By Elektra A. Hanna, Class of ’26 The world’s temperatures continue to rise, and with this, the planet will only continue to grow increasingly warmer. Global warming is an important issue that must be addressed if the goal of sustaining human life will continue to be reached into the coming generations. The threat that is…
Social Media Revolutionizing College Sports Recruiting
Written by Sam Tanous, Class of ’25 In the dynamic landscape of college sports recruiting, a whole new era has started. Social media platforms are becoming tools for athletes looking to catch the eyes of college coaches. With the traditional methods of recruiting evolving, the concept of athletes branding themself online has never been more…
Scrolling through Life – The Blueprint and Effects of Social Media’s Addictive Nature
Written by Freddy Fernandez, Class of ’24 Social Media has had a significant impact on our daily lives from gathering information to communicating in an instant. However, it has also been designed to keep its users engaged leading us to spend more time on our phones. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube have all…
The “Aesthetic” of Overconsumption: How Social Media Contributes to Consumerism
Written by Emily Avila, Class of ’25 When scrolling through TikTok, you are likely to come across dozens of videos hashtagged with #tiktokmademebuyit or large shopping “hauls,” in which influencers spend half of their paychecks on loads of unnecessary items just for the “aesthetic” of purchasing the latest trends. Platforms such as TikTok, whose primary…
New Jersey Student Survival Guide: The Real College Budget
Photo Credit Alyssa Mohammed Written By Alyssa Mohammed, Class of ’26 Charlene had finally finished moving into Rutgers University at the start of her freshman fall semester in 2022, and just as she was preparing to embark on the beginning of her college journey her student account was charged with a $12,000 billing statement for…
Wing Bar Continues to Thrive Thanks to Social Media
By Ailekhu Longe, Class of ’24 Wing Bar (684 Bergen Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07304) is a local night bar known for its flavored chicken wings, smash burgers, and variety of liquor. Their food and liquor, coupled with their friendly and respectful staff make for a great environment for customers to eat, drink, socialize, and…
The Next Generation of Spending
By: Romero Berrios, Class of ’26 As Gen Z gets older there is no doubt about one thing that is inevitable — being an adult. And that means having to figure out how to make money for themselves. But everybody is different with their finances. In a 2023 survey it was found that 89% of…
Food for Thought: How Our Plates Affect the Planet
In a world where plenty of food is produced only to be wasted, it’s time to confront the alarming reality: Our current food production systems are not sustainable. Agriculture is the largest source of methane emissions caused by human activity – contributing to around 20-30% of all human-made greenhouse gas emissions. To break that down,…
Life After College
Written by: Alan Mejia, Class of ’24 Many students find it difficult to find get jobs after college. Whether it’s the job market or the limited resources students have to find a way to navigate their post- graduate endeavors. “So what’s your plan for after college?” are seven words that haunt college seniors in America….
Rising Taxes, Rising Concerns in The Heights
By: Andrew Cuadra , Class of 2024 The Heights is a neighborhood located in the northern part of Jersey City. The heart of the neighborhood, Central Avenue, is home to dozens of small businesses, chain stores like Burger King, McDonalds, Wonder Bagels, a flower shop and restaurants. The Heights, which Forbes Magazine named one of the…
The Man Behind Rizzo’s Bakery and Deli
By Kevin Guevara, Class of 2022 Meet Mike Rizzo, the owner of Rizzo’s Bakery and Deli in the Heights. He’s been baking for more than 40 years, and he has a hobby that might surprise you.
Gen Z: Making The Most Out of COVID Lockdown
By Valeria Calle, Class of 2023 Escaping the consequences of COVID-19, a pandemic that took everyone by surprise, was almost impossible for anyone. Some people were in the process of starting their own businesses, and others were not mentally ready for the isolation that the entire world was subject to. While the older generations were…
The Square’s One and Only Pet Store
By: Juanita Sellers McGinley Square is home to many businesses that are swiftly gaining in popularity. The square is home to bars, mom and pops, organizations and many more. While there are many of the same kind of businesses there is only one pet store. The two year anniversary of JC Pet – Topia, McGinley…
A Safe Haven In The Heart of Jersey City
By Arely Sorto, Class of 2023 McGinley Square is home to many businesses and organizations that help the community thrive, some businesses have been around for a long time and others are just starting to pop up. Among the more established businesses is WomenRising, an organization that has helped the community around McGinley Square and…
SPU Hosts Annual Take Back the Night March
By Eva Reid On April 27, Saint Peter’s University students and faculty “took back the night” marching from Panepinto Plaza to Journal Square and back advocating for victims of sexual violence and domestic violence. The march, which was organized and named Take Back the Night, not only educates students on these topics but also on…
Hispanics Mental Well-Being
By Cynthia Tavard, Class of 2023 Mental Health can be a very taboo subject to talk about within the Hispanic community. There are many reasons why Hispanics don’t seek or even understand they need help. Accessibility is an obstacle many face, not everyone is able to afford attending therapy. A 2019 study by the National…
Generation Z and Mental Health: The Peacocks Weigh In
By Joey Caruso, Class of 2022 It’s no secret that Gen Z is playing a large part in the movement of making mental health a necessary discussion in overall well being. In a 2020 survey conducted in New Jersey asking respondents if a health professional has diagnosed them with a depressive disorder, the percentage of…
How-to Be a Good Citizen in Jersey City
By Karina Diaz, Class of 2022 A civic project to help Jersey City residents understand government, stay informed and exercise their rights. Rahmir Walker, a Graphic Design major at Saint Peter’s University, explains not having known much information about the upcoming congressional election. After reading through the infographics created for this project (below), Walker feels…
Undocumented In America
This video follows an anonymous undocumented man throughout his day; getting in his car, buying groceries, coming home, making himself some coffee, and spending time with members of his family. He shares what his experience was crossing the border. He also answers the question of what he wishes Joe Biden knew about his experience as an undocumented person.
In Desperate Need of Blood Donors
By Suzzanne Bigelow, Class of 2025 What will you be giving this holiday? Alexis Adolf was born with Von Willebrand’s Disease, a bleeding disorder that results in low levels of clotting protein in the blood, causing abnormal bleeding. Initially, Alexis was advised to refrain from physical activity, including a child’s rite of passage of…
Young Climate Activists Take Root in North Bergen
By Arely Sorto, Class of 2024 Young and hopeful eyes stare at the tree sapling they planted in the ground; you can smell the fresh soil in the air. Here the tree, they hope, will stay for a very long time. Long enough for the volunteers that helped plant this tree to visit with their…
Fatima Shaik’s Journey to Economy Hall
By Christopher Pagan, Class of 2022 Recently retired Saint Peter’s University professor Fatima Shaik visited Professor Ernabel Demillo’s 10 am News Writing and Reporting class on Thursday, March 4th, to discuss not only her life but also being a black woman writer with the release of her new book, “Economy Hall: The Hidden History of…
Memories of Cuba: Castro’s Revolution
53 years a Cuban Refugee When Reinaldo Solano, a 63-year-old Cuban-American reminisces about his childhood, he remembers growing up attending church and school, being an altar boy, his old bully, and his life growing up on a farm. But above all, he remembers the fear. It was a fear he did not quite understand but…
Covid-19: A Family Experience
By Victoria Bishop Smith, Class of 2021 I woke up on October 13. It was like any regular day, or so I thought. I hadn’t been experiencing any symptoms, but unfortunately, my significant other, whom I spent the majority of my time with, was — and so, we went to get tested. The doctor came…
Shadows of the American Dream
By Chrismarlyn Martinez, Class of 2022 Diana Avelar has already seen and experienced more than most young women her age. When she was 4-years-old Avelar witnessed domestic violence against her mother. Avelar also suffered from sexual assault in El Salvador, and fled with her family to America to escape the abuse. “Even though I was…
Heart of Steel: How an Ancient Craft Has Evolved
Originally posted on Very real headlines:
By Mark Rotundo “I have a saying that every knife you make cuts you. Making good shit hurts.” Theodore Nazz, a Brooklyn son and bladesmith, is someone who has always relished in the hurt. The ultimate drive for a human being is the will to create. To create means…
COVID-19: From the Eyes of An Undergraduate Student
Writer: Kiara Suero Joseph Mamaril, full time undergraduate student. Over the past year, the COVID-19 outbreak has gripped the nation by leaving many people struggling financially, mentally and emotionally. Undergraduate students are no strangers to these struggles. Many have had to adjust their lives to handle six classes, jobs and dealing with their own personal…
The Start of a New Life
By Diana Meza, Class of 2022 It was the sharp and bitter smell of coffee her fiance brewed that brought 17-year-old Maria Garcia to her feet on the bright morning of May 10, 1995. The warmth of the coffee traveled throughout her body, while her eyes followed him, throwing on his regular white tee and…
2020: How Young People Made Their Voice Heard
By: Christian Bailey, Class 2021 “This is the first election where I felt like everyone’s vote actually mattered.” Dennis Trotta, a young Patterson resident, said, as he rested his gaze on the napping pitbull puppy, who’d just ruined his new bed frame. Dominique Pollard, his friend of six years, glances at the ceiling fan as…
Pregnancy during Covid-19
By Shirley Montesdeoca, Class of 2021 Discomfort, sleepless nights, the constant sensation of itchiness, and yellowing of the skin, are the symptoms of a condition called cholestasis during pregnancy. Lisbeth Racines, a 29-year-old mother of two was diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy for both pregnancies. She was five months pregnant when she was diagnosed with…
Two Communities Connected by Location but Divided by Spirits
By Neidy Gutierrez, Class of 2020 Saint Peter’s University and McGinley Square are two communities intertwined with one another, but according to some people, somehow divided. For years, the university has attracted new people into the area helping create business. Locals seem to love the idea that the university has been part of the evolution…
History in Photographs
By Neidy Gutierrez, Class of 2020 Over the years, McGinley Square has evolved into the fast-moving town that it is. Through renovations of buildings, destruction of old buildings and construction of new ones, McGinley has overgone years of gentrification. Take a trip down memory lane and check out how some of today’s popular buildings looked…
Mariah on Medical Marijuana
By Annalisa Leite, Class of 2019 When Mariah wakes up in the morning and her daily stretches don’t help her get rid of her pain, she turns to her newest prescription medication, Medical Marijuana. Mariah began taking medical marijuana last February for chronic pain and anxiety. At first, she would make her own oils…
Art in Motion
By Alexis Morales Hearing someone butcher your name is not something that would excite most people, but when it meant being recognized by the head of BMW’s North American Performance Division as having one of the Top 12 cars of the 2018 Rallye BMW show, Adyan Rahman couldn’t help but smile-just a little bit. Adyan…
Cuba’s Tobacco Farms
(This is part of the Jersey City in Havana Series, multimedia stories produced by St. Peter’s students who spent Spring Break in Cuba.) By Mary Mercado, Class of 2019 One of my most memorable experiences on our trip to Cuba was the excursion to Viñales where we visited a family-owned tobacco farm. The tobacco industry…
Study Abroad: Cuba 2018
Top Five Things to Do in Havana Video Produced and Edited by Franz Lalaine Yabis, Class of 2018
Sights and Sounds in Havana
(This is part of the Jersey City in Havana Series, multimedia stories produced by St. Peter’s students who spent Spring Break in Cuba.) Shot, Produced and Edited By Brian Bates, Class of 2021 Havana Fisherman Café Al Cappuccino Habana Live music is common in Havana. They provide a fun atmosphere and the music is…
Havana Nights
(This is part of the Jersey City in Havana Series, multimedia stories produced by St. Peter’s students who spent Spring Break in Cuba.) By Jayson Ildefonso, Class of 2020 As people head through the doors, gentlemen are greeted by a woman dressed in a bold glittery costume handing each man a single cigar, while ladies…
Money for Music in Cuba’s Economy
(This is part of the Jersey City in Havana Series, multimedia stories produced by St. Peter’s students who spent Spring Break in Cuba.) Consistently low state-regulated salaries and massive layoffs of government employees have led many Cuban citizens to pursue self-employment within the tourism industry. by Gabriella Robles and Neidy Gutierrez For Havana native Angel…
West Coast Style Comes to Jersey City’s Newly Renovated White Eagle Hall
By Tom McLaughlin, Class of 2019 Music fans lined up outside of the newly restored White Eagle Hall on Wednesday, October 11 in Jersey City to see the California-based indie pop group Best Coast perform with the Philadelphia and Brooklyn-based indie rock group Field Mouse. White Eagle Hall (WEH) is one of the newest additions…
Hollywood in Jersey City
By Natalia Amaya, Class of 2018 Jersey City is kicking off October with the Golden Door International Film Festival. The festival is entering its 7th year, and has become nothing short of successful. Founder Bill Sorvino, and his executive director wife, Michelle Sorvino have worked together to give underground, independent, filmmakers an opportunity to shine….
SPU Art Gallery: An Interview with Photographer Kay Kenny
By Jojenet Encarnacion, Class of 2019 As the art and music culture expands in Jersey City, newcomers and locals are seeing a growth of original artwork from artists displayed publicly. Saint Peter’s University is showcasing its newest attraction in the 5th floor of Mac Mahon Student Center at its newFine Arts Gallery. Camera’s Vision: Archaeology|Architecture|Landscape…
Ladies of JC: A Night of Female-Fronted Local Music
By Christina Gravina Walking down the bright red staircase towards the lounge at Raval in Downtown Jersey City feels like you are entering a painting as you are surrounded by black and white artwork on the wall. Inside, paintings of burlesque women and various artists such as Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie cover the wooden…
Art Gallery at Saint Peter’s Now Open to the Public
By Zahria Perkins, Class of 2018 The space is occupied with about twenty people but yet, the sound of a pen dropping can be heard as clear as day. The sunshine coming through a floor to ceiling glass window is casting a slight glare on the photographs gracefully draped on the walls. Everyone is moving…
The Dirt on Jersey City 