund request for a women’s conference happening later on in the semester in Doubling Gap, PA. CFC is a club that helps members build a closer relationship with God. CFC participates in fellowship with other students, as well as fundraising to be able to send their members to different types of conferences and events. The club is asking for $810 and will find out the verdict on possible allocations next week. A fund request for the Big Event was presented for funds to actually put on the event as well as giveaway items that will be given out beforehand. The Big Event is the largest community service event on campus. The event will take place on April 18. Staff writer Check-in will start around 8:30 a.m. and every group will have a check-in time. There will also be breakfast from Aramark and lunch from Caribbean Paradise. The board will decide next week if funds will be allocated to the Big Event. The last order of business were Student Body President nominations. While this week was week one of two, general board members submitted the first round of nominations for the position. John Tondora and Alton Smargiassi have accepted nominations, and they will deliver speeches at next week’s meeting. The meeting then went into committee work and concluded shortly after. Student Government will meet again on March 18. Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Shopping Bags Needed The Colonel’s Cupboards is currently out of shopping bags. The cupboard is specifically looking for eusable plastic or paper shopping bags. Donations can be dropped off directly at the Colonel's Cupboard. *** Space & Astronomy Club Host Conspiracy Night Interested in conspiracy theories? The Space and Astronomy Club will hold a conspiracy night on March 20. It is highly encouraged that those who are interested make a presentation about their favorite conspiracy theory. Don’t worry! This isn’t a competition, and it’s not graded; it’s just for fun. Room location and time will be announced later. Please use this link (https://forms.gle/7qTbvngfyx2rfQXm6) to sign up and make a PowerPoint/Google Slides presentation. *** Library Celebrates Women's History Month The Farley Library is celebrating Women’s History Month with a new book display applauding the achievements and progress by both famous and everyday champions of equity. Titles include In Defense of Witches, Fly Girls, and The Woman They Could Not Silence. Additional resources can be found at the Women’s History Diverse Voices Reading List which offers scholarly books, essays, novels, and poetry celebrating the contributions of women, also and by contacting the Farley Library Reference Services. *** Manuscript & Theater Movie Night: The Princess Bride The Manuscript Society and Theater Club will be hosting a joint viewing of Rob Reiner’s The Princess Bride at 5 p.m. on March 19. There will be pizza, popcorn, and an “As You Wish” ice cream sundae bar. The event will be hosted on the first floor of Kirby Hall. No RSVP is required to attend, but if you know you are coming ahead of time, please email either magazine@wilkes.edu or sydney.ahrberg@wilkes.edu to give a sense of how much pizza to order. All are welcome Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Center..........12-13 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Events: Spring 2026 February 28 - Spring break begins March 9- Classes resume April 2- Holiday recess begins 6- Classes resume 30- Final exams begin May 16- Spring commencement Have a safe and anjoyable semester! Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 News 3 �� By Thaelis Andujar Assistant News Editor At first glance, E. coli is often associated with foodborne illness and contamination warnings. But new research conducted at Wilkes University is helping reshape that perception by exploring the bacterium’s potential environmental benefits. Assistant biology professor Matthew “Skippy” Jennings and a team of undergraduate students recently published research examining how E. coli can help produce calcium carbonate, a compound widely used in industries such as food production, cosmetics, paper and steel manufacturing. The findings, which highlight a more sustainable way to produce the mineral, were published in the peer-reviewed journal Public Library of Science’s journal PLOS ONE. The research focuses on understanding how microbes can precipitate calcium carbonate, the primary mineral found in limestone. Calcium carbonate is an essential material in a wide variety of products and manufacturing processes, but traditional industrial production methods are energy intensive and release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Jennings and his team are investigating whether microbes could provide a more environmentally friendly alternative. “Right, so we study microbes that we collected from caves and these microbes help to precipitate calcium carbonate which is the main mineral that makes up limestone,” Jennings said. “So, calcium carbonate is used in a lot of different industries but the traditional way of making it is very energy expensive and releases a lot of carbon dioxide.” Instead of relying on those traditional processes, the research examines whether microbial activity could produce the mineral naturally. “So, we’re trying to figure out how do these microbes precipitate calcium carbonate. If we can figure that out, can we increase the rate at which they make it and then potentially use them to make calcium carbonate for industrial purposes rather than relying on the energy intensive process which produces a lot of CO2,” Jennings said. While the project ultimately focuses on microbes collected from caves, the research initially uses E. coli as a model organism. According to Jennings, the bacterium’s genetic accessibility makes it easier to study and manipulate in a laboratory setting. “E. coli has a lot of useful genetic tools that you can use to manipulate it,” Jennings said. “The fact that it’s so easy to work with, more easy than the cave strains we were collecting.” By conducting experiments on E. coli, researchers can identify the genetic mechanisms responsible for calcium carbonate production and later apply those insights to other microbes. “So the idea is: do all the genetic manipulation in E. coli and based on what we found that’ll guide our research. Currently what we’re doing is trying to manipulate the cave strains to do the same thing but now we know what to look for and what to do,” Jennings said. The findings have already produced unexpected discoveries. One of the most surprising results came when researchers identified a gene connected to the process. “The most surprising thing is that the gene we identified is a transporter but it’s not a transporter of calcium it’s a transporter of zinc,” Jennings said. “So we were expecting to identify some calcium transporters as important but that turned out not to be the case.” Beyond improving industrial efficiency, the research could also have broader environmental implications, particularly in the fight against climate change. According to Jennings, the microbial process not only avoids releasing carbon dioxide but may actually help remove it from the atmosphere. “Well, we know from stable isotope labeling that when the cave strains make calcium carbonate the carbon comes from CO2,” Jennings said. “So not only are we not releasing CO2 because we’re not using the intense heat necessary to Photo/Wilkes University Africana Studies Program Director Dr. Chris Kovats-Bernat addresses an audience during one of the many campus activities held to celebrate Black make calcium carbonate, we’re actually a list, like this is what we need to do and capturing carbon from the atmosphere then they just do it on their own.” Students involved in the research and turning it into a mineral.” are currently completing their senior This dual effect, reducing emissions capstone projects, which include while also capturing carbon, could make presenting their findings and conducting the microbial process especially valuable final experiments. for industries looking to lower their “Right now they're actually working environmental impact. with the cave strain itself and we're “So attacking the problem of CO2 in again using what we learned in E. coli. the atmosphere from two directions, not We're trying to figure out what genes releasing as much of it and also capturing are involved in the cave strain and can some of it to put into calcium carbonate,” we manipulate them so that they make Jennings said. “So there’s potential for more of the calcium carbonate than they other industries that don’t use calcium normally do,” Jennings said. carbonate to perhaps use these as a way According to the university, students to offset the carbon dioxide that they involved in the research also gained do release by just capturing some and experience presenting their findings at turning it into rock.” scientific conferences and contributing Undergraduate students played a significant role in the research process. to a published academic paper. Although the research was recently Jennings worked closely with biology published, the project itself has been students throughout the project, developing for several years. providing training and gradually giving “Well I started the project when I was them more independence in the lab. a postdoc so I was a postdoc in 2018 so “So I was already working on this since then off and on,” Jennings said. “I project before I came here so I already continued working on it when I came knew what I wanted to do but Sara and here so I guess it's so about eight years.” Bisma joined me pretty early in their The work also experienced careers here at Wilkes,” Jennings said. interruptions during the COVID-19 “So the first year was me training them in what to do and then these past two ...continued on Page 5 years I’ve basically just been giving them �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 News 4 What fighting in Iran means for the United States By Leah Smith Editor in chief At the time of publication of this article, the U.S. will have reached three weeks since America–alongside Israel–has initiated a war against Iran. Although the initial strikes on Iran on Feb. 28 that sparked this war were not authorized by the U.S. Congress. What is happening is being categorized as a war. Much has happened since the start of this war including the targeted attack on former Iranian supreme leader, Ali Khamenei who was killed during the first wave of Israeli and U.S. airstrikes. On Feb. 28. President Trump took to Truth Social confirming the death of Khamenei and called for the overthrow of Khamenei’s regime. Iran has chosen Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as his father’s successor. However, according to AP News, Trump was unhappy and claimed that this decision is, “unacceptable to me.” Also, on Feb. 28, the U.S. struck an Iranian all-girls elementary school killing more than 170 people including school children. According to AP News, the U.S. Central Command was relying on strike coordinates using outdated data by the Defense Intelligence Agency. There have been several casualties on all sides. As a result of several ships being left stranded on the Persian Gulf, being unable to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz, oil and gas prices have been skyrocketing in America, leaving civilians more frustrated with rising costs for necessities. According to a statistic from AP Business, the price for oil per barrel sits at $93.22. Wilkes associate professor of history and Honors Director, Dr. Jonathan Kuiken, has written a book about a similar situation but in the United Kingdom in the PostWWII period titled, “Oil for Britain: The United Kingdom and the Remaking of the International Oil Industry, 1957-1988.” Kuiken explained that the book is about the shift in control over oil and energy and how Western companies went from that control and shifted to Iran and Iraq and the seizing of their oil. “A lot of what happened then is what is being reflected now. The book discusses more than business, it goes into the politics and geo-politics about oil and seizing control. I joke that whenever something in my area of expertise becomes relevant that’s usually not a good sign.” Kuiken stated. On gas prices, Kuiken mentioned that it is difficult to predict because oil is a volatile market and explained the complex situation that is the narrow neck of the Strait of Hormuz which is shared between Iran and Oman. “There are hundreds of tankers waiting on the other side of this Strait. If the possibility that 20% of the world’s oil supply could be disrupted for any length of time, it will impact us.” Kuiken said. From the rising tensions of the war, several Americans have concerns about a US military draft returning. Those concerns have especially arisen since White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, addressed the potential of a draft in a press conference and on an appearance on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures on March 8. Leavitt stated that, “Trump does not remove options off the table.” If a draft were to happen, this would mean that nearly all male U.S. citizens and immigrants from ages 18-25 would be required to register for the Selective Service. Contrary to the concerns, Wilkes associate professor of political science, Dr. Ben Toll, does not think that a draft is possible due to the fact the war is so unpopular as well as the idea of a draft. “The draft hasn’t been utilized since Vietnam, which was 50+ years ago and has been unpopular since then. I think the draft is being thrown around more as a threat than as an actual thing the administration would do.” Dr. Toll said. On top of that, Dr. Toll added the fact that the 2001 Afghanistan war and 2003 Iraq war did not have a draft and also those wars had congressional and public support. “It’s more like a signaling game they’re playing with Iran, like a flame war to threaten Iran with boots on the ground.” Toll stated. Additionally, Dr. Andreea Maierean, a Wilkes associate professor of political science also agreed that a draft is unlikely. “For college aged Americans, the biggest impact right now is uncertainty and concern, but unless the conflict turns into a prolonged war that requires more troops, I find it unlikely.” Maierean said. Maierean, whose studies specialize in democracies and elections disclosed the impact of the war of the upcoming midterm elections. She examined public concern over economy, leadership and national security as elements that are typically influenced by war. “The key factors of course are how long the war lasts, whether American troops suffer more casualties and whether the conflict pushes energy and consumer prices any higher. If the war continues and people feel more economic pressure, it will likely hurt the Republican Party.” Maierean said. These three professors encourage students to attend their upcoming panel discussion event happening on March 19 at 11 a.m. in Breiseth 107 to discuss the war in Iran. She got into real estate and even became involved in the solar industry, working for a company that was acquired by Tesla. Eventually, she followed her mother to Northeastern Pennsylvania. “Everything I have learned along the way has made me successful," she said. When asked, "How did you learn your value as a female entrepreneur?" She responded, "A male has never been asked that question," and that women can never let the doubt of misogyny affect them. "Men are hired for their potential, and women are hired for their achievements." Woodard is an assistant professor in the Integrative Media and Art Department at Wilkes. She graduated from Wilkes with a degree in theatre and, struggling to find work, realized her true path was in education. So with a PhD in education with a concentration in STEM from Drexel University, her research centers on supporting Black girls' creativity through culturally responsive computing and coding education. Dr. Woodard's work has been presented at the American Educational Research Association and the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education, and published in the Journal of Science Education and Technology. In her answers during the conference, she expressed a strong belief in maintaining one's mental health, and that it is especially important in succeeding. Dr. Woodard also spoke about how important confidence is, and that "imposter syndrome is very real," but that it's important to be confident in oneself and know you belong. Morel started in hospitality, experimenting in culinary arts, but was discouraged by professors to pursue hospitality while having a family. After having her second child, she returned to school and decided to study entrepreneurship. When she bought her first house, she stated she had a "light-bulb moment" and realized she wanted to go into real estate. She strives to help people of all backgrounds buy property. She said, "Don't ever give up, keep studying, keep going at all, because in entrepreneurship you're going to get a lot of “nos.” But if you really want something, keep at it." She also states, "If a door closes, it is keeping you from something negative." Morel also spoke about her balance of work and personal life. "I used to work seven days a week–nonstop" but that it negatively impacted her family and her life. Morel then provided her solution: she keeps clear boundaries with clients about her business hours and preserves time on the weekends to spend with her family. Students, faculty learn from panel of women entrepreneurs By Mollie Kuhar Special to The Beacon The Multicultural Student Coalition hosted on March 13 a Women and Entrepreneurship Conference, for Women's History Month. The event included featuring local, innovative women like Michelle Pack, Dr. Moe Woodard and Amy Morel. After an introduction by the MSC executive board, each speaker spoke about their past experiences entering the field of entrepreneurship, especially as women. Pack is a financial services professional and entrepreneur, and began in executive corporate leadership. Now, she works primarily with professional women and business owners, helping them build wealth strategically. She worked in Maui, Hawaii for three years and started her own pet care business after leaving. �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 News Wyoming Valley Mall hopes to 'bring the mall back' By Alli Lussi Assistant News editor The Wyoming Valley Mall was once a busy shopping area for people all over the Wyoming Valley. As online shopping began to take over, people’s interest in going shopping in person slowly dwindled, leaving the once thriving mall, empty, with stores beginning to close and move out of the area. The Wyoming Valley Mall has suffered for years, with people complaining that there are no “good” stores in the mall. “Some stores I would like to come to the mall would be stores like Abercrombie & Fitch, Apple, Cabela’s, and more skiing and snowboarding stores,” said Logan Sincavage, a firstyear student from Wilkes who is also local to the area. Still others have also complained about upkeep of the mall's parking lots. However, both the general manager and assistant general manage of the mall both agreed that the end goal with the mall is to return it to 100% occupancy. Management has been working hard to get stores back into the mall, with some new additions that will hopefully bring the shoppers back. “We’ve had some issues with COVID of course, and various owners over the last few years.” Joseph Ohrin, general manager explained. With the mall being under new ownership, the management team hopes to “bring the mall back.” By using Facebook and TikTok, along with other forms of social media, the mall has been able to promote events, ...continued from Page 3 pandemic when laboratory operations temporarily shut down. Even so, Jennings says the long timeline has allowed the research to evolve and grow as new students joined the project and new experiments were conducted. While the project has already produced significant findings, Jennings believes including an Easter Egg hunt which will take place on March 21. The mall posts TikTok videos quite frequently to give updates on events that will be happening, as well as updates on stores that are opening in the area. Breanna Yashkus, the mall’s assistant general manager, said that she feels since posting on social media, foot traffic has been increasing. “People say they come here because they appreciate the commentary online.” The mall will be opening a Mayhem Amusements Arcade, which will have games such as Ms. Pac-Man and Space Invaders, said Ohrin in an email. The arcade will be located in the former Zumiez location. Abide, a local coffee shop in downtown Wilkes-Barre, is also opening another store in the Wyoming Valley Mall, “Mateo’s.” Both managers show gratitude for the turn-out for the past events that have been held over the last couple months, as well as the crowd from Black Friday. On Sept. 19, the mall will also play host to the Vinnie Memorial Walk. The retro mall walk will honor Vinnie Madl, also known as Vinnie the Mall Walker. Prior to his death in 2021, Madl used to walk around the mall for exercise, jingling his keys as he went. For those who grew up with the Wyoming Valley Mall, Vinnie was a legend. For more information on the Wyoming Valley Mall, follow them on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. there is still much more to learn, particularly about the unique microbes found in cave environments. “For me I'm more interested in seeing how unique the microbes that live in caves are compared to other types of microbes,” Jennings said. “So if we can identify some unique features about them that set them apart or allow them to survive in caves compared to other types of bacteria that 5 Management at the Wyoming Valley Mall in Wilkes-Barre Township hopes to "bring the mall back" by attracting new stories to fill its vacant spaces and hosting various community events, including holiday activities and craft fairs. The mall has also upped its social media presence, engaging customers and potential customers on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Photos/Alli Lussi might give us a better understanding of the microbial ecosystems of caves compared to other places that are not well studied.” Jennings also encourages students interested in research to get involved early in their college careers. “I would say don't wait, you know even if you're a freshman and you're interested in research, reach out to professors who are doing research that you are interested in and see what their situation is,” Jennings said. “The sooner you start the more likely it is that you'll get to do some interesting stuff.” As the project continues, Jennings and his students hope their work will contribute both to scientific understanding and to the development of more sustainable industrial processes. �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 News 6 From Philly to Luzerne County, Asad's Hot Chicken now open By Brooke Lare Staff writer The grand opening of Asad’s Hot Chicken drew massive crowds Friday afternoon as locals packed the parking lot to celebrate the chain’s first location in the Wyoming Valley. On March 12, the rapidly expanding Philadelphia based, Nashvillestyle chicken brand opened its 16th location in Wilkes-Barre. To celebrate the launch, the restaurant offered free meals from 3 to 7 p.m., drawing residents from across the valley eager to try the viral hot chicken spot. By 2:55 p.m., the strip mall parking lot was already full. Cars circled for spaces while others parked creatively wherever they could. A line of customers stretched across the entire length of the plaza. Music from 97.1 blasted from loudspeakers while the crowd waited. Customers played games and competed for prizes hosted by the station, giving people something to do as the line slowly crept forward. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony featured Asad Khan alongside WilkesBarre Mayor George C. Brown. As the pair cut the ribbon, the crowd erupted in cheers while a drone hovered overhead to capture the moment and the enormous turnout. The first customers had arrived much earlier in the day. One person at the front of the line reportedly got in line just before 11 a.m. to secure their spot. In the massive line, college students and older adults made up much of the crowd, though families were also present. Children played hand games while waiting, and people rotated turns sitting on a nearby bench to rest their legs. A host from 97.1 walked along the line interacting with customers and keeping the atmosphere lively. Despite the long wait, the mood remained upbeat. Strangers quickly began chatting with one another. “We’re almost there!” and “ You can’t give up now!” could be heard across the crowd as people encouraged those around them to remain patient. People were seen laughing and smiling at the wait time, impressed with the community turnout. Members of the Wilkes-Barre Police Department were also on site to help manage traffic and ensure the event ran smoothly. However, there were no issues during the event, with one officer even joking and laughing with a group of customers waiting in line. As the crowd slowly moved closer to the entrance, the smell of freshly cooked hot chicken drifted outside each time the door opened, making the wait even harder. Once inside, you’re transported into an urban hub with bright colors, a DJ booth and vibrant seating. By the time I reached the counter at 4:30 p.m., my ticket read Order #6017. I had joined the line at 2:55 p.m., and the order numbers were already well into the thousands. The massive turnout showed just how excited the Wyoming Valley was to welcome Asad’s Hot Chicken to the area. Despite the cold temperatures, hundreds of people waited patiently for hours, proving that if opening day was any indication, the restaurant’s newest location may quickly become one of the valley’s busiest food spots. Asad’s Hot Chicken is open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. with the exception of Friday and Saturday, when the restaurant is open until 3 a.m. first knew his path was writing fiction, in his 1st-grade classroom. After a visit from a poet, Towles explained that he was so infatuated with writing, stories, and poetry that he knew it was his passion. Towles explained that he liked reading The Hardy Boys growing up, but he later became drawn to deeper psychological thrillers in his teen years. Throughout high school, he wrote constantly, and stated he was always on “the hunt” for literature. Moving to New York City at 20, Towles said he felt “a little lonely, and a little claustrophobic in the city… so I got involved in an investment firm… and didn't write for almost twenty years.” But he knew he would feel unfilled by fifty if he didn't return to the world of literature. Spending seven years writing a novel he claimed he “did not like very much,” he eventually published Rules Of Civility in 2011 at age forty-six. Students at the Q&A asked him about his writing process and where he draws inspiration from. Towles said his stories are inspired by small, personal experiences. For example, he explained that during his time in NYC, he was walking in Central Park when he spotted a man roller-skating, standing out from the crowd with perfect posture and stature, which inspired him to write I Will Survive, a short story in Table for Two. Following this up, Towles described that he does not research or write about things unfamiliar to him. “ I don't know these worlds well enough to create with confidence,” providing an example of his passion for Russian culture, which aided him in writing A Gentleman in Moscow. American novelist speaks as part of annual Rosenn Lecture By Mollie Kuhar Special to The Beacon On March 15, the Wilkes-Barre community gathered to gain inspiration, stories, and knowledge from the awardwinning author Amor Towles at the annual Rosenn Lecture at the Dorothy-Dickson Darte Center. The Rosenn Lecture Series honors the Honorable Judge Max Rosenn and was established at Wilkes University in 1980. Towles is a bestselling American novelist and author of four novels: Rules of Civility, A Gentleman in Moscow, The Lincoln Highway, and, most recently, Table for Two, along with several other published short stories. With over eight million copies sold, each of his novels has been New York Times bestsellers. Towles graduated from Yale and received an MA in English from Stanford. After twenty years working as an investment professional, he now writes full-time. This spring, Amor Towles spoke with Wilkes students in a short Q&A session before the lecture. He spoke about when he �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor: Kailey.Vogel@wilkes.edu The Mental Health Beacon Spring Break (No, really, it’s time to take a break) By Gina Harrison Assistant Professor Passan School of Nursing Spring break is a long-standing school tradition, particularly for colleges and universities. Taking advantage of spring break is more than just cutting loose and partying. It is a break in the often stressful and strenuous work that students (and faculty) are putting in. The break often coincides with warmer temperatures that can give us all the itch to get outside and enjoy the weather now that the deep, dark and heavy winter days are behind us. I hope that you are returned and refreshed from your spring break. If you spent your time working or studying, you missed an important opportunity for you to work on your mental health. Spring break is meant to provide a reboot. Interestingly, breaks are actually very good for your mental and physical health. Breaks allow you the opportunity to restore and maintain balance for your mental and physical health. They help you to make sure that you are getting adequate sleep and exercise, which improves your cognition (ability to think). Stress impairs your ability to think which can have negative consequences. When should you take a break? After engaging in sustained activity, 30-45 minutes is the time to take a break. Continuing your work without a break may result in decreased attention and decreasing productivity. There are many ways to take a break that don’t necessarily require a lot of effort or funding. Some small ways to take a break. include taking a walk, going outside, touching grass or grabbing a 20-minute nap. Micro breaks are between 1 and 5 minutes. During a micro break you can move your body, stretch, meditate, socialize or take some time for yourself. Interleaving is another way to break. This is the process of switching tasks, to give yourself a break from one task with another. Breaks are personal. If you don’t like socializing, don’t spend a break doing that. Do what feels good and refreshing for you. Make sure that when you are working hard or getting in a major study session you set an alarm for taking breaks. What happens if you don’t take a break? While not taking a break won’t necessarily harm you, it certainly won’t help you either. Constant stress and anxiety may lead you to the dreaded burnout. Burnout is considered a syndrome, not a diagnosis, that is caused by chronic, unmanaged stress. Burnout differs from general stress and can also cause physical symptoms. These symptoms may include headache, stomachache, sleep issues (too much or too little) and even weight changes. Burnout is characterized by three main components: exhaustion, cynicism and decreased efficacy. Exhaustion can be physical, mental or both, it is feeling drained of energy, lacking motivation and sometimes withdrawal from things you enjoy. Decreased efficacy is a general decline in your work, productivity and sometimes a sense of hopelessness. And lastly, cynicism. Cynicism is often seen in a negative attitude, alienation from family and friends, irritability and insensitivity toward your work, friends, and loved ones. Bottom Line School is hard. Work is hard. Sometimes, life is hard. Don’t slide into burnout by not taking care of yourself. Healing from burnout is possible, but taking breaks will help you avoid it altogether. Be kind to yourself and schedule some breaks. �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 WUPB serves up mac & cheese with a side of magic By Kaydia Wright LA&E Assistant Editor With Spring Break out of the way and the semester halfway done, Programming Board started off spring with a magical event. Magic-Roni and Cheese was held on March 12. Different types of mac and cheese were served during a performance by comedy magician Trent James. The night was filled with laughs and good food. The event began with the attendees grabbing mac and cheese from three different local establishments: Mission BBQ, Chick-filA,and Wawa. “We chose these vendors because [the Programming Board members] took a vote on our favorites...plus the fact that they delivered and were local, not that hard of a choice, said Jenny Nguyen, one of the event organizers. “We felt this event was a good way to incorporate some food and a show because we don’t do shows that often,” Nguyen continued. “We normally do stuff like bingos, so it’s nice to bring a show and support vendors.” The event took nearly a month of planning. James, a comedy magician, has been performing for quite some time. He has been given more than 20 awards. He is the youngest to have received the Milbourne Christopher Award, a prestigious award given to many notable magicians, including David Copperfield and Penn & Teller. “They only give a few of these out a year to professional magicians and there’s such a long list of incredible people. Now, I’m not saying that because I’m in it, but more that I feel so lucky and honored to be included,” James said. He also revealed during his show how magic actually runs in his family. “My dad is an amateur magician. When he was a kid, he was in magic a lot, then he got out of magic for a while. After my brother and I were born, he picked up the hobby again.” Programming Board will continue to have events every Thursday night, with their next one being Hobbies Bingo on March 19. Follow WUPB on Instagram @wilkesupb. Photo/Kaydia Wright Trent James performs a trick with help from sophomore Ella Villani. Sordoni Art Gallery opens new exhibit, “Why am I sad? By Julianna Kresge Staff Writer This month, Wilkes’ Sordoni Art Gallery will open two new shows including a show with a deeply personal subject matter. Why Am I Sad? by Dana Stirling runs from March 24 through May 17. This photography exhibition explores themes of depression and the immigrant experience. On March 26, at 5 p.m., Stirling will host an Art in Context Lecture at the gallery. A reception will follow. This event is open to students and the public. Stirling is an Israeli-American photographer. Her work has appeared in numerous galleries in the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel. In addition, The Guardian, Buzzfeed News and other publications have featured her work. Stirling and Yoav Friedlander co-founded Float Photo Magazine in 2014, and Stirling serves as its editor-in-chief. Friedlander also co-founded the Rust Belt Biennial- a photography show that features artists from the United States’ Rust Belt. (The deindustrialized Rust Belt region includes Pennsylvania and much of the Midwest). Wilkes’ Sordoni Gallery hosted the first Rust Belt Biennial exhibition back in 2019. I spent most of my time inside my room. I felt alone both outside those walls and inside of them.” Stirling explains that she had a difficult childhood and that her mother was clinically depressed. Alone in her room, still life photography became an important outlet for On her website, Stirling reveals the inspiration behind Why Am I Sad? “Growing up back in a small town in Israel, self-expression. “Photography allowed me to take my inner dialogue and bring it out by using still life as my personal coded language.” Stirling struggles with depression herself. Why Am I Sad? examines her complex relationship with mental health. Images include abandoned toys, wilting flowers and rural landscapes. Several photos ironically contain yellow ‘smiley faces.’ Many viewers may relate to the loneliness and melancholy expressed in the pieces. Others may appreciate their quiet beauty and simplicity. The other new exhibit, Formal/ Informal: Innovations in Portraiture, examines the evolution of portraits in terms of cultural and artistic context. The exhibit is curated by the Syracuse University Art Museum. These portraits, going back into the 19th century, contrast traditional modeled portraits with the formal and informal views of the modeled subject. The result of this collection is meant to embrace the variety of emotions humans can feel from being captured on a portrait which tells the story of society and the human condition as a whole. �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 Fork around and find out: The Scratch Kitchen By Nicole Steinberg & Staff Writer Allison Lussi Assistant News Editor A cozy breakfast spot in the Wyoming Valley, The Scratch Kitchen on North River Street in Plains Township has become a popular destination for locals who are interested in a hearty and homemade breakfast. Alli and I took a trip to Scratch Kitchen to see what the raving reviews were about. Immediately upon entering, the restaurant had a welcoming and classic diner atmosphere. The friendly staff greeted us with a smile and pointed the way to our table where we would be eating our meal. After being seated, we were handed our menus and the search began through breakfast foods like pancakes, eggs and homemade biscuits and lunch options. Starting off our order, we decided on mozzarella sticks. They came out crunchy and crispy. The cheese in the middle was Cooper cheese, not commonly found inside mozzarella sticks. It made for an interesting yet amazing taste. Alli ordered the homemade biscuits and sausage gravy, as well as two eggs over medium. The dish was delightful. The eggs were prepared perfectly; the biscuits were fluffy and the sausage gravy was savory. Paired up with the eggs, the dish made for a warm and satisfying start to the day. I ordered the Mel’s Diner Cheeseburger, also commonly known as a breakfast burger. It was a burger patty with an egg, cheese and two strips of bacon. Upon arriving at the table, the burger looked delicious, and it tasted better than it looked. Although the burger patty itself was slightly dry, the egg, cheese and bacon made up for it entirely. Although the staff can be a little slow, the atmosphere and the food made up for it. The relaxed and comfortable atmosphere of The Scratch Kitchen adds to the full experience. Overall, our visit to The Scratch Kitchen was a good one. With great portions leaving us with leftovers and the comforting diner aesthetic, we can see why so many people flock to this restaurant. Photo/Nicole Steinberg The Mel’s DIner cheeseburger from The Scratch Kitchen was as tasty as it looked and hit the spot on a dreary day. The Scratch Kitchen is located on North River Street in Plains Township. It features a variety of breakfast and lunch items, with breakfast served all day. �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 MSC hosts Ramadan dinner for students By Leah Smith Editor in Chief The Wilkes Multicultural Student Coalition recently held a Ramadan dinner, recognizing the Islamic holy month. According to the Islamic faith, Ramadan is celebrated on the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During Ramadan, Muslims partake in fasting, special prayers and community gatherings. The Ramadan dinner held by MSC recognized the tradition of iftar, the evening meal that breaks the daily fast. The event kicked off with Director of Diversity Initiatives Erica Acosta welcoming guests and emphasizing the importance of celebration, of religious expression, and of community building. “Iftar is about breaking fast, embracing community and strengthening bonds,” Acosta said. After Acosta’s opening remarks, MSC student leader Noor Almeky took to the podium to demonstrate the invocation also known as the prayer invoking a higher deity. In this case, this invocation was to Allah, the Arabic name for God. Following the invocation, Almeky’s father and the event’s keynote speaker, Dr. Ibrahim M. Almeky, taught the audience why Muslims believe in the teachings of the Quran and how the three monotheistic religions are not so different. “What’s interesting is that in Christianity, they say peace be with you but with Islam, we say peace be upon you. Very similar but different,” Almeky said. After Almeky’s speech, Muslim attendees were invited to pray on the prayer mats that were laid out on the floor next to the stage. During this time, Almeky led the ritual as the participants followed him in unison. At the end, the participants shook Photo/Leah Smith Member of the Wilkes University Multicultural Student Coalition serve attendees at a recent Ramadan dinner for university students. hands and greeted each other, highlighting the community-bonding roots of Ramadan and Islam. The breaking of the fast began with practicing Muslim attendees drinking water and eating dates that were provided on the tables. The dinner was catered by the local Jerusalem Halal Market and consisted of green salad, lamb, chicken, rice and Photo/Leah Smith Photo/Leah Smith potatoes. Members of the Wilkes community enjoyed Dr. Ibrahim M. Almeky served as the keynote Haneen Almeky, dinner from the local Jerusalem Halal Market speaker for a recent Ramadan dinner Noor’s younger sister, that consisted on lamb, chicken, rice and sponsored by the university’s Multicultural stated that this event potatoes. Student Coalition. means a lot to her. “This is about sharing your religion. When you connection. bringing people together from “It’s very nice to spend share information like that it’s different cultures, like a spiritual time with family and friends, fascinating.” �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 12 F o y b t i s b e s e s e a w p A land e Ir ilkes W �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 13 6 �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 Opinion Editorial Staff 2025-26 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Leah Smith Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS LA&E - Kailey Vogel Opinion - Shawn Carey Sports - Andrew Marshallsay DESIGNERS Head Designer - Lara Mullen Designer - Carol Stratford Photographer - Shannon Slominski STAFF WRITERS Kaydia Wright Nikki Steinberg Topher DellaBella Natalia Williams Thaelis Andujar Jake Mills 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: shawn.carey1@wilkes.edu Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Underappreciated: flea and farmers markets In a world where shopping for groceries feels like you’re spending an arm and a leg for a week-long supply of necessities and where subscription-based services keep upping their prices in what seems like a never-ending cycle of price gouging, what could possibly save us from having to check our bank apps and count our cash whenever we need or want to spend money? The solution: small businesses. Small businesses come in all shapes and sizes whether it’s an independent store on a block in Wilkes Public Square or they’re based in a farmers market or flea market. The top-selling reason why small businesses are the best when it comes to purchasing items is the fact that they are people first and not corporate first. The biggest problem when it comes to buying things off of corporations such as Amazon or Walmart is that their intentions come from making their CEOs wealthier and wealthier each year. Their products and locations may be convenient, but at the end of the day, these corporations thrive off of the exploitation of their employees to keep them alive. The ethicality of small businesses tops that of the big companies by far and the fact that the owners of most if not all small businesses usually come from people simply trying to make a living by making things that they’re passionate about is admirable. Small businesses are human inside and out and one of the best places to go to find your next favorite small business are farmers markets and flea markets. Given a bad rap because of the typical small or dingy locations that these markets take place in, farmers markets and flea markets are some of the most intriguing and special places to visit. These marketplaces are the definition of finding a diamond in the rough because these places are not nearly as advertised compared to Walmart, Target, Amazon, and other corporations. However, the kind of products you can find at these markets mean a lot more than what the corporations can sell. From nostalgic knickknacks to freshly grown produce, farmers markets and flea markets offer a variety of different products that come from the heart. The best part about these items is that they typically come at low prices. The best finds usually are the necessities such as freshly grown foods from humble farmers and gardeners, but of course you can find other fun trinkets and collectibles that you couldn’t find anywhere else especially at a convenient price. Some of the best farmers markets and flea markets around Pennsylvania include the Freeland Marketplace in Freeland, Q-Mart in Quakertown, the Circle Flea Fair in Scranton, the Merchants’ Village in Pittston and Jake’s Flea Market in Barto. Some of these are an hour or two away from the Wilkes-Barre area but they’re certainly worth the drive. There’s even going to be a Farmers Market open on the Wilkes Public Square starting on June 18. Some of these places may only be open during the weekends, but these marketplaces are worth checking out because you can guarantee that these vendors are from passionate hardworking people who are only trying to make the best product for other hardworking people. Letter to the editor policy: The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor from differing viewpoints. Letters must contain contact information, including name, city, state and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published but may be used for verification purposes. All letters to the editor must be sent using one of the following methods: Email: leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Phone: (570) 408-5903 (Voicemail: 30 seconds or less, please.) Mail: 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766 Attn: The Beacon �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 Opinion 15 The Icebox presents a Guide to Japanese By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer Nihongo wo benkyoushitai desu ka? (Do you want to study Japanese? ) Then you have come to the right place. For years, I have been interested in Japanese culture. Now that I have visited the countr y and made plenty of Japanese friends, I decided to master the language. In the year, I have climbed from an absolute beginner to a lower-intermediate level of proficiency. Of course, I still have a long way to go. However, I have spoken with a lot of people with a similar ambition and the one common question is always about what resources to use to learn the language. This issue of the Icebox will break it down for you if you want to get serious. Even if you do not care much about learning Japanese, I bet my guide will provide you insight on finding the right resources for your desired language. Spoiler alert: the answer is not Duolingo! The first thing to know about Japanese is that it has three character systems, called kana. That may seem unnecessar y, but each of the three serves an essential function that actually makes the language much easier to read and write. Kana follow a certain stroke order, meaning you must write them a certain way to use them effectively. Hiragana is the most basic kana. It is used to write pretty much anything in Japanese. There are 46 hiragana, each of which is a character that represents a sound. The interesting thing about these sounds is that they are entire syllables. The English alphabet does not have sounds like “shi” and “tsu” and require multiple letters to represent the Japanese alphabet. When you write Japanese in English letters, it is called romaji. Hiragana are by far the most common kana used in Japanese writing. Katakana is the exact same thing as hiragana. Each character represents the same 46 sounds. The difference is that the characters look more linear and distinct from the round hiragana. The other main difference is that katakana are used to write words that are borrowed from other languages. Many words in Japanese are borrowed from English, and things such as brand names or the names of foreigners are written in katakana. The fun thing about this character system is that if you ever forget a Japanese word for something, you could probably “pronounce it in katakana” and a Japanese person would understand what you are saying. The third kana is the most difficult and complex . Kanji are characters that were taken from the Chinese writing systems. One kanji represents some kind of image or symbolic meaning. This symbol can appear as part of a word or even inside of a more complex kanji. For example, “ame” is the kanji for rain. This means when it appears as part of a word the definition may relate to rain. The complicated thing about kanji is that it does not follow its own rules. Studying kanji is one of the most difficult parts of learning Japanese. Some kanji don’t have a consistent meaning or pronunciation in compound words. Others sound so similar to each other that memorizing the symbol and conveying it is absolutely necessar y. The next thing about Japanese is that the structure of sentences and the essential grammar rules are vastly different from English. When you learned Spanish in high school, it was rather easy because it’s another Latin-based language. However, languages like Arabic and Mandarin are the most difficult to learn for English-speakers. Japanese fits into this same categor y. The first thing you can do to learn grammar is open a Japanese textbook made for English-speakers. My top recommendation is Genki I and II. This textbook covers ever ything you need to know to get started. It is better to pair this textbook with the associated workbooks and designated Anki decks for vocabular y. However, there are still a few issues. The textbook wants you to learn Japanese as an Englishspeaker. It often uses examples that are unnatural in the language. It is better to understand the grammar points from a textbook but learn the actual usage in other places. That’s where the best strategy of all time comes into play. Immersion learning. You have to become the language yourself. Watch movies, listen to songs, read books and speak to yourself only in Japanese. No subtitles allowed. Unless they are Japanese subtitles, of course. Do ever ything you can in the language you want to learn, as if you were a baby. That’s how you mastered your native language, isn’t it? Well, it still works with other languages too. While immersing yourself, it is good to take notes of things that appear frequently. If you see words or kanji you don’t recognize, you can mark it down for later. You should also tr y to replicate things you hear, just like a baby would. Be careful not to indulge in the same media too often, or it will become obvious that you aren’t actually learning. If you want to really boost your progress, I recommend reading “Tae Kim’s Guide to Japanese Grammar,” which is a completely free blog that outlines ever y grammar detail in Japanese that is out there, including slang and filler words. The blog is a great way to rapidly get a grasp on grammatical concepts so that you can recognize them in the wild and diversify your own sentences. This is especially helpful when you want to get out of the “the cat is brown” phase. The other resource for rapid memorization is Anki. This is flashcard software available on all devices that uses a technique called “spaced repetition”. You can make your own Anki flashcard decks or download prepared ones online. I have never been one to study using flashcards, but I can assure you that using Anki for Japanese is an absolute must. The best usage for Anki would be kanji, of course. It is important that you learn to write kanji and recognize it in the wild. Suppose you followed my advice up until this point. You have learned grammar and practiced it through the Genki books. You have been watching anime, listening to podcasts and reading Japanese articles or manga when you can. You took plenty of notes from the guide by Tae Kim. You have been using Anki to reinforce your memor y of vocabular y and kanji. What do you think may be missing at this point? The answer is output. You absolutely need to start producing your own Japanese, or you will never know the language. Breathe Japanese through writing, speaking and conversing. Since I have visited Japan and have a lot of Japanese friends, it is easier to find opportunities to speak Japanese. For a new learner, there are plenty of resources online to connect with Japanese people. Many of them may also want to practice their English. There is a program here on campus that invites students from Japan to attend Wilkes during summer and spring breaks. I highly recommend you check it out. Ganbare! Ikuzo! (Do your best! Let’s go!) �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 Opinion 16 New releases mean binge watching and streaming By Shawn Carey Opinion Editor The next two months are seeing the much anticipated releases of three Amazon Prime superhero shows. The first to be released is “Invincible” season 4, followed by the fifth and final season of “The Boys” and then ending off with Sony’s “SpiderNoir.” As a massive fan of these three properties myself, you can imagine that I am rather excited for these three upcoming projects. That being said, I am somewhat disappointed with how they’re handling the release of what of the shows I listed. Unlike “Invincible” and “The Boys” “Spider-Noir” is going to be releasing all of its episodes all at once instead of doing weekly releases. Now, I know that at this point I should be used to this, after all, this has been the norm for a number of years at this point. Streaming services like Netflix and Hulu have been doing this for years, they were the original ones that popularized the concept, the idea of “binging” a show. Inherently, there is nothing wrong with this. I myself have sat down and marathon through a show before. If you’re really into a show I am not going to blame you for binge watching. All that being said however, I do feel like it somewhat lessens the watching experience. I know that I’m not the first person to say this and I definitely won’t be the last. This is a topic that has been covered countless times. “Weekly episodes are better because they allow the show to stay in the culture zeitgeist for longer, they build excitement, they give the viewer some time to breathe.” While that is of course true, and I agree with all of that, I want to talk about how we got here in the first place, how we got to the point where we actually want to wait to see new episodes of our favorite shows. As I mentioned before, binging as we know it today started due to streaming services. The proliferation of platforms like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime allowed users to watch multiple episodes without waiting, making it a “normal” way to consume media. Being able to pull up the next episode at the press of a button was new and exciting, you didn’t have to wait a week. I also believe the very way we now consume our media has a lot to do with it. Today’s culture demands us to always be in the “know.” Spoilers spread so quickly now that we can’t afford to see a movie or show a little later after release. We are being pressured to watch these new shows as soon as possible if we don’t want to be spoiled. Speaking from personal experience, thank goodness I watched the “Stranger Things” finale when I did, because I saw posts about it within the hour of it being released. We are unable to enjoy something according to our own time, we must treat our entertainment as a full-time job. Whenever a service releases a show in full, especially a highly anticipated one, they know it’s going to get watched. It has to get watched. You have to watch it. Everyone has already seen it. That being said, we also tend to forget about it pretty quickly. Yeah sure, it may be a hot topic for a week but the online world moves quickly, it can be quickly forgotten about and replaced by the next big series. Weekly releases foster a shared community experience, allowing viewers to discuss, theorize, and avoid spoilers got opinions? together. This format builds anticipation, prevents the “blur” of binge-watching and makes shows feel more like a special, longlasting event rather than a fleeting, oneweekend experience. I still remember when “Wandavision” was airing. After every single new episode the internet was flooded with theories about what was truly going on and how they thought the show would end. It also just feels good to have something to look forward to every week, or have something you can make small talk about with your coworker. You can also just appreciate the show more. Instead of trying to get to the end as quickly as possible, you have something you have to wait for, something you have to earn by waiting. It’s also just healthy, as silly as that sounds. You don’t waste away looking at a screen for hours upon hours. Once again, I’m not against the idea of binge-watching a show. I’m not going to let something as silly as this ruin “SpiderNoir.” That being said, I can’t help but wish that it followed in the steps of its peers and also released episodes weekly, especially considering the show’s genre, that being an intense noir crime drama. �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 Opinion 17 Swords v. Wands: Battle of the chosen ones Answering the debate of Harry Potter vs. Percy Jackson By Aster Rowland Opinion Writer How do you like your chosen ones? Dead by the end of the book? A ladies’ man? Fighting the institutions that put them there in the first place? The trope of the chosen one is very popular in the mainstream, probably because it feeds that desire to be needed or scratches that itch to get thrust into random fantasy shenanigans. But who did it best? Wars have been waged over Percy Jackson or Harry Potter for years, but let’s let the facts speak for themselves. We’re going to decide which author wrote it best: Rick Riordan or J.K Rowling? The Percy Jackson series was written by Rick Riordan and published in the summer of 2005. The series follows Percy Jackson, a seemingly normal 12year-old boy from New York who has been kicked out of multiple schools for behavioral issues. After an incident at a museum, Percy is transported to Camp Half-Blood, and it’s revealed that he’s the illegitimate son of Poseidon, god of the seas. The camp is for all the children of the Greek Gods. The series consists of him and his friends fighting Greek monsters and protecting mortals from looming threats like the Titan Kronos. This series expanded into a universe with not only Greek Gods, but also Roman, Egyptian and even Norse Gods. The books have been adapted into a musical, two movies and a Disney+ streaming series. The Harry Potter series was written by J.K Rowling and was published in the summer of 1997. The series follows Harry Potter who initially lives under the stairs in the home of his aunt, uncle and cousin in London who treat him extremely poorly. One day, he’s greeted by a man named Hagrid who knew his birth parents and informs him that he’s a wizard. Hagrid invites him to Hogwarts, a school for wizards. The overarching plot of this series is the evil wizard Voldemort (who’s so evil you can’t say his name) trying to take over the wizard world. These books have been adapted into nine movies, a musical and a video game. So, what makes these guys the same? Well for starters, they’re both minors who had magical destinies thrust upon them. They both have female sidekicks who are smarter than them (Annabeth Chase and Hermione Granger), they both have older male guidance (Chiron and Hagrid), they both initially had crappy home lives (Gabe Ugliano and The Dursleys) and they both saved the world. They are also extremely loyal to their friends and families. So, what’s the difference? In the initial Percy Jackson series, the reason that there are so many young demigods willing to join Kronos in his crusade is because they feel abandoned by their own godly parents. So, when the gods offer him godhood and immortality, he turns it down in favor of making sure that the gods acknowledge their kids more. He asks to expand the camp from its only 12 cabins to 20 and include the minor gods. He also demands that they claim their kids by the time they turn 13, because previously kids would be unclaimed well into adulthood. He makes them all swear on the River Styx, which if broken has cosmic consequences. In Harry Potter, the reason that Voldemort was able to rise to power was because of the large amount of corruption in the Ministry of Magic. Many of the wizards in positions of power misused their magic for personal gain. There was also the wizard equivalent of white supremacy going on, in which people believed that if both your parents weren’t wizards, then you were inferior to those whose parents were. Harry Potter combated these issues by becoming Head of Magical Law Enforcement. I can only assume it was to fight corruption from within. Rick Riordan was on a mission with his series, the idea of Percy Jackson being born from his son Haley being bored of classic fairy-tales. Haley has dyslexia and ADHD, and ironically, so does every demigod in the series. The in-universe explanation for this is that ADHD is a demigod being hardwired for battle, and dyslexia because demigods more naturally read ancient Greek. He wrote the series as a whole to make children with learning disabilities feel seen. In the Percy Jackson TV series, he cast Leah Sava Jeffries, a black girl, as Annabeth Chase. This enraged long time fans of the books because they had all envisioned her as white because the books describe her as blonde with gray eyes. It got so bad that he put out a statement on his Instagram defending the casting choice, saying that he was always committed to “diverse and inclusive casting.” Also, that compared to every other girl who auditioned, Leah perfectly fit how he envisioned Annabeth to be. In his expanded universe, he has a host of LGBTQ+ characters and characters of color. Even his publishing company, Read Riordan, is dedicated to showcasing diverse authors and letting them tell stories from their cultures. On the other hand, J.K Rowling has only 10 confirmed non-white characters, and does a poor job of representing them. The only Asian character’s name is Cho Chang, and she is stereotypically placed in Ravenclaw, which if you don’t know is the group with the overachievers and smart people. There is also the issue of the house elves. The house elves are servants to old wizard families, and ‘servants’ is putting it lightly because they are literal slaves. The only person who thinks this is wrong is Hermione, but when she speaks about it, she’s mocked. Also it turns out that the house elves actually like being slaves which is odd. Let’s also not forget the antisemitism found in the goblins. The goblins in the books are described as greedy with hooked noses and the movies do not help, with a Star of David being visible on a rug and a Nazi propaganda-like poster in the background. Meanwhile, Rowling herself is wildly transphobic online, to the point where she has actually assisted the U.K. in enacting anti-trans legislation. I believe that the better chosen one is Percy Jackson and that the better author is Rick Riordan. Percy is a kid who didn’t want to be thrust into this life, but at the end of every series he’s in, he learns something new and promotes positive change. As does his writer, Rick Riordan. There is nothing cooler than creating a best selling book series just so that your child can feel seen. Got an opinion to share? Email kalen.churcher@ wilkes.edu or shawn.carey1@ wilkes.edu �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 Opinion A review of "The Romantic" by Bruno Mars By Natalia Williams Staff writer Bruno Mars is back and better than ever. His album “The Romantic” was highly anticipated after the announcement of the album. He released the single “I Just Might” on Jan. 9, and it gave listeners a preview on what was to come. I am a huge fan of Bruno Mars so I am ready to see what he gave us. Here is my track by track album review of “The Romantic". 1. “Risk It All”: 9/10 Oh my goodness. When I first heard a clip of this song on TikTok, I immediately fell in love. With the bolero style and his vocals…this song is amazing. The lyrics are so cute and sweet and follow the album title to a T. I can definitely see this song being the first dance song for a ton of weddings. This is a different style that I've heard from Bruno but I think he did it so well and I am so hyped to see what comes next. This one is a great album opener and I am ready to hear the rest of the record. 2. “Cha Cha Cha”: 8/10 I am already loving the track order for this album. This song wasn’t like a seamless transition, but it fits the vibe of the first one so it goes so well. I have always loved Bruno's albums because they are so cohesive and it's hard to explain, but he finds a theme, a vibe, a style and sticks with it for that one album which I appreciate. The lyrics of this song also fits the album title and I love that cause it's like he's telling a story. My favorite part of the album is the chorus. I love the rhythm of the end of the chorus and it makes me want to dance. His vocals are once again top tier. I don't see myself revisiting this song often, but it is still really good. I can see myself blasting this on an island though…it's giving me island relaxation vibes. Overall, great song and we are starting off really strong so far. 3. “I Just Might”: 7/10 This one is a completely different vibe from the last two tracks tempo wise, but it still fits together so well. This one is growing on me. It wasn't a favorite when it first released but after listening to it more and more it is definitely on track to becoming one of my favorites. This song gives me old school disco vibes a little bit. Not really heavy disco but like a little. When I listen to this song I immediately think of a roller skating rink and everyone skating to the beat of this one. Overall, I think after a few more listens it will definitely become a favorite but as of right now, I do not see myself revisiting this one. 4. “God Was Showing Odd”: 7/10 So, so cute. The songwriting on this album so far is so cute and sweet and makes me want to get married. The writing fits the album title, and I love the vibe of love…cause who doesn't love love. This one isn't really a favorite of mine, but the bridge…amazing. This one will definitely have to get listened to again so hopefully it will grow on me. Already repeating while writing it is growing on me slowly but surely. I love the pre chorus and the chorus, it is definitely going to be stuck in my head for hours. I think I can see this song being a wedding song this year and for other years as well. Overall, good track, just not a favorite of mine 5. “Why You Wanna Fight”: 10/10 Immediately got quiet storm music vibes from these songs. I have been waiting for a slower, smooth, R&B esque song and I finally got it. This heavily gives me Luther Vandross vibes, and I am in love. The chorus is probably my favorite part and the vocals in this track are amazing like always. This one is probably my favorite song on the album so far. I love when Bruno does slower tracks like this one. It reminds me of “Versace on the Floor” theme wise from the“24k Magic” album. Overall, I am so happy I got my slow track and this one will definitely be repeated often. 6. “On My Soul”: 8/10 One word. Motown. This gave me Motown-style vibes so quickly, and I am obsessed with it. I think he sounds so good on this type of production. The melody of this one is very catchy and I can see this getting stuck in my head really quickly. Aside from the production of this one, it may be one that has to grow on me but It wont take long. This one reminds me of “I Just Might” production wise slightly but I love the cohesive sound of the album. Overall, nothing too strong about this one, solid track. 7. “Something Serious”: 5/10 I don't know why but this one isn't giving me anything exciting. I like the melody of this one and the writing, but it's nothing new or exciting for me. I really don't have much to say for this one. It is an OK song, just not one I can see myself revisiting often. 8. “Nothing Left”: 10/10 Another slow song and I am not complaining. I love his “ballads” and I like this one a lot. I love, love, love the prechorus, chorus and the production of this one The melody is also another favorite of mine. This is a song I can definitely see myself revisiting and I am 100% adding it to my on repeat playlist. The guitar breakdown is what made this one a 10/10. I am a sucker for a good guitar solo and this one gave me that. Vocally this one might be a favorite as well. Overall, probably my second favorite song on the album and this song live may be life changing. 9. “Dance With Me”: 9/10 The lyrics to this one are beautiful and almost made me cry. I don't know why 18 but this one made me very emotional even though I am not in love. This one is definitely one I will be hearing at weddings once again, but I won't be mad at it because it is a beautiful song. The melody of this one is gorgeous and the build up in the second verse to the second chorus is my favorite part of the song. It is another slower song so it is immediately one of my favorite songs on the album. I think this is a great song close to the album because it is like the sister song to “Risk It All” in my opinion. Overall, gorgeous song and it makes me want to get married and fall in love. With that, I'd give this album a solid 8/10. It is a solid Bruno album…just not my favorite one. Personally, I don't think anything he releases can beat “24K Magic” in my ranking because that one is just way too good. I love the cohesive theme and sound of this album because that is something I don't see often, but I did get a little bored about halfway through the record and I was waiting for a track that would blow me away and I just didn't get that. The slower songs are definitely my favorite and I can see myself revisit those. Overall, I am so happy Bruno is back and although he won't release another record for a few years, I am patiently waiting for that day to come. What should Natalia review next? Email natalia.williams@ wilkes.edu �Sports 19 Sports The Beacon - March 18, 2026 Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Assistant Sports Editor: jake.mills@wilkes.edu Wilkes women’s hockey moving on to NCAA quarterfinals By Andrew Marshallsay Managing Editor After a tightly contested matchup against Adrian College, the Wilkes women’s hockey team is moving on in the NCAA national championship tournament. The final score was 2-1 after an evenly-matched 60 minutes of hockey. Off the back of a stellar performance from Audrey Milne, as well as goals from Jordan Ferry and Abby Bush, the Colonels clinched the first tournament win in program history. Coming into the contest, both the Colonels and Bulldogs were almost deadeven in every statistic. Wilkes came into the contest with the second-highest goals per game average, while Adrian was third in that category. From opening puck drop until the 18-minute mark of the first period, both goaltenders were shutting down chances left and right. Milne was showing why she was the two-time MAC championship MVP with yet another great performance between the pipes. On the other side, Kiera Stack traded save-for-save with Milne as the two sides remained even. At 18:27 into the opening frame, the Colonels struck first as Jordan Ferry lit the lamp and sent the Toyota Sportsplex into a frenzy as the hosts went in front. Ferry and Lily Zingaro combined on a breakout play, with the latter dropping a pass back to the Colonels center, who then fired the puck home past the far side of Stack. A little over six minutes into the second period, the Colonels doubled their lead, this time with a goal from first-year center Abby Bush. Bush and Nina Hudakova played their own version of tic-tac-toe as three passes between the pair resulted in Bush firing home Wilkes’ second goal of the afternoon. Adrian found a lifeline minutes later while on the power play. After a mad Jordan Ferry in the handshake line after her goal. Photo/Josh Ermeus Photo/Andrew Marshallsay The Colonels celebrate after moving on in the NCAA tournament. scramble in front of Milne, the puck found the stick of Courtney Ben, who flung it in to cut the deficit in half. In the third period, goaltending was the name of the game as Milne and Stack combined for a whopping 21 saves in the final frame. With about 90 seconds left in regulation, desperation set in as the Bulldogs pulled their netminder in favor of the extra attacker. However, the Colonels defended their zone, and any hope of an Adiran comeback was squandered. Wilkes will take the drive to upstate New York on March 21 to face off against Nazareth University. A team the Colonels have struggled with in the past, the Golden Flyers have won all 11 previous contests against the Navy and Gold. Head Coach Dave LeBaff emphasized his belief in the team ahead of next week. “We’ve fought so hard to get back and play them [Nazareth], and they know they’re one game away from a Frozen Four,” he said. “I expect this team to show up in Rochester, New York next week and lay it all out in a line, and regardless of outcome, be proud of everything that we did. "And I think if we play our game and we continue to do everything we’ve been doing, it’s going to be pretty hard to stop this group and I have a deep belief in that.” Puck drop in Rochester, N.Y. is slated for 3 p.m. from the Tim Horton’s Iceplex. The winner of the game will move onto the Frozen Four, with the chance to clinch a berth in the NCAA Championship final. �20 Sports The Beacon - March 18, 2026 Trio of men's hockey players sign pro contracts in the SPHL By Vin Santoro Staff Writer The Wilkes men’s ice hockey season has concluded, but the team received great news with forwards Cam Lowe, Jack Lee and Matt Carlson receiving pro contracts. Lowe and Lee join the Quad City Storm, while Matt Carlson starts his professional hockey career with the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs. Both teams are part of Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). Lowe had a strong career with Wilkes; he finished with 87 points in his four years with the Colonels, which is fourth all-time in program history. He tallied a careerhigh four game-winning goals in the 202526 season. Lowe was known for his quick transitioning with the puck on his stick and forcing defenders to make him a difficult player to defend. His edgework helped him maneuver through lanes and help set up the Colonels for goals and offensive pressure. The Colonels’ former winger was named Conference Player of the Week on Oct. 31, 2022; UCHC Player of the Week; and MAC Offensive Player of the Week on Jan. 16, 2023. Jack Lee, who was banged up for most of his career, had a strong senior season, finishing over a point per game (1.11), and was a clutch player for the Colonels, notching multiple multi-point games to help Wilkes win 15 games this year. Lee’s high hockey IQ helped him set up his teammates, finishing with 17 assists, which was good enough for top-three on the team. Lee also had a clutchness factor in his game, finishing just behind his friend Lowe in game-winning goals with three. Lowe and Lee reunite in their hockey careers and now line up together in Illinois, suiting up for the Storm. Lee also returns to his home state, as he hails from Naperville, IL. Matt Carlson, captain for the Wilkes Colonels, had a strong senior campaign, finishing with his highest point total this year with 28. Carlson also added multiple power-play goals in his career, finishing with 12 in his career with the Navy and Gold. This year, it was all about setting his teammates up for success. He led them both on the ice and during discussions on the bench, showing strong leadership. Offensively, he contributed 18 assists, while also helping defensively by keeping the puck out of the net, finishing the season with an impressive +18 rating. In addition, Carlson owned the faceoff dot as he finished with a 58% rating throughout his four-year career. He finished eighth all-time in program history with 74 point. He was named Second Team All-MAC as a first-year player during the 2022-23 season. Jack Lee exits the offensive zone in a game against Misericordia. Carlson also earned several weekly honors during his career, including UCHC Rookie of the Week on Feb. 20, 2023, UCHC Player of the Week on Dec. 12, 2022, and MAC Offensive Player of the Week on Dec. 12, 2022, and Jan. 27, 2025. Currently, all three players have contributed in their early professional careers thus far. As of March 15, Lowe and Lee have combined for three goals and two assists in four games played for the Storm. Carlson has appeared in five games for Roanoke, scoring twice in that span. Photos/Andrew Marshallsay Cam Lowe controls the puck in a game against King's College. Matt Carlson celebrates after scoring a goal against Hobart. �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 Sports 21 This past week in Wilkes sports: March 10-15 By Topher DellaBella Staff Writer MEN’S LACROSSE SCHEDULE It’s been a great spring season so far for our sports teams at Wilkes University. As one winter sports season comes to an end, several other spring sports are continuing their seasons with much competition. BASE Vs Ithaca College 3/10 6-11 L BASE @ Susquehanna 3/14 University 5-3 W BASE @ Susquehanna University (DH) 3/15 23-22 W MVB Vs Marymount University 3/11 0-3 L MVB Vs Rutgers-Newark 3/14 0-3 L MLAX Vs King’s College 3/11 21-9 W MLAX Vs Mount Saint Mary College 3/14 11-4 W WLAX @ Elmira College 3/11 18-3 W WLAX @ Kings College 3/14 16-4 W MWREST @ NCAA Championships 3/13 - 3/14 Jaryn Hartranft finished the tournament 1-2 wrapping up his college career. WIH NCAA Championships Vs Adrian College (First Round) 3/14 2-1 W This Week: BASE @ Penn State Harrisburg 3/18 3:30 p.m. BASE Vs Lycoming College 3/19 5 p.m. BASE Vs Moravian University (DH) 3/21 12 & 3 p.m. BASE Vs Moravian University 3/22 12 p.m. WLAX Vs SUNY Polytechnic Institute 3/18 4 p.m. WLAX @ Juniata College 3/21 1 p.m. MLAX Vs Alvernia University 3/18 7 p.m. MLAX Vs Juniata College 3/21 12 p.m. MVB Vs Drew University 7 p.m. MVB @ Southern Virginia University 3/21 2 p.m. SOFT Vs Immaculata University (DH) 3/19 4 & 6 p.m SOFT @ Moravian University (DH) 3/21 1 & 3 p.m. WIH NCAA Championships @ Nazareth University (Quarterfinals) 3/21 3 p.m. WTEN Vs Catholic University of America 3/21 3:30 p.m. MTEN Vs Catholic University of America 3/21 1 p.m. FEB. 14 1:00 P.M. - AT DELAWARE VALLEY UNIVERSITY FEB. 18 4:00 P.M. - AT MARYWOOD UNIVERSITY FEB. 21 3:30 P.M. - AT FDU-FLORHAM MAR. 3 7:00 P.M. - AT ARCADIA UNIVERSITY MAR. 7 1:00 P.M. - AT LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE MAR. 11 7:00 P.M. - VS KING’S COLLEGE (PA) MAR. 14 12:00 P.M. - VS MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE (NY) MAR. 18 7:00 P.M. - VS ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY MAR. 21 12:00 P.M. - VS JUNIATA COLLEGE MAR. 25 4:00 P.M. - VS SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY MAR. 28 1:00 P.M. - AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA APR. 4 1:00 P.M. - VS GOUCHER COLLEGE APR. 8 1:00 P.M. - AT DREW UNIVERSITY APR. 11 1:00 P.M. - AT ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE APR. 15 4:00 P.M. - VS UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON APR. 18 1:00 P.M. - AT MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY APR. 22 7:00 P.M. - AT LYCOMING COLLEGE �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 Sports 22 Winter 2026 US Olympic medal winner check-in By Brendan Williams Staff Writer The United States enjoyed multiple medal wins at this year’s Olympics and Paralympics. From the men’s ice hockey team’s first gold medal since 1980 to the women’s ice hockey team’s undefeated run to gold to figure skater Alysa Liu’s rise to fame, here’s a rundown of medals won. Gold Olympics Breezy Johnson (Alpine skiing, women's downhill) Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, Ilia Malinin, Madison Chock, Evan Bates, Ellie Kam, Danny O'Shea (Figure skating,team event) Elizabeth Lemley (Freestyle skiing, women's moguls) Jordan Stolz (Speed skating, men's 1000m & 500m) Elana Meyers Taylor (Monobob) Mikaela Shiffrin (Alpine skiing, women's slalom) Women’s Ice Hockey team Alysa Liu (Figure skating, women's singles) Alex Ferreira (Freestyle skiing, men's halfpipe) Connor Curran, Kaila Kuhn, Christopher Lillis (Freestyle skiing, mixed team aerials) Men’s Ice Hockey team Silver Ben Ogden (Cross country, men's sprint classic final) Alex Hall (Freestyle skiing, men's slopestyle) Korey Dropkin, Cory Thiesse (Curling, mixed doubles) Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Alpine skiing, men's Super-G) Jaelin Kauf (Freestyle skiing, women's moguls, Dual moguls, women) Madison Chock, Evan Bates (Figure skating, ice dance) Chloe Kim (Snowboard, women's halfpipe) Ethan Cepuran, Casey Dawson, Emery Lehman, Conor McDermott-Mostowy, Jordan Stolz (Speed skating, men's team pursuit) Mac Forehand (Freestyle skiing, men's Big Air) Ben Ogden, Gus Schumacher (Cross country skiing, men's team sprint) Jordan Stolz (Speed skating, men's 1500m) Bronze Paula Moltzan, Jacqueline Wiles (Alpine skiing, women's team combined) Ashley Farquharson (Luge, women's singles) Jessie Diggins (Cross country skiing, women's 10km freestyle), Elizabeth Lemley (Dual moguls, women) Kailie Humphries-Armbruster (Monobob) Corinne Stoddard (Short track, women's 1500m) Mia Manganello (Speed skating, women's mass start) Lailie Humphries-Armbruster, Jasmine Jones (Bobsled, two-woman) Gold Paralympics Para Cross-Country Skiing Oksana Masters (Women's Sprint - Sitting, Women's 10km - Sitting) Jake Adicoff (Men's Sprint Classic Style Visually Impaired, Men's 10km Classic Style - Visually Impaired, Men's 20km Freestyle Visually Impaired) Sydney Peterson (Women 10km Classic Style - Standing, Women 20km Freestyle Standing) United States (4 x 2.5km Relay Mixed) Para Snowboard Noah Elliott (Men's Banked Slalom - Lower Limb 1 Impaired) Kate Delson (Women's Banked Slalom - Lower Limb 2 Impaired) Para Biathlon Kendall Gretsch (Women's Sprint Pursuit - Sitting) Oksana Masters (Women's 7.5km Sprint - Sitting) Silver Para Cross-Country Skiing Sydney Peterson (Women's Sprint Classic Style - Standing) Para Snowboard Noah Elliott (Men's Snowboard Cross - Lower Limb 1 Impaired) Kate Delson (Women's Snowboard Cross - Lower Limb 2 Impaired) Para Biathlon Kendall Gretsch (Women's 7.5km Sprint Sitting) Para Alpine Skiing Patrick Halgren (Men's Super-G Standing) Bronze Para Cross-Country Skiing Kendall Gretsch (Women's 10km - Sitting) Oksana Masters (Women's 20km - Sitting) Para Snowboard Mike Schultz (Men's Banked Slalom Lower Limb 1 Impaired) Brenna Huckaby (Women's Banked Slalom - Lower Limb 2 Impaired) Para Biathlon Kendall Gretsch (Women's 12.5km Individual - Sitting) Para Alpine Skiing Andrew Kurka (Men's Super-G - Sitting) �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 Sports 23 Snapshots of Wilkes baseball, Fort Pierce, Florida Photos by Andrew Marshallsay Jake Miller launched a towering home run in the Colonels' developmental game against Albright. 1B Devin Markert prepares for a game against Arcadia. Sophomore utilityman Mark Nazar hit the splits to secure the out at second base against Albright. The Colonels went 2-3 during their spring break trip, with wins coming against Albright and Lebanon Valley. �The Beacon - March 18, 2026 24 . . . R O F G N I K O O L E R WE’ WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS.. DESIGNERS..... MANAGERS...... News,La&E Opinion,Sports Graphics, Layout Distribution Advertising CONTACT: KALEN.CHURCHER@WILKES.EDU � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource This is Wilkes University's Beacon Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the Beacon's predecessors, The Bucknell Bison Stampede, 1934-1935 and The Bucknell Beacon, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>. Missing Issues: 1947 August 8th 1947 September 5th 1947 October 3rd 1947 October 17th 1947 October 31st 1947 November 21st 1947 December 19th 1948 September 9th 1950 April 28th 1953 April 10th 1962 February 2nd Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon, 2026 March 18 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/711dac1a845ab1e2e56dd9199527636a.pdf 43cbedbf9ed33c89285f439c72ccbede PDF Text Text The Beacon - February 18, 2026 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 78, Issue 15 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” MSC celebrates the Roaring 20s at Valentine’s soiree Attendees came together, dressed in their best attire for a pre-Valentine’s Day celebration. More on page 9. Wilkes campus celebrating Black History Month page 3 Fork Around and Find Out: review of Amberdonia page 9 Editorial: Super Bowl Halftime Shows page 14 Milano-Cortina Olympics: Team USA Update page 20 �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Student government notes: Feb. 11 By Alli Lussi Staff writer Student Government met on Feb. 11 to discuss fund requests for multiple clubs, as well as dealing with internal business. The meeting began with the treasurer’s report, which stands at $46,562.42. FBLA came back for week two of two for a fund request, which will assist with paying for travel to a March conference. FBLA is known for participating in community service, as well as participating in the Alcohol Awareness walk. After careful consideration, Student Government decided to allocate partial funds to help with travel for the conference. The Marketing Department then presented, to speak on what the department does, as well as how students can be active in the department. The Marketing Department works with branding and advertising for the university, as well as the website. Information can be submitted at wilkes. edu/story, to share campus happenings. Nicole Langan presented on CODIE, the university's Council on Diersity, Inclusion and Equity. Langan explained that surveys will be sent out to students, faculty and staff in hopes that people will share their experiences on campus and what CODIE can do to improve experience. On March 10, CODIE will be in the SUB with refreshments brought by Abide. Langan strongly encourages students and faculty to attend and meet the council. Kappa Psi presented a fund request for week one of one. Kappa Psi is a pharmacy fraternity, and at Wilkes they fall under the Delta Omicron chapter. Kappa Psi will be attending a conference in April and asked for funds to aid travel expenses. Kappa Psi has participated in multiple community service events, including working with the food bank and donating to Ruth’s Place. The International Student Committee presented a fund request for funds to assist in expenses for an event that will be held in April. The event will feature different foods, games, and plans to host approximately 50 students. The board will decide next week if funds will be allocated for the event. RHC proposed a constitution change for the club. The plans for this change is the better the standards in which a Hall Ambassador must fall under. This change will implement a point system for events attended during a semester for each ambassador.Changes will be set next week per Student Government approval. The Student Government will meet again on Feb. 18. Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Farley Library Adds New Libguides The Farley Library staff reminds faculty and students that Libguides are available from the Library Homepage. They are useful in guiding researchers to subject specific resources including databases, books/eBooks and important websites on a variety of academic topics. The library's newest Libguide is the Community, Belonging and Engagement Academic Resource Guide. It offers a wide range of scholarly resources. The Library is always open to suggestions regarding additional Libguides. Contact the Library at ask.librarian@wilkes.edu for more information. *** Resume Tips Offered The Spring Internship Fair is one month away. Is your resume ready? Career Peer Ambassadors are popping up across campus to give quick tips and collect resumes for review. Check them out at from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 18 or 9 to 11 a.m. on Friday in the Simms Starbucks. Can’t stop by? Email it to interns@wilkes. edu. *** Kappa Kappa Psi Seeks Donations for Ruth's Place Kappa Kappa Psi is hosting a month-long supply drive this February to support Ruth’s Place Women’s Shelter through Volunteers of America Pennsylvania. Donations go directly toward helping women access everyday essentials, personal care items, and small comforts that make a big difference during difficult times. Drop physical donations in the boxes located in the SUB and outside the POD. *** Colonels Cupboard Extends Hours The Colonels Cupboard has extended its hours to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. *** From Wilkes to Washington Students in the Bonner Leader Program are collecting books for a service project during their spring break trip to Washington, DC. Donate new or gently-used books by dropping them in any of the boxes around campus before Feb. 20. Email alicia.burns@ wilkes.edu with questions. Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Center..........12-13 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Upcoming Events: Spring 2026 February 28 - Spring break begins March 9- Classes resume April 2- Holiday recess begins 6- Classes resume 30- Final exams begin May 16- Spring commencement Have a safe and anjoyable semester! Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 News 3 �� By Mollie Kuhar Special to the Beacon Every February, Black History Month is celebrated as a time to recognize the contributions, struggles and achievements of Black Americans. As Dr. Chris Kovats-Bernat, director of Africana Studies, emphasizes, the designation is “an essential opportunity to honor the contributions, struggles and achievements of Black Americans-not as a footnote to history, but as central to the American story.” Black History Month began in 1926 as a week-long celebration to honor the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, according to the National Park Service. Douglass and Lincoln had impactful contributions in the fight for African-American rights. However, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a prominent African-American historian and educator, shaped what Black History Month is today. Woodson worked toward equal education and aided in founding the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. He established “Negro History Week” during the second week of February and worked to preserve and establish that Black history holds its rightful and important place in American culture. At Wilkes, Erica Acosta, director of Diversity Initiatives, spoke about what is important about celebrating Black History Month. “Black History matters now more than ever,” she explained. “We are responsible for preserving the impact of our ancestors and recognizing the contributions we still make today. “Our voices deserve to be heard, and our history deserves to be remembered.” Acosta explained that the preservation of African-American History is part of celebrating Black History Month, but we must also remember this month is in honor of every modern achievement and every one that will follow today. Dr. Kovats-Bernat discussed how “at a predominantly white institution, this month takes on particular significance.” Photo/Leah Smith Africana Studies Program Director Dr. Chris Kovats-Bernat addresses an audience during one of the many campus activities held to celebrate Black History Month. He explained how this month “is a being held throughout the month. For 2 p.m. in the Henry Student Center. Dr. Scott Hancock, associate professor chance for us to examine how we create example, in the Farley Library, there is space for Black voices, experiences and a Black History Month display featuring of history and Africana Studies at Gettysburg College, will speak at 6 p.m. scholarship in our classrooms, residence African-American authors. On Feb. 19, the Multicultural Student on Feb. 24 in the Jean and Paul Adams halls and campus organizations.” Dr. Kovats-Bernat brought up Coalition will host an all Black-Owned Commons. awareness about the number of African- Business Pop-Up Shop from 9:30 a.m. to American authors placed -- or not placed -- on a syllabus. "Are Black students finding genuine community and support here, or merely inclusion in name?” Diversity is not only about inclusion, he The Wilkes University Archives is post by Ella Villani, a junior musical said, but incorporation...incorporating celebrating Black History Month by theater major with a minor in dance. all races, voices and minorities into honoring Wilkes College’s first African Villani has been adding new materials education, which will translate into American graduate, William Crowder. that were found in the Dorothy individuals' everyday lives. Crowder's tenure at Wilkes was Dickson Darte Center in summer 2025 Black History Month presents an marked by numerous musical to the Theater Collection. opportunity for everyone to reflect on contributions and achievements. From Read Villani's blog post highlighting the "systems and structures" that shape his involvement in theatrical and Crowder’s musical legacy at Wilkes. Wilkes and the campus community. This musical productions to his leadership Those interested can also listen to his includes processes like hiring practices, and participation in student activities, music composition of Man Against designing curriculum and programming it was evident that Crowder made a the Sky that has been digitized and campus events. made available on the library's Omeka lasting impact on our institution. To help celebrate Black History His legacy is highlighted in a blog Digital Repository. Month, a variety of activities are �� The Beacon - February 18, 2026 News Novelist Amor Towles to speak at Max Rosenn lecture By Brooke Lare Staff writer Wilkes University will welcome bestselling novelist Amor Towles to campus on March 15 for the annual Max Rosenn Lecture in Law and Humanities. Towles is known for his novels, "Rules of Civility," "A Gentleman in Moscow" and his latest novel that came out in 2024, "Table for Two." His latest became an instant bestseller with the New York Times calling the novel, “a winner.” Towles will speak at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center at 2 p.m., followed by a book signing. The event gives students and community members an opportunity to engage with the best-selling author for his character-driven fiction and thoughtful commentary on society. “He’s an observer of our culture,” said Dr. David Hicks, director of the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Wilkes University. “He’s someone who thinks about liberty and integrity and the kinds of moral questions that we might be lacking in our conversations today.” Hicks will moderate the lecture. “Let’s get the creative writing guy,” he said in regards to his role as mediator. However, Hicks is a published author himself and the director of the Wilkes creative writing masters program. Hicks is excited to ask his own questions. “I have no idea what he’s going to say. I have no idea what I’m going to say, either.” Hicks is aiming for a live conversation designed to be fluid and conversational rather than scripted. “Ask him anything. It doesn’t have to be about reading and writing. His perspective on the world is really interesting.” Alongside this, Hicks hopes Towles will share his creative process and research approach. While research is a key part of Towles’ writing process, Hicks hopes that the conversation will touch on the balance between writing under deadline and finding meticulous specified research. For students, Hicks believes that students hyper focus on deadlines and word counts which limits the development of stories. Although Towles’ novels are rooted in historical settings of New York and Russia in the 1920s and 30s, he is known for his modern outlook and approach. His stories explore the navigation of social expectations which in Hicks’ point of view, is an essential talking point for college students and the community alike. “There’s a general lack of compassion and empathy in our world,” Hicks stated. He hopes Towles’ attendance 4 will foster conversation on mending the issue. The event is open to Wilkes students and community members. Hicks said bringing community members into the audience allows students to feel part of something larger than themselves and removes the presumed classroom outlook. Hicks believes that although campus life is important it can serve as a ‘bubble.’ He places importance on their future standing as community members, encouraging a broader perspective to the lecture. “Reading makes you a better person — more tolerant, more open-minded, more empathetic,” Hicks said. “It genuinely makes us better people.” The Max Rosenn Lecture is free and open to the public, with registration required. Allan Hamilton Dickson Spring Writers Series' speakers announced By Mollie Kuhar Special to The Beacon As the Spring semester kicks off, the last week of February means the start of the annual Allan Hamilton Dickson Spring Writer Series. A longstanding tradition hosted by the English Department, it features a wide variety of poets, directors and writers. Guests will speak about and share their published work, providing an opportunity for the community to experience and engage with different authors Janae first-hand. This spring series will feature Brionne Janae, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah and Lauren Klein. Living in Brooklyn, New York, Brionne Janae is a poet and the author of Because You Were Mine (2023), Blessed are the Peacemakers (2021) and After Jubilee (2017). Janae was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award in Lesbian Poetry and won the 2020 Cave Canem Adjei-Brenyah Northwestern University Press Poetry Prize. A Southern California native, she is a teaching artist and enjoys spending time with her two dogs. She earned her MFA at Emerson College and her B.A. at U.C. Brionne Janae will be visiting Wilkes on Feb. 25. Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, a National Book Foundation’s ‘5 Under 35’ honoree, is a young and powerful fiction writer who grew up in Spring Valley, New York. Debuting in 2018 with Friday Black, he has written over 12 novels. He is the winner of the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award and the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction and a New York Times bestselling author. Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah will speak on March 25. The final 2026 Hamilton Dickson Klein Spring Writer Series author is researcher and writer Lauren Klein, a professor of data & decision sciences and English at Emory University. Co-author of Data Feminism, she has also co-edited Debates in the Digital Humanities and is set to release her book Data by Design: From the History of Visualization to the Future We Need in Fall 2026. At Emory, she also directs the Digital Humanities Lab and the Atlanta Interdisciplinary AI Network. In both early American history and today, Klein has researched breakthrough methods in questioning gender, race, and justice in the world. Klein will share her words and ideas with the campus community on April 25 and 26. Which speaker sounds the most interesting? Email kalen. churcher@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 News 5 Student input sought regarding belonging and engagement By Thaelis Andujar Assistant News editor The university is seeking feedback to a recently-released draft of its Community Belonging and Engagement Strategic Plan. The plan outlines a five-year roadmap aimed at embedding belonging and engagement into every level of campus life. The Spring 2026 draft plan is now open for a 30-day campus feedback period before final approval and implementation in Fall 2026. According to the document, the plan’s purpose is to “foster a supportive, welcoming campus climate” by aligning student, faculty and staff development with the university’s mission. It emphasizes creating “a sense of security and acceptance that allows individuals to thrive” while encouraging active participation in campus life. The plan is different from other engagement strategies. “Unlike past initiatives that were led primarily by one office, and that office would be the Office of Diversity Initiatives, this plan invites the entire campus community to be a part of fostering belonging and engagement,” said Dr. LaFleur Small, associate provost for Academic and Diversity Affairs. Small explained that the new framework addresses concerns about unclear strategy and limited resources in prior initiatives. “This plan addresses some concerns that exist before about the lack of clear strategy and resources. We’re aiming to translate discussions into actionable outcomes,” Small said. “It’s the first time we’re trying to create a process whereby we can push for community change and move in the right direction.” The plan incorporates belonging into core institutional functions, including hiring practices, curriculum development, leadership evaluation, student support services and community partnerships, rather than treating it as a stand-alone initiative. “By weaving these values into all areas of campus life, we create shared responsibility,” Small said. “So the whole entire campus is responsible for creating real and sustained cultural change. It’s not just the responsibility of the Office of Diversity Initiatives, but all of us as a campus community to create a space where everyone feels comfortable.” She added that the strategic plan reflects the university’s existing mission. “Our mission reads: to empower our students, with transformative educational experiences, civic values, and transferable skills through mentorship, individualized opportunities and innovative teaching and scholarship in an inclusive environment. The creation of this strategic plan allows us to live our mission.” The framework is built around five pillars: Workforce Excellence, Inclusive Culture, Equitable Policies and Systems, Community Engagement and Data-Driven Accountability. Under Workforce Excellence, the aims to expand outreach and recruitment efforts, diversity hiring panels and strengthen leadership development programs. The Inclusive Culture pillar focuses on ongoing training, climate assessments and the expansion of employee resources groups such as the Faculty Advisory Council and University Staff Advisory Council. It also calls for work-life balance policies and trauma-informed wellness resources. Equitable Policies and Systems includes auditing human resources policies, revising promotion and tracking advancement data to ensure fairness and transparency. Community Engagement emphasizes partnerships, volunteerism and universitywide town halls to maintain dialogue and accountability. The fifth pillar, Data-Driven Accountability, outlines the development of a public dashboard and annual reports to track representation, retention, engagement metrics and climate survey results. Small said transparency will be central to the plan’s success. “We aim to be very transparent with students and the campus community,” she said. The plan includes quarterly monitoring reports from task force leaders as well as annual evaluations measuring progress toward established goals. “There’s several touch points,” Small said. “At least quarterly, there will be some reports that we’ll be asking the task force leaders from each of the areas to provide to the steering committee. We’ll get reports highlighting some success, highlighting some challenges, any necessary adjustments that may need to be made.” Annual evaluations will incorporate surveys and focus groups involving students, faculty and staff. “We should be able to get feedback from the students, faculty and staff through surveys, focus groups throughout the course of the five years, and we can make adjustments to the action plans as necessary,” she said. A centralized dashboard will allow students to visually track progress over time. “In the strategic plan, we have a centralized dashboard, a reporting system that will be developed,” Small said. “It allows you to track progress visually and very transparently. I anticipate that we will have that established by the end of the first year.” While several pillars focus on faculty and staff development, Small emphasized that those efforts directly affect students. “Endeavors designed for faculty and staff success ultimately lead to student success,” she said. Retaining talented faculty and staff, she explained, strengthens instruction, research and campus engagement. “If we attract and keep talented faculty and staff at the institution, it ultimately will impact the student experience, student educational and social experiences,” Small said. The plan also includes commitments to mentorship programs, inclusive curriculum development, equitable hiring practices and student involvement in decision-making. Students can expect to see strengthened relationships with local organizations as part of the Community Engagement pillar. “Students will see Wilkes continuing to work and supporting local organizations such as the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce, the NAACP, the city of Wilkes-Barre,” Small said. “Something we already do, but we will continue to strengthen these relationships.” These partnerships aim to expand civic engagement opportunities and reinforce the university’s role within the broader community. Although faculty and staff have provided feedback so far, Small said student input has been limited. “So far, no student feedback. We want student feedback,” she said. “If this can spark some student interest, I’d be very excited. "So far the response has only been from faculty and staff. We’ve got no student feedback, and I strongly encourage, and we want to solicit student feedback.” The draft will remain open for campus review for 30 days before the Steering Committee finalizes revisions. When asked what students should take away from the plan, Small offered a direct message. “They belong here,” she said. “This plan is to send a message to all students that we see them and we value their experience. And that they should be supported and empowered to fully engage in campus life and that they can bring their authentic selves into our community.” If approved after the feedback period, the final Community Belonging and Engagement Strategic Plan will take effect in Fall 2026, guiding university policy and culture through 2031. University leadership says the plan is intended not as a symbolic document, but as a measurable, evolving framework designed to create long-term, institutionwide change. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to review the draft and submit feedback before the close of the comment period. Links to the draft and the survey are available through Today@Wilkes. Steering Committee members for the effort include: **Erica Acosta, MA, MBA- Director, Office of Diversity Initiatives **Kelly Beishline, MBA- Associate Director, Human Resources **Dr. Kalen Churcher- Associate Professor of Communication & Media Studies **Dr. Helen Davis- Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences **Dr. Todd Hasting- Assistant Professor of Undergraduate Nursing **Dr. Jamal Ghorishi- Professor of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering **Dr. Ross Novak- Assistant Dean of Student Services for Online Programs **Elias Dixon-GilbertMulticultural Student Coalition Vice President & Student Athletic Advisory Committee President **Dr. La Fleur Small- Professor & Associate Provost of Academic & Diversity Affairs �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 News 6 Bonner Leaders turn pages into purpose with book drive By Thaelis Andujar Assistant news editor The Bonner Leader Program is turning pages into purpose this February with a new campus-wide book drive aimed at supporting incarcerated individuals in Washington, D.C. “From Wilkes to Washington: Empowering Change Through Reading,” the initiative invites students, faculty and staff to donate new or gently used books before Feb. 20. Collected books will be delivered during the Bonner Leaders’ upcoming spring break service trip to Washington, D.C., where students will partner with DC Books to Prisons, a nonprofit that distributes free books to incarcerated people across the United States. Donation boxes are located on the first floor of the SUB, at the entrance of the library, on the first floor of Breiseth Hall and outside the POD in Stark Learning Center. Those interested can scan the QR code on the flyer for a list of most-needed genres or contact alicia.burns@wilkes.edu to schedule a pickup. According to Alicia Burns, Bonner Leader Program coordinator, this is the first time Wilkes has hosted a book drive specifically benefiting incarcerated individuals. Burns stated that this event has not been done before. The idea came as she and the Bonner Leaders began planning their annual spring break service immersion. “As a part of identifying nonprofits in Washington, D.C. to support in preparation for our spring break trip, I was trying to find areas of need that we have not spent time serving for,” Burns said. “Supporting the education of inmates and preparation for the release of inmates is something that I just have always been passionate about. So when I found this organization I asked the freshmen if that’s something they would want to support and there was no hesitation,” she continued. The Bonner Leader Program is a nationally recognized civic engagement and service initiative that provides students with opportunities to serve their communities while developing leadership skills. At Wilkes, Bonner Leaders commit to ongoing community service during the academic year and often participate in service trips during breaks. Organizations like DC Books to Prisons play a critical role in bridging educational gaps within the prison system. Access to books can provide incarcerated individuals with educational resources, vocational preparation materials and opportunities for personal growth. Many incarcerated people rely on donations because access to books inside correctional facilities can be limited by cost, policy restrictions and availability. Burns emphasized that education and reentry preparation are often overlooked areas of service. “Supporting the education of inmates and preparation for the release of inmates is something that I just have always been passionate about,” she said. The project reflects the Bonner Program’s broader mission: to address systemic inequities through service and advocacy. By collecting books on campus and transporting them to Washington, D.C., students are engaging in a tangible act of support that extends beyond Wilkes. Freshman Bonner student leader Joanna Elick said she was on board from the start. “This book drive is important because I believe everyone deserves access to books and the opportunity to learn,” Elick said. Elick also spoke about her interest in design, which fueled her enjoyment to help. “I wanted to help not only for that reason, but also because I enjoy creating flyers and posters.” The drive encourages donations of new or gently used books in approved genres. Because materials must meet prison guidelines, donors are urged to scan the QR code on the flyer to review specific requirements before dropping off items. Burns said she hopes the event also sparks conversation on campus. “I mean, how many humans have books just sitting around that they’re just going to either donate to the library, which is also a great cause, or just throw them away, unfortunately,” she said. By redirecting those books to individuals who may not otherwise have access to them, the Bonner Leaders are turning an everyday object into a tool for empowerment. The initiative also highlights the connection between Wilkes students and communities beyond northeastern Pennsylvania. While Wilkes University is rooted in Wilkes-Barre, its service impact often stretches across state lines. “I spread the word as much as I could through conversation, hoping to spread the word,” Elick said. “Helping others and seeing the impact of my actions is incredibly rewarding!” Donations will be accepted through Feb. 20, ahead of the Bonner Leaders’ departure for Washington, D.C., over spring break. Anyone with questions can contact Alicia Burns directly via email, and those unable to visit a drop-off location can arrange a pickup. For more information about the nonprofit partner and its mission, visit dcbookstoprisoners.org. As the yellow banner on the flyer reads, the goal is simple: spread the love of reading. Through a collective campus effort, the Bonner Leaders hope to remind incarcerated readers that their education, growth and futures still matter, one book at a time. �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor: Kailey.Vogel@wilkes.edu The Mental Health Beacon Valentine’s shmalentines – Be your own valentine always By Gina Harrison Assistant Professor Passan School of Nursing One of the most important relationships that you will ever have is the one that you have with yourself. Valentine’s Day focuses on the romantic, external relationships that society places so much emphasis on. The truth is that we, as a society, are exhausted by these romantic expectations. There has been a serious push back against the Valentine’s Day trap in the form of things like “Galentine’s day” or “Palentine’s Day” to focus on the nonromantic relationships we cultivate in our lives. These versions of Valentine’s ask us to demonstrate the value of our friendships instead of our romantic relationships. Even though friendships and relationships are important, there is a relationship even more significant, and that is the one that you have with yourself. Think of the effort that you put into others to give them recognition on these pseudo-holidays and all year round. You spend your hard-earned money and precious time crafting an expression of love through purchases of flowers, cards and even expensive dates. Have you ever thought of putting that kind of effort and care into yourself? Self-love is not a new concept, but it is a challenging one. It is the practice of recognizing your own worth without having to prove it, earn it, or perform for it. It is loving yourself without expectation. There is a myth of what it means to love yourself. Self-love does not mean that you are extremely confident or no longer self-conscious. It simply means that you choose to accept yourself, as you are, and treat yourself with kindness and love. It does not come with a new personality or a complete change in your attitude. Selflove is subtle, beautiful, and ultimately allows you to accept who you are, as you are. Practicing self-love is particularly difficult when life is messy, hard, or even uncertain. That is why it is important that you begin to practice self-love regularly so that you are prepared to meet yourself with grace and love when things are tough. Self-love is not selfish. It does not mean that you honor yourself, your opinions and your feelings at the expense of others. It means that you value who you are enough to care for yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally. This practice is beneficial for your health. It helps you to identify and maintain a secure relationship with yourself. Understanding and loving yourself allows you to recognize and maintain healthy relationships and healthy boundaries with others. It also gives you the clarity to make choices that align with your true needs and values instead of choosing what others demand of you or what society expects you to do. Self-love creates the space that we need for rest, growth, creativity and honesty. It helps us to remember that we are enough. Spend some time working on it and see what develops! And, as Queen Bey says, “The world will see you the way you see you and treat you the way you treat yourself.” �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 9 Life, Arts & Entertainment Students have a “Roaring Good Time” at soiree By Leah Smith Editor in Chief Love was in the air, coated in gold and luxury at the Valentine’s Soiree hosted by the Multicultural Student Coalition. The JPAC was packed with attendees dressed to impress with lavish 1920s inspired fashion. Upon entering through the black and gold streamer decorated door, each entrant was given a yellow rose to symbolize friendship. Then, all the attendees were welcomed to a table consisting of fun Roaring 20s themed accessories such as masks, gold necklaces and the favorite of many, a handheld fan. Attendees were offered glasses of sparkling apple cider and food catered from Franco’s. The food consisted of various pasta dishes, side salads, homemade cookies and a chocolate fountain accompanied with strawberries, marshmallows and pineapples on skewers. Many patrons enjoyed the food including Craig Conville and Nicole Corino, a couple who came to the soiree for a fun date night. “I love supporting MSC so I figured it would be a fun Valentine’s date,” Conville said. When it came to the desserts, Corino was a big fan of the strawberry parfaits that were offered. “They’re so cute and the strawberries were delicious!” Corino stated. After dining and mingling, the participants went to the dance floor where the DJ kicked off the night with jazzy instrumentals and jazz covers of pop songs. As the night continued, dance party favorites were played such as “The Cupid Shuffle” and “The Cha-Cha Slide”. Many patrons including Isabelle Bender, a psychology major and CJ Bidini, a sports management major who attended the event dressed as a gangster and flapper couple. Bender especially wanted to attend the event for the Roaring 20s aesthetic. “I was so giddy, I literally screamed out loud I knew I needed to go to this. I’ve always wanted to go to a 1920’s themed party,” Bender said. Bindi wanted to tag along and made his gangster attire from clothes he had at home. “I threw on a suit shirt, grabbed some suspenders and I found the hat in my closet, so I figured it would work as a mob sort of thing,” Bidini said. Photos/Leah Smith Above: attendees enjoy sparkling cider. Below, everyone dancing to “Cupid Shuffle” Fork Around and Find Out: Amberdonia Bakery By Aliison Lussi News Assistant Editor and Nicole Steinberg Staff Writer A popular bakery in Kingston features European desserts, brick oven pizza, hot chocolates and other hot specialty drinks. This week, Nicole and I went to Amberdonia to try the pizza and desserts that everyone raves about. The bakery is located in an old bank building at 685 Wyoming Ave. in Kingston. Upon entry into the bakery, you are immediately greeted by the staff, who are very nice to talk to, along with the Oldworld European theme that decorates the building. We were quickly seated at a table and given menus. The menu isn’t huge as they only serve salads and pizzas, but the choice of pizza and salad ranges. I ordered a Shirley Temple as my drink, which came in a bottle. It was absolutely delicious. Nicole ordered a black cherry cream soda, which she raved about and said was very good. For main courses, I settled with a Romeo and Juliet pizza, which was a pizza that had crushed tomatoes and mozzarella, which is topped with prosciutto and basil. The crust was really crunchy and I love that they use crushed tomatoes instead of a typical pizza sauce, so you can really taste the flavors in the dough and the cheese. Nicole ordered a Little Italian Devil, which is a pizza that is topped with crushed tomatoes, Italian sausage, basil, peppers and cheese. Nicole really enjoyed the pizza, she said she liked the crunch and said that it reminds her of the brick oven pizza she would get in her hometown. The atmosphere in the bakery is amazing, the staff is wonderfully nice. The bakery is also very clean and isn’t too crowded so you can really soak up the theme of the building. Overall, the experience that we had at Amberdonia was phenomenal, and we will definitely be back for pizza soon. Below: Some of the desserts offered at Amberdonia Bakery. Left: Romeo and Juliet and Little Italian Devil pizzas. Photos/Alli Lussi �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 The Darteboard: On stage and inside the Darte Center By Anthony Kehs Special to The Beacon After more than half a century without one, Wilkes has a theatre club officially returning to campus. The original club, known as Cue ‘n Curtain, was founded in 1943 and served as a theatrical outlet for students at Wilkes. While the new organization is currently operating under the title of “Theatre Club,” there are hopes to eventually reclaim the historic name or nickname in honor of its roots. The previous iteration of the club dissolved in 1970, leaving a noticeable gap in opportunities for students interested in theatre outside of the academic department. The club’s revival began when Ella Villani, a junior musical theatre major and the club’s president, started looking for ways to fundraise for SETC, a theatre conference where musical theatre majors travel to Tennessee and audition for various theatre companies. After reaching out to Dr. Jon Liebetrau, chair of the Division of Performing Arts for advice, she was encouraged to pursue fundraising through a student organization. That suggestion quicklygrew into something bigger: the realization that many students had been craving a creative, low-pressure theatre space that existed beyond classes and productions tied to the department. The goal of the Theatre Club is to create an inclusive environment for students of all experiencelevels who love theatre, performance, and collaboration. While the club hopes to eventually produce a full show, current restrictions mean that a traditional production is not yet possible. Even so, the year is shaping up to be full of exciting events. Plans include open mics, karaoke nights, workshops for new works, collaborative writing sessions with peer feedback and maybe even a Shakespeare-with-no-rehearsal or 24-hour production challenge. Looking ahead, Villani’s biggest hope is to end the year with a cabaret-style showcase on the Greenway, where every member can perform a song, scene, monologue, or original piece. With deep nostalgic roots and a fresh, student-driven vision, the return of the Theatre Club marks an exciting new chapter for campus creativity and community. Anyone who has questions or is interested in joining the Theatre Club, can contact Ella Villani at ella.villani@ wilkes.edu. *** Although a jarring title, Urinetown hits its mark with commentary on capitalism, b u r e au c r a c y, a n d climate change. Set in a future where a devastating drought has made water scarce, Urinetown tells the story of atown where citizens must pay to use public restrooms. When fees become too high for the poor to endure, a young hero named Bobby Strong challenges the wealthy elite who control theresources. Through song and dance, the story unravels, revealing secrets no one will expect Urinetown uses parody as a vehicle of storytelling, referencing musicals that came before it like Les Misérables, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, The Threepenny Opera, and many more. Sophomore musical theatre major Antonio Torres stars as Bobby Strong, Urinetown’s protagonist. “The best part of rehearsing this show has been experimenting with the crazy material we’regiven. We’ve had tons of laughs over just playing in the sandbox and seeing what we can come up with,” Torres said. Junior musical theatre major Sarah Pugliese plays Penelope Pennywise, who sings “A Privilege to Pee,” one of Courtesy of the production The cast of Urinetown can be seen this weekend at the Dorthy Dickson Darte Pentre for the Performing Arts. the show’s most recognizable songs. “Urinetown is for everyone. From the silly jokes to the deeper meanings, everyone will be able to find a part of this show that they can relate to, whether it be grounded in comedy or the reality of the world today,” Pugliese said. Sophomore musical theatre major Gabby Greffen plays Little Sally, the show’s quasi-narrator, often supporting Officer Lockstock, the narrator of Urinetown, played by the writer of this article. “From Urinetown, we can learn that everything is not always as it seems and that there are always going to be people who push the limits and don’t understand when enough is enough,” Greffen said. The cast features Torres (Bobby Strong), Anthony Kehs (Officer Lockstock), Cally Williams (Hope Cladwell), Alby Lopuhovsky (Caldwell B. Cladwell), Pugliese (Penelope Pennywise), Greffen (Little Sally), Hope Jacobus (McQueen), Jacob Cintronelle (Officer Barrel), Caleb Flannery (Senator Fipp), Elias Brix (Dr. Billeaux/Tiny Tom), Abby Olander (Cladwell’s Secretary), Elena DiSciullo (Mrs. Millenium), John Quick (Joseph “Old Man” Strong), Geanna Kirchner (Josephine “Old Ma” Strong), Rocco Pugliese (Hot Blades Harry), Charley Cain (Robby the Stockfish), Gabbi Howe (Billy Boy Bill), Sammie Gashi (Little Becky Two-Shoes), Isa Mendez (Soupy Sue), Carolynn Jewell (Ensemble), Caitlin Barton (Ensemble) and Ella Villani (Ensemble). Urinetown is directed by Sean Patrick Gibbons and associate directed by senior musical theatre major, Maddie Meier. The show runs at 8 p.m. on Feb. 19, 20, and 21 and at 2 p.m. on Feb. 21 and 22. Tickets cost $20 for general admission, $15 for non-Wilkes students and seniors, and are free for anyone with a Wilkes University ID. To purchase tickets for Urinetown, visit http://www.wilkes.edu/theatre or visit the box office an hour before showtime at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts located on the corner of West South and South River streets. �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment The Honors Program Student Committee is holding a Soda Tab Collection Drive. Please collect soda tabs and drop them off in the collection box at the Honors Office. All donations will be given to the Ronald McDonald House. 11 �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 Colonels Big Plans for Spring Break Wilkes’ campus is buzzing with the anticipation of the long awaited Spring Break. Most students are looking forward to the beloved interlude in the Spring Semester to take time for themselves away from the chaos that is the middle of the semester. While many plan to relax at home, or pick up hours at work, a few Colonels have exciting trips planned to learn and explore outside of campus. First-year student Cece Ruyak, a member of Wilkes’ Kappa Kappa Psi chapter, a national honorary fraternity for university band members, plans to attend the Northeast District Convention for Kappa Kappa Psi. “This convention is a great way to meet fellow brothers and become closer with current ones,” said Cece, “Band is such an important part of my life and I cannot wait to spend time with my band friends.” Several other members of Kappa Kappa Psi will attend the convention alongside Ruyak and enjoy one of the many alternative Spring Break trips Wilkes has to offer. Second-year student, Krisha Patel plans to attend the Geoexplorer’s trip to the Southwest where members will visit interesting sites such as Zion National Park, the Valley of Fire, the Grand Canyon, the Amboy Crater, the Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, Arizona and more. “I am going because I enjoy hiking and visiting national parks,” said Patel, “I think this trip will be a great way to meet new people as well.” Students on this trip will visit multiple states including Arizona, Utah and Nevada where they will learn about different minerals and rocks on several hikes through the scenic monuments these states have to offer. 12 �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 \ Senior Samara Carey and eight others with the Office of Civic Engagement are going on a venture to Seattle and Tacoma, Washington to build homes for Habitat for Humanity, a global nonprofit Christian housing organization. “I am doing this because I am a last semester senior graduating in May and I have always wanted to do this, so I saw my chance and took it,” said Carey. “I really do love community service and I feel like this is a good experience to grow with.” While in Washington, students will spend a week going to different locations throughout the states to assist in building three homes for three separate families. Aside from Wilkes’ alternative Spring Break options, senior Leo Egbe is going to enjoy break in Puerto Rico with his roommates. “We wanted to do something different instead of going home and being bored,” said Egbe. “We are going to San Juan and plan to do a lot of things like spend time on the beach, go on a jungle excursion ziplining, go out to eat a lot and get on a boat.” 6 Egbe said he plans to make a lot of memories, have some good times and make the most of the trip as it is going to be hard to get his friends back together in one place after graduation. First-year student Josh Tobon is also going on an excursion of his own with his friends on a road trip to Louisville, Kentucky to visit a friend. “The importance of this trip is fun,” said Tobon. “I like it a lot because to me it represents how close we’ve all grown together over the course of the last two semesters. Even if we’re really far away from each other, no matter the distance, we’ll still all be good friends.” Tobon, including others’ plans for Spring Break, highlight the possibilities a week off can hold. Whether you are building homes across the country or relaxing on a beach this Spring Break, be sure to take time for yourself to reset and relax to come back and finish the semester off strong! 13 �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 Opinion Editorial Staff 2025-26 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Leah Smith Managing Editor - Andrew Marshallsay Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS LA&E - Kailey Vogel Opinion - Shawn Carey SECTION ASSISTANTEDITORS News - Thaelis Andujar & Alli Lussi LA&E - Kaydia Wright Sports - Jake Mills DESIGNERS Photographer - Shannon Slominski STAFF WRITERS Nikki Steinberg Topher DellaBella Natalia Williams Brooke Lare Vin Santoro 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: shawn.carey1@wilkes.edu Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Halftime show highlighted love over hatred After winning big at the Grammy’s including album of the year with his recent release, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos),” Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny or, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio took on the honor of performing at the Super Bowl halftime show. In recent years, the Super Bowl has been a highly televised platform for artists such as Bad Bunny and even Kenrick Lamar the year prior, to contextualize political themes and statements through their words and visual appeal. Last year Kendrick Lamar utilized red white and blue to represent America and use this platform to discuss political issues in the country such as mass incarceration and even racial inequality as present in the lyrics of many of his rap songs. In lieu of America’s 250th anniversary, Bad Bunny continued this patriotic homage by incorporating Puerto Rican culture throughout his music, choreography and visual set up, yes that includes the individuals who were dressed as tall grass. The whole performance felt like a block party or a close knit celebration from the opening to the wedding celebration. Other artists that joined Bad Bunny included Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin who continued to aid in the cultural celebration through their clothing and in Gaga’s case her new rendition of “Die With a Smile.” Some other celebrity appearances included Cardi B and Pedro Pascal who showed their appreciation and support for the lively party and welcoming energy. Bad Bunny never lost sight of his roots. Not only was the performance a dedication to his homeland and the culture it provides to enrich the United States, the child actor towards the end helped represent Benito Antonio’s younger self. The ending of this performance was by far the most powerful as Bad Bunny held up a football with the words “Together, we are America” as the jumbotron displayed the message “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” This is especially important historically as well as today in our political climate. Bad Bunny had spoken out against United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during his Grammy acceptance speech. In the now viral speech, Bad Bunny said, “Um, before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out.” He continued his speech by saying, “We’re not savage. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans. And we are Americans,” which is exactly what his halftime show encompassed. This halftime show is here to remind Americans, especially U.S. citizens, that they are just one portion of America ,and Bad Bunny thanks many Spanish speaking countries in both North and South America to do this. Americans are the ones willing to put in the work and reflect on the past and present of its culture for their country. Puerto Ricans have just as much influence on the United States as any other citizen and Bad Bunny proved this through his electric performance just in time for America’s 250th birthday. Letter to the editor policy: The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor from differing viewpoints. Letters must contain contact information, including name, city, state and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published but may be used for verification purposes. All letters to the editor must be sent using one of the following methods: Email: leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Phone: (570) 408-5903 (Voicemail: 30 seconds or less, please.) Mail: 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766 Attn: The Beacon �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 Opinion The Icebox presents: The speedrun gauntBy “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer As some of you may know, I am a big fan of speedrunning video games. Although I am not particularly good at it myself, I have a few titles that I really enjoy playing for the purpose of creating records. I call this my own speedrunning cup. The ver y first one to mention is the “Mario Kart” series. A lot of people may not be familiar with the speedrunning potential this series has. It all started when people were literally shattering barriers in “Mario Kart Wii” and skipping entire sections of the racetrack to achieve the lowest possible time. These skips became known as “ultra shortcuts” and are considered a staple of the Wii version. Many ultra shortcuts exploit the in-game boundaries set by developers, while others involve glitches that bypass coding involved with lap-counts, ground speed and even item usage. The Mario Kart Wii speedrunning community has been around for almost two decades now, which is as old as the game itself. While the community peaked at some point before 2014, there is still news to be heard. The latest record was set only a few months ago on Luigi Circuit, the ver y first course, where a player discovered a jaw-breaking boundar y glitch and beat the previous record by a full minute. Today, people are investigating the limits in “Mario Kart World”, which has introduced a number of platforming mechanics for the karts. This is the closest the series has even been to replicating the insanity from the Wii. A lot of speedrunners are testing the many ways you can make use of legal jumps and intended outcomes to achieve the fastest records. As with most games, there is an ideal combination of character and kart, but even that ver y fact has been thrown into question now. The idea is that different weight classes can handle jumps with var ying levels of ease, so there isn’t a common denominator for the best choice per track . This type of thinking is what sets apart a speedrunner from the average player. xI have tried my hand at replicating some of the tricks I have seen online, but I have a lot to learn. First-person games are an interesting categor y in the speedrunning community because they all have ver y different objectives. One title I enjoy is “Superliminal”, which is a perspective-focused puzzle game that has the exact same progression with ever y attempt, but still relies on the user’s ability to adapt quickly. Another first-person title is the ever-so popular “Minecraft”. The goal is to beat the Ender Dragon as fast as possible. Some players like to speedrun the same seed until they achieve a thoroughly quick record. Personally, I like to create a new world and “speedrun” in the sense that I am playing for speed and not leisure. Surprisingly, this approach makes you better at the game as you are forced to be more resourceful and not spend too much time building things. When you enable hardcore mode, you know that you only have one shot at what you are doing. This mentality may be stressful to a lot of people, but it’s an exhilarating experience to me. The genre with the most speedrunning potential is the platformer, simply because it is predictable yet complex . The removal of “random factors” from platformers make it more reliable to validate a record. The opposite of that would be seeding in Minecraft or the luck you have when opening chests in a game. In a game where ever ything happens the same way at the same time, it’s easier to rank the records among players. My favorite independent platformer has to be “N++”, a classic indie title where you play as a stickfigure ninja zooming through a labyrinth of dangerous obstacles. The game is pretty minimalist, but it does ever ything right when it comes to a straightforward platformer game. Each level is designed so you can see the entire thing on screen and choose your own path. There are many obstacles like lasers, spikes, missiles and enemies that force you to get creative. Luckily, you can double jump, cling to walls and increase your momentum on ramps. There is an exit door in ever y level that needs to be opened, sometimes with multiple steps. The game also supports up to four players, which I have tried with my friends before. It’s ver y intriguing how this game makes you completely synchronized with the people you are working with. Speaking of four players, have you heard of “Overcooked” speedrunning? Before the pandemic, my friends and I used to speedrun this game together. All of the levels have an earnings quota, but some are designed so that the timer doesn’t start until you submit your first dish. After figuring this out, my friends and I developed our own strategy to speedrun a game by cooking almost an infinite number of dishes. Even in levels where that exploit could not be used, we became so synchronized with each other that we could probably play the game blindfolded and still set an impressive record in quota amounts. This game is an example of a speedrun that is more achievementoriented than it is time-oriented. One more platformer I play frequently for speedrunning is, of course, “Super Mario Bros.” Specifically, “Super Mario Maker” is a great place to show off your skills in the popular franchise. This game allows players to create their own levels, pushing the limits of “impossible” beyond what you can 15 imagine. If you don’t believe me, I highly recommend a YouTuber called “LilKirbs” who is highly regarded in the Mario speedrunning community for several different games. The last time I checked, I hold at least thirty different world records in “Super Mario Maker 2”, though I expect most of them to be dethroned by now. In any case, it feels nice to beat a difficult level and claim a fast record at the same time. Finally, there is a specific set of games published by Nintendo with a lot of speedrunning potential that has repeatedly piqued the interest of even casual gamers. The “Odysseyverse” currently consists of “Super Mario Odyssey ” and “Donkey Kong Bananza.” I have no doubt that this game series will include more titles, and I am hoping the next installment might shine the light on Wario. “Super Mario Odyssey ” is what people regard as the ultimate 3D-platformer with the most creative game design, beating even its predecessors “Super Mario 64” and “Super Mario Sunshine.” Despite how old this game is by the year 2026, I still play it repeatedly, hoping to set my own personal record. Last year, “Donkey Kong Bananza” broke the internet before the game even released. Fans waited a long time for a new Donkey Kong game and this title, the indirect sequel to “Super Mario Odyssey ”, was exactly what was needed. Furthermore, speedrunners rapidly found ways to exploit the game’s barriers and set a speedrun world record of under one hour in just six months. As a college student I have less time to focus on speedrunning, but after I graduate I plan to pick up different games to test my own abilities. I hope to submit a record on “Speedrun.com” someday. �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 Opinion 16 Looking back on the career of Dwayne McDuffie By Leah Smith Editor-in-Chief If you grew up watching early-mid 2000s cartoons like “Static Shock” and “Justice League Unlimited”, Dwayne McDuffie was the reason those shows not only existed but why they stand the test of time in popular culture today. In honor of Black History Month and to honor McDuffie’s legacy on the week of his birthdate and unfortunate death, I wanted to write this article to not only praise McDuffie and his works but to talk about why he should be placed in the pantheon of the greatest comic creatives of all time. He should be among big name comic book legends like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Alan Moore because McDuffie was and still is the unsung comic and cartoon writing legend that shaped our childhoods but doesn’t get enough credit for it. According to McDuffie’s IMDb profile, McDuffie was born on Feb. 20, 1962, and grew up in Detroit with his mother, Edna. He started his writing career working as a copy editor for a business magazine called Investment Dealer’s Digest. A friend got him connected with Marvel Comics and ended up working there with assistant editor, Bob Budiansky. McDuffie helped develop the company’s first superhero trading cards and wrote the series, “Damage Control” which was a mini-series about an insurance company that specializes in repairing the messy aftermaths of the superhero battles that occurred in New York. Not long after, McDuffie left Marvel after being dissatisfied with the company for not representing minority groups realistically in their storylines. He became a freelance writer which led him on the journey to the creation of Milestone Comics. According to the Milestone Media website, McDuffie, accompanied by Denys Cowan, Derek T. Dingle and Michael Davis, created the company in the late 1980s because they were fed up with the way black characters and other minority groups were being represented in comics. During that time, black characters were racially stereotyped and either had minimal roles in stories or were cast aside to dedicate more space for white superheroes. These men not only wanted to create black superheroes that were portrayed realistically, but they wanted to have control of the narrative from a business standpoint. The four of them created the “Dakotaverse” named after the fictional city in which the Milestone characters existed in. Heroes such as Static, Icon, Rocket and Hardware were born and still exist to this day thanks to the company that now owns the Milestone imprint, DC Comics. In the documentary, “Dwayne McDuffie: Larger Than Life”, McDuffie was placed as a leading writer for the Warner Bros. cartoon series, “Static Shock” based on the Milestone character, Static. Despite his lack of animation writing experience, WB animation executives were extremely impressed with McDuffie’s script for the pilot episode. While he worked on “Static Shock”, McDuffie worked on one-off scripts for other Cartoon Network shows like “Teen Titans” and “What’s New, Scooby-Doo?” “Static Shock” began in 2000 and ended in 2004 with four seasons. What made this show special was that it not only captivated young audiences with an exciting superhero cartoon, but it pushed the boundaries of children’s television restrictions. This was because alongside the usual superhero conflicts, McDuffie also wrote about real life conflicts such as racism and gun violence. After “Static Shock” came to an end, McDuffie was chosen to write the episode, got opinions? “The Brave and the Bold” for the first season of the “Justice League” cartoon series after co-writer Paul Dini suffered a hand injury and Rich Fogel was busy with other projects. After the success of his script for the episode, McDuffie was placed as the lead writer and story editor for the show’s second season. McDuffie’s goal with both “Justice League” and “Justice League: Unlimited” was to flesh out the characters by not only giving them superhero conflicts but reallife ones as well. After a life of several successes in the comic and animation industry, McDuffie passed away on Feb. 21, 2011 after complications with heart surgery. McDuffie had just turned 49 the day before he died. Although McDuffie’s life was taken away so suddenly, his legacy still lives on. I was introduced to so many of my favorite comic book characters from his shows such as Green Arrow, Black Canary, Huntress and so many more. As someone who grew up watching both of the Justice League cartoons, I can say that McDuffie’s writing set the precedent for how DC’s characters and worldbuilding is being written today. �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 Opinion 17 Tired of the same-old, same old video games By Shawn Carey Opinion Editor PlayStation’s first “State of Play” of the year aired this past week on Feb. 13. As I do with most video game showcases, I decided to tune in. I try my best to keep up with the video game industry, watching these news shows when they happen. Now, I’m not talking in the sense of gameplay or story or anything like that. I’m speaking strictly from a visual standpoint. It seems like every new game is trying their hardest to look as realistic and generic as possible, bouncing between one of two aesthetics. These games are constantly going for the same two aesthetics. They’re either going for a dark fantasy style, in the same vein as “Dark Souls” and “Elden Ring,” or a sci-fi futuristic vibe, in the same vein as “Destiny.” That being said, they also tend to reuse the same handful of gameplay genres. Yes, I understand that’s a rather harsh thing to say. The last thing I want to do is discredit the skills and talent of the people responsible for creating these games. These games objectively look good, the graphics are cutting edge and top of the line. I also have to assume they’re very fun to play, I can’t say that for certain however. That is mainly due to the fact that I don’t want to play them because of their similar aesthetics. I and many others value games that are unique and different, let that be from a gameplay, visual, story, or musical stand point. Some of my personal favorites games are “We Love Katrimari,” “Okami,” and “Persona 5.” Each of these games are oozing with personality, it’s impossible to not have a good time playing them, at least I think so. The term “soul” is tossed around fairly frequently when discussing video games. While this isn’t a recognized term in the industry, it’s still used by many players and developers alike. "Soul" usually refers to a design philosophy or passion from the developers that is evident in the gameplay. You’re not making a game just to make a game, you’re creating a special experience for the player, something you can’t get anywhere else. Let’s look back at one of the previous games I mentioned, “Okami.” Developed by Capcom, “Okami” is an action- adventure game originally developed for the PS2. It's heavily inspired by Japanese mythology, and it shows in every corner of the game. The game is made to look like a traditional Japanese ink painting. It’s absolutely incredible. Once again, I’m not trying to discredit any developer; however, I think it says a lot when the general gaming community is referring to your games as “soulless.” Now, is this done on purpose? Are they trying to make their games look like everything else on the market to earn a quick couple of bucks? Maybe. I can’t say for sure that they’re trying to copy one and other; however, games take a long time to make and tend to be rather expensive. I honestly think it’s a case of trying to appeal to as wide of an audience as possible. They’re trying to make a game that anybody can play and enjoy. While understandable, they do have to make their cost back somehow, the end product tends to appeal to no one. There’s this quote often used among authors that goes something like this. "If you speak to everyone, you speak to no one,” which is often paraphrased as "a story for everyone is a story for no one." It highlights that when messaging is too broad or general, it fails to connect with anyone on a personal level. To be effective, stories and marketing must be targeted to specific audiences. The same goes for video games. Make the game that you would want to play, a game that you yourself would spend money on. I also believe it has something to do with the standardized use of Unreal Engine. Pretty much every midsize game uses Unreal. Most notably including “Fortnite,” “Black Myth: Wukong,” “Final Fantasy VII Remake/Rebirth,” and the “Gears of War” series. Many of the games that use Unreal tend to have a visual uniformity, leading to the issue I know that I’m saying this for a third time now, but once again, I mean no offense to the devs. All I can say is that as someone who plays video games fairly often (a gamer if you will,) I would like to see more wild and bizarre ideas. I want to tune into a video game showcase and be actually excited to see new announcements. Weigh in on what is -- or isn't a creative video game What's the very best vs. what just doesn't make the cut Email shawn.carey1@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 Opinion 18 Album review: So Bad it's...better than good By Natalia Williams Staff writer It is no secret to anyone in my life that I love Michael Jackson…more than anything in this world. So, when I was trying to figure out what album I wanted to review this week, I realized I haven't reviewed any of his albums yet which is crazy to me. With the new biopic coming out on April 24. I knew I had to do at least one. It won’t be the only one I review, but I think this one is an amazing start. After the release of “Thriller,” one of the greatest -- if not the greatest -- albums of all time in my opinion is Bad. Its release was highly anticipated by fans all around the world. Now, “Thriller” changed pop music forever, but I truly believe “Bad” was the album that truly solidified Michael's impact on the music genre. I am a Michael Jackson encyclopedia so I will also include some lore drops for some of the songs. Let's start with a lore drop. So, the iconic album cover…was not supposed to be the album cover. There is a picture of Michael with a lace cover over his face inspired by a 1924 photo of Gloria Swanson. This picture was supposed to be the album cover, but CBS executives rejected the concept since they thought it didn’t fit the vibe of the album. Which thank goodness they rejected it because we got the iconic one of him standing looking like the king he is. Anyway, without further ado, here is my track by track review of one of the greatest pop albums of all time. 1. “Bad”: 10/10 The word iconic will be used so many times in this review so be prepared. This is one of my favorite title tracks from Michael and it is the perfect opener for the album. It already has a different sound from “Thriller” and I love it. Fun fact, this song was supposed to be a duet with Prince, but Prince did not want to sing the opening line, “Your butt is mine,” so he just didn't do the song…lol. which makes me mad every time I think about it because it could've been one of the greatest debates and ended the feud speculations. Anyway, this song earns the first out of many 10/10s. Although I do not listen to this song that much, it is still perfect. The fact that it is very overplayed has a factor in me not listening to it often…but it is overplayed for a reason. The production of this song is insane and like many of his songs, the bass line is amazing and one of the most recognizable. The short film for this one is also very good and one of his best. It is 18 minutes long and was directed by Martin Scorsese. It tells a true story of a kid and it is a very sad case when you read it. Overall, this is an amazing way to open this album and I cannot wait to listen to the rest of it…for the 10,000th time. 2. “The Way You Make Me Feel”: 10/10 Another 10/10. I fear every song will get a 10/10 but it's deserved. Another one of Michael’s most iconic songs and short films as well. The melody to this song is one of my favorites from him. The song is extremely catchy and the vocals are so good. My favorite part of the song is one line “Just promise baby you’ll love me forevermore.” It is such a specific part but a part of my brain is scratched so well by the way he sings it. My favorite time has come… lore drop time. The short film of this video had actual Crips and Blood gang members in the background of the music video which I find very interesting since they are rivals. Another lore drop that is unnecessary but, this was one of the first pieces of lore I learned about this song. When he performed this on tour, he had a female actress/dancer strutting across stage. During a MSG tour stop of the 1988 “Bad” tour, the actress from the music video Tatiana Thumbtzen, made a big no no during her appearance and kissed Michael before she walked off…she then got fired and replaced by Sheryl Crow. Frank Dileo was not playing any games. Anyway, this song is one of my favorites of all time and deserves a 10/10. 3. “Speed Demon”: 7/10 This song aggravated me so bad as a kid. It still does if im having a bad day and it comes on shuffle, but I do like the song. I think it's the only weak song on the album but just because it is the weaker link it doesn't mean it is a bad song whatsoever. He doesn't make bad songs. It is insanely catchy and I sing the chorus at least once everyday. I don't have much thoughts on this one other than it was one of my favorite songs to play on the Michael Jackson: The Experience WII game. If you're wondering…of course there is lore. Michael got the inspiration to write this song because he got a speeding ticket on the way to the studio. The short film to this is also cool because although it came from getting a speeding ticket, and it solidified the theme of him trying to escape the crazy media. The short film is 10 minutes long but it is truly like you're watching a movie and it is one of my favorites from him. Overall, not my favorite off the album but it's still a solid track. 4. “Liberian Girl”: 10/10 Oh. my. Goodness. Pop perfection. This song is one of the most perfect songs that has ever been released. The transition from “Speed Demon” to this one is so smooth and the Swahili in the beginning with the instrumental following is just golden. The production of this song is so so perfect and I need to hear this song blasted at the loudest level it can go. There isn't that much lore that I know of for this track, but it is rumored to be about Diana Ross. I take this rumor with a grain of salt, but it's a rumor that is heavily associated with this song. I also heard that it could be about his good friend Elizabeth Taylor, which just doesn't make any sense but that’s something I've also heard. The short film for this song features the biggest stars at the time and it is one of my favorites of his. My favorite part is definitely after the second chorus where he just hoots and hollers because I love to hoot and holler with him. Overall, this song is just perfect and top 3 for my favorite songs on this album. 5. “Just Good Friends” (feat. Stevie Wonder): 10/10 Everyone (my dad) thinks this is one of the weaker songs off this album and he is just loud and wrong. This song is so FUN. It is one of my favorite songs to listen to when I am having a bad day because Michael and Stevie Wonder are just so fun. I bust a move everytime I listen to this one and I think you will too if you listen. My favorite part of this song is the chorus because once again… the way Michael sings “Baby loves me though she never shows she cares” is so good. The song feels like a true collaboration. I love it because two legends are on one song. I wish this song got more recognition outside of the Michael fandom. Unfortunately…no lore on this one. The footage of them recording this song is my favorite though because they look like they are having so much fun and I have FOMO when I watch it because I would like to be in the room busting a move. 6. “Another Part of Me”: 10/10 Another 10/10. Deservedly so. This is another very fun one and heavily underrated. This is one of my favorites from when I was a kid and it has carried through as one of my favorites to adulthood. I love the vibe of this one and when it is performed on the “Bad” tour it is one of my top choices for live performances because he looks like he's having fun, the band looks like they are having a great time ,and the crowd is electric. I truly want to get up and dance when I listen to this one. Lore time: This one was featured in a short film written by George Lucas called “Captain EO.” The film was released in 1986 and it was shown at Disney theme parks from 1986 to 1998. The movie is so cute and it is definitely a comfort film for me even though it is short. Overall, such an amazing track and I hope it gets more recognition after people dive into Michaels discography after the biopic releases. 7. “Man in The Mirror”: 100/10 I'm still speechless at this song. It is incredibly beautiful and most of all so important. The message is incredibly strong and makes people self reflect, which I love. It is one of the songs that I listen to when I need motivation for anything, and it is a record that will always be relevant. “If you wanna make the world a better place take a look at yourself and then make a change” is a lyric that is so powerful and this song makes me cry all the time. The key change gives me goosebumps and it is my favorite part of the song. This is a song that the entire world needs to listen to on a daily basis especially in today’s climate and it is such a timeless and important song. ...continued, page 24 �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 Sports Sports 19 Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Assistant Sports Editor: jake.mills@wilkes.edu This past week in Wilkes sports: Feb. 11-15 By Andrew Marshallsay Managing Editor It’s been a memorable season thus far for the winter sports teams of Wilkes University. Soon enough, the winter season will come to an end, and for two groups of Colonels, the Landmark Conference (LC) season did come to a close. Elsewhere, one particular spring team began their season. Here are the latest scores from the past week in Wilkes sports. Feb. 11: MBB vs. Drew, 92-82 L WBB @ Drew, 61-55 L Feb. 12: MSWIM @ LC Championships, fifth place after Day One WSWIM @ LC Championships, seventh place after Day One Feb. 13: MSWIM @ LC Championships, fifth place after Day Two WSWIM @ LC Championships, seventh place after Day Two, one individual first place winner (Emma Miller) #15 WIH vs. King’s, 8-1 W, Nina Hudakova tied program record for singleseason goal-scoring WWREST @ Ithaca, no team score MWREST @ Ithaca, 29-10 L MIH @ King’s, 3-1 L, clinched MAC playoff berth Feb. 14: MSWIM @ LC Championships, sixth place after Day Three WSWIM @ LC Championships, seventh place after Day Three MWREST @ Messiah, seven Top-Eight individual finishers MVB vs. Kean, 3-1 L MVB vs. Hartwick, 3-2 L MBB @ E-Town, 81-74 W WBB @ E-Town, 73-39 L MIH @ Alvernia, 3-2 W #15 WIH @ Alvernia, 9-1 W, Hudakova broke the single season goal scoring record. (21 goals). MLAX @ Del. Valley, 8-4 W Feb. 15: MSWIM @ LC Championships, finished sixth place overall WSWIM @ LC Championships, finished seventh place overall This Week: Feb. 18: MLAX @ Marywood, 4 p.m. MBB @ Scranton, 6 p.m. MVB vs. Neumann, 7 p.m. WBB @ Scranton, 8 p.m. Feb. 20: MIH @ Misericordia, 4:50 p.m. #15 WIH @ Hood, 7 p.m. Feb. 21: WWREST @ NCAA Regionals, TBD WLAX vs. Pitt-Bradford, Noon MVB @ Bard and Mt. Aloysius, Noon and 2 p.m. BASE vs. Leb. Valley, Noon MBB vs. Goucher, 2 p.m. MLAX @ FDU Florham, 3:30 p.m. WBB vs. Goucher, 4 p.m. English Premier League check-in; race for title still open By Brendan Williams Sports Writer The 2025-26 Premier League season is well underway, and as it begins its final stretch, the race for the title is still very much open. Arsenal currently sit top of the table with 56 points. Manchester City are a close second with 50 points and Birmingham-based Aston Villa are in third place with 47. The race for Champions League qualification is also heating up with a rejuvenated Manchester United sitting in the last qualification spot in fourth place on 45 points. Chelsea, under new manager Liam Rosenior are lurking right behind them with 44 points in fifth. Liverpool and Brentford sit in sixth and seventh respectively on 39 points, both vying for a possible Champions League place. This January saw several changes to both squads and managers. Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was sacked on New Year’s Day, after a few disputes with the board of directors. Manchester United sacked Ruben Amorim, a manager who supporters of the club either trusted completely or loathed, following a turbulent two seasons at the helm of one of the most successful clubs in England. The main headliners of player transfers this window surrounded Manchester City of course who splashed the cash through the signings of Bournemouth starman Antoine Semenyo and Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi for $76 million and $24 million respectively-a combined $100 million. Bournemouth immediately followed the departure of their main creative outlet by signing 19 year old Brazilian wonderkid Rayan for $30 million from Brazilian side Vasco de Gama. They also secured the signing of midfielder Alex Toth from Ferencvaros for $13 million. Despite only being 20 years old, he has already represented his nation of Hungary 11 times on the international stage. Crystal Palace have not been so lucky unfortunately. After winning their first major trophy in the club’s history in the form of a 1-0 win against Manchester City in the FA Cup final last May, the club’s best run of form came at the end of October, where they were unbeaten in five matches. The club’s brightest star, Eberechi Eze departed to Arsenal over the summer window and that combined with a serious lack of creative talent or flashy players has stopped Palace from continuing their hot run of form at the end of last season. Palace boss Oliver Glasner has also publicly announced his desire to leave the club at the end of the season to pursue new challenges, no doubt stemming from the fact he received no support from the board with essential signings for the new season. This January, Palace were surrounded by more drama after their star striker JeanPhilippe Mateta tried to force a move to Italian side AC Milan, but the deal fell apart after a failed physical. Palace brought in two big names this window, Brennan Johnson from Tottenham and Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolverhampton Wanderers. A club who had a more successful January was Aston Villa. They signed 19 year old Brazilian Alysson Edward from Gremio for $10 million, 17 year old talent Brian Madjo, a Luxembourg international, for $13 million from French club Metz, and 28 year old Tammy Abraham from Turkish side Besiktas for $22 million. Abraham returns to Villa for the first time in eight years having previously spent the 2018-19 season on loan from Chelsea and helped them secure promotion to the Premier League from the Championship via the playoffs. �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 Sports 20 Milano-Cortina Olympic games - Team USA check-in By Jake Mills Assistant Sports Editor The first week of Olympic games have concluded and Team USA has had their share of highs and lows so far throughout the Milano-Cortina Winter Games. From dominance in the preliminaries for ice hockey to a sweep of speed skating, the U.S. has made its mark so far. Team USA’s men’s hockey team went 3-0 in the preliminary round beating Latvia, Denmark and Germany. For the women’s team, they outscored opponents 20-1 in their four preliminary games, before beating host nation Italy 6-0 in the quarterfinal. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck leads in men’s goaltender stats with a 1.00 Goals Allowed Average and a .952 save percentage Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs leads in points with three goals and two assists through three games Let’s have a look into some of the medal results from this past week, the USA currently has five gold medals which is third so far behind Norway and Italy who have 12 and seven Here are the medal winners so far, as of Feb. 15: Alpine Skiing Breezy Johnson, Gold (Women’s Downhill) Ryan Siegle-Cochran, Silver (Men’s Super-G) Women’s Combined Team - Bronze Cross-Country Skiing Ben Ogden, Silver (Sprint Classic) Jessie Diggins, Bronze (Women’s 10km) Curling Mixed Doubles, Silver Figure Skating Team Event, Gold Ice Dance, Silver Freestyle Skiing Elizabeth Lemly, Gold (Women’s Moguls) Jaelin Kauf, Silver (Women’s Moguls) Jaelin Kauf, Silver (Women’s Dual Moguls) Alex Hall, Silver (Men’s Freeski Slopestyle) Elizabeth Lemley, Bronze (Women’s Dual Moguls) Luge Ashley Farquharson, Bronze (Women’s Singles) Snowboard Chloe Kim, Silver (Women’s Snowboard Halfpipe) Speed Skating Jordan Stolz, Gold (Men’s 500M) Jordan Stolz, Gold (Men’s 1000M) �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 Sports 21 Major league baseball: 2026 season preview By Vin Santoro Sports Writer The Major League Baseball (MLB) season is around the corner, but the off-season moved slower than expected, especially with big names like Kyle Tucker, Pete Alonso, and Kyle Schwarber. Fans anticipated these stars to fly off the free-agent board. With new faces ready to dominate, excitement is high, even amid talk of the Dodgers potentially three-peating. In the American League (AL) East, the Yankees largely stayed the same, leaving fans questioning the process of their team, while other teams made notable moves. The Blue Jays signed Dylan Cease to bolster their rotation, lost Bo Bichette, but added Kazuma Okamoto from Japan, keeping their offense strong. The Red Sox, who made significant moves to their team such as they strengthened their rotation with Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, and Ranger Suarez, while trading for Wilson Contreras at first base to provide help defensively. The Orioles are a young, talented team and surprised many by signing Pete Alonso, which should help them compete. The Yankees hope to replicate 2025’s success, with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon eventually returning to form a top rotation in the American League. The Rays, back in their own stadium, traded Josh Lowe but will rely on young talent this season. In the AL Central, the Detroit Tigers stand out, led by Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez, and Casey Mize. The Twins remain in rebuild mode, unlikely playoff contenders, while the Guardians’ unpredictability leaves fans questioning their competitiveness. The White Sox added Murata Murakami to strengthen their lineup, and the Royals, led by Bobby Witt Jr., could make noise; Witt has MVP potential if he continues his impact. In the AL West, this division is up for grabs as the Seattle Mariners have their elite arms led by Luis Castillo, the Astros have a solid lineup with Hunter Brown as their ace, the Rangers traded for Brandom Nimmo and Mackenzie Gore to round out their rotation. The Athletics locked up their young players for years to come including Jacob Wilson and Tyler Soderstrom. The Angels, led by Mike Trout will try and compete this A basket of Major League Baseballs (Arturo Pardavilla) year, but with minimal involvement in free agency, it will be tough to win games in the west. Turning to the National League, the Dodgers are the team to beat in the NL West, adding superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker and former Mets closer Edwin Diaz. The Padres have talent and one of baseball’s best bullpens but face a tough road against the Dodgers. The Diamondbacks acquired Nolan Arenado but lost Corbin Carroll to a broken hamate bone. The Giants added Rafael Devers last year and recently signed contact hitter Luis Arraez, improving an already solid offense. The Rockies, a young team, face a loaded division, making competitiveness challenging. The National League (NL) East experienced chaos, highlighted by Bo Bichette’s signing with the Mets for three years and $126 million, after the Phillies thought they had him. Despite losing Alonso to Baltimore and Diaz to the Dodgers, the Mets bolstered their team with Bichette, Freddy Peralta, and Luis Robert Jr. Juan Soto remains a star, though Francisco Lindor’s surgery is a concern. The Phillies lost Ranger Suarez to Boston but re-signed Schwarber, providing significant power after his 56-homer season. The Braves, when healthy, have a phenomenal lineup, though durability will dictate their success. The Nationals rely on young stars James Wood and CJ Abrams but remain in rebuild mode. The Marlins, led by Kyle Stowers and Sandy Alcantara, show promise but still have holes to fill. In the NL Central, offseason moves reshaped the division. The Cardinals shipped off Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, and Willson Contreras and are in full rebuild mode. The Pirates added Marcell Ozuna, Ryan O'Hearn in free agency, and also built a young pitching staff led by CY Young winner Paul Skenes, with strong potential. The Brewers traded Caleb World Series Trophy (Erik Drost) Durbin and Freddy Peralta but aim to return to the playoffs, relying on Jacob Misirowski in their pitching staff. The Cubs traded forEdward Cabrera and signed Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract, though losing Kyle Tucker weakened their offense. The Reds are considered underdogs with their minimal moves in free agency, but have intriguing pieces to their roster such as Elly De La Cruz, Hunter Greene on the pitching side, and they brought back a familiar face in Eugenio Suarez. Across MLB, several trends emerge. Teams are blending young talent with key veteran acquisitions, while historically dominant teams like the Dodgers remain favorites. The season promises excitement, home runs, and standout performances across all divisions. With strategic trades, free-agent signings, and emerging stars, 2026 looks poised to deliver one of the most entertaining MLB seasons in recent memory. Fans should watch closely as rotations settle, lineups develop, and young stars step into larger roles. �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 Sports 22 The Time Has Come: MAC hockey playoffs soon approach By Andrew Marshallsay Managing Editor �� Photos by Steve Finkernagel (right) and Vin Santoro (left). Design by Andrew Marshallsay �� ¡� �� ¢�£� �� £� �� The Beacon - February 18, 2026 Sports 23 ATHLETES OF THE WEEK Headshots courtesy of Wilkes Athletics. LOGAN MAHA Men’s Volleyball MALIYAH WARREN Women’s Basketball What’s been your impact on the team so far in your ﬁrst year? Talk about your performance on Feb. 7 An impact I believe I have brought to the team is bringing steady energy and competitiveness to every practice, helping push the team to work harder and stay focused. I felt like I was able to contribute on multiple fronts. .Overall, it was a complete team effort, and I think our ball movementreallyallowedeveryonetobe involved. Do you have any pre-game rituals? Blasting music in the locker room with the team. Nothing too speciﬁc, just hanging out with the guys, whether we’re in the gym before games or relaxing at the house before going over to the gym. Who is your role model? My father is my role model because of the man he is, and I work every day to live up to his example Any speciﬁc goals for the rest of the season going forward? As a team, we set a clear preseason goal to make the playoffs and make a real run.Personally,I’mfocusedonimproving every day and, over time, putting myself in a position to hopefully earnAll-American honors Do you have any pre-game rituals? Who is your role model? My role model is my grandfather. He motivates me every day to be better. Not just as a player, but as a person. His guidance and encouragement push me to work harder, stay focused, and always try to improve in everything I do. Goals for the rest of the season ? For the rest of the season, my main goal is to win at least three of our last four games and continue improving as a team. Personally, I’m focused on stepping up my game and earning a spot on an all-conference team. I want to keep contributing on both ends of the ﬂoor while helping my teammates succeed as well. �The Beacon - February 18, 2026 ...continued from page 18 8. “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”(feat. Siedah Garret): 100/10 Another song to break the scale…and it greatly deserves it. I love a Michael ballad so much and this one is probably my favorite. This song is incredibly nostalgic since it was my favorite song when I was little. It is so incredibly pretty and the vocals from both Michael and Siedah are amazing. The song has been recorded in French and Spanish which is featured on the Bad 25 album and I am obsessed with both, especially the Spanish version. Hearing him sing in Spanish warmed my Latina heart and he did so well. I also know a little French… thank you Michael. Now the lore to this song is kinda crazy… not really but we missed out on a great collaboration. This song was originally supposed to be a duet with the GOAT Whitney Houston but it was rejected because her label thought it would clash with the promotion of her second album release. I also saw it was proposed to Barbra Streisand but I am not 100% sure on that part. I think Whitney would’ve KILLED this song but Siedah did amazing on this one. Also, on the single version of the song there is a spoken part in the beginning of it and it makes me laugh everytime because I have never heard him talk like that. He makes sensual remarks to a woman he is 24 laying next to. Due to length, I won’t put the full transcript in but the first time I heard it I laughed so loud…sorry Michael. In a 1987 interview with Ebony Jet, he explained he was in bed “with cover and everything” when he recorded that part of the song which makes so much sense. Overall, fire track and It will forever be my favorite. 9. “Dirty Diana”: 10/10 We went to a completely different vibe with this and it was perfect. The intro with the bass and the high hat really gets me going and the overall production is spectacular. I love listening to the stems on this one because each instrument really plays a huge role in this one. The guitar in this is one of my favorite guitar moments and the addition of the strings is absolutely amazing. Of course we have lore on this one so… this song has been rumored to be about Diana Ross (once again) and surprisingly Princess Diana which is wild to me. This song is not about either though…It is a story about groupies. This story is one of my favorites though, when Michael performed for Princess Diana and Prince Charles in 1988 at Wembley Stadium, they met before the performance and Lady Di asked if he was performing this song. He said he had taken the song out of the show out of respect for her but she was bummed because that was her favorite one… she had good taste like I knew she would. He also said they were really good friends and often talked on the phone till the late hours of the night and they bonded over their shared experiences of the media scrutiny.. Anyway, it is a very iconic song and I think it is one of his best. 10. “Smooth Criminal”: 7/10 Rating a 7 hurts my heart but it's not a favorite of mine. This is one of the most recognizable songs and much like “Bad”, since it is overplayed it is a factor of it not being my favorite. The song isn't bad at all. The production is insane and I love the bass line on this one. I really don’t have much thoughts on this one, but I do have lore… nothing crazy though. The line “Annie are you okay” came to Michael from a CPR training mannequin, the Resusi Anne. I am not CPR certified but apparently people who are being CPR trained are told to say “Anne are you okay?” while practicing on the doll. I'm not sure how true that part is but the inspiration of the lyrics is true. Another piece of lore is that the short film was not supposed to be what it is. He originally wanted it to be like a western theme but ultimately landed on what we see today. The club and the 60s type vibe. When you listen to the lyrics it is actually a dark song despite the high tempo dancey vibe of the song, but although it is an upbeat song, I get the eerie part from the bass line. Overall, it is a great song, just not a favorite. 11. “Leave Me Alone”: 10/10 Now…if you would've asked me what I would rate this song two weeks ago it wouldn’t be a 10. This song has been hitting so hard this week that I had to put it at 10. As an album closer, I would say…not my favorite choice but, I also don't know where else I would put this one. The production of this one isn't anything spectacular in my opinion so I don't have any comments on that aspect. There isn't any lore to this one that I know of but the message is about the media scrutiny that he faced with the short film containing images or props from rumors about him like sleeping in a hyperbaric tank and having the elephant man's bones in his house…crazy I KNOW. The short film also includes props from magazines with crazy tabloid headlines emphasizing the message and theme of the song…leave him alone…just leave him alone. We also get an appearance from his pet chimp Bubbles which I love. I am really glad this song has grown on me because I can love and appreciate it now. Overall, this album is literally the most perfect album, which earns its overall rating of a 10/10. Each song tells a different story whether it be fun, impactful or reflective of Michael's life. There is so much lore surrounding this album especially with the extra tracks we got on Bad 25, the 25th anniversary album. I wish I could've included the tracks here but this is already incredibly long. This album is definitely a Pop staple and has shaped pop music in so many ways. It showed innovation, style, displayed Michael's writing skills more and solidified Michael's title as the King of Pop. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource This is Wilkes University's Beacon Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the Beacon's predecessors, The Bucknell Bison Stampede, 1934-1935 and The Bucknell Beacon, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>. Missing Issues: 1947 August 8th 1947 September 5th 1947 October 3rd 1947 October 17th 1947 October 31st 1947 November 21st 1947 December 19th 1948 September 9th 1950 April 28th 1953 April 10th 1962 February 2nd Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon, 2026 February 18 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/5d204f5742d267d69c2f4df3e5ab71a4.pdf 2433360f45d234043df455a23cebb3e2 PDF Text Text The Beacon - February 11, 2026 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 78, Issue 14 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Wilkes clubs and organizations gather for Club Day 2.0 Various clubs and organizations came together on Feb. 3 to showcase all they have to offer for the campus and its students. For more pictures, see pages 12 and 13. Continued on pages 12-13... How are folks dealing with the frigid weather? page 3 Fork Around and Find Out: review of Margarita Azul page 8 1 Editorial: accessibility on the Wilkes campus page 14 Wilkes Athletics: spring sports previews pages 19-21 �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Student government notes: Feb. 4 By Alli Lussi Staff writer Student Government met on Feb. 4 to discuss fund requests for clubs and discuss club and member of the month. The meeting started with the Treasurer’s report at $51,764.21. Biology club is now club of the month and member of the month is Alton Smargiassi. The meeting then went into external business. First, was a fund request for money to purchase giveaways items for Late Night Lift. Late Night Lift is an event that is in collaboration with nursing and pharmacy students. The event is for a late night workout, but also has a health fair aspect to educate students on being healthy. The motion was passed and the money has been allocated to Late Night Lift. Another fund request was presented for Lambda Kappa Sigma’s convention that they will be attending in the summer. LKS is an organization that “elevates women in pharmacy” and strives for academic excellence. LKS has been a part of many fundraisers and also community service events, such as Student Government’s Big Event. The convention takes place in Wichita, Kansas. The organization gave the board a few possible options on how much money can be allocated, as well as letting the board know that they are open to different ideas on the amount of funds that can be allocated. A motion to allocate funds to LKS for the convention was passed. FBLA came in for week one of one to present a fund request for a conference the club will be attending. Wilkes FBLA is known for placing at these conferences, so FBLA stresses the importance of going to this event. FBLA is the only business club on campus. The board discussed possible allocations, and also raised a few questions about when the convention is happening and if the club can provide more details on parking and meals. The board will decide next week if funds will be given out to the club. The meeting was adjourned and Student Government will meet again on Feb. 11. Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Farley Library Adds New Libguides The Farley Library staff reminds faculty and students that Libguides are available from the Library Homepage that are very useful in guiding researchers to subject specific resources including databases, books/ eBooks and important websites on a variety of academic topics. The library's newest Libguide is the Community, Belonging and Engagement Academic Resource Guide that offers a wide range of scholarly resources. The Library is always open to new suggestions regarding additional Libguides that would enhance access to collections. Please contact the Library at ask.librarian@wilkes.edu for more information. *** Transcribe-A-Thon to be Held The annual Douglass Day Transcribe-AThon will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 13 in the library lobby. This is the seventh year Wilkes is particiapting, in Honor of Black History Month. No prior transcription experience necessary! Join us at any point during the session for as long as you'd like. Lunch is provided. *** Art in Context Screening to be Held Register to participate in the College of Business and Engineering (COBE) 2026 Business Ethics Case Competition. This event is a platform to practice business ethics reasoning, learn from a collaborative process, and build your professional resume. The competition is organized into two distinct tracks: one for undergraduate students and one for graduate students. The event takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. on March 24 in the SIMMS Building. Team Requirements: Groups must consist of three to four students. Awards Prizes will be presented for both the undergraduate and graduate tracks. Registration is free and must be complete by Feb. 15. Email the following information to kedir.tessema@wilkes.edu: Group Name Institution(s) Names of all Group Members Competition Track (Undergraduate or Graduate) *** Colonels Cupboard Extends Hours The Colonels Cupboard has extended its hours to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. *** From Wilkes to Washington Students in the Bonner Leader Program are collecting books for a service project during their spring break trip to Washington, DC. Donate new or gently-used books by dropping them in any of the boxes around campus before Feb. 20. Email alicia.burns@ wilkes.edu with questions. Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Upcoming Events: Spring 2026 February 28 - Spring break begins March 9- Classes resume April 2- Holiday recess begins 6- Classes resume 30- Final exams begin May 16- Spring commencement Have a safe and anjoyable semester! Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 News 3 Students sound off about snowy weather, favorite activities Record low temperatures have kept January snow from melting By Thaelis Andujar Assistant News Editor As winter settles in on Wilkes University’s campus, cold temperatures and frequent snowfalls have sparked strong reactions among students. From snow lovers eager to bundle up to others counting down the days until spring, opinions on the season vary widely. To get a sense of how the Wilkes community is feeling, The Beacon took to campus to ask two simple questions: Do you like the current winter weather, and what is your favorite winter activity? For some, the cold is a welcome change. “I love the cold. I love playing in the snow,” said Ty Jahnigen, a freshman football player and mechanical engineering major. “I’m from Virginia, so I came up here for the weather.” Mother Nature surely has not disappointed Jahnigen this season. A late-January snow storm dropped more than a foot of snow in Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding areas, moving Wilkes to an online schedule. While the month of February hasn't been as snowy, freezing cold temperatures -- sometimes following below zero -- have not allowed much of the January snow to melt. Others were far less enthusiastic the Jahnigen. “I hate it. That’s an easy answer,” said Colby Bennedict, who was visiting campus but is not currently a Wilkes student. Several students fell somewhere in the middle, expressing tolerance rather than excitement. “I can’t say I’m a massive fan,” said Michael Santini, a junior education major. Lucas MacKing, a junior engineering major, echoed a similar sentiment. “I mean, what are you gonna do about it? At this point I’m just used to it.” For some, getting used to it means waking up earlier to allow cars to warm Beacon file photo Wilkes University remains a snowy campus after a January storm dumped snow on the region. up and defrost. For others, it means “I love to go skiing with my friends,” a sophomore environmental science embracing the winter weather. For those said Hannah Zhao, a second-year major. Cole Larcinese, a sophomore spoken to, the cold, moreso than the pharmacy student. snow, seemed to be the issue. For others, winter is a time to slow psychology major, shared the same Multiple students were very direct down. “I like to sleep, watch movies, and activity, while Brett Townsend, a about their dislike for the cold. play Roblox,” said Yaira Perez, a first- sophomore finance major, said he enjoys “skiing with friends.” “Hate it!” said Cassandra Snyder, a year education major. Whether students love the cold, hate it third-year pharmacy student. Student-athletes often find ways to or have learned to live with it, winter is Kendyl Keefer, also a third-year stay active indoors. pharmacy major, agreed. “Personally, I play basketball, so I play clearly leaving its mark on campus. While spring may still feel far away, Cora James, a senior majoring in a lot while it's cold. Or we just find warm criminology and psychology, added, “I places to eat,” said Anya Richet, a first- the National Weather Service reports absolutely hate the cold.” year biology major and member of the that Wilkes-Barre will see a slight break in the frigid temperatures that hit last Despite mixed feelings about the women's basketball team. weather itself, winter still brings Snow sports were a popular choice week. Temperatures are expected to hold in the low-30s this week with a high of 38 opportunities for activities students among several students. “My favorite winter activity is degrees predicted for Saturday. enjoy–especially those involving snow snowboarding.” said Leon Schikowitz, or staying cozy indoors. �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 News 4 Kappa Kappa Psi seeks donations for Ruth's Place By Juliana Kresge Special to the Beacon For the month of February, Kappa Kappa Psi is hosting a supply drive to support Ruth’s Place Women’s Shelter through Volunteers of America Pennsylvania. Kappa Kappa Psi is a co-educational band honor society, and the Wilkes chapter is heavily involved in local community service. “Kappa Kappa Psi is built on service, and this drive is one way we can extend that mission beyond music and into our community,” said Beck Urie, Kappa Kappa Psi’s vice president of service noted. Serving Luzerne County, Ruth’s Place provides social support for women experiencing homelessness and/or domestic violence. According to the Volunteers of America Pennsylvania website, the shelter offers “a safe home, social relationships…and connections to jobs and opportunities to build life skills.” A wide variety of supplies are needed. “Even small donations can make a big difference," Urie said. “Items like soap, shampoo, and household supplies are things many of us don’t think twice about, but they are incredibly valuable to organizations like Ruth’s Place.” Donations can be dropped off at the boxes inside the SUB and outside the POD (in Stark Learning Center). Donations can also be sent to the VOA PA center at 25 N. River St., Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18702. Supplies can be purchased directly through Give Hope Street Outreach Wish List Amazon Registry. Requested supplies include gift cards, perishable and nonperishable food items, coffee products, bottled water, cleaning supplies, personal care products, sleepwear, socks, undergarments, towels, washcloths, N95 face masks, over-the-counter medications, storage containers, trash bags, journals, planners and pens. "Ruth’s Place, established in 2003, provides 24-hour lodging and services to women experiencing homelessness in the area," the VOA website states. "(It) not only offers emergency shelter, but an environment where women are supported and encouraged. "The program provides safe, temporary, and short-term emergency shelter for women experiencing homelessness; coordinates with other service providers and volunteers to provide services that address the basic physical, financial, health, and spiritual needs... and assists women to form and follow a permanent housing plan to quickly achieve stable, long-term housing." Pan-African flag raising ceremony held on campus By Brooke Lare Staff writer “You do have a voice. You are heard,” said Dr. David Ward, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs during the Pan-African flag raising event on Feb. 3. Faculty, alumni and students gathered in the E.S. Farley Library to share testimonies, encourage dialogue and celebrate African culture. Rashida Lovely, the assistant director for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Pan-African Coalition, was a key speaker at the event where she, along with several others, took stand to share testimony. “It was never meant to be polite or comfortable,” Lovely states in reference to the flag, “It represents refusal to be fragmented.” Moe Woodard, assistant professor of game and emergent technology (integrative media) and adviser, closed out the speeches with immense gratitude. “I feel my ancestors,” she said. “Rest is like a weapon, they don’t want us to be rested. Not ready to fight.” As she encourages peers to celebrate their Blackness everyday, not just one day or in the shortest month of the year. Photo courtesy of Wilkes University �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 News 5 RHC and RAs hold "The Final Game Watch Party" Leah Smith Editor-In-Chief To celebrate the biggest game in all of football, the Wilkes Residence Hall Council and resident assistats hosted “The Final Game Watch Party” in the JPAC. Before Super Bowl LX began, attendees entered through the decorated doors with blue streamers. Then, they had a chance to enter a Super Bowl prediction door prize. If they guessed the winning team correctly, they had a chance to win a gift card. Abigail Malin was the winner of the raffle door prize. You can’t have a Super Bowl party without comfort food refreshments. The event offered pizza and wings from Franco’s, Tostito’s Scoops chips with sauces and homemade Banana Chocolate chip cookies by RA Mercedez Farr. Students came to the event for different reasons. Some watched as fans of the sport, and others were there simply for the entertainment value. The latter applies to Farr, who is also a sophomore pharmacy major. “I’m not really rooting for anybody. I’m just really here for the ads and halftime show” Farr stated. Farr wasn’t familiar with halftime show performer Bad Bunny’s music catalogue, but she was excited to see him perform due to the fact that he is the first Latin male artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. Michael Santini, a junior secondary education and history major was also not rooting for anyone simply due to team/city loyalty. “When you grow up in New York, you’re either a Jets or Giants fan, otherwise you’re excommunicated by the NY sports fans” Santini said. Other students were in for the competitive spirit such as Adrianna Aziz, a P2 Pharmacy major, who rooted for the New England Patriots. “I have a bet I’m trying to win. I need them to win this,” Aziz said. Of course, there was also support for the Seattle Seahawks at the event including from Gabe Sawayrnski, another P2 Pharmacy major. “I just don’t want the Patriots to win, not a fan of them. Otherwise, I’m just here for the vibes,” Sawarynski stated. The event was a good time filled with dramatic reactions to big moments during the action of the game as well as enthusiasm and cheering during Bad Bunny’s halftime show performance. At the end of the game, the Seattle Seahawks took the victory ending the game with 29-13. We’re Looking For NEWS WRITERS! BUILD YOUR RESUME WITH WRITING EXPERIENCE CONTACT: leah.smith1@wilkes.edu OR andrew.marshallsay@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 News 6 Grant allows for studying forest management and birds By Brooke Lare Staff writer �� Photo courtesy of Wilkes University �� The Beacon - February 11, 2026 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor: Kailey.Vogel@wilkes.edu The Mental Health Beacon: Resolution revolution By Gina Harrison Assistant Professor Passan School of Nursing Jan. 1 has come and gone. We’re now deep into the winter months, far removed from the excitement of the New Year and the optimism it often brings. New Year’s resolutions are a longstanding cultural tradition. They are a symbolic fresh start meant to help us become our best selves. These resolutions often focus on change, with common goals including improving fitness, losing weight, studying more effectively, getting organized or saving money. Yet as the weeks pass, the motivation behind these resolutions tends to fade. Many people struggle to maintain momentum, and some can’t even recall their original resolutions by the end of the year. Despite how common the practice is, there is surprisingly limited scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of traditional New Year’s resolutions. One reason resolutions fall short is that they are frequently vague or focused only on the outcome. Statements like “I will get an A in sociology” or “I will lose weight” sound motivating, but they don’t provide a clear plan of action. Without structure, even the most well-intentioned goals can feel overwhelming or unattainable. Inadequate goal setting doesn’t just lead to abandoned resolutions, it can also create unnecessary stress, frustration, and pressure. When goals feel too big or unrealistic, giving up can seem easier than pushing forward. There is a well-established framework for setting effective goals, known as Goal Setting Theory, developed by psychologists Edwin Locke and Gary Latham in the 1990s. According to their research, effective goals should be: • Specific • Challenging but attainable • Aligned with persistence and effort • Supported by existing or learnable strategies The theory also emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between performance goals (focused on outcomes) and learning goals (focused on skill development and growth). For example: Instead of “I will get an A in sociology,” try “I will dedicate two hours each week to studying sociology.” Instead of “I will lose weight,” consider “I will increase my physical activity to 20 minutes, four times per week.” Research suggests that goals are most effective when they are meaningful, manageable, and focused on the process, not just the result. As the saying goes, it’s about the journey, not the destination. Today, there is no shortage of goalsetting tools. Acronyms like SMART goals have been around for decades, while newer digital tools, from fitness trackers and health apps to gamified platforms (feed the raccoon) offer fresh ways to stay engaged. While these tools can be helpful, they are only effective if paired with intentional, realistic goal setting. Everyone has an opinion on how to set goals, but one factor consistently matters most: belief in yourself. Confidence and self-trust play a critical role in follow-through. Being your own biggest supporter can make the difference between giving up and continuing forward. If you’ve forgotten your resolutions or lost some of that New Year’s excitement, don’t worry. You haven’t failed, you’re simply human. Revisit your goals, refine them and focus on small, actionable steps. Most importantly, remember this: You don’t need a new year, a Monday or a new semester to make meaningful changes. Growth can begin at any time. �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Fork Around and Find Out: Margarita Azul By Alli Lussi News Assistant Editor & Nicole Steinberg Staff writers This week for Fork Around and Find Out, we went to a popular Mexican restaurant, Margarita Azul, located on Parrish Street in Wilkes-Barre. Upon arrival, we realized that there was very little parking, as there is only street parking for this restaurant. Finding a parking spot led to a short adventure in the snow as the snowbanks were very large lining the streets. The outside of the restaurant was very nice despite this. There are huge letters that spell out “Margarita Azul” lining the fence on the property. I took a peek behind the fence and noticed they have a huge outdoor seating area and patio, where people can sit and enjoy their food outside when the weather is nice. The restaurant itself is very modern, but has a home-like feel. The bar area (which is where we sat) was beautiful, and I quickly noticed how clean this place was. The bar had multiple TVs on the walls among its artwork. We ordered Mexican Coke and Sprite for our drinks, which came out in glass bottles. Nicole has never had Mexican Sprite, and shequickly realized it is very good. We ordered spicy chicken flautas for our appetizer, which are tortillas stuffed with chicken, then rolled up and fried. Ours were served with a creamy sauce on top and a green sauce that had a citrusy, earthy flavor. The flautas were very good, as they had a really good crunch to them. They also had a nice kick, but weren’t too spicy. Our entrees came out quickly after the appetizer, and I noticed that the portions were huge. I got tacos with birria. I was a little confused when the waitress brought my entree out, because I am used to birria tacos that are fried on a pan or grill with the broth from the meat on the side to dip the tacos in. These tacos were just the standard taco with birria meat inside. Even though they didn’t look like I expected them to, the flavor of the meat was unbelievably good. The meat was a little dry, but flavor wise, it was amazing. Nicole got a chicken pineapple quesadilla and an order of french fries. The quesadilla was really good Spicy chicken flautas and Nicole said she loved the idea of pineapple with the chicken. The quesadilla was served with another green dipping sauce, along with sour cream. Nicole was very happy with her choice of entree. Overall, this place really killed it with our review, the restaurant was super Photo/Alli Lussi clean, the service was outstanding, and the food was excellent. We also thought the restaurant was in a really good area, as it is only about five minutes away from campus. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone on campus. Multicultural Student Coalition presents: “The Golden Affair” By Kaydia Wright LA&E Assistant Editor Love is in the air on campus and will soon be on the dancefloor as well. From 6 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 13, the Multicultural Student Coalition (MSC) will host a Valentine’s Soiree. This year’s theme is “The Golden Affair” and is inspired by the novel “The Great Gatsby.” “The theme was inspired by the elegance and glamour of the era and developed during one of our board meetings,” said MSC president and event coordinator Charlene Dixon. “Our goal [for the dance] was to create a romantic and sophisticated atmosphere while giving students the opportunity to dress up and enjoy a unique, immersive experience that blends vintage style with modern campus culture.” Even though it’s a Valentine’s dance, the MSC didn’t want to put love into one category. “We wanted to create an environment where students could celebrate all forms of love, not just romantic love, but also the platonic love found in friendships and campus connections, so that everyone feels included regardless of relationship status,” Dixon said. Students should expect to see “1920s-inspired décor, themed photo props, a live DJ, an Olive Garden– catered pasta bar, a sparkling cider tower and a chocolate fountain and desserts from Lady G’s Creations in Scranton.” Anyone can attend as long as they scan the suitable code to enter. For more questions and information on the event, email Charlene Dixon at charlene.dixon@wilkes.edu. �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 9 Life, Arts & Entertainment Created by Nikki Steinberg See Page 11 for solution �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 �� By Juliana Kresge Staff writer Immigration is currently a hot-button national issue, but many Americans know very little about the immigrants in their own communities. Recently, Wilkes’ Sordoni Art Gallery hosted a screening of the WVIA film “Making NEPA Home.” WVIA is the PBS and NPR affiliate for Northeastern Pennsylvania. “Making NEPA Home” covers the experiences of immigrants and refugees in the region. The hour-long documentary premiered on Oct. 16 on the PBS station WVIA-TV. WVIA News notes that “Making NEPA Home” is part of the station’s We Stand Against Hate programming, which “shines a light on stories of resilience, unity and cultural diversity.” The We Stand Against Hate initiative began with the special program “Holocaust Warnings: American Antisemitism and Extremism” that first aired in July 2023. Filmmaker Kara Washington directed and produced “Making NEPA Home.” Washington serves as WVIA’s promotions coordinator. “Making NEPA Home” focuses on four refugees in particular: Taras and Kateryna from Ukraine, Mwefu from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Josué from the Dominican Republic. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Taras and Kateryna and their children left their Kyiv home. After the Congolese civil war, Mwefu spent two decades in African refugee camps. Josué made a dangerous journey across land and sea to escape police corruption. Each interviewee discussed the hardships of learning English and leaving their families behind. All said that they felt safe living in the United States. The documentary also featured local aid organizations. When the Trump administration cut federal funding to nonprofits nationwide, the groups suffered heavy financial losses. Volunteers explained why their work is so important. They teach English classes, provide free legal assistance, and generally help immigrants enter American society. “Making NEPA Home” refutes the myth that immigrants are lazy or criminal. Taras and Kateryna, Mwefu, and Josué all shared their hopes for the future. They expressed both a longing for their country of origin and a desire to build a new life in America. The film ends on an optimistic note with Scranton’s June 2025 celebration of World Refugee Day. After the screening, Kara Washington hosted a Q & A session. “We began filming in January 2025. A lot has changed since then,” Washington said, noting the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown. “One woman we interviewed ultimately decided not to appear in the documentary because she was worried about her immigration status being jeopardized.” kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu Washington’s own experiences as an immigrant informed the project. “I came here by choice, not out of desperation. But I understand the experience of leaving your homeland.” She mentioned a fun privilege of living in America. “In the Bahamas, we import almost everything. There are no big-box stores. When my mom visits me here, she brings a second suitcase to go shopping at TJ Maxx. She has a collection of American nutcrackers.” Washington concluded with some thoughts on the Bahamas. “I miss the Bahamas and would like to return someday. But for now, I am staying here. The people are so kind because they are descended from immigrants themselves. NEPA is my home.” “Making NEPA Home” is currently available under WVIA Original Documentary Films at wvia.org. It is also on WVIA’s Youtube page. �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 Each E Ea ch we w week, ek, k th k, tthe e Wi W Wilkes ilk il lke kes Beacon staff f pic ff picks i ks ic k out ttheir th eir i fa ir ffavorite v rrite song of vo tthe th e we w ek. k Check out k. week. tthis th i we is w week’s ek’s ’ bop ’s bops! o s! op Leah Smith: Afraid of the DarkMotionless in White Kailey Vogel: Feels Like the First Time- Foreigner Mollie Kuhar: Rocket Man- Elton John Nikki Steinberg: Lover, You Should’ve Come Over- Jeff Buckley Andrew Marshallsay: One More Time- Daft Punk Jake Mills: Biggest Part of MeAmbrosia Vin Santoro: In on It- Superheaven Thaelis Andujar: Mami- Rommulas Shawn Carey: Grey Guitar- Joyce Manor Natalia Williams: Who Knew- Eminem Topher DellaBella: Call Back- Don Toliver Freeze: Renegade- MAHIRO The Honors Program Student Committee is holding a Soda Tab Collection Drive. Please collect soda tabs and drop them off in the collection box at the Honors Office. All donations will be given to the Ronald McDonald House. �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 1 C B U L Y A D SPRING 2026 1: Student clubs and organizations designed tables with information and giveaways at Club Day 2.0. 2: The Nursing Student Organization took a moment from talking with students to pose for a picture. From left, are Anthony Vissotski, Moragn Hermanofski, Erin Somerville and Lauren Whitman. 3: Kappa Kappa Psi members spoke with students about the community work. 4: Dana Messner interviews students attending Club Day 2.0. 5: Wilkes’ Space Club was represented Dylan Kiwak, Sean Papke and Alexa Helstowski 6: From left, Mark Albrecht and John Koch (Back Mountain Trail) chat with Jack Thompson. 7: Members of Wilkes Now had no qualms about smiling for a photo. 8: Education Club members Samanth Bonilla, Taylor Sparks, Diana Lopez Garcia, Madeline Pardue and Erin Danko represented their 2 12 �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 4 3 6 5 7 8 13 �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 Opinion Editorial Staff 2025-26 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Leah Smith Managing Editor - Andrew Marshallsay Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS LA&E - Kailey Vogel Opinion - Shawn Carey SECTION ASSISTANTEDITORS News - Thaelis Andujar & Alli Lussi LA&E - Kaydia Wright Sports - Jake Mills DESIGNERS Photographer - Shannon Slominski STAFF WRITERS Nikki Steinberg Topher DellaBella Natalia Williams Brooke Lare Vin Santoro 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: shawn.carey1@wilkes.edu Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Accessibility on campus tough at times Wilkes University has many measures set in place to ensure that students with disabilities can have equal access and opportunities to various campus amenities. Yet, it is important to note that on occasion accessibility on campus is not up to par. To start, credit needs to be given to the efforts that are made by university. Students and residents are very fortunate to have access to education and housing in many historic buildings dating back to the midnineteenth century. Since there are so many unique buildings with rich history throughout the city of Wilkes-Barre, they are protected under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. For many of these mansions, such as Kirby Hall, elevators can not be installed into the old building, thus many students must resort to the stairs. The same can be said for older mansion style housing options on campus such as Roth, Waller, Catlin and Weiss. Residence Life and Registrar have been very understanding in moving classes and residents to more accessible spaces such as when they change the location of an English class to Breiseth or when a student is moved to Evans, both of which have elevators. Even the Office of Academic Success provides accommodations guaranteed to students through the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Some of these accommodations include note taking services, extra time on tests and various tutoring services to ensure that all students have equal advantage at their education no matter what. Lastly the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts received its renovations over the summer of 2025 to ensure that the building could be equipped for all audiences with its installation of an elevator. The lobby has even received new light fixtures and speakers to accommodate individuals who may be easily overstimulated during lectures or shows. The campus has so many great modes of accommodation present for students, but there are times when the accessibility is not handled appropriately nor as efficiently as it should be. A few examples that many familiar with campus may have seen on their average school day may include: when door buttons fail to open the doors, when elevators are out of service in the parking garage and when the main elevator of the SUB only functions for the second and first floor on weekends. This last one is especially concerning considering the dining hall with food access is located on the third floor, which causes issues for students and faculty members who have difficulty ascending the staircase to access this basic necessity. Last year, students may remember the prolonged period that the elevator for the Cohen Science Center was down. This may seem like an inconvenience for students who do not want to walk to the fourth floor. However, it poses a severe issue for members of the campus community who are unable to climb the stairs, whether it be a student in a wheelchair, a faculty member with a cane, an athlete on crutches or even a student with visual impairment. Especially in these times of winter, snow and ice are major concerns for all students. The sidewalks near Michillini Hall and the area next to Evans Hall were particularly dangerous for students. The consistent extreme single digit temperatures did not help these conditions by any means. However, it took many days to shovel out pathways from residence halls and the sidewalks nearing the Greenway. For all students alike, a slip on ice could be very serious resulting in a multitude of possible injuries. Signage and other forms of caution are important in times like these to ensure that students are aware of the dangers and can be pushed towards safer, alternative routes. Though Wilkes can not control the weather, they can significantly help through means of communication and efforts at clearing areas quickly and with careful attention. Disabilities come in all shapes and sizes and can easily be overlooked even unintentionally. That is why it is important to push for stronger accommodations on campus to ensure that all students are seen and feel safe and equal. Letter to the editor policy: The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor from differing viewpoints. Letters must contain contact information, including name, city, state and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published but may be used for verification purposes. All letters to the editor must be sent using one of the following methods: Email: leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Phone: (570) 408-5903 (Voicemail: 30 seconds or less, please.) Mail: 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766 Attn: The Beacon �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 Opinion 15 Concerns over the fate of journalism By Leah Smith Editor-in-Chief The purpose of journalism is to inform people what is happening in the world. In the case of The Beacon, of course, this pertains to things happening on campus and around Northeastern Pennsylvania. However, I can’t sit by my desk, writing and editing articles and stay silent anymore. What is happening to journalism not only in this country but around the world terrifies me. I’m deeply disappointed in this political administration for a number of reasons. Specifically, I’m deeply disappointed by the fact that this administration has made it their mission to attack journalists and news media. This country prides itself in its freedoms. Freedom of speech and press being amendments in which every American, regardless of political loyalty, applies to their lives everyday. It shouldn’t matter whether or not you ally yourself with left-wing or right-wing politics, news media and journalists should not be attacked for doing their jobs. They are public servants and giving people the information that they need to see. There have been various events that motivated me to write this article. One of the most recent and popular examples are the arrests of Don Lemon, Georgia Fort and other journalists who were arrested for their coverage of an antiICE protest at a church in Minnesota back in January. Although Lemon, Fort and the other journalists have been released, it’s still disheartening to see that even though Lemon and others were only in attendance of the protest to do their journalistic duties, the DOJ hit them with charges including violating the FACE Act. According to the DOJ, the FACE Act prohibits those in peaceful protest to threaten, obstruct or injure someone who is trying to access reproductive health services or exercise their right of religious freedom at a place of worship. As seen in the coverage of the anti-ICE protest at Cities Church in Minnesota, Lemon, Fort and the other journalists involved have made it explicitly clear that they were not participants of the protest, but simply there to cover the events as objective journalists. However, that didn’t stop federal agents from arresting them. This is troubling to learn about because not only were Lemon and the other journalists arrested for doing their job, but as we’ve seen over and over again, the administration is attacking and attempting to silence journalists and news media for informing the public on information that has to do with the current administration and their actions. I think it is quite telling how the administration is choosing to deliberately attack and censor journalists and news media for doing their job as informative watchdogs for the public. Meanwhile, they’ll spin their own story, either on the news or on social media, that contradicts the objective truth. I would argue this includes what the administration has said about the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota. Not only are we seeing this attack on journalism in person but it’s also happening on social media. With the recent purchase deal of TikTok by major U.S. investors such as Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX, there have been issues regarding censorship on the app including the account ban of awardwinning Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda. According to Al Jazeera news network, Owda’s account was banned due to her coverage of the genocide happening in Palestine. Owda would report from Gaza and inform her 1.4 million followers of the events happening in the war-torn territory. Although her account was only banned for a day, Owda believes that TikTok only gave her access to her account back due to the public outcry and international media attention. Despite Owda regaining access to her account, her videos are listed as “ineligible for recommendation.” This comes as a disappointment but no surprise considering that Oracle, one of the biggest U.S. investors that bought TikTok, is heavily in support of Israel with Shmulik Hauser, the head of Oracle’s sales division stating that it doesn’t matter to them if they lose customers for their support for Israel. Not only are they vocally pro-Israel, but according to the ICE Acquisition Manual, their software products are also used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE. Another instance that comes to mind is when CBS pulled the 60 Minutes segment, “Inside CECOT” back in December. This segment focused on personal accounts of Venezuelan migrants that were deported to an El Salvador prison called the Terrorism Confinement Center also known as CECOT. The footage was put online after the segment was featured on a news network app in Canada. These examples and more are the reasons why I’m terrified for the future of journalism and news media as both a journalist and as an American citizen. However, those fears will not stop me from doing my job on informing you all about what happens here on campus and beyond. If you’re reading this and you’re angry with what’s happening in this country and around the world, do not let fear run you over and prevent you from speaking up. Now, more than ever, do we need to come together and let our voices be heard. Whether you’re a journalist, a content creator, an artist, or simply a person doing what they can to get by, you have the right to speak up against the fascism spreading wild in this country. Go out there and help others, go out there and tell the world how you feel, go out there and participate in demonstrations, protests and community aid because tyranny only wins if everyone under their rule conforms to them and stops expressing themselves. What concerns you most about the future of journalism? Share your thoughts. Email: Leah. Smith@ wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 Opinion The Icebox presents: Welcome to the gauntlet By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer Greetings, challengers. It seems we are all living in the Icebox recently. Stay warm, but not too warm! How do you choose a fighting game main? Pick a character you vibe with. Someone that you can relate to or simply like for their design. It really is that simple. Some games have a fairly large selection, so going for your style is a great way to narrow things down. It’s also not the end of the world to be committed to a character. There is no shame in maintaining multiple characters or deciding to drop a character entirely for another one. Don’t forget that you play to have fun! I’ve decided to properly discuss my favorite character from each fighting game that I regularly play. This is how I choose to develop my “gauntlet”. First, “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate”...I’m sure many of you already know the answer here. It is none other than Solid Snake, the first third-party character to be introduced in the Smash franchise and arguably the trailblazer for its direction moving forward. While that is most certainly a great reason alone to love Snake, I main him because I have always thought he was ver y cool. In Smash, Snake is rather unconventional in design compared to his game of origin, “Metal Gear Solid.” Masahiro Sakurai designed his version of Snake as an ode to both Solid Snake and his predecessor, Big Boss. As a result, the Snake we see in Smash is actually a hybrid, donning the outfit of Solid while sporting facial hair like Big Boss. Furthermore, the soundtrack and references are sporadic to the franchise’s games, though more attention is paid to “Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater.” Beyond his brilliant design, his moveset is all stage control, technicality, oppressiveness and explosions. That’s exactly my flavor. Cardboard box included. The first character in my fighting game gauntlet is most certainly Snake, but from Smash alone you may notice I have two secondar y characters: Mr. Game & Watch and Wario. The former is a cute little guy who reminds me of my days as a comic writer. It just so happens that he is now one of the top-tier characters. Wario, on the other hand, is a ruthless fellow. I enjoy that his goals are always straightforward and material, offering a lucrative shadow to the beloved Mario. Wario is just right by my standards. The next series is my current favorite fighting game, which I discussed in last week’s issue of the Icebox . “Tekken” features the Mishima family and its long-running, sinister front, Kazuya Mishima. I’m not going to sugarcoat it; he’s a badass. Kazuya resembles a high-class, intimidating Yakuza member. He takes what he wants by force and barely loses control of something once it’s in his grasp. Kazuya’s “Devil Gene” enables him to become even more terrifying, though he doesn’t even need its power to prove his point. As a matter of fact, he is willing to throw hands with anyone, including his own family members, a giant panda and the entire United States militar y, without batting an eye towards the demonic power within him. The devil laying dormant in Kazuya gives him one glowing red eye, which has become a signature of his and yet another reason why I think he is so cool. Most of the dialogue from Kazuya involves him creatively belittling his opponents or completely dismissing threats as if they are just ever yday, bothersome events like waking up before your alarm rings. If that’s not convincing enough, Kazuya’s theme and moveset are as iconic as “Hadouken” from “Street Fighter.” The female cast in “Street Fighter” is impressive, just as the previously mentioned games. Specifically, Jurihan had caught my attention. To be honest, I think she just reflects my liking for characters who just do whatever they want and may be slightly insane. Her moveset is ver y focused on close combat and using dynamic brute force with the legs. For female characters in Street Fighter, it’s all in the legs. If you like female characters, you should play “Skullgirls”. In this game, I enjoy Ms. Valentine, who is a deadly nurse. I think I relate to her because of my own career field, but also because she has an equally nurturing and dangerous aura about her. Aside from Juri-han in Street Fighter, my most consistent main character is definitely Akuma. Did you know that he appeared in Tekken 7? He was even relevant to the plot of the game. It’s a fair decision by Bandai Namco and Capcom, considering Akuma is the evil, mirror version to Ryu, though they share ver y similar goals. Akuma’s moveset is similar to Ryu, but his appeal is about the villain’s energy that some may prefer more. This is not far from the mirror representation by my favorite fictional character of all time, Venom. I always tr y to find a way to mention my symbiote idol. In another game by Capcom, “Marvel vs. Capcom 2,” the iconic pair of Eddie Brock and Venom is a playable character, which is just about the best decision the developers could have made. Venom, as you may know, is essentially an Akuma to Spider-Man. That’s not the entire reason I think of Venom so highly, but nonetheless I am always grateful he is in the game. On the topic of darkness and shadows, the next game to talk about is “Mortal Kombat.” This game isn’t really a traditional fighting game, but 16 the character designs are consistently amazing. In the latest installment, I believe Sub-Zero was portrayed in an interesting way. I am still conflicted about it to this day, but I have to admit it’s rather amusing that he’s a complete jerk . Bi-han as Sub-Zero has always been evil in past games, turning into the chaos-ridden Noob Saibot. The same happens in this game, except there is nobody to take the title of Sub-Zero after him. Due to this change in the stor yline, I have to accept that I like both Sub-Zero and Noob Saibot equally, whereas before I was only interested in the former. I guess this only makes sense, considering I am “Freeze” and my gauntlet is mostly made of shadowy characters and objectively rude people. Sub-Zero is apparently not considered a ninja, but you know who is? Chipp Zanuff from “Guilty Gear” who is filled with bright, encouraging energy. I enjoy his fluid playstyle, even if his health depletes too quickly. I tend to gravitate towards shinobitype characters in video games, so Chipp was a great pick . However, I once again find myself tethering to Venom-like beings, which in this game is Zato-1. Zato1 is a human with a symbiote-like creature that’s named Eddie...sound familiar? Anyway, his playstyle is actually technical and oppressive, which brings me full-circle to Solid Snake. That’s about all the characters you should expect to see from me if you attempt “Freeze’s Fighting Game Gauntlet”. When I look back at my favorites, I realize I definitely have a type. I could write a fan-fiction stor y about all of these characters and it would make total sense. This revelation is as cool as the weather. That’s why this is the Icebox . �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 Opinion 17 Consuming content in an internet-focused world By Shawn Carey Opinion Editor The internet has fundamentally changed the way we consume and enjoy content. Whenever this topic is brought up most people refer to the rise of streaming platforms, such as Netflix and HBO MAX. We all have had the invention of social platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook. What I find most interesting however, is the rise of user created content and the platforms that allow us to share said content. Originally, it was only art and videos that were widely shared, mainly on websites such as YouTube and DeviantArt. Much of the content shared was based around fandom culture such as video games, animation, comic books and so on. There was a sweet sense of community surrounding the entire thing, you were able to be as nerdy as you wanted. We had people making video game guide videos, posting fan art and creating short flash cartoons. As the years went by, the people creating content started to get somewhat of a following. Hundreds of thousands of people started to idealize these individuals, causing them to become a new type of fans. They became internet celebrities. A lot of these personalities also started to profit from their works. Sites like YouTube started to run advertisements, which gave creators the opportunity to earn some revenue via midroll ads. Not to mention, the amount of merch a handful of creators started to produce. The internet sphere got larger and larger, causing the niche online content many have grown accustomed to becoming much more popular. A once fun hobby and means of self expression started to become more and more like a business, essentially a full time job. The mid 2010s saw a rise of a new type of content, live streaming. As the name suggests, live streaming is the act of broadcasting video and audio content over the internet in real-time or near real-time, allowing viewers to watch and interact with the content as it is being captured. Twitch was the first major website to give users the ability to live stream. Most of the streams on the site were of users playing video games while making small talk with the viewers. The main appeal of streaming, or at least what I imagine the main appeal being, is the creator’s personality. Streaming allows for users to have close and friendly conversations with a creator, which creates the illusion of a relationship. Parasocial relationships are onesided, psychological bonds where a person invests emotional energy, time and interest into a media figure, let that be an actor, musician, artist and in this case, online creator. As the 2010s went on, live streaming got more and more popular. It was a fairly gradual transition, that would be until 2020 when a little something called the pandemic started. Everyone was stuck inside, unable to go out and see their friends. A sense of shared loneliness overcame the population, especially among young people. I think you can tell where this is going. Everyone was online trying their best not to die of boredom, doing everything in their power to stay entertained. This is where streamers came to the rescue. Streaming filled the need for social interaction that we were missing. It allowed viewers to feel closer to creators through direct, unscripted and real-time interaction. Furthermore, the medium started to evolve past gaming. Live streaming expanded to include music, news, cooking, shopping and more. Now, streaming is bigger than ever. Everyday we have individuals going live, earning the viewership of thousands of people. The idea of making a living online moved way beyond earning a few bucks. People weren’t just making a living, they were making a lucrative amount of money. I’m talking enough to buy sports cars, mansions, one of a kind pieces of art and so much more. They were no longer internet celebrities, they were full on famous. As is the case with most celebrities, drama started to boil. Arguments arose over the nature of content, personal politics, friendships, loyalties, controversial opinions and pretty much everything else under the sun. This tends to lead to the usual callouts, flexing and comments. I know there was a lot of history there, but I think the context is important. Each and every time I open social media I can’t help but see countless posts talking about the newest piece of streamer drama. It’s always “he said this about him” and “she got caught streaming with him.” It is infuriating. I understand that I’m going to sound like an angry old boomer here, but I don’t understand it. Streaming seems like nothing more than a cesspit of egos and vanity. It’s a headache with no end. I mentioned earlier that I know a lot of people watch it for that sense of conformity and real-time interaction. That being said, I don’t understand how anyone can spend longer than a few minutes watching these objectively unlikable people. Speaking of which, sites such as Kick give horrible, terrible people a platform to spread their hateful ideals. As dramatic as that sounds, it’s one of the things the website prides itself on. Unlike Twitch and YouTube, there are very few rules on what a creator can say. You can be as hateful, racist, bigoted, as you want. A good chunk of the major streamers on the platform are actually ex-Twitch creators who got banned for breaking the terms of service. I’m well aware that not every streamer is like this. Honestly, I found myself watching the occasional stream myself. That being said, I think it says a lot that it’s so popular among younger viewers, especially compared to something like television. It’s full of drama, pettiness and unapologetic hatred. I’m not expecting it to stop anytime soon, however I can only hope that it can get better. Have an opinion you want to share? Email editor Shawn. Carey1@ wilkes.edu �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 Opinion A review of "Purple Rain" by Prince By Natalia Williams Staff writer When Latin artist Prince Royce announced the concept of his new album, I was concerned but kind of excited. “Eterno," released on May 16, 2025, contains popular American hits and Royce took them and turned them into bachata, which is the style Royce does. I usually love when a Latin artist does this because I love hearing what these hits would sound like in a different style and language. He did this already with the song “Stand By Me,” and it became one of Royce’s most iconic songs. When I saw the tracklist, I was excited but curious how he would flip these songs. I haven't listened to it in full, only certain songs when it was released, so I am very excited to dive into it completely. Here are my track by track thoughts on Prince Royce’ “Eterno”. 1. “Dancing in the Moonlight” (Original by King Harvest): 8/10 Since I wasn't familiar with the original “Dancing in the Moonlight,” I was sure to listen so I knew what to expect. I think Royce did really well with this one in my opinion. It fits the essence of the original song well and although it is a bachata, the production is similar to what the original sounds like. As for an album opener, I think it fits well. It is a great upbeat song and it is a great song to start with. My favorite part is definitely the “breakdown” at the end with the claps. I love when a song has a good breakdown. Overall, I think he did justice with this one. I don't think I'd replay this song or listen to it often but it's a strong starter. 2. “How Deep Is Your Love” (Original by the Beegees): 10/10 When I saw that he was covering this song…I got very nervous. The original is one of my favorite songs of all time, and I was very intrigued to see if he was going to pull it off, which he did. I love the way he did this one. I believe this was the first single to be released from the album, and when I first listened to it, it got me very excited to hear how he did the other tracks. Like the first one, although production and style is very different, it fits the song so well. The lyrics in Spanish fit the same story as the original and I love it. This one definitely deserves the first 10/10 because he genuinely killed this cover. 3. “Stuck on You” (Original by Lionel Richie): 9/10 Like with a few other songs on this album, I was not familiar with the original so I did listen before and this another one where he did really well. I am not a huge fan of the original, but this version made me like it a little better. One thing that I love about this album so far is that even though he turned these into bachata, he kept the main sound of the song and didn't mess with the production too much, other than changing the genre. I think this one will be a song I revisit frequently and I think he did Lionel Richie justice with this one. His voice fits very well with this song and I love it. 4. “Right Here Waiting” (Original by Richard Marx): 10/10 I absolutely love the original “Right Here Waiting” so when I saw this on the tracklist, I held it to a very high standard and thankfully he exceeded my expectations. I love this song as a bachata...like I love it. It makes the story more…dramatic? I don't know if that makes sense but there is a lot more feeling in this song. This is common in bachata, which is a genre of love, heartbreak and emotions. He definitely killed this cover which earns the second 10/10. He made Richard Marx proud, I think. 5. “Cant Help Falling in Love” (Original by Elvis Presley): 7/10 This one is the first one where the production sounds a bit different than the original. The melody is the same, but the beat is different from the original. I am not a fan of the original, but this version I love. It kinda sounds like he made it his. Rather than the other ones having the same vibe, this one is different. I would definitely gravitate toward this one more than the original. This song is gorgeous as a bachata and I really like how he did this one. Really solid cover. A few points docked just because I don't like the original…but this one is great. 6. “All Out of Love” (Original by Air Supply): 8/10 This is another one where I was not familiar with the original. I listened to it and I think this is another great one. He went back to having the same vibe as the original with the production but it isn't a bad thing. This is like the other tracks where it is amazing in Spanish and a bachata. I actually love this one and I can see myself listening to it often. Nothing too strong on this one, it's a great cover. 7. “If Only for One Night” (Original by Luther Vandross): 9/10 When I saw he was covering a Luther song I'm not going to lie…I was petrified. I can never imagine a Luther Vandross song, let alone this one in Spanish or as bachata, but much like the other ones this one shocked me. I actually love it…a lot. I think his voice sounds amazing on this one and I think the bachata is perfect for a song like this. So far he has been killing these covers and I am glad we are on a roll. I love the original one so I had high expectations and he definitely met those expectations. He also kinda changed the vibe just a little bit production wise but the way he did the intro was gorgeous. 8. “Yesterday” (Original by the Beatles): 5/10 This one just doesn't do it for me. I don't know exactly what it is, but so far this is the weakest on the album for me. I can’t see myself repeating this one at all actually. I love the pre chorus and the chorus but other than that I can’t see myself listening to this one. It's not bad at all, just not for me. 9. “I Want It That Way” (Original by the Backstreet Boys): 3/10 Absolutely not. When I saw this on the tracklist as a huge Backstreet Boys fan I was so excited to hear this is in Spanish and as a bachata. Sadly, this is the first one that doesn't meet my expectations. I really dont think it's Royce, I just dont think this is a good song to be turned into a bachata. I really wished I liked it but as of right now…this isnt it for me. 10. “My Girl” (Original by The Temptations): 5/10 This is another one that just doesn't sound good with a bachata beat. It's better than “I 18 Want It That Way,” but it is another one that I don't think I'd be repeating. I like his voice on this one and the strings add a very nice touch. I don't have any other strong thoughts, its an okay song but just one I wont listen to or revisit. 11. “Killing Me Softly” (Original by the Fugees): 9/10 He killed this one. Like the other tracks this one surprised me as a bachata. I really like his voice on this one and it's probably my favorite vocally. He kept the same vibe but it is definitely different from the original, but it fits very well. The melody is really pretty with this production and I think his voice is why I love this one. Overall this one was really good. 12. “I Just Called To Say I Love You” (Original by Stevie Wonder): 10/10 Wow. This one is so good. I love the original and I am so glad he did it justice because this is a classic. The double key change…love. This is another one where his vocals really shine and it makes the song 10x better. I am obsessed with the production of this one. It fits so well. Overall, probably my second or third favorite on the album. 13. “Go Your Own Way” (Original by Fleetwood Mac): 4/10 We have made it to the album closer and I am not a fan. I really don't like the original so I am not sure if that ties into my thoughts. I don't think this song is good as a bachata. The guitar in the beginning scared me because I thought it would go on, but once we got into the production for the rest of the song it was alright. As for closer, I don't think it fits. I would switch this song with the first track. This won't be a song I will be revisiting, but I respect him for trying something new. I give the album a 8/10. I really like the concept of the album since I love crossover albums. A lot of these tracks are very solid but there are a few misses. I definitely respect him for doing this because turning classics into a whole new genre and vibe is very bold to do. Overall, this isn't my favorite Royce album, but he did really good with this. �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 Sports 19 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Assistant Sports Editor: jake.mills@wilkes.edu Wilkes baseball gearing up for the 2026 season By Andrew Marshallsay Managing Editor BASEBALL SCHEDULE 2025 was a memorable year for the Wilkes University baseball team. The Colonels amassed one of the best records in program history, going 28-12, with a record of 19-5 in Landmark Conference play. That conference record led to a regular season title, albeit an unofficial title, given that the conference does not officially recognize a regular season champion. Either way, it’s been a successful first two seasons in the Landmark, and the team aims to compete at the highest level as they begin the chase for a conference title in a few short weeks. “I think last year they knew they belonged [in the Landmark],” Head Coach Mike Guy said. “They could be anybody on any given day, and anybody could beat them on any given day.” After a great regular season, the Colonels were unable to capture a Landmark championship title, losing to Elizabethtown and eventual conference champions Catholic. Guy discussed what occurred during the Landmark playoffs. “I think some experience, or should I say, inexperience–first time getting into the Landmark playoffs in our history, since we’ve only been in it for two years so far. “I think we competed and battled, we had a chance to win both games.” Now, the page has turned. Although the snow still covers the diamond at Bruggeworth Field, the team is gearing up for the 2026 season, beginning play later this month. There have been a number of incomings and outgoings. The Colonels lost a few key pieces in their lineup, but they’ll enter the upcoming season with a whole new group of freshmen and transfers. With a large group of returning upperclassmen, Guy has been impressed with their culture going into the upcoming season. “I think our upperclassmen do a phenomenal job,” he said. “Between last year and this year, two of the best team cultures and camaraderie ...continued on page 22 FEB. 21 12:00 P.M. - VS LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE FEB. 22 12:00 P.M. - VS ARCADIA UNIVERSITY FEB. 26 3:00 P.M. - VS THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY MAR. 10 4:30 P.M. - VS ITHACA COLLEGE MAR. 14 12:00 P.M. & 3:00 P.M.- AT SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY MAR. 15 12:00 P.M. - AT SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY MAR. 17 3:30 P.M. - VS LYCOMING COLLEGE MAR. 18 3:30 P.M. - AT PENN STATE HARRISBURG MAR. 21 12:00 P.M. & 3:00 P.M. - VS MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY MAR. 22 12:00 P.M. - VS MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY MAR. 25 5:00 P.M. - AT UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON MAR. 28 12:00 P.M. & 3:00 P.M. - VS DREW UNIVERSITY MAR. 29 12:00 P.M. - VS DREW UNIVERSITY MAR. 21 3:30 P.M. - AT LYCOMING COLLEGE APR. 3 12:00 P.M. & 3:00 P.M. - AT ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE APR. 4 12:00 P.M. - AT ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE APR. 8 5:00 P.M. - VS UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON APR. 9 3:30 P.M. - AT KEYSTONE COLLEGE APR. 11 11:00 P.M. - VS ELMIRA COLLEGE APR. 11 6:00 P.M. - VS HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGE APR. 14 3:30 P.M. - VS LYCOMING COLLEGE APR. 18 12:00 P.M. & 3:00 P.M.- AT JUNIATA COLLEGE APR. 19 12:00 P.M. - AT JUNIATA COLLEGE APR. 21 4:00 P.M. - VS MISERICORDIA UNIVERSITY APR. 22 5:00 P.M. - AT UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON APR. 25 12:00 P.M. & 3:00 P.M.- VS CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA APR. 26 12:00 P.M. - VS CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA APR. 28 5:00 P.M. - VS CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA APR. 29 4:00 P.M. - AT KING’S COLLEGE (PA) �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 Sports 20 Wilkes softball preparing for the upcoming season Another season of Colonels softball is on the horizon, and the team has a plethora of positives to build on from last season. The Navy and Gold are coming off a successful campaign in the Landmark Conference, going 10-6 in conference play and advancing into the second round of the conference tournament. This was a big improvement from their inaugural season in the conference after going 7-9 in 2024. The Colonels return almost all players including senior and 2024 Landmark Pitcher of the Year Lauren DeMarco, who finished last season with a 1.70 ERA and a 9-4 record. “I’ve been working on adding two more pitches to my arsenal since the beginning of the offseason, so I’m very excited to work on those more as preseason continues, and as the season progresses,” DeMarco said. The senior right-hander is close to a career milestone as she is looking to eclipse 300 strikeouts this season, along with a few other personal goals. “The main personal goals that I have for this year is to bring my career ERA under 1.50, and to surpass 300 career strikeouts”. Junior Mia Butka also returns in the rotation, she has been productive both on the mound and in the batter’s box. Butka finished the season with a .370 average with 37 hits and 23 runs, on the mound she went 6-6 with a 2.55 ERA. “We had consistent practices in the fall, which allowed me to stay on track, especially with pitching and consistency,” she said. “We had a playday in the fall, and our team played really well. We had two games, and we won both games”. Butka also discussed her personal SOFTBALL SCHEDULE By Jake Mills Assistant Sports Editor goals for the upcoming campaign. “Personally, I want to positively contribute to the team and our success again by building off my success at the plate and the mound from last year, and also keep working hard and making plays in the field.” The Colonels also return seniors Olivia Dougher in the infield, outfielder Hana Cross, and Maddy Maloney who was a transfer from Lackawanna College last season and contributed finishing with an average of .280 and 21 hits. The lineup only lost three seniors in 2025–Kayla Burleson, Evan Sherrick and graduate student Hannah Boyd. Bella Peters was the only senior in the pitching rotation last season. The lineup returns sophomores Talia Piragas, Paige Randazzo and Allyson Stafursky who all had over 75 at bats last season. The main goal for the team this MAR. 19 4:00 P.M. & 6:00 P.M. - VS IMMACULATA UNIVERSITY MAR. 21 1:00 P.M. & 3:00 P.M. - AT MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY MAR. 24 4:00 P.M. & 6:00 P.M. - VS PENN STATE HARRISBURG MAR. 28 1:00 P.M. & 3:00 P.M. - AT DREW UNIVERSITY MAR. 30 4:00 P.M. & 6:00 P.M. - AT WIDENER UNIVERSITY APR. 1 3:00 P.M. & 5:00 P.M. - AT LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE APR. 4 12:00 P.M. & 2:00 P.M. - VS ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE APR. 7 4:00 P.M. & 6:00 P.M. - VS UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON APR. 11 1:00 P.M. & 3:00 P.M. - AT HAVERFORD COLLEGE APR. 12 1:00 P.M. & 3:00 P.M. - VS MISERICORIDA UNIVERSITY APR. 15 3:00 P.M. & 5:00 P.M. - AT LYCOMING COLLEGE APR. 18 1:00 P.M. & 3:00 P.M. - VS JUNIATA COLLEGE APR. 19 1:00 P.M. & 3:00 P.M. - AT MARYWOOD UNIVERSITY APR. 22 3:00 P.M. & 5:00 P.M - AT KING’S COLLEGE (PA) APR. 25 1:00 P.M. & 3:00 P.M. - AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA MAY 2 1:00 P.M. & 3:00 P.M. - VS SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY season is to build off the success of the past, and apply that to their play in 2026. DeMarco stated that she thinks the team has high aspirations to make some noise in the Landmark. “I definitely think our team has the potential to go very far in the Landmark Conference this year. Coming off of such a high from last season, especially for getting so far, I think we need to keep pushing ourselves to the limit at lifts and practices to get stronger every day, and to tweak any little things that may need to be worked on.” Butka also stated that building off success is key to taking that next step in 2026. “We need to stay consistent and disciplined throughout the entire season. That means bringing energy and intensity every day, not just in big games, and holding each other accountable. Continuing to focus on the fundamentals and staying united as a team will be huge,” she said. “Something really important that our team does is take it one game, even one inning, at a time. I think we have the talent to have an even better record than 10-6 in conference play, and we just need to really want it.” The Colonels will open up their season during spring break in Myrtle Beach when they compete in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic beginning on March 1 and ending on the fifth. Their first contest in the tournament will be against the Badgers of Vermont State University Johnson, first pitch is set for noon. The team will return to home field on March 19 then they take on Immaculata in a doubleheader, starting at 4 p.m. from the Ralston Athletic Complex. �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 Sports Wilkes women's lacrosse looking ahead to 2026 season By Vin Santoro Sports Writer WOMEN’S LACROSSE SCHEDULE Wilkes women's lacrosse is ready to get back on the field and enter a new era with their new additions to their coaching staff. Taylor Drumheller was hired to become the sixth head coach in program history and brings extensive experience to the Colonels' program with previous coaching experience at Juniata and Hendrix College. Drumheller leads a young roster with 18 players heading into the Landmark Conference and a group that is excited to get things underway with their first game on Feb. 21. New opportunities are here at Wilkes and Drumheller preaches that for this season and getting the program in the right direction. Setting standards and focus on a day to day basis is important for this young team as they will be competing hard every single day. “The consistency of our message, team standards being transparent with each other, and collaborative conversations”, Drumheller said. Taylor Sparks, Chloe Bierfriend, and Dayvne Bonvie are some players to watch this season with their leadership and compete on the field. “We have truly grown in many ways but two of the biggest that are seen are the improvement of our skills and the team environment," Bierfriend said. Our stick skills and lacrosse IQ have developed because we worked on the basics first instead of running headfirst onto levels we weren’t ready for." Taylor Sparks, who is their top point scorer returning is a player that will be a player to rely on for scoring and creating offensive pressure. The Colonels welcomed four new players to their roster for their 2026 season campaign with two returning seniors and young talent too. Drumheller touched on the biggest takeaways from the offseason and fall ball and what she expects from her team. “Willingness to grow and learn, and move the program forward, focus on competing every rep, the little things mean a lot, and work ethic.” The Colonels have an exciting team and are filled with energy heading into this season. Drumheller preaches the family atmosphere and that the team is all in for this campaign. The Landmark Conference is full of talent across the board, but the Colonels have lots to offer despite being projected to finish last in Landmark play. Some ways to improve this season for the 21 Colonels are limiting turnovers and getting off to hot starts to the game and not falling behind in games. Winning the possession battle will be key in order to get as many chances as possible to get shots on the cage and test their opponents defenses. Culture is changing quickly and players are buying into the commitment to become a better team this season. The 2025 season is a season in the past and the goal is to improve and get better. The Colonels will play a mix of home and away games through the months of February and March before getting into Landmark Conference play. The Colonels open up their conference slate of games against Juniata on March 21. The Colonels will begin their season at home against University of Pittsburgh Bradford on Feb. 21 from Schmidt Stadium. FEB. 21 12:00 P.M. - VS UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT BRADFORD FEB. 25 4:00 P.M. - AT GWYNEDD MERCY UNIVERSITY FEB. 28 1:00 P.M. - VS BRYN MAWR COLLEGE MAR. 4 5:00 P.M. - AT SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE MAR. 7 1:00 P.M. - VS NOTRE DAME OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY MAR. 11 7:00 P.M. - AT ELMIRA COLLEGE MAR. 14 1:00 P.M. - AT KING’S COLLEGE (PA) MAR. 18 4:00 P.M. - VS SUNY POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE MAR. 21 1:00 P.M. - AT JUNIATA COLLEGE MAR. 25 5:00 P.M. - AT SUSQUEHANNA COLLEGE MAR. 28 1:00 P.M. - VS CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA APR. 1 7:00 P.M. - AT GOUCHER COLLEGE APR. 8 7:00 P.M. - VS DREW UNIVERSITY APR. 11 1:00 P.M. - VS ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE APR. 15 4:00 P.M. - AT UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON APR. 18 1:00 P.M. - VS MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY APR. 22 7:00 P.M. - VS LYCOMING COLLEGE �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 Sports 22 Seahawks soar to Super Bowl LX win over New England By Topher DellaBella Sports Staff Writer The Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl LX champions, defeating the New England Patriots 29-13 on Feb. 8 from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. The game started off pretty slow with the Seahawks taking the lead 3-0 at the end of the first quarter. The game continued with neither team scoring a touchdown, but the Seahawks kicked another two field goals, expanding their lead to 9-0 at the end of the half. The third quarter also ended with no touchdowns, but with another Seahawks field goal making it 12-0 to end the frame. In the fourth quarter, there was action in the end zone when Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold hit his tight end A .J. Barner for the first touchdown of the game, extending Seattle’s lead to 19-0. On the Patriots’ next drive, they finally got on the board as New England quarterback Drake Maye found Mack Hollins in the endzone making the score 19-7. After a scoreless drive and an interception by Seahawks safety Julian Love, the Seahawks kicked another ...Wilkes baseball, continued from page 19 that I’ve been a part of in college athletics.” Acclimating the new group of freshman and transfer players has seemed to be fairly easy thus far. “They’re not really looked at as freshmen,” Guy said. “Our upperclassmen have, you know, taken them everywhere they go, whether it’s a MLB or NFL game, or just hanging out and including them and everything. The Colonels had their high-flying lineup in 2025, with key contributors all throughout, but on the mound, the Colonels had impressive outings from what seemed to be every pitcher on the staff. field goal increasing their lead to 22-7. When the Patriots got the ball again, Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon forced an interception that linebacker Uchenna Nwosu took back for a touchdown. This increased the Seahawks lead to 29-7 late in the fourth quarter. Then, once the game seemed like it was already over, Maye threw the last touchdown of the game to his running back Rhamondre Stevenson, shortening the Seahawks lead to 2913. The Patriots went for the two-point conversion, but were unsuccessful, sealing the Super Bowl 60 win for Seattle. The Super Bowl MVP was Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III. Walker rushed for 135 yards on 27 carries. He also caught two passes for 26 yards. Walker is also one of only three players with multiple rushes of over 25 yards in the Super Bowl. As for the Patriots, Maye had to have the game of his life to win this game, but was squandered by the defensive prowess of the Seahawks Some of it is to blame for Maye, but a lot of the offensive failure for the Patriots had to do with the offensive The Colonels saw the emergence of A.J. Levandoski, as well as continued solid play from Zach Lloyd. The two starting pitchers have become the two aces of the pitching staff, and are aiming high going into this season. “One of the ways we can build on the success of 2025 is to look past it and focus on what’s in front of us,” Lloyd said. “Each team in conference play is going to be very tough, so understanding our roles and trusting in each other is going to lead us to goals as a team and as a staff.” The main goal for the Colonels, obviously, is to win the Landmark title. “Most importantly, the goal is to put ourselves in a position to win games consistently and make a deep run when it matters most,” Lloyd said. The Vince Lombardi Trophy (Erik Drost) line allowing a total of six sacks against said defense. When all was said and done, Darnold finished with 19 completions on 38 attemps, throwing for 202 yards. Jason Myers, who was a contender for MVP made all five field goals, as well as both PATs he attempted. For the Patriots, Maye threw for 295 yards, completing 27 out of 43 passes and throwing two touchdowns and the two interceptions. All in all, this is the end of football until the fall and fans are already eager for this upcoming season. As for now, the NFL's 32 teams aim their sights to the draft, taking place in April from Pittsburgh. Have an idea for a sports story? Let us know about it. Email Jake.Mills@wilkes.edu The Colonels begin their season on the 21st against Lebanon Valley in front of the Bruggeworth faithful. From there, The Colonels will have a pair of home games before going down to Florida for their annual spring break slate of games. After that, it’s back to the grind as Wilkes chases a Landmark Conference title. �Sports The Beacon - February 11, 2026 23 Headshots courtesy of Wilkes Athletics. RENEE NG Forward - Women's Hockey From Jan. 24-31,, Ng scored ﬁve goals including a hat trick. It's Ng's ﬁrst time being named AOTW this season. Season Stats: CAM LOWE Forward - Men's Hockey From Jan. 24-31, Lowe scored ﬁve points (4G, 1A) in three games. It's Lowe's second time being named AOTW this season. Season Stats: 15 G, 5 A - 20 P in 19 GP this season. 37-15 on faceoffs. 9 G, 8 A - 17 P in 20 GP this season, on pace for 22 points in the regular season. Talk about your performance in last Saturday’s game against Stevenson to clinch the playoffs. Talk about your performance this past weekend. (Jan. 30-31) We started off slow in the first period, mainly because of the travel and how sick everyone was, but the second period was when I woke up and found the back of the net. Who is your role model? Sidney Crosby, because he’s turned into a great leader on and off the ice and he has great edge work and stickhandling abilities. Any speciﬁc goals for the remainder of the season or any that you hit this season already? Winning the MAC Championship and having a Frozen Four appearance. Our team played with confidence and trusted their abilities. We supported one another through Attitude and effort. Who is your role model? Oilers captain Connor McDavid. How do you prepare for a game? Before games, I like to focus on what worked well in previous performances and try to build on that mindset. I also stick to my usual warm-up routine to get both mentally and physically ready to compete Any speciﬁc goals for the remainder of the season? Our main goal is to win a MAC championship. �The Beacon - February 11, 2026 24 . . . R O F G N I K O O L E R WE’ WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS.. DESIGNERS..... MANAGERS...... News,La&E Opinion,Sports Graphics, Layout Distribution Advertising CONTACT: KALEN.CHURCHER@WILKES.EDU � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource This is Wilkes University's Beacon Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the Beacon's predecessors, The Bucknell Bison Stampede, 1934-1935 and The Bucknell Beacon, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>. Missing Issues: 1947 August 8th 1947 September 5th 1947 October 3rd 1947 October 17th 1947 October 31st 1947 November 21st 1947 December 19th 1948 September 9th 1950 April 28th 1953 April 10th 1962 February 2nd Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon, 2026 February 11 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/09a113db8dda110d08d22aa53ef2f454.pdf 49f45147089dd45cfcb064c0af96207d PDF Text Text The Beacon - January 28, 2026 THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Volume 78, Issue 12 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” 14 inches: City endures largest snowstorm since 2017 Wilkes-Barre’s snow on Sunday, brought about by Winter Storm Fern, was the largest total in almost a decade. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration; “Imani in Everyday” page 6 Students serve up warmth at Ruth’s Place, page 8 Editorial: Why do popular shows end so badly? page 14 Photo by Leah Smith Wilkes Football: 2025 Season Recap, page 19 �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Student government notes: Jan. 21 By Alli Lussi Staff writer Student Government met Jan. 21 in the JPAC to discuss fund requests and a club recognition. The treasurer’s report started off the meeting with a budget at $72,572.20. The board’s attention then went to a student presenting on behalf of the potential theater club. The student presented that the club will be open to all majors and is designed to showcase the talents of Wilkes students. After careful consideration, the board decided to approve the recognition of the theater club, which will be named Cue ‘n’ Curtain. GeoExplorers then presented for week two of two for a fund request for a trip that certain students from the club will be attending. The club asked for a total of $7,883.33, with a total cost of the trip being $15,373.33. After a brief discussion, the board decided to allocate $4,000 to the GeoExplorers. WAE members presented a fund request for their spring break trip, where they will fly into San Diego and take a tour of multiple national parks and other spots including a zoo and Alcatraz. The club is asking for $4,500 for rental vehicles and for the upkeep of the vehicles, as they plan on traveling about 900 miles. The board will decide next week if the money will be allocated to WAE. For the internal business, a Spring Fling fund request was presented. The event will be held on March 20 at the Mohegan Sun Casino. There will be Uber vouchers for transportation, along with a cash bar and dinner. The theme is Midsummer Night’s Dream. The asking amount for the event is $11,300. The board will decide whether or not the money will be allocated towards the event. Student Government will meet again on Jan. 28. Farley Library Adds New Libguides which shines a light on stories of resilience, unity, and cultural diversity. Email melissa.carestia@wilkes.edu to register. Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Student Development to Hold Cooking Class Join Student Development for a hands-on gnocchi cooking class on campus. Learn how to make fresh gnocchi from scratch while picking up simple cooking tips.. The cooking class is free and will take place at 4 p.m. on Jan. 31 in Ross Hall. Students must register to participatae at the Information Desk in the SUB. *** Register Now for Spring intramural Sports Spring intramural sports are starting soon. Sports available include 5v5 basketball, indoor soccer and volleyball. The season will run from March 9 after spring break, to April 16. To register, visit IMLeaagues.com. Contact Willie.Hope@wilkes.edu with any questions. *** Movie Night with the Chemistry Club The Chemistry Club will hold a movie night from 6 to 9 p.m. on Jan. 30. Come in your comfiest and cutest PJ’s for a fun movie, pizza, and the chance to win a door prize. Food and drinks will be provided, and the door prize will be announced at the end of the night. The Farley Library staff reminds faculty and students that Libguides are available from the Library Homepage that are very useful in guiding researchers to subject specific resources including databases, books/ eBooks and important websites on a variety of academic topics. The library's newest Libguide is the Community, Belonging and Engagement Academic Resource Guide that offers a wide range of scholarly resources. The Library is always open to new suggestions regarding additional Libguides that would enhance access to collections. Please contact the Library at ask.librarian@wilkes.edu for more information. *** Art in Context Screening to be Held Registration is required the Art in Context screening that will by held at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 4. Making NEPA Home is a new original documentary from WVIA. WVIA Filmmaker Kara Washington, produced, directed and edited the documentary, with cinematography by WVIA producer/director Alexander Monelli. This documentary is part of WVIA’s We Stand Against Hate initiative, Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Upcoming Events: Spring 2026 *** Art in Context Screening to be Held Register to participate in the College of Business and Engineering (COBE) 2026 Business Ethics Case Competition. This event is a platform to practice business ethics reasoning, learn from a collaborative process, and build your professional resume. The competition is organized into two distinct tracks: one for undergraduate students and one for graduate students. The event takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. on March 24 in the SIMMS Building. Team Requirements: Groups must consist of three to four students. Awards Prizes will be presented for both the undergraduate and graduate tracks. Registration is free and must be complete by Feb. 15. Email the following information to kedir.tessema@wilkes.edu: Group Name Institution(s) Names of all Group Members Competition Track (Undergraduate or Graduate) February 28 - Spring break begins March 9- Classes resume April 2- Holiday recess begins 6- Classes resume 30- Final exams begin May 16- Spring commencement Have a safe and anjoyable semester! Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 News Mother Nature dumps snow across region; virtual days called 3 Wilkes-Barre sees roughly 14 inches of snow across the city By Andrew Marshallsay Managing Editor Leah Smith Editor-in-Chief Much of the country, including Wilkesbarre, fell victim to Winter Storm Fern this past weekend. The city recorded its largest snowfall totals in almost a decade, with roughly 14 inches falling in the Diamond City. Adding to the snow were frigid temperatures and wind chills in the negatives, bringing snow drifts to those who were already trying to dig out on Monday morning. The storm spanned over 2,000 miles according to the National Weather Service (NWS), and brought all types of precipitation to the country. With warnings from New Mexico to Maine issued by the NWS, the storm, which affected 40 states and over 250 million people, brought heavy snow and winds to the local region. Throughout the south, ice crippled roadways and electrical grids, cutting power to over a million residents on Sunday. Tornado warnings were issued in the warmer areas affected by the storm. In Memphis, the Grizzlies’ NBA matchup against the Denver Nuggets was postponed due to conditions in and around the Memphis area. Airports all around the eastern seaboard were forced to cancel flights. In Pennsylvania, Lehigh Valley International and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International closed all-day Sunday due to the storm. In Texas, residents woke up Sunday morning to find ice covered roads and power outages too, along with frigid, arctic air. On the Wilkes University campus, it was no different. Classes on Monday and Tuesday shifted to online learning, with only essential personnel reporting. Those who were parked in the surface lots, at locations such as the Henry Student Center and Karambelas Center lot had to move their vehicles to the parking garage on Main Street so that snow removal crews could do their job. On-campus residents said that they were worried about the power going out due to the storm. Seventy-seven West resident and pre-pharmacy major Jason Oshman was worried about whether or not he would have to go to work due to the storm. Oshman works at Geisinger hospital as an outpatient assistant. “They told us if we were essential workers at the hospital that we would have to sleep overnight in the lobby and work the next day.” To Oshman’s relief, he was not considered essential and was able to return to the 77 West dorm after his shift ended Saturday night. Maddie Belk, another 77 West dorm resident, talked about her run to the local Aldi’s store and how she had to wait 30 minutes in line to check out. “It was crazy and there [were] hardly any non-perishable foods left," Belk said. "All I really got were foods I can make on the stove like mac and cheese and hot dogs.” The two students planned on kicking back and relaxing with hopes that the power and internet wouldn't go out due to the severity of the storm. “If the internet goes out, I think I’ll go crazy but at least that means no online classes on Monday," Belk said. Online classes proceeded on Monday as planned. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) put “tier 4” restrictions on all state highways ahead of the storm, banning all commercial vehicles from traveling on local roadways such as I-81, I-80, I-380 and the northeast extension of the Pa. Turnpike. In a rare move, the university shifted its Monday classes to virtual days before a flake even fell. Wilkes was in good company, as many area schools announced cancelled or shifted classes as early as Friday. A university email on Monday stated classes would be in-person on Tuesday. However, a change to that decision was announced roughly two hours later, making classes virtual, with only essential personnel Campus was largely still this past weekend as roughly 14 inches of snow fell across Wilkes-Barre. Photo/Leah Smith reporting to campus. For now, the main task will be continuing the clean up. Throughout the city, road crews have worked since early Sunday morning. However, with frigid temperatures, salt and ice melt can only do so much. Temperatures are expected to stay frigid throughout the week, and into the middle of February as well. With wind chills expected to remain below zero for the rest of the week and into early next week, the mild winter temperatures the area has gotten used to over the past few winters are gone, and the arctic air is the new norm for the time being. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are expected to climb into the 20s beginning Feb. 2. �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 News 4 Morgan's Message returns to campus with SG approval By Thaelis Andujar News assistant editor Morgan’s Message is returning to Wilkes University this spring, bringing renewed conversation and awareness around student-athlete mental health. After a previous attempt to establish the organization on campus did not come to fruition, sophomore Katie Clarke of the Wilkes women’s soccer team has taken the lead to officially relaunch the club, hoping to create a space for honest dialogue, support, and understanding among student athletes. Morgan’s Message is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health within the studentathlete community. Founded in honor of Morgan Rodgers, a former Division I lacrosse player at Duke University, the organization works to amplify conversations around mental wellness and remind athletes that they are more than just their performance. Chapters across the country aim to create peer-led spaces where vulnerability is normalized and helpseeking is encouraged. Clarke said her motivation to bring Morgan’s Message to Wilkes stemmed from recognizing how often studentathletes struggle quietly. Balancing academics, athletics, social expectations and personal challenges can feel overwhelming, and many athletes feel pressure to appear mentally tough at all times. “Our goals are to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health,” Clarke said. “And I think that this organization, our goal is to normalize having all these feelings. It’s OK to have anxiety, working through these things.” Clarke emphasized that Morgan’s Message is not intended to replace professional mental health services. Instead, the organization focuses on peer support and awareness, helping student athletes feel less alone in their experiences. “We’re not mental health experts whatsoever,” she said. “This is just about creating conversation and letting people know they’re not weak for feeling the way they do.” A central symbol of Morgan’s Message is its butterfly logo, which Clarke explained carries deep meaning tied to Morgan Rodgers herself. Rodgers was not only an athlete, but also an artist, and the butterfly originated from her artwork. “Our butterfly logo was a part of Morgan’s art,” Clarke said. “While she was an athlete, she was also an artist, and that’s something I want to focus on, possibly a meeting topic–as student athletes, we’re not just athletes. Our identity is defined by more than that.” This idea of identity beyond sports is something Clarke hopes will resonate across Wilkes’ athletic community. She stressed that regardless of division level, student athletes face similar pressures and challenges. “I think the other thing is, no matter what division we play for, we are student- athletes nonetheless,” she said. Morgan’s Message at Wilkes has already reached an important milestone, as the organization was officially recognized by Wilkes’ Student Government as an approved campus club. With that recognition, the club will be able to host events, meetings, and awareness initiatives throughout the semester. The organization will make its first official campus appearance at Club Day on Feb. 3, held in the MAC. Students interested in learning more about Morgan’s Message will have the opportunity to speak with members, ask questions, and get involved. The club’s first meeting was scheduled for Jan. 27; however, inclement weather placed campus on a virtual day. Clarke said she hopes the first meeting will serve as an introduction to the organization’s mission and create a welcoming environment for athletes from all teams. By reintroducing Morgan’s Message to Wilkes, Clarke hopes to chip away at the stigma that often surrounds mental health in athletics and encourage student athletes to prioritize their wellbeing alongside their performance. More information about Morgan’s Message can be found on the organization’s official website or on Instagram at @morgans_message_ wilkes. Students interested in joining or learning more are encouraged to attend Club Day or the group's first meeting that will be announced soon with a rescheduled time and date. For more information about Morgan's Message, go to www.morgansmessage. org. �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 News Leadership changes occur on campus; Cant to retire this year Alli Lussi News Assistant Editor Throughout the fall semester, students expressed their concerns surrounding the university's leadership. Faculty and staff have also questioned the Cant transparency and communication of President Greg Cant. After the recent budget deficit issue, students were concerned about where their money goes, as well as why university leaders, specifically Cant, was not being transparent about the budget deficit. In December, Cant announced his retirement, which will go into effect in August 2026. The university's senior vice president and provost, Dr. David Ward, immediately assumed the role of chief operating officer and provost to "support the university in this time of leadership transition," according to a university email. Dr. Mark Allen, associate vice president of student life and success, Allen said that there will be a search for a new president for Wilkes. “The hope is that with our change in leadership structure, that students' life in and outside of the classroom will not significantly change.” Dr. Allen also said that it takes a while to find a new president, and that in the meantime, Ward will do everything he can to ensure that Wilkes will continue to be a great place for students. Dean Phil Ruthkosky said university leaders are looking for ways to enhance academic performance as well as supporting student success. “We’re looking through this lens of ‘How are these decisions impacting the student experience Ruthkosky and enhancing academic excellence?’” Ruthkosky also explained that leadership transitions are normal within all universities and organizations. “There’s reason to be optimistic because I have full faith in my colleagues and my staff and our core values like community and innovation and scholarship.” Ward was unable to comment at this 5 time. A Dec. 8 email explained that Cant will now place his emphasis on fundraising for the university. "As we move into this transition period, President Cant will devote additional attention to strengthening W i l k e s ’ Ward p h i l a n t h r o p i c initiatives and expanding our fundraising efforts to reinforce the university’s financial resilience and strategic priorities. This enhanced focus will help ensure the University is well positioned for longterm success." If any students have any questions about leadership changes, students can contact Dr. Allen, Dean Phil, or Provost Ward. We’re Looking For NEWS WRITERS! BUILD YOUR RESUME WITH WRITING EXPERIENCE CONTACT: leah.smith1@wilkes.edu OR andrew.marshallsay@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 News 6 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration; “Imani in Everyday” By Mollie Kuhar Staff writer �� Darian Bryant, a member of the Wilkes football coaching staff for the past two years, �� provided the keynote speech for this year's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration. �� The Beacon - January 28, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 7 Each Ea week, ek, k, e Wi Wilkes il E ch we w k th tthe W ilk lke kes Beacon staff f pic ff picks i ks ic k out ttheir th eir i fa ir ffavorite v rrite song of vo tthe th e we w ek. k Check out k. week. tthis th i we is w week’s ek’s ’ bop ’s bops! o s! op Leah Smith: The Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden Kailey Vogel: Don’t Look Back in Anger - Oasis Andrew Marshallsay: True Faith - New Order Jake Mills: (Oh) Pretty Woman - Van Halen Shawn Carey: Iris Out - Kenshi Yonezu Alli Lussi: Speed Racer - Her’s Mollie Kuhar: If She Could See Me Now Lorde Nikki Steinberg: Shots - LMFAO ft. Lil Jon Brooke Lare: Hold On - Tems Vin Santoro: But Not Often, - Microwave Thaelis Andujar: Bleed - Malcolm Todd ft. Omar Apollo Freeze: I’m Here Now - Tekken 5 (OST) Take a plunge for a good cause: Polar Plunge happening this week at Montage By Kaydia Wright Assistant Editor L,A&E The snow may still be falling, but it’s never too cold to support a good cause, which is exactly what’s happening on Jan. 31. The Special Olympics Pennsylvania team will be at Montage Mountain to host their annual Polar Plunge benefit. Anyone can sign up to participate, either as a team or an individual and fundraise to support the cause. The event will be held from noon to 4 p.m., with the actual plunge beginning at 2:30 p.m. Even if you’re not participating in the chilling Polar Plunge event, there are still fun activities to enjoy, including a dance party, food and games. All proceeds and fundraised money will be given to the Special Olympics as well as “vital programming for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the community,” as stated on the official Polar Plunge website. So far, the program has raised $72,906 of their $130,000 goal. For anyone interest, it’s not too late to register or fundraise. Head to plungepa.org, go to the tab ‘Find Your Plunge’ and click on view details for Northeast, Montage Mountain, Jan. 31. You might even see a few Wilkes student at the event. �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Policy to people: Period product drive slated for Saturday By Brooke Lare Staff writer “It’s taboo to talk about the inequality of women’s rights as a man,” said Johnny Sudol, vice president of the Wilkes College Dems and vice chairman of NEPA Young Dems. That taboo is exactly what the two groups hope to challenge during a period product drive taking place from noon to 2 p.m. on Jan. 31, at 67 Public Square. This event comes in response to the Pennsylvania House Republicans voting against bill HB 1957. The bill mandates the protection of abortion and reproductive rights. The bill narrowly passed with a 102101 vote, unavoidably drawing attention to the divide between Pennsylvania lawmakers. As the bill moves to the Pennsylvania Senate, the event hopes to bring awareness to the issue by having the same event on the same day spread across multiple counties. Participating counties include Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Wayne, Pike and Northampton. As Sudol is heavily involved in politics on campus and off, he urges people to keep the focus on community support, not a political statement. “Are you doing a good or bad thing by donating?” he asked. Donations can range anywhere from tampons, pain management, heating pads and liners. While the drive encourages people to physically donate, he encourages people who cannot donate to volunteer, discuss and learn instead. “Brand name is cool. Generic is cool.” Sudol said, encouraging all donations. The plan is to redistribute these products through local nonprofit organizations that support women. “Everything is political. You can get so microscopic about it that people tune it out, and I get why they do,” Sudol said. “But it’s important that people have at least a few issues they care about and try to advocate for and educate others on.” All types of period products will be accepted Saturday at the period product drive on Public Square. The donations will be redistributed to local nonprofit organizations that support and deal directly with women. Honors students serve up warmth at Ruth’s Place By Kailey Vogel LAE Editor On Jan. 23, students of the Wilkes University Honors Program participated in a service event at Ruth’s Place. According to the Volunteers of America Pennsylvania’s website, Ruth’s Place House of Hope “is an emergency sheltering support group for women experiencing homelessness.” The program provides women with shelter, food, personal hygiene products and resources to get them back on their feet during hard transitions in time of need. These resources include job connections, social relationships, teachings of life skills and other case management services. Ten students along with the program’s graduate assistant, Starr Sandt, cooked a pasta dinner for the women of the shelter to warm up the already cold day. The students worked together to plan the meal, assign themselves to different stations and prepare the pasta dish for dinner. Utilizing food donated from the Weinberg CEO food bank, the Honors Program was able to produce pasta with sauteed bell peppers, mushrooms and green beans. The students had fun getting to work with one another in the kitchen as a way to give back to their community. Junior Liz Keller described her experience volunteering for the dinner service. “I had a great time returning to Ruth’s Place with my friends in the Honors Program for some community service.” Keller has volunteered to help cook for the women on various occasions throughout her time at Wilkes and continues to do so as a way to give back to the local community. This food wasn’t the only thing that warmed hearts either, as the students were able to interact with some of the women and watch their smaller community help each other out. Sophomore Andrea Buenano stated that she chose to volunteer because “community is something I have always loved, and giving back has always been very important to me.” “When you have the time and the ability to help, I truly believe you should take it. That is why I chose to volunteer at Ruth’s Place alongside my peers,” she continued. Buenano’s station was the boiling and stirring station and she was able to cook and serve with a smile on her face throughout the experience. “I wanted our community to know that no matter the social circumstances or challenges people may face, we are here, we care and we have heart and compassion to serve.” “Being able to cook and prepare meals for others was an incredibly heartwarming experience. It reminded me how something as simple as showing up and serving with love can make a meaningful difference in someone’s day,” she concluded. Buenano’s words serve to remind everyone of the importance of helping others and the gratitude it can give us in return. If you or a club are interested in volunteering at Ruth’s Place or helping the women of the shelter, they accept monetary donations through the Volunteers of America website. A wishlist of nonperishables and toiletries are also available on their website. Photo by Starr Sandt From left, students Teresa Caponera and Andrea Buenano stir the pots and heat things up in the kitchen. �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 9 Life, Arts & Entertainment Word Search Words to ﬁnd! �� blizzard boots bread cancel cold delay dig ice igloo plow record shovel sledding sleep snow spring storm virtual winter Credit for these puzzles goes to: www.puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment 10 �� By Leah Smith Editor-in-Chief On the morning of Jan. 22, The Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences released the nominations for the 2026 Oscar awards. The 98th Oscar awards ceremony will feature Conan O’Brien returning as the host and will be live on ABC, as well as streamed on Hulu and YouTube TV at 7 p.m. The awards ceremony will present 24 categories including a new category: best ensemble cast. The nominations for this category include: “Sinners,” “One Battle After Another,” “Hamnet,” “The Secret Agent” and “Marty Supreme”. On top of the exciting new category announcement, this year’s Oscars are already breaking records and making history. Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” broke the record for most nominations at the Oscars with 16 nominations this year. This title was once held by three films, “All About Eve,” “La La Land” and “Titanic.” All were nominated for 14 Oscars. There are also some first-time nominees that made the cut including Michael B. Jordan for best actor for his portrayal of Smoke and Stack from “Sinners,” Jacob Elordi for his portrayal of the Creature in “Frankenstein” and Teyana Taylor for best supporting actress in her role as Perfidia in “One Battle After Another.” Taylor has already won a Golden Globe for her role in the film. Wilkes students had no problem giving their thoughts on this year’s nominees. Kevin Lucke, a senior English major. said that one of his favorite movies of 2025 was “Hamnet,” which scored eight nominations, including best picture, best adapted screenplay, best director and best actress. Lucke was particularly impressed by the film’s screenplay that was penned by Chloe Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell. “The film’s screenplay had such a meditative and slow pace that you don’t see in most films nowadays,” Lucke said. Additionally, he believed that Amanda Seyfried was snubbed in the best actress category for her role as Ann Lee in “The Testament of Ann Lee.” The film itself was not nominated for any category for the Oscars. “I’m surprised that she (Seyfried) wasn’t nominated. I think Jessie Buckley will win,” Lucke stated. Lacey Rinker, a senior DDMA major adored Guillermo Del Toro’s interpretation of “Frankenstein” and was pleased to see the film was nominated for nine Oscars including best picture and best adapted screenplay. “It’s so awesome to see a gothic monster movie be so well-received today, especially because it’s a different interpretation of such a well-known piece of media,” Rinker said. Rinker was excited about Jacob Elordi’s best supporting actor nomination for his portrayal of the Creature. “Jacob Elordi’s performance was so beautiful and tragic. If I hadn’t known before I saw the movie, I would not have thought that was him as the Creature. The nomination is welldeserved.” Anthony Elms, a senior history major, believes that Sinners deserves to be the recordbreaking film. The film was his favorite movie of 2025. “Even though the movie isn’t super scary, it’s still such a contextually rich movie while it maintains its entertainment appeal for mass audiences,” Elms said. When it comes to the trending race for best kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu actor, Elms believes that Leonardo DiCaprio is the obvious choice although he is championing a best actor win for Timothee Chalamet. If Chalamet wins the Oscar for best actor for his performance as Marty Mauser from Marty Supreme, it will be his first win at the Oscars. “I think he should take it home since he’s been really trying to cement himself as a leading man.” Noah Jennings, a Wilkes graduate student, said that he loves that horror and eccentric films like “Sinners,” “Frankenstein” and “Bugonia” are nominated. “I feel that ever since ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ swept the 2023 Oscars season, the Academy’s been more willing to give zany genre films more of a chance.” Jennings was surprised but happy that Amy Madigan was nominated for best supporting actress for her role as Aunt Gladys in “Weapons”. “Honestly, that movie should’ve been nominated for more categories. I really enjoyed that one,” Jennings said. “I think Cregger’s going to be in the conversation for best horror director of our generation like Jordan Peele and Ari Aster.” �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor: Kailey.Vogel@wilkes.edu The mental health and wellness Beacon: Motivation matters By Gina Harrison Assistant professor, Passan School of Nursing Here we are again at the beginning of a new semester. The spring term can feel especially challenging, as it often arrives together with the lingering cold, short days, and gray skies of winter. During this time of year, motivation can be just as elusive as sunshine after 6 p.m. So how do we find the energy to re-engage with the responsibilities and expectations of a new semester? If there were a simple, universal answer, the entire selfhelp industry might collapse overnight. Motivation is not a one-sizefits-all concept. There are many types of motivation, but for the purposes of this article, we will focus on two: intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation comes from within, while extrinsic motivation is guided by external factors. Extrinsic motivation often shows up as the pursuit of a reward or the desire to avoid an undesirable outcome. Some individuals are more strongly motivated by avoiding punishment or negative consequences. For example, studying to earn a good grade or to avoid failing a course. Education is frequently structured around extrinsic motivators. Systems are often designed to encourage students to avoid failure and strive for rewards like grades, credentials, or approval. While this approach can be effective, it is important to recognize that an overemphasis on avoidance and outcomes can sometimes push the joy of learning into the background. Intrinsic motivation, by definition, is a bit more fun. It is driven by enjoyment, curiosity, satisfaction, or personal interest. When motivation is intrinsic, the activity itself feels meaningful or fulfilling, rather than simply a means to an end. Ideally, you have chosen an educational path that aligns with your interests and reflects something you genuinely want for yourself. Shifting your focus from the grade to the learning process can make the work feel less daunting. Engaging with the process, not just the outcome, can still lead to strong academic performance while also creating a deeper sense of purpose and connection. So, is one type of motivation better than the other? Much like a game of cards, this is the dealer’s choice. Each of us is motivated differently, shaped by a unique blend of personality, experience, and circumstance. Most of us rely on a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation at different times. The key is learning to recognize what motivates you, and how to work with it, especially during seasons when motivation feels hardest to come by. Whatever your motivation, I wish you a wonderful and successful spring semester. I have included some questions you may wish to consider regarding what motivates you. �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 12 Wilkes University’s Multicultural Student Coalition One World Celebration Photos by Kailey Vogel MSC hosts its annual One World Event for campus students MSC hosts its annual One World Event for campus students. �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 (Above) With a variety of flags displayed, decorations illustrated the spirit of a One World celebration. (Below) Dancing was a highlight of the celebration, with members of the Lincoln University’s Reconstruction Step Team also performing for students. (Above) Josh Ermeus thanks students for their attendance and introduces the Reconstruction Step Team. (Below) Food was catered from local restaurants to immerse students into other cultures. 13 �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 Opinion Editorial Staff 2025-26 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Leah Smith Managing Editor - Andrew Marshallsay Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS LA&E - Kailey Vogel Opinion - Shawn Carey SECTION ASSISTANTEDITORS News - Thaelis Andujar & Alli Lussi LA&E - Kaydia Wright Sports - Jake Mills DESIGNERS Photographer - Shannon Slominski STAFF WRITERS Nikki Steinberg Topher DellaBella Natalia Williams Brooke Lare Vin Santoro 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: shawn.carey1@wilkes.edu Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Why do popular TV shows end so badly? Have you ever watched a TV show you loved that couldn’t stick the landing? Chances are, you probably have and not just once. There was “Game of Thrones”, “Squid Game”, “The Umbrella Academy”, “Lost”, “Supernatural.” Now, “Stranger Things” has joined the club of popular shows that have failed to satisfy their massive fanbases. It’s always a shame to see TV shows gain so much attention and then watch them fall from grace in real time. Social media has made this experience even more harrowing, especially in the case of “Stranger Things,” where some fans were left believing that the show’s finale wasn’t real. This caused “the conformity gate” theory that caused Netflix to crash due to the collective belief that a new episode would come out to reveal the show’s “true ending”. However, this was not the case and the show’s finale that came out on New Year’s Eve was indeed the true series finale. This begs the question, why do so many popular tv shows end up having bad series finales? The answer is simple: bad writing. Bad writing is definitely a major part of why so many shows end so poorly and that can span from mischaracterization, poorly written dialogue or a disappointing climax that inevitably leads to a disappointing conclusion. A combination of these elements end up making a pop culture phenomenon into a pop culture embarrassment. Why is that common? Several things can lead up to the bad writing fever for final seasons, and there are three big reasons why this occurs. One, the show has become too big for its own good. Two, the writers either leave halfway through or are replaced with new ones. Three, the writers simply run out of ideas and get lazy. The first reason has become more prevalent and it’s really not on the writers but on the company that owns the show. There are several examples for this, but Netflix is a big culprit, and it’s simply because the shows are the foundation of the platform. They need the shows in order to keep making money the way they are. Instead of letting their big shows end, they create spin-offs. This isn’t to say that spin-offs are a bad thing, “Better Call Saul” is a great spinoff to “Breaking Bad,” but that isn’t because the show is trying to recapture the cultural significance of its predecessor. It’s because the writers of “Better Call Saul” give the audience additional context to a character that’s already loved by fans. They also expand on not only Saul Goodman’s character but the entire setting of “Breaking Bad”. When it comes to spinoffs in the present, this isn’t the case. Most companies just order spinoffs to try and recapture the popularity the initial show had, and most of the time, they fail. That’s why the finale of “Stranger Things” and “Squid Game” were so baffling. Netflix didn’t want the money to stop coming from shows they already knew were a hit. It doesn’t help that “Stranger Things” was meant to be something else entirely before Netflix realized how popular it has become. So, yeah, a big reason why so many shows end so badly is because of poor writing. However, the real culprit here are the companies that become so greedy with their most popular IPs, that they don’t realize that their most popular products need to keep up with high quality for their high volume of viewers. Letter to the editor policy: The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor from differing viewpoints. Letters must contain contact information, including name, city, state and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published but may be used for verification purposes. All letters to the editor must be sent using one of the following methods: Email: leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Phone: (570) 408-5903 (Voicemail: 30 seconds or less, please.) Mail: 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766 Attn: The Beacon �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 Opinion 15 A review of “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” By Leah Smith Editor-in-Chief Horror movies as of late, have been on a roll. Honestly, I’d say that horror movies have been on a sort of a renaissance in their own right. The most recently criticallyacclaimed horror film of 2026, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” certainly does not sleep on the great success the genre has been receiving. “The Bone Temple” is the most recent entry of the “28 Days Later” zombie horror film franchise and is the sequel of 2025’s “28 Years Later”. I have been a big fan of this series since I first saw “28 Days Later” one day in quarantine and boy, what a time to watch a zombie horror film. “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” does not shy away from the franchise’s philosophical dissection of humanity and its savage origins. If anything, this film takes a deeper dive into the systems that mankind has developed to answer the questions they have when it comes to fear and life itself. This film picks up a bit after “28 Years Later” ends. Right from the first scene, this film reveals to you all of the gritty and dark edges of humanity and how faith can be manipulated by fear. The film explores themes of fear, faith and spectacle and there are several moments in which those elements juxtapose themselves. This is shown between the two characters, Dr. Ian Kelson and Jimmy Crystal. Kelson is portrayed by Ralph Fiennes, who is most known for his role as Lord Voldemort from the “Harry Potter” franchise. Crystal is portrayed by Jack O’Connell, who horror fans probably know best as Remmick from “Sinners”. Fiennes and O’Connell put on excellent performances that not only embody the most authentic and raw versions of their characters, but display the juxtaposition of spectacle and humanity. O’Connell’s character is a cult-leader who manipulates his followers into believing that their actions are acts of “charity” to please a higher deity meanwhile Fiennes’s character is a doctor, who through his expertise, is able to cause a miracle in the most hopeless of times. There are two scenes in particular that left me in disbelief in the best way possible. There is a scene in a train with an infected man, portrayed by Chi Lewis-Parry, that was experimental and shocking, I have never seen a scene like that in a zombie film before. The other scene is in the moment where the cult meets Kelson for the first time. It’s truly something to behold. Fellow metal heads are definitely going to love that scene. The got opinions? cinematography and editing are out of this world. If you’re a fan of horror or of the “28 Days Later” franchise, I highly recommend watching this film. It’s really something special. If you haven’t seen any film from the franchise yet and are interested in seeing this, my personal guide to this series is to watch “28 Days Later” first and then hop onto the new trilogy. There is “28 Weeks Later” in the franchise as well, but I’d say that entry doesn’t impact the franchise much. It’s truly a shame that this movie isn’t doing well at the box office despite the critical acclaim. So far, it’s one of the best movies to come out this year. I’m really hoping screenwriter Alex Garland is able to complete his vision for this subversive journey back into the “28 Days Later” franchise. �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 Opinion 16 The Icebox presents: Tekken’s new era By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer The final volume of the “Icebox” is upon us. I will be graduating this spring, which means my time at Wilkes University and working for The Beacon is almost over. For this final semester, I will only be talking about the most important games in my life. Strap yourselves in readers, for the final issues will not be of lesser quality. As many of you know, I love fighting games. I was the captain of Wilkes’ official team for “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” for three years. However, some of you may not know that I recently retired from Smash and have stepped back from the scene. However, I have not stopped playing fighting games. Fighting games are fun. You can enjoy them even if you are unskilled. Most people start to play fighting games for three simple reasons. First, the game looks fun. Second, the characters look cool. Finally, the special mechanics in the game might be attractive to a frequent gamer. These same criteria are what make me like some fighting games more than others. Although I tend to play anything in the genre, there are only specific titles that I feel are worth a time-investment. My frequent titles as of late are “Street Fighter 6” and “Guilty Gear: Strive”. Sometimes I will indulge in “Mortal Kombat 1,” but that is casual. However, there is one fighting game that has firmly caught my interest. It has amazing character designs, an interesting plot, a killer soundtrack and it’s a classic. Bandai Namco’s “Tekken” is a fighting game franchise that is known as one of the titans in the community. It has been around since the 90s and introduced the revolutionary threedimensional aspect of a fighting game. That same feature became one of Tekken’s signatures. In addition to this new style to the arcade scene, Tekken introduced the Mishima family who have represented the franchise for decades. I’m not going to sugarcoat it: forward, neutral, down, down-forward, punch. This is the input for the infamous “Electric Wind God Fist” performed by members of the Mishima family. It is practically the motto of the Tekken franchise itself. It gained popularity because it is the notorious precursor to countless deadly combos in the game, but also because the input itself is rather difficult and unconventional. The Mishima family is rather important. Like most other players, I took interest in Tekken because I wanted to know more about this family. The plot of all Tekken games revolve around the Mishima family in some way. The key players are Heihachi, Kazuya, Jin and now Reina. In the beginning, Heihachi was the original protagonist who mistreated his own son, Kazuya, out of fear for the latter’s potential. In this context, “mistreated” refers to throwing Kazuya off a cliff so that Heihachi could eliminate a “Devil Gene” that he feared his son inherited. Talk about good parenting. Despite Heihachi’s efforts, Kazuya survived and turned out to be very evil, even without the Devil Gene in consideration. He wanted to dissolve all of his father’s power in the world. Heihachi was the leader of the Mishima Zaibatsu, a powerful organization originating in Japan until Kazuya took over and denounced his own nationality. Kazuya’s Devil Gene enables him to take on a devil form and harness electric power. Afterward, Kazuya and Heihachi spend several games fighting each other, throwing each other off of cliffs, and all-around giving others a bad time. Eventually, players meet Jin Kazama, the current protagonist of the series. Jin, like his father Kazuya, possesses the Devil Gene but is inherently a good person thanks to his mother, Jun Kazama. It’s a miracle that a good person like Jun Kazama could fall in love with a terrifying, completely evil soul like Kazuya let alone have a child with this man. There are, of course, several other characters that appear in the franchise. It’s common for most of the roster to be strongly against Kazuya, who effortlessly makes everybody his enemy just by being who he is. When you throw all of the characters into the mix, the Mishima conflict quickly becomes a threat to global stability. You can probably guess that my favorite character is absolutely Kazuya. I mean, he’s so badass! How can you not like him, right? More on him in the next issue. After many years, a girl named Reina appears in Tekken 8 who awakened her own Devil Gene. It turns out that she is not just a random girl. She is one of Heihachi’s illegitimate children. Somehow, Heihachi Mishima managed to fall in love with not one, but two different women who could pass down the Devil Gene. Let’s hope he learned his lesson already! Now, let’s discuss why Tekken is entering a new era. First, the actual status of the game and the community has drastically changed in recent weeks. The long-time director and producer of Tekken, Katsuhiro Harada, has officially retired from the franchise. He has not only led Tekken since its beginning, but also he has done wonders for the franchise. Harada connected the world with his work. He allowed Tekken to make the jump from the arcade to modern gaming. He’s done extensive research to properly represent different nationalities in the game. Finally, Harada channeled the essence of Tekken itself and possessed an admirable personality to show the world. With Harada gone and Bandai Namco on the warpath to moneymaking, Tekken is destined to fall apart. Unfortunately, it seems it already has. Tekken 8 is consistently labeled as impressive but still inferior to its predecessor, Tekken 7. Even top players say they really dislike the game direction. The DLC and seasonal systems result in horrendous characterbalancing. In the current state it’s not too fun to play the game competitively. For this reason, I am reserving myself to play more casually. The one thing that I can respect about Bandai Namco’s recent executive decisions would be the choices in marketing. When the game first released, there were ads in places you would not expect. For example, a partnership with “Karate Kid: Legends” had Tekken posters plastered in different scenes. During my visit to Tokyo, I was able to see Tekken’s popularity in Japan for myself. Even a full year after release, I witnessed an abundance of merchandise and advertisements. After all, Tekken is one of the many gaming treasures of Japan. Finally, the ending of the Tekken 8 plot is the biggest giveaway about this new era. Kazuya and Jin have a final showdown, where they both obtain maximum power. This showdown was unlike any other, because it ended in Jin’s victory and the extinction of the Devil Gene from both father and son. Jin conquered his Devil Gene and combined it with the Kazama clan’s power, resulting in an Angel form he used to defeat, but not kill, his father. Afterwards, both father and son became normal human beings. Of course, Reina is still out there with her Devil Gene. Perhaps she will be the protagonist of Tekken’s next installment. As of now, there is a big measure of uncertainty of the franchise’s success. Many Tekken players are concerned that the series will go into the dumps or get poorly rebooted in the near future. �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 Opinion 17 DC Comics’ Renaissance of Zatanna Zatara By Leah Smith Why you should read Zatanna comic books Editor-in-chief As part of DC Comics’ latest comic initiative, “All-In”, the company will release what they call act two of the “All-In” initiative called “Next Level”. This next phase of the current DC Comics era is set to take place after the conclusion of “DC K.O.,” which is the ongoing multiversal tournament event set to conclude on March 4. What “Next Level” will bring is a wave of brand new comic runs featuring characters that are beloved by DC Comics fans including, but not limited to, Batwoman, Deathstroke, Firestorm, Lobo and Zatanna. These new comic runs are especially exciting since most of the characters haven’t been featured prominently on their own for some time Except of course, the mistress of magic herself, Zatanna. For those who don’t know who Zatanna is, Zatanna is the daughter of Giovanni Zatara, who’s is known as one of the most powerful magic users across the DC Universe. He trained Zatanna to not only follow in his footsteps but to exceed the power he had. In the current continuity, Giovanni Zatara is dead but Zatanna lives on to continue her father’s legacy of being a stage magician and a powerful magic user. Her most iconic ability is that she talks backwards to cast spells. I am over the moon that we are getting a brand new run for Zatanna because not only is she one of my favorite comic book characters, but the run will also be written and illustrated by Jamal Campbell. Campbell is a gifted artist who is most known for his exteriors that are usually featured on variant covers. However, he has done interior work including Joshua Williamson’s Superman and his own run of Zatanna that came out last year. Campbell’s Zatanna run was one of the best comic runs I read in 2025. Not only is the art exceptional but Campbell’s voice for Zatanna matches the whimsical edge of the zany and complex magical world of the DC Universe. Campbell also puts Zatanna into a different role than she’s had before in which she’s a mentor for a group of magic apprentices who also happen to be her stage crew for when she goes on tour as a stage magician. I really enjoy that aspect a lot since I think that Zatanna should gain a prominent leadership role such in more stories. It seems that DC has been giving Zatanna a major push in terms of comic book appearances and relevance. Not only was Jamal Campbell’s first Zatanna run from 2025 a major boost for her, but 2024’s “Zatanna: Bring Down the House” by Mariko Tamaki was also enjoyable. “Zatanna: Bring Down the House” is a five-issue mini series under DC’s black label imprint. This story takes place out of the main DC continuity but still has that zany edginess that Zatanna embraces. I’d honestly recommend this book as a first read for any new comic readers who want to get into the character because even though this story takes place outside of regular continuity, Tamaki perfectly captures Zatanna’s values for independence and confidence. On top of that, the art by Javier Rodriguez is gorgeous and displays the mind-bending world of magic in the DCU. Aside from the two recent solo comic runs she’s had, Zatanna has also been playing a larger role in recent DC Comics events including the current “DC K.O.” event. “DC K.O.” is a multiversal tournament in which the competitors must eliminate their opponents through fights and challenges. Whoever wins will be deemed King Omega and will not only have the power to defeat Darkseid, one of DC’s big bads, but will also gain the power to rewrite reality. Zatanna was chosen as one of the 36 challengers; however, she lost in issue three of the event to the Joker. It’s still cool to see Zatanna in one of these events. Not to mention, she played a big supporting role in the last big DC event, “Absolute Power”, which was the prelude to the current “All-In” era DC is currently in. Zatanna went through a lot in that event including teaming up with Superman in his run where she had to fight to get both her powers and her soul back. Overall, I’d say that this renaissance era for Zatanna Zatara has been quite a success -- a shocking one at that because as a huge fan of this character, I was not aware until the new comic run was announced that Zatanna was getting this much love from DC Comics. I’d really love to see her make her first live-action film appearance in James Gunn’s DCU in the future. Make sure to check out the upcoming Zatanna run by Jamal Campbell coming to comic stores on April 29. Screenshot from DC Comics website. �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 Opinion A review of "Purple Rain" by Prince By Natalia Williams Staff writer A new semester means new album reviews. This week, I got the idea to review this album due to the fact that it is currently trending on social media because of the last episode of “Stranger Things.” If you haven’t guessed it yet, the album that I am reviewing this week is Prince’s “Purple Rain.” Now, this isn't my first time listening to this album, as I did grow up with Prince, this album and the movie “Purple Rain” my entire life, but I haven’t listened to it from front to back in a while. So, in honor of the album trending and Prince making a comeback, here are my thoughts on one of the most iconic albums of all time. 1. “Lets Go Crazy”: 9/10 This song is a perfect album opener in my opinion. It is upbeat and gets you excited for what it is to come. The sound is definitely 80s pop which is one of my favorite eras of pop music. This song was the opening scene and song for the movie “Purple Rain,” and it is one of my favorite movie openings. I remember this song being a favorite of mine when I was little so when I do listen it brings back a lot of memories. I love the guitar breakdown at the end in this one and I love the production as a whole. Overall this song is a great starter and I give it a 9/10. 2. “Take Me With U”: 7/10 At the start this one has a different vibe from the first but doesn’t stray away from that 80s pop sound like mentioned earlier. I don't listen to this one much at all, so listening to it again is like a first time listen for me. The strings in this one are probably my favorite part because I love a good string ensemble. Overall, I have no strong thoughts about this one. I don't think it's a repeat for me but it isn't a bad song at all. I give this one a 7/10 only because I don't see myself listening to it often. 3. “The Beautiful Ones”: 10/10 From the start this is a different vibe than the last two. It is much more R&Besque without being R&B if that makes any sense. This one has so many memories in my mind so this one is special nostalgia wise. The scene where he performs this song in the movie is one of my favorite parts of the movie. I have no clue why but it makes me giggle. Overall such a great song and that is why it gets the first 10/10. I am obsessed with the guitar in this song and his vocals at the end really sell the emotional value of the song. 4. “Computer Blue”: 7/10 This is another one that I don’t listen to often or at all. I don’t remember this part of the movie exactly but aside from that it isn't a bad song. Once again, like all of the other parts, the guitar is amazing. In the beginning, I could be going crazy, but it sounded very familiar to “Beat It” by Michael Jackson. After researching and prior knowledge of how Prince operated, he most definitely did not sample it, but it was something that caught my attention. Overall, this song follows the same vibe as the other three tracks which I appreciate. I don't see myself replaying this song often but it is a great song. 5. “Darling Nikki”: 10/10 We have made it to the part of the album where they are back to back bangers. I vividly remember this song from my childhood (which is wild because I should not have been listening to this song when I was little) but it is so good. I vividly remember this part of the movie as well. This one is slowed down much like “The Beautiful Ones” but they have two completely different meanings. I am in love with the instrumentals and production of this song. Overall, I have been obsessed with this song for years which makes it earn first 10/10. 6. “When Doves Cry”: 100/10 My. Song. Forever. I remember listening to this song very frequently when I was little and it has been in my top 20 for favorite songs of all time. This was one of the songs on this album featured in “Stranger Things” which is why it is trending which makes my eyes twitch but I can't gatekeep this song…sadly. The vibe goes back to the 80s pop sound and back to the upbeat sound. This is definitely my favorite song on the album and that is why it breaks the scale. I always say I am dramatic when I break the scale on songs but this one deserves it. I am kinda happy it is trending because people will discover the album as a whole, but my eye twitches because people will immediately think I discovered this song from “Stranger Things”...but I did not…I’ve known this song since birth, I know ball and musical greatness. Anyway, it's an amazing song. 7. “I Will Die 4 U”: 9/10 This half of the album is incredibly nostalgic and I vividly remember this song from childhood. This was one of the ones my family would have on repeat and it would come on the radio more specifically, 105.3 WDAS which is a radio station that plays R&B throwbacks. This song is on the slower side but still has an upbeat feel to it. Like the other songs, I love the production of this one a lot. Overall, no strong thoughts on this one great song. 8. “Baby I’m a Star”: 10/10 The transition between this one and “I Will Die 4 U” isn’t something I noticed until now. It took me by surprise and I was very confused for a second. This one is another track that was trending for a few due to the dance the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have and people were doing on TikTok. I love this song, it is upbeat and makes me want to bust a move. This is very niche but when I was a dancer this was a song that was often used in a lot of competitions, which makes sense it is a great song to choreograph too. This is the second to last track which I think should've been higher, but it doesn't bother me that much. This part of the movie is again, one of my favorites and I think it was the perfect choice to end the movie with. This one gets another 10/10. 9. “Purple Rain”: 100/10 This one is probably one of the most 18 iconic Prince songs. When you think about Prince, this is probably the first song you think about. This one was also featured in “Stranger Things” which also prompted the song to trend. Specifically on TikTok, the lyrics “I never wanted to be your…weekend lover.” and “Such a shame our friendship had to end.” Anyway, this song is one of the most perfect songs of all time in my opinion. The title track at the end makes sense for this album. I can't explain why, but in my head it belongs at the end. It closes the album perfectly. The minute or two guitar solo in this song is absolute perfection and is the reason why this song broke the scale again. I constantly repeat it over and over. It is just too good and I think it is one of my favorite guitar solos of all time. The entire eight minutes of this song is straight perfection and deserves to be listened to in its entirety. Overall, this song is in the top 10 of my favorite songs of all time and once again…no, I did not discover this song from TikTok or “Stranger Things”...this is another one I've known since birth. Overall, I'd give this album a solid 10/10. The tracks flow together so nicely and the album tells a complete story in my opinion. The movie is also phenomenal and I 10/10 recommend. I hope people discover this album and Prince as a whole rather than just the two trending tracks because it is just amazing. This album is incredibly nostalgic for me and it will continue to be on my list of my top 10 best albums of all time. What should Natalia review next? Let us know! �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 Sports 19 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: andrew.marshallsay@wilkes.edu Wilkes football: 2025-26 season in review By Andrew Marshallsay Managing Editor Another season has come and gone, and now for the Wilkes University football team, the focus moves on to 2026. With three consecutive bowl appearances in their first three Landmark Conference seasons, the Colonels have impressed thus far against new competition since leaving the Middle Atlantic Conference in 2023. ‘One Team-One Family,’ ‘A Brotherhood,’ and ‘We Over Me’ are just some of the ways Wilkes football players describe their team. However this past season, those quotes were on display every time the Colonels were on the field. Finishing the campaign with a 7-4 record, and their second bowl win in three seasons, it was a memorable season for all involved. After a 2-2 start to the 2024 campaign, the Colonels were able to eventually pull it out and finish with a winning record, but losing in their bowl game. This season began like an almost carbon copy of 2024. Going 2-2 in the first four games of the season, the Colonels then went 4-2 in conference play, clinching a bowl game berth and eventually grabbing a huge win on the road at Shenandoah University. One player that proved to be clutch all year was kicker Nick Volpone. Volpone was able to stay nearly perfect for the entirety of the campaign on field goals and extra point attempts. His near perfect season started in the Mayor’s Cup game against King’s College. After a two day delay due to thunderstorms, the Colonels took the win off of a Volpone field goal in the dying minutes. “This season was personally extra sweet after having the opportunity to seal the deal in the Mayor’s Cup to start the year,” Volpone said. The way the season ended for Volpone was poetic in more ways than one. He King prepares his offense for a play against Catholic on Oct. 14, 2025. started off his senior season with the aforementioned field goal over King’s, and he ended his collegiate career with a game-winning field goal with mere seconds remaining in the game against Shenandoah to clinch the bowl game win. “With all the great coaching and big plates by the team, I was able to keep this form and use those opportunities to make a direct impact. It was amazing to end my career with another game-winning kick to put us over Shenandoah in the Cape Henry Bowl,” Volpone stated. Nailing 14 out of 16 on field goal attempts, Volpone finished his collegiate career with 28, according to Wilkes Athletics record books. However, he was perfect in PATS, nailing all 26 extrapointers he had the chance to take. Another player that seemed to always make a difference was quarterback Cooper King. Following the departure of Xavier Powell after he graduated last season, King won the starting job out of training camp, and had it for the entire year. It was a season of firsts for King, most notably it was his first season as a collegiate starter. And for the senior, the transition from backup to starter didn’t seem to be any issue. “The transition was easy. Not starting for three years made me more knowledgeable about our offense and over the position of quarterback,” King said. He led the charge for the Colonels offense, which proved to be quite potent at times despite being young. "We were young as an offense, and it took us a little white to find our identity, but towards the middle of the season, we started executing and putting the pieces together. To be able to finish 7-4 with a postseason win to close out our season, that meant a lot to us as a team, especially the seniors who played their last game ever.” For Biever, he cited the growth of the team as one the things he was most impressed with. “From guys like Cohen Creswell who was a sophomore this year, who we recruited as a linebacker who led the league in sacks. His work ethic shows everyone else what they need to be doing,” Biever said. “Leaders like Tyler Wetzel and Rob Barbieri do a really good job at keeping those guys in line, doing what they need to do and showing up everyday, I think it’s just a really consistent approach for a young football team to come out and learn every rep, every opportunity, every moment we get together to get better and compete.” As for now, the team will only grow in size as the Colonels set out for their end of semester recruiting trips. With more than 40 new recruits expected to hit the field next season for Wilkes, their strength in numbers will only continue to improve. The Colonels will begin the next phases of their 2026 season this upcoming spring with spring camp. Then, later in the summer, it’s go time as the Colonels chase a Landmark Conference title. Volpone prepares for a field goal against Catholic on Oct. 14, 2025. Photos by Jake Mills �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 Sports 20 Super Bowl LX preview: New England vs. Seattle By Vin Santoro Sports Writer Super Bowl 60 (SBLX), featuring the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, will feature a physical, backand-forth battle with championship stakes on the sidelines. This game is full of excitement and opportunity for both teams. Seattle is searching for its first Super Bowl win since 2013, while New England is looking for their first Lombardi trophy since 2018. The last time these two teams met in the Super Bowl was in 2015, where the Patriots won 28-24. Back then it was Russell Wilson and Tom Brady, but tis time around, it's a clash between MVP candidate Drake Maye and Sam Darnold. The Seahawks signed Darnold, their current quarterback, to a three-year contract this past offseason. Over the last two seasons, Darnold has won the most games out of any active quarterback and has brought Seattle to their first Super Bowl in 11 years. The story of Darnold is an inspiring one, as he was once with the New York Jets. He was then traded to the Carolina Panthers, where he had a short stint before the San Francisco 49ers picked him up Darnold to back up Brock Purdy. Darnold then signed with the Minnesota Vikings and won 14 games last season. The Vikings decided not to retain Darnold because they wanted to see what first round pick JJ McCarthy had after being out with an injury his first season in the NFL. Now, Darnold is one win away from being a Super Bowl champion with Seattle. In his eighth season with his fifth team, amongst quarterbacks such as Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield, and Lamar Jackson in the 2018 draft class, Darnold has made a Super Bowl before all of them. Drake Maye, quarterback of the Patriots, has been an MVP candidate all season and continues to find different ways to win without relying on eyepopping statistics. Maye has thrown four touchdowns and two interceptions, and now leads New England to a match vs the league's top-ranked defense. Mike Vrabel has done a tremendous job with the Patriots in his first season as their head coach and has put himself in the conversation as Coach of the Year. Previously, the last two seasons have been uncharacteristic by Patriots' standards as they finished with a record of 8-26. Immediately after hiring Vrabel, they won 14 games this year while defeating the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, and Denver Broncos in the playoffs. Vrabel has changed the culture in New England and has restored their old ways of winning. Seattle’s defense in the playoffs has been very successful in forcing turnovers and getting the ball back to the offense, which will be something to look forward to in this Super Bowl. Will Seattle’s defense dictate the outcome of the Super Bowl? Or will Maye and his rushing ability be able to avoid sacks while using his athleticism to his advantage? Maye has had issues with ball security this postseason. In each game, he has thrown an interception along with six total fumbles, three of which he lost. New England’s road to the Super Bowl has been much different than Seattle’s. Coming off a 10-7 win over the Broncos, where the home team did not have starting quarterback Bo Nix due to a season-ending ankle injury. Seattle is coming off a dominant win over the 49ers and a gutsy win over the Rams. Super Bowl LX will be one to remember as both of these teams clash against each other for the first time since 2015. RHP Shawn Armstrong - one-year contract with Cleveland (CLE) UT Willi Castro - two-year contract with Colorado (COL) RHP Kyle Finnegan - two-year contract with Detroit (DET) RHP Kenley Janson - one-year contract with DET RHP Tatsuya Imai - three-year contract with Houston (HOU) OF Lane Thomas - one-year contract with Kansas City (KC) RHP Kirby Yates - one-year contract with Los Angeles Angels (LAA) RHP Edwin Diaz - three-year contract with Los Angeles Dodgers (LAD) OF Kyle Tucker - four-year contract with LAD RHP Pete Fairbanks - one-year contract with Miami (MIA) 3B Christopher Morel - one-year contract with MIA C Victor Caratini - one-year contract with Minnesota (MIN) 3B Bo Bichette - three-year contract with New York Mets (NYM) 1B Ryan O’Hearn - two-year contract with Pittsburgh (PIT) RHP Dustin May - one-year contract with St. Louis (STL) 3B Kazuma Okamoto - four-year contract with Toronto (TOR) RHP Dylan Cease - seven-year contract with TOR TRADES: 3B Nolan Arenado - traded from St. Louis (STL) to Arizona (ARI) RHP Shane Baz - traded to Baltimore (BAL) from Tampa Bay (TB) RHP Sonny Gray - Traded to BOS from STL IF Luisangel Acuna - traded to CWS from New York Mets (NYM) RHP Edward Cabrera - Traded to CHC from Miami (MIA) OF Josh Lowe - traded to Los Angeles Angels (LAA) from TB OF Luis Robert Jr. - traded to NYM from CWS RHP Freddy Peralta - traded to NYM from Milwaukee (MIL) LHP Ryan Weathers - traded to NYY from MIA 2B Brandon Lowe - traded to PIT from TB OF Gavin Lux - traded to TB from CIN LHP Mackenzie Gore - traded to Texas (TEX) from Washington (WSH) Major League Baseball: Free agency & trade tracker By Andrew Marshallsay Managing Editor The Major League Baseball (MLB) offseason is in full swing. With free agent signings and trades galore, teams are gearing up before they take the diamond in the spring. FREE AGENT SIGNINGS: RHP Mark Leiter Jr. - one-year contract with the Athletics (ATH) RHP Raisel Iglesias - one-year extension with Atlanta (ATL) RHP Robert Suarez - three-year contract with ATL 1B Pete Alonso - five-year contract with Baltimore (BAL) LHP Ranger Suarez - five-year contract with Boston (BOS) 3B Alex Bregman - five-year contract with Chicago Cubs (CHC) RHP Seranthony Dominguez - twoyear contract with Chicago White Sox (CWS) LHP Caleb Ferguson - one-year contract with Cincinnati (CIN) CONTRACT EXTENSIONS: RHP Raisel Iglesias - one-year extension with (ATL) OF Cody Bellinger - five-year extension with New York Yankees (NYY) DH Kyle Schwarber - five-year extension with Philadelphia (PHI) C J.T. Realmuto - three-year extension with PHI RHP Michael King - three-year extension with San Diego (SD) 1B Josh Naylor - five-year extension with Seattle (SEA) �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 Sports 21 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins: Mid-season check-in By Andrew Marshallsay Managing Editor It’s been a season to remember thus far for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Head Coach Kirk MacDonald’s Penguins currently sit with a 27-12-2-2 record, second-best in the Atlantic Division, as well as third-best in American Hockey League (AHL) standings. The Penguins have been able to find success in almost every facet of their game this season. However, their National Hockey League (NHL) affiliate Pittsburgh Penguins and East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) affiliate Wheeling Nailers have, too. This has led to a number of call-ups, reassignments and trades involving Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Penguins legends Sam Poulin and Valtteri Puustinen were both traded within the last two months. They were the longest serving players on the current roster, as they both made their debuts in 2021. Both ranked highly on the all-time scoring lists for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, with Puustinen finishing his Penguins career fourth all time in points while suited up for the Black and Gold. There have been a number of other moves too involving top-scoring forwards Danton Heinen and Phil Tomasino, who were traded to Columbus and Philadelphia, respectively. Both had very productive, but relatively Vatteri Puustinen, Phil Tomasino and Gabe Klassen celebrate a goal against the Charlotte Checkers on Dec. 14, 2025 Penguins defense has been led in large part by their young guns, Chase Pietila, Owen Pickering and Finn Harding. Veterans Alex Alexyev, Sebastian Aho, and captain Phil Kemp have been solid all season when they’re in the lineup. However, like their forwards, the Penguins defense has been no stranger to the injury bug. On the goaltending side, it’s been the Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist show this season. Murashov, already has shown Pittsburgh what he’s made of, playing in a number of games already this season for the big club. Blomqvist has NHL experience as well, playing the majority of his 2024-25 season in Pittsburgh. For both this season though, they rank near the top in all goaltending categories. Murashov and Blomqvist have been exactly short stints with the Penguins, and were a big factor for their success in the first half of 2025-26. But the normal faces have done their jobs to the surprise of no one. Avery Hayes, Rutger McGroarty, Tristan Broz and Avery Hayes have all contributed in big ways this season. All but Hayes have been in the NHL at points this season as well for Pittsburgh. For Broz, he’s set to represent Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton in the AHL All Star Classic. However, Broz is out of the lineup after suffering an injury, and his status for the time Avery Hayes with the puck in the offensive zone against the Charlotte Checkers on Dec. 14, 2025 Vatteri Puustinen lines up ahead of an offensive zone faceoff against the Charlotte Checkers on Dec. 14, 2025 Photos by Andrew Marshallsay being is unknown. After Broz’s injury, the center-core is thin, but players such as Gabe Klassen and Atley Calvert have remained steady in the faceoff dot and in general as well. Despite the number of trades involving the team, as well as a gluttony of injuries here in 2025-26, the Penguins have remained for the most part, steady. A big part of their game this season has been their solid defensive core. Possibly the deepest core of the team, the as advertised, and are proving quickly that they have bright futures. For Murashov, he’s set to represent the Penguins in the AHL All Star Classic next month alongside Broz. Returning to the ice this Saturday, the Penguins will look to get back into first place in the Atlantic Division with a matchup against Syracuse. Puck drop against the Crunch is set for 6:05 p.m. from Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza. �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 HAYLEE BOUCHARD Forward - Women's Ice Hockey Bouchard's eight-point weekend against Neumann (3G, 5A) helped the Colonels sweep their MAC rivals on Jan. 16-17. Thoughts on the games against Neumann? Throughout the two games, we sort of had a slow start but once we found our rhythm, we started to excel. Each line was impactful, whether they were setting up the next line for a solid shift, or finishing on their chances. Do you have any pre-game rituals? I get dressed left to right, and I always retape after warmups. Sports 22 COLIN ACKERMAN Guard - Men's Basketball Ackerman's 16 points and six rebounds in the Colonels' win against Goucher College on Jan. 16 earned him Athlete of Week. How does it feel winning back to back conference games and specifically your performance against Goucher Great to start stacking wins again especially in conference play. Both Goucher and Scranton were good team wins with great execution on both ends of the floor from all guys. Getting out to good starts allowed us to lead the majority of both games and play how we want to. Any pregame rituals? Who is your role model? Nothing crazy usually just go through the same warm up routine and walk through with the team on the court. Any specific goals for the remainder of the season or any that you hit this season already? My parents are my role models. My role model is definitely my grandpa, as he has inspired me to become the player and person I am today. As a team, we obviously want to win the MAC, and go as far as we can in the NCAA tournament. Who is your role model? Any specific goals for the remainder of the season? Most importantly making a deep playoff push and overall winning the Landmark �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 Sports WOMEN’S HOCKEY SCHEDULE OCT 31 3:00 P.M. – AT CORTLAND – CORTLAND, NY NOV 7 7:00 P.M. – AT KING’S COLLEGE (PA) – WILKES-BARRE, PA NOV 8 3:00 P.M. – AT KING’S COLLEGE (PA) – WILKES-BARRE, PA NOV 14 2:00 P.M. – VS LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 15 3:30 P.M. – VS LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 21 3:10 P.M. – AT HOOD COLLEGE – FREDERICK, MD NOV 22 3:30 P.M. – VS HOOD COLLEGE – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX DEC 2 6:00 P.M. – AT ELMIRA COLLEGE – ELMIRA, NY DEC 5 4:50 P.M. – VS STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX DEC 6 4:50 P.M. – VS STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 3 1:00 P.M. – AT UTICA UNIVERSITY – UTICA, PA JAN 4 1:00 P.M./4:00P.M. – AT UTICA UNIVERSITY – UTICA TOURNAMENT (CONSOLATION/FINAL) - UTICA, PA JAN 30JAN 5:0010PP.M. .M. – ATP.M. LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – ANNVILLE, PA SPORTSPLEX 3:30 – VS ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA JAN 31 3:00 PP.M. .M. – AT STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – STEVENSON, MD JAN 11 3:30 P.M. – VS ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX FEB 6 2:00 PP.M. .M. – VS NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX 16.M.6:00 P.M. – AT NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – ASTON, PA FEB 7 JAN 3:00 PP.M. – AT ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – GLENSIDE, PA JAN 17 2:00 P.M. – ATCOLLEGE NEUMANN – ASTON, PA FEB 13 3:00 P.M. – VS KING’S (PA)UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 23 6:00 P.M. – AT ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – READING, PA FEB 14 5:00 P.M. – VS ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 24 2:00 P.M. – AT ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – FEB 20 7:00 P.M. – AT HOOD COLLEGE – FREDERICK, MD READING, PA JAN 30 5:00 P.M. – AT LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – ANNVILLE, PA JAN 31 3:00 P.M. – AT STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – STEVENSON, MD FEB 6 2:00 P.M. – VS NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX FEB 7 3:00 P.M. – AT ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – GLENSIDE, PA FEB 13 3:00 P.M. – VS KING’S COLLEGE (PA) – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX FEB 14 5:00 P.M. – VS ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX FEB 20 7:00 P.M. – AT HOOD COLLEGE – FREDERICK, MD MEN’S HOCKEY SCHEDULE JAN 30 4:50 PP.M. .M. – VS LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 31 3:30 PP.M. .M. – VS STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – TOYO TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX FEB 6 7:00 PP.M. .M. – AT NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – ASTON, PA FEB 7 7:00 PP.M. .M. – VS ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – TOYO TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX FEB 13 7:00 PP.M. .M. – AT KING’S COLLEGE ((PA) – WILKES-BARRE, PA FEB 14 5:00 P.M. – AT ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – READING, PA FEB 20 4:50 P.M. – AT MISERCORDIA UNIVERSITY – DALLAS, PA 23 �The Beacon - January 28, 2026 24 . . . R O F G N I K O O L E R WE’ WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS.. DESIGNERS..... MANAGERS...... News,La&E Opinion,Sports Graphics, Layout Distribution Advertising CONTACT: KALEN.CHURCHER@WILKES.EDU � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource This is Wilkes University's Beacon Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the Beacon's predecessors, The Bucknell Bison Stampede, 1934-1935 and The Bucknell Beacon, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>. Missing Issues: 1947 August 8th 1947 September 5th 1947 October 3rd 1947 October 17th 1947 October 31st 1947 November 21st 1947 December 19th 1948 September 9th 1950 April 28th 1953 April 10th 1962 February 2nd Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon, 2026 January 28 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/b2cfe8de260203b4c7b8d819ff4851b5.pdf 81fb121feb0e80fd02c331a2bc7e56b7 PDF Text Text The Beacon - November 19, 2025 THE BEACON Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Volume 78, Issue 7 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Working together to fight hunger Community members and Wilkes University students worked together to collect donations for the Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank. For story and more photos, see page 6. Photo by Leah Smith �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Student government notes: Nov. 12 By Alli Lussi Staff writer Student Government (SG) met last week to discuss club recognition, a fund request and the struggles of mental health. The meeting first started with the treasurer's report, at a grand total of $7,175.47. Pat McGoff spoke first at the meeting, addressing the importance of getting help if you are struggling with mental health issues. McGoff, who is responsible for every dining area on campus, had a recent run-in with mental health struggles that led him to take a break from his everyday life. “It never happens to you, it’s always someone else,” McGoff. He also spoke about how going into the adult world is scary, and that if anyone ever needs someone to talk to, he is here. McGoff ’s office is located on the third floor of the Henry Student Center. He welcomed all students with open arms and invited anyone in need of venting to come speak to him. McGoff did say he would like to push this forward and get the word out that people care. Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) came in for week two of their presentations to be considered an official SQ-recognized club. The organization aims to support all athletes and coaches through times of hardship, as well as support them through life through their faith. FCA was approved. ISA came in for the last order of external business, to discuss a possible fund request for week one of one. The fund request is for a Japanesestyle dinner that will be held on Nov. 21. The dinner will be held in Ross Hall and will display homemade foods crafted by members of the organization. The dinner is being hosted in hopes of sparking interest around Japanese culture. There is also discussion regarding a possible new club on campus that caters to East Asian Culture. SG approved the requested funds for the event. The meeting ended with remarks from the student body president and the next meeting will take place on Nov. 19. Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events NICU Donation Drive Wilkes University’s Passan School of Nursing is hosting a donation drive to benefit infants being discharged from the GWV NICU into foster care. Contribute new baby essentials or monetary donations to help support babies as they transition to new homes. Donation boxes are located in the Stark Learning Center’s Clinical Simulation Nursing Center and on the second floor outside rooms N230 and N235. Donations will also be collected in the SUB on Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. *** Free Dunkin' and Cookies As Career Development Month comes to a close, the Center for Career Development & Internships invites students to stop one last event for the semester. Swing by the SUB parking lot (outside the CCDI office) between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Nov. 20. and grab FREE Dunkin’ and cookies from the Dunkin’ Cruiser while learning about upcoming opportunities through CCDI Opportunities include internships, job fairs, professional workshops, CPA peer support and more. *** Surprise a Friend with a Finals Care Package Show someone you care during finals week. WEBS is selling Survival Kits for Success — packed with cozy and comforting goodies like fuzzy socks, mugs, snacks, hot chocolate, lotion and school supplies. They make the perfect gift for a friend, roommate or significant other who needs a little support to finish the semester strong. All proceeds benefit the WEBS Summer Camp, which provides fun, hands-on science experiences for local 6th–12th graders. *** Chick-Fil-A Nugget ale Help support FBLA through a fundraiser by purchasing Chick-Fil-A nuggets. The club is selling 64-count nugget trays with a variety of sauces for $40. Students will be selling in the student center this week but orders can also be placed by contacting a member of the club. Delivery of the orders will happen on Dec. 2, right in time for finals. *** Diploma Ordering Time for May 2026 Grads Bachelor's Degree candidates, the time is near to complete your Diploma Order information and Degree Audit Review for processing for May 2026 Commencement. Be sure to run this audit and complete your Diploma Order after you have registered for the Spring 2026 semester to get the most updated information. Please complete your Diploma Order information here: https://etcentral.wilkes. edu/#/form/4 You must complete the Diploma Order form whether you are attending the graduation ceremony or not. When initiating the diploma order, also be sure to upload and attach your Degree Audit to the form as it will go electronically to your Advisor for approval. The deadline to submit your Diploma Order for May 2026 commencement is Dec. 16. Be sure to add GRD 000 A (Graduation Audit) CRN 10001 to your spring registration. The link for May 2026 grads to order their Cap & Gown will open on Dec. 1. Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Upcoming Events: Fall 2025 November 26 - Thanksgiving recess begins December 1- Classes reume 8 - Final exams begin 15 - Final exams end 22 - Intersession begins Have a safe and anjoyable semester! Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 News 3 Faculty, students seek transparency regarding budget deficit By Leah Smith Editor-in-chief Frustration over a $7 million budget deficit and a lack of transparency have grown since university President Greg Cant’s initial email earlier this fall. A number of students, faculty and staff have reported feeling in the dark about university discussions and decisionmaking surrounding remedying the financial situation and avoiding a similar situation in the future. “We want to be involved in the budget crisis we’re in right now, but we’ve been given no access to any data,” said Ben Toll, an associate professor of political science and chair of the Faculty Affairs Council. “...we don’t know where our spending is. We don’t know where the money is out of whack. We just keep being told the same things. “We’re asked for ideas but we don’t have the information to get ideas.” The demographic cliff of students coming to the university and not staying has been an issue since the COVID-19 pandemic, although not exclusive to Wilkes. The university, however, was not prepared for the issue. One of the university’s biggest programs, Colonels Are Covered, has been a reason for some students, especially first-year students, to attend the university. The program has been used as a recruitment tool and currently offers undergraduate students textbooks and course materials paid for by the school. According to Toll, the program has been put on a potential chopping block. “The question would have to be: Does it bring in enough students to justify the cost? “... As far as I’m aware, the decision hasn’t been made yet.” Gutting programs such as Colonels are Covered would not help to solve the issues of a demographic cliff. In his explanation, Toll said that despite consistent new student numbers, the problem lies in keeping students at The Colonels are Covered program has been one of the programs up for discussion to help ease recent budget issues experienced by the university. The program began in fall 2023 and covers undergraduate textbook costs for students. Wilkes. In addition, Toll said there was no substantive planning for the demographic cliff despite knowing about it. “We haven’t been strategic about the way we spend our money. We haven’t been strategic about where we allocate our resources to. We haven’t been engaging in a process of what our vision is as a university to move forward,” Toll said. Rumors surrounding what programs and opportunities may be cut have also swirled throughout the student body. Students have also begun questioning if the information they have been provided is accurate. Discussions about the elimination of programs like Colonels are Covered hit deeply since the original university email led students to believe that student life and activity wouldn’t be affected. According to Logan Colonna and Addie Kresge of the Wilkes Programming Board, board events have already been impacted for this semester because of changes to capital projects funding. Colonna stated that the Programming Board will not be able to afford a spring concert or spring comedian. “We also were given a lesser budget this year… The overall quality of the events we’re able to put on will be lesser quality,” Colonna said. Capital projects, according to Addie Kresge, is a fund used by Student Government, and that fun has taken a hit. This means that student campus improvements have ceased and has affected the allocation of club and organization budgets. Ultimately, Kresge wants the student body to be heard. “I would like to see leftover funds used for anything that enhances student life and success with input from the students,” Kresge said. The Beacon first ran a story on Oct. 29 regarding the university’s budget issues. Cant’s response indicated the university was financially strong. “Every decision we make will focus on the student success, academic excellence and institutional vitality that will lead us into our next century,” he said in an email. When asked for additional input for this story, the president’s office stated they would make no further comment. Kresge reamins fearful that students will, indeed, see their programming decreased. "I fear that students, and student programming, will take a hit as we have seen already over the past few years. When I first started, I had an operating budget that has since been cut in half, where my budget is solely used for offcampus activities for students. Further, Student Government has taken a hit by losing their capital projects fund which has ultimately ceased student campus improvement projects and affected the allocation of club and organization budgets." �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 News 4 Poetry slam welcomes all to be expressive By Leah Smith Editor-in-Chief Get ready to pour your heart out into the mic for Manuscript’s Slam Poetry night. The event takes place at 6 p.m. on Nov. 21 in the Kirby Hall Salon. The Manuscript Society is Wilkes University’s creative writing and visual arts magazine that has been running since 1947. The event will provide students, regardless of major and writing experience, with the opportunity to write and read out whatever they want spanning from genres such as poetry, stand-up and even musical performance. Kylie Kilvitis, an assistant editor of the Manuscript Society, came up with the idea. Kilvitis wanted a night where any student could speak their mind creatively and destress whatever is on their mind. “I believe this event can show how writing can be a calming thing even if it’s not your own reading,” Kilvitis said. Sydney Ahrberg, the president of the Manuscript Society, explained how more students outside of the English and other humanities departments have been involved in Manuscript events for the past few years. “These sorts of events have been a nice way to expand our horizons, both in terms of our reach on campus and the perspectives we get within the club. So I'd say I'm hoping this event can help further reach students who might not imagine themselves as being writers, but might find that they enjoy it.” Additionally, the regulations on the formats students perform or read from are intentionally indefinite. Thus, giving students freedom to perform or read whatever format they feel most comfortable with. “We’re leaving any requirements for the readings to be pretty vague, so that people are free to read whatever they find best to channel their emotions. I’m excited to hear whatever people read.” Ahrberg said. Poetry is something that not all students are into, which is why Manuscript wanted to make this event more than an average poetry slam event which is why they incorporated other creative formats to be read aloud to attendees. Music, of course, is a live creative format that not only draws attention to crowds but is also therapeutic and productive like other formats of creativity. The Manuscript’s layout and copyeditor, Alivia Serkosky, not only assists with layout but also has a knack for music. Serkosky said that for her contribution to the event she would be playing the guitar. “Personally, as a musician, I think seeing some pieces set to music (or played on guitar, as I will be) would be extremely welcoming. Music is a form of poetry.” Whether you’re interested in reading or listening to what your fellow students have in their minds, be sure to check out the Manuscript’s Slam Poetry Night. Any further questions about the event can be directed to magazine@wilkes.edu Manuscript Society SLAM PPOETRY OETRY NNIGHT IGGHT NNOVEMBER OVEM VEMBBER 2211STT 6-7 P.M P. M Music Mus sic Kirby K irby Salon n = 2 202 02 S R River iver S St, t, W Wilkes-Barre, ilkes-B Barre, P PA A Stand-up S tand d-up p Poetry Poe etry y For F or questions: qu uestio ons: Manuscript@wilkes.edu M anuscript@wilkes.e edu 18701 Times flies, especially when you're having fun By Kaydia Wright Staff writer With the end of the semester and finals just around the corner, it can be easy to forget about the good old days. That’s why on Nov. 13, the Wilkes University Programming Board put together an event to help the students walk down memory lane and enjoy a little nostalgia for the night. Time Flies let students take a journey back to the early 2000s with activities such as tie-dying, Just Dance and simply indulging in some snow cones. “My favorite part about the event was definitely the tie-dying,” said Katelyn Helmer, a first-year student in attendance. “It was a lot of fun, and the food was really good too.” The group provided mac and cheese, chicken tenders, snacks and candies that brought back many memories for the students who attended. There was a lot of reminiscing happening to make this event possible as well. “I originally thought about this event as a way to have a night where we could relive our past (when we were kids),” said Aly Buchinski, the head of the event. “I put the event together by remembering activities and foods that I did as a kid…” From the classic popcorn machine to the animal plates and even the scrunchies and headbands available for tie-dying, there were lots of memories put into the event. This was also a great experience for the students just to kick back and unwind a bit. Chloe DeGraffenreid, another first-year student said, “The event was surprisingly enjoyable. Tons of diverse options. My favorite part had to be all the little trinkets they supplied. The bracelet making was super nostalgic to do with my friends.” The Programming Board also held a Just Dance competition to go along with the event where the winner took home a Nintendo DS Lite. What's your favorite memory or trend from the past? Let The Beacon know! �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 News 5 Unpacking election results: What might the future hold By Mollie Kuhar Special to The Beacon The 2025 election delivered a mix of predictability and unexpected turns, revealing both voter frustration and shifting political currents across the country. While many anticipated challenges for the Republican Party, largely driven by national gridlock and widespread dissatisfaction with federal and state governance, the scale of their losses surprised even seasoned observers. From national contests to local races in places like Luzerne County, this year’s results showed a noticeable change in voter sentiment, raising new questions about what comes next for both major parties. Dr. Ben Toll, associate professor of political science, offered insight into the 2025 election results and what they might signal for the future. According to Toll, the outcome was “expected, and yet surprising at the same time,” noting that voters often judge all levels of government based on the party controlling the federal level. With frustrations running high over the inability of Congress to pass a budget, paired with Pennsylvania’s own budget struggles, the national climate already put Republicans at a disadvantage. Still, Toll emphasized that the extent of their losses was unexpected, especially locally. “The surprising thing is how badly the Republicans lost,” he said, pointing out that Democrats outperformed expectations in many areas, including Luzerne County, where their strong showing marked a notable shift from recent election trends. When asked what the election results mean for the country moving forward, Dr. Toll explained that the outlook is complicated, largely because “neither party is really interested in compromise and governance.” He noted that both Democrats and Republicans are likely to interpret the results in ways that reinforce their existing positions. “Democrats see their victories as proof that Republicans are unpopular,” Toll said, while Republicans may take the losses as motivation to push their agenda harder before the 2026 midterms. In the short term, he believes this dynamic will only reduce the likelihood of bipartisan cooperation. Toll also highlighted a deeper structural issue: much of the nation’s leadership belongs to an older generation making long-term decisions despite, as he put it, “many of them not being alive in 10–20 years.” He emphasized that the political system rewards extreme behavior over collaboration, and stressed the need for citizens to demand better: “The most important thing we can do is expect our politicians to do what is right for the whole, and not play politics with people’s lives.” �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 News 6 Community members, groups, collect food for those in need By Leah Smith Editor-in-Chief Wilkes-Barre citizens gathered recently at the old bank building on 67 Public Square to volunteer and donate to the food drive hosted by several nonprofit organizations. Rural Organizing, Pennsylvanians Together, For Our Future, Affordable Pennsylvania and the Blue Hat Ladies organization coordinated to help collect food for the Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank in Pittston. Anthony Gratter, the Northeastern Pa. regional organizer for Affordable Pennsylvania emphasized the importance of food drives, especially since local food banks have been hit hard due to the delay of November SNAP payments and rising costs of food. “We are all a couple bad months away from needing assistance,” Gratter said. “None of us are a couple good months away from being a billionaire. So it is up to us as a community to support each other when we can because one day we could be the one in need.” Gratter worked closely with Megan Kocher of Rural Organizing to make the event happen. Kocher previously held a food drive and protest on Labor Day that was politically motivated. This food drive was no different for her as she is outraged by the delays of SNAP payments and the cuts to federally-funded food programs. Kocher also highlighted the importance of community aid and described the importance of mutual aid during this time of need as food insecurity worsens as a form of resistance. “It’s essential to come together and support our community members. We should care about each other,” she said. Additionally, Kocher noted current political issues as a factor to why she wanted to make the event happen and why future food drives could be necessary. More than one ton of food was collected this past weekend to help stock the Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank in Pittston. “The Trump administration and congressional republicans have made significant cuts to federal food programs such as SNAP via the One Big Beautiful Bill, so the need for additional food drives will only get stronger.” Volunteers of the event donned orange jackets where they were prompted to either work outside and help bring items into the building or they would be posted to help at the tables and sort items. One of the volunteers, Alexia Kelly, stated that she wanted to get involved right away when she heard about the event. “My hope is that needy families in Wilkes-Barre and other communities are able to have food for the holidays and surrounding weeks,” Kelly said. Additionally, she said if future food drives were to happen, she would be more than happy to help and hopes that more community members would pitch in to help their neighbors and community members. Some Wilkes students also attended the food drive as volunteers including political science major John Sudol. Although several democratic party individuals were involved with volunteering and organizing, Sudol made a point that food security is an issue that should transcend political party lines. “To put it simply, everyone needs to eat. We’ve been facing a massive apathy problem as a whole which is a shame because mutual aid is all that we have left to make sure people don’t go hungry,” Sudol said. According to Kocher, more than one ton of food was ultimately donated to the Weinberg Regional Food Bank. �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment 7 Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor: Kailey.Vogel@wilkes.edu Sound bath bathes participants in relaxation By Juliana Kresge Staff Writer Recently, students and members of the community attended a free sound bath event at the Sordoni Art Gallery, hosted by Erin Banta of Mind Body Soul Healing. “For many years, I was a stay at home mom,” Banta said. “After I got divorced, I decided to start my own sound healing business. Now I host events all around the area.” According to VeryWellMind.com, sound healing sessions (also known as sound baths) are “a form of therapy that seems to have been practiced across almost every ancient civilization.” The practitioner uses singing bowls and other instruments to make powerfully resonant sounds. These singing bowls are metal or glass bowls that emit a deep, ringing tone when struck with a mallet. Supposedly, singing bowls produce healing frequencies that can release stress and tension. At the Wilkes event, participants brought their own yoga mats and sat on the floor waiting for Banta’s instructions. First, participants laid down flat on their backs where Banta instructed everyone to take deep breaths, while tensing and relaxing each part of the body. She then used tuning forks which are used to tune musical instruments. Sound healing practitioners believe that they also release positive energy. Banta gently pressed a tuning fork to the forehead of each person. The result was a brief, yet oddly soothing sensation. Next, Banta told everyone to focus on their chakras. Originally a Hindu and Buddhist concept, chakras are widely used in alternative wellness practices. Healthline.com notes that there are seven main chakras corresponding to different parts of the body. The root chakra at the base of the spine, for example, relates to grounding and stability. When focusing on the root chakra, Banta told participants to imagine that roots were connecting them to the earth. The main event was the sound bath that lasted about half an hour. Sounds from bowls, gongs and chimes produced were very loud and deep; then there was a cascade of higher notes. Listening to a sound bath can be powerfully surreal. At the end, Banta carried a large glass triangle around the room. She held it over each person and played it, producing a high-pitched chiming sound. Then she held up a big tray that was full of sand and shuffled it around which made a swooshing sound like ocean waves. Finally, participants sat up and gathered their thoughts for a few minutes. Banta instructed everyone to drink lots of water for the next few days to flush any toxins out of their systems. Sound baths may not be for everyone. But fans say that they can be deeply relaxing. Students who are interested in this unique experience can stop by the art gallery for another sound bath event on Nov. 20. �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 8 Life, Arts & Entertainment Expanded holiday shopping event features student clubs By Leah Smith Editor in Chief With the fall semester nearing its end and the holiday season quickly approaching, Wilkes University is gearing up for one of its most anticipated annual traditions: the Holiday Shopping Event. This event will return on Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Henry Student Center. It is hosted each year by Student Development and gives students, staff and faculty the opportunity to support small businesses. Now, for the first time, students will be able to support student clubs and organizations as well. This year the event is being led by Student Development Graduate Assistant Kimberly Wheeler, who has taken on the challenge of coordinating every detail from vendor outreach to club involvement. According to Director of Student Success Stacy Mullen, giving the GA the opportunity to run the event is intentional. “Our GA is typically the one who takes the lead on the Holiday Shopping Event each year, which gives them the chance to get real experience planning an event from start to finish,” Mullen explained. “Kim already has a solid background in event planning from her two years as Programming Board President, so she used this year’s event as an opportunity to expand the shopping options by inviting student clubs and organizations to participate.” The addition of student clubs marks one of the biggest changes to the event’s structure. While Kim has been working directly with student organizations to finalize which groups will table, Mullen emphasized that interest has been strong and continues to grow. Clubs will now have the chance not only to engage with the campus community, but also raise funds for future events, conferences or ongoing initiatives. “I’m really excited to have clubs and organizations involved this year,” Mullen said. “It will give them a chance to raise money for things they’re working on and it will also give students, faculty and staff even more options to choose from.” The Holiday Shopping Event is known for bringing a wide variety of vendors to campus, and this year is no different. In previous years, the first floor of the SUB has been packed wall-to-wall with tables offering everything from handmade goods to edible treats. Now, with the expansion to the second floor, the event will accommodate even more sellers. “We have a good mix of vendors again this year, with some returning and a few new ones,” Mullen shared. “There’s usually a wide range of items and price points, so there’s something for everyone. We do our best to invite local small businesses, since they really benefit from the exposure.” Historically, some of the most popular tables have showcased hand-painted glassware, handcrafted jewelry, pet treats, and homemade food items including cookies, popcorn and seasonal baked goods. Students often use the event as a chance to purchase holiday gifts for family and friends, but many admit they also enjoy grabbing a treat for themselves, something fun to lift their spirits as finals approach. “Students have told us they really like being able to get some holiday shopping done without having to leave campus,” Mullen said. “A lot of them also enjoy picking up something small for themselves as a little treat as the semester is wrapping up.” The timing of the event was intentionally chosen to overlap with club hours, allowing more students to stop by between classes, meetings and study sessions. While the event welcomes a wide variety of sellers, Mullen noted that Student Development maintains general guidelines to ensure the environment remains comfortable and inclusive for everyone. “We don’t have a formal policy on what vendors can or can’t sell, but we do ask that everything stays family friendly,” she said. “In general, we just try to make sure nothing would make someone feel uncomfortable or excluded. We want the event to feel welcoming for everyone who stops by.” That focus on community spirit extends beyond campus and into the broader Wilkes-Barre area. Supporting small, local businesses remains one of the event’s core goals, especially during the holiday season. “I hope people leave with a better understanding of how important it is to support small, local businesses,” Mullen said. “Every purchase directly benefits the vendors or clubs who are participating, and that kind of support is really impactful, especially around the holidays.” Each year, the Holiday Shopping Event brings new faces, new crafts, and new opportunities to the Wilkes community and 2025 promises to be its biggest yet. With expanded club involvement, additional vendor space and a renewed focus on celebrating both campus and local talent, the event continues to evolve while staying true to its welcoming, festive roots. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to stop by the SUB on Dec. 2 to browse. 8. Garnish with fresh arugula and enjoy a crispy pumpkin and Gouda slice. 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard Pinch of salt and pepper (to taste) Nikki Presents: What’s Cooking: Fall recipes By Nicole Steinberg Pumpkin Gouda Pizza 12 oz pizza dough (store bought or homemade) 3/4 cup pumpkin puree 1 tbsp olive oil 1 small garlic clove, minced 1/2 tsp thyme 1/4 tsp nutmeg Salt and pepper, to taste 1 1/2 cup shredded Gouda cheese 1/2 cup baby arugula (for topping) Optional toppings: cooked bacon crumbles and toasted pecans 1. Preheat oven to 475° F 2. In a small pan over medium heat, warm olive oil and garlic until fragrant 3. Stir in pumpkin puree, thyme, nutmeg, salt and pepper 4. On a floured service, roll out dough into a 12-inch circle 5. Spread pumpkin sauce over dough. Top with Gouda cheese (bacon/ pecans if you choose to use) 6. Transfer pizza to a baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese has completely melted 7. Remove pizza from oven and let sit for 5 minutes Fall Harvest Salad 2 1/2 - 3 cups mixed greens (arugula or spinach) 1/2 apple, thinly slices 2-4 tbsp dried cranberries/pomegrante 1/4 cup candied pecans or toasted walnuts 1/4 crumbled feta Dressing: (maple dijon vinaigrette) 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil 1 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar 1 1/2 tsp maple syrup 1. Mix together olive oil, vinegar, maple syrup, mustard and seasonings in a bowl 2. In a large bowl, combine greens, apple slices, cranberries, nuts, cheese �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 Each E Ea ch we w week, ek, k th k, tthe e Wi W Wilkes ilk il lke kes Beacon staff f pic ff picks i ks ic k out ttheir th eir i fa ir ffavorite v ri vo r te song of tthe th e we w ek. k Check out k. week. tthis th i we is w week’s ek’s ’ bop ’s bops! o s! op Leah Smith: Black - Pearl Jam Kailey Vogel: I’m with Y You ou Avril Lavigne Andrew Marshallsay: Rock the Casbah - The Clash Natalia Williams: Keep the Faith - Michael Jackson Shawn Carey: Andrew in Drag - The Magnetic Fields Alli Lussi: Fade into You - Mazzy Star Freeze: Matsuri - Fujii Kaze Jake Mills: Cold Crossfade Thaelis Andujar: Earrings Malcolm Todd Mollie Kuhar: White Winterr Hymnal - Fleet Foxes Nikki Steinberg: Beer Never N Broke my Heart - Luke Combs Topher DellaBella: margiela - Ken Carson Shannon Slominski: Born This Way - Lady Gaga Kaydia Wright: Say My Name - Beetlej e Beetlejuice ejuice the Musical GSA holds annual Barnes and Noble fundraiser By Leah Smith Editor-in-Chief On Nov. 16, GSA held its yearly Barnes and Noble fundraiser. GSA members were posted by the front entrance of Barnes and Noble located at the Arena Hub Plaza to offer patrons a paper voucher that would be scanned at the time of purchase. The voucher guaranteed that a percentage of the purchase would go to the Wilkes GSA. GSA President Abby Malin stated that the Barnes and Noble fundraiser has been one of the most successful fundraiser collaborations the club has ever had -- if not the most. “They’ve worked well with us in the past and been very kind to our club,” Malin said. Additionally, Malin wanted to promote literature and community as part of the fundraiser. She believed it would make people feel good to purchase reading materials and other items for a good cause. Psychology major and GSA vice president Kota Brown enjoys the Barnes and Noble venue specifically since the store is popular and draws in a large crowd of people. “With the more people coming in, it’s easier to get people to know about our presence on campus,” Brown said. Brown emphasized the importance of variety in terms of genres and topics that books offer. Similarly to Malin’s answer, Brown believes that by choosing Barnes and Noble as their fundraiser venue, they are not only able to advocate for community and literature, but they are able tomake customers feel good about spending their money. Malin and Brown stated that the money made from Sunday’s fundraiser will be used to fund the club’s largest and most popular events, including bingos and drag show events. As a side note, Leah Smith, editor-inchief of The Beacon, purchased a copy of the J.M. DeMatteis’s “Kraven’s Last Hunt,” a graphic novel from the Amazing Spider-Man comic run. Abby Malin poses with her vouchers for the fundraiser. Photo/Leah Smith �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 10 Life, Arts & Entertainment Thanksgiving Word Search Words to ﬁnd! apple cider corn dinner dressing family friends grace gravy holiday nap parade pie potatoes pumpkin stuffing thanks travel tryptophan turkey vegetables yams �� Credit for these puzzles goes to: www.puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 The Mental Health Beacon: It’s not just you By Gina Harrison Assistant professor, Passan School of Nursing The Mental Health Beacon: It’s Not Just You The end of daylight-saving time signals the long, dark days of winter on our campus. You may notice that you feel more tired, less interested in your social life, and less motivated in general. It’s not just you. There are seasonal changes occurring that influence o u r biology in subtle ways that influence our emotions and energy. So, no, it’s not just you; it’s the lack of light. Sunlight is an important part of our human experience, particularly for regulatory processes. Daylight increases alertness, enhances your mood, and can impact your sleep rhythms. People who have limited access to light, particularly daylight, may experience sleep difficulties, nearsightedness, low levels of vitamin D, immune system changes, and mood changes. Access to daylight is different for people and depends on a number of factors. For example, people who work the night shift and sleep during the day have less access to sunlight, which may result in disruption of circadian rhythms. People who spend a lot of time in artificial light or mostly indoors may also get less exposure to daylight. The reduction in daylight can generate some expected mood fluctuations, but sometimes, it can be more concerning. Seasonal mood changes, particularly symptoms of depression, may occur. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a specifier for Major Depressive Disorder. Many of the symptoms of SAD are similar to those experienced with depression. The difference is the timing. SAD occurs with changing seasons. SAD can occur during the spring/summer, but it is less common than winterpattern SAD. So, how can you know if what you are experiencing is sadness, seasonal changes, SAD, or depression? The overlapping symptoms can make this determination complex. So, when it is more than sadness? There comes a point at which you may consider that your mood concerns are more than sadness and may indicate depression. One of the most important factors to consider is daily functioning. If you are not doing the things that you enjoy and feel genuinely unable to experience pleasure or joy, you may be in need of professional intervention. Sadness is temporary and typically related to something stressful or emotionally upsetting. People may notice disappointment, low mood, and low motivation. It may last a few days to weeks. Typically, sadness resolves with regular coping skills. Coping skills include talking to friends, keeping busy with activities, spending time in nature, exercising, or meditation. Depression is a prevalent, sometimes overwhelming feeling of sadness, loss of interest, and hopelessness. People with depression feel depressed most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, changes in appetite (more or less), sleep pattern changes (too much or not enough), difficulty making decisions, concentrating, feeling unease or restlessness, lack of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed, and even thoughts of selfharm or suicide. Remember, depression is not the result of something that the person did or did not do. It is caused by biological, environmental, and psychological factors, or a combination of these. Most importantly, it is treatable. Depression r e q u i r e s professional treatment. If you, or someone you know is experiencing depression, you can call 988 or visit our campus counseling s e r v i c e s . Treatment can include therapy, medication, or a combination of both. The Wilkes U n i v e r s i t y C o u n s e l i n g Center is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 570-408-4100 or counseling@ wilkes.edu. There is also a university support line at 570-4082428 that is available 24/7 for any student crisis needs. You can find more information and a free online mental health screening at https://w w w. w i l k e s . e du / campus-life/ counseling-center/ index.aspx. �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 Grammy season is back and it’s that time of the year where music lovers all over the country are anticipating the biggest night in music, the 2026 Grammys. This year, the competition is tough with huge artists being nominees like Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter and taking the lead for the most nominations this year, Kendrick Lamar. There are also many first time nominees like YUNGBLUD, KATSEYE and Addison Rae are nominated for the prestigious award this year. This year the awards are going to look slightly different. According to the Grammy’s website, the award process has undergone several changes. The country genre saw big changes with a renaming of a category and 12 a new category being added. The Best Country Album was renamed to Best Contemporary Country Album and the new category, Best Traditional Country Album was added as well. Many think this change was a response to the controversy of Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter” album winning Best Country Album, when the country music community didn’t recognize this album as country, but more of a pop album. Junior nursing major and country director for 90.7 WCLH, Gabrielle Morris shared her thoughts on the country category split. “I think it was a good move. Country music is a versatile genre and with more and more artists looking into experimenting with it, it creates this gray area of what should and shouldn’t be considered “country music”. The creation of this distinction leaves equal opportunity for all to try their luck in the genre” Other categories that were revised were the classical field with composers and lyricists being able to be considered for a Grammy, the packaging field with the Best Recording Package and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package being condensed into one category, Best Recording Package. The category of Best Album Cover was also added. Categories like the coveted Album of the Year and Best New Artist feature the �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 industry’s biggest names. Nominees for Album of the Year include from Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend,” Bad Bunny’s “Debi Tirar Mas Fotos,” Tyler the Creator’s “Chromakopia,” Leon Thomas’s “MUTT,” Lady Gaga’s “Mayhem,” Clipse’s “Let God Sort Em Out,” and Kendrick Lamar’s “GNX.” Music lovers have shared their thoughts on who should take the title Album of the Year this year. 13 Morris also gave her opinion on AOTY. “I think that it’s going to be close between Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter.” The Best New Artist category is filled with artists who have been a force in the industry over this year. The nominations for this year are Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young. “For album of the year, I definitely would want Sabrina Carpenter to win. I do like that album, but I feel like a majority of the other options are less familiar or popular artists compared to her, so I really do think she will have the best chance at winning,” said sophomore communication and media studies major Dana Messner. Earnst expressed her support for Addison Rae. Junior marketing major Becca Earnst shared her thoughts as well. Olivia Dean is also on people’s radar, Alexa said, “For AOTY, either Mayhem or Chromakopia. Mayhem is like the “eras” album for Gaga. There’s a song for each era fan and they were truly fed. Chromakopia just has bops and he also had a sold-out tour cycle for the album. My winner there, Lady Gaga.” “I think the new artist should be Olivia Dean, she is a force. Absolutely killing it across the pond and once the general public. America realizes how great she is, they’ll be obsessed too.” “Addison Rae. That girl deserves the world. Who else do you know who is a brand new artist selling out her first tour? I’ll let you think about it. Addison has bops on her album and she deserves the world” People also showed their support for KATSEYE and sombr. Senior marketing major Logan Colonna shared his support with sombr, and Junior nursing major Anthony Vissotski thinks KATSEYE should win the award. “The only one I listen to is sombr. I don’t know everyone that well but ill give it to sombr.” Vissotski says, “I think KATSEYE should win.” With the Grammys right around the corner, voting members of the Recording Academy will soon be placing their votes on who will take home a Grammy this year. The award show will take place on Feb, 1, airing live on the CBS network. It will also be available for streaming on Paramount +. �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 Opinion Editorial Staff 2025-26 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Leah Smith Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS LA&E - Kailey Vogel Opinion - Shawn Carey Sports - Andrew Marshallsay DESIGNERS Head Designer - Lara Mullen Designer - Carol Stratford Photographer - Shannon Slominski STAFF WRITERS Kaydia Wright Nikki Steinberg Topher DellaBella Natalia Williams Thaelis Andujar Jake Mills 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: shawn.carey1@wilkes.edu Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Humanities should be valued as much as STEM In a world of technology and science, the humanities have seemingly become overshadowed by fields of STEM. That is not to say that the advancements made by engineers and medical professionals alike are not integral to the functions of our society. Rather, the humanities have taken a back seat in the eye of the general public. They are just not as appreciated nor are they seen as practical or meaningful anymore. Think of the college application process, a child tells their parents they want to become a writer or an actor. Too often, the response is: “Wouldn’t you like to do something more practical?” Those ‘practical’ options are often a doctor, lawyer, pharmacist, engineer or computer programmer. At the root of all those occupations, live the humanities. Philosopher Joel Uli places the importance of humanities into perspective by emphasizing the practical nature of the academic discipline. “They’ll tell you that the arts and humanities aren’t practical and then they read poetry at funerals and weddings, cry over films and search for meanings in ancient philosophy. Surviving is one type of practicality, knowing why we bother is another.” Uli had also been attributed to saying, “Without the arts and humanities we find a rigid world progressing towards a universe without us in it.” Our species is intrigued by, and bonds through, sources of human entertainment. Entertainment in which is born through the humanities. Music is poetry, a movie is visual literature and the stories shared between friends and family are pieces of history. Without even intending to, the basic forms of human interaction and connectedness all circle back to the reading, writing and understanding found in this ‘impractical’ discipline. The Beacon functions out of our Communication & Media Studies Department and calls for an understanding of all aspects involved with the humanities. Together we research, formulate ideas, analyze texts, write, speak and design our art to share the moments of history we experience within our smaller community. Throughout history, there has been a recurring pattern surrounding war where in the tensions leading up to conflict, educated individuals are the first people to be killed. Those of educated individuals who have backgrounds in the humanities lose their lives, while educated individuals in STEM fields are used to advance war efforts. Even today, we see this death in our society when budget cuts come and go in high schools and other academic settings. The humanities are the ones to be cut to make way for STEM developments, a more metaphorical demise with less blood, but equal pain over the loss, or the aspects that will “make the most money.” It is crucial for us to look at the humanities with the same ideals and appreciation we do with STEM. Without a healthy balance of both our civilization would not be nearly as rich, nor human. So next time you see a young person say they want to study writing or acting, let them. Our world will be a whole lot brighter with them in it. Letter to the editor policy: The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor from differing viewpoints. Letters must contain contact information, including name, city, state and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published but may be used for verification purposes. All letters to the editor must be sent using one of the following methods: Email: leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Phone: (570) 408-5903 (Voicemail: 30 seconds or less, please.) Mail: 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766 Attn: The Beacon �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 Opinion 15 The Icebox presents Favorite Anime Fights part two The Beacon’s own game master is back for another semester By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer �� The Beacon - November 19, 2025 Opinion 16 The value of libraries in the rising digital age By Leah Smith Editor-in-Chief Libraries are an essential part of any community because not only do they house thousands upon thousands of books and other literature, but they are the sanctuary of information that is free and open to the public. The resources that libraries provide go far and beyond to give the public free access to information they want to know. On top of that, libraries also offer several community-building resources such as book clubs and reading events in which you can participate in simply by walking through the door. With generative AI on the rise, it comes as no surprise that young people, primarily millennial and Gen-Z, are making their way back to the libraries rather than relying on Chat-GPT for their information. According to a survey conducted by the American Library Association, 54% of Gen Z and millennials visited a physical library within the previous 12 months in 2022. On Wilkes’ campus there is the E.S. Farley Library. Of course some students utilize the library to print out papers for assignments and use the study rooms downstairs to meet with other students to work on group projects. However, the Farley Library has so much more to offer than a convenient space to get work done. Library director Brian Sacolic explained some of the various resources that Farley Library offers to students. “It depends on what you’re working on. Here at Farley, we have a lot of STEM databases, psychology databases, pharmacy databases and of course humanities databases like JSTOR. We have about 150,000 print books, 200,000 E-Books. “We try to offer different things for different patrons.” In addition to that, Sacolic brought up the idea of “digital fatigue” as to why so many people in younger generations are preferring to utilize libraries and library sources. “For the last 20 years it’s been technology and more technology and it was cool for a while and still is to an extent. However you really can’t design a better physical copy of a book, it’s the perfect format of traditional technology. With a print book, it’s more user friendly. Young people realize that there’s value to traditional technology.” Sacolic stated. Both the physical and digital resources of the library can be very helpful to not only students at the E.S. Farley Library but to several individuals at local libraries that may be close to them. Another nearby library is the Osterhout Free Library located on 71 S. Franklin St. Osterhout includes a variety of books and other media one can check out through the library. On top of that, several events are held for all ages including readings for children and movie and book clubs for teens and adults. Katherine Muto, an Osterhout Free Library information assistant, talked about the copious amount of resources available at the library. “We have all sorts of resources here including job training, GED resources online, self help books and local history resources. A lot of people don’t have things like that at home.” Muto stated. Muto added on about the importance of the community aspect when it comes to libraries, which is something that AI could not replicate. “Being social with others is a Graphic by Carol Stratford vital part of any library experience. AI chatbots are ‘yes men’ that were programmed to tell you what you want to hear, not how to truly help you with what you’re looking for.” Muto said. One of the most essential parts of libraries, particularly about the social aspect of the library experience are the libraries. Not only are they important because they help find what you’re looking for but they keep a safe learning environment for everyone and they welcome anyone into their information havens because we as human beings deserve to have public access to vast resources of knowledge. American Library Association president Sam Helmick agreed with that sentiment after they described librarians as the “beating hearts” of libraries. “Librarians don’t treat you like a product like how search engines do and their organization of search results.” In addition to this and with the context of AI’s evolution post-COVID, Helmick described what is going on with younger generations and their growing in physical social isolation as a social loneliness epidemic. AI, they suggested, is only dampening that epidemic due to its non-human and little-to-no function for the human user to interact and find information out on their own. However, Helmick stated that libraries are a solution. “The library is an often-forgotten value of socialization. People have a need for authenticity and truth coming from people and real sources.” �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 Opinion A review of "MUSIC" by Playboi Carti By Topher Dellabella Sports writer The Grammy Nominations were announced on Nov. 7, and it took no time before fans took to social media to say that many artists got snubbed from these nominations. Artists like Tate McRae, The Weeknd and Lorde were very popular names for artists who got snubbed. However, the biggest robbery for these Grammy Nominations in the eyes of the fans was Playboi Carti who got snubbed from the “Rap Album of the Year” award for his album “MUSIC.” I can not agree more when I hear the statement that Carti was snubbed. It was the biggest and most anticipated rap album of the year and it broke records in regards to sales. Here is a track by track album review of the real album of the year. “POP OUT”: 8/10 Ever since Carti previewed this song at the Wireless Festival in 2023, I have been beyond eager for its release. Watching the crowd go crazy once the beat dropped made me know in an instant that this was a great song for a concert. I remember the day this album was released, I didn’t sleep that whole night because I was waiting for this album to drop. Once it dropped and I heard this was the first song, I was beyond excited. It is the perfect opener for this album. “CRUSH” featuring Travis Scott: 7/10 This was another song that Carti previewed in concert. This time it was at Rolling Loud Miami in 2024. I do think it is a good song with great production from Travis Scott. However, the whole song just sounds like a three-minute build up. There was a better version that should have dropped instead of this version, but overall it is still a good song. “K POP” : 9/10 This song was a part of the era where Carti would release songs and music videos on Instagram making fans eager for the release of the album. It was originally named “KETAMINE” and “ISSA SPORT.” There was another version to this song as well, however Carti decided to release the original version which I think was a great idea. I was eager for it to be released on official music platforms. Once it did, I couldn’t be more excited. “EVIL J0RDAN”: 10/10 This was another song that Carti released on Instagram and Youtube prior to its release on official platforms. So prior to its release, I knew the title and I knew the song. However, when I played this song, it didn’t go to the beat of the song. There was a minute long intro to the song and it sounded amazing. Ojivolta put the intro that was played at some concerts in the actual song. This intro samples a song that Carti is featured in, “Popular” by Madonna and The Weeknd featuring Playboi Carti. Once the intro was over and it transitioned into the beat, it was honestly one of the best intros I have ever heard. On top of that, the song was also really good. This is one of my favorite songs on the album. “MOJO JOJO” : 8/10 This is the first song on the album that I was not familiar with prior to its release. This song contains a catchy beat with adlibs from Kendrick Lamar. This is the first time that Kendrick was featured on the album.The flow is great, I liked the Kendrick adlibs, the beat is catchy and it overall shows a great performance. “PHILLY” featuring Travis Scott: 7/10 This song also shows a very generic performance by Travis Scott. However, I think that it is still a decent song. I just think more could have been done by Travis. “RADAR”: 8/10 This was an exciting song for many reasons. First off, the fact that producer, Metro Boomin, produced this song and second because it shows both “deep voice Carti” and “baby voice Carti.” I like how versatile Carti is with his voice and I love the beat that Metro made for this song. Carti rapped so well on this beat. However, I wish the song was longer. Still a good song nonetheless. “RATHER LIE” featuring The Weeknd: 10/10 I can not put into words how much I love this song and how excited I was when it finally came out. Ever since Carti performed this song with The Weeknd at Rolling Loud Miami in 2024, this has been my favorite song. Carti and The Weeknd each showed unbelievable vocals in this song and the beat that the producer, F1lthy, made for this song is amazing. I cannot choose a song on this album that I could call “my favorite” because there are too many great songs on this album, but this is 100% one of them. “FINE S***” : 7/10 This was also a decent song on the album with a good flow and a catchy beat. It wasn’t anything special, but I liked the song. “BACKD00R” featuring Kendrick Lamar & Jhené Aiko: 8/10 This song was first previewed in 2024 when Carti posted a snippet of this song on Instagram and since then I’ve been excited for this song’s release. I think that Kanye West did a great job producing this track. I also think that Kendrick had a good part in this song. “TOXIC” featuring Skepta: 9/10 The main thing I liked about this song was the dark beat that was used. I liked Carti’s flow on this song and I also liked that he mixed his genre with UK rap by including Skepta in this track. I thought Skepta did a great job on this song as well. “MUNYUN” : 8/10 This is another decent song with a fast beat that Carti rapped well on. It wasn’t anything special, but it was still a good song nonetheless. “CRANK” : 9/10 This song was a great song. From the beat, to Carti’s flow, to Swamp Izzo screaming in the background. Every part of this song was special. “CHARGE DEM H*** A FEE” featuring Future and Travis Scott : 7/10 I think this song showed a very generic performance from Future and Travis Scott. It wasn’t anything special but it was a 17 decent song. “GOOD CREDIT” featuring Kendrick Lamar : 10/10 Another one of my favorite songs on the album. The beat was amazing, Carti’s flow was amazing and the main thing I liked about this song was Kendrick’s verse. I thought that Kendrick did very well on this song. From the referencing of A$AP Relli and Luka Dončić to the lyrics he used, I thought Kendrick’s verse was one of the best features on this album. “I SEEEEEE YOU BABY BOI” : 8/10 I think that this song is one of the most underrated songs on the album. The voice that Carti uses really suits this song well. “WAKE UP F1LTHY” featuring Travis Scott: 10/10 This is also one of my favorite songs on the album. The beat by F1lthy was insanely good and the rapping from both Carti and Travis fits perfectly. This song is also very underrated, but it’s still an amazing song. “JUMPIN” featuring Lil Uzi Vert: 9/10 The main thing that I like about this song is that the iconic duo, “16*29,” with Uzi and Carti is finally back. Even though the song was pretty short, I still think that this duo showed such a good performance. “TRIM” featuring Future : 7/10 This song is kind of basic, but it has a good feature from Future. “COCAINE NOSE” : 10/10 Great music, great beat by F1lthy, great rapping, great everything. Fans first heard this song at Rolling Loud Miami in 2024 when Carti previewed this track in concert. “WE NEED ALL DA VIBES” featuring Young Thug and Ty Dolla $ign: 9/10 To start off, the beat in this song is one of the best beats on the whole album. Carti did well on this beat and the features were also amazing. ...MUSIC, cont. on Page 18 �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 Opinion 18 I started listening to the“Critical Role” podcast A brief review and guide to the tabletop webseries By Shawn Carey Opinion Editor The “Dungeons and Dragons” rise in popularity over the past few years can not be underestimated. The TTRPG has come a long way since the 1970s. The franchise had an award winning video game, an acclaimed movie and countless books. With that being said, it’s believed that the game wouldn’t be at its current popularity without the help of “Critical Role,” a podcast dedicated to playing the game. For those unfamiliar, “Critical Role” is a web series that features a group of voice actors playing tabletop roleplaying games, mainly “Dungeons and Dragons.” While “Critical Role” originally started out as just a podcast, the brand has turned into a multimedia empire. There’s comic books, novels and even two animated adaptations. I’ve always found “Critical Role” fascinating. It’s not often you see a niche podcast breached its small corner of the internet and hit the mainstream, especially back in the mid 2010s. As a constant media consumer, the series has been on my list for quite some time. I enjoy listening to podcasts, I enjoy “D&D,” so by that logic, I should really enjoy “Critical Role.” In theory, starting the series is easy. All you have to do is open Spotify, search them up, and click on episode one. ...MUSIC, cont. from Page 17 “OLYMPIAN” : 8/10 I really like the beat on this song as well. The way Carti raps on this song flows perfectly with the beat. In a way it kind of reminds me of “Long Time (Intro)” which is a song that Carti released off of his 2018 album, “Die Lit.” “OPM BABI” : 6/10 Honestly, not my favorite song on the album. The beat was pretty good, but other than that everything wasn’t that well. “TWIN TRIM” featuring Lil Uzi Vert : 8/10 This song is pretty short, but the beat is really good and addicting. Uzi’s verse was really good. This song was basically just Uzi. Carti was missing from this song. However, the task is much more intimidating than you would think, at least I thought it was. “Critical Role” is split up into four main campaigns/stories. In order, there’s “Vox Machina,” “Mighty Nein,”and “Bells Hells.” As well as the currently ongoing and unnamed “Campaign 4.” The series has a very strict timeline. While for the most you’re able to listen to the podcast seasons in whatever order you want and have a perfectly enjoyable experience, the characters do occasionally mention events from previous seasons. Furthermore, some characters from previous campaigns actually show up in the later ones. Think of this almost as a much less complicated “Star Wars” situation. With that being said I decided that I would start with “Mighty Nein,” their second campaign. “Mighty Nein” is set around 20 years after the events of “Vox Machina” and takes place on a completely different continent. I went with the second campaign because I’ve heard that it’s their “best work” and features some of their best moments. One thing I’ve been avoiding mentioning is how long the campaign is. Sitting at around 141 episodes, each about four hours long, it takes an average of 550 hours to get through the entirety of “Mighty Nein.” If you’re crazy enough to listen to all of “Critical Role’s” canon content, you would have put aside 1667 hours. To put that into perspective, that’s almost four “LIKE WEEZY” : 10/10 This song also samples Rich Kidz’s “Bend Over,” and I really enjoy this sample. Overall, this song is amazing and it's one of the most popular songs on this album. “DIS 1 GOT IT” : 8/10 Again, another underrated song on this album. This song contained a genuinely amazing beat by F1lthy and Carti’s flow on this song is very good as well. “WALK” : 7/10 I also really liked the beat on this song as well. This was another song that was a little too short, but nonetheless it’s still a decent song. “HBA” : 10/10 Ever since the music video came out on Instagram, it has been on repeat nonstop. I love the beat of this song, the flow, and the lyrics. Although, I do wish it was the original version times as long as “One Piece.” Now, I of course don’t plan on listening to every single piece of canon content, however I hope you can see why I found the task so intimidating. Anyways, let’s talk about the content itself. As I mentioned before, “Critical Role” is all about voice actors playing the tabletop roleplaying game “Dungeon and Dragons.” Now, as you can properly guess, being actors they’re really good at roleplaying. Each of the players are extremely talented and truly become their characters. They managed to stay in character for almost the entirety of every 4 hour episode. They’re also extremely good at the game itself. The famed Matt Mercer is the group’s “dungeon master” and he does an absolutely incredible job. At its core, “D&D’ is an interactive storytelling experience. The players are the actors, and the dungeon master is the world. Between his exceptional voice acting and performance skills, ability to improv, and deep knowledge of game lore, he’s able to tell a truly interesting story. As of right now, I’ve just reached episode 11. This means that I’ve spent a total of about 40 hours listening to the podcast, which is your average work week. As you’ve most likely assumed from my previous two paragraphs, I’ve been really enjoying my time with it. While I won’t say all that much about the story itself, I’m fully engaged. Ignoring the story itself, the entire vibe of the show is just really enjoyable. You really get that classic “D&D” vibe of friends playing around a table. Between all that monster fights and intense roleplay moments, there’s really fun character moments and inside jokes. Yes, “Critical Role” is a job, however you can tell that the employees are enjoying their work. The series isn’t without its flaws however. There’s some real pacing issues. If you’ve played any tabletop games before you’ll know that this isn’t all that big of a surprise. With that being said, the slow pace of it makes the series somewhat difficult to listen to sometimes, especially during combat encounters. Listening to the cast fight the same giant monster for two hours isn’t the most engaging thing in the world. It’s also a really “big” series. The length, lore, amount of characters, everything. Again, this is why I’ve been putting the series off for so long. There have been some parts where I’ve felt like I should’ve been keeping notes. “What is this guy’s name again? What god does he worship? Have they met this guy before?” While you don’t have to be a lore expert to enjoy the show, there’s some moments where that may help. Overall, I’ve been enjoying my time with it. For the time being I’m planning on continuing the series, at least the rest of “Mighty Nein.” It makes for some great background noise and engaging storytelling. With that being said, I do fear what my “Spotify Wrapped” is about to look like. of this song that was released on the album. as a music video since 2020. After a very long break from releasing any music, Carti surprised us with the release of this video. Ever since then, I’ve absolutely loved this song. I also really like how Carti switches from his iconic “baby voice” to his “deep voice” in between verses. Great song, great production by Kanye West, great everything. “OVERLY” : 7/10 There isn't anything too memorable about this song nor is there anything too bad about this song. The song is okay. “SOUTH ATLANTA BABY” : 7/10 This is another song that I didn’t really enjoy too much, but after a few re-listens, it’s growing on me. It’s a decent song. “DIFFERENT DAY” 7/10 This was another song that Carti posted on Instagram during the rollout. This was one of those songs that I didn’t really care for. The beat doesn't really fit, but it’s still pretty catchy. I also liked Carti’s lyrics. “2024” : 10/10 This was the first song that Carti released “BACKR00MS” featuring Travis Scott : 9/10 This was another song that was released as a music video during his rollout for this album. I’m glad this song was released on platforms because it is a really good song. “FOMDJ” : 9/10 Honestly, I wasn’t expecting this song to be that good, but I fell in love with it on my first listen. Overall, an amazing song to end the album on. �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 Sports Sports 19 Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: andrew.marshallsay@wilkes.edu Wilkes Colonels men's basketball preview By Jake Mills Asst. Sports Edtor Another season of Wilkes men’s basketball is upon us and Coach Izzi Metz, in his twelfth season at the helm is returning quite a bit. After going 20-7 (13-5) in 202425, the Colonels return to the floor in another quest for a Landmark Conference title. After only graduating two starters last season, the Colonels return many key pieces such as All-Conference Forward Lucas Lesko who averaged over 20 points a game a year ago. The two other seniors are Jack Argento and Colin Ackerman. Other returning players include sophomores Eli Becker, Dan Santaniello and Mason Fedor who all saw some time last season. These young players will see more time with the departure of All-Conference Guard Cayden Merrifield and Joey Zvorsky. The Colonels begin conference play Nov. 19 as they play Lycoming College, but they have played three non conference games so far. They are 3-0 on the year after wins against Rowan, King’s and Keystone. Head Coach Izzi Metz had some things he liked in his team through those three games. “I thought in long stretches of those games we played good basketball,” Metz said. “In the Rowan game we had a 19 point lead at one point in the second half and then in the King’s game we actually were up 23 probably like 12 minutes to go and we had a 20 point lead with five minutes to go.” Photo by Andrew Marshallsay The Colonels won their first three games, however there are definitely some things the team is looking to improve on. “I think in both of those games we let those leads kind of slide and you know I'd like to finish games better. "You know it would be nice to win the Kings game a little more comfortably, same with Rowan it would've been nice to kind of maintain a double digit lead. We let it slip down to six and ended up winning by nine.” The Colonels have made the Landmark Tournament the last two seasons and have fallen short after losing to Catholic both times. “I think the key is first of all if we are high enough seeded hopefully to have a home game and semifinal because I think in playoff basketball if you can play at home that always helps if not we got to play a complete 40 minutes and play from ahead as much as possible” Metz stated. The Colonels were projected to finish third in the Landmark Preseason Poll and so far are 3-0 heading into Landmark play. Tip-off for the Landmark opener is set from 7 p.m. from the Marts Center. �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 Sports 20 Wilkes women’s basketball 2025-26 season preview By Andrew Marshallsay Managing Editor Believe it or not, the end of the fall semester will be upon us sooner rather than later. However, for one group of Colonels, the focus has shifted to the start of a new season. Currently sitting with a record of 2-1 in the early going, the Wilkes women’s basketball team has three games under its belt, the most recent being a home victory against Saint Elizabeth University on Nov. 14. With a wide-range of players this season, the Colonels welcomed back some previous stars, as well as a big group of new faces for Head Coach Al Berger. Returning to the squad this season are Maliyah Warren, Madison Robel, Carolyn Lundy, Yami Matos, Reagan Holden, Kyleen McCance, Dana Wartzenluft, Madison Olguin and Delaney Bogdan. The new group of Colonels includes Charlotte Taylor, Addison Place, Anya Richet, Aivry Devoy, Delaney Moyer, Izzi Toland and Mercedes Artaiz. The new group of Colonels is already impressing Berger with their defensive capabilities. “The best part is that we have young players who add defense and rebounding, which were areas we needed significant help with. Offense will come, but being able to trust our new people in our defense has been extremely valuable,” he said. On the coaching side, Berger is joined by Haley Bestrycki. Bestrycki, a former assistant at Keystone College, joined the Colonels after the Photo by Andrew Marshallsay departure of John Perez. It’s safe to say that the 202425 season for the Wilkes women’s basketball team did not go exactly to plan as they went winless. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t one to remember, but for Berger, it’s all about moving forward. “We are a much different team this year. Our 16-player roster is almost ½ new people. Our returners learned from last year, but our group is very different and we’re moving forward.” Many returners as well as a big group of starters has combined into a success story early on this season for Berger and his team. The Colonels open their Landmark Conference campaign tonight against Lycoming College. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. from Williamsport, Pa Later in December, the team will travel down to Puerto Rico for their winter tournament. There, they’ll take on Kenyon College and Western Connecticut State. Between now and then though, it's a mixture of Landmark and nonconference matchups. But when the spring semester begins, it’s all Landmark as the Colonels look to improve off of last season’s results. Have a sport you want to see more coverage of? Know a player we should watch? Email Andrew.Marshallsay@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 'The Coaches Corner' with Scott Veith, Wilkes Tennis By Scott Veith Beacon Alumnus Scott Vieth is a former Beacon editorin-chief who has spent over 20 years as a collegiate athletics coach. He is currently the head men’s and women’s tennis coach at Wilkes. The Title of Teammate I’ve always thought that the best way to treat your teammates is to assume that it is your biggest responsibility within the team. In some ways, I think it’s appropriate to treat “teammate” as your job title. Not so much in the sense of “you have to do it or else,” but more along the lines of “being a good teammate is the main event.” We’ve all heard athletes and group members being praised for doing what’s asked of them. That’s nice. But I see that as the bare minimum. If you’re a studentathlete and you do what’s asked of you regularly without having to be asked multiple times, you’re at level 1. I would say that level two is to anticipate what the team needs, and take care of it before anyone has to ask. Most teams have a cycle, a rhythm or a cadence to their season. Level three is to lead others to be great teammates. If you’re routinely helping those around you make better decisions for the good of the team, you’re well on your way. And level four, the ultimate teammate is the one who handles levels one through three well, and also acts as a culture enforcer within the team. If you can do what’s asked of you, anticipate the team’s needs, lead others to make sound team decisions and be an extension of the coaching staff when it comes to enforcing community standards, you’re among the elite when it comes to your commitment to your team. Sports The Rule of Thirds An Olympic coach once said that whenever you are “chasing a dream,” you’re meant to feel great a third of the time, ok a third of the time and lousy a third of the time. If any of these three times are missing, you’re either aiming too high or too low with your current goals. We need all three sensations. We need to feel a feeling of accomplishment. We need to feel like we are, in some ways, average. And we need to know what it feels like to fail. The key is having the blend of all three in your life on a regular basis. This is not a movie. This is the real world. Nobody is great at everything, average at everything, or terrible at everything. We are all capable of all three levels of accomplishment in different areas. I find that many current collegiate student-athletes are comfortable with success, and with being average from time to time, but the thought of failure scares them. Let me save you some time and mental effort on this one. You will fail. And if you feel like you won’t fail, you’ve already failed by setting the bar too low for yourself.As a coach, I tell my players all the time that I can’t even begin to coach them until I know how they fail. If you’re only experiencing success, your bar is too low. If you’re only experiencing failure, your bar is too high. If you're experiencing success, failure, and mediocrity, you’re probably on the right track. Coaches: do you have interesting insights to share? Contact the assistant sports editor Jake Mills, or the managing editor Andrew Marshallsay to be featured in future editions of The Beacon. 21 Local HS Football: PIAA 3A playoffs Scranton Prep vs. Mifflinburg By Jake Mills Asst. Sports Editor Scranton Prep will move on in the 3A state playoffs after a 28-21 win over District 4’s Mifflinburg. Prep received the opening kickoff and drove all the way down the field. As the Cavaliers were about to go in and score, the Wildcats popped the ball out and took over at their own 12 yard line. It only took one play to get them on the board as Chad Martin hit Landen Murray for a 76-yard touchdown to put Mifflinburg ahead, 7-0. After another stop on defense, Mifflinburg ran almost the exact same play and Martin hit Murray for his second passing touchdown of the game. Scranton Prep got on the board when Will McPartland found the endzone for the first of his three touchdowns on the night.. Prep then forced a fumble, with Rickey Dewey scooping the pigskin up, running it back to score. After that, the game was tied at 14 apiece. To round out the first half, Murray hauled in his third touchdown after a beautiful catch in the corner of the endzone to give the Wildcats a 21-14 lead at the half. However for Scranton Prep, the second half would be all theirs for the taking. McPartland found the endzone two more times in the third and fourth stanzas, and the Cavaliers went on to win 28-21 as they held Mifflinburg scoreless in the second half. Scranton Prep moves on to face Northwestern Lehigh this coming weekend in the next round of the PIAA 3A playoffs. Prep will come into the game with an 8-5 record, while NW Lehigh are undefeated, 13-0. Upcoming events Nov. 19 - Nov. 23 Nov. 19 Women's B-Ball @ Lycoming - 7 p.m. Men's B-Ball vs Lycoming - 7 p.m. Nov. 20 No events scheduled Nov. 21 Women's Hockey @ Hood - 3:10 p.m. Men's Hockey vs. Misericordia - 4:50 p.m. Men's Swim @ EC Invite - 5 p.m. Women's Swim @ EC Invite - 5 p.m. Men's Wrestling @ Del. Valley - 7 p.m. Nov. 22 Women's Swim@ EC Invite - 9 a.m., 5p.m. Men's Swim @ EC Invite - 9 a.m., 5 p.m. Football @ Shenandoah - TBA Men's Wrestling @ Cougar Classic - 10 a.m. Women's Wrestling @ Cougar Classic - 10 a.m. Men's B-Ball @ Moravian - 2 p.m. Women's Hockey vs. Hood - 3:30 p.m. Women's B-Ball @ Moravian - 4 p.m. Men's Hockey vs. Misericordia - 7 p.m. Nov. 23 Men's Swim @ EC Invite - 10 a.m. Women's Swim @ EC Invite - 10 a.m. �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 Sports 22 OCT 31 3:00 P.M. – AT CORTLAND – CORTLAND, NY NOV 7 7:00 P.M. – AT KING’S COLLEGE (PA) – WILKES-BARRE, PA NOV 8 3:00 P.M. – AT KING’S COLLEGE (PA) – WILKES-BARRE, PA NOV 14 2:00 P.M. – VS LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 15 3:30 P.M. – VS LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX fantastic job keeping shots to the perimeter NOV 21 3:10 P.M. – AT HOOD COLLEGE – FREDERICK, MD and getting offense. NOV 22 3:30 P.M. – VS HOOD COLLEGE – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX Who is your biggest inspiration? DEC 2 6:00 P.M. – AT ELMIRA COLLEGE – ELMIRA, NY Have to say my parents. They have DEC 5 4:50 P.M. – VS STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX sacrificed so much to give me the DEC 6 4:50 P.M. – VS STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX opportunities that I have had, waking up JAN 3 1:00 P.M. – AT UTICA UNIVERSITY – UTICA, PA for early morning skates, driving to away JAN 4 1:00 P.M./4:00P.M. – AT UTICA UNIVERSITY – UTICA TOURNAMENT (CONSOLATION/FINAL) - UTICA, PA games, and supporting me from afar as I JAN 10 3:30 P.M. – VS ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX moved away from home. Without them I JAN 11 3:30 P.M. – VS ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX wouldn't be who I am or where I am today. JAN 16 6:00 P.M. – AT NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – ASTON, PA If you weren't a hockey player, what sport JAN 17 2:00 P.M. – AT NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – ASTON, PA would you be playing? JAN 23 6:00 P.M. – AT ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – READING, PA Basketball no question, I played in high JAN 24 2:00 P.M. – AT ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – READING, PA school and am a big fan. I feel like it'sJAN a 30 5:00 P.M. – AT LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – ANNVILLE, PA sport that requires a high athletic IQ to JAN be 31 3:00 P.M. – AT STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – STEVENSON, MD a strong player so I have a lot of respect for FEB 6 2:00 P.M. – VS NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX the basketball players. FEB 7 3:00 P.M. – AT ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – GLENSIDE, PA What are your goals for this season? FEB 13 3:00 P.M. – VS KING’S COLLEGE (PA) – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX Just try to win as many games as possible. FEB 14 5:00 P.M. – VS ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX I try to stay in the moment as much FEB as 20 7:00 P.M. – AT HOOD COLLEGE – FREDERICK, MD possible and just focus on the game at hand. into place. Photo by Andrew Marshallsay. Athlete of the Week - Duncan Rolleman, men's hockey By Andrew Marshallsay Managing Editor This week's athlete of the week is men's hockey's Duncan Rolleman. The junior goaltender recorded back-to-back shutouts on Nov. 7 and 8 against King's College in the first weekend of MAC action for the Colonels. As of Nov. 14, Rolleman has the best save percentage and goals allowed average in the country. What was it like for both you and the team as a whole to start MAC play off with the sweep against King's? It was the best way to start off conference play. I got my first ever start and win last year against Kings so I felt like I had an idea of how they play and how I can have success. It's the closest rivalry in all of college hockey so we knew that we had to come prepared for some hard fought games. The guys in front of me did a MEN’S HOCKEY SCHEDULE OCT 31 4:50 P.M. – VS MANHATTANVILLE UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 1 4:50 P.M. – VS SUNY GENESEO – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 7 4:50 P.M. – VS KING’S COLLEGE (PA) – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 8 5:30 P.M. – VS KING’S COLLEGE (PA) – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 14 7:00 P.M. – AT LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – ANNVILLE, PA NOV 15 4:00 P.M. – AT LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – ANNVILLE, PA NOV 21 4:50 P.M. – VS MISERCORDIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 22 7:00 P.M. – VS MISERCORDIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 25 5:00 P.M. – AT CORTLAND – CORTLAND, NY NOV 29 4:00 P.M. – AT ELMIRA COLLEGE – ELMIRA, NY DEC 5 7:00 P.M. – AT STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – STEVENSON, MD DEC 6 3:00 P.M. – AT STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – STEVENSON, MD JAN 9 3:30 P.M. – AT ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – GLENSIDE, PA JAN 10 1:40 P.M. – AT ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – GLENSIDE, PA JAN 16 4:50 P.M. – VS NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 17 5:30 P.M. – VS NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 23 2:00 P.M. – VS ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 24 3:30 P.M. – VS ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 30 4:50 P.M. – VS LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 31 3:30 P.M. – VS STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX FEB 6 7:00 P.M. – AT NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – ASTON, PA FEB 7 7:00 P.M. – VS ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX FEB 13 7:00 P.M. – AT KING’S COLLEGE (PA) – WILKES-BARRE, PA FEB 14 5:00 P.M. – AT ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – READING, PA FEB 20 4:50 P.M. – AT MISERCORDIA UNIVERSITY – DALLAS, PA �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 Sports 23 �The Beacon - November 19, 2025 24 . . . R O F G N I K O O L E R WE’ WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS.. DESIGNERS..... MANAGERS...... News,La&E Opinion,Sports Graphics, Layout Distribution Advertising CONTACT: KALEN.CHURCHER@WILKES.EDU � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource This is Wilkes University's Beacon Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the Beacon's predecessors, The Bucknell Bison Stampede, 1934-1935 and The Bucknell Beacon, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>. Missing Issues: 1947 August 8th 1947 September 5th 1947 October 3rd 1947 October 17th 1947 October 31st 1947 November 21st 1947 December 19th 1948 September 9th 1950 April 28th 1953 April 10th 1962 February 2nd Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon, 2025 November 19 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/76e6ba0db37ed226d055702ef1eec659.pdf 1e35048435a42bc72198c4472495ac9b PDF Text Text The Beacon - November 5, 2025 THE BEACON Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Volume 78, Issue 6 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Dog-gone fun time at Sordoni Art Gallery Bark! At the Gallery proved to be a great time for students, staff and faculty. Shannon Slominski, a communication and media studies major, enjoyed petting and visiting with the furry friends. For story and more photos, see page 8. Photo by Sara Joseph �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 News News Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Student government notes: Oct. 29 By Alli Lussi Staff writer Student Government met Oct. 29 for a brief meeting to go over club recognitions, as well as to vote on club and member of the month. The meeting began with the Student Government Treasurer’s report of $10,778.91. The first order of business was Moment Of Magic’s Week 2 of 2 club recognition proposal. Moment of Magic is a national organization that sends students dressed up as characters to children who are medically vulnerable. Last week, when the group presented for Week 1 of 2, the board had an issue with dues being paid for to the club. Dues are not allowed for Wilkes clubs, as all clubs should be accessible to everyone. This week, it was clarified that dues are not needed. Moment of Magic also clarified that the club can collaborate with other chapters from any school in the United States to work with a family in need. The board decided that Moment of Magic would be a great addition to the clubs at Wilkes, and voted to recognize Moment of Magic as a Student Government recognized club. The decision on club and member of the month was next. After consideration and discussion, the board decided on the South Asian Society as Club of the Month.The South Asian Society is a club on campus that shares the cultures and traditions of South Asia. The board is recognizing the club this month for its Diwali Celebration. For Member of the Month, the board voted for Alton Smargiassi, based on his homecoming efforts. Members of the student government specifically voted for him because of the pep rally that took, describing it as an overall, amazing experience. The board wrapped up the meeting with committee work for Casino Night, which takes place on at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7 in the JPAC. Casino Night’s theme this year is Wild Wild Wilkes, and attendees are encouraged to wear their best Western attire. Student Government will meet again next week in the Miller Room on Nov. 5. Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Equality in Honor: Veterans Week Showcase Adulting 101: How to Prep for an Interview A showcase of personal art and stories that highlight the experience of minority members in the military and veteran communities will take place in the Sordoni Art Gallery lobby at 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6. This event is sponsored by the offices of civic engagement, diversity initiatives, the Veterans Council, MSC, and GSA. Erica Acosta and Jenna Weiss will offer advice on things you need to do before an interview, as well as interview do’ & don’t and what to do after the interview is over. Adulting 101 will take place from 11 a.m. until noon on Nov. 13 in the Savitz Lounge. Slice of Success: First Gen Panel & Pizza Next up on the Wilkes MainStage is the musical “I Love You Because”, written by Ryan Cunningham and Joshua Salzman. Performances will take place at 8 p.m. on Nov. 13, 14 and 15 and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 15 and 16. Wilkes University students, faculty and staff can show their ID to receive one free admission. *** Celebrate First-Generation College Student Week with First at Wilkes! Join the campus community in the JPAC from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10. The event will include an informal and inspiring conversation with firstgeneration students, faculty and staff as they share their stories, challenges, and tips for success. Enjoy some free pizza while chatting with others who understand the first-gen experience. All are welcome. Please RSVP through Today@Wilkes by Nov 5. *** 2 *** University Theatre to Present: I Love You Because *** Diploma Ordering Time for May 2026 Grads Bachelor's Degree candidates, the time is near to complete your Diploma Order information and Degree Audit Review for processing for May 2026 Commencement. Be sure to run this audit and complete your Diploma Order after you have registered for the Spring 2026 semester to get the most updated information. Please complete your Diploma Order information here: https://etcentral.wilkes. edu/#/form/4 You must complete the Diploma Order form whether you are attending the graduation ceremony or not. When initiating the diploma order, also be sure to upload and attach your Degree Audit to the form as it will go electronically to your Advisor for approval. The deadline to submit your Diploma Order for May 2026 commencement is Dec. 16 Be sure to add GRD 000 A (Graduation Audit) CRN 10001 to your spring registration. The link for May 2026 grads to order your Cap & Gown will open on December 1st. Further Graduation information, including ordering your Cap & Gown, can be found on this web page: https://www. wilkes.edu/academics/registrar/graduation. aspx Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Upcoming Events: Fall 2025 November 11- Veterans Day 26 - Thanksgiving recess begins December 1- Classes reume 8 - FInal exams begin 15 - Final exams end 22 - Interssion begins Have a safe and anjoyable semester! Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 News 3 January data breach prompts class action lawsuit against Wilkes By Nikki Steinberg Staff writer A January data breach has resulted in a class action lawsuit against the university, court documents state. Personal information for more than 27,000 current and former students, faculty and staff was vulnerable, the suit states. An email sent by the university on Oct. 8 said the personal identification information (PII) was accessed through “an unauthorized user.” Members of the campus community were made aware of the breach this fall, moths after the incident. The Oct. 8 email stated, “We have no reason to believe that your information has been or will be misused for identity theft or financial fraud as a direct result of this incident.” Formal letters were mailed beginning Oct. 8 to those whose information could have been involved. The university offered those individuals a one-year membership to Cyberscout, an identity theft prevention company. Following these letters, six lawsuits were filed against the university, each claiming the university’s “failure to properly secure and safeguard” their information. “People’s full name, address, date of birth, student identification number, social security number, driver’s license or state identification number, financial account number, financial aid information, health insurance policy number and/or medical alert information,” the lawsuits state. The lawsuits also claim that the school did not notify the students and faculty until months after the initial incident. The university is accused of negligence, declaratory judgement, breach of implied contract and unjust enrichment court paperwork states.. “As a direct and proximate result of Defendant’s failure to implement and follow basic security procedures, Plaintiff ’s and Class Members’ Private Information is now in the hands of cybercriminals,” the lawsuits state. The plaintiffs are seeking damages, restitution and injunctive relief, a court order to require a party to start or stop a specific action they are doing. “I didn’t get an email so I wasn’t personally affected, but the school definitely has a responsibility to protect all of our information,” said sophomore Pravith Siriwardhana, adding that the university has an obligation to protect information. When asked to comment on the matter, Wilkes University released a statement “I’d probably just reflect on everything I said and then update it to be more on topic. This time coming up, I probably will bring in another member of my club to do another presentation. Just so there’s another viewpoint to get represented other than just mine.” Clark explained that during his presentation, some details may have distracted from his main points. “I went off topic discussing the different 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) structures,” he said, referring to the distinctions between nonprofit and political education arms of national organizations. Although the club will not receive Student Government funding, Clark said Turning Point USA’s national organization will continue to provide financial support. “We get funding from Turning Point USA anyway,” he explained. “Any kind of event or anything, we can request funding from them just to get a fundraiser started.” For the time being, Clark said the club does not need Student Government funds for its next project, a food drive. “We don’t need any funding for this next event, though. We’re doing a food drive,” he said. When asked how he plans to maintain participation without funding or official SG status, Clark admitted it has been a challenge. “I’m still working on members actually participating, but right now we’re in wrestling season and a lot of the members are wrestlers,” he said. Despite the setback, Clark said he wasn’t shocked by the decision when asked if he anticipated a different outcome. “Not necessarily, just because of the notes that I read from the first presentation,” he said. “I kind of figured they had cold feet about my whole presentation to begin with.” He believes the recent online discussions about political organizations on campus may have influenced Student Government’s hesitation. “Just because of all the publicity on YikYak and all the news media publicity about all the recent events,” he added, referring to chatter that has circulated around campus in recent weeks. Turning Point USA is a national nonprofit organization that promotes conservative and free-market principles on college campuses across the country. saying they are aware of the lawsuits and are limited to what they can share. “This is a reflection of how these types of matters are handled in the legal system, not of the incident itself,” they replied. “We have engaged experienced defense counsel and are committed to addressing the situation responsibly and expeditiously through the courts.” Student Government said its job is to make sure students feel at ease. "As Student Government, our priority is to make sure students feel informed, supported, and confident that the University is taking the necessary steps to address the situation and prevent it from happening again. "We believe it is understandable that affected individuals may wish to express their concerns or seek appropriate resolution through available channels." Turning Point USA denied recognition by SG as a university club By Thaelis Andujar Staff Writer Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a conservative student organization, has been officially recognized by Wilkes University but not by the Student Government (SG), meaning it will not receive financial support or access to certain Student Government–affiliated resources this semester. The decision came after club president Dylan Clark presented to the Student Government in an attempt to gain recognition and funding. While the group is acknowledged as a campus organization through university channels, it lacks the endorsement needed to receive allocations from SG’s student activity budget. “Honestly, I think it worked out better the way that it went,” Clark said. “We’re an officially recognized club, but not student government recognized. We just won’t get funding from the student government.” Clark said he plans to go through the recognition process again in the spring semester, expressing hope that with clearer communication and more support, the outcome might be different. The organization has chapters at hundreds of universities, often sparking debate due to its outspoken political messaging. Dr. Justin C. Matus, the club’s faculty adviser, acknowledged the ongoing discussion between the organization and Student Government but declined to give a detailed statement at this time. “I am the club advisor,” Matus said in an email to The Beacon. “I am scheduled to meet with the student government leadership next week, so I would rather speak with them first before I make any comments.” The Beacon reached out to Student Body President Adam Butterwick for comment regarding the decision not to recognize the club but received no response. Recording Secretary Saraiya Zaheer stated she could not provide further comment on the matter. �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 News Uncertainty surrounding SNAP continues By Leah Smith Editor-in-Chief After saying emergency funds would not be used to help cover Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for millions of Americans, the Trump administration stated earlier this week that money from a U.S. Department of Agriculture contingency fund would be used to cover some benefits. Exactly how much would be covered was questionable, however. Uncertainty surrounding the issue became more intense after the president posted on Tuesday a notice to Truth Social stating the benefits would only be given out “...when the Radical Left Democrats open up government.” The SNAP program has assisted millions of American households through its federally funded food stamps program. This safety net program is based on income, household size and several other factors that makes one eligible to obtain SNAP benefits. NPR reported that, 42 million people will lose their SNAP benefits because payments for food will not be coming their way. About one in eight residents get an average of $187 a month from SNAP. Dr. Chelsea Chamberlain, an assistant professor and historian in global cultures, expressed her concerns for students that would be affected by the cuts. “No one’s brain is kicked into gear if they’re hungry. It’s going to affect their ability to show up to class, being engaged in class, if those basic needs aren’t met,” Chamberlain said. Chamberlain took a historical approach to her explanation as to why SNAP is essential for Americans and why more people should be making their voices heard to the government. “In the long term, people have to speak up about believing that the federal government has to be in the business of helping people eat because if that’s not what our government is for then what is it really for?” Chamberlain stated. In the wake of individuals and families potentially not being able to obtain food for themselves and loved ones, local restaurants and pantries have stepped up and expanded their programs to help those in need. W i l k e s U n i v e r s i t y ’s C o l o n e l ’s Cupboard is one of the programs that will be expanding its services for students, staff and faculty. W i l k e s ’ Director of Civic Engagement, Catie Becker, stated that they will be extending their partnership with Fork Over Love, a non-profit organization that purchases readyto-eat meals from local independent restaurants. Colonel’s Cupboard began working with them through a threemonth trial program in August. Their meal program with them will now be going from meals once a month to twice a month beginning in the third week of November. “The idea that college students can be hungry is something people find hard to fathom because of things like tuition, bills, and doing so many things,” Becker stated. Becker added that Colonel’s Cupboard also offers online ordering for those who are uncomfortable utilizing the pantry in person. Those who wish to order online via Google form can pick up their order in the mailroom. “We try to take a lot of steps to reduce the stigma around using a cupboard or food pantry but I know it’s still something that people may not be comfortable with especially if they haven’t used one before,” Becker said. The cupboard is located at the Center for Career Development and Internships by the Henry Student Center. The cupboard is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fork Over Love has nourished those in need since their start in 2021. According to the Fork Over Love website, the organization has served 97,004 chef-made dinners in collaboration with other non-profits and communities across Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming counties. Founder and secretary, Tracy Selingo has stated that Fork Over Love will extend their services by increasing community dinners, number of services and food offerings at their physical location at 33 Gateway Shopping Center. On Fork Over Love’s website, they display a full display of food pantry locations in Lackawanna and Luzerne county via feedtheneedscranton.com According to the official website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians will lose their SNAP benefits. On the website’s data reports, about one in six Pennsylvanians use SNAP each month, 35% of PA SNAP recipients are under the age of 18. 4 In Luzerne County, 21% of the population is enrolled in SNAP and in Lackawanna County, 19% of the population is enrolled in the SNAP program. In Wyoming County, 15% of the population is enrolled in SNAP. SNAP benefits have not only assisted those in need of food security but also benefitted the economy of the state of Pennsylvania. According to the official website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, In December 2024, SNAP brought $366,850,460 in federally funded food assistance benefits to PA communities. In addition, the website said that SNAP provides nine meals in every one meal provided by the commonwealth’s charitable network. . On Halloween, two federal judges ruled that the Trump administration must utilize at least partial amounts of their contingency funds for SNAP payments. On Nov. 2, during a CNN interview, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that SNAP benefits could be restored by the deadline on Nov. 5. �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 News 5 University faces discrimination and retaliation lawsuit By Thaelis Andujar Staff writer A federal lawsuit has been filed against the university alleging discrimination and retaliation. According to the 16-page document filed on Aug. 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Jon and Lisa Liebetrau claim that Wilkes engaged in “associational disability discrimination,” a type of violation recognized under federal law, that protects employees from being treated unfairly due to their relationship with – or responsibility for – an individual with a disability. Jon Liebetrau is an associate professor and chair of the Division of Performing Arts at Wilkes. His wife, Lisa, was an adjunct professor in the Division of Performing Arts. Their adult son, Max Liebetrau, previously attended Wilkes University. The complaint states that after the couple sought reasonable understanding and flexibility to accommodate their son’s ongoing medical and educational needs, they were met with hostility, scrutiny and exclusion by university administrators. The plaintiffs allege that rather than offering support or collaboration, the university “chose to marginalize and retaliate” against them, behavior they claim ultimately led to the loss of their employment. In 2023, Max Liebetrau, son of Jon and Lisa, was arrested on a burglary charge and in a separate incident, allegedly threatening a student on campus, according to police reports. Max Liebetrau failed to report to a court hearing and later, turned himself in to authorities, reports state. The situation prompted the university to take a variety of measures to increase security on campus. According to the lawsuit, Lisa and Jon Liebetrau allege that they repeatedly attempted to communicate with supervisors and human resources about their need for minor scheduling flexibility to attend to their son’s medical appointments and school responsibilities. The filing claims that instead of receiving accommodation or understanding, they were met with resistance, skepticism, and ultimately, punitive treatment. The complaint describes a pattern of behavior that the plaintiffs characterize as retaliatory: being excluded from key meetings, stripped of certain job duties, and subjected to an increasingly negative work environment. Both plaintiffs assert that their previously strong job performance records were disregarded once they began advocating for their family’s needs. According to court documents, on April 14, 2023, the university “barred (Jon and Lisa Liebetrau) from being present on the campus of Wilkes University, barred (Jon and Lisa Liebetrau) from speaking with students of Wilkes University and were required to cancel the classes they were teaching.” On April 22, 2023, Jon and Lisa Liebetrau were told they could return to campus and to their regular duties. According to court documents, the university told students of the Liebetraus that “they were permitted to exercise an option not be engaged with either Plaintiff. ” [sic] Court documents also state that Wilkes University “failed to engage in an interactive process” and treated the plaintiffs “as burdens” after they sought accommodations for their son’s care needs They also state the couple suffered “loss of reputation, emotional distress, and other compensatory and consequential damages.” Under Section 12112(b)(4) of the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers are prohibited from discriminating against a “qualified individual because of the known disability of an individual with whom the qualified individual is known to have a relationship or association.” The law is designed to prevent employers from acting out of bias, such as assuming an employee will be unreliable, distracted, or costly because they care for a disabled family member. When asked to comment on the case, Wilkes University President Grag Cant said in an email, “I am sorry, but we cannot comment on ongoing litigation.” �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 News 6 Profile of a professor: Dr. Chris Kovats-Bernat By Mollie Kuhar Special to the Beacon Dr. Chris Kovats-Bernat, an anthropologist and associate professor, joined Wilkes this fall as director of the university’s new Africana Studies program. With extensive experience studying culture, conflict, and society, Dr. Kovats-Bernat brings a deep understanding of the human experience to his classrooms. “After my interview, I knew I wanted to be at Wilkes,” he said. Dr. Kovats-Bernat earned his bachelor's degree in philosophy and anthropology from Muhlenberg College in 1993, followed by his master’s degree in 1997, and his Ph.D. in anthropology from Temple University in 2001. For over 30 years, he has studied the everyday lives of street children in Haiti, exploring “how poverty, violence, and political instability shape childhood and survival.” Dr. Kovats-Bernat said he was “drawn to anthropology because it asks deep questions about what it means to be human and how culture shapes our experience of the world.” He explained that his fieldwork in Haiti began in 1994, and that his commitment to research has always been central to his mission of teaching and inspiring students to think critically about humanity and culture. Recently, Dr. Kovats-Bernat has explored Haitian Vodou, describing it “as a system of healing, community, and resilience.” During the mid-2010s, he became more deeply engaged in Africana Studies, a field that he said gave him “greater freedom to express myself as a scholar of Haiti, the world’s first Black Republic.” Through this work, he aims “to understand and teach the full story of ourselves, the resilience, the resistance, the artistic movements, the intellectual traditions, the leadership, particularly of people of African descent whose voices and scholarship have been marginalized for far too long.” Dr. Kovats-Bernat is currently teaching AFS 101 and AFS 298: The Black Experience in the Caribbean. He explained that AFS 298 “explores the experience of people of African descent in the Caribbean region, from the colonial period to the present.” In this course, students examine topics such as African resistance to enslavement and colonialism, the rise of Caribbean Black nationalism, childhood in the Caribbean, and various Caribbean religious traditions. Dr. Kovats-Bernat’s current research remains rooted in ethnographic work in Haiti, although it was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. His focus has since expanded to studying the Haitian diaspora in the United States, particularly “how the religion of Vodou helps Haitians cope with scarcity and violence and offers hope for a better future.” This academic year, the Africana Studies program at Wilkes is sponsoring several upcoming events. These include a film series launching in February 2026, a Black History Month guest lecture on Feb 24 by Dr. Scott Hancock, professor of history at Gettysburg College, and an AFSsponsored Alternative Spring Break trip to Little Haiti in Miami. “What excites me most about my role as Director of AFS is the chance to help students see Africana Studies not as an abstract discipline, but as a way to understand and change the world around them. The skills that students will learn in AFS are not optional in today’s world. Africana Studies students are changemakers, equipped with the tools they need to advocate for justice and equity, while turning a critical eye toward the pressing social problems of today.” Looking ahead, Dr. Kovats-Bernat hopes that Wilkes students will take his classes and discover how Africana Studies has “always been concerned with not just cultivating a scholarly identity in students, but also a sense of community. "I look forward most to building up Africana Studies as a safe place for dialogue, creativity, and social consciousness.” She proudly pulled out her voter card on the spot, already prepared for Election Day. That same sentiment was echoed by Robert Miller, a pre-med student at Misericordia University, who also named Uncle Iroh. “He was strong but caring,” Miller said.“ Some answers were bold, like Shanel Ozoria, an education major at King’s College, who laughed before saying, “Honestly? Harley Quinn. I like her boldness and her loyalty to her friends.” Others leaned more lighthearted. Zach Gingrich, a sophomore student at Wilkes University, smirked before answering, “Probably Oshawott, he just looks chill… plus bro looks dapper in a suit.” And then there was Carter Sitch, another Wilkes University student. “I’d vote for SpongeBob, he’d take happiness into account and that would benefit everyone. Finally, Jatovio Rabbit, a recent high school graduate working at Schiel’s Family Market, didn’t hesitate before naming Jessica Pearson from Suits. “She’s smart, level-headed, and fair,” he said. “This’ll be my first election, I’m definitely voting.” Fiction better option than reality for some By Thaelis Andujar Staff writer Voters cast their choices this week, but what if the candidates were different? Very different. What if voters were allowed to vote for their favorite fictional character to hold an office? The next presidential election might not be until 2028, but why not have some fun thinking of who the next candidate should be. From the local market to the Wilkes University campus, everyone had a character they didn’t hesitate to nominate for president. At the top of the list was Captain America, chosen by Keira Landmesser, a high school student and women’s wrestling athlete at Nanticoke Area High School. “That’s a tough one,” she said with a laugh. “I’m not even old enough to vote yet. But probably Captain America; he’s strong and a leader.” Others leaned toward wisdom over strength. Julia Sudbury, a high school graduate preparing for a medical career, didn’t hesitate before answering, “I suppose Uncle Iroh, because he’s not corrupt. He’s always preaching about peace and whatnot.” �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment 7 Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor: Kailey.Vogel@wilkes.edu Syrian Migrations opens at Sordoni Art Gallery By Julia Kresge Staff Writer Art is not only beautiful; it can also spark dialogue and inform people about the world. The Wilkes University Sordoni Art Gallery recently hosted a reception to celebrate its newest exhibit. Lebanese American artist Helen Zughaib presented a lecture on her Syrian Migrations series of paintings. Syrian Migrations is on view at the gallery through Feb. 27. Zughaib was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1959. Her family left the country during the Lebanese Civil War in 1975. Currently, Zughaib lives and works in Washington, D.C. She is best known for her gouache (opaque watercolor) paintings. Stylistically, she references geometric motifs found in traditional Islamic art, as well as American and European pop artists. “As an Arab American, I hope…to… bring understanding and acceptance between the people of the Arab world and the West,” she states on her website. Syrian Migrations chronicles the Syrian Civil War and its aftermath. In 2011, Syrians took part in anti-government protests inspired by the Arab Spring. The ruling Assad regime violently cracked down on these protests, arresting and ‘disappearing’ many people. These events sparked the Syrian Civil War. Thousands died in bombings and chemical attacks. In addition, 14 million Syrians were displaced, and millions of refugees fled to the neighboring countries of Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. Others made dangerous overseas journeys to Europe. In December 2024, the Assad regime collapsed after 50 years in power. Some Syrian refugees have begun returning home. Still, there is much work to be done. Many Syrian towns and villages were badly damaged or destroyed. The new Syrian transitional government has also faced criticism of its own. Painted from 2016 to 2025, the 58 pieces in Syrian Migrations document Syrian refugees’ experiences. Men, women, and children are portrayed living in refugee camps and traveling to foreign countries. The paintings particularly focus on Syrian women. These women care for their families and hold essential roles in refugee communities. Syrian Migrations references Jacob Lawrence’s famous 1941 Migrations series. Lawrence was a prominent African American painter. Migrations’ 60 paintings depict the American Great Migration. In the first half of the twentieth century, millions of African Americans moved from the rural Jim Crow South to the urban Northeast and Midwest. These internal migrants traveled across the country to escape violent racial discrimination and to pursue new economic opportunities. Both Migrations series are best understood as a group of paintings in chronological order. Each painting has a brief caption explaining its contents. When viewed as a group, the paintings tell a cohesive story. Both Lawrence and Zughaib also use flat shapes and a starkly vibrant color palette. The paintings’ visual beauty is a subversive contrast to their sometimes painful subject matter. In the current moment, many American institutions are reluctant to display art with a perceived political message. Zughaib, who held a Social Practice Residency at the Kennedy Center from 2021 to 2024, discussed artists’ social responsibility. “When people ask me if I’m a political Photo by Shannon Slominski Students examine some of the artwork in the Sordoni Art Gallery. The Gallery is open to everyone and is located in the Karambelas Media and Communication artist, I think about what Picasso said about Guernica [the Spanish artist’s famous 1937 painting depicting the bombing of Guernica, Spain during the Spanish Civil War]. “During WWII, a German officer asked Picasso about the painting, ‘Did you do that?’ Picasso responded, ‘No, you did.’ An artist’s job is to respond to what’s going on around us. I wish I had a magic wand to end all the suffering in the Middle East. But I can use my art to spread awareness.” �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Eastern State Penitentiary equal parts scary and fun By Leah Smith Editor in Chief Wilkes Student Government took students on a spooky trip to Eastern State Penitentiary recently, offering an education and haunting experience. Student Government vice president Riley Knaub came up with the trip idea and wanted to try something different this year to celebrate the Halloween season with Wilkes students. “I just wanted to switch it up and since I’ve never been here before, I figured it would be a new experience for everyone.” Knaub said. After signing up and paying a $20 fee, students braced themselves for the horror that awaited them upon the penitentiary gates. At the start of the event, guests were welcomed and encouraged to wear a glow-inthe-dark necklace provided by the penitentiary. This necklace would allow the scare actors to touch you and pull you away from the rest of your group. The event was broken up into four acts. The first act began with four haunted maze attractions - Nightmares, Big Top Terror, the Machine Shop and a brand-new house, Dark Tides. Dark Tides featured scare actors as sea monsters. The second act was a breather after the intensity of the starting houses. This section also offered the more historical side of the penitentiary as guests were offered to take a flashlight tour through the hospital wing for an additional $13. Other free historical attractions were provided, including a historical tour about the evolution of prisons in America and an audio tour of the penitentiary’s history. There was also a Korean food vendor and beer garden for those who preferred to take a load off and enjoy some local Philly food and beverages. The third act brought back the terror with an outdoor maze called the Apocalypse Pass. This maze was a hodgepodge of terrifying sets and characters including a zombified ice cream man. After the maze was Pumpkin Plaza, a outdoor club area where visitors could dance along with scare actors or traverse through the Kaleidoscope Hall and watch as a neon-laser silhouette dances along the penitentiary walls. Finally, act four introduced The Crypt. This maze was darker and tighter than the others with scare actors jumping out of crawlspaces to try and get a scream. This maze leads to a gift shop and a VIP only section which was a speakeasy inspired by Al Capone. According to Eastern State’s website, Capone was imprisoned for the first time ever at the penitentiary. “I love getting spooked,” said Becca Earnst. “It’s so much fun. My favorite was definitely the big top. Circus themed houses are usually my favorite.” Photo by Leah Smith Sordoni Art Gallery holds annual Bark! At the Gallery By Nicole Steinberg Staff Writer The Sordoni Art Gallery held its annual Bark! At The Gallery on Oct. 30, in the Karambelas Media and Communication Center. The pups were brought in from the SPCA of Luzerne County along with volunteers. Assistant Director of the Sordoni Art Gallery, Melissa Carestia says she is in the process of working with SPCA to have more similar events. “We ideally would like to do it once a semester, or at least once a year, she said. “We’ll invite the SPCA to bring some adoptable dogs to meet with the students.” Students and faculty can play with the pups during club hours and spread the word about adoption. “You guys can come and relax, and it also helps to socialize the animals,” Carestia said. “It is a win-win across the board.” For future events like these, Carestia said it is important to involve the students in everything that the art gallery does. “We are specifically here to serve the student population for a different kind of classroom,” she says. “You can come, take a look at the art and learn about the contents and how it exists in society.” Future events with the Sordoni Art Gallery include meditation sessions, an art screening of Persepolis and a paper collage making session. Photos by Nicole Steinberg Students ﬁlled the lobby of the Sordoni Art Gallery to pet adoptable puppies Loki (L) and Scooby (R). �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 Life, Arts & Entertainment 9 E ch we w k th tthe W ilk lke kes Each Ea week, ek, k, e Wi Wilkes il f pic i ks k out Beacon staff ff picks ic ttheir th eir i fa ir ffavorite v ri vo r te song of tthe w k Check out th e we ek. k. week. tthis i we w ’ bop o s! th is week’s ek’s ’s bops! op Leah Smith: Hold Onto Me Amira Elfeky Kailey Vogel: Just Wh What hat I Needed - The Cars Thaelis Andujar: VOY A LLeVARTE A PR - Bad Bunny Andrew Marshallsay: The Rain That Never Came Apache Sun Natalia Williams: Love the Way You Lie Eminem ft. Rihanna Nikki Steinberg: Dracula - Tame Impala Shawn Carey: Grow Up - VIAL Cally Williams: Paul Revere - Noah Kahan Jake Mills: Paper Sun - Def Leppard Freeze: Bass Factor Factory ry Kaji Mollie Kuhar: Too Little, Too Late - Laufey Topher DellaBella: White Noise - Disclosure ft. AlunaGeorge Shannon Slominski: Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer Nikki presents, What’s Cooking?: Spooky snacks By Nicole Steinberg Staff Writer Pumpkin French Toast Sticks 6 slices of thick bread 3 large eggs 1/2 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy) 1/4 cup pumpkin puree 2 tbsp brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp pumpkin spice Pinch of salt 2 tsp butter 1. Cut each slice of bread into 3 sticks 2. In a shallow dish, whisk together eggs, milk, pumpkin puree, brown sugar, vanilla, pumpkin spice and salt until consistency is smooth 3. Dip each bread stick into the mixture, making sure the drip off excess 4. 5. 6. so the bread doesn’t get soggy Heat a skilled over medium heat and melt butter Cook the sticks in batches, turning them until all sides are golden brown and crispy Stack them up and serve these fall inspired french toast sticks Caramel Apple Cider Floats 2 cups apple cider 2 scoops vanilla ice cream 2 tbsp caramel sauce Whipped cream (optional) Ground cinnamon or apple pie spice Apple slices (optional) 1. Drizzle caramel sauce inside two tall glasses 2. Divide apple cider evenly between the glasses 3. Drop a scoop of vanilla ice cream into each glass (or more if desired) 4. Add whipped cream, more caramel, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Garnish with apple slice 5. Serve with a spoon and straw and enjoy this sweet apple cider and vanilla concoction �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 10 Life, Arts & Entertainment Pumpkin who? Starbucks fans ready for holiday specials By Dana Messner Special to the Beacon Starbucks, recently announced its anticipated holiday menu launch, with winter additions set to appear on the menu starting Nov. 6. In response, the company expects high sales; however, customers expressed differing emotions on the launch. Customers seem to take different sides when it comes to the popularity of the Starbucks holiday menu, with some people changing their order to a new special, some refusing to try something different and some going back and forth between the two orders. Michael Strika, a sophomore nursing major and former Starbucks barista, claims sales will 100% increase during this time, despite some customers determined to stick to their traditional orders. “New Year’s Day alone is the craziest day because many people are traveling,” Strika stated. He also mentioned that the caramel brulee latte, a featured holiday drink, was the most purchased drink during the holiday season last year, adding ‘we went through so many every day.’ Some customers reflected the same pure excitement when informed that the holiday menu would soon be available. When asked if his everyday order would change, Maksymillian Bozek, responded with an order that is much different from his typical sugar free vanilla cold brew with oat milk. “Heck yeah. I will definitely get the hot sugar cookie latte. It makes me feel like I am in Santa’s workshop and (will) get me excited for the day and Christmas season,” Bozek said. When questioned about whether the upcoming launch of the holiday menu would change their order, multiple people said they would order something different. Rebecca Zayle, a school counselor, also conveyed excitement for the upcoming change from fall to holiday flavors on the menu. She currently orders a pumpkin cream chai latte, but once the holiday menu is available, she plans to order her favorite drink: a peppermint mocha iced coffee with cold foam. Customers at two Starbucks locations were asked to share their go-to order at the establishment, with the most popular being the strawberry acai lemonade refresher. Other responses ranged anywhere from a simple hot black coffee to an iced chai latte. Jaylin Rouselle, a sophomore nursing major, explained that she enjoys the popular refresher best and plans to continue ordering it alongside her holiday drink. Others agreed with Rouselle, saying that The line at Starbucks will soon be filled with those thirsty for the new holiday drinks. they also order the refreshing drink, and will continue to do so because of their dislike for coffee. A sophomore mechanical engineering major, Joshua Conley, describedthe refresher as the “best non-coffee item,” as he is not a fan of drinking coffee nor the flavors that are offered within it regularly and during the holiday season. According to the official Starbucks website, the holiday menu will feature several annual drink specials and flavors, such as a peppermint mocha, sugar cookie lattes and cold foams, and gingerbread chai flavoring, as well as themed bakery items and at-home coffee blends. Nicholas Jalandoni, a physical therapy graduate student, gave much different reasoning as to why he will continue to order his year-round black coffee. He likes coffee, but prefers a healthier option that contains less milk, which does not pertain to the regular menu or the holiday additions. Autumn means falling leaves and chilly temps Falling leaves -- and the accompanying ‘leaf cleanup’ -- are sure signs that autumn has arrived in full force. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures this week are expected to be in the upper-50s, with lows potentially dipping into the 30s. �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 The Mental Health Beacon: Fall into self-care By Gina Harrison Assistant professor, Passan School of Nursing Think of how often you spend time engaging in self-care. If the answer is ‘not much,’ I challenge you to work it into your life. The fact that your eyes found their way to this article reveals you are at least interested in the concept. Self-care can take many different forms. Often, people imagine that selfcare includes spa services, face masks, or scented bath soaps. While those are open to consideration, there are easier ways for you to incorporate self-care into your daily life. Engaging in self-care is not selfish or self-indulgent. It is the practice of taking care of the person that you spend most time with, yourself. Self-care should include activities or behaviors that help you to maintain and even improve your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Self-care is not a new concept. Surprisingly, it extends back to the ancient Greek philosophers. Consider one of Socrates’ quotes, “Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writings.” Socrates was encouraging the act of self-care through knowledge. You should know that you are already engaged in this form of self-care as you continue to accumulate knowledge at Wilkes. Self-care becomes increasingly important as we enter new stages of our journey. We all feel the pressures of family, friends, responsibility, and expectations. Life can pull us in many directions, some of which may not align with who we truly are. Self-care gives you the opportunity to look inward and find yourself. Engaging in self-care helps to prepare you to manage stress and the increasing demands of your life. It can help you prevent burning out, improve your health, improve your mood, and even allow you to feel more empowered. Whether it’s a leisurely stroll around campus, or a necessary walk from class to class, breathe deeply and enjoy the crisp fall air. Taking the long way to class can help improve your health and get out your excess energy...just be sure to give yourself enough time. These are skills that will last a lifetime. To engage in meaningful self-care, you must first think about what that would feel or look like for you. Not all self-care is created equal. If you do not like when people touch you, having a massage might be more stressful than self-care. If you prefer being with a group, you may want to engage your friends in your self-care plans. Here are some questions you may want to consider when developing your self-care plan. - What activities help you to reset after a stressful event? - What daily habits do you already have that support your mental health? - If you had some extra time in your schedule, what would you want to spend it doing? - How do you show yourself kindness? - What is standing in the way of your taking care of yourself? Answering those questions may be difficult, and you may not be able to answer them all right now. Considering your preferences is an important part of discovering self-care activities that feel good and work for you. To help kick off your self-care journey, I will include some examples for you, some you may find that you are already doing. - Listen to calming music; there are many playlists available on Apple, Spotify or YouTube. - Meditation. Bring quiet to your mind. This will take practice. Start with short amounts of time and gradually increase the time. When your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your breathing. - Watch fish swimming. Studies have shown that watching fish swimming in an aquarium can lower blood pressure and stress levels. There are videos available online. - Gratitude Journaling. Focus on the positive; this can train your brain to look for the positives in your daily life. - Stay hydrated. Use that Stanley. - Move your body. Exercise regularly to help improve your health and to get out your excess energy. - Eat regularly. Missing meals or spending extended periods of time without food may result in blood sugar highs and lows, which can impact your mood and ability to concentrate. Build time to eat into your schedule! - Immerse yourself in nature. Now is an exciting time to get outside, breathe in the fresh air, and appreciate the changing of the fall leaves. - Take a walk around campus. Take an adventure through the campus, take the time to really look at the campus instead of rushing from point A to point B. Self-care is something you need to practice consistently to reap its benefits. It is a practice, a skill you develop over time. Dedicate some time every day to self-care, start small, and don’t give up. �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 12 �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 13 �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 Opinion Editorial Staff 2025-26 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Leah Smith Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS LA&E - Kailey Vogel Opinion - Shawn Carey Sports - Andrew Marshallsay DESIGNERS Head Designer - Lara Mullen Designer - Carol Stratford Photographer - Shannon Slominski STAFF WRITERS Kaydia Wright Nikki Steinberg Topher DellaBella Natalia Williams Thaelis Andujar Jake Mills 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: shawn.carey1@wilkes.edu Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Gambling bringing the worst out of sports again Yet another scandal involving sports betting has hit the North American professional sports world. Long gone are the simple suspensions for athletes in the United States, as now it’s reached a critical point–outright arrests and criminal charges. On Oct. 23, Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier and Damon Jones of the National Basketball Association (NBA) were arrested in two separate gambling investigations by the FBI. Billups and Rozier were currently in the league, with the latter playing for the Miami Heat. Billups on the other hand is still currently the head coach for the Portland Trail Blazers. Both have since been put on paid leave while the FBI and the NBA each continue to investigate the matter. However, things took a dramatic turn when we learned that the arrests were also allegdly connected to two illegal gambling rings that involved Italian organized crime families. The families in question are the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese and Genovese families. However it all ties back to La Cosa Nostra, one of, if not the most known Sicilian group of mobsters there are. The families, according to the FBI, used NBA stars as a face. In other words, they would get innocent people to play, telling them they have the chance to play poker alongside NBA stars. From there, victims were to have lost millions of dollars throughout the span of the scheme. The four aforementioned families were involved in two separate rings of illegal gambling. The first, which may be one of the most interesting (not in a good way) stories you’ll ever hear: x-ray machine tables which were able to read poker cards. The second ring, which may be the most heinous out of the two involves Terry Rozier specifically. According to prosecutors involved in the massive investigation, Rozier allegedly faked injuries after telling a friend to bet on his injury. The friend made a wager that Rozier would be injured, and the player allegedly faked the injury to earn his friend a payout on his bet. Leagues and the networks that broadcast them continue to shove the betting narrative down the throats of all those who tune in. Sports betting used to be seen as one of the worst things an athlete can do, but now even in the NCAA, it’s almost encouraged. How can leagues expect their players to follow the rules regarding sports gambling if they continue to shove it down the throats of fans every which way? While only one of the two schemes involved sports betting, it just shows that some athletes will do whatever it takes to bend the rules they are expected to follow. Leagues in the United States are hypocritical, and yes, they must hold their players accountable. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement on Amazon Prime during an NBA broadcast, “My initial reaction was I was deeply disturbed. There’s nothing more important to the league and its fans than the integrity of the competition. I had a pit in my stomach. It was very upsetting.” In 2024 alone, the LEGAL sports betting industry generated over $13.7 billion in revenue, according to ESPN. With that amount of money for leagues to all share, it’s not surprising that they continue to put money in higher regard than having integrity shine. For now, US Lawmakers have asked Silver to further explain the NBA’s relationship with gambling websites that do advertising, broadcasting, etc. to help the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Gambling runs deep in sporting events today. Now, the Mafia is getting in on the action. Letter to the editor policy: The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor from differing viewpoints. Letters must contain contact information, including name, city, state and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published but may be used for verification purposes. All letters to the editor must be sent using one of the following methods: Email: leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Phone: (570) 408-5903 (Voicemail: 30 seconds or less, please.) Mail: 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766 Attn: The Beacon �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 Opinion 15 The Icebox presents Top Anime Fights part one The Beacon’s own game master is back for another semester By “Freeze” Opinion Staff Writer Welcome to another full-page edition of the Icebox. As a lot of readers may know, I am very interested in anime. Recently, I realized I have never actually made a list of anime fights that I enjoyed. Some fights are so short that they leave a viewer wanting more. Other fights are irritatingly lengthy. While this may be a hot take, I personally think a lot of the fight scenes in “Naruto” are terrible because they are interrupted by flashbacks and other cuts in the plot. Another anime which I have repeatedly failed to enjoy is “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.” The fight scenes are drawn out in such a way that you lose focus on the action itself. It also doesn’t help that the anime is essentially a bunch of burly men yelling and screaming at each other. Before I dive into my favorite anime fights, it’s important to discuss some criteria for what makes a good scene. First, the fight should involve at least two opposing parties who are powerful enough to put on a show. Second, the fight should absolutely be well-animated and shown on screen without any major breaks. Nothing is more infuriating than watching a really good action sequence that suddenly cuts to a different part of the story for several minutes. Sometimes, the break that happens during a fight ends up being several episodes. Third, the fight should be shown start-to-finish only if the characters involved in the fight are essential to the overall story. Sometimes, I find myself getting bored by a fight between characters who are irrelevant. Fourth, the villain of the fight should generally be stronger than the hero at the start. Nobody likes watching a hero absolutely “blitz” a villain that was previously hyped up. Yes, I am looking at you, Sung Jin-woo from “Solo Leveling.” There are, of course, some exceptions to this. For example, Saitama from “One Punch Man” is one of my favorite protagonists despite the fact that he defeats all of his opponents in just one punch. It’s the satire and irony behind his character that prevents him from being boring. Another example is Levi Ackerman from “Attack on Titan.” It’s clear that he is a hardened soldier from experience, so watching him do what he does best is enjoyable. Finally, the production of the fight should be done well. Either the manga should be drawn with great detail or the anime should do the scene justice. Good production of anime usually involves a wide range of colors, lots of moving parts, detailed sound design and a killer soundtrack that matches the scene perfectly. With that basic, watered-down criteria accounted for. It’s time to introduce what I consider to be the greatest and most memorable fights. Note that some fights are actually better in their raw, manga form than when they were adapted to anime. Cosmic Garou vs. Saitama from “One Punch Man” is an immediate fight to mention. This is the first time that Saitama truly has to go above and beyond to defeat an opponent. At the same time, the upcoming villain Garou reaches full potential and unlocks the power of God, thereby becoming a universal-level threat. It was during this fight that Saitama’s ability to infinitely become more powerful was revealed. The manga is called “One Punch Man” because Saitama will always be able to level up his strength so that exactly one punch becomes enough to defeat any opponent of any strength. The fight ends with Saitama discovering “zero punch,” where his fist rewinds time and punches Garou in the past. He technically wins with zero punches. Ryo Shimazaki vs. almost everyone in “Mob Psycho 100” was especially insane because Ryo is blind. Shimazaki’s special psychic ability is simply teleportation. Everything else he does is literally just close-combat. He successfully takes down Mob, the protagonist and most powerful psychic, and all of Mob’s friends who have different powers. They try to use several different strategies to defeat Shimazaki, but he repeatedly escapes and fights all of them at once. In the end, Shimazaki doesn’t even lose. He decides he had enough fun and leaves. Levi Ackerman, as mentioned before, is an incredible character in “Attack on Titan.” His fight against Zeke, the Beast Titan, had a lot of buildup. When it finally happens, it’s after Levi Ackerman loses his commander and is put into a rage. He slams an entire army of titans by himself and then proceeds to take down the ominous Beast Titan. Although the titan does not die at this point due to plot reasons, Levi does end up killing him by the end of the story. Actually, Zeke requests that if he should die it would be at the hands of the highly skilled Levi Ackerman. Ash Greninja vs. Alain’s Mega Charizard X is a fight you probably weren’t expecting to see in this list. Believe it or not, the Pokémon anime have some of the most inspiring fights you will ever see. The amount of training that Ash Ketchum does with his Pokémon and the result when they stand together is just too great to go by unnoticed. In “Pokémon: XYZ,” Ash synchronizes with his Greninja in a fashion that goes beyond mega evolution. Thus, his “Ash Greninja” is an all-powerful shinobi of legend. Even though it loses the fight against Alain’s Charizard, it’s still a personal favorite of mine. I would also recommend seeing the finales of both “Sun and Moon” and “Legends” where Ash wins his first league and becomes the world champion, respectively. One fight that had absolutely blown me away was Roronoa Zoro vs. King of the Animal Kingdom Pirates in “One Piece.” This fight was just completely jaw-dropping. I legitimately could not believe what I had just witnessed after seeing it for the first time. The visuals, sound designs, attacks and “demon awakening” of the pirate hunter, Zoro, were all just incredible. I frequently return to this scene to enjoy it again. Each time, I get goosebumps. If you haven’t already picked up “One Piece,” you’re missing out on a goldmine of story, fights and well-designed characters. Another fight to mention from “One Piece” is, of course, Gear Five Luffy vs. Kaido of the Animal Kingdom Pirates. This is a fight in which words can’t do it justice. The entire sequence is a burst of hope and emotion for the viewers. I admit I was actually in tears when I first heard the “drums of liberation.” Just writing about it gives me goosebumps! Again, you should absolutely get into “One Piece” before it’s too late. Now that I have decided to put together a list of fights, I realize there have been quite a few that I enjoyed over the years. Stick around for the second part of this list in the next issue of the Icebox. Until then, start watching “One Piece.” Do it. �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 Opinion 16 The comeback of physical media consumption By Leah Smith Editor-in-Chief �� The Beacon - November 5, 2025 Opinion 17 �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 Opinion 18 A review of "Short n' Sweet" by Sabrina Carpenter By Natalia Williams Staff writer For this week’s review I was stuck on what I wanted to listen to and I decided to do one of my favorite albums of all time, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet”. I thought this was a good time as well to do this one because she is back on her “Short n’ Sweet” tour. I am not a huge fan of today's pop music, but this one is amazing and I am excited to go deeper into the album and each track. Here is a track by track album review of my favorite Sabrina Carpenter album. 1. “Taste”: 10/10 Absolutely obsessed with this song. It was released as a single and it is such a fun song and I love the production of this song. I think this is such a good album opener because It is upbeat, catchy and gets you really excited to listen to the album. The lyrics are somewhat relatable to some people and that's what connects people to the song. It is extremely catchy and it is always stuck in my head. Overall very strong opener. 2. “Please, Please, Please”: 7/10 This one is so good as well. It is another single off the album and it took social media by a storm. I really love this song but I did rate a 7/10 just because it is very over played in my opinion. It is a very catchy song and when you think about Sabrina Carpenter this is one of the songs that come to your head. In terms of cohesiveness in the album so far, it does fit with the first one but not really. Since the first two are singles it makes sense why they sound like singles…if that makes sense. We are only two tracks in so hopefully we hear a more collective sound later on. Overall great song. 3. “Good Graces”: 9/10 One of my favorites off the album. It is such a fun and good song. I love love love the production of this song, the beat gets you hyped up and makes you want to dance. This song was one of the tracks that stuck with me after the first listen and I kept repeating it. The chorus is so catchy and it is such a fun song. It does sound very different from the first two, but it somehow fits. Overall no strong thoughts with this one. EXTREMELY catchy and there isn't a day where I don't walk around saying “I'm working late, cause im a singer.” Overall, it's a good song, I just don't want to hear it anymore. 4. “Sharpest Tool": 10/10 This one is the ballad of the album and I love it. The production and the way she sings reminds me a lot of SZAs “Nobody Gets Me” a lot. Not a bad thing, just an observation. I love the acoustic vibe of this one. It is a perfect breakup or heartbreak song in my opinion. Not too much on this one, really pretty song and her vocals stand out a lot on this one. At first, I really didn't like this song, but it did grow on me A LOT and has become one of my favorites off the album. It is a slower vibe which I like to break up the fast songs in the beginning. The lyrics are very relatable and I think this one may be my favorite song lyrically. Like the other songs, it is very catchy and the pre chorus is my favorite part. This one is just so good and is top 5 out of the album. 5. “Coincidence”: 6/10 Not a favorite and I usually skip this one, but it isn't a bad song. This one has a very different vibe from the first four and it doesn't really fit like the other ones have been in my opinion. I've noticed really listening and paying attention this time, the writing is very relatable and I think that's why this album sat very well with a lot of people. No strong opinions with this song, just not a huge fan. 6. “Bed Chem”: 10/10 Oh. my. Goodness. I am OBSESSED with this song. I started to listen to this song on repeat a lot this past summer and I fell in love with it. I am in love with the production and I love the vibe of this one. Personally, this song reminds me so much of my current celebrity crush and it makes me giggle all the time and this was my anthem this summer. Once again the lyrics are my favorite and it is another favorite lyrically. Overall, one of the best songs off the album. 7. “Espresso”: 5/10 I am sorry…I am so tired of this song. Ever since it came out like a single, it has been overplayed. It is a good song so it has a good reason to be overplayed but I hear it everywhere and im tired of it, and thats why I gave it a 5/10. It is 8. “Dumb & Poetic”:7/10 9. “Slim Pickins”: 6/10 This one is alright. I really don't like the production of this one and it doesn't really sound like it fits on this album. Ever since it came out, it hasn’t been a song I reach for and I don't think it is a song that will grow on me. I wish I liked the song more because the lyrics are really good, it just doesn't stick out to me and it isn't something I can repeat. 10. “Juno”: 10/10 So good. We are back to the upbeat vibe with this song and I love it. I do have a special connection and memory with this song (shout out Fan Expo Boston & Hayden Christensen) so it is another one of my all time favorites. It is so catchy and it stood out to me since the first listen. The bridge of this song is my favorite and I replay it all the time. This one fits the album really well and I think it should've been moved up the tracklist. Overall, a really good song and it has a special place in my heart. 11. “Lie to Girls”: 8/10 I don't remember this song at all, but I like it It is a slower vibe and the beat change from the first verse and chorus is my favorite part. The lyrics are 10/10 and I love the melody of this one. It is a very repeatable song and I don't know why I didn't listen to it more. I don’t think it fits the vibe of the album in my opinion. It kinda reminds me of old Sabrina in a way as well. Overall no strong or much thoughts for this one, really strong song. 12. “Don't Smile”: 8/10 Very different vibe from the rest of the album. It is another slow one but the production is different from the other slow songs. I don’t think it fits the album but it is a good song that gets stuck in my head constantly. I love the melody of this one and I do like how chill it is. As for an album closer, I definitely think it could've been a different one. Overall, it is a pretty and chill song that I will keep listening to. Overall, I'd give this album a 9/10. Although it isn't as cohesive as I'd like it to be, the tracks are very strong on this album. This is the first album I've listened to in a while where I thought the track order wasn't right. If the tracks were put together in a different way maybe the album would've flowed together a bit better. The production of the album was really good and I think the theme and sound is there. I just think going back to the order, the songs weren't placed correctly. Overall, I genuinely do love this album and it will always be a staple pop album for me. What should Natalia review next? Let us know what you want her thoughts on. �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 Sports 19 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: andrew.marshallsay@wilkes.edu Wilkes football celebrates Senior Day with victory over Juniata By Andrew Marshallsay Managing Editor After almost a month on the road and on a bye week, the Wilkes University football team was back at home for the first time since Oct. 4, the Colonels dominated at Schmidt Stadium. Led by a strong offensive showing which featured 541 total offensive yards, the Colonels took a 38-7 victory over Juniata College as they continued Landmark Conference Play. A week after losing their first Landmark contest against Lycoming a week prior, the Colonels were playing with a palpable chip on their shoulder. With Senior Day festivities also taking place, Wilkes hoped to get the momentum going in front of the Schmidt Stadium faithful. The first quarter started with a Juniata drive that reached deep into Colonel territory, but the home team was able to force a turnover on downs inside their own 15 yard line. Sophomore Daniel Pigga took the first play for the Colonels to the house, rushing a jet-sweep 90 yards in for a touchdown, beating all Eagles defenders in sight. On the next Juniata drive, the Eagles spent over four-and-a-half minutes, going 74 yards on 11 plays, resulting in an Alex Eaton touchdown which saw thighs level with just under 6-and-a-half minutes left in the first frame. Nick Volpone drilled a 23 yard field goal to make it a 10-7 game, starting a run of 31 unanswered points the Colonels would score before it was all said and done. In the second and third quarters, rushing touchdowns were the name of the game as Ben Contella and Cooper King scored on back-to-back drives. King would rush in for another just 30 seconds into the fourth frame, making it a 31-7 game. With just under 10 minutes left in the game, King aired one out to find fellow senior Justin Moore for his first receiving touchdown of the 2025 season. Volpone again went perfect once again on extra point attempts, continuing a success rate of 100 percent this season. For Juniata, quarterback Ethan Eisenberg went 18/37 with 132 yards. Running back Ivan Foreman had 89 yards on 14 rushes, with the longest being a 25 yard run in the third quarter. Defensively, Dillon Wakefield led the Eagles with 11 total tackles. No Juniata player was able to record a tackle for loss. King went 16/30 with 188 yards in the air, 106 yards rushing, one interception and three total touchdowns. Contella ended with 79 yards and one TD. Defensively, Tallen Murray led the team with 10 total tackles and a 13 yard sack. The Colonels improved to 5-3 in the 2025 season., with a 3-1 Landmark record. Juniata falls to 2-6, with a 0-4 record in conference play. On Nov. 8, the Colonels are on the road taking on perennial Landmark favorite Susquehanna University. Opening kickoff against the Riverhawks is set for 12 p.m. in Selinsgrove, Pa. FOOTBALL SCHEDULE HOME / SEPT. 4TH 7 PM VS. KING’S COLLEGE (PA) SEPT. 13TH 12 PM @ THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY HOME / SEPT. 20TH 12 PM VS. MUHLENBERG COLLEGE SEPT. 27TH 5 PM @ MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY HOMECOMING/ OCT. 4TH 12 PM VS. CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA /LANDMARK OCT. 11TH 1 PM @ MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY / LANDMARK OCT. 25TH 1 PM @ LYCOMING COLLEGE / LANDMARK HOME / NOV. 1 12 PM VS. JUNIATA COLLEGE / LANDMARK/SENIOR DAY NOV. 8TH 12 PM @ SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY / LANDMARK HOME / NOV. 15TH 12 PM VS. WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE / LANDMARK �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 Sports 20 Local high school football - featured playoff recaps By Jake Mills Asst. Sports Editor Wallenpaupack 47, Honesdale 20 Wallenpaupack won the 4A Eastern Conference over Honesdale 47-20 on a cold and windy Thursday night, Oct. 30. Logan Caruso and Ryan Vargo had two touchdowns. Quarterback Jake Rafferty threw for two touchdowns and ran one in as well. Ed Kiesendahl ran a kickoff back for a touchdown after Honesdale’s first score of the game. Offensive/ defensive lineman Tyler Gallo ran in the final touchdown in the game for the Buckhorns. Abe Bryant, Zachary Meagher and Damian Davis scored tonight for the Hornets. Wallenpaupack had the 20-12 lead at the half and their run game was a key factor in the win. The Wallenpaupack defense against the Wing T had two turnovers and held the Hornets to only 7 points in the second half while putting up 27. Honesdale’s Brayden Fritsch picked off Rafferty in tonight’s game. Wallenpaupack and Honesdale both finished their seasons with 4-7 records. Dallas 17, Valley View 0 The Dallas Mountaineers posted a shutout 17-0 in the opening round of the 4-A playoffs. The game was scoreless through almost three quarters until Nico Wilk came up huge under the floodlights. He scored both the Mountaineers touchdowns and had a pick, with Brandon Miller kicking a field goal for the final score of the game. Offensively, Valley View couldn’t seem to find the redzone as much as Dallas. A multitude of penalties for the Mountaineers helped them find good field position. After falling to a 1-5 record after week six of the season, Dallas has now stormed back with five straight victories to improve to 6-5 on the year. The Mountaineers are now 6-5 after being 1-5 in Week 6. Dallas plays at North Pocono next week in the 4A district title game Wallenpaupack celebrates after their win. (Jake Mills) WOMEN’S HOCKEY SCHEDULE OCT 31 3:00 P.M. – AT CORTLAND – CORTLAND, NY NOV 7 7:00 P.M. – AT KING’S COLLEGE (PA) – WILKES-BARRE, PA NOV 8 3:00 P.M. – AT KING’S COLLEGE (PA) – WILKES-BARRE, PA NOV 14 2:00 P.M. – VS LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 15 3:30 P.M. – VS LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 21 3:10 P.M. – AT HOOD COLLEGE – FREDERICK, MD NOV 22 3:30 P.M. – VS HOOD COLLEGE – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX DEC 2 6:00 P.M. – AT ELMIRA COLLEGE – ELMIRA, NY DEC 5 4:50 P.M. – VS STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX DEC 6 4:50 P.M. – VS STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 3 1:00 P.M. – AT UTICA UNIVERSITY – UTICA, PA JAN 4 1:00 P.M./4:00P.M. – AT UTICA UNIVERSITY – UTICA TOURNAMENT (CONSOLATION/FINAL) - UTICA, PA JAN 10 3:30 P.M. – VS ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 11 3:30 P.M. – VS ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 16 6:00 P.M. – AT NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – ASTON, PA JAN 17 2:00 P.M. – AT NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – ASTON, PA JAN 23 6:00 P.M. – AT ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – READING, PA JAN 24 2:00 P.M. – AT ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – READING, PA JAN 30 5:00 P.M. – AT LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – ANNVILLE, PA JAN 31 3:00 P.M. – AT STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – STEVENSON, MD FEB 6 2:00 P.M. – VS NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX FEB 7 3:00 P.M. – AT ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – GLENSIDE, PA FEB 13 3:00 P.M. – VS KING’S COLLEGE (PA) – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX FEB 14 5:00 P.M. – VS ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX FEB 20 7:00 P.M. – AT HOOD COLLEGE – FREDERICK, MD �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 Sports This week in Wilkes sports: Oct. 25 to Nov. 1 By Andrew Marshallsay Managing Editor With Week 11 of the semester quickly approaching, the past week in Wilkes sports also saw the turn of the month, as October flipped into November. The end of October also saw a few regular seasons end, playoff hopes renewed for one particular group of Colonels, and two squads taking to the ice, as well as a squad taking to the mat for the first time this season. Oct. 26: Day two of the Landmark Conference Fall Preview saw both golf squads back in action at the Shawnee Golf Course. For the men’s team, they finished ninth out of 10 teams, with a team score of 671. For the women’s squad, they finished tied for fifth out of eight teams, with a final combined score of 803. Oct. 27: No events scheduled. Oct. 28: Both soccer teams played for the final time this season. Men’s soccer went on the road to take on Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa. However, the Warriors were too strong for the Colonel defense, slotting home six goals to win decisively, 6-0. The women’s team was at home, also facing Lycoming. After a penalty kick goal from Riley Mastriani tied things up at two apiece in the second half, the Warriors nabbed two goals in the final 23 minutes of play to clinch a 4-2 victory, ending the Colonels’ hopes of making the Landmark playoffs. Oct. 29: Field hockey took the trip to Williamsport to take on Lycoming. Two goals from Maddie Karp were the deciders as the Colonels took a 3-1 on the road, clinching the fifth seed in the Landmark Playoffs. Oct. 30: No events scheduled. Oct. 31: It was a Halloween treat in store for the Colonels. While many were out trick-or-treating, for men’s hockey, women’s hockey and women’s volleyball, there was work to do. Women’s hockey traveled to SUNY Cortland to take on the 14th ranked Red Dragons. Two third-period goals clinched an upset win for the Colonels over Cortland. Men’s hockey, after splitting their preseason exhibition schedule, took on Manhattanville University in their season opener from the Toyota Sportsplex. The Colonels took a 4-1 win in the home opener to serve up a Halloween treat in Colonels Country. Women’s volleyball took on the University of Scranton in their Dig Pink Game for cancer awareness. A tough contest for the Colonels ensued as they were swept in three sets to lose 0-3. Nov. 1: Men’s and women’s cross country were in action for the final time this season, competing at the Landmark championships. Both squads finished in eighth place. 21 Men’s wrestling saw its first action of the season, competing at the King’s College tournament. Football celebrated Senior Day in dominating fashion, taking down Juniata in a 38-7 victory. Women’s Volleyball hosted a trimatch against Drew and Ramapo. They split their final matches of the season, beating Ramapo 3-1 and losing to Drew, 0-3. Field Hockey faced off against fourthranked Drew in the first round of the Landmark playoffs, winning 2-1 and advancing to the conference semi-finals. Men’s hockey faced off against #3 SUNY Geneseo at the Toyota Sportsplex. Two goals in the third period sent the game to overtime, but the game ended officially as a 2-2 tie. The Colonels lost the shootout, 1-2, but only the tie goes on their record. Make sure to catch the Colonels in action once again this week. Dodgers clinch second-straight World Series title By Jake Mills Asst. Sports Editor History was made in Toronto on Saturday night as the Los Angeles Dodgers won their second straight World Series over the Toronto Blue Jays in a game seven thriller. The Dodgers are the first back-toback world champions in 25 years. This was also the sixth time in MLB history that a postseason game seven was sent to extra innings. Will Smith hit the game winning home run in the top of the 11th off Shane Bieber, who was making his first relief appearance since 2019. The Blue Jays had a 3-0 lead after three innings after Bo Bichette hit a three-run homer off of Shohei Ohtani, who pitched just over two innings and gave up five hits and three runs. The Dodgers tied the game in the top of the 9th inning as Miguel Rojas became the first player to hit a game- tying home run in the ninth inning of a game seven. World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto finished the game for the Dodgers and escaped the 10th inning with the bases loaded. The Dodgers used all four of their world series starting pitchers in this game, Ohtani got the start while Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Yamamoto came into the game out of the ‘pen. Max Scherzer got the start for the Blue Jays and pitched four innings while giving up four hits and one run. Jays closer Jeff Hoffman gave up the Rojas home run in the 9th, this was the 2020 Cy Young Award winner’s first relief appearance since 2019. Rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage also pitched in the sixth and seventh innings, going one and two-thirds in relief. Smith led the Dodgers with 6 at bats, two runs and 2 runs. George Springer led Toronto with six at bats, one run and three hits. This loss was a very emotional one for the Blue Jays as many players were overcome with emotions. Many players were visibly upset, especially third baseman Ernie Clement after the final out. Along with first back-to-back champions in 25 years many firsts happened in not just Game 7 but the whole series. Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman became the first player in MLB history to hit two walkoff homers in the World Series–one against the Yankees in 2024 and in game three in the bottom of the 18th inning. Yesavage became the first rookie to strike out a rookie-record 12 batters just six weeks after his debut. World Series Trophy (Erik Drost) �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 NOV 21 3:10 P.M. – AT HOOD COLLEGE – FREDERICK, MD NOV 22 3:30 P.M. – VS HOOD COLLEGE – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX DEC 2 6:00 P.M. – AT ELMIRA COLLEGE – ELMIRA, NY Sports 22 DEC 5 4:50 P.M. – VS STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX DEC 6 4:50 P.M. – VS STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 3 1:00 P.M. – AT UTICA UNIVERSITY – UTICA, PA JAN 4 1:00 P.M./4:00P.M. – AT UTICA UNIVERSITY – UTICA TOURNAMENT (CONSOLATION/FINAL) - UTICA, PA JAN 10in3:30 P.M. –IfVSyou’re ARCADIA – TOYOTA class. at UNIVERSITY practice, show yourSPORTSPLEX talk about their sport instead of focusing at Wilkes as a major selling point. 3:30 P.M. – VSand ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX coaches the respect to be on the class material. Our student-athletes are involved JAN in 11 teammates JAN 6:00 P.M.on – AT NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – ASTON, PA Be where your feet are. Or at least try to practice. more than just school and sports. Th ey 16focused If you’re at aNEUMANN club meeting or event, makePA think, focus, and participate in that which run clubs and civic organizations. Th ey 17 2:00 JAN P.M. – AT UNIVERSITY – ASTON, that event worth everyone’s time and effort PAyou are physically present. This will help have internships and off-campus learning JAN 23 6:00 P.M. – AT ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – READING, by focusing on the goals of the club. experiences. JAN 24 2:00 P.M. – AT ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – READING, PAyou, your teammates, and your classmates At my previous school, we had an issue be successful. They’re involved in the community. And JAN 30 5:00 P.M. – AT LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – ANNVILLE, PA the beauty of all of that is that, at Wilkes, with two teammates who would come to JAN 31 3:00 P.M. – AT STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – STEVENSON,Coaches: MD do you have interesting insights you can be involved in so many different practice and talk constantly about their FEB 6 2:00 P.M. – VS NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX to share? Contact the assistant sports editor things to maximize your collegiate biology lab. FEB 7 3:00It P.M. AT ARCADIA – GLENSIDE, was –great to hearUNIVERSITY that they were taking PA Jake Mills, or the managing editor Andrew experience. FEB 13the 3:00lab P.M.seriously, – VS KING’Sbut COLLEGE – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX it was(PA) a distraction Marshallsay to be featured in future editions The struggle is how to make it all work when multiple things get busy. theP.M. others the team. Over the years,SPORTSPLEX of The Beacon. FEB 14to5:00 – VS on ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA The trick here is to be where your feet I’ve spoken with professors with similar FEB 20 7:00 P.M. – AT HOOD COLLEGE – FREDERICK, MD "The Coaches Corner," with Scott Veith, tennis coach By Scott Veith Beacon Alumnus Scott Vieth is a former Beacon editorin-chief who has spent over 20 years as a collegiate athletics coach. He is currently the head men’s and women’s tennis coach at Wilkes. Be Where Your Feet Are Wilkes students are busy people. It’s one of the best things about the university. When a Wilkes coach is talking to prospective student-athletes in the recruiting process, so many of us reference the typical student-athlete experience here are. If you’re in class, be active and attentive concerns; athletes who show up to class to MEN’S HOCKEY SCHEDULE OCT 31 4:50 P.M. – VS MANHATTANVILLE UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 1 4:50 P.M. – VS SUNY GENESEO – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 7 4:50 P.M. – VS KING’S COLLEGE (PA) – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 8 5:30 P.M. – VS KING’S COLLEGE (PA) – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 14 7:00 P.M. – AT LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – ANNVILLE, PA NOV 15 4:00 P.M. – AT LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – ANNVILLE, PA NOV 21 4:50 P.M. – VS MISERCORDIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 22 7:00 P.M. – VS MISERCORDIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX NOV 25 5:00 P.M. – AT CORTLAND – CORTLAND, NY NOV 29 4:00 P.M. – AT ELMIRA COLLEGE – ELMIRA, NY DEC 5 7:00 P.M. – AT STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – STEVENSON, MD DEC 6 3:00 P.M. – AT STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – STEVENSON, MD JAN 9 3:30 P.M. – AT ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – GLENSIDE, PA JAN 10 1:40 P.M. – AT ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – GLENSIDE, PA JAN 16 4:50 P.M. – VS NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 17 5:30 P.M. – VS NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 23 2:00 P.M. – VS ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 24 3:30 P.M. – VS ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 30 4:50 P.M. – VS LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX JAN 31 3:30 P.M. – VS STEVENSON UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX FEB 6 7:00 P.M. – AT NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – ASTON, PA FEB 7 7:00 P.M. – VS ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – TOYOTA SPORTSPLEX FEB 13 7:00 P.M. – AT KING’S COLLEGE (PA) – WILKES-BARRE, PA FEB 14 5:00 P.M. – AT ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – READING, PA FEB 20 4:50 P.M. – AT MISERCORDIA UNIVERSITY – DALLAS, PA �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 Sports 23 Snapshots of the Fall 2025 Sports Season Matthew Conti holds on to the ball after stopping a shot against Marywood on Aug. 29 (Andrew Marshallsay) Matt Carlson celebrates after scoring a power play goal against Hobart on Oct. 25. (Andrew Marshallsay) Ben Contella rushes on a play against Catholic on Oct. 4 during Homecoming Weekend. (Jake Mills) Wilkes-Barre mayor George C. Brown prepares to give the Colonels the Mayor's Cup trophy on Sept. 6. (Zach Paraway) �The Beacon - November 5, 2025 24 . . . R O F G N I K O O L E R WE’ WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS.. DESIGNERS..... MANAGERS...... News,La&E Opinion,Sports Graphics, Layout Distribution Advertising CONTACT: KALEN.CHURCHER@WILKES.EDU � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource This is Wilkes University's Beacon Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the Beacon's predecessors, The Bucknell Bison Stampede, 1934-1935 and The Bucknell Beacon, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>. Missing Issues: 1947 August 8th 1947 September 5th 1947 October 3rd 1947 October 17th 1947 October 31st 1947 November 21st 1947 December 19th 1948 September 9th 1950 April 28th 1953 April 10th 1962 February 2nd Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon, 2025 November 5 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/a499e25b34c49a1af0752e209e857e99.pdf b0a210adb917865bc57733d58bc2e5f3 PDF Text Text The Beacon - October 1, 2025 THE BEACON Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Volume 78, Issue 03 1 “The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow.” Campus prepares for homecoming weekend Photo by Alli Lussi The Wilkes community is ready to welcome alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends to homecoming festivities this weekend. President Greg Cant offers a homecoming message on Page 12 and 13. �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 News News 2 Have a breaking story or a press release to send? Contact the news editor Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Beacon Briefs: Upcoming campus events Snack and study Looking for a comfortable place to study (with snacks)? Join Snack and Study – an open study hall every other Thursday during club hours in Conyngham 101 (Colonels’ Learning Lounge). Bring work, grab a snack, and find your study “home” on campus! The next Snack and Study is Oct. 2. *** NARCAN training offered NARCAN training sessions will be offered throughout the day on Nov. 14 in the Savitz Lounge. One-hour or 30-minute sessions are available. Check Today@ Wilkes to register by Oct. 3. Contact amelia.oconnor@wilkes.edu with any questions. *** Give Kids the World donation drive The Honors Program is collecting cash donations to benefit Give Kids The World, a nonprofit that provides memorable vacations for children with critical illnesses and their families. Every dollar makes a difference in helping kids experience joy and hope. Stop by the Honors Office anytime to drop off your donations or come to the donation table in the SUB during club hours on Oct 2, Oct 23 or Nov. 13. *** Cafe con leche: Mexcican heritage/culture Learn about Mexican culture with Sayuri Fuentes, President of the Student Organization of Latinos (SOL, and enjoy Conchas, a Mexican sweet bread, as well as light refreshments. Please ensure to RSVP to keep an accurate head count. Cafe con leche will take place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 2 in the Savitz Lounge. Contact erica.acosta@wilkes.edu with any questions. *** October mailroom hours Due to staffing limitations, the mailroom will be open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, beginning Oct. 1. Contact Carrie Marko with any questions or concerns at carolyn.marko@wilkes.edu. *** Final gallery tour of The Whispering Take one last look at The Whispering with a tour from gallery director, Heather Sincavage from noon to 2 p.m. on Oct. 5. Refreshments and a light brunch from The Burnt Norton will be served. Registration required. Please email melissa.carestia@wilkes.edu *** Majors fair Still deciding on a major or thinking about making a change? Come to the Majors Fair from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. on Oct. 7 in the JPAC. Meet faculty from every department, ask questions, and discover new opportunities. Whether you’re undecided, thinking about adding a minor, or just curious, this is your chance to connect and explore all your academic possibilities! Fundraise for HPSC at Chipotle Join the Wilkes University HPSC in a Chipotle Kingston fundraiser. The fundraiser runs from 5 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 13 Use the flier or code RTDVEZG to ensure the money comes back to HPSC. Send a picture of your Chipotle to the Honors Program instagram for a chance to win a gift card. *** HPSC and Honors clothing swap Have some gently used clothing at home you don’t use anymore? Donate them to HPSC for the third annual Thrift Store event on Oct. 16. Those who donate will receive vouchers to use at the event. Those who haven’t donated can still purchase the clothing as well. All monetary proceeds and unclaimed clothing will be donated. *** ODI: 8th annual diversity and student leadership conference slated Run Your R.A.C.E. (Respect. Advocacy. Community.Empowerment) has been scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 18. The conference will be held in the Henry Student Center 2nd JPAC, Savitz Lounge, and Miller Room Please refer to Today@ Wilkes for registration info. For more information, email erica. acosta@wilkes.edu or catie.becker@wilkes. edu *** SG Notes will be returning to The Beacon Keep up-to-date with what's happening in Student Goverenment by reading Page 2 of The Beacon or going online to www.thewilkesbeacon.com. Table of Contents News..................2 Life, A&E............7 Opinion............14 Sports................19 Upcoming Events: Fall 2025 October 9 - Fall recess begins 13 - Classes resume 31 - Halloween November 11- Veterans Day 26 - Thanksgiving recess begins December 1- Classes reume 8 - FInal exams begin 15 - Final exams end 22 - Interssion begins Have a safe and anjoyable semester! Want your event featured in the calendar? Email: kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 News 3 �� By Thaelis Andujar Staff writer Wilkes University students may see a new name on the list of campus organizations this semester: Turning Point USA. Wilkes student Dylan Clark, hopes to to have the group become an officially recognized campus club and carve out space for open dialogue and debate on political and cultural issues. The chapter’s launch comes as part of a broader national network of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) groups that have appeared at schools across the country. Locally, published reports have noted groups at Misericordia University and the University of Scrnaton. While political clubs on college campuses are nothing new, Clark said he hopes this one will provide a platform where students from all perspectives can voice their opinions without hesitation. Turning Point USA was founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk, who was only 18 years old at the time. Based in Illinois, the nonprofit organization quickly gained national visibility, focusing on outreach to young people in high schools and universities. Its stated mission is to “identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government.” Since its founding, TPUSA has grown rapidly, establishing a presence on more than 3,000 campuses nationwide, according to the organization’s website. Kirk became a well-known figure in conservative politics, hosting a podcast, writing books, and frequently appearing on television and radio programs. Interest in TPUSA has increased since the shooting death of Kirk on Sept. 10. He was killed while speaking to an audience on the Utah Valley University campus. While supporters of the group praise its emphasis on free expression and its efforts to engage younger generations in political life, critics have at times questioned its methods and messaging. Regardless, its expansion reflects a growing desire among students across the political spectrum to bring national debates to local campuses. For Clark, the decision to establish a Turning Point chapter at Wilkes came after noticing what he described as a gap in political representation among student organizations. “I remember going to Club Day and the website said there was a Democratic club and a Republican club,” Clark explained. “But I didn’t see that anywhere at Club Day, so I figured there’s only one side and everyone needs to have their voices heard.” He added that creating the club was less about aligning with a single ideology and more about broadening opportunities for conversation. “Mostly because I want people’s voices to be heard,” he said. When asked to describe Turning Point to students who may be unfamiliar with the organization, Clark emphasized inclusivity. “The biggest thing is it’s built around faith and politics, but it’s supposed to be nonpartisan,” he said. Though the Wilkes chapter is still in its early stages, Clark has already gathered interest from between 20 and 30 students. Officers have been selected, and members are discussing activities for the semester. “Right now, we’re in talks of at least having some formal debate,” Clark said. “As far as fundraisers, probably like the typical, we’re gonna come up with different events.” Formal debates may become a central feature of the club’s programming. Clark said the group is open to engaging with other political organizations on campus, including the Democratic club if it becomes active. “It’s open to whoever, anybody’s welcome to it,” he said. “But if we could collaborate with the Democratic Club, that’d be fine too.” Jace Hynick and Johnny Sudol are president and vice-president of the Wilkes Democrats. Both expressed concern over TPUSA coming to campus, not because of a difference in political values but because "of the specific concerning precedent that TPUSA has brought to college campuses" In a joint email to The Beacon, the two students stated, "Had a Wilkes Republican Club been chartered for our campus, we would not nearly be as alarmed as this TPUSA Chapter has made us. This is because TPUSA, nationally-speaking, has brought with it undemocratic rhetoric, political extremism, and at many times, political violence and intimidation." The two added that they hope the TPUSA chapter will stand against precedent and keep the college political scene civil. Beyond events, Clark said his main priority is ensuring the club serves as a safe and welcoming environment. “(My main goal is to make sure everyone has a safe place to express their opinion,” he explained. Launching a political club is not without challenges. Clark said the response has been “mostly positive” so far, but acknowledged that some criticism has surfaced online. “Mostly everything I’ve gotten has been positive, but a couple members have pointed out some not-so-nice responses,” he said. Despite this, Clark is focused on building momentum and awareness. The group plans to advertise through flyers, announcements, and social media. “Once we get approved and settled in, we’re gonna post announcements and hang flyers,” he said. He also encouraged students who might feel uncertain to come see the club for themselves. “You’re more than welcome to join, come for a meeting and feel it out,” Clark said. “Everybody’s welcomed—I don’t want anyone to feel left out.” Like many new organizations, the biggest obstacle was the initial process of starting the club. “The biggest challenge is gathering the information on how to start it in the first place,” Clark admitted. As for long-term goals, Clark is focused on establishing the chapter’s presence on campus. “If we could get out there and be an established club, that’s the goal for now,” he said. By the end of the school year, he hopes Turning Point will be recognized as an active part of campus life. Looking further ahead, Clark envisions the club becoming a regular participant in events such as Club Day and collaborating with other groups. “Definitely after establishing our club, we can be a part of Club Day.” For Clark, the importance of political clubs at universities is clear: they ensure students do not feel silenced. “The best thing is to have everyone be free to express their opinion, ’cause then it won’t feel like anyone is left out or anything,” he said. With more than 20 members already expressing interest and plans for debates and events underway, the Turning Point USA chapter at Wilkes University is positioned to play a role in fostering dialogue among students. �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 News 4 Diversity and Leadership student conference planned By Thaelis Andujar Staff writer Wilkes University will welcome students, faculty, and staff to the 8th Annual Diversity and Leadership Student Conference on Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Henry Student Center. The event is coordinated by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in partnership with Civic Engagement and has become one of the most anticipated fall programs on campus. The conference theme this year, “Run Your R.A.C.E. (Respect. Advocacy. Community. Empowerment),” reflects the program’s focus on developing student leadership skills while encouraging participants to think critically about how diversity, equity, and inclusion intersect with everyday life at Wilkes and beyond. The multi-room format, taking place in the JPAC, Savitz Lounge, and Miller Room, will allow attendees to choose sessions most relevant to their interests. Past conferences have addressed issues ranging from allyship and advocacy to navigating difficult conversations. In addition to workshops, the event provides valuable networking opportunities. Students will meet others from across campus who share an interest in leadership and community engagement. Now in its eighth year, the Diversity and Leadership Student Conference has become a cornerstone event in Wilkes’ commitment to preparing students for leadership in a global society. Its longevity reflects not only the dedication of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion but also the consistent student interest in programming that addresses social responsibility and cultural understanding. For many, the conference serves as a stepping stone to deeper involvement in campus life. Students who attend often go on to take active roles in student organizations, volunteer projects, or advocacy initiatives. The lessons and skills gained, whether in communication, collaboration, or cultural awareness, tend to reach well beyond the walls of the student center. This year’s theme, “Run Your R.A.C.E.,” emphasizes four values that organizers hope participants will carry forward: Respect for diverse perspectives and identities. Advocacy for causes and communities in need. Community as a foundation for leadership and belonging. Empowerment to create change in personal and professional settings. The goal is to ensure that every student leaves with both inspiration and practical strategies. Students interested in attending can RSVP through the official registration form. Organizers encourage participants to sign up early so that facilitators can plan accordingly for space, materials, and discussion groups. The event is free and open to all Wilkes students. Questions can be directed to Erica Acosta (erica.acosta@wilkes.edu) or Catie Becker (catie.becker@wilkes. edu), both of whom are closely involved in coordinating the program. The conference will take place just a few weeks before the midpoint of the fall semester, giving students an opportunity to reflect on their academic and extracurricular goals while building new connections. Annual clothing swap allows students to help others By Kaydia Wright Staff writer With the fall season in full swing, a lot of students want to refresh their wardrobe. The Honors Program Student Committee is hosting its third annual clothing swap on Oct. 16. This event coming up is the perfect opportunity to declutter their wardrobe and add some new pieces for fall outfits. The clothing swap is a fall tradition that helps connect students together by donating their old clothes and being able to find new ones that fit their style, or even trying to find a new style. Anyone can participate in this event. Students interested in donating clothes can drop them off in SLC 262. Every student that donates will receive vouchers for the event, but that doesn’t mean others can’t participate. All pieces of donated clothing will be displayed on the first floor of the SUB on the Oct. 16 from noon to 3 p.m. for all students to come and shop with the vouchers or cash. All proceeds and any clothes that are not purchased will be donated to Give Kids the World and another to-be-determined organization. “We’ll accept [donations] all the way up to the clothing swap because we organize the clothes on the day of,” said Adah Layton, director of community service. “Just make sure if you are donating clothes, you use the QR code outside or inside the Honors office which is where you can drop off your bags of clothes. “Therefore we know what everyone donated and give each person a voucher so they can swap it for other clothes that people have donated.” Speaking of the vouchers, they will be used “sort of like Monopoly dollars,” Layton said. “A different set of clothes will have a different value or weight, such as jeans will have a higher weight than a skirt.” So, if a student were to give a certain amount in clothing, they would receive a certain amount back to use at the swap. This is also bringing an opportunity for other Honors students to volunteer to help. “Honors students are helping with setting up, distribution and shut down which helps us work towards our volunteer hours and serve the community,” said Valen Geyer, a first year honors student. This gives many students the opportunity to see what they have to look forward to in years to come helping out with this and many other service projects. The clothing swap not only helps students revamp their wardrobe, but it also helps connect students with each other and helps out many charities that the Honors Program is dedicated to aiding around the community and country. To donate clothing, visit SLC 262 or email Adah Layton at adah.layton@ wilkes.edu �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 News 5 �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 News 6 Wilkes ranked among best national universities for 2026 By Mollie Kuhar Special to The Beacon Wilkes University has once again been recognized by the U.S. News & World Report in its 2026 Best Colleges rankings for academic excellence and graduate success. This marks the 22nd consecutive year Wilkes has received national recognition in the university’s seventh year as a national university. In the 2026 rankings, Wilkes stands at 318 out of 434 national universities. Using 17 different factors to measure academic quality and graduate outcomes, the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings evaluate over 1,700 colleges and universities across the country. “I am incredibly proud that Wilkes continues to be recognized among the best universities in the country,” said Wilkes University President Greg Cant. “I am most proud of the diverse pathways we offer our students and especially how our dedicated faculty, staff, and campus community empower Colonels to define success on their own terms.” Wilkes was also ranked 236 in the Top Performers on Social Mobility, a category that evaluates how effectively colleges support and graduate Pell Grant recipients and students with significant financial need. Additionally, Wilkes earned recognition for several of its academic programs, including: engineering bachelor's degree programs, undergraduate business programs and its bachelor of science in nursing. Wilkes first-year engineering student Ryan Michaels shared his enthusiasm for the school’s academic strengths. “I’m glad to have had the opportunity to go to Wilkes University and study engineering with the great programs and resources available to us here. As a mechanical engineering major, I’m glad to see that Wilkes has been recognized nationally for its outstanding programs available to students.” Beyond U.S. News, Wilkes also received national and regional recognition from other sources. The Washington Monthly Ranked Wilkes 285 out of 438 national universities in the Best Colleges for Your Tuition & Tax Dollars category, and Wilkes was named Best Bang for the Buck College in the Northeast, highlighting Wilkes’ value and impact on social mobility. The Princeton Review also continued to include Wilkes on its Best in the MidAtlantic list, based on student feedback. Niche, an online platform that is designed to connect students with academic information, recognized Wilkes at a national level for the following: * Top 50% – Best Colleges in America * Top 10% – Best College Dorms in America * Top 40% – Private Universities in the U.S. * Top 25% – Colleges with the Best Professors in America Wilkes was also recognized as Best Value Colleges, Best Student Life, and Most Diverse Colleges in America. Statewide Recognition in Pennsylvania for Niche included: * Top 30% – Best Colleges in Pennsylvania * Top 40% – Best Value Colleges in Pennsylvania * Top 25% – Colleges with the Best Professors in Pennsylvania * Top 35% – Colleges with the Best Student Life in Pennsylvania Cant emphasized the strength of the Wilkes community. “Being recognized for our exceptional faculty, academic quality, and student life is an honor. Anyone who comes to visit ilkes can clearly see that we offer not onlytransformative educational experiences but a passionate and welcoming campus community that stands ready to help all of our students achieve their personal and professional goals.” We’re Looking For NEWS WRITERS! BUILD YOUR RESUME WITH WRITING EXPERIENCE CONTACT: leah.smith1@wilkes.edu OR andrew.marshallsay@wilkes.edu �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 7 Life, Arts & Entertainment Life, Arts & Entertainment Have any events or artists to be shared? Contact Life, Arts & Entertainment Editor: Kailey.Vogel@wilkes.edu Season opener: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike By Cally Williams Staff writer Vanya and Sonia spent their lives taking care of their aging parents. Now, with no parents to care for, Vanya and Sonia sit in their morning room drinking coffee and watching the blue heron that eats frogs in their pond, only being interrupted by their quirky psychic cleaning lady, Cassandra. Their daily lives are upheaved when their movie star sister Masha pays them a visit with her hunky young boyfriend, Spike. Masha invites them all to a costume party and forces her siblings, Spike and a neighbor named Nina to dress up as characters from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, by Christopher Durang, is to be presented at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center by the Wilkes University Theatre Department. The play opens at 8 p.m. on Oct. 2 and continues Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Alby Lopuhovsky is a sophomore Musical Theatre major who plays Vanya, the only brother of the three siblings. “He’s kind of subdued in his life. He has always had this inspiring want to be a playwright.” Alby described Vanya as a peacemaker who watches the world go by around him. “He feels like it’s safer to just stay at home and he doesn’t really have the push to make the changes in his life that he should make.” Masha and Vanya’s adopted sister Sonia is played by Elena DiSciullo. DiSciullo is a junior Musical Theatre major. “She’s much more damaged than I think she wants to let on to,” DiSciullo said on Sonia. Similar to Vanya, she sits and watches the pond and compares herself to the wild turkeys who are “so awkward that they sleep in trees but repeatedly fall out of Wilkes University’s first production of the academic year begins Thursday. Tickets for Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Wilkes faculty, staff and students are free with their Wilkes ID. First row, from left, Elena DiSciullo (Sonia) and Alby Lopuhovsky (Vanya). Standing, Gabby Greffen (Masha) Photo/Wilkes Theatre them,” as written by Durang. “She doesn’t have any confidence in herself basically and just constantly doubts everything that she does” DiSciullo added. “Masha is this ball of energy,” said Gabby Greffen who plays Masha. “She is a glamorous movie star. Masha certainly is glamorous, often prancing around with her heels and handbag, parading her success in front of her siblings. “She kind of brings her own whirlwind of life into their day to day life that is a little more mundane than hers is,” the sophomore musical theatre major said. Along with actors, stage management is a part of the rehearsal process from start to finish. First-year musical theatre major Abby Olander is one of the assistant stage managers for this production. “We’re there to support the stage manager,” Olander said, adding that some of her duties involve tracking props, taking line notes and keeping track of attendance. “Our rehearsal is lots of fun…”The connection is something truly beautiful to watch.” While not a complete adaptation, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike takes loose inspiration from the plays of Anton Chekhov. The siblings mention that their parents were English professors who loved Chekhov and named their children after his characters, dooming them to a childhood of ridicule and an adulthood of Chekohovian Vanya, continued on Page 8 �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 Life, Arts & Entertainment 8 Each E Ea ch we w week, ek, k tth k, the e Wi W Wilkes ilk il lke kes Beacon staff f pic ff picks i ks ic k out ttheir th eir i fa ir ffavorite v ri vo r te song of tthe th e we w ek. k Check out k. week. tthis th i we is w week’s ek’s ’ bop ’s bops! o s! op Leah Smith: Hickory Creek - Whitechapel Kailey Vogel: The Promise - W When hen in Rome Andrew Marshallsay: Slide Away - Oasis Natalia Williams: We Are One - Westlife Shawn Carey: Scott Pilgrim Plumtree Cally Williams: Rebel Girl – Bikini Kill Shannon Slominski: The Light - Disturbed Vanya, continued from Page 7 tragedy. Durang put Chekhov “into a blender” in his witty tale of regret and rivalry. Some of the characters are named after those from Chekov plays. Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Nina are all literary characters. Vanya and Sonia being from Uncle Vanya, Masha from Three Sisters and Nina from The Seagull. Meanwhile, the characters do not act entirely like their namesake. “My character is named Vanya, but the playwright Chris Durang actually based the character off of himself,” said Lopuhovsky. “He wrote Vanya as his life if he didn’t have the things that pushed him to become a playwright.” The play is directed by Performing Arts Chair Jon Liebetrau. While Vanya and Jake Mills: Animals als Nickelback Sonia and Masha and Spike is a comedy, there are dramatic elements as tensions run high within the lives of the siblings. “There are moments of serious human drama and there’s moments of absurd comic behavior,” Liebetrau said. “It’s a play really about family dynamics more than anything else.” Liebetrau encourages everyone to see the play. “In times of tension and discord it is much more enjoyable to leave that world and come into the world of the play and enjoy the tensions of other people.” Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Wilkes faculty, staff and students are free with their university ID. Thaelis Andujar: party 4 u - Charli xcx Freeze: Kiari - Fujii Kaze Nikki Steinberg: World Boss - Trippie Redd Topher DellaBella: New York, New York - Frank Sinatra Mollie Kuhar: In Too Deep M Genesis Juliana Kresge: One of the Greats - Florence and the Machine Working on a cool fundraiser? Want to have your event featured in The Beacon? Email kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu to learn how The Beacon can help you. �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 9 Life, Arts & Entertainment Homecoming Word Search Words to ﬁnd! Credit for these puzzles goes to: www.puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 10 Life, Arts & Entertainment The mental health and wellness beacon: Mindfulness By Gina Harrison, DNP, CRNP, PMHNP-BC, assistant professor, Passan School of Nursing Columnist The start of the semester is often filled with new classes, fresh goals, packed schedules and plenty of pressure. It is exciting, but it can quickly become overwhelming. As the novelty of back-to-school excitement begins to fade, the reality of educational, professional, and personal responsibilities comes into sharp focus. You may notice as the semester rolls on, stress begins piling up. If you are a busy campus member, you may be tempted to ignore the stress and keep moving, even choosing to add on to the stress, until you reach a breaking point. Many people who reach their breaking point are at a high risk for burnout. Before burning out, I challenge you to think about your stress and how you can reduce it. Mindfulness is a great way to give yourself the mental health break you need. Think of mindfulness as the opportunity to give your brain a breather. A mini vacay for your mental health. Mindfulness is simply paying attention to your thoughts, your feelings, and your surroundings without judgment or overthinking. It does not require a great deal of time, effort, or investment. If you find time to include a few mindful minutes in your day, you can make a big difference in your mental health. Mindfulness can be a part of your already established routine. You can practice while waiting for the bus, walking across campus, brewing your coffee, or even during your nightly skincare routine. Below are a couple of ways to include mindfulness in your everyday life: Mindful Breathing: Find a comfortable spot where you can close your eyes and feel safe. Now, notice your breath. Count during each inhale and exhale. Try to make them longer. Focus on the feeling of the air moving in and out of your body. Start with a minute and increase the time (if you can). Gratitude Journaling: Encouraging your brain to see the positivity in your life encourages and perpetuates gratitude and positive thinking. Write down a couple things a day that you are grateful for. This activity rewires your brain to look for good, shaping your thoughts to be more positive. Body Scan: The body scan is something that you can practice while lying in bed, in the morning, or in the evening. Bring your attention to each part of your body, beginning with your toes. Flex and relax the muscles of your body, notice these sensations, and encourage relaxation in each body part. Once you have gone through the muscles of your body, think of your body as a whole. Notice how you are feeling. Take some deep, mindful breaths before concluding the activity. Mindfulness isn’t about being perfect. It’s about giving yourself time to breathe, reset, and become grounded. Expect your mind to wander off track; remember to gently return to your mindfulness activity. Do not judge yourself. Remember, this is practice. While the saying is usually “practice makes perfect”, in this case, practice makes practice; there is no perfect. It is something that you can do every day that will help you reduce stress while you build mental wellness and resilience. If you would like to learn more about mindfulness through journaling, join me at the E.S. Farley Library for guided journaling sessions designed to help you pause, reflect, and reset. Using thoughtful prompts, you can explore your goals, manage stress, and discover new perspectives. Journaling will be held in a supportive and relaxed setting. No experience needed. Just bring a pen, paper and an open mind. Journaling sessions begin Oct. 14. The journaling group will take place at the lower level of the E.S. Farley Library every other Tuesday throughout the semester from 11 a.m. until noon in the BI Classroom. If you have any questions or wish to sign up for journaling, please email me at gina.harrison@wilkes.edu. The mental health and wellness beacon column will appear regularly in The Beacon. It will also appear online at www.thewilkesbeacon. com �The Beacon – October 1, 2025 Life, Arts & Entertainment 11 Multicultural Student Coalition hosts day of fashion and fun By Juliana Kresge Special to The Beacon It was a day of fun and fashion in the Big Apple. Wilkes’ Multicultural Student Coalition (MSC) hosted a student trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on Sept. 27. Students had the opportunity to see the Met Costume Institute’s ongoing exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” This exhibition was the theme of the May 2025 Met Gala, an annual fundraising event for the museum. Readers may remember that photos of Zendaya in a white suit at the Met Gala went viral last May. “Superfine” takes its inspiration from the 2009 book, “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity,” by Monica Miller. According to the Met’s website, a dandy is a person (generally male) who “studies above everything else to dress elegantly and fashionably.” The exhibition explores the history of Black dandies from the eighteenth century to the present day. In the Civil War era, successful free Black men used elegant clothing to signal their wealth and social status. At the turn of the century, Black public intellectuals such as W.E.B DuBois wore tailored suits and Gold belt by Balmain A/W 2024-25 menswear, inspired by Ghanaian photographer Prince Gyasi carefully groomed their hair to command respect and dignity. Civil Rights leaders of the 1960s marched in three-piece suits and stylish dresses. The Harlem Renaissance ‘zoot suit’ and the Black Panthers’ berets and leather jackets are two more examples of Black stylistic innovations in the face of racism and stereotypes. Fashion trends in Black communities also have a broader cultural impact. For example, since the 1980s, hip-hop artists have influenced American youth culture, and Black designers from around the world continue to help define what is ‘cool’ and fashionable. “Superfine” chronicles this style evolution with multi-media exhibits, including clothing, video and artwork. Students spent several hours exploring this and other exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The second half of the daytrip was spent at the American Dream mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The American Dream is the largest mall on the East Coast. In addition to hundreds of shops and restaurants, the mall also has a Nickelodeon theme park and a Dreamworks indoor water park. Other attractions include a Ferris Wheel, an ice-skating rink and an aquarium. Liberian-American designer Telfar Clemens handbags next to former Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley’s custom monogrammed Louis Vuitton luggage Wales Bonner ‘Aime’ ensemble A/W 2015-16, velvet suit and headpiece with cowrie shell-crystal details. Cowrie shell historical African currency. Photos/Juliana Kresge �The Beacon - October 1st, 2025 12 PRESIDENT CANT’S HOMECOMING LETTER DEAR COLONELS, It’s hard to believe that October is upon us. One month into the fall semester, and there are exciting things to come - particularly this weekend. I cordially invite and encourage the campus community to participate in one of our most fun, lively and celebratory events of the year, Homecoming: Alumni and Family Weekend, beginning Friday, Oct. 3 - Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. What makes this weekend so special? Where to start. Firstly, it is the one time of year where Colonels - near and far - reunite on campus. Generations of alumni come back to feel like students again, see old friends, visit faculty and staff, learn about our programs and all your innovative academic research, show their support for our teams, tour buildings and bask in the nostalgia from their time at Wilkes. The biggest �The Beacon - October 1st, 2025 draw for alumni to return this time of year isn’t just to reminisce and have fun - it’s actually you, our students. They want to connect, learn more about your experience and offer mentorship. Many understand the gravity of how Wilkes has impacted them, and they wish to share that impact with you as you continue in your academic journey and beyond. I encourage you all to be curious and open, to engage with an alum or two and see how they have defined success for themselves. One connection can make all the difference. Mrs. Cant and I are eagerly anticipating seeing everyone throughout the weekend. Reunions, celebrations and the palpable energy shared by everyone connected to Wilkes will most certainly mark another memorable Homecoming. We look forward to seeing you there. Sincerely, PRESIDENT CANT Secondly, we will have extra special guests on campus: families. Not just alumni and their families, but also yours. Parents, guardians, siblings, cousins and more can experience Wilkes for themselves and see what a day in your life is like as you stroll the Fenner Quadrangle, pass through the Henry Student Center, show off your work, take them on your own personal tour of your favorite spots and pose in a family photo in front of one of our vibrant murals on campus. Lastly, the weekend will be full of entertaining events and activities. We have a jam-packed schedule that will create opportunities for you to engage and connect with others, spend quality time with your family and friends, eat delicious food and drinks, commend yourselves on your academics thus far and relish this special time in your lives. Usher in the Colonel spirit at our pep rally, raise a glass with professors, attend the Cohen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship dedication ceremony, cheer on the Colonels at the Tailgate Tent, win at Family Bingo and more. To register for Homecoming and Family Day, please visit wilkes. edu/homecoming. 13 �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 Opinion Editorial Staff 2025-26 MANAGERIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief - Leah Smith Adviser - Dr. Kalen Churcher SECTION EDITORS LA&E - Kailey Vogel Opinion - Shawn Carey Sports - Andrew Marshallsay DESIGNERS Head Designer - Lara Mullen Designer - Carol Stratford Photographer - Shannon Slominski STAFF WRITERS Kaydia Wright Nikki Steinberg Topher DellaBella Natalia Williams Thaelis Andujar Jake Mills 141 S. Main Street Clayton and Theresa Karambelas Media & Communication Center Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Phone - (570) 408-5903 www.thewilkesbeacon.com Want to advertise in The Beacon? Contact: Kalen Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or Leah Smith at leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Opinion 14 Have an opinion or want to write a guest column? Contact assistant opinion editors: shawn.carey1@wilkes.edu Our Voice Each week, The Beacon’s editorial board will take a stance on a current issue. Liberal arts has nothing to do with politics Wilkes University is a private, non-profit liberal arts institution. Though this type of education may share a name with a political party, it is often misconceptualized as an institution that pushes a specific political agenda. The true meaning behind what a liberal arts education is has virtually nothing to do with politics. Instead its focus is on allowing students to receive a well rounded education. It is unlike a vocational trade school, which focuses on specific hands-on training for specialized workforces such as mechanics or culinary chefs. It also differs from a performing arts university which strictly specializes in music, dance and theater. A liberal arts college gives students knowledge in multiple subjects for multiple disciplines. Often in smaller and intimate class sizes. Here at Wilkes, general education requirements include a variety of classes in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and the arts. By providing students with multiple perspectives in multiple fields critical thinking skills are built alongside with problem solving ones. Taking a class such as public speaking provides students of all majors with important life skills that allow them to effectively communicate in professional settings outside of the classroom. A biology class allows students to develop and use problem solving skills through hypothesizing, researching and testing different experiments to get a desired outcome. Even a history class provides students with multiple perspectives and analytical skills that can be used to formulate individual opinions. These are just a few examples of how life skills are developed through interdisciplinary education, but the list goes on. We haven’t even touched the importance of math nor the cultural understanding gained from foreign language learning. This well rounded approach to education as seen in liberal arts universities is crucial in building a strong character in addition to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the world around us. The Honors and Scholars Program here at Wilkes advocates for adaptable students who not only excel inside the classroom, but also thrive as leaders in their communities. Program Director Dr. Jonathan Kuiken voiced why he believes that a liberal arts education is important in meeting the mission of this program. “I think the purpose of the honors program is to graduate people of character who are going to be exceptional citizens. An exceptional citizen is one who can think individually; One who can work interdisciplinarily and one who has a passion for seeking the truth.” “We’re not a job training site, we’re a citizen training site,” he added. He concluded by stating, “Being a good citizen makes you better at your job. Studying the liberal arts advances all careers.” Liberal arts schools also open up opportunities for broader socialization in which students can share their opinions and knowledge across their own disciplines and values. A pharmacy major can become friends with and exchange their ideas to a theater arts major. The two can find similarities and differences between their characters. This idea is the backbone of human contact in the real world. Everyone has unique experiences and specialized knowledge in something, but these liberal arts institutions provide students with a chance to exercise that idea from the very early stages of their career building. A liberal arts education is not political, but instead an approach to creating good samaritans through diverse knowledge and experiences that vocational schools don’t often provide. It allows students of different backgrounds to get to know each other on a personal level and sets students up to excel after graduation. Letter to the editor policy: The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor from differing viewpoints. Letters must contain contact information, including name, city, state and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published but may be used for verification purposes. The Beacon Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member All letters to the editor must be sent using one of the following methods: Email: leah.smith1@wilkes.edu Phone: (570) 408-5903 (Voicemail: 30 seconds or less, please.) Mail: 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766 Attn: The Beacon �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 Opinion 15 The Icebox presents Rhythm Gaming By Freeze Staff writer What’s life without a little bit of groove? If you engage in any kind of artistry, you probably know how valuable it is to become one with the beat. Even if you’re completing a seemingly meaningless task, you can truly enhance it by putting on a tune. That’s just the power of music, isn’t it? Did you know that music can be used to train your reflexes? It’s true! Athletes are known to train themselves to specific playlists because it helps them synchronize their mind and body with an external force, rather than relying on one’s own ability. The science behind this phenomenon is more complex than I am describing, but this is the Icebox. We talk about video games here. Let’s start with the first rhythm game most of us have played. For many people of our generation, it was most likely Just Dance. This was a Wii game that we all played at parties, play dates, and sleepovers with friends. Other people may have engaged in the classic arcade games such as Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero. Some people probably enjoyed karaoke, Smule or Rhythm Heaven on the DS. All of these were ways for people to stay engaged, train their hand-eye coordination and keep up with the latest hits at the same time. The higher your score on a song, the better singer or dancer you were. The use of music to train reflexes wasn’t just limited to these activities. A lot of you may remember that in school gym classes we would often complete activities to the 2000s hit playlists. Since that age, rhythm games have taken an entirely new approach. While games like Guitar Hero and Just Dance are still very popular, there are new developments in the genre that have surprised everyone. I will admit that at one point I never saw the appeal in rhythm games. As a matter of fact, I hated them. That is until I discovered the new age of rhythm games. The new style of rhythm games does not force you to sing or dance, which I have always been uncomfortable with. Instead, they test your raw skill with inputs synchronized to all kinds of music that isn’t just exclusive to the pop and rock genre. The earliest sign of these new kinds of rhythm games was Geometry Dash. A lot of children who play this game don’t even realize that they are optimizing their taps to the sound of the beat. The game is largely known for its dubstep and techno track, where lyrics don’t matter but the melodies are vital to your success. After the success of Geometry Dash, indie developers sought to discover unique angles to a music-based game. Now, this is not to say that Geometry Dash is the kickstarter for all of these ideas. Although, I would not be surprised if that were the case. One thing that I am sure of is that the new age of rhythm games has only been successful thanks to the ability to play video games on a PC. You may have heard of Friday Night Funkin’, which uses arrow inputs in a manner like Dance Dance Revolution. The premise of the game is rap battles on the street, where your performance depends on how successfully got opinions? you can tap the arrows. Next in line are the VR-based rhythm games. These were absolutely revolutionary for the entire music industry, since they offered a futuristic approach to performance. The notable titles here are Beat Saber and Pistol Whip. Both of these games take it to the next level with how you can immerse yourself in music. Not only are you staying with the rhythm, but you are making swift movements and being thrown into a virtual environment that visualizes the sounds for you. Virtual environments have been really important for the music industry, offering a place for performers to get up and close with their fans on a virtual stage. Paired with artificial intelligence, we now have a dangerously immersive musical experience. The industry of music-based video games really would not be as successful as it is today without one important factor. That would be the arcade culture in Japan. Stay tuned for next week’s Icebox to hear about my own first-person experience in Tokyo where I witnessed the insanely competitive culture of rhythm arcade games. �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 Opinion 16 Do we appreciate older comics enough? By Shawn Carey Opinioin I spend a decent amount of time traversing the internet. I’ve seen much on my journeys. Meddling hot takes, think pieces on niche topics, intense music fans, callout posts. You know, average internet stuff for the most part. I’ve grown used to the ways of the internet, it takes a lot to surprise me. I was recently very surprised. Sept. 17 saw the release of “Deadpool/Batman,” the first installment in “Marvel” and “DC’s” newest crossover event. The oversized one-shot featured a handful of short stories featuring characters from both companies crossing over. Green Lantern and Rocket Racoon, Captain America and Wonder Woman, and so on. As expected, these stories were the week’s fiery topic of discussion. Some loved the stories, others didn’t. I have my own opinions on the comic itself. However, that’s not what I want to talk about. Rather, I wish to discuss the fallout that came from one specific story. The Dark Knight Returns Batman meets Old Man Logan. The story written and drawn by Frank Miller saw the two older, alternative future versions of the characters pit against each other. The story itself isn’t anything too crazy, a fun short four page story filled with Miller’s trademark edge. The story itself wasn’t what got the people talking, it was the art. It’s hard to explain Miller’s art to someone who has never seen it before. It’s gritty, boxy, dense, and dark. When compared to other comic artists his artstyle is definitely unique. Personally, I think there’s a certain charm to it. Sure, it’s not the prettiest thing to look at but it fits the vibe of his stories. With that being said, it appears my opinion is in the minority. Social media was full of countless posts complaining about Miller’s style, calling it ugly and unprofessional. Now, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I’m not complaining about that. However, I am complaining about the aftermath that came from it. Miller wasn’t the only artist who was the subject of conversation. Tim Sale, Frank Quitely, Scottie Young, and others all had their work heavily judged over the week, facing much of the same criticism. It’s of course not all the same comments, for example I saw someone say they should redraw Sale’s “Batman: The Long Halloween” with a new artist. What I find most interesting is that these artists tend to be pretty uncontroversial. They live relatively quiet lives for the most part, really only being talked about whenever they release a new project. In all of my time of being a comic fan, this is the most I’ve seen these individuals discussed. Once again, I don’t want to call anyone’s opinions flat out wrong. Everyone is of course entitled to their own opinion. However, I will point out the pattern I’ve noticed with their choices of comic artists, and why I believe they have said opinions. First off, they all have heavily stylized art styles, they don’t look like what we would consider “traditional” comic art. Instead of having the ultra realistic human anatomy of other artists, they tend to go more unnatural looking poses. Their work also tends to be filled with bright colors and thick shadows, once again moving away from the somewhat more realistic work of others. Second, most of their work can be seen in older comics. While they still get work today, most of their big projects are from the early 2000s and late 90s. Comic writing and art has changed a lot over the decades. Modern readers may not be used to older books, in the same way that most people aren’t used to watching older movies. Now, don’t get me wrong, a lot of older comics are not easy to read. I have read plenty of classic Jack Kirby books and it honestly took me a little bit to get used to how he writes dialogue. You have to keep in mind the time period in which they came out, you can’t compare them to more modern comics. Treat it as its own thing. I’m making a lot of assumptions in this article. “Maybe they don’t like the way their art is stylized, or maybe they just aren’t used to reading older comics.” I’m trying to understand why so many people don’t appreciate such important figures. Honestly, I’m not even that big of a fan of many of these artists, however I still understand their impact. I feel like we have undergone a change as of recently. It seems like we don’t properly appreciate figures of our past, especially in art. We choose to ignore them and call them “overhyped.” This isn’t okay. If you are a fan of an artist medium, you have to understand why it’s the way it is today. For example, Frank Miller is the reason we have darker, more adult comics. It’s because of his work on “Daredevil: Born Again” that comics aren’t just made for kids. Now, do I think that he’s the only person that could’ve done so? Absolutely not. However, he’s the one we got. We can not skip over his, or any other artist’s impact. For good or for worse. Have an opinion to share? Want to read a specific review? Let us know! Or better yet, submit a letter to the editor or guest column. Email kalen.churcher@ wilkes.edu �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 Opinion 17 DC Comics' Absolute Universe pleases fans and critics By Leah Smith Editor-in-Chief In October 2024, DC announced that as part of the newly established DC “All-In” initiative, there would be a separate universe of stories that would be published alongside the main continuity. This universe is known as the Absolute Universe and similarly to Marvel’s Ultimate Universe which made its comeback in 2023, it takes the superheroes that we all know and love and change bits and pieces of who they are in order to create new situations that would warrant intrigue to have fans read an alternate universe of characters that we are already familiar with. Absolute Batman by Scott Snyder, Absolute Superman by Jason Aaron and Absolute Wonder Woman by Kelly Thompson were the first three titles announced and were highly anticipated. Since their release along with other titles to follow starring The Flash, Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter, the Absolute universe titles have been selling incredibly and have been praised by both critics and fans. On July 25 during San Diego Comic Con, the annual Will Eisner Awards were held which is an awards ceremony meant to celebrate the achievements made in American comic books. These are the most prestigious awards offered for those in the comic book industry and during this ceremony, Absolute Wonder Woman won the Eisner for best new series making it the first Absolute Universe book to win an Eisner. This is not only a grand achievement for the comic title itself, but for the Absolute universe as well because it sets the precedent for Absolute Universe comics going above and beyond the expectations of an alternate universe book. In this universe, Wonder Woman is taken from the Amazons as a baby and is raised by the sorceress Circe in the underworld. She is taught survival skills as she battles creatures in the fiery pits as well as witchcraft. Magic is nothing new for Wonder Woman, however it plays a much more influential role in her stories. For example, in issue 5, Diana is able to transform herself into Medusa by wrapping herself in the Nemesis Lasso, this universe’s equivalent to the Lasso of Truth. Fans have also praised this version of Wonder Woman of bringing "justice" to the character as the Princess of the Amazons has not been given much love by DC due to her having low numbers of media representation in recent years. While all of the Absolute DC Universe comic titles have garnered much love from fans, there’s one title in particular that several fans can’t stop talking about and that is Absolute Batman. Absolute Batman has been the fan favorite with the comic breaking sales records over and over again. In a world where comic piracy and digital purchasing has become a norm for people to read comics, Absolute Batman is a godsend in terms of physical comic purchasing. Its very first issue has had nine reprints to keep up with demand. Recently, fans online have been losing their minds over the rogues gallery that Batman has faced and is going to face in future issues. The Absolute Universe design of the Joker was recently released and is a terrifying Lovecraftianesque creature. The origins of this universe’s Joker are still a mystery at the time of this publication. However, the final design of the Clown Prince of Crime is enough to have fans both excited and petrified of what’s to come. The Absolute Universe’s Batman differs from the main continuity’s Batman in several ways. Mainly, Absolute Bruce Wayne grew up in a poor neighborhood. His father died in a shooting during a school trip to the zoo, but Wayne’s mother is still alive. Bruce’s childhood friends also happen to be some of the iconic villains we’re familiar with such as the Riddler, Two-Face, Penguin, Killer Croc and Catwoman. The tone of this universe’s Batman and Gotham City are much darker and edgier than that of the main universe which makes sense as to why the Joker and other villains are designed to be Graphic by Lara Mullen much scarier than they are regularly. Batman himself is even designed much bulkier and intimidating to match that grittiness. The remarkable reception, sales and accolades goes to show that comic books are still very much a big deal in pop culture. There are future Absolute Universe titles coming out such as Absolute Evil, a one-shot and Absolute Green Arrow. Make sure to reach out to your local comic shop and pick up an issue of any of these comics. �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 Opinion A review of "IDOLS" by YUNGBLUD By Natalia Williams Staff writer We are back for another album review. I am so excited to share my thoughts for the album this week. This artist has been on my TikTok for you page every single day and I have been wanting to listen to this album in full for the longest time and now is the perfect opportunity. This week I will be reviewing “Idols” by YUNGBLUD. This is a genre I don't listen to at all but I am absolutely obsessed with one of the tracks on this album and can’t wait to listen to the full record. Without further ado, this is my track by track review of “Idols”. sound and this one is definitely a favorite. 3. “Lovesick Lullaby”: 7/10 I am starting to realize that this album is one that transitions perfectly after every song…so far. Even though this song is a bit of a different vibe than the last one it still fits and meshes together. This one I've heard a lot on TikTok and I find it very catchy. I love the flow of the verses and the way he sings them if that makes sense. I don't think it will be a song I repeat often but a solid track. 1. “Hello Heaven, Hello”: 7/10 4. “Zombie”: 10/10 First thing I noticed and called out… this song is 10 minutes long which I think is kind of neat for an album opener. It's a good introduction for what you're about to hear for the rest of the album. The first two minutes of the song I wasn't a fan but after the little break where it was just guitar I started to vibe with it a little more. It feels like three songs in one which is actually so neat since I haven’t heard a track like that, and it makes sense why it is a 10-minute track. I get different vibes from each part and my favorite is the second and third section. It is very different from what I'm used to but not a bad song at all. I am a sucker for a good guitar solo and this song gave me amazing ones. Overall, solid opening track. This was the song that made me want to listen to the album in its entirety. This one is such a beautiful song. It does not have a seamless transition from the last song but it still fits the vibe of the album. I am actually so obsessed with this song and even the music video is beautiful. The story of the song is so beautiful and makes me tear up every listen. Hearing this song live, specifically the bridge, would actually heal me and the incorporation of the strings give me goosebumps. There is so much love I have for this song and it is one of my favorite songs released this year. 2. “Idol’s Pt 1”: 9/10 Love a good title track! Right from the start, I noticed that the last part of the opening track flowed very well into this one. The strings in the beginning and throughout the song are so beautiful. The melody and the story of the track is actually so beautiful and I can definitely see myself repeating this one often. I also noticed that this one gives me a little bit of a 2000s Britpop 5. “The Greatest Parade”: 5/10 Another one without a seamless transition but still fits the same vibe as the previous one. This one is not my vibe. It's not a bad song whatsoever but one that I won't be repeating. The bridge is probably my favorite part of the song and I really like the vocals on this one. It is a good song, just not one I connect or vibe with that much. 6. “Change”: 9/10 This one had somewhat of a seamless transition? Not as seamless as the first 3 tracks but it was kinda seamless. This one has a ballad feel to it which I love and once again the strings are gorgeous. This one is definitely one of my favorites lyrically and the prechorus is definitely my favorite part. I can definitely see myself adding this one to a playlist and repeating constantly. The guitar solo and the strings closing the song brought the song together and is another favorite part of mine. 7. “Monday Murder”: 3/10 18 9/10 I love this song! Probably a favorite after “Zombie”. I love the melody and this one definitely gave me 2000s romance movie vibes. I love the instrumentation of this song and like always, the strings are gorgeous. Lyrically another favorite and vocally as well and it is definitely a song that is being added to my “On Repeat” playlist. 11: “Idols Pt II”: 9/10 Not my vibe. I don't have much to say about this one. I love the melody and of course the guitar in this one though. Not many thoughts on this one, just not a song I see myself listening to often. Title track part two and once again gives me interlude vibes. It is a different vibe from part one as this one is more of a ballad, I really wish this one was longer because it is just so pretty. Top 3 for the album 100%. Overall such a beautiful song. 8. “Ghosts”: 8/10 12: “Supermoon”: 10/10 We seem to have stopped with the seamless transition but the overall vibe of the album is still the same. Lyrically another great song and another favorite and vocally another good one. The prechorus is my favorite part and I love the build up in the chorus. I thought I was getting another slow kind of ballad but it is another regular fast song. The piano in the beginning and throughout the song is gorgeous and a highlight. I am obsessed with the ending just being instrumental and once again, the strings…chefs kiss. I can definitely see myself adding this one into a playlist and repeating it constantly. We end with a very seamless transition and this one is almost a continuation of “Idols Pt II”. Ive been waiting for a track with a slower ballad feel and I got it! Lyrically another great song and I think this was an amazing closer. I am 100% adding this one to my playlist and it deserves the second 10/10 for this album Overall, very solid album and I give it a 8/10. In a time where artists are releasing albums with tracks that all sound like singles, I can appreciate Dom and this album so much because it is truly a body of work. It's one of the best albums I've listened to that was released this year. The opening track was most definitely the perfect introduction and overview to what I was about to hear. The three parts of the song represented the album as a whole and I thought that was so neat. The album had the perfect mix of alternative, rock, and britpop that blended together so well. Although it is a genre and style I don't gravitate towards, I really enjoyed this album and I cannot wait to dive into the rest of his discography. 9. “Fire”: 6/10 This one I found interesting! Not in a bad way, I just can not pinpoint if I like this one or not. It is a good song but I am just not sure how I feel about it. This one is definitely shorter and it gave me interlude vibes kind of. Not a bad song, but I definitely need a few more listens. 10: “War”: �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 Sports 19 Sports Want your sport covered? Deserve to be Athlete of the Week? Contact the Sports Editor: andrew.marshallsay@wilkes.edu NHL preseason begins with fresh faces around the league By Ava Tureen Contributing Writer �� ¡�� ¢�� £�� ¤�� £�� £ �� ¥�� ¢�� ¡�� §�� AUG 30 3:00 P.M. – AT OSWEGO STATE – OSWEGO, NY�� £� �� SEPT 3 7:00 P.M. – AT WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY – WAYNE, NJ 6 3:00 P.M.�� – ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – READING,�� PA �� ¡�� £�� SEPT �� SEPT 10 7:00 P.M. – VS¥�� KING’S COLLEGE – BRUGGEWORTH ��FIELD �� (PA) �� SEPT 13 1:00 P.M. – VS LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – BRUGGEWORTH FIELD �� ¢�� SEPT 17 7:00 P.M. – AT ALBRIGHT COLLEGE – READING, PA �� SEPT 20 7:00 P.M. – VS FDU-FLORHAM – DANBURY, CT - BRUGGEWORTH FIELD SEPT 24 7:00 P.M.�� – VS WIDENER - BRUGGEWORTH �� FIELD � �� UNIVERSITY �� SEPT 27 1:00 P.M. – VS ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE (LANDMARK) – BRUGGEWORTH �� FIELD �� OCT 1 7:00 P.M. – VS MARYWOOD UNIVERSITY – BRUGGEWORTH FIELD �� OCT 4 1:00 P.M. – AT JUNIATA COLLEGE (LANDMARK) – HUNTINGDON, PA �� OCT 7 7:00 P.M. – VS SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY (LANDMARK) – SELINSGROVE, PA �� OCT 11 1:00 P.M. – AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA (LANDMARK) – WASHINGSTON, DC OCT 14 7:00 P.M. – VS DREW UNIVERSITY (LANDMARK) –�� BRUGGEWORTH FIELD�� 1:00 P.M. – VS COLLEGE (LANDMARK) – BRUGGEWORTH �� FIELD �� OCT ��18�� GOUCHER �� OCT 21 7:00 P.M. – AT UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON (LANDMARK) – SCRANTON, PA �� OCT 25 1:00 P.M. – AT MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY (LANDMARK) – BETHLEHEM, PA �� FIELD �� ¦�� OCT 28 7:00 P.M. – VS LYCOMING COLLEGE (LANDMARK) – BRUGGEWORTH �� £�� FIELD HOCKEY SCHEDULE AUG 30 12:00 P.M. – AT OSWEGO STATE – OSWEGO, NY SEPT 3 4:30 P.M. – VS ALFRED UNIVERSITY – SCHMIDT STADIUM SEPT 6 1:00 P.M. – VS ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY – SCHMIDT STADIUM SEPT 10 7:00 P.M. – VS KING’S COLLEGE (PA) – SCHMIDT STADIUM SEPT 13 1:00 P.M. – VS MCDANIEL COLLEGE – SCHMIDT STADIUM SEPT 14 1:00 P.M. – VS DESALES UNIVERSITY – SCHMIDT STADIUM - SENIOR DAY44 SEPT 17 6:00 P.M. – AT ONEONTA – ONEONTA, NY SEPT 20 6:00 P.M. – AT WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE – DANBURY, CT SEPT 24 4:30 P.M. – AT EASTERN UNIVERSITY – ST. DAVIDS, PA SEPT 27 1:00 P.M. – AT ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE – ELIZAZBETHTOWN, PA OCT 1 7:00 P.M. – AT PENN STATE HARRISBURG (LANDMARK) – MIDDLETOWN, PA OCT4 4:00 P.M. – VS JUNIATA COLLEGE (LANDMARK) – SCHMIDT STADIUM OCT 8 7:00 P.M. – VS SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY (LANDMARK) – SCHMIDT STADIUM OCT 11 1:00 P.M. – VS CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA (LANDMARK) – SCHMIDT STADIUM OCT 15 7:00 P.M. – AT DREW UNIVERSITY (LANDMARK) – MADISON, NJ OCT 18 1:00 P.M. – AT GOUCHER COLLEGE (LANDMARK) – BALTIMORE, MD OCT 22 7:00 P.M. – VS UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON (LANDMARK) – SCHMIDT STADIUM OCT 25 1:00 P.M. – VS MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY (LANDMARK) – SCHMIDT STADIUM OCT 29 7:00 P.M. – AT LYCOMING COLLEGE (LANDMARK) – WILLIAMSPORT, PA �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 Sports 2025 Wilkes University homecoming preview By Topher DellaBella Sports Editor After a hard fought win against the Montclair State University Red Hawks, 24-21 , the Wilkes University Colonels will take on the Catholic University Cardinals in a Landmark Conference match up from Schmidt Stadium. The Colonels come into the homecoming game with a 2-2 record, while the Cardinals come to WilkesBarre with a record of 1-3, most recently a huge loss to Salisbury University, 55-6. Last year’s homecoming matchup was against a different group of Cardinals: the ones from St. John Fisher. The Colonels won the game 28-21, and they are looking to do the same thing this year. Players to watch for the Colonels include senior quarterback Cooper King who has thrown for a total of 565 yards and four touchdowns this season. Another player to keep an eye on is senior kicker Nick Volpone who hit the game-winning field goal for the Colonels last week against the Red Hawks. On the defensive side of the ball, junior linebacker Tyler Wetzel has been a standout player for the Colonels as he was named Landmark Conference Defensive Player of the Week against King’s after the Mayor’s Cup game First year tight end Maddox McCormick says he and his team are ready for the game this weekend. “Me and the rest of the team are very excited for the game,” McCormick said. “I think we’ve been building momentum and stacking days in practice heading into the game this week,” he concluded. In other sports, the field hockey team will be playing the Juniata College Eagles for their homecoming after the conclusion of the football game. The Colonels will be back at home after a lengthy slate of road games that concludes on Oct. 1 when they take on Penn State Harrisburg. Players to watch for the Colonels include first year Maddie Karp who is leading the team with six goals. First year Taylor Bower is leading the team in assists with five. On the road, women's soccer, men's soccer and women's volleyball will look to come back home with some wins. Whether it’s football or field hockey, the sports of Wilkes University will look to impress in front of the home crowd as they welcome back alumni, parents and more. Wilkes Athletics Homecoming day Events Football 12 p.m. vs. Catholic Women's Volleyball: Tri-match: 12 p.m. vs. Catholic, 2:30 p.m. vs. Salisbury Women's Soccer: 1 p.m. at Juniata Men's Soccer 4 p.m. at Juniata Field Hockey 4 p.m. vs. Juniata SAT. OCT. 4TH 12 PM SCHMIDT STADIUM HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAME VS CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA @ WILKES U SAT. OCT.4TH & SUN. OCT. 5TH 20 SAT. OCT. 4TH 4 PM BRUGGEWORTH FIELD FIELD HOCKEY GAME VS JUNIATA SUN. OCT. 5TH 11 AM MEN’S LACROSSE ALUMNI GAME �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 Sports 21 This week in Wilkes sports: Sept. 23 to Sept. 28 By Andrew Marshallsay Sports Editor Another week of Wilkes sports has come and gone as the majority of Colonels continue non-conference matchups as they gear up for Landmark play. From volleyball to field hockey, here’s last week’s matchups and scores. Sept. 23 Women’s volleyball kicked off the day’s two events with an away matchup against Penn State Abington. Facing a tough side, the Colonels were swept in three straight sets, losing 0-3. Men’s soccer took on Ursinus at home in front of the Bruggeworth crowd. After Kendall Heck scored less than nine minutes in, Ursinus answered back with two goals, grabbing the game winner with less than nine minutes left in the contest. Wilkes fell 1-2. Sept. 24 A matchup at East Stroudsburg for women’s tennis was postponed due to inclement weather. Field Hockey had their first game of the week, taking on Eastern University away from home. A tough matchup that went all the way to overtime, the Colonels fell on an Eastern penalty corner goal. Women’s soccer were back at home in their final non-conference matchup of the season before Landmark play began. Taking on Widender, the Colonels hoped to end the non-conference phase of the season on a high note. Taylor Anthony grabbed the contest’s first goal about 39 minutes into the first half. Widener played spoiler to the party with an 89th minute equalizer. The match ended 1-1. Sept. 25 Men’s golf were set to take on the University of Scranton and King’s College from Glen Oak Country Club, but again it was the rain that had other plans for the Colonels. Sept. 26 No events scheduled. Sept. 27 It was the busiest day of the week for the Colonels, with eight different teams in action. Men’s and women’s cross country competed at the Lock Haven University Open. The men finished in 13th place out of 17 teams, while the women’s team finished 11th out of 11 teams. Women’s volleyball hosted a tri-match against Penn State Altoona and Bard By Jake Mills Sports Staff Writer The Lakeland Chiefs rolled to 5-1 on the year after a 28-14 win on the road at Dunmore in a potential preview of the Class 2A championship game in November. Lakeland opened the scoring in this one as QB David Naniewicz ran in a two yard touchdown with 6:17 left in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Dunmore got on the board as Logan Miller fell on the football in the endzone after Brandon Mecca fumbled. Naniewicz ran his second touchdown of the night in from 16 yards out this time to give Lakeland the 14-7 lead. With 57 seconds left until halftime, Ryan Mecca from seven yards out found his way into the endzone to tie the game at 14 going into halftime. Battling adversity, Lakeland received the ball coming out of the half. After a three and out from Lakeland, Dunmore was looking to drive but quarterback Weston Yannone was picked off by Chase Rosenkrans. Lakeland drove all the way down to the one yard line and David Naniewicz for the third time punched in the score with five seconds to go in the third quarter. After many great stops defensively, Lakeland’s Gavin Roberts ran in a 54 yard touchdown to seal the game for the Chiefs with 2:31 left in the final frame. Lakeland advances to 5-1 and will play at Honesdale next week in a Saturday afternoon game. Dunmore falls to 3-3 on the year and will look to bounce back against Mid Valley next week. College. After being swept in three sets by Altoona, the Colonels came back to win their second match 3-1, defeating Bard. Field hockey continued their away trip, as they took on Elizabethtown in the first Landmark matchup of the season. They came away with a hard fought win, with Taylor Minnick grabbed a late winner to clinch a 2-1 victory. Men’s and women’s soccer were at home to also take on Elizabethtown in doubleheader action from Bruggeworth Field. In the first game, women’s soccer had a multitude of shots and opportunities, however it was the Blue Jays that would come away with the win, with the Colonels falling 0-1. Men’s soccer looked to grab something after a hard fought loss earlier in the week. Elizabethtown scored about 19 minutes off of a goal from Quinn Erb. The Colonels got the equalizer after a huge blunder by the Blue Jay backline led to an own goal to make it a 1-1 contest. That’s how the scoreline would stand, as the Colonels grabbed a draw in their first Landmark Conference game of the 2025 season. Finally, football took their early season 1-2 record to Montclair State, grabbing a 24-21 win to improve to .500 on the season. Despite having over 200 less yards than the Red Hawks, Cooper King had two total touchdowns, one in the air and one on the ground. Tallen Murray, Tyler Wetzel and Cohen Creswell each had 10 total tackles. Just as he has done all season, Nick Volpone came up clutch with a last minute game-winning field goal from 26 yards to clinch the win. Updated Records (As of Sept. 28): Men’s Soccer: 1-5-3 Women’s Soccer: 4-3-2 Men’s Tennis: N/A Women’s Tennis: 0-1 Men’s Golf: 3-1 Women’s Golf: 4-1 Football: 2-2 Field Hockey: 6-4 Women’s Volleyball: 10-6 Men’s Cross Country: N/A Women’s Cross Country: N/A Local high school football - Dunmore vs. Lakeland Dunmore and Lakeland captains line up for the pregame coin toss. (Jake Mills) -Next week, Jake travels to Tunkhannock as the Tigers take on visiting LakeLehman on Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. �Lorem ipsum The Beacon - October 1, 2025 Sports 22 ATHLETES OF THE WEEK Sept. 20 to Sept. 26 Cohen Creswell Football Elena Krajain Women’s Soccer Creswell’s performance against Muhlenberg College included 8 total tackles, with two of them being for losses. He was named Colonel of Week by Wilkes Athletics as well. Krajain’s performance against FDU-Florham earned the nod for Athlete of the Week. With a goal directly from a corner kick, as well as an assist, Krajain led the Colonels to a 4-1 win on Sept. 20. What's been the highlight of this season so far? The mayors cup, going back to back and all the other factors like the game lasting 3 days and coming down to end being 16-19. How do you motivate yourself before a big game? I like to remind myself that there’s always someone or a team out there that is better. It helps me not stay satisfied with my performances and continue to give my all each week. What's your favorite sports team? Denver Broncos How do you see your future in Football? I definitely still see myself still being involved in some way. Whether it’s as a player, coach or even just a fan. Why did you choose soccer? I followed my brother’s footsteps, I joined the same REC league and fell in love with it after that. What pushes you to keep playing and pursue college soccer? To honor my mom, college soccer was one of my dreams. And engineering, she wanted me to do what I loved. What is your pre-game ritual? Putting my left sock, left shoe on and then right sock right shoe, i even tape my left ankle first. What is your hype song? Love by Keisha Cole What do you miss the most from home? My dog. �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 Sports WOMEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE AUG 30 10:00 A.M. – VS RUTGERS-NEWARK – MARTS CENTER SEPT 30 7:00 P.M. – VS MARYWOOD UNIVERSITY– MARTS CENTER 30 3:00– P.M. – ATCENTER OSWEGO OCT STATE3 –7:00 OSWEGO, AUG 30 2:00 P.M. – VS ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITYAUG BROOKLYN MARTS P.M. – NY AT GOUCHER COLLEGE – BALTIMORE, MD SEPT 3 7:00 P.M. – AT WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY – WAYNE, UNIVERSITY NJ SEPT 3 7:00 P.M. – AT NEUMANN UNIVERSITY – ASTON, PA OCT 4 12:00 P.M. – AT CATHOLIC OF AMERICA – WASHINGTON, DC 6 3:00–P.M. – ALVERNIA PA SEPT 6 3:00 P.M. – VS DELAWARE VALLEY SEPT UNIVERSITY MARTS CENTER UNIVERSITY OCT 4 2:30– READING, P.M. – SALISBURY UNIVERSITY – WASHINGSTON, DC 10 7:00 P.M. – VS KING’S COLLEGE (PA)P.M. – BRUGGEWORTH FIELD UNIVERSITY (LANDMARK) – MARTS CENTER SEPT 9 7:00 P.M. – VS PENN STATESEPT HAZELTON – MARTS CENTER OCT 10 7:00 – VS SUSQUEHANNA SEPT 13 1:00 P.M. – VS LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE – BRUGGEWORTH FIELD SEPT 11 7:00 P.M. – AT NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY – JERSEY CITY, NJ OCT 11 12:00 P.M. – VS ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE (LANDMARK) – MARTS CENTER SEPT 17 7:00 P.M. – AT ALBRIGHT COLLEGE – READING, PA SEPT 13 1:00 P.M. – AT UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT BRADFORD – ELMIRA, PA OCT 11 4:00 P.M. – VS MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY– MARTS CENTER SEPT 20 7:00 P.M. – VS FDU-FLORHAM DANBURY, CT MORAVIAN - BRUGGEWORTH FIELD (LANDMARK) – MARTS CENTER SEPT 16 7:00 P.M. – VS PENN COLLEGE – MARTS CENTER OCT 14–7:00 P.M. – VS UNIVERSITY SEPT COLLEGE 24 7:00 P.M. – VS WIDENER UNIVERSITY - BRUGGEWORTH FIELD SEPT 18 7:00 P.M. – AT ALBRIGHT – READING, PA OCT 18 11:00 A.M. – VS RUTGERS-CAMDEN - MARTS CENTER SEPT 27 1:00 P.M. – VS ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE (LANDMARK) – BRUGGEWORTH FIELD SEPT 20 11:00 A.M. – AT LANCASTER BIBLE COLLEGE – LANCASTER, PA OCT 18 3:00 P.M. – VS HOOD COLLEGE - MARTS CENTER OCT 1 7:00 P.M. – VS MARYWOOD UNIVERSITY – BRUGGEWORTH SEPT 20 11:00 A.M. – RUTGERS-NEWARK – LANCASTER, PA OCT 24 7:00 P.M. – AT LYCOMINGFIELD COLLEGE (LANDMARK) – WILLIAMSPORT, PA OCTABINGTON 4 1:00 P.M. – AT JUNIATA – HUNTINGDON, PA (LANDMARK) – HUNTINGDON, PA SEPT 23 7:00 P.M. – AT PENN STATE – ABINGTON, PACOLLEGE OCT 25(LANDMARK) 12:00 P.M. – AT JUNIATA COLLEGE OCT 7 7:00 P.M. – VS SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY (LANDMARK) – SELINSGROVE, SEPT 27 12:00 P.M. – VS PENN STATE ALTOONA– MARTS CENTER OCT 31 7:00 P.M. – VS UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTONPA(LANDMARK) – MARTS CENTER OCTCOLLEGE 11 1:00–P.M. – ATCENTER CATHOLICNOV UNIVERSITY (LANDMARK) DC SEPT 27 4:00 P.M. – VS BARD MARTS 1 12:00 OF P.M.AMERICA – VS DREW UNIVERSITY– WASHINGSTON, (LANDMARK) – MARTS CENTER OCT 14 7:00 P.M. – VS DREW UNIVERSITY (LANDMARK) – BRUGGEWORTH FIELD NOV 1 4:00 P.M. – VS RAMAPO COLLEGE (LANDMARK) – MARTS CENTER OCT 18 1:00 P.M. – VS GOUCHER COLLEGE (LANDMARK) – BRUGGEWORTH FIELD OCT 21 7:00 P.M. – AT UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON (LANDMARK) – SCRANTON, PA OCT 25 1:00 P.M. – AT MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY (LANDMARK) – BETHLEHEM, PA OCT 28 7:00 P.M. – VS LYCOMING COLLEGE (LANDMARK) – BRUGGEWORTH FIELD MEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE AUG 29 7:00 P.M. – VS MARYWOOD UNIVERSITY – BRUGGEWORTH FIELD SEPT 1 1:00 P.M. – AT LANCASTER BIBLE COLLEGE – LANCASTER, PA SEPT 6 1:00 P.M. – AT ARCADIA UNIVERSITY – GLENSIDE, PA SEPT 10 7:00 P.M. – AT PENN STATE HARRISBURG – MIDDLETOWN, PA SEPT 13 7:00 P.M. – AT MITCHELL COLLEGE – NEW LONDON, CT SEPT 16 7:00 P.M. – VS KING’S COLLEGE (PA) - BRUGGEWORTH FIELD SEPT 20 1:00 P.M. – AT HOOD COLLEGE – FREDERICK, MD SEPT 23 7:00 P.M. – VS URSINUS COLLEGE – BRUGGEWORTH FIELD SEPT 27 3:30 P.M. – VS ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE – BRUGGEWORTH FIELD SEPT 30 7:00 P.M. – VS MISERICORDIA UNIVERSITY – BRUGGEWORTH FIELD OCT 4 4:00 P.M. – AT JUNIATA COLLEGE (LANDMARK) – HUNTINGDON, PA OCT 7 7:00 P.M. – VS SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY (LANDMARK)– BRUGGEWORTH FIELD OCT 11 3:30 P.M. – AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA (LANDMARK) – WASHINGTON, DC OCT 14 7:00 P.M. – AT DREW UNIVERSITY (LANDMARK) – MADISON, NJ OCT 18 3:30 P.M. – VS GOUCHER COLLEGE (LANDMARK)– BRUGGEWORTH FIELD OCT 21 7:00 P.M. – VS UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON (LANDMARK)– BRUGGEWORTH FIELD OCT 25 3:30 P.M. – AT MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY (LANDMARK) – BETHLEHEM, PA OCT 28 7:00 P.M. – AT LYCOMING COLLEGE (LANDMARK) – WILLIAMSPORT, PA 23 �The Beacon - October 1, 2025 24 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource This is Wilkes University's Beacon Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the Beacon's predecessors, The Bucknell Bison Stampede, 1934-1935 and The Bucknell Beacon, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>. Missing Issues: 1947 August 8th 1947 September 5th 1947 October 3rd 1947 October 17th 1947 October 31st 1947 November 21st 1947 December 19th 1948 September 9th 1950 April 28th 1953 April 10th 1962 February 2nd Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon, 2025 October 1 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Wilkes University retains copyright of this publication. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/f5d59f9c6ec2c2ebe5d66dca81b95688.mp4 6e39358a37fa605ceedf65f7034f2c89 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Commencement Videos Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Commencement, 2010 May 22 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010 May 22 Type The nature or genre of the resource Film https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/d24a126ae902ef721cb670a308b8c373.mp4 a04fe970d4ec4bd56fca237c1b5de505 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes University Documentaries Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource True Rarity: The Amazing Story of Irwin Weinberg, 2012 Description An account of the resource This DVD is part of a series of documentaries produced by the Wilkes University Communication Studies Department in conjunction with the Wilkes University history program. Future support for documentary production is also provided by a generous grant from Edward J. Meehan, Esq. that established the Wilkes University Oral History Project. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Wilkes University Communication Studies department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 Type The nature or genre of the resource Documentary Film. https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/6f0121f1d821c690109f0485d2000b89.pdf 081df6b2f3fb3517203f8adfba955d57 PDF Text Text Issue 18.1: Fall 2023 THE INKWELL QUARTERLY Dr. K elly Takes on Two New Roles at Wilkes By Mya Corcoran In This Issue: Dr. Kelly Takes on Two New Roles at Wilkes Upon Loss: An Exercise in Dr. Kelly, a longstanding professor in the Wilkes English Regional Gothic Department, has recently taken on two new roles here at Wilkes. Dr. Kelly has been promoted to Full Professor and has taken over as the Director of So Much for Stardust, So Much the Writing Center. I got the chance to ask Dr. Kelly a few questions about for Me why he took on these roles, what new responsibilities he will have, and what he is most looking forward to as he moves forward in these new positions. Dr. Kelly described the process of becoming a Full Professor as an Reflecting on Reading as “intentionally rigorous, but not altogether unpleasant” process. He a Sacred Practice: explained after about six years of teaching, professors can apply for tenure A Review of Praying with Jane and promotion to Associate Professor. About six or seven years after being Eyre promoted to Associate Professor, they can apply for a promotion to Full Professor. The process for both promotions is similar and involves putting The Art of Finding Friday together a binder that includes teaching evaluations, recent peer-reviewed publications, and evidence of service and involvement in the university. In addition, professors must go through two sets of interviews and write a narrative about their accomplishments and what their career has meant to them. Dr. Kelly noted, “it was satisfying to reflect on the various courses I’ve created and taught, the articles I’ve written (and the impact they have made in the field), and the teaching and mentoring experiences I’ve had (in Manuscript, Sigma Tau Delta, independent studies, etc.).” Now that he has earned the title of Full Professor, Dr. Kelly explained he plans to take on more responsibility as a colleague, continue to work towards the university’s mission, and of course to continue writing and teaching. Dr. Kelly mentioned he genuinely enjoys teaching all of his main courses, but especially likes to teach is ENG 120: Introduction to Literature and Culture because it allows him to teach such a broad range of literature. In the class, he covers works by early American authors like Hawthorne all the way to more contemporary authors like DeLillo and Mukherjee. He also mentioned he really enjoyed teaching a Seminar class on the Uncanny in Literature and a Seminar on Toni Morrison. When asked about why he enjoys teaching English at Wilkes he said, “It’s a lot of fun to work with students who are invested and open to new ideas, and I’ve always been impressed with the goodwill and determination of Wilkes students.” Story Continued on Page 5 1 �The Inkwell Quarterly Upon Loss: An Exercise in Regional Gothic By Lily Hebda Falling somewhere among hardcore, metal, and deathcore depending on who you ask, Knocked Loose are taking the alternative musical community by storm. Currently rounding out an autumn tour with local Scranton band Motionless in White, Knocked Loose are reeling off the June release of their latest EP, Upon Loss: Singles. The tour recently visited local event venue Montage Mountain, playing in the first Scranton Apocalypse Fest. The tracks feature instrumentals that draw inspiration from classic metal tracks combined with distinctively post-hardcore melodies. Vocalist Byran Garris does not shy away from his characteristically brutal sound, delving into harsher, more guttural vocals than perhaps ever before. In addition to Garris’s fast paced melodies, the songs gain additional depth from the inclusion of vocals from guitarist Isaac Hale. However, the band simultaneously explores softer instrumentals, layering gloomy guitar melodies over the final breakdown in “Everything is Quiet Now,” capturing the band’s exploration of a more distinctly personalized sound. Vocalist Bryan Garris at Scranton Apocalypse Fest. Photo courtesy of Kyra Britzke 2 Photo Accessed from Noise Disruption Mag Website Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, the group have consistently taken lyrical inspiration from their Appalachian roots. This thematic exploration is present in the tracks “Deep in the Willow” and “Everything is Quiet Now.” Comparisons of life and death to a “flowing stream,” foliage as a mausoleum, and references to a visitation by the angel of death contribute to undertones of regional horror. In “Deep in the Willow,” Garris describes local foliage as the “final resting place,” presumably of affluence. Despite clear pride in their hometown, the band clearly express disdain for the social problems and class disparities which emanate from the area. Intersecting themes of natural features and anti aristocratic ideas are expressed again in “Everything is Quiet Now.” Garris describes life as a “flowing stream, poisoned,” once again suggesting the perversion of natural entities- and our appreciation of them- by prejudicial social standards. These elements mark a thematic transition from anger directed towards individuals and specific personal experiences to rage against a shared human experience. Lines referencing being “washed in the blood” and begging “for just a crumb” distinguish organized religion and failing capitalist structures as points of contention. If the lyricism of “Deep in the Willow” and “Everything is Quiet Now” does not evoke images of Appalachian gothic within you, the accompanying music video certainly will. Maintaining their directorial streak, the band’s newest short film is reminiscent of cult horror classics like Children of the Corn. The video is set in natural areas, shot to appear labyrinthine and bleak despite the natural lighting. As the band are chased by scarecrow-like figures in oldsmobiles, the video is cut with shots of contrived patina interiors, conveying � Issue 18.1: Fall 2023 “Upon Loss”: An Exercise in Regional Gothic Continued from Page 2 a centralizing theme of anger toward antiquated systems. These scenes are accompanied by a breakdown which digs into these power structures, declaring them a “king to none.” Garris further laments, “True colors shown/ And I’m not impressed,” a direct dig at the displays of wealth depicted in the video. These lines, when considered in relation to the class structures represented, further solidify the disgust directed towards aristocracy so prevalent in “Deep in the Willow.” The amalgamation of such eerie visuals, aggressive vocals, and direct, unforgiving lyrics culminate in an audio-visual experience perfect for the dreary transition from autumn to winter. Knocked Loose’s latest release is representative of widely shared generational frustration, and Garris articulates this exasperation through biting, bitter lyricism. For those in need of an outlet, Upon Loss: Singles assists in unpacking intergenerational uncertainties, contributing a valuable perspective on such complex issues. So Much for Stardust, So Much for Me By Juliana Lueders Due to the release of Fall Out Boy’s new album So Much for Stardust, I was hit with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. I found an unexpected sense of comfort in returning to my middle school roots and decided to re-listen to Fall Out Boy’s entire discography. These are my thoughts on the band’s progression as a whole and what this new release means to me. What began as a ragtag group of vaguely emo, music-obsessed teens from the Chicago area grew into one of the biggest names of the pop-punk genre. One can feel these rough beginnings in their initial album Take This to Your Grave, produced by Fueled by Ramen. While, at this point, the industry wasn’t ready for this new wave of music the fans were able to carry the band to new heights. The rise in their popularity resulted in a production change to Island Records and the creation of their breakthrough album From Under the Cork Tree. The values of the band began change to Island Records and the creation of their breakthrough album From Under the Cork Tree. The values of the band began to shift as the rough-and-tumble poppunk band had to adjust to major record deals and a growing fanbase. Next came Infinity on High which was the start of growing tension from the fans and within the band itself. This tension reached a breaking point with their sixth album release titled Folie à Deux which was met with backlash and marked the beginning of a four-year break for the group. This later period marked several tonal changes to the music going forward. After this break came the album Save Rock and Roll aptly titled for the band’s return to making music and including featured artists for select songs. The eighth album, Mania, pulled from interesting sources, relying heavily on a more techno sound than what the audience was used to, and, because of that, it was met with mixed reviews. Now, listening to this newest album So Much for Photo Accessed from Spotify Story Continued on Page 7 3 �The Inkwell Quarterly ENGLISH DEPARTMENT FALL PICNIC The Wilkes University English Department Shared Plenty of Conversation, Laughter, Company, and Even More Good Food at the Annual Department Fall Picnic This Past October! 4 � Issue 18.1: Fall 2023 Dr. Kelly Takes on Two New Roles at Wilkes Continuation of Page 1 In addition to becoming a Full Professor, Dr. Kelly has also taken over as Director of the Writing Center. He said he wanted to take on the role because he saw it as “an interesting opportunity and challenge” and his educational background is well-suited to the work. At the University of Pittsburgh where he obtained his M.A. degree, he was mentored by some of the leading composition theorists at the time including David Bartholomae, Mariolina Salvatori, and Nick Coles. Since writing center theory overlaps with process writing theory, he has found his education complements this new role. As the Director of the Writing Center, Dr. Kelly is in charge of training, hiring, and scheduling the peer writing consultants. He has already implemented several changes in the Writing Center including redecorating the center with new posters on the walls and adding a reading corner with a beanbag chair. He has also made changes to the center’s website and some of its procedures. The biggest change he has made as Director is designing a training course, ENG 190 C, that all peer consultants are required to take. In this course, peer consultants learn about writing center methodology, discuss the best approaches to helping students with their writing, and practice providing feedback with the use of sample essays. Right now, Dr. Kelly is working on increasing the Writing Center’s visibility on campus. He has designed and hung informational posters about the center around campus, has created an Instagram account for the center (@wilkesu.wc), and is in the process of designing a new logo. Dr. Kelly explained his vision for the Writing Center logo is a picture of a tree with leaves on top and roots below with the motto “Growth through Writing.” Dr. Kelly explained, “In my mind, this is an apt visual metaphor for what writing is like. So much of the growth is happening in the early stages of the process, during planning, brainstorming, and reading. The metaphor also represents both the inward and outward personal growth that happens through writing. The writing process is both deeply emotional, intellectual, and psychological as well as focused on our representations of our “best”--most coherent, articulate, creative--selves.” Dr. Kelly expressed that he is enthusiastic about taking on this position and its new responsibilities. When asked about what he is most looking forward to this year as the Director of the Writing Center, Dr. Kelly said, “I’m already enjoying working with the peer consultants! As Director, I love all the new challenges and creative opportunities that seem to crop up daily.” Congratulations, Dr. Kelly, on your promotion to Full Professor and new position as Director of the Writing Center. The Wilkes English Department looks forward to seeing your ongoing work and watching you succeed in these new roles! Inkwell Quarterly Staff Jessica Van Orden Editor in Chief Staff Writers Copy Editor Lily Hebda Mya Corcoran Juliana Lueders Molli Mikita 5 �The Inkwell Quarterly Reflecting on Reading as a Sacred Practice: A Rev iew of Praying with Jane Eyre By Mollie Mikita Part memoir, part spiritual guide for readers, Vanessa Zoltan’s Praying with Jane Eyre: Reflections on Reading as a Sacred Practice (now available at Farley Library!) invites us to treat the texts we read as sacred–that is, to engage with the work and ask ourselves how we can apply what we’ve learned from it to our own lives. According to Zoltan, by reading in this way, we learn to treat the characters on the pages we read as neighbors. Neighbors aren’t necessarily those with whom we agree or even like, but we can certainly begin to understand them and their circumstances as if they were our own. In sharing how she approaches the stories of characters on a page, the author weaves in the stories of her own life as the millennial granddaughter of Auschwitz survivors, and how their history of trauma and endurance shapes her own life. As English majors and minors, we are all familiar with the significance of giving close readings to texts in order to find meaning from them. In proposing to treat reading as a sacred practice (at least, in reading the works that we love), Zoltan acknowledges the importance of analyzing text, but she makes a distinction between a close analysis and a sacred analysis. The latter, she demonstrates, doesn’t necessarily reveal the meanings in a text, but it celebrates the close relationship between the characters on the page and the readers of those characters. By treating Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, among other favorite works, as sacred, Zoltan as a reader puts the book’s characters in conversation with her own life. She notes some parallels for us between how she relates to literary characters and how she relates to the people in her life outside of books, allowing an analysis of her own life to inform the analysis of the characters she reads. As a Jewish person, the author embraces both the religious and cultural aspects of Judaism, but spiritually, the traditional prayers don’t bring her peace, only sorrow. Those prayers are the same recitations of the victims of concentration camps, of her family. She associates the idea of the receiver of those prayers with the horrors that the victims of the Holocaust endured. Putting a sacred lens on non-religious texts, then, offers the reader room to renew their spirits in places other than traditional religious texts and spaces, as Zoltan points out. Reading Jane Eyre as sacred allows her to find the magic in characters whom she did not expect to see in that way. Treating characters on the page as sacred, Zoltan argues, allows us to also treat those around us–off the page–as sacred, too. She points out that another part of treating reading as a sacred practice then, is getting together with other readers of the text and discussing your ideas of the text with them, as we might in class. In highlighting the importance of gathering with other readers, I believe Zoltan confirms the notion that Kirby Hall is a sacred space! Perhaps you’ve read Jane Eyre in one of your English classes, but even if you haven’t read it at all, Zoltan provides enough context of the literature with which she engages for the reader to gain a sense of the sacredness of the characters. Her 6 Photo Accessed from Amazon � Issue 18.1: Fall 2023 So Much for Stardust, So Much for Me Continued from Page 3 Stardust I feel as though I am returning home and traveling somewhere new all at once. It is a return to form revitalizing the grungy sound of their early years while also being lightened by their newer style as they pair heavy guitars with catchy synths. It is slowly joining the ranks as a fan favorite which is heartwarming to see. I didn’t expect new music from a band that means so much to me. I was content being stuck in my nostalgia and listening to the classics over and over. But this new album pushes reality to the forefront and it is new and comforting and everything I could have hoped for. The specifics of this discussion perhaps won’t mean a lot to the majority of people. Early 2000s poppunk music isn’t everyone’s jam, but there’s a deeper part of this conversation that I’m hoping to get at. That is, the idea of coming to terms with changes brought by time and that these changes and their effects can take shape in ways you don’t consider until you are confronted by them; that’s what this new album is for me. It was a revelation that came from listening to the new music of an old friend, and suddenly I was no longer a college senior about to graduate. I was a despondent and angry seventh-grader who just moved to a new state and was beginning a new school. I am no longer that girl but I can still love and find comfort in the same things that brought her joy then. I’ve been trying to convince myself to be less afraid of change and this album feels like a pretty compelling argument to me. So, even in my search for new experiences and opportunities and new music, I will hold on to the things that made me what I am and will continue to hum a familiar tune. Reflecting on Reading as a Sacred Practice: A Review of Praying with Jane Eyre continued from page 6 reflections on the text of Jane Eyre encourage me to reread it in a way that I hadn’t before. Specifically, I’d like to see if my perceptions of any characters broaden or change based on whether I can recognize any of their flaws– or strengths!–in myself, and whether that recognition allows me to feel a greater sense of solidarity or empathy with their plight. I might find that I can no longer tolerate what I once found forgivable in a character, but I am most curious about whether I might start to relate to any character that I found so different from myself in previous readings. I began reading Praying with Jane Eyre at the end of September, and submit this review in the midst of turmoil inflicted upon citizens of Israel and Palestine. The proposal to put a spiritual lens on texts, and by extension, everyone around us seems especially significant today. As students and scholars of literature, we engage with perspectives that are often outside of our own, but we work to connect to at least some part of their story, which naturally deepens our sense of empathy and understanding. In encouraging us to treat reading as a sacred practice, Vanessa Zoltan’s work does a wonderful job in highlighting the importance of the the positive influence we can make in each other’s lives and the lens with which we can strive to see each other: not with a perfect scientific lens to reveal each other’s flaws, but a spiritual lens that offers others our grace and compassion. 7 �The Inkwell Quarterly The Ar t of Finding Friday By Jessica Van Orden As a spiced chill air fills the lungs, climbing in through the nose to slide gently down the throat and settle deep within the chest, I find myself on the precipice of sweet denial before stumbling crookedly in some cavernous crack that had been waiting for me since I first woke. I am sure that you are no stranger to this moment I now descend within. The fingers move faster than the brain, tapping lightly against one another, flouncing through the air, grasping, as they try to rectify the loss that has just occurred between one moment prior and one moment soon. It is not, in fact, Thursday but Friday. The last Friday that I have to prepare my precise mode of attack for the mountain of work that I have as midterms arrived. A middle of term that, might I say, seemed to materialize before I could truly cement what postmodernism is beyond that extremely exciting Sunday crossword-type feel where you are consistently walking the line between I’ve got it and That’s not even a clue. At first, reader, you may think to yourself that joy is soon to follow. The weekend has packed up early and decided to grant me one singular peace in the wake of paper, electronic, and even skin-jotted scheduling to plop me into the weekend a day sooner than I had believed. Gone will be the extra drive, closed will be the books, and one more hour of morning snooze can be bought. Except, dear reader, I have never been that good at scheduling, you see. Perhaps you too are not, in which case, I expect you see the realization before those who have always been more gifted than I at delineating their goals and deadlines may: I’m toast. I hope, among a horde of those who have chosen to dive into the introspective, engaging, and fantastical world of literature for the multi-volume work of their own lives, you will enjoy the chaotic enlightenment that this weekend has afforded. I found, once I had uncovered the literal mountain of papers, texts, and critiques that I had amassed in my work, a true depth in looking at my work side by side. I found that the ways in which two completely different periods conversed with one another in my head made me see things in an entirely new light. Two classes that I had once sworn I couldn’t bridge the distance between (at least in terms of what they said and what I could understand) seemed to dance together on the page. I must step back, for a moment, to explain how this semester has been challenging the way I have approached not how I write, well not that alone, but how I read. Along with being in my senior year and considering my work in undergraduate so far in preparation of my capstone, I have begun my graduate work, pursuing an MA in creative writing with the Maslow program at Wilkes. It sounds dramatic, but it feels unfathomable that all that I have learned about writing in a few short weeks has helped me be a better reader through how these authorial voices break apart their practices. This exploration into the ways I approach reading has been strengthened by that phantom of my earlier quandry, postmodernity and its literature. Both of these influences have centered the reader in some capacity, placing the responsibility of meaning on their shoulders. Within the writing program, we have investigated how distance and unreliability can influence the ways in which your reader approaches a character. These practices have examined the intentional manipulations of a reader’s connotations a writer can create by choices of syntax, diction, and voice to mold the tone of the piece that they want. One aspect of this writing that has been expanded on so thoroughly that it almost feels like a new tool is how a writer manipulates a point of view to create distance or alter the mood. I had always 8 Photo Accessed from Adobe Stock � Issue 18.1: Fall 2023 The Ar t of Finding Friday Continuation of Page 8 left the consideration at whose eyes am I, the reader, seeing through. Yet, in the section, we have discussed how a certain perspective may allow a story to continue past a conceived ending. The way the implement distance, possibly shifting from an over-the-shoulder view for a deeper, omniscient internal perspective of the character allows a different type of conflict the be built in the role of the reader. The author may shift between the two, granting a cold, distancing space to form an air of mystery around their character to make the readers question their actions or the motivations behind them—even while they have omniscient knowledge in other aspects. I always considered this push and pull of the focalizing elements to be solely at the hands of the author. I would come away believing what I did about a character, largely, because that was how they were shaped by their author. Even in situations where an antagonizing character became accessible, making them more likable, I considered this to be the control of the author once more. However, as a writer, we cannot always control how the experiences of our readers will come to shape the way they view our implementations of distance. This is a conversation that was stoked within the discussions concerning a Chekov piece we read in my graduate course on the foundations of fiction writing. One of the critical pieces we read posited that the triviality of the situation was the larger moral lessons to be learned, not by the characters per se, but the audience themselves. In the story, a young protagonist who was often hidden from frame though ever present is slighted by the pride of an adult. It is a lesson that the readership is equally culpable in the enacting for they were dismissive of the boy due to the distance enacted. Yet, how a reader approaches the story means that their experience and consideration of the events engender an infinite possibility of meanings, as their own experiences influence how they pick up the book. This is where I found myself when sitting down on the Thursday that was not Thursday but actually Friday, attempting to formulate a thesis for my postmodern research paper. Postmodernism has been an intriguing journey, especially as a senior at the end of my stretch. For it is like running face first, smack, into a false finish line. That sounds harsh, and I mostly do not mean it to sound so. I truly think if I had about twenty more years to sit down in our classroom and hear the ways in which postmodernism refutes, questions, probes, and deconstructs, I would come to grasp the ungraspable. Yet, as I sat with it this weekend, and continue to do so within our classes, I am coming to see the inherent importance in causing your readership to question in an age of content curation. In my study of the library field, one I wish to enter upon completing my masters, I have become more aware of how question and perseverance are smothered within our daily lives. I would argue that the gift of instant gratification, the world so to speak at our fingertips, has left us reliant upon our contentment. Again, I don’t mean this as a critique of the external, for I find myself settling for the first nearly credible information I can feel comfortable reciting or referencing to others most of the time. However, postmodernism has shown me that occurrence within the system of language and meaning on a new level that permeates the structures of our identity. In our last class before break, Dr. Kuhar mentioned the necessity and privilege of fun within postmodernism, which felt counterintuitive at the time. How can something that attempts to dissect the vital frames of society that are designed to corral and hinder people’s upward mobility be addressed in any way that is fun? And then I thought of the reader’s role. Postmodern Story Continued on Page 11 9 �The Inkwell Quarterly Fall into a Fine Dish: Recipes Inspired by the Books! Hogsmeade Jane Eyre’s Butterbeer Seed Cake 4 cans cream soda || 1/4 c. butterscotch syrup 1 c. heavy cream || 2 tbsp. sugar 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract || 1/4 c. melted butter Directions: Step 1 In a large bowl, combine cream soda and butterscotch syrup and stir. Step 2 In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat cream until stiff peaks form. Fold in sugar and vanilla extract, then melted butter until no longer streaky. (Add more butter if desired). Step 3 Ladle Butterbeer into glasses and top with whipped cream mixture. 10 Photo Accessed on Pipanddebby.com 3/4 cup butter, softened || 2 TBS caster sugar 3 large eggs, beaten || 3 tsp caraway seeds 1 1/2 cups flour; plus 1tbp pinch salt || 1 tsp baking powder 1 TBS ground almonds || 1 TBS milk Oven at 350 , Directions: Cream Butter and Sugar until smooth. Beat in Eggs, one at a time. Sift in dry ingrediants seperatly. Stir in the Almonds and Seeds. Mix wet and dry ingrediants together. Line loaf pan with butter. Bake the dish for 4550 minutes. Photo Accessed on Pinterest.com � Issue 18.1: Fall 2023 The Ar t of Finding Friday Continuation of Page 9 literature, from what I understand it to be—in the halfway point of an infant’s experience—seeks to unnerve and confuse the reader so that they must make the meaning. It is a highly questionable process, in my own opinion, for the premise of this in postmodernity is that, for a truly engaged reader to be born, the role of the author must die. This line of thought is the work of Roland Barthes, a postmodern theorist who proposed that a text possesses no meaning until the reader has formed one themself. I find this to be both settling and distancing to the ways that I have always envisioned books as bridges of experience that enable us as readers to grow as more empathetic, knowledgeable global citizens. There are experiences that I will never truly understand, for I cannot live them; however, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t understand that experience in some form and learn what that experience means through the voice of the person who lived it. I also do not think that this idea is inherently linked to nonfiction, which I am not certain was a condition of Barthes’s premise, but meaning, nonetheless, would have to be imbued within the story through the experience of the writer. There is still the importance of the reader grasping and making that meaning, so that it can do something, for lack of a better sentiment. It needs to be so seeped within the literature itself that it comes away onto the hands of the reader and further moves through what they, we, touch. This is where I am at, amid scattered mountains of worksheets and notes, pictures and texts, finally coming to see how these two schools of thought and practice come together. For a great many important things were being discussed—most still relevant today—by postmodern authors during their time. Topics that were pivotal for the readership to work for themselves in order to see the importance they carried in breaking them open to interrogating them. They focused on the binaries of language and power structures, where the innate inference is that one must be understood in comparison to the other for the system of meaning to make sense. It rang out as a critique of its restricting, narrowing properties that, just as the work of enlightened thinkers before them, those who seek to maintain their structures of power rely upon a people content in their placidity. Postmodern work sought to shake the masses from their cobwebs, from the simulation of meaning, but not hold their hand with it. Where I had once poisoned the well, so to speak, told myself I could never comprehend the work of these minds, I realized that part of the process required my efforts as well. There is meaning imbued within the work naturally by the voice that spends so much time with it; however, it is the work of us, as readers, to decipher and grant meaning to it. This understanding removed some of the self-imposed distance I gave to topics where I did not already see the meaning, where I hadn’t yet worked for it. Moreover, it granted me a revived sense of my engagement with the literature, recognizing it as a conversation between the writer and myself as much as it was between the characters. I should say that when I sat down to write this piece I was moved by the personal accounts or experiences those of the Inkwell staff have shared before. It was those articles depicting the joys that arose from my fellow peers that afforded me that middle-of-the-relay drive. I love a good thick novel as much as the next English feller, but when you think of that ten-page research paper sitting on the stack, or the creative peer work that is waiting for you on LIVE, it is easy to forget the drive that pulled you to this field of work to pull yourself ahead, even momentarily. However, when I took those moments to sit within their experience, hear their insights, and note their advice, I found that they became the image of that partner, near feet ahead. That’s probably not the best analogy for this experience, maybe put the whole metaphor in reverse, but, the takeaway was this: remember the intention of the degree. It was our engagement within the work, and for me personally, building upon my response to the text by the experience in the response of others. The English program has always been, to me, one that builds a community equally by the shared moments of wait, what does that mean?, as it does when the intimate lived experience of each reader sharpens the soul of the book together. 11 � Issue 17.3: Spring 2023 MANUSCRIPT UPDATE The Manuscript Society is currently accepting submissions for its upcoming 2023-2024 issue! The submission period will be open through 31 March 2024. If you are interested, please submit your work to magazine@wilkes.edu with your Wilkes email. If you would like to learn more about The Manuscript Society or about upcoming Manusript events, please contact magazine@wilkes.edu. You can also stay connected to Manuscript by folloiwing our social media on Facebook (Mauscript @ Wilkes University), Twitter (@ WilkesMag), and Instagram (@wilkes_manuscript_). Writing Center Hours The Writing Center, located in the Alden Learning Commons, is open and offering support to student writers across the Wilkes curriculum. Throughout the Fall 2023 semester The Writing Center is offering inperson as well as online support for all members of the Wilkes community who need writing assistance. Stop by the Alden Learning Commons, or access online support via https://www.wilkes.edu/ academics/english/the-writingcenter/index.aspx For more information, contact: Dr. Sean Kelly email: sean.kelly@wilkes.edu 12 Spring 2024 Upper-Level Class Listings Course Number/Name Date/Time Instructor ENG 202: Technical Writing MWF 9:00-9:50 Prof. Brown ENG 234: Survey of English Lit. II TR 1:00-2:15 Dr. Davis ENG 281: Survey of American Lit. I TR 3:00-4:15 Dr. Kelly ENG 303: Adv. Workshop in Creative Writ. TR 4:30-5:45 Dr. Hicks ENG 324: Hist. of the English Language MWF 10:00-10:50 Dr. Hamill ENG 340: Studies in Chaucer MWF 12:00-12:50 Dr. Hamill ENG 392: Senior Projects Dr. Anthony ENG 397: Seminar: Queer Lit. & Theory Dr. Davis TR 9:00-10:15 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Inkwell Quarterly, 2006-present Description An account of the resource The Inkwell Quarterly is a student-based publication circulated among the Wilkes population as well as prospective students who consider entering the English program. The IQ provides current information about faculty events and students active in the Wilkes’ English program. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Wilkes University's English Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available English Department Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDFs Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Publication Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Inkwell Quarterly, Fall 2023 (Issue 18.1) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource English Department Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Fall 2023 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Publication https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/f020651401520d2b837ae5e9ad279799.pdf 51eaadfdb5eb440ccc5d212f2a47f098 PDF Text Text Issue 17.4: Spring 2023 THE INKWELL QUARTERLY “Full Speed Ahead” w ith Good Things to Come— EPIC: The Troy Saga By Juliana Lueders In This Issue: “Full Speed A head” with Good Things to Come - EPIC: The Troy Saga Guest Writer Dr. Amy Earhart Jorge Rivera-Herrans is revolutionizing the musical industry with his new Who Should Decide What We Can Read? creation EPIC: The Troy Saga. Rivera-Herrans has been writing this musical over the past few years but what makes his story unique is that he has taken Sigma Delta Tau Inductees and to social media platforms such as TikTok to document his creative process Graduates and search for vocal talent. This abnormal approach allowed him to reach new voices and get in contact with individuals beyond the constraints of Senior Capstones the music industry. Through social media, Rivera-Herrans was also able to gather support for his project at the same time, this allowed him to interact Staff Updates with his followers and take in feedback. This remarkable tactic encouraged Senior Spotlights his fans to become personally invested in the project’s success. Over the course of several months, Rivera-Herrans has been documenting the musical progress leading up to it being professionally produced and released Reflecting on My Time in the English Department and the to the public. Beyond. The original concept album was posted to music platforms on December 25, 2022 and has five songs that serve as a sample for the expected fortysong contemporary album. EPIC: The Troy Saga is the first album out of nine that will make up the complete story of Odysseus’ twenty-year journey. The song list (in album order) is “The Horse and the Infant,” “Just a Man,” “Full Speed Ahead,” “Open Arms,” and “Warrior of the Mind”. These songs tell the progression of the Greeks’ attack on the city of Troy, Odysseus’ internal reflection of the lives he has taken, their struggles in returning to Ithaca, a strange island with deceitful inhabitants, and Odysseus’ interaction with the Goddess Athena. Below I go into more detail on each song and share my reflections on the music, lyrics, and general themes of each piece without giving away too much. I will also be ranking them based on personal preference and how hard they slap. 5) “Full Speed Ahead” This position isn’t a reflection of the song itself as it is just as strong vocally and musically as all the others. It’s more so that it is lacking some of the Jorge Rivera-Herrans depth and action when compared to the other songs. It is still a necessary Photo accessed on broadwayworld.com Story Continued on Page 4 1 �The Inkwell Quarterly Guest Writer Dr. Amy Earhart By Alexis Charowsky On Wednesday April 12 and Thursday April 13, I had the opportunity to join two sessions with the guest writer Dr. Amy Earhart. The final Allen Hamilton Dickson visiting writer of the year, Earhart, informed students of both projects she has finished and her currently active projects, and she held a digital workshop highlighting and explaining the digital software she uses on a daily basis. A little about Earhart, she’s an English professor at Texas A&M University, focusing her studies in the digital humanities, specifically Africana Studies. Her biography for the school states that “Earhart’s scholarship has focused on examining infrastructures of technology and their impact and replication of ‘race,’ building infrastructure for digital humanities work, embedding digital humanities projects within the classroom, and tracing the history and futures of dh, with a particular interest in the way that dh and Black studies intersect.” Along with the informative information that Earhart was able to provide to students, a copy of her book Traces of Old, Uses of the New: The Emergence of Digital Literary Studies was provided to students who attended her session on the 12th. In her session held in Kirby Hall, Earhart talked about one of the projects that she has conducted, called the Millican Massacre. Earhart told us that in the massacre that occurred from July 15-17 in 1868, about 300 African Americans were killed in this small town. In order to honor these victims, Earhart and other students of hers have come together to investigate this tragedy that kept being pushed under the rug. One interesting point that she made was that this event keeps being deleted from the internet, as though it had never happened. Located only 13 miles south of Texas A&M, Millican was an important town to Texas, as it was where the end of the railroad that went North led to, the farthest North one was able to go in Texas. Before this massacre happened, Earhart told students that the Ku Klux Klan had gone into the town and started shooting at African Americans. A man by the name of Miles Brown was reportedly lynched by white men, and when town officials went to talk with this community, a gun went off, starting this massacre. Earhart found that this masacre may have ensued “to end Black voting rights in this part of Texas.” She brought up the fact that between the years of 1867 and 1868, there were about 54 marriages, so many due to marriages being able to bind these people into a legal marriage that was unable to be broken. One prominent person of the Millican Massacre that Earhart mentioned was a man named George Brooks. He was a pastor of the town who is believed to have “helped increase Black voter registration, organized community defense groups, and led the Black resistance during the massacre.” In his travels to Austin, Brooks was killed by white men, but his memory will forever be treasured in helping so many innocent people. In Amy Earhart’s presentation and workshop she gave to my digital humanities class with Dr. Kuhar, she provided useful information in explaining possibilities in the digital humanities. She started off with the fact that when technology became prominent in society, it was a revolutionary to our understanding of this type of work. While working in her field, she found that it does not require many people to research more about a topic, but instead is DIY based. Although this was the case, she also said that DH researchers need to collaborate with others, 2 � Issue 17.4: Spring 2023 Guest Writer Dr. Amy Earhart Continuation of Page 2 including researchers, librarians, students, and communities. Earhart reassured us that this process involves experimentation and failing, claiming that we should expect to fail in order to self-teach ourselves. One point she made that I thought was interesting was the fact that projects created in the digital humanities are turned into black box projects after their five-year life is over. Earhart also informed us about three important DH technology tools, which include databases with visualizations, Content Management Systems (CMS), and metadata standards. A project she told us that she had worked on is titled DIBB or The Digital Black Bibliographic Project that lists authored published texts divided by countries in the 1950s. In conclusion to her presentation, she said that it was useful to recover memories of what has happened in past times to help those who may still be impacted by these events and the larger communities. During the workshop part of our class, she sent students a link to a spreadsheet has been working on. She gave students anthologies they were able to share with one another, and we were required to pick a random name out. We then went onto the spreadsheet and had to individually write the person’s name, gender, race, when they were born and died, and other useful information that we knew about this person. This workshop was used as a way to show students how tedious of a job it is to enter everything into a database and work within the digital humanities. I can definitely say that there is a lot of work involved in researching a topic and finding all of the evidence, but when you finally do, it has an informative end result. In conclusion, I think that having Dr. Amy Earhart here at Wilkes was interesting to say the least. She not only told us about the different tools one has to use while working in the digital humanities, such as Omeka or Zotero, but also the vast amount of time, money, and research it requires. The overall message I took from Earhart is that she wants to help people and communities that they live in, and in doing so, she helps these people receive the closure that they need. I want to thank Earhart for all the new knowledge she has provided me with, and I can’t wait to see her finish projects that she has been working on for so long! MANUSCRIPT 2023-24 UNVEILED 3 �The Inkwell Quarterly “Full Speed Ahead” with Good Things to Come— EPIC: The Troy Saga Continuation of Page 1 4 part of the narrative as it is describing the Greek’s journey back home to Ithaca and the struggles they are facing in the middle of the sea: mainly a lack of food for their six-hundred soldiers. The song’s strongest part comes from the characterization of Eurylochus, Polites, and Odysseus. Eurylochus and Polites’ proposals on how to proceed to represent the difficult choices and extremes of war and of Odysseus provide a sort of middle ground trying to appease them both, highlighting Odysseus’ empathetic and rational characteristics that come into play later. 4) “The Horse and the Infant” A very strong opening to the album that sets the stage for the beginning of a war and introduces the conflict between the Greeks and Trojans. My favorite part of this intro is the fast-moving lyrical introductions of Diomedes, Agamemnon, and Menelaus as Odysseus gives them their orders hinting at their rank, skills, and personal motivations. There is a sudden shift in the music with a clash of lightning and the call of an eagle introducing Zeus as he begins speaking to Odysseus. Zeus gives the soldier a message to strike down the infant son of their enemy before the child can grow and take revenge on all the people Odysseus cares for. This moment is the first inclination of the inescapable guilt Odysseus feels as he seems caught in a cycle of bloodshed. The song concludes with Zeus mocking Odysseus’ dilemma, commenting that all Odysseus can control is whose blood he spills. 3) “Open Arms” This song is very simplistic musically with various soft beats in the background that allows for the vocals of both Dookie (as Polites) and Rivera-Herrans (as Odysseus) to really soar. It follows “Full Speed Ahead” and continues to emphasize Polites’ more pacifistic and compassionate position as he encourages Odysseus to see and accept the world around him. There are also hints at Odysseus’ struggle with his guilt over the lives he claimed in the war. But Odysseus was correct in his suspicions of the island inhabitants as he throws Polites’ line back in his face with “That’s what we’d get with open arms” (ll. 47) seemingly to double down on the suspicions that war has enforced within him. The conclusion of the song makes it seem that trusting the inhabitants’ directions was a good thing and representative of potential growth for Odysseus, but those familiar with the tale remember what is waiting for them at the cave... 2) “Just a Man” A beautiful string-heavy opening for the only song of the album with one character singing. This allows for Rivera-Herrans to shine as he develops Odysseus’ inner turmoil of guilt with delicate rises and falls. The central part of the song sees a sudden shift in this softness as the music cuts out completely for a moment only to be replaced with an intense echoing from the chorus. This section represents a shift in Odysseus’ determination as he begins to question when in life these grand changes take place because even after all the great and horrible things he has done he still feels that he’s just a man. The most devastating of his questions is “When does the reason become the blame?” (ll. 18). The song ends with the chorus repeating his impossible questions back at him as he asks for forgiveness over and over because he can’t change who he is. 1) “ Warrior of the Mind” This is easily the catchiest and most memorable song on the album. There is a reason that this song has almost five million more listens on Spotify than all the other songs. Athena’s voice is the perfect mixture of melodious and stern, paired with an elegant piano melody that evolves as the song goes on. There’s a smooth transition into storytelling to show how she knows Odysseus and develops their rapport. Odysseus is allowed to take on a more playful tone in this song. Odysseus is also aware of how Athena values intelligence so he tricks her into revealing herself to him. The chorus of this song is incredible and allows Athena to share her intentions with the soldier. This section develops as the song goes on when the second refrain of this chorus has both Athena and Odysseus singing together emphasizing their shared respect for each other and Athena’s vision. � Issue 17.4: Spring 2023 “Full Speed Ahead” with Good Things to Come— EPIC: The Troy Saga Continuation of Page 4 Addendum: By the time this article comes out, Rivera-Herrans has already released the second album out of the expected nine titled EPIC: The Cyclops Saga. This album has a total of four songs and follows where the previous story has left off. As the hungry soldiers sail towards and reach the island that the Lotus-Eaters described there seems to be someone else waiting for them... ummerr his SSumme TThis ting We’re potlighhting e’re SSpotlig W eniors! SSeniors Meet Emily! Emily Cherkauskas Q: What is your favorite memory from Wilkes? A: Being a member of the English department alone is a core memory. I’ve had so many great memories working with everybody in Manuscript and I will hold them dearly close to me. I’ll also look back fondly on the great discussions and projects I was able to work on in my upper-level English courses. Plus, getting the opportunity to go on a trip to the Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland, to see The Tempest for our seminar class was terrific. Q: What was your favorite literary text from a class you’ve taken here, and why? A: There are so many to choose from! I’d say Doctor Faustus is definitely one of the best works I’ve ever studied, to the point where I have made it the subject of my capstone project. Exploring and studying the different editions of the play really showed the complexity and symbolism within the play. Q: Tell us a favorite quote from one of the English professors. A: “Hey gang, how we doin’.” – Dr. Hamill Q: What English class do you wish you would have had the chance to take, and why? A: I wish I could have taken more writing-oriented classes because I always enjoy building my technical and creative skills, but unfortunately, they did not fit in my schedule. The pains of being a double major! That’s when participating in cocurricular activities helped out a ton. Q: What was/were your concentration(s) in English here at Wilkes? A: My English concentration is in digital humanities. I often advocate for accessibility in media, especially with public media or archiving, and I love exploring the boundaries between traditional scholarly humanities and digitization of research, so that concentration fits perfectly for me. Q: What was your favorite non-English class at Wilkes, and why? A: Probably the communication studies capstone courses. My research project studied the accuracy of closed captioning in local live broadcasting, so it was a very worthwhile and eye-opening experience. Q: What are your future career aspirations? A: I would love to work in the field of media in some sort of production, coordination, or archiving role. Wherever my career and interests lead me to go, I would want to be working somewhere I could be making an impact—not just in the company, but also for the greater community. Q: What is your favorite book/author you have read, separate from English courses here at Wilkes, or just in general? A: Well, now that I’ve completed my courses, I’ve definitely had more time for some recreational reading. I’ve recently started the Shadow and Bone trilogy and I’m fully invested in the Grishaverse! I’m a sucker for great worldbuilding. Q: Do you have a favorite movie? A: 2001: A Space Odyssey. To think such a surreal, unique, and skillful film like this was released in 1968. Praise the monolith. Q: What literary text for a class did you hate the most, and why? A: I can’t say I’ve hated any of the works I’ve read because they are all so interesting, regardless of the era or genre that they represent! Q: What advice do you have for English majors/ minors at Wilkes who have yet to graduate? A: Don’t be afraid to get involved and explore your opportunities! The English major in particular offers so much experience, so take the classes that are not only interesting to your personal traits, but also ones that build your writing, research, and communication skills. Plus, be sure to get involved with Manuscript Society and Inkwell and look into getting an internship to earn some professional experience! Q: What are you most hopeful for or concerned about for your future as you move past graduation? A:Completing undergrad is a very bittersweet time period. I will also say that this time period of completing university is quite an uncertain one—I’m slowly processing the fact that this chapter of my life that lasted four years is finally closing--but opening a new one. I’m quite anxious about the opportunities beyond that as I continue my career search. It’s very sad to leave Wilkes and all of the great memories I’ve had in the English and communication studies departments, but I’m excited to move on and apply what I’ve learned here to a future career! 5 �The Inkwell Quarterly SIGMA TAU DELTA INNIAIATES & GRADUATES This year’s Induction Ceremony was held Sunday, May 7th in the Kirby Hall Salon. Special thanks to Maddie Kinard, who graduated this Spring, for seving as Sigma Tau Delta President for the ---Academic Year, and to Dr. Davis for serving as Faculty Advisor! Fall Graduates: Jay Guziewicz Spring Graduates: Alexis Charowsky Emily Cherkaukas Madelynn Kinard Sydney Kraynack 6 Spring Inductees: Spring Inductees Continued: Amanda Bunje Alexis Charowsky Mya Corcoran Drew Haritos Marina del Carmen Mendez Sinclair Lily Hebda Kelci Smith Matthew Tocket Jessica Van Orden Olivia Wychock � Issue 17.4: Spring 2023 Who Should Decide What We Can Read? By Mya Corcoran According to the American Library Association, libraries received 1,269 requests to censor books in 2022, which is nearly double the number of censorship demands made in 2021. With such a sharp incline in the number of books being pulled off shelves across the United States, book banning has become a hotly debated topic and is considered to be a critical issue. Those in favor of banning books strive to prevent the circulation of books that discuss topics that are deemed to be inappropriate or controversial. Many different types of books including classics like George Orwell’s 1984 and more contemporary works like Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why have been banned from certain libraries in recent years. However, these attempts to ban books have been met with major pushback. In fact, many consider book banning to be not only a form of censorship but also a threat to one’s freedom of speech. While many anti-book banning groups have formed to fight to keep all books on library shelves, Illinois has been the first state to take legal action to prevent the banning of books. In early May, the Illinois House and State Senate passed a bill stipulating that state funding would be withheld from any public or school library in the state that attempts to ban books from their shelves. The final step for this bill is for Illinois’ Governor, J.B. Pritzker, who has voiced his support for the bill, to officially sign it into law. Illinois distributes 62 million dollars to libraries throughout the state each year. For libraries to remain eligible for this funding, they will have to adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights which states, “materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation” and “materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.” This bill was initiated by Illinois’ Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias who initially proposed the idea of banning book bans during his campaign. Giannoulias stated, “All these efforts to curb reading materials have absolutely nothing to do with books. They are about restricting the freedom of ideas that certain individuals disagree with and that certain individuals think others should have access to.” While the passing of this Illinois bill takes a step in the right direction to preserving the ability of the public to read all types of books, there has been recent controversy over whether it is acceptable for publishers to make alterations to the content of long-standing books. This controversy was sparked after the book publishing company Puffin made hundreds of changes to Roald Dahl’s bestselling children’s books. Puffin partnered with Inclusive Minds, an organization that advocates for diversity and inclusion in children’s literature, to make the changes to Dahl’s original writing. According to Puffin, the alterations were “small and carefully considered” and sought to remove and replace potentially offensive language. Hundreds of changes were made and numerous passages not written by Dahl were added throughout several of his bestselling books including Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. For example, Augustus Gloop from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is no longer described as “enormously fat” and is now simply referred to as “enormous.” Miss. Trunchbull from Matilda is no longer referred to as a “most formidable female” and instead is dubbed a “most formidable woman.” The OompaLoompas from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are no longer called “small men,” but are now referred to as “small people.” Other changes include removal of the words “fat,” “ugly,” and “crazy” as well as any references to race, gender, mental health, and violence. Photo accessed on stock.adobe.com Story Continued on Page 9 7 �The Inkwell Quarterly Heads Up: Senior Spotlights! Meet Alexis! Alexis Charowsky Q: What is your favorite memory from Wilkes? A: My favorite memory or memories from Wilkes are the different events that were held around campus. I especially liked when we had Block Party or the different food trucks for students. I’m also going to miss the many sporting events we had here at Wilkes. Next Up: Q: Do you have a favorite movie? A: I can’t say that I have one favorite movie. I really like any type of horror movie or psychological thriller! Q: What are your future career aspirations? A: After graduation, I plan to work as a paralegal. I am definitely keeping my options open though as there are many jobs that interest me in this field! Q: What is your favorite book/author you have read, separate from English courses here at Wilkes, or just in general? A: My favorite author has to be Colleen Hoover. If you’re looking to read any books by her, I would recommend It Ends With Us and Verity. Q: What was your favorite literary text from a class you’ve taken here, and why? A: One of my favorite texts was House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. We covered this text in Dr. Anthony’s gothic class and I really liked how it wasn’t set up as a normal book. You kind of had to read between the lines to understand what is going on. Q: What advice do you have for English majors/ minors at Wilkes who have yet to graduate? A: I actually wrote an article for Inkwell giving advice to those who have yet to graduate! If I could give one piece of advice to those who have yet to graduate it would be that college is a new environment for everyone. Whether you’re in your first year or fourth year, things may seem very stressful and you might want to give up, but I promise the reward is worth it in the end! Q: What are you most hopeful for or concerned about for your future as you move past graduation? A: After graduation, I’m really excited to see where life will take me. I’m the type of person who likes to take life day by day and while I’m nervous for the future I also can’t wait to see myself grow as a person, all thanks to the education I have received from the English department here at Wilkes! Q: What was/were your concentration(s) in English here at Wilkes? A: Literature Q: What was/were your concentration(s) in English here at Wilkes? A: Literature Q: What are your future career aspirations? A: I hope to work within the Public Library sector as a Community Outreach Coordinator. The ways that our libraries are eveolving as technology does creates a great opportunity to level the technological gap and create equitable opportunities for all literacy developments, thos educational and fun based, to create thriving communties. Q: What was your favorite literary text from a class you’ve taken here, and why? A: I think it is a tie between Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Both of these titles demanded that the reader delve into the meat of the text, and examine why the book was being written. Once you’ve done that, it makes a reader think about their relation to those reasons. Meet Jess! Jess Van Orden Q: What is your favorite memory from Wilkes? A: My favorite, thus far, has been my work within the library archives. I have had the opportunity to become familiarized with prolific authors of study through their personal letters, dive deep into the history of the Inkwell, and even research the Yankee Pennamite Wars in depth. Each project has offered its own a great adventure. 8 Q: Tell us a favorite quote from one of the English professors. A: Literally anything from our class discussion with Dr. Hamill about the Milton quote experience with “the mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.” The relatability alone... Q: What English class do you wish you would have had the chance to take, and why? A: If I had my choice of classes I heard being spoke of during my time here, I think I would have liked to have taken the Studies in Horror and Sci-fi. Octavia Butler is my favorite author, and it would have been a great opportunity to read others within her genre. I am not particuarly versed in Horror, per se, but it would have been interesting to hear about the texts that drew in those who enjoyed it. Q: What was your favorite non-English class at Wilkes, and why? A: As a transfer, I haven’t had the opportunity to take many non-English Wilkes classes. I am going to take a History course next semester, which I am excited about. At my other school, my favorite was a humanities course that was designed to teach you how to research and present a section of land in order to have it preserved. It included leading the class on a walk through the area and detailing all the specifics that made it important for future generations, as well as the wildlife present. We also engaged with enviornmental literature, where I first interacted with many American Romantic authors. Q: What English class do you wish you would have had the chance to take, and why? A: I have definitely taken a lot of the English courses available here at Wilkes. If I could retake one, it would probably be the gothic class that I previously mentioned. I really liked the different texts that we read! Q: What was your favorite non-English class at Wilkes, and why? A: My favorite non-English class at Wilkes was the Women and Gender Studies class I took this semester with Dr. Briceno. Everyone in this class was so welcoming and I feel that we were able to make close relationships with one another while studying more about women and genders within society today. Q: What literary text for a class did you hate the most, and why? A: I can’t really say that I hated any texts. I think that they are all interesting in their own way. Q: What is your favorite book/author you have read, separate from English courses here at Wilkes, or just in general? A: I am reading Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth during this last semester. It blends elements of horror, queer, and potentially gothic, literature in a modern setting while telling two interwoven stories. It is quickly becoming a favorite. I have also picked up multiple Louise Erdrich novels during the year, Love Medicine and The Round House, and she is quickly becoming a favorite author. Q: Do you have a favorite movie? A: Dirty Dancing has been the tried and true love of my life, so I have to say that, but I’ll never turn down a movie opp! Q: What advice do you have for English majors/minors at Wilkes who have yet to graduate? A: Returning to college as an older person, I would emphasize the importance in recognizing the moments one needs for one’s self, and taking them. Everything seemed so immeadiate and demanding when I was younger, and I missed a lot in attempting to plan for things that hadn’t arrived yet. I would say that Q: What are you most hopeful for or concerned about for your future as you move past graduation? A: I am starting the Maslow MA program next semester as a 4 +1 student, so I am incredibly excited to see what that looks like, both as a current Wilkes student and a graduate! I am also researching MLIS programs, as I hope to eventually work within the public library sector in community programing and accessibility! Q: What literary text for a class did you hate the most, and why? A: It is going to sound like an out, but there truly hasn’t been a course I disliked. There may have been content within courses that didn’t align with my specific interest in the field, however, the interest and passions that the professors and students in the department brought to each class made me see something of interest in each text. Those moments where I struggled with a text, I would argue, made me appreciate my own favorites all the more. For, they taught me new ways to examine the aspects I had yet to explore! � Issue 17.4: Spring 2023 Who Should Decide What We Can Read? Continuation of Page7 Puffin was met with major criticism from readers who were upset they changed Dahl’s original writing. Salman Rushdie, an author of a very controversial work himself, took to Twitter to criticize the changes made to Dahl’s books. In a tweet, Rushdie referred to the changes made to Dahl’s books as “absurd censorship.” Rushdie is well acquainted with facing controversy as an author after his novel The Satanic Verses came to be considered one of the most controversial books to date, and he was recently attacked and stabbed due to his writing. Rushdie goes as far as to say “Puffin Books and the Dahl estate should be ashamed” for the changes made to Dahl’s original writing. Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, an organization that works to defend free expression in literature across the United States, responded similarly to news of the changes to Dahl’s books. In a tweet Nossel wrote, “If we start down the path of trying to correct for perceived slights instead of allowing readers to receive and react to books as written, we risk distorting the work of great authors and clouding the essential lens that literature offers on society.” Not only do many fear the changes made will dim Dahl’s brilliant writing, but also consider the changes to be a blatant disregard of Dahl’s wishes. In a recorded conversation that took place in 1982 Dahl “warned [his] publishers that if they later on so much as change a single comma in one of [his] books, they will never see another word from [him].” Dahl passed away in 1990 leaving Puffin with total control over his books. Not all see the changes made to Dahl’s writing in a negative light. In fact, many see the changes made as a way of keeping Dahl’s works relevant and innocuous to readers in our current day and age. To acknowledge the changes made by the publisher, a statement was added on the bottom of the copyright page that reads, “Words matter. The wonderful words of Roald Dahl can transport you to different worlds and introduce you to the most marvelous characters. This book was written many years ago and so we regularly review the language to ensure that it can continue to be enjoyed by all today.” In response to the great uproar caused by the changes made to Dahl’s books, Penguin Random House resolved they would sell both the updated versions of Dahl’s books and the original versions. The reader will have the choice to buy whichever version they would rather read. Despite the original, unedited versions of Dahl’s works still being available alongside the edited versions, many fear that editing works will become just another method of censorship and be used in a similar way as book bans. Nossel stated, “Amidst fierce battles against book bans and strictures on what can be taught and read, selective editing to make works of literature conform to particular sensibilities could represent a dangerous new weapon.” The soon-to-be-passed Illinois book banning law and dispute over edits to Roald Dahl’s books continue to be bogged in controversy. Despite the strong opposition between the two sides of this debate, there seems to be an agreement between both sides that books are important to society and influential on those that read them. If each side did not recognize this inherent value in books, it is likely that neither side would feel as strongly about their beliefs as they currently do. It is this inherent value in books that makes us Roald Dahl continue to debate: Who should decide what we can read? Photo accessed on franklintwp.org 9 �The Inkwell Quarterly English Depart ment Capston Department Capstones es The English Department seniors presented their capstone project this past May, where they spoke to the intriguing and dynamic research they had worked on in their final semester! Featured below are their shared insights into those projects! Emily Cherkaukas presented their paper, “The Malleability of Doctor Faustus in the Digital Age,” which explored an interdisciplinary examination of the Renaissance play Doctor Faustus. Emily shared: I compared the capabilities of traditional scholarly analysis and digital machine reading, discussing the benefits and disadvantages of both. I used these methodologies to compare the A text and the B text editions of Doctor Faustus. This led to some further analysis that offered discussion regarding some context to textual authority, the potential reasoning behind some editing instances or changes, and opportunities for deeper looks into the characters and attitudes and how they operate within the play’s staging dynamics. In the end, I argued that this interdisciplinary scope of analyzing a text offers greater access to an artifact by employing various means of viewing a text. Alexis Charowsky presented their paper, “Prostitution Narratives in Eighteenth Century Literature.” Alexis Shared: The paper focused on the sex worker by the name of Sally Salisbury who was better known as Sarah Salisbury. I compared two different narratives for my paper, one being “The Authentick Memoirs and Life Intrigues of the Celebrated Sally Salisbury” taken from the book titled Nightwalkersedited by Laura Rosenthal and the other was The Genuine History of Sarah Prydden who’s author is unknown. In the Authentick Memoirs, I found that men would typically talk about Sally and the allurement of her eyes, while in Genuine History we got details about Salisbury’s life growing up and how she became involved in this profession all the way up to her death. Being that Salisbury’s narratives written about her were considered to be libertine narratives, they express how she goes against the norms during the time and is faced by moral judgement by those around her. In relation to my own personal experience of writing this paper I would have to say that I really enjoyed researching and learning more about this women for others to read. Since the beginning of the semester, my advisor and I, Dr. Anthony, had met weekly trying to figure out what I wanted to write my topic on. After pulling many quotes from the text Nightwalkers, she suggested that I should start writing a few pages of my paper and from there that is how I ended up with my entire capstone paper. If you had the opportunity to read my paper, I hope that you enjoyed learning more about this history figure and how oftentimes these women of this field of work often have their voices taken away, leaving readers with their own interpretation of their characters. In order to fully understand why women got involved in this field of work, we as a society need to stop underrepresenting them and come to an understanding that they did so in order to live in this changing, male dominated society of the eighteenth century. English Department Awards The English Department announced their departmental awards this past Saturday, May 19th, during the awards ceremony for the Colleges of Arts and Sciences. The Frank J. J. Davies Award was awarded to Maddy Kinard, or outstanding achievement in the English program. The Annette Evans Humanities Award as awarded to Emily Cherkauskas, for outstanding scholarship in the humanities and contribution to cultural affairs. The Naparsteck Scholarship was awarded to Mya Corcoran, for promising writing in prose fiction, journalism, or poetry. The College of Arts and Sciences Award was awarded to Maddy Kinard. 10 � Issue 17.4: Spring 2023 Heads Up: Senior Spotlights! Q: What are you most hopeful for or concerned about for your future as you move past graduation? A: I’m excited to apply all that I’ve learned to a real-world setting! I truly feel like my professors have set me up for success and that everything I have learned to this point will be beneficial to me in the future and I can’t thank them enough for that. Q: What literary text for a class did you hate the most, and why? A: I don’t know if I’ve ever truly hated any to be honest! Q: What are your future career aspirations? A: Ideally, I’d love to work in the editing/publishing industry, working with either young adult or adult fiction novels. One day, I’d love to have my own published book(s)! I also think sometime in the later future I may pursue a graduate degree, ultimately seeking to become an English professor, but that’s a little farther out! Meet Maddy! Madelynn Kinard Q: What is your favorite memory from Wilkes? A: I don’t have one particular moment but rather an experience in its entirety: I’m so thankful for the people that Wilkes has brought into my life. I’ve met lifelong friends, found “the one” (as cheesy as it sounds, I really believe it), and have met some of the most well-spoken intellectual professors that have inspired me every day of my undergraduate (and still now). Wilkes is really a great community of people that I am so extremely sad to leave behind but I know we’ll still be connected going forward. Q: What was your favorite literary text from a class you’ve taken here, and why? A: This is such a hard question but ultimately I think I’d have to go with Mark Danielewski’s House of Leaves that I read with Dr. Anthony in our gothic literature class. It’s such a haunting novel and is unlike any other text I’ve ever read. It’s truly the physical embodiment of a psychological thriller movie. I won’t say much else to ruin other’s reading experience but wow...definitely check this one out. Q: What English class do you wish you would have had the chance to take, and why? A: I would’ve loved to have taken a course with Dr. Stanley or Dr. Kelly.With being a dual major and active in athletics and other extracurricular activities, I was really limited to taking the major course requirements which didn’t give me a chance to branch out a lot but I’ve heard such great things about both of them! Q: What was/were your concentration(s) in English here at Wilkes? A: Literature Q: What was your favorite non-English class at Wilkes, and why? A: With being a dual major, I have taken many communication studies classes and I really enjoyed Crisis and the Media with Dr. Kalen Churcher. We examined the ways our media responds (either effectively or poorly) to crises and what we as potential future journalists or PR professionals should avoid or do. Q: What is your favorite book/author you have read, separate from English courses here at Wilkes, or just in general? A: Another tough one...but one of my favorites that I’m constantly recommending is I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid. It’s another psychological thriller that just messes with you in some of the same ways HoL does. It is a movie on netflix but, as per usual, the book is much better and makes more sense :) Q: Do you have a favorite movie? A: Yes! I’m a shameless Twilight fan (I know they’re bad but it’s part of the charm...) and also a big Marvel fan. So I know those are more like series/franchises, but they’re some of my favorites! Q: Tell us a favorite quote from one of the English professors. A: I think about Dr. Hamill every winter season who closed class with quotes from Frost. Particularly, “And miles to go before I sleep”(“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”) Q: What advice do you have for English majors/minors at Wilkes who have yet to graduate? A: Save your notebooks from earlier classes! By the time the capstone rolled around, I really benefited from being able to return to earlier class notes to help support my ideas and root them in scholarship. Department Capstones Capstones English Department Maddie Kinard presented their paper, “Jane Austen and Classical Literary Canon; Limitations and Opportunities of the Canonical Frame.” Maddy Shared: As the title hints at, I explored the limitations and opportunities of the canonical frame through the lens of Jane Austen since, to this modern day, she is still heavily regarded as an influential member of the canon, taught in schools, and is popular in media (movie adaptations, Bollywood remixes, book remixes, etc.). I particularly focused on Mansfield Park because it represents Austen’s careful treatment of slavery, often treating it as a means for monetary gain. However, some scholars (like Ruth Perry) also view the story as a “white framing” of slavery, as Fanny was taken from her family and treated like property at Mansfield Park. So there’s kind of this back-and-forth argument that I was really interested in exploring. I also utilized my Communication Studies degree, looking at linguistic relativity or the Sapir-Whorf Theory, examining the ways in which language shapes the way we understand the world (and the implications that comes with that when looking at canonical priority). My overall experience with the capstone was really great. I loved working with Dr. Davis because we were both so involved and into Jane Austen and the topic (for reference, I developed my research off of our earlier senior seminar class, Jane Austen and Empire). She was very supportive of me and kept me on track when I felt overwhelmed by the amount of sources and ideas I had. Co ntinued : Sydney Kraynack presented their paper, “Patriarchal Violence in Contemporary Literature.” 11 �The Inkwell Quarterly Reflecting on my time in the English depar tment and the beyond. By Emily Cherkaukas The English department, I feel, is one of those departments that you can either finish in three years or take six years to go through whatever it is you need. I don’t see that as a bad thing—rather, it really signifies the level of flexibility and control you can have over your classes, concentration(s), and minor(s). As a double major, I appreciate the opportunities offered by the English program, and I will always hold those close to my heart. This will be my final Inkwell article as an undergraduate student in the English department. It’s taken me a bit of time to decide on what I want to write about, as I want it to be a message that will resonate for students and faculty, long afterward (I’m not dying, don’t worry). So, allow me to reflect on my time in the English department. In the fall 2019 semester, I was a wee first-year Communication Studies major taking my English 101 course with an adjunct, and that was my first taste of the English program. I was a busy college student, and I wasn’t writing or reading as much as I should. The idea, or the physical manifestation of an English major seemed out of my league. The spring 2020 semester was supposed to be normal, knocking out more of my gen eds, with English 120 being one of them. Because of the focus on American works, I found myself re-reading some works that I read in high school. Except, this time, we discussed actually profound analyses of the works. That’s when I learned that post-secondary English is a much different breed compared to any other English or language arts class I had taken previously. With encouragement from Dr. Anthony, who taught the course, I declared my minor in creative writing. I felt the hungry drive to experience more English, and those 100-level courses sparked that energy. The next few months of the spring semester were spent holed up in my room, with my desk, floor and bed littered with textbooks, notes, and printed assignments and rubrics. Looking back, as overwhelming as it might have been, I still knew I wanted more than just an English minor. I knew I was capable of the challenge of more than just the minor. So, I declared a double major in Communication Studies and English. The English 120 to English major pipeline is real, people. Throughout my time in the English department, I bounced between my minors and concentrations, from Writing to Digital Humanities, and then switched my minor from creative Writing to Workplace Writing. I even dropped my WGS minor to focus more on my English courses. With the concentration-designated courses in English, I found myself all over the place. It was a bit chaotic with the number of assignments, but looking back, I felt satisfied with how much I learned and wrote. From writing about poetry to studying 18th century literature to Shakespeare to rhetoric, I always learned something new. Every day brought a great memory, either in my classes or through my work with Inkwell and Manuscript. I had so much flexibility and creative freedom with my projects and research. About that English 120 to English major pipeline: I wouldn’t really describe it as a pipeline—but rather, a twisting and swirling slide, going in all directions, donned with a rainbow path. To put it simply, being an English major is fun and fulfilling. I am very grateful that I chose to pick up a double major in English and a minor in Workplace Writing. From the classes and co-curriculars, I gained editing, writing, communication, and publishing experience that I know I’ll be using in whatever future career I will have. 12 � Issue 17.4: Spring 2023 Reflecting on my time in the English depar tment and the beyond. Continuation of Page 12 About that future... In my Senior Spotlight, I discussed how completing undergrad is a time of uncertainty, and I wanted to elaborate on that. This doesn’t just apply to job searching, but also internships. This past month I was able to pick up a couple of interviews at some local companies that work well with my degree. In that time, I wanted to say that job searching is a task that requires maintaining confidence and openness, all while being patient and non-committal. Be confident in yourself, because Wilkes offers so many great opportunities to replicate the professional environment and allows you to grow skills that you will be using after college. You have the chance to bring new and fresh knowledge to the workplace. However, that doesn’t mean that people will line up to offer you a job with pay that can only be seen in a dream. Patience and resilience go hand in hand, and it will take weeks or even months for you to find a job. I’m not saying that you have to be pessimistic in this situation, but it’s important to understand and grow a resilient mindset in the chance that you have been (or will be) rejected for a dream job. A question that has surrounded my Senior classmates and myself is a good one: when, exactly, should we start applying to jobs? Not to be the expert here, but with my personal experience, I have found that it depends. For something like an English degree, you can apply to so many places in so many different fields, so if you choose to become a professional wanderer, you can become more flexible, compared to other programs. However, that doesn’t take away any sense of competitiveness or urgency. Job searching at a certain time depends on the position itself in accordance with your graduation time. When a job opening gets posted, especially one that is entry-level (basically, fit for a college applicant), that company may need that position to be filled as soon as they logistically can fill it. When a Senior who graduates in May applies for a job, for example, in December, they may not want to wait several months for that person to get started. Some other companies, like networks that hire on contract positions, for example, may be more forgiving with start times. Basically, when you see a job opening, apply for it. Even if the job opened on that day. Do not hesitate or procrastinate. When you see a job opening, hundreds—or even thousands—of other people have seen it, too. One position I have been interviewed for was only open for a day or two before it closed after receiving dozens of applicants. I applied the day it opened and the recruiter reached out to me the next day for a phone screen interview. Applying isn’t the most difficult part of the job. Remember when I said you needed to be patient? That’s because, if a company is even interested in you, it might take weeks for them to get back to you (if they even do bother to follow up with you, which happens to be the more likely fate). Even then, the interviewing process might be even longer. While some companies only need one interview, others need more than that. That position that I was interviewed for first has a phone screen interview, a first-round interview, then a second round, and then, finally, the job offer for whomever they choose. At the time of writing, it’s been four weeks and I’m only halfway through the process. I know of more people who don’t have a job upon graduating than people who do have a job to start with, and that’s okay. Don’t feel obligated to have a job that Monday after your commencement, because, to reiterate, it is going to take time. Although it may not always be the best job, find something that is fulfilling to you and your career goals. Photos accessed on stock.adobe.com 13 �The Inkwell Quarterly CATCH THE BUZZ: STAFF UPDATES Dr. Sean J. Kelly, “‘Nothing beneath—all?’: Rebecca Harding Davis’ Critique of Possessive Individualism in Life in the Iron Mills.” ESQ: A Journal of Nineteenth-Century American Literature and Culture 68.2 (2022): 261-302. Dr. Larry Kuhar presented his essay entitled “Disrupting Chronologies of Representation: The End of History in Natasha Trethewey’s Poems” at the American Literature Association 2022 Fall Symposium, “The Historical Imagination in American Literature,” in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dr. Thomas Hamill worked on his essay titled “(Un)Making Texts/ (Re)Making Books: Editing in the Undergraduate Classroom” was just published in the book Teaching the History of the Book, edited by Matteo Pangallo and Emily B. Todd, University of Massachusetts Press, 2023, pp. 274-83. He was awarded Wilkes’s 2023 Honors Program Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Award. Dr. Helen H. Davis presented a paper titled “Rereading and Co-construction” at the International Society for the Study of Narrative (ISSN) Conference in Chichester, UK, in June. This presentation has been expanded into a book chapter for Narrative Co-Construction:Author-Audience Interactions and Narrative Theory, which has been accepted for the Theory and Interpretation of Narrative Series at The Ohio State University Press. She also led a lunch discussion on behalf of the ISSN’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, which she co-chairs. Dr. Davis finished her term on the Executive Council for the ISSN in December. Dr. Davis also completed archival research at the British Library in London in July, and visited important literary locations in London. Dr. Davis also presented a paper titled, “Reverse Harems and #whychoose: How Indy Publishing Explodes Monogamous, Patriarchal Plots” at the International Society for the Study of Narrative (ISSN) Conference in Dallas, TX in March. She also led a lunch discussion on behalf of the ISSN’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, which she co-chairs. Dr. Mischelle Anthony’s poetry manuscript, Vehicle On Fire, was a finalist in the 2022 Longleaf Press Poetry Prize. 3 poems published: “Poem Written after Alison Rossiter’s photograph Haloid Platina, exact expiration date unknown, ca. 1915, processed in 2007” is forthcoming in Ekphrasis Magazine, 2023. “What You Need” in The North [Sheffield, UK], Vol. 68. “Cling” in Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel, Vol. 25. As part of the May Poetry Group, Dr. Anthony runs an annual May Poetry Workshop (on May 13 this year) and has also begun a new reading series, Word to Word, both at Gather Community Space in Wilkes-Barre. Dr. Anthony also worked with Wilkes alum Jacqueline DeLucca to set up a monthly Living Lit: Writer’s Workshop at Pittston Memorial Library. Dr. Anthony co-sponsors (with Jennifer Yonkoski at King’s) an annual two-day Creative Writing Conference. Stay tuned and plan to attend the one this September 2023, held right here in Kirby Hall. THE INKWELL QUARTERLY STAFF :: STAFF 14 Staff Writers: Caitlyn Bly, Alexis Charowsky, Emily Cherkauskas, Bailey DeJesus, & Juliana Lueders Editor in Chief & Layout Editor Jessica Van Orden Copy Editors: Mya Corcoran & Daniel Stish Faculty Advisor Dr. Thomas A. Hamill Photos accessed on stock.adobe.com � Hea ds Up: Sen ior Spo tlight! Q: What are your future career aspirations? A: Well—I was hoping to be a poet, but I’ve had to settle on medical school. Q: What was your favorite literary text from a class you’ve taken here, and why? A: Probably Geek Love. It’s sentimental in being the first novel I was given as assigned reading when I became an English major, for Dr. Anthony’s ENG 201. It was grotesque and traumatizing. I loved it. Q: What literary text for a class did you hate the most, and why? "A Photorealistic Image of Daniel Stish". As Seen by an AI Generator Meet Daniel! Daniel Stish Q: What is your favorite memory from Wilkes? A: Zach Linge was a dreamboat. Q: What was/were your concentration(s) in English here at Wilkes? A: I currently have concentrations in writing and literature. Q: Do you have a favorite movie? A: I would like to live deliciously, so I’d have to say The Witch. A: I would have to say Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene. We only read snippets of it, and I enjoyed it enough that I now know I’m going to have to spend a portion of my life that I’ll never get back working my way through the entire monolithic text. I am the modern Damocles, and this is my sword. Q: What English class do you wish you would have had the chance to take, and why? A: I would have loved an advanced course on literary theory. I’ve found the critical theory aspect of English most most engaging by far. Q: What is your favorite book/author you have read, separate from English courses here at Wilkes, or just in general? A: I’m not well read by any means, but so far my favorite book is Neuromancer by William Gibson. Issue 17.4: Spring 2023 Q: What was your favorite nonEnglish class at Wilkes, and why? A: I’m going to make enemies and say that I enjoyed organic chemistry. It was the first time I actually felt as though I understood how chemistry happens, despite the wailing and gnashing of teeth. Q: Tell us a favorite quote from one of the English professors. A: For me, it’s the simple camaraderie in Dr. Hamill’s “Hey gang”. Q: What advice do you have for English majors/minors at Wilkes who have yet to graduate? A: Get involved! There are a ton of opportunities presented as an English major beyond coursework. The only extracurriculars I’ve regretted are those I haven’t done. Q: What are you most hopeful for or concerned about for your future as you move past graduation? A: I’m personally concerned about dying forgotten and bitter, but that’s neither here nor there. More seriously, I truly believe that we’re reaching an inflection point, and that the technological developments of the next decade or so are going to seriously shake many of our preconceived notions regarding the human condition. Failing this Phillip K. Dick esque technognostic futurism, things will probably just keep getting worse forever. Either way, I believe that those with a background in the humanities are also those best posed to make sense of this dawning epoch—or at the very least, present a fitting eulogy. Leadership Transition of the Writing Center The Writing Center has seen a transition of leadership this semester. Dr. Sean Kelly is taking over as advisor as Dr. Chad Stanely retires the position this spring after --- years. The work occuring within the Writing Center is so pivotal to the experience and success of our students’ writing across fields and we are incredibly grateful and excited to see how it evolves moving forward. Welcome, Dr. Kelly! Daniel’s photo accessed on https://www. craiyon.com/ Photos accessed from stock.adobe.com 15 � Issue 17.3: Spring 2023 MANUSCRIPT UPDATE The Manuscript Society is currently accepting submissions for its upcoming 2022-2023 issue! The submission period will be open through 31 March 2023. If you are interested, please submit your work to magazine@wilkes.edu with your Wilkes email. If you would like to learn more about The Manuscript Society or about upcoming Manusript events, please contact magazine@wilkes.edu. You can also stay connected to Manuscript by folloiwing our social media on Facebook (Mauscript @ Wilkes University), Twitter (@ WilkesMag), and Instagram (@wilkes_manuscript_). Writing Center Hours The Writing Center, located in the Alden Learning Commons, is open and offering support to student writers across the Wilkes curriculum. Throughout the Spring 2023 semester The Writing Center is offering in-person as well as online support for all members of the Wilkes community who need writing assistance. Stop by the Alden Learning Commons, or access online support via https://www.wilkes.edu/ academics/english/the-writingcenter/index.aspx For more information, contact: Dr. Chad Stanley email: chad.stanley@wilkes.edu 16 Fall 2023 Upper-Level Class Listings Course Number/Name Date/Time Instructor ENG 201: Writing About Lit & Culture/WGS MWF 12:00-12:50 M 1:00-1:50 Dr. Hamill ENG 202: Technical Writing MWF 9:00-9:50 Prof. Brown ENG 202: Creative Writing MWF 11:00-11:50 Prof. Kovacs ENG 225: Comparative Grammar MW 3:30-4:45 Dr. Stanley ENG 228: Professional/Workplace Writing MWF 1:00-1:50 Prof Mayk ENG 233: Survey of English Lit. II /WGS/&H MWF 10:00-10:50 Dr. Hamill ENG 282: American Lit. II / WGS TR 8:00-9:15 Dr. Kuhar ENG 337: Studies in Am. Romantic Lit TR 1:00-2:15 Dr. Kelly ENG 397: Seminar in Postmodernism TR 9:30-10:45 Dr. Kuhar � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Inkwell Quarterly, 2006-present Description An account of the resource The Inkwell Quarterly is a student-based publication circulated among the Wilkes population as well as prospective students who consider entering the English program. The IQ provides current information about faculty events and students active in the Wilkes’ English program. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Wilkes University's English Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available English Department Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDFs Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Publication Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Inkwell Quarterly, Spring 2023 (Issue 17.4) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource English Department Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring 2023 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Publication https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/defd83ba7d8f145078aa595a46e9319d.pdf 02b23659e3edce2722315858eddcc8e2 PDF Text Text THE MANUSCRIPT SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT 2025-2026 wilkes university ��1947 FOREWARD with this issue of the manuscript, a new publication is launched on the Bucknell University Campus in Wilkes-Barre. those who have been responsible for its coming into being earnestly hope that through your efforts and the efforts of those who come after you that this magazine will develop into a college traditiON OF WHICH WE MAY ALL BE PROUD. SINCERELY, THE EDITORS i ��THE MANUSCRIPT SOCIETY EDITORIAL BOARD ADVISOR Dr. Mischelle Anthony EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Sydney Ahrberg ASSISTANT EDITOR Kylie Sable LAYOUT AND COPY EDITOR Liv Serkosky SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Jazmin High SUPREME OVERLORD The Craven ii �Table of contents LIZ KELLER Before Our End 1 Never 3 But Not For Me 5 JACOB O’BOYLE Succession 6 Autumn 8 LINDSEY CHRISTIAN Nihil 9 Chameleon 11 Carrion, Revere 13 AUBRIANNA HARTE the Piranhas sleep sound tonight. 14 LEAH SMITH Rainbow Void Burrito 18 JAkE MIDDLETON not home for supper 23 iii �JAZmIN HIGH The immortal song 24 Choke 25 Clock 26 Ambush 27 For What He’s Not 28 CADEN TEMPLE may i tonight in darkness speak 29 SiNNER JOAN The Mad Poet to His Muse 30 Twins 31 Red, Concerning Premature Baldness 32 Dion 33 KYLIE SABLE Anxiety 34 grace cains OCD is not something you can shove into a rhyme scheme, this is not supposed to be pretty, ok? Jaded iv 36 �Madi Westawski 38 An Ode to Forgotten Benches 39 liv serkosky Magnolia 40 M. 41 if i were you today (the things) we fear, 43 but fight) nicholas penglase Predator Recall 47 No Healthy Upstream 48 Krystal crespo clark People think poor 49 Craig conville The Mistake From an Unsavory Past In What Sin Do You Relish? 50 52 Jack Deluca The Seven Deadly Sins Killer 55 v �nate stavish I Remember the Girl 57 The Museum of Atomic Warfare 59 Biapolis 61 anthony elmes Windchimes 62 sydney ahrberg Vincent 65 Leonidas’ Swimming Creek 66 Space Dog 67 franklin collazo Confounding Variables 69 Wayne Mccormick American Werewolf 70 autumn evancavich Spectator 74 Kailey Vogel Love Through Death (The Girl, Her 76 Ghost, The Kiss, All Mine, The End) vi �Before Our End Liz Keller It is fell mockery to deem you dead. As you doze not far from this wretched place, I could not face you in that sterile bed. What a coward, to flee with such disgrace. Though my aching love shall span eternal, You are but a grey husk of your brilliance. Craven confessions, my heart infernal. I weep - cling to your stubborn persistence! I abscond the snarl of mortality. Though it was likely our final meeting, The anguish of your fate thrashed throughout me. Why must my spineless soul keep retreating? Still, I yearn for wings to whisk me ahead, Away from Ones whose shrill gossips draw blood! To find solace where the lost are not dead! This brook will soon surge into raging floods. How dare your sons leave your petals to wilt, In your garden that once blossomed so bright? Do they pride their vile acts? No shred of guilt? Then demand your daughter bear all the blight? These ‘men’ left breathing are as good as gone, I tally the dates till their final parties. Each day a torture, each hour sorely drawn, I ache that you stay, midst my hearts’ pained pleas. 1 �Yet! You’d not wish to heed my sorrowed spite. You once tended me like your precious roses, I wither now, saved by lone fading light. But your love trails on as our world near closes. I retrace your home, oh, how I miss you. I search for your warmth that once set me free, Your echoes linger within, softly true, Never fully gone – forever with me. 2 �Never Liz Keller When the world was ours to conquer, where tyrants failed to cry “no!” we soared free across golden skies, I thought I loved you so. You carried us up Devil’s Peak, and dried up dunes of dust. For you, I’d do it again to cease the moment’s rust. Amid years of fearless battles, our souls, truly blessed! Guide the way, for memories’ sake, may this dream never rest! They joked you’d die in glacial streams, I held you close that day. But when the winds began to shriek, I watched you drift away. Eras lapse; glory escapes us. Tomes tell our tall tales, but their pages have been altered and true nature unveiled. A wicked phantom, you’ve become. And I, your favored haunt. You must’ve got lost along the way; the kin I loved is gone. 3 �I seethe when you are at my side, your words send us downturn. Yet when you sail the seven seas, I weep for your return. Those brilliant blues were sanctified, a frontier meant for us. I wail my stranded lullabies yet you’ve marooned my trust. Our encounters now are fleeting. I’ll wear your dolty caps, pretend to like the Bank ball games, in hope of scanty laughs. Though I’ve never been a jester, I’ll amass noble courts. You’ll never grace my audience, but coast to foreign ports. I’ll endure all your shallow feats to maintain tarnished gold, yet you never sense to prevent the rust that claims my soul. Why do I even fool myself, these journeys end the same. The world we loved has come and gone, I’ve lost my kindred flame. 4 �But Not For Me Liz Keller I’ve roamed your foreign realm a pale specter, no body to scour souls that stir within. Your silk, my steel; forbade claim. Your nectar is all this mold craves, aching for your sins. Like droplets from the Heavens, caressing my skin, giving form to flutters on flesh. Leave me drowning, wailing. Bathed in blessings on the altar; urge me into a crest. My veiled ecstasy, yet I yield your touch. Command and condemn me, down on my knees. Be the One I worship – breathless and hushed as we tangle in vice, pleas, and decrees. Damn me to Hell, craving unions misled. I bet she’s divine – if just in my head. 5 �Succession Jacob O’Boyle After the fire as the embers cool from great revolt and fervor and the creatures of this humbled wood lull from their stupor. A great rebirth, though a supreme upending emplaced in a ghastly scene exalts that the worldly slate now lies wiped clean. And new life may spring in ginger leap and bound from sprout to bud and leaf to ground, a golden fleece hides the ashen mud. From here, all else follows; the pirouettes of aspen and the follies of pines gamagrass and goldenrod forming mile-long can-can lines. Here, too, the oaks find their rise. Though frail at first, they soon shall grow and this new crop to eclipse the royal reds of old shall go. 6 �To gnarl and arch and sag and sprawl, spread canopies wide and engulf all within; a world of diverse splendors under which hide. And mast they will so the squirrel and the ‘munk may eat their fill and gorge their children until they are ill. But the shade proves too much and the mast seasons soon senesce so that this vibrant land once teeming with life grounds to silence at oaken hand. Though dead limbs may lazily fall, the forest shall remain choked until, as if by holy decree, the lustfully righteous flame shall set this land free. 7 �Autumn Jacob O’Boyle What few golden rays do break the fog and grace my shoulder lightly shine forth in a cold, grim world and serve the remind me that one day Spring will come again. 8 �Nihil Lindsey Christain I often feel as if I am a blank canvas A painter approaches, trying something new They give, they take away, Over and over Layers scraping over layers, Until I forget what lies before. And the only thing that remains Is that I am nothing In search of something Something to call my own Something that has a name But the only familiarity Is simply, A longing for something When I am nothing. Nothing in the sense that My soul is nameless– A wanderer Cain himself, Walking endless roads, Bearing the mark That I tried to hide Scrubbing until my fingers ached And my nails bled dry. 9 �Nothing in the sense that I am solid, yet pliable– Clay that never hardens, Shaped and reshaped, Kneaded endlessly, Yet never whole. 10 �Chameleon Lindsey Christain When will I be enough? Will I ever be enough? Will it be when my edges dull, When I sand myself into something Soft enough to be held? Or when I pull myself outwards, Take out all of the undesirable pieces, And put myself back together? Should I become a color you’d prefer? Green, Yellow, Blue? Tell me–what suits you? Because I’m tired, tired beyond beliefOf twisting into something Palatable, Digestible, Easy to love. I want to be loved For my horrific, dull scales– The ones passed over in the pet store, Left behind for something brighter. 11 �Because I don’t have forever To keep repainting them. A Chameleon only gets so many seasons, And I have spent mine Becoming someone else. 12 �Carrion, Reverie Lindsey Christain Matted, bloodied fur Smeared across the concrete Glazed over, hollow eyes Reminiscent of what was before. Did they know of the dangers Of a bustling highway? Or did they simply Need to get to their Destination– Unaware of what follows. The moment comes crashing down, The world rushing in. And there is no time to call, No whisper of prayer– The moment slips past, And grace cannot be reached. Do roadkill go to heaven, Or are they forever damned? 13 �the Piranhas sleep sound tonight. Aubrianna Harte i was young and never pretty. this was a fact i knew about myself and the Piranhas are always looming. a dr op of blood hits the water may as well be f l o o d i n g. perhaps pretty is a disguise i can put on? drip p i ng. perhaps less fabric will do the tr ic kl in g. perhaps a proper pose as i snap snap snap run nin g. the picture? 14 � g u s h i n g . come fishy, fishy, come. BUR except STING. there is always more than one . . . one picture becomes infinite as it’s reduced to b i t s by what feels like i n f i n i t y c a r v i n into my body through spiked jaws and what makes it i n f i n i t 15 y �is that it neverendsandwhenitdoesthescarsarereopenedndaleastheirteethtouchme andaleasttheirteethlovemeeveniftheyarereducingmetobitsuntil’mnolonge rwholeevenifi’mbeinwhittledawayintofleshparticlesd i s s i p a t i n gthroug ghoutthewaterimstillreceivingloveandimstillmeeti gGodrightimstillmeeti ngGodrightimstllmeeting God right take me like i’m your holy communion. drill h o l e s into me until i’m no longer whole. disperse me like s c a t t e r i n g ashes, leave me naked , as intact as pink m i s t . if i were to pass you in a crowd, which would you recognize first, my 16 �f a c e o r my bod y ? e i t h e r? are you me full of? do you even think of me now? remember me? chew me until i’m gum. digest me until i’m your excrement. until you deem me soiled. until i am soil. until another fresh drop dri p s . . . You’re always looming 17 �Rainbow Void Burrito Leah Smith Times Square was bright and bustling, as it usually was in the peak of spring. Cars beeped and buzzed, crowds of people would bump into each other and shout. Even if I wanted to know what they were saying, I couldn’t tell over the yacht loads of empty conversations that would fill my ears. Someone’s arguing with a partner, someone’s finding out they didn’t get the entry level job they needed. Same shit, different day. The past few years haven’t felt like different days. It’s like the universe, God, or whoever is in charge of this circus, took the calendar, beat it to death with a hammer, and shredded it into a blender. The days were mushy piles of gray matter that we all had to pretend were different days. Inside the depths of the flashy capitalist utopia of Time Square, was where serfs like myself would work to the bone just to get by. I was a cashier at Dunkin’. The clock on the wall beneath the digital timekeeping system struck 4:00 p.m. Energy coursed through my left hand as my fingers tapped on the tablet to clock myself out. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw one of my co-workers, Polly, striding by wearing a shiny white grin. She looked exactly like a Polly Pocket doll except if poor ole’ Polly had to work a dead-end part-time job in New York. The screen finally completed my transaction and clocked me out. I turned around and Polly appeared right in front of my face. I jumped back slightly. “Oh, I’m sorry Kristin, did I scare you?” Polly asked. “No, just startled me a little,” I said. “I’m sorry, Kristin.” “I’ll live.” I walked past her as passively as I could to get my backpack in the bathroom closet. However, she followed me. “So, I was thinking, I’m getting together with some girl friends of mine and I was wondering if you wanted to come out with us!” Polly squealed. “What are you guys planning?” I asked. 18 � “Oh, you know, probably go bar crawling, might do some karaoke, might stay over the night at some guy’s house. Y’know, the usual.” I shrugged. “I don’t know Polly, I have a lot on my plate at the moment.” “Oh, yeah, you’re still doing that creative writing class?” “Yep.” “It’s just one night. You never come out, it’d be nice to see you out for a change.” I shook my head. “I promise, Polly, I’m good.” I didn’t think I said that too harshly but given Polly’s abrupt silence, it seemed I may have bruised her spirit a little by rejecting her. I finally reached the bathroom when Polly lifted her head up from the ground. “Well, if you change your mind, give me a text, okay?” Polly asked. “Sure, Polly. Have fun, I mean it.” I really did mean it, I didn’t like coming across as a dick even to co-workers I didn’t entirely vibe with. She nodded and walked away. Shortly, I opened the bathroom door and stepped inside the claustrophobic nightmare. I swung open the closet door and grabbed my black and white zig-zag backpack. Before I lifted the bag’s arms over my shoulders, I zipped it open and took out a burrito wrapped in tin foil. I bought it earlier that day at a random vendor during my lunch break. The guy running the burrito stand seemed kinda weird, speaking under his breath like he was hiding something from me. That’s New York though, it was probably just me being anxious. “Hickory Creek” by Whitechapel blasted through my black headphones as I bobbed and weaved my way through Times Square. I wanted so badly to roll myself into dozens of blankets, pop an edible, and watch Supernatural re-runs with my cat, Aragorn. However, I felt this gnawing inside of my chest. It wasn’t heartburn, it was something more than that and I could’ve sworn it was calling to me. I loved writing, I ate, slept, and breathed it. I’m not saying I was slipping or that the love went away, it’s just, no matter where I applied to, it was always rejection after rejection. Maybe I should’ve said yes to Polly and got drunk and slept with some sexy stranger. That’s what the high life was, right? I don’t know… Every day would’ve still felt the same. My fingers began unwrapping the tinfoil like I was defusing a bomb. Carefully, 19 �the burrito revealed itself to me in its glorious grilled chicken and melted cheese fashion. I took a bite of the burrito and as I began to chew it, my taste buds rang the alarm. This tasted like garbage. That wasn’t hyperbole, like the garbage I’d have to take out sometimes at Dunkin’. The chicken tasted like stale coffee grounds and the cheese and Chipotle sauce had a kick of hellish gym sweat and centuries-old donuts. I puckered up my mouth and covered it with my arm as my eyes scanned for the nearest trash can. A few inches away from me, underneath a platform of steel and metal, was an empty black trash can. I swiftly shuffled to it and spat out the burrito and nearly threw up everything else I ate that day into it. I threw the rest of the burrito inside the can and before I walked away, my ears rejected the music I was playing into my headphones and instead picked up an eerie sound of static. I placed my headphones onto my neck like a head rest and picked inside of my ears with a painted black pinky finger. However, it wasn’t tinnitus or a blocked ear because the sound persisted and grew louder. Then, I heard voices among the static. There were multiple voices, like a choir harmonizing in my ears and only my ears. “Looooook belowwww youuuuu and find your homeeeeee.” They instructed me. I looked down into the trash can and I saw the burrito open itself up like a cocoon. Instead of revealing the contents of the food I spat out, it revealed a flowing rainbow wave. The rainbow wave swayed smoothly, a calm beach that promised me reassurance. As I leaned closer into the trash can, I let go of the sides of the trash can and fell inside the rainbow wave. My body was a feather flying from the peak of a mountain, the seconds counted down to microseconds, even less than that. I closed my eyes as I fell into the wave but I opened them and I saw that I wasn’t falling to my death. The rainbow wave became a waterfall swirling like a cyclone, except it wasn’t aggressive or fast. The rainbow cyclone was a mother rocking her baby in her arms, a feeling I haven’t felt in so long. The choir went away and what I heard instead was a combination of soothing sounds such as rain trickling down outside a window and fire crackling outside during a summer barbecue. I was confused, but I wasn’t afraid. I wanted to see more, learn more about this strange place if what I was seeing was real. Crap, that 20 �was probably why that burrito vendor was acting weird. He must’ve put something in my burrito, that must be why I was seeing all of this and experiencing this strange calming feeling. Suddenly, a window-shaped white light appeared in front of me. The menagerie of soft sounds simmered down as a voice I knew I couldn’t mistake was calling to me. “Kristin, honey! It’s mommy! Come over here, I’ve missed you!” My mother called in her chirping voice. In a heartbeat, I swam into the white light. Then, I was taken into a patio looking out onto the beach. The waves were swaying calmly as the sunlight was kissing the ocean with its soft buttery lips. I was seated on a wooden bench in front of a table with open notebooks of stories written on them. I was in disbelief, I had to be dead. My mother died when I was nine inside her bedroom after she overdosed on painkillers. Were the drugs playing a trick on me? Am I dead? All of a sudden, I heard soft purring against my ankles. I looked below and it was my fluffy tabby cat, Aragorn. I smiled and lifted him up to my lap. I gave him a few soft pets, his fur brushed against my fingertips like a knitted blanket. Then, I felt my mother’s hand caressing my shoulder. I looked up at her, her face was upside down but she looked just as I remembered her. Short, cropped brown hair, black rimmed glasses all topped with a soft smile. She soothed my black hair with her hands and kissed the top of my head as she walked over to the other side of the table and sat across from me. “Are you ready to share your stories with me, Kristin?” My mom asked me. I looked down at the notebook placed in front of me, I quickly examined the words written in the paper. This was the horror novel manuscript I was writing for my creative writing presentation. I chuckled. “What’s wrong, dear?” My mom asked, cocking her head to the side. I shook my head, fighting back tears. “I just, heh, I just don’t think you’ll like it. It’s a dark story.” 21 � My mother smiled reassuringly. “Nonsense, Kristin. I don’t mind if it’s dark. All that matters to me is that it’s written by my daughter.” I wiped the tears coming down my face with a quick arm swipe and nodded. I began reading the story to my mother. 22 �not home for supper Jake Middleton 23 �The immortal song Jazmin High The choir is tired of the song, the prayers. I know the song well. I sing the tune, biding time, unwrapping layers. Tell me what can never die? Your very name is a taunt. A prayer. Unanswered that hangs in the wind. I know the prayer well. Tell me what can never end? I’d cut out my tongue, but I wouldn’t need it. Pluck every tooth, and I’d still feed it. The urge, the itch beneath my skin. A prayer so dark I’d call it sin. Tell me what can never die? Before wounds become scars, they will itch. Before answered, prayers are a thought—a wish. Before a song, there’s a melody— a tune. A feeling at the instant, That this girl is across a room! And I’ll unwrap the parchment, as gently as possible. For if the gift underneath is lacking, I can look back on the effort and smile. 24 �Choke Jazmin High I mourn the dead before they die— I’m quite productive in that way. I dig the hole, and engrave the tombstone. However, I still stay long after the ceremony. I can’t seem to put the body in the ground. Tears turn dirt muddy, and I know it can’t be, But as I dandle the cumbersome and unyielding Hope, The creature who can never die, I pray tears can play the role of life Like water, and bring you back to me. I cradle Hope in my arms with care. It grabs on the collar of my shirt and chokes me, Wailing out and demanding attention. Where I once prayed for you, I now pray for air. 25 �Clock Jazmin High I called you on the phone the other day. I asked you when you’ll be here, and you said ‘in no time at all’. And so I sit in front of a wall, watching this clock. The ticking constant, but the idea of it stopping overwhelming me. Days go by. The clock, stature tall, engulfs me in a shadow. Heirloom passed down through generations of youngest daughters. You’ll know what to do when it stops, so I sit in agonizing pins and needles waiting for you. Family will intervene, find ways to maneuver me out of this room, but I am so consumed. I wake from my sleep, thinking I heard a tick skip or a tock off beat. The clock is always just fine. The rhythmic sounds are enough to to drive you mad, so mad that you’d wish it would just… Because you are tired of mourning the dead before they die, and you’ve been mourning since you knew his name. Master of all, servant of one. You called me on the phone the other day, and asked when I’ll be there. I said, staring at a still clock, ‘in no time at all’. 26 �Ambush Jazmin High I am finding new things about you. Too much information, possibly, but I’ll welcome it with open arms. What choice do I have, when showing up to an ambush? Love is a song with no timed rhythms, beats. It has no place in a choir, and yet. It is in the way your eyes hold Mine, I can feel it sink into My brain. It squeezes the corners, and under the pressure, I can’t help but look away. The morning dawns on me in the middle of the night. Something has shifted. my actions serve a place in Their minds, my clothes, my words, myself. You asked why i care so much, how people see me. It’s because, truly, without them, i’m not sure if i exist. You are finding new things about me. Too much information, possibly… You welcome it with open arms. What choice do You have, when showing up to an ambush? 27 �For What He’s Not. Jazmin High Stars are all about the burn. So, is fire evil then, just for burning? Just because it hurt you? Because your hand was too close? And you knew him. The way someone knew what they were doing tomorrow. The same absolutism God laughs at. A snake in the grass that bites ankle, Then ask why you’re limping. What’s deep for you, is a crack for him. As he haunts your ceiling at night, As you regret letting him close enough to scorch Remember: the lover always wins. Because stars do burn bright, But stars will always burn alone. 28 �may I tonight in darkness speak Caden Temple may I tonight in darkness speak, like the wooden floors of windy and brittle mornings, a song for only you to hear. and may it be acknowledged, not the sincerity of loosely threaded thoughtfulness, but of the serrated edges of wounds once again opened, shown of grinding teeth and clenched fists. tourniquet any and all remaining transmissions continuing to unfold falsities, disturbing a broken silence previously developed in light of sullen promises. may I tonight in darkness speak, deteriorating as felled firs of solstice, a message furthest from the closest bottled shore. lost in arrogance and tormenting rapids, watered and wasted by quarrels unseen. introduced unwillingly to perils of life I lack the intentions of knowing twice, the wheel continues spinning without notice of an ending prize, or so it has been called. a gift followed of smiles and controlled chaos, yet deception sneaking its wretched teeth into necks of attentions lost to a world of wonder un-wandered. 29 �The Mad Poet to His Muse Sinner Joan I will win you a country, melt kings to their throne, build you a palace, then leave you alone to spend the morning gazing at bright blazing words, reflecting the flame with each single turn: dum-dah dum-dah dum-dahdo dee-lie, Tell me, sweet lady, wouldn’t that be nice? Take your lunch to the orchard by the deer in the park, feed the little spring doves, call the hound from the farm, pat the pup’s head as white spots flee to the oaks, then walk to the creek-bed and light up your first smoke. dum-dah dum-dah dum-dahdo dee-lie, Tell me, sweet lady, wouldn’t that be nice? Now evening stars cast the day’s last light, stack soft pillows and sleep through the night, dream of castles, cattle, pastoral delights, dum-dah dum-dah dum-dahdo dee-lie I can’t help but think it all sounds so nice! But if all this proves too much for your heart, I’ll take it all back and hide in the stars, and dream on this each day and night: dum-dah dum-dah dum-dahdo dee-lie I can’t help but think it all sounds so nice! 30 �Twins Sinner Joan Maria, do not cry, we rest on lumps of flesh, just the first kick inside (Soft shadows streak by dim white light) I look at you and see my eyes, blue, black and white, two new mirrors stare back, I will not cry (soon mother dear guides aimless eyes) We twist, turn and tie our chains, like a vine, cascading down the last breathless gasp inside. Let me reflect you, I will not cry. 31 �Red, Concerning Premature Baldness Sinner Joan Red, red, all top me head! Day I born till day I dead! (At least that’s what the old man said!) But blue, blue, now I all blue! When ya lose ya red, what else do ya do? Be blue all day long like a spot on ya bread? Or blue all the night like a lost robin egg? Or blue like your face after your first cigarette sucks all the air till there ain’t nothing left? No, I’ll be blue like two eyes gazing back at me, Not wasting any time looking thru bad poetry, Not caring one bit for what’s under this cap, (follow the bill as I fold it on back): I bald, all bald, all top me head, I lost my hair, my youth, my red! And now I all blue till the day I dead. 32 �Dion Sinner Joan Come, Dion, and set each thread of this thatch roof world ablaze! The goats are cold, the goatherd’s gone, and sacred spring seeds no more. Dion! Thrice-born, thrice-dead, half-god, half-man, Take thy black panther coat and be our Superman! Spin the world back in time, unbind thy band And bomb Lex Luther to ashes and sand! But know there are no maeneds left to meet, from rose-colored dawn to the wine-dark sea; no Margot Kidder shooting the breeze, no little kings left dangling from trees, Hell, e’en Clark Kent’s just old Christopher Reeve. So come, Dion, and kiss thy tormenting bride for the grapes that suffer spill the sweetest wine; be Superman once more, but take off your disguise, then mount the world, dig thy spurs in thy ride. 33 �Anxiety Kylie Sable Tick… tick… tick… The timer crashes down You’re running out of time You can not do it You will never accomplish your dream Tick… tick… tick… The timer slowly fades Its alarm blares, Filling your ears, You failed again Tick… tick… tick… The timer explodes, Along with your dream Nothing can stop The spiral as it implodes The timer reappears The cycle repeats Ready to ruin, Decimate your life Demolish your fantasy Dismantle your future 34 � Tick… tick… tick… The timer crashes down Race to your dream Don’t let the road implode Your dream cannot explode Tick… tick… tick… The timer stops A nonexistent crash, Does not show. My dream is real The timer vanishes Shoved to the background Ticks will still persist Yet I will now live my life That will never implode 35 �OCD is not something you can shove into a rhyme scheme, this is not supposed to be pretty, ok? Grace Cairns Someone across the globe is probably jesting “I’m so OCD” as they straighten papers on a desk, While I am up at 1 a.m. again because I noticed chips in the rim of a glass candy jar and then took each candy out to inspect it for shards, While my brain tried to convince me they were embedded in the back of my throat (God forbid), so I tried to look but you can’t see that far, so I gargled some water and somewhere Someone is jesting “I’m so OCD” but I do not know where it ends and I begin. It engulfs and shapeshifts to resemble me and there is nothing organized about OCD. It is a civil war in the mind, which as in real life, there is no winning sideIt is ambushes and traps and mirages that either root my feet to the spot or send me scrambling in wrong directions OCD is not organized, you see, I’ve written about it in prior poetry, tried to make it presentable in all its animosity, but I am unsatisfied with these writings, for they are not enough, because OCD is not organized, It is so, so many metaphors that they stream through my mind and get lost in the tide, But there’s one about war, addiction, a clawed creature or one with sharp teeth, the jilted lover there are even metaphors that reference Harry Potter characters (professor Quirrel, ifykyk)... 36 �All of these are their own poem which I should write eventually but it’s far past time to go to bed, and I’m thinking about sleep and peace and ecstasy, but I’m still thinking about the glass and this stupid scary story I heard in fourth grade which cost me the ability to sleep without listening to disco music, and why does my brain insist on scaring me Just so it can pretend to be my protector from its very own creations? Jack-in-the-box, there’s another metaphor, and my mind is like a spider web. OCD is eating away my sanity, but then what even qualifies as sanity? We all have different interpretations of normality, but anyway it’s bedtime, and also I am still, of course, thinking… 37 �jaded Grace Cairns he’s an aries I was a pacifist and I hate the color red it was like racing icarus just to take the fall for him so let the maroon fade from my skin, now bathed in cool shades of jade 38 �An Ode to Forgotten Park Benches Madi Westawski I move through the streets passing piles of burning trash and enough dim-witted minds to switch out a singular light bulb Once I hit the last red light I’m forced to be beneath the monuments of America’s best men not the halal cart guy, nor the noble ones forgotten in alleyways, living lives so unlucky they’ve been struck by falling pianos twice but the ones with briefcases heavy with commercial desperation; their eyes chiseled like those of a cornered dog, a kind of recklessness that leaves them even more exposed. If you lift the pompadours and veneers, something always slips through. They are the least careful. That’s the way it goes. Walking, I remember the meek shall inherit nothing. What else do I see? 39 �A Brigitte Bardot type, searching for herself in every reflective surface down South Main Street, hoping the next pane might reveal a different woman Maybe one with fuller lips A junkie smoking gas station weed and chewing black licorice, its color blending in with his twelfth molar. When you have that much time, what else is there to do but acquire bad taste? And everywhere men with so much masculinity bleeding out of them that they forget they came out of a woman; too focused on taking their vitamins trying to cultivate something that was never theirs to hold. None of them notice the young man who died; his name etched there as they take turns sitting on the bench that prohibits the junkie from lying down. They’ll never notice. I go home and cancel my Time subscription. 40 I wasn’t really using it anyway. �Magnolia Liv Serkosky 41 �M. Liv Serkosky I love her with my whole body. Each breath makes me tremble, And every moment I’m away I think, “How would she really feel?” Suddenly my lungs ache with exhaustion. My heart leads me closer towards her. Watch the longing in my tired eyes, I want the time to memorize her. Please don’t pull away when I reach. She knows me well, and I know her. Over the laughing of our mothers, Her and I shared an apologetic glance. By my own design I purchased flowers. My little brother handed them over, But they were meant to be from me. She arranged them by her dorm room bed. You shied away when you needed me most, I was alone with nothing but dread and fear, Even though I opened my arms and eyes for you. Through it all, I needed you too. 42 �I love you with all my body. The pang and chime of my hitched breath, How my muscles ceded control for you, When I stop running to look your way. I feel my lungs ache with exhaustion, So I pull away and inhale strongly. I need your air as you need it, too. We can share this time and space. Please don’t pull away when I reach, Let your hand wrap around mine. I want you to stay inside my life, Yet it remains unknown to you. By my own design I gave you space. You needed a break away from life, But did you have to step out of mine? Did you need to block out my existence? I shied away when you needed me the most. If I exist around you for too long, I’m afraid I’ll want to kiss you, And then I’ll never escape love. 43 �if i were you today (the things we fear, but fight) Liv Serkosky when they silently lined up outside, i reached for my phone. i reached toward my friend who lives on that block. i called, i heard static. cars stopped, blockaded, as boots hit the ground, then the hushed raid. the worst part isn’t the waiting or the silence, it’s the knowing you can’t do anything. one, two, three, and their door is obliterated. i grab my phone, my keys, his leash, and then i pray. beyond my curtains i see the yards, the flowers they planted gone, the ones from the Pueblan Market, the name of your home, the one you taught me about for Spanish class. 44 �i dial again, but still i hear static. i rarely curse, but this time i did as i put my shoes on, paws matching beat with my feet. it was too late, i could see, as you and your mom hit the ground i scream, he barks, but mom holds me back, while you cry. the door is gone, and your Pueblan flowers. you showed me how to plant them, i taught you about back lighting. and that was just yesterday. i have pepper spray in my hand, but it’s on the ground with my keys maybe i thought for a moment i could save at least one. the sirens start and match tempo with my tears as they hit the ground while your blood - a cut on your temple is censored. 45 �i reach out again, and this time a noise erupts from my soul. this time tomorrow i was supposed to plant my own Pueblan Flowers. Dedicated to Rachel, Kipper, Dan, and Lisa; and to those enduring the violence being enacted on their lives by a nation that’s supposed to protect them. 46 �Predator Recall Nicholas Penglase Arise slathered in clay. You the deep forest night, flooded by white moon. Quiet, immense. The eyes of an animal – Soon, scaling the ribs of remote mountains, you ascend, swollen with green-wood air. 47 �No Healthy Upstream Nicholas Penglase Unfurled skin as a protection spell, I have always been built for traveling these windswept corridors An iris beset with colored bloom peering down 48 �People think poor Krystal Crespo Clark 49 �The Mistake From an Unsavory Past Craig Conville When you love something, deeper than you’ve ever loved before, Before you speak, you should think. Think of what you’re about to do. Do you want to do this? Do you want to go through with what could hurt her? Her feelings are essential to you. They matter. They matter a lot. A lot of things hurt her already. You know this. You protect her from this. This is what keeps you going. This is what allows you to feel justified. Justified to indulge. But it isn’t true. You cannot indulge. You cannot keep doing this. This isn’t right. This isn’t what you should be doing. You need to confess. Confess to your sins. Confess what you’ve done. What you’ve done wrong. Wrong. You’ve made a mistake. Mistake your actions for something controllable. You aren’t well. You need help. Help her. Help her understand. Help her heal. You’ve made her hurt again. Again and again you try. Again and again you dig yourself deeper. Deeper you fall within your own anguish, deeper yet you cannot control yourself. “Yourself” is an enigma. Who are you, anyway? Is this who you want to be? Be something hurtful? Be the same as all the rest you’ve sworn to be different from? From what point do you draw your self-pity? How dare you desire forgiveness? Forgiveness is what’s given to those who confess to God for their sins. Sins are all over. Sins lie within your digital encryptions. They’re carved into your skin. Skin you shouldn’t be comfortable within. How can you live with yourself? “Yourself” is an enigma, because she’s not comfortable in her skin either. Either way, you are and should be to blame. Blame yourself rather than forgive. 50 �Forgive her. She cannot help her own feelings. She cannot help her hurt. Hurt yourself. Hurt her. Hurt everybody. It does not matter. It will never matter. Matter flows down again. Dripping, shaking…this is indulging too. That won’t save her. Her own stance on forgiveness is convoluted and complex. Perhaps she forgives that sin. Sin is forgiven by God alone, but you were never the religious type to begin with. With what do you base your future on? Why should she want to be with you all this time? Time is ticking forward, and she’s leaving you behind. She doesn’t need you anymore. Anymore, she can handle herself. She loves you yet, and yet you cannot love yourself. Snap out of it, you wretched fool! You’re going to destroy your life if you continue. Continue to push. Continue to try. Never, ever give up. Giving up won’t save her. Her entire existence is based on pushing forward. She’s stronger than you. You know this. This is what keeps you going. You admire her strength. So find it in yourself. “Yourself” is an enigma. You don’t know who you are anymore. You cannot know. Know the sins you’ve committed. Know you may never reach forgiveness. Forgiveness is given to those who confess to God, but you don’t know God. God, why won’t this stop. Stop. You need to stop. Please, stop. She needs you to. To a future me, I hope you listened early, because I cannot bear the thought of when. 51 �In What Sin Do You Relish? Craig Conville What sin do you relish the most? They relish most in lust; it keeps them human. Humanic desires are hardly sinful if they’re natural. Then why does it cut through me so? Am I to be God? To decide what is sinful? Perhaps I shall. Lust is the deadliest of sins, because it is shrouded in self-deceipt They do not know how to love. They know how to lust and pretend that’s the same. The purest among them allows lust to be a point of luxury. It is not sin if you do not relish, if you only have a little taste. But if I am to be God, I would decide that’s worse than relishing. Relish in the truth; sin is sin. And pretending to be pure is dirtier than accepting Satan with open arms. You disgust me. My disgust is not justified; I relish most in envy. I relish in greed. Greedy for a taste of lust; to feel without shame. Envy for those who can sin so wrongfully so happily. While I cannot healthily express it without bile building in my throat. My envy is not green. It is black. It is all consuming. My envy relishes in greed. If I were to be God, I would not subject a sinner to that torment. This isn’t supposed to be hell yet. The lake of fire does not belong among the lakes of earth. I relish in wrath. It is the only way to face my sin. To be angry. To spit acid at sinners. To pretend they are worse than me. 52 �To push people away unjustifiably. I relish in the loneliness I cause when I am both too prideful and too wrathful to love. I relish in pride too, as one would if he were to be God. To establish yourself in the role of God is surely the ultimate demonstration of pride. What give you the right, you disgusting sinner? But in an atheist’s world, God and Sin and Man and Life are all the same problem. What more is there to do than relish? I can only relish in sloth on the basis that I have no energy to do otherwise. And I relish in gluttony if sins can be considered sustenance. My relishing comes in septuples, because that’s what the rules say. But I also relish in anguish. Why stop at the original seven? God only knows mine number more than seven. At least, in a perfect world, he would; If I could know God, I wouldn’t need to relish. To relish more than seven must be a sin in itself. Those who owe their loyalties to God cannot relish. Not because they do not sin; they tend to do that more. But they think that God will forgive them. And if I were to be God, I wouldn’t. I certainly can’t forgive myself. And I relish most of all. They relish in Lust. I relish in Envy. I relish in Greed. I relish in Pride. I relish in Wrath. 53 �I relish in Sloth, and Gluttony. I relish in Anguish. I relish in Pain. I relish in Despair. I relish in my earthly blood, flowing down my wrists like the Styx, Relinquishing a poison much richer than that of the previously mentioned. The poison of my sin. I relish in the flow. I relish in the sins that it represents. That is the only way I can relish in control. If I were to be God, I would be in control. But I do not know God. And God knows me not. I do not know myself. I am God. 54 �The Seven Deadly Sins Killer Jack Deluca I- Pride He starts with mirrors, polished bright, A shrine to faces bathed in light He carves the charming smile from the vainest skin, Whispers, “Pride’s reflection dies within.” II- Greed Gold teeth glint in candle’s flare, He counts their coins with chilling care. Each corpses he leaves, a ledger closed, The wealth of sin now decomposed. III- Lust Red lace and strong perfume haunts the air, He hums a hymn, seductive prayer. The heartbeat slows, the body frozen and still. Desire devoured by his will. IV- Envy He finds the ones who covet all, The perfect lives, the grandest halls. He stains their glass with emerald hue, A jealous end for envy’s few. 55 �V- Gluttony A feast prepared, a poisoned plate, He feeds them slow, then seals their fate. Their final breath, a choking tune, Beneath the blood-red harvest moon. VI- Wrath His hands now tremble, rage untamed, The fire burns, the world inflamed. He paints in crimson, wild and raw, A sinner’s justice, savage law. VII- Sloth At last, he waits- no rush, no sound, Among the graves of the six victims found. The seventh sin completes his masterpiece of art, For sloth has stilled his beating dying heart. 56 �I Remember the Girl Nate Stavish Piece of shit Motherfucker My guts spill out like pounded roadkill Doctors would say it’s a .45 to the abdomen Feels like a black hole devouring my insides and shitting them all out White snow stains red as it hurls itself against me I remember the girl Black hair, blacker than midnight Eyes burned from the sobbing Dead friends can rip you open like a starved animal Your grief stringing you up on its meathooks The rest of the boys in blue maintained an apathetic crime scene I was boiling with rage Crazy sonova bitch Dual-wielding bullet hoses With razor wire where his brain should be Running at me like a cheetah after a gazelle A coked-up monster with homicidal tendencies White powder stained red the moment he started losing his mind Couldn’t keep running Had to face this bull head on Moments of action form a mirror in your mind I remember the girl Was strung up in the meat locker with her The chains of our hooks clattering against each other 57 �Her friends were packed cold cuts Along with my partner She was waiting to be butchered I couldn’t help but butcher myself This time I had an excuse White snow stains red in equal parts neon light and blood David v. Goliath ended in a tie More holes in me than a poorly written plot Leaking like the faucet husbands tell their wives they’ll get to eventually Coughing, choking, and stuttering like a busted car I think I’ll lay here a while The mirror forms in the faint deep blueness of the sky I remember the girl 58 �The Museum of Atomic Warfare Nate Stavish I. The Atom A lumpy mass of protons and neutrons Forever orbited by charged electrons Split them And boom Millions gone in a flash Eviscerated into dust Their shadows burned into the ground on which they stood II. The Fat Man and Little Boy Both teardrops with wings Salty water of mass destruction Reduced to a footnote in the back of the museum The originators of wartime catastrophe Crowds should feel small in front of them They shouldn’t feel small in front of the crowds A mock bullet that killed 200,000 souls rests in front of them and they barely feel a thing Just “Oh, that’s neat.” III. The Atmospheric Ignition Device (A.I.D.) Death himself hangs above a silent audience His scythe slashing across a planet’s surface in a white hot blaze No countdown. Just gone. The plaques say it’s a war crime to drop one unannounced 59 �But the first one was a heart attack in the planet’s skies A true display of annihilation sits before them It seeps into their skin and sticks to their bones like smoking phosphorus IV. The surface of Prometheus-6 Burned so black it was like staring into the night The home of billions reduced to an unsanded ball Planetary revival is deemed impossible They talk like it was an act of God Like nothing could have been done But a president gave the order, engineers built the bomb, and soldiers deployed it Only man can kill itself so effectively 60 �Biapolis Nate Stavish Smoking cigarettes at the silent auction. Blind men bet on mystery boxes. Hands rise up and roll down. Almost in unison. In belief that whatever is up there can be theirs and only theirs. Slow thoughts and slow minds ignore what’s outside. Tall grass susurrates in the wind Entirely ignored, the field was beautiful Red bricks were bored through to find a way out. Course close quarters that didn’t guarantee a route to safety. Sifting through the sulfuric stench of the city to rupture the pipeline of Americana, a nostalgic man’s vision and nothing else. Wild avians chirp Singing a composition shared by all Georgie Boy’s head was gashed by a guillotine. Regicide raced through the rooms. Chaos crashed through the crowds. Bloodthirsty rage became a rabid predator. Gasoline hurled itself down the gutters. The inferno dance set it ablaze. The dove thought of the flowers The wolf thought of a meal. 61 �Windchimes Anthony Elmes I looked down and saw a basket of folded laundry and atop it sat a Snoopy Red Cross T-shirt. I grabbed it by the collar as its folded creases came undone and brought it up to my nose to take a deep breath. It smelt like…..detergent. The Snuggle bear and him. Just for a moment I felt relief and just as quickly came the nauseating truth. I looked at the shirt and remembered a conversation I’d had with him where I asked if he could snag me the shirt the next time he went to donate blood and he said he would. He’d regularly donated blood as long as I’d known him and he never really thought anything of it. He even would eat things like spinach and liver just to get his iron up so he was eligible to donate. The nurses loved him, partly because he was so personable, partly because he was O-. But he never really talked about what donating blood meant to him, or why he did it; it was more or less just a task for the day, in between the grocery store and returning a faulty battery. Perhaps he was a true altruist, or as close as one can be. Maybe that’s a dying breed? I folded the shirt again and tucked it under my elbow with guilt. Just guilt. I couldn’t tell if I wanted the shirt because I liked it, because it was his, because he said I could have it, or somewhere in between these options. I told myself he would’ve wanted me to have it, but it didn’t help me feel any less grifty. An opportunistic carnivore, I thought to myself, like a vulture. I don’t know when the feeling starts or why it stops or if it stops. Things must be sorted through, and it feels wasteful to send everything to the landfill so then why does the tho ught of keeping something that I like feel so slimy? How could I walk through this house as if it was a department store? Browsing the aisles, putting things down just as quickly as I had picked them up. Sifting. Sifting? It felt like a constant 62 �back and forth between sensibility and horror. Rationality and the dark, deep-seated feeling that the last nteraction I would have with this space would be one in which I was the consumer. Damned if I do damned if I don’t I guess. I walked over to the nightstand on the far side of the bed, facing the windows. She had always slept on this side and even after she’d gone he wouldn’t dream of migrating across the covers. He always stayed on his side because for him she’d never left. At least I didn’t think so. Like the duvet was still warm, as if she had gotten up for a glass of water and was headed back up the stairs. She had been heading back up the stairs for a long time. He talked to her a lot. This furthered my belief that for him she was still there, an active participant in his life. A few nail polish bottles still stood on her nightstand. They weren’t covered with a film or anything, but I wasn’t sure if he cleaned them and put them back alongside the usual dusting. This was true throughout the house, her secretary desk still littered with opened envelopes and a five year old calendar that had every day crossed out except the 9th of April. The bathrooms still had hairspray and toothpaste that weren’t his, cookbooks bursting with post-it notes in the kitchen he would never use. The house hung heavy with lives lived and stories told. It was oppressive, but the summer breeze would come wafting through the windows and carry this weight off just for a moment. God it was so quiet. People always say death is peaceful, but maybe it’s just as peaceful for the people who get left behind. Nobody talks, nobody moves. Just… stares, off into the distance, waiting for something or someone to bring them back to a world that chugs onward without them. Overwhelmed, I turned on my heel and left, shutting the door behind me. Every step down that hallway in reverse echoed with laughter, cries, screams, embraces, kisses. The biggest moments for generations happened right where I stood. But with a cruel brevity it was done. It was all done. A chapter of my life had 63 �ended before I could even realize. I didn’t sob, I didn’t scream, I didn’t throw things around and wave my fists at the sky. It was almost as if I was in a museum, and any sort of disruption to how they had left it would have felt like the ultimate form of disrespect. At most a single tear rolled down my cheek, as if not to impose upon my surroundings. Of course disruption was inevitable. The house would sell, and a new family would move in. But for that small moment in time, the space was still mine. Was still ours. It existed in a purgatory of sorts, a liminal space where Rod Serling narrated my every breath. But I wasn’t stuck and couldn’t be stuck. I had to leave. I should leave. I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to get out. It hurts. It hurts so fucking much. My eyes glazed over and I left. How could I leave in such an apathetic fashion? Didn’t I care at all? Didn’t they mean anything to me? I hated myself for it and that’s the thing about grief. Everyone loves to drown you in the five stages to the point that you could throw up on their black patent leather pumps they dug out of their closet to show some semblance of sympathy. Grief is negotiation. Are they here, or are they not? Are you a horrible person, or are you scared? Are you sad enough, or are you selfish? Some of these feelings smooth over time, like a gash in a tree that is grown over and over again. Some of these feelings linger and creep up on you at your most stable, as if you’d dropped a glass and just when you thought you were done a shard lodges itself in your big toe. Even thinking about one’s own reaction to the situation feels like an exercise in narcissism. You’re not dead…they are. Don’t be so goddamn self-absorbed. But I guess to be human is to be self-absorbed, whether it is objectively warranted or not. I don’t know what healed means, and I know for sure you can’t be fixed. But what I do know is how little I actually know at all. 64 �“Vincent” Sydney Ahrberg I don’t think the world was ready for you, a soft heart in an armored world. You painted your canvas in every hue; up in the sky, your starry night swirled. Your brain was too loud, you needed some peace. You burst through the crowd. You fall to your knees. Stomach of lead, head full of dreams. You’re placed in your bed. Your brother screams. You said, “this sadness will last forever,” and I think you were right. I don’t have it in me to handle the weather on this starry night. 65 �“Leonidas’ Swimming Creek” Sydney Ahrberg My dog swims in the creek ‘til his belly gets pink. Stubbornly refusing to take a rest, he keeps going ‘til he starts to sink. He jumps off his favorite rock in a blink, by baptism of stream water he’s blessed. He swims in the creek ‘til his belly gets pink. Balancing on slimy rocks at the brink, we make him get out, and he’s unimpressed, but he would’ve gone ‘til he started to sink. Crayfish in the bottom like splotches of ink watch him splash like a dog possessed as he swims in the creek ‘til his belly gets pink. He’s tired, we should go, we think. But he won’t stop swimming; he’s too obsessed. He keeps going ‘til he starts to sink. His joy for swimming will never shrink. That’s why we make him wear a life vest; my dog swims in the creek ‘til his belly gets pink. He keeps going ‘til he starts to sink. 66 �“Space Dog” Sydney Ahrberg Hey there little Laika, floating up in space. Are you full of anger pointed at the human race? Do you hate us all for taking you from snowy northern streets and putting you in a rocket just to log data on our sheets? They say you died of panic, so scared your heart could not keep up. That big heart was why they chose you– you were the sweetest pup. Your eagerness to please made you easiest to train and we rewarded your good nature with a death of fire and pain. As you burned up in the atmosphere, your rocket your funeral pyre, did you hope that those who sent you there would likewise face Hellfire? 67 �Do you resent us, Laika, for sending you to die? Are you a star of retribution up in the dark night sky? Or do you still want to please us, and be told you’re a good girl? You’re such a good girl, Laika. The best in all the world. 68 �Confounding Variables Franklin Collazo The moonlight and streetlights clash for luminosity, powerless against the milky fog. I am a shielded observer, driving through their gray remnants; their influence decaying in the grand scheme of things. I yearn for their affairs to terminate— can they not see their efforts are in vain? Perhaps, there are confounding variables that justify this skirmish, but I lack the instruments to discern this. Instead, I am left to the monotonous tone of the road, a white-noise frequency that plays with my ears, quietly orchestrating the celestial war. 69 �American Werewolf Wayne McCormick Legend tells of an insatiable hunger that can overtake a man. Once you’ve carried the fulfillment of ravenous gluttony to term, you are forever trapped in the cyclical need to feed. All inhibitions towards desire cease and the hunger demands you consume. Craig steadied his hulking frame against the counter and calmly repeated his order, “Correkct,” followed by a three second dry swallow, “300 nuggets with 10 barbeque, 10 honey mustard, and 10 ranch dips.” He hiccupped slightly and gave a lengthy exhale that was half sigh, half burp. The cashier was reviled and annoyed. It was quarter to two in the morning and she didn’t get paid enough for this. “It won’t let me ring that high of an order up.” “Yeah it will, should come out to $178.82.” Craig produced his credit card and slid $40 across the counter, “Sorry for the trurble-” After he heard his own slurred speech he shook his head hard side to side, like a dog trying to shake off water. “Oof, can you add a large sprite?” Outside, Matt had been listening to Lisa rant about her boyfriend’s actions for over 10 minutes straight. While they were also far from sober, each had paced appropriately and maintained their wherewithal. The central theme of the rant was after Craig gets to drinking, all motivation is directed towards whatever he wants to do. His emotional momentum is matched by his physical, as it is nearly impossible to redirect all 6 foot, 7,255 pounds of him. “I just can’t believe he’s doing this again! He skips dinner, gets absolutely loaded, and puts himself down for the night with an ungodly amount of fast-food shit.” She stood firm with her arms folded across 70 �her upper abdomen, anxiously bobbing one foot on its ball. A deep hardy laugh was audible through the glass panes, and she spun to see Craig talking and laughing with other customers waiting for their food. Even though almost everyone looked like a child next to him, he was always the most childish in the room. She whipped her head back towards Matt with a look of pure incredulity, “And everyone loves him when he gets like this! It doesn’t matter whether we’re back in Jacksonville or here or wherever, it’s all about what Craig wants.” She pulled out a cigarette and began to frustratingly try to light it. After four failed attempts to produce a flame, she spiked the cheap lighter into the sidewalk. “Can I borrow yours?” The next six minutes were tolerated in silence as Lisa fumed and Matt tried not to feel like the third wheel. Craig burst through the push door butt first carrying two of the largest bags available at McDonalds. As he turned around, he had a cheekto-cheek smile that was acting as a dam for his hypersalivating mouth. Eager, angry, and awkward they set off for their hotel. Back in the room, Lisa had turned up the TV’s volume, commandeered Matt’s bed, and rolled over to not bear witness to the event about to occur. Matt watched from the desk chair the room provided, unconvinced that someone could physically eat this much. Craig began his ritual preparation. He was given 20 boxes each with 15 nuggets and 30 sauces. Splayed in a ring around him on the bed, the 20 cardboard oysters sat open presenting their deep-fried pearls. One additive at a time, he’d pick up a box and drizzle a dip sauce across the nuggets. When the natural flow stopped, he used the straw from his sprite to scoop out every iota of each molasses. Every few boxes, he’d scoot himself in a circle just a touch. He looked like a craftsman set to work, methodically and rehearsed he diligently applied the frosting to his cake. After one total revolution, he distributed the remaining 10 dips across all the boxes, being careful not to add the same sauce to a box 71 �twice. He closed each box after he was satisfied with their wetness. His third go around the circle, he’d pick up a box with both hands and begin rolling the food inside around. Three circular motions forward, three left, three right, and three backwards. Then he would set the box down back in its place in the circle and move onto the next one. Each set of shakes was the same as the last, producing identical rhythms and sounded like a set of Wilfred Brimley’s maracas. As Craig was ending his third lap, without redirecting focus or missing a beat of prep, he asked, “Matt, you know how they reward stallions after they work all day? They put the fuckin feed bag on them.” And with that, it began. The first box was lifted by one hand underneath, and with the slightest pressure from his thumb and pinky pushing on either side, the lid shot open. A few wisps of steam fluttered off the chicken and a heated mix of buttermilk ranch and BBQ permeated around the room. He cupped his hand like a Lego person and scooped all 15 nuggets out of the box in a single, effortless glide. Craig’s jaw momentarily looked unhinged as a bacchanal of meat, breading, and sugar was forcibly lodged inside before it snapped shut. Audibly, it was a mix of suction, oral muscles straining to process, and pleasurable moans. Swirled in a realm of ecstasy, Craig savored the initial endorphin rush. Slowly, massagingly, he masticated his dinner. After he worked down around half of the first payload, he instinctually crushed the small box in his hand, tossed it to the side, and prepared the next round. The fourth lap of this unmiraculous mile was grotesquely fascinating to Matt. With the steady pace of a marathoner and the determination of Kobayashi, his friend persisted. The cholesterol paste filled his buccal spaces, being replaced as fast as it was swallowed. The longer it went, the more labored his breathing became. Each clamp of the jaw came with an orcish sounding exhale. The crushing of shotgunned boxes slowed into managed crumples with disinterested tosses. But like a 72 �foot racer unwilling to quit, he rounded his final corner by double-fisting the final 30 pieces into his mouth by alternating two from box A, then two from box B, and so on. After an ordeal lasting 36 minutes, 44 seconds and over 12,000 calories, Craig sat on the edge of the bed in a deeper stupor than alcohol could have taken him. He began to growl uncomfortably before releasing the loudest belch Matt had ever heard: The howl of the American Werewolf. Then he collapsed into the strewn about carcass pieces littering the bed and began to snore. Craig’s eyes snapped open with a sharp nasal inhale. He went to sit up but every fiber of his abdomen felt like it was going to tear. He struggled to sit up in the bed. Shame and guilt flooded his brain as he looked at the remnants of his work. The rush of emotion transformed into a pang of actualized pain as he looked over to see Matt already awake, who silently scrolled on his phone. When their eyes met Craig broke the quiet. “I did it again, didn’t I?” Matt only saw an American Werewolf once again in his life, when he watched a man attempt to eat 150 chicken chalupas in a single sitting. These people lurk amongst us. They are your neighbors, coworkers, and relatives. They consume without remorse and if you’re not careful, the gluttony will grow inside you too. Legend tells of an insatiable hunger that can overtake a man. 73 �Spectator Autumn Evancavich Speck of dust It must have flown Learned every place In my old home Latched to my sweater Stuck to the glue I used to mend My broken shoe I hate the dust So I clean Until the air Is safe to breathe Until my shoes Hit the ground And no particles flow Round and round I hate the specks That never leave The ones that fly As I collapse on my knees In the hall At your door In every place I once adored 74 �Oh, speck of dust It must have known My house was far From my home It must have known I planned to go It must have known I would not, could not Go. 75 �Love Through Death Kailey Vogel The Girl In the distance stood a girl so far away from view When I first saw her I thought it can’t be true Near the lake I watch her glimmer off the waves I approached her and we kissed, got married, dug our graves As the years went on I found it hard to speak ‘I love you’ once so simple now came out a squeak I trudged the dark, brown muck both thick and slow then I lost all feeling in my soul. My job is gone, but still she did stay together we dwell on the good memories of an old day The doctor seemed so worried my love, she seemed so scared. Dots soon filled my vision into the dark I prepared to meet the other side I once was so ‘fraid I miss my love I wish I could have stayed 76 �Her Ghost When he awoke Her hair he did stroke As she smiled sweetly He disappeared completely Up near the tree He watches as she Walks towards the lake Was this all a mistake? She turns around And stares at the ground From behind the bark Here emerges Mark She begins to question A change in her expression Could he have been her ghost? This would make sense the most Ghosts don’t exist and he is gone She smiled at the man and they talked through dawn 77 �The Kiss The kiss Not of death But forbidden love Not in the unrequited sense Nor the prohibited tense Instead forbidden Refusal to admit To conquer their love Instead they hide it Bottling up all their fiery heat inside “I long to feel your lips on mine” He watches down on her from a different time A few months may be too soon But he knew now She LOVES somebody new “If she feel the need to love another man I will inflict death upon all so we can meet again” 78 �All Mine All mine Only mine Marie will keep me company Can’t think straight Eyes fuzzy I’m seeing red and now she’s dead Quick breathes Tight small knots My lungs collapse as thunder claps Head hurts Ears now ring She’s in my arms with no more harm Push back Run away What have I done, she died so young 79 �The End Death \deth\ n. 1: Me; 2: The identity I am too scared to see Dis•ease \di•zez\ n. 1. What I inflicted upon jealousy Fam•ine \fa-mǝn\ n. How I starve for her to rejoin me Geno•cide \je•nǝ•sīd\ n. The results of blind hatred and envy Hurt \hǝrt\ vb. A feeling of pain of which I’m free Mur•der \’mǝrdǝr\ vb. The blood on my hands that stain like coffee Pain \pān\ n. I have paralyzed all with the sting of a bee Sor•row \’sôrō\ n. Now the world has heard my plea The End? Reunited finally with my dear Marie 80 �Author Biographies Liz Keller is a third-year Political Science major with minors in Legal Studies and History. She’ll never shy away from the opportunity to admire Victorian-era artworks, especially the self-portrait locked away in her attic (which is certainly not cursed and decayed). Jacob O’Boyle is currently enrolled in Keystone College ‘27 M.S. in Wildlife Biology. Jacob is currently lost in the deep, dark woods on his search for more tasty blueberries. Lindsey Christain is not only a lover of writing but also a compassionate observer of the natural world, holding a deep appreciation for all life forms, big and small— from cats to tiny, often unnoticed slugs and beetles. Aubrianna Harte is a junior English and Secondary Education major and says, “I do not have a cat.” Leah Smith’s favorite kind of music is metal. So, instead of listening to calm wave sounds to carry her through her writing, she prefers wailing electric guitars and people screaming their lyrics. Her favorite bands are Ice Nine Kills, System of a Down, and Spiritbox. Jake Middleton is a student at Wilkes University. Jazmin High is a senior Psychology major closing out her career on the manuscript board, and she’d feel a little hypocritical to not submit after convincing friends to. Caden Temple is a student at Wilkes University. 81 �Sinner Joan is a senior English major and enjoys riding Appaloosas in Springbrook Township in their spare time. Kylie Sable is a senior neuroscience major who hopes to get her PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience but likes to give her brain a break with writing poetry. She is also currently the Associate Editor for the Manuscript and a proud member of the dance team! Grace Cairns is an English major who will graduate in 2028. She is actually part penguin and spends free time swimming around and finding food. Madi Westawski is a 2028 Accounting major can wiggle her ears when needed. Liv Serkosky is a fourth year Theatre Arts BA major and 4+1 Creative Writing student. They’re an actor, author, director, singer-songwriter, and activist. World’s most dramatic queer, enjoyer of sapphic media, and lover of all animals. They spend their time keeping engaged with the politcal world and using their socvial platform to keep friends, peers, and strangers aware of the world. They currently work in film and aim to one day live in Calfironia, restoring life where the fires took it while finding their own. Nicholas Penglase is a graduate student in Creative Writing and has a dog with one eye, and two cats without tails. Krystal Crespo Clark is a DDMA major and Dance minor. She spends much of her time in dance classes and on dance team. 82 �Craig Conville (best known to Wilkes campus as “Craig the Wilkes Guy”) is a Mechanical Engineering major at Wilkes University. Extracurricularly, he is an Admissions Student Ambassador, E-Mentor, Residence Hall Assistant, and Treasurer of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance. Poetry as a medium is his chosen coping mechanism for the social stresses that come with knowing many people and reaping the mental consequences of both his and others’ decision making. His Wilkes University Endeavors, as well as Wilkes Merch Shop, can be found on Instagram: @craig.the.wilkes.guy Jack Deluca is a 2029 English major and spends their spare time usually writing horror stories, horror poems, making costumes, and making short horror films. Nate Stavish is a senior English major and is Larry Davidmaxxing. Anthony Elmes is a senior History major and their favorite fruit is honeydew. Sydney Ahrberg is a senior English major finishing out her twoyear tenure as Executive Editor of the Manuscript Society. In her free time, she enjoys reading, snuggling with her dogs, and thinking about how unfair it is that she can’t pet a sea lion. Frank Callozo is a senior Data Science major and says, “When I consume soda, I open it partially to decrease the flow rate, allowing me to savor every drop.” Wayne McCormick is a a junior Creative Writing major and News and Sports Reporting minor. He rejects “just say no” and says “perhaps” to drugs. 83 �Autumn Evancavich is a freshman Biology major. She’s a lover of both music and poetry, enjoying when the two blend together as she listens to her favorite rap artist Juice WRLD. Kailey Vogel is a sophomore with a double major in English and History, who is projected to graduate in spring of 2028. Vogel has once been told she could be eligible for Miss Wilkes University due to her heavy involvement on campus, which includes: The Honors Program, Barre Scholar Program, E-Mentor, Resident Assistant, Dance Team Captain, Editor of The Beacon, HSPC, Programming Board, Wilkes University chorus, Presidential Student Leader, peer math tutor, note taker, and Honors Peer mentor. 84 �Thank you for having us as long as we were here by your sides, creating to show the world what can be done through the power of words. Keep writing and keep creating, even in the darkest moments when it matters most. We will cherish these moments until the day we become the subject of someone’s love letter to the world. Thank you, Wilkes, for leading us this far. You will see our names again one day. With love, The Graduating Editors Sydney, Kylie, Liv, and Jazmin 85 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Manuscript: Literary Magazine, 1947-present Subject The topic of the resource The Manuscript Society of Wilkes University has been publishing its creative written and visual art magazine, Manuscript, continuously since 1947. Currently, the student-led editorial staff publishes one issue per year, and copies are complimentary. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes Manuscript Society Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDFs Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1947-2020 Description An account of the resource The Wilkes University Manuscript is a student-run literary magazine, published by the Manuscript Society since 1947. It is currently published once a year. Individuals may submit creative fiction, creative nonfiction/short personal essays, poetry, photography, drawings, paintings, digital art, and music compositions. Submissions are open to all Wilkes University students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Anyone can read or obtain copies of any of the material for research purposes, but if the researcher wants to quote from the materials, they will need to obtain copyright permission from the <a href="https://www.wilkes.edu/academics/colleges/arts-humanities-social-sciences/humanities/manuscript/index.aspx">Wilkes University Manuscript Society.</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource The Wilkes University Manuscript: Literary Magazine is arranged chronologically. The series ranges from 1947 – present. The magazine is currently published in the Spring only, but has previously been published seasonally, each semester. The series also includes a folder with supplemental materials from the Manuscript Film Society in the 1970s. The folders include a date range which may hold more than one issue of the magazine. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Manuscript, 2025-2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource English Department Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2025-2026 Type The nature or genre of the resource Literary Magazine