Women’s Basketball and Soccer Acquire New Head Coaches

Katie Berkopec (left) and Abby Hengesback (right) are entering their first season as head coach. Photo Credit: benueagles.com Tim Folliard - Sports Editor When the 2021 athletic season begins, there will be new head coaches on the sidelines. Abby Hengesbach is taking over the women’s basketball team and Katie Berkopec is the new head coach …

Time to Bring Awareness to Domestic Abuse

Photo Credit: Courtesy Graphic Sara Molina - News Writer In 2019’s Annual Security Report, Benedictine reported multiple sexual assaults, including rape and forcible fondling over the last few years and another series of reports against the Violence Against Women Act, VAWA. Domestic Abuse Awareness Month is in October.  This is a month dedicated to the …

Big 10 Football Returns to Saturdays

Justin Fields and Ohio State will take the field for the first time on Saturday. Photo Credit: Getty Images Kevin Gallagher - Sports Writer With the Big Ten returning to action this week, college football will finally feel a little more like normal. Four of the big five football conferences are all playing this Saturday …

David vs. Goliath: World Series Preview

Randy Arozarena has helped lead the Tampa Bay Rays to the World Series. Photo Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Logan Shepard - Sports Writer In a season full of unpredictability, the playoffs proved to be more of the same. The Los Angeles Dodgers will be battling the underdog Tampa Bay Rays to take home all the …

BenU Athletics Handle Growing COVID-19 Cases

Photo Credit: ben.edu Anna Fisher - News Writer At least twelve Benedictine Athletes have tested positive for coronavirus since the start of the semester. But the University is working to prevent and hinder the spread of the virus, while enabling athletes to practice. Three baseball students tested positive for the virus, quarantining Ondrak residents earlier …

NBA Bubble was a Major Success

Los Angeles Lakers won their 17th NBA title during the NBA playoffs that took place in Orlando, Florida. Photo Credit: Los Angeles Lakers/Dougleas P. DeFelice Chase Olson - Sports Writer The NBA bubble restart delivered on expectations by putting on the best playoffs of all time. Back in March, the NBA was the first major …

Best Farms to Visit this Fall

Photo Credit: Stades Farm Amber Syed - Scene Editor This Fall season there’s a lot of outdoor activities to do, but the one that's a go to for a lot of people is going to farms. There are tons of cute and trendy pictures to take and activities for all ages. All Seasons Orchard in …

Easy Halloween Costumes Straight Out of Your Closet

Aber Syed - Scene Editor This year has been flying by which means Halloween will be here before we even realize it. With the restrictions due to COVID-19, no one wants to go out and buy an expensive costume. Here are a few looks you could create with what you already have at home! The …

How has COVID-19 Affected Students and Faculty?

Photo Credit: ben.edu Kaitlyn Estopare - News Writer COVID-19 has affected many people and communities across the world. Issues such as the economy falling, unemployment due to closures, or shortages of cleaning supplies, one of the more strenuous issues is within schools. Although Benedictine University is taking big strides to provide a safe school year, …

Benedictine Alumna Speaks on New District 202 Hybrid Learning Model

Photo Credit: Nicole Jeffrey Kathy Karagiannis - News Writer Plainfield School District 202 announced students will return to in-person learning starting late October 2020-January 2021. Teachers are working efficiently to ensure the safety of all their students’ return back to the classroom. Benedictine University alumna, and Plainfield Central High School physics teacher, Nicole Jeffrey expresses …

November 3rd Matters, Vote!

Photo Credit: cfgreateratlanta.org Sanampreet Kaur Bhullar - Perspectives Writer We live in disturbing times. While many of us might disagree on many political positions, it is crucial to admit that the times that we are living in are fraught with disagreement. It seems like, day after day, two political parties are in the midst of …

ACE Center – BenU’s Hidden Gem

Photo Credit: Unsplash Sajina Jacobs - News Writer The Academic and Career Enrichment Center (ACE) is an invaluable tool for Benedictine students. They are dedicated to helping provide necessary accommodations to students with disabilities and the student body as a whole by providing career workshops, tutoring, and other study skills courses. Even now with most …

Bears Set to Square Off Against the Panthers

Nick Foles led the Bears to a 20-19 win agaisnt the Buccaneers. Photo Credit: USA Today Logan Shepard - Sports Writer After a huge win against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, the 4-1 Bears head to Charlotte to play the 3-2 Carolina Panthers. The Panthers are coming off a seven-point win against the Atlanta Falcons. …

Benedictine Athletic Teams Continue to Train

Benedictine sports teams can now train in groups of up to 50 athletes. Photo Credit: Benedictine University Tim Folliard - Sports Editor As the leaves are changing on campus, restrictions on athletic teams are changing as well. Teams on campus are now able to practice in groups of up to 50. For the first two …

Presidential Debate: Worse Than We Thought

Photo Credit: CNN.com Sara Molina - News Writer The first presidential debate of 2020 took place on Tuesday September 29.  The debate was held in Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.  Candidates included Republican Donald Trump, Democratic Joe Biden, with moderator Chris Wallace. The presidential debate can only be described as painful and chaotic according …

Self-Care for Your Mental Health

The Counseling Center provides students resources that they can use, including Wellness Wednesday presentations. Photo Credit: Muscular Dystrophy News Today Tim Folliard - Sports Editor Mental health is a key component of your life that often gets put on the back burner. In the chaos of being a college student, it is important to be …

WHO to Host Mental Health Advocacy Event

Photo Credit: Dan Meyers/Unsplash Anna Fisher - News Writer The World Health Organization (WHO) will host their first online global advocacy event for World Mental Health Day October 10. Anyone can tune in through WHO’s Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, TikTok, or LinkedIn channels starting at 9 am CST. The three-hour event will bring in mental health …

Drive Thru Haunted Houses – New Way to Scare

Photo Credit: timeout.com Amber Syed - Scene Editor Most people have all thought haunted houses would be impossible to have this year but fortunately haunted houses and drive thru haunted houses will be open this year. Some of the haunted houses from last year will still be open this year with proper safety precautions. 13th …

Trump Drives by his Supporters

Photo Credit: npr.org Amber Syed - Scene Editor President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and came out to the public on Friday night revealing his positive test result. According to NPR, he then flew out to Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda. President Trump had multiple symptoms including: fever, …

Blind Justice: Breonna Taylor Shooting Indictment

Photo Credit: Derek Kouyoumjian - digboston.com Kathy Karagiannis - News Writer Louisville, KY- Moments after the Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against two of the Louisville police for the death of Breonna Taylor, protestors then took the streets Wednesday night. Many activists expressed their continued anger over the killings of several Black lives taken …

Hadid is finally a Mother

Photo Credit: Gigi Hadid's Instagram Amber Syed - Scene Editor Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik welcomed their new baby girl into the world last week. According to Elle, Hadid gave birth in New York and then moved back to her new penthouse to recover with Malik, Malik’s mom, and Hadid's family. Hadid’s mother, Yolanda, is …

Student-Athletes and Mental Health

Athletes are raising awareness for mental health. Photo Credit: ToledoLibrary.org Tim Folliard - Sports Editor There is a wave of athletes speaking out about mental health. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott made headlines for talking about his mental health struggles that he has recently faced. His struggles stemmed from his mother’s fight with cancer and …

Bears Make a Change

Nick Foles came in off the bench to lead the Bears to a comeback victory. Photo Credit: John Bazemore/AP Logan Shepard - Sports Writer The game against the Atlanta Falcons was much of what Bears fans have seen over the last two games and the entire last season. Watching their team fall behind game after …

#BoycottMulan Sparks an Uprising

Photo Credit: John MacDougall - Getty Images Sajina Jacobs - News Writer "Boycott Mulan," has been trending on several social media platforms according to Instagram and Twitter, but many users are unaware of its origins. The hashtag arose from the Pro-Hong Kong Police beliefs of the movie's lead, Liu Yifei, to controversial decisions Disney made; …

Internet Outages Throughout the U.S.

Photo Credit: abc.net.au Sanampreet Kaur Bhullar - Perspectives Writer Internet outages by leading internet service providers, such as Xfinity and AT&T, have been reported these past few weeks. With a majority of individuals at home, the means to stay connected and informed has turned digital, but as a result, outages have become increasingly common.  In …

Notorious RBG – A Fight of a Life

Photo Credit: Steve Petteway Sara Molina - Perspectives Writer Crowds gathered around the Supreme Court this weekend in honor of Ruth Bader Ginsburg after her passing from pancreatic cancer on Friday. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, or Notorious RBG, has served on the Supreme court for 27 years and during that time has fought for gender …

New TikTok Deal

Photo Credit: nytimes.com Amber Syed - Scene Editor The debate on banning TikTok is a highly controversial one. It’s a previously Chinese owned social media platform and according to CNN Business, the threat to ban TikTok was pushed back by one week, to the end of the day on September 27. Over the weekend a …

Bears Slay Giants

Photo Credit: John J. Kim, Chicago Tribune Tim Folliard - Sports Editor CHICAGO - The Bears joined eleven remaining undefeated teams in the NFL after beating the Giants 17 to 13. All the Bears points were scored in the first half and they never trailed. It was the first game of the season played at …

Sox Return to Playoffs

Photo Credit: AP/Aaron Doster Logan Shepard - Sports Writer Chicago - For the first time in twelve years the White Sox are heading to the post season as they are the first team in the American League to clinch a post season bid. They are in a battle with the Tampa Bay Rays for the …

Hispanic Heritage Week

Photo Credit: springfielddowntown.com Anna Fisher - News Writer The Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) hosted 4 virtual events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage last week. To adapt to current structures, the events were “pure Zoom,” as stated by ALAS President Jennifer Castañeda.   On Sept. 16, ALAS and the Black Student Union hosted Dr. Vanessa …

Rising Covid-19 Cases on Illinois College Campuses

Photo Credit: Daily Nonpareil - Getty Images Syeda Saberi - News Editor Illinois health officials reported nearly 1,360 new Covid cases bringing the total statewide Covid count to 277,266. University campuses in Illinois are seeing a similar trend as more students are testing positive for Covid-19 since returning to campus. The University of Illinois in …

Candor Clips – What’s Going on out West?

Syeda Saberi - News Editor Photo Credit: Eric Risberg - Associated Press West Coast Wildfires West coast wildfire season has started and states like Oregon, Idaho, California and Washington are covered in thick smoke and orange skies. Health officials at NOAA’s National Weather Service have labeled this as a critical and elevated risk and warn …

Adapting to the Changes Around Us

Sanampreet Kaur Bhullar - News Writer Photo Credit: chicago.comcast.com We have all lived under the global pandemic for most of this year and continue to face the harsh realities and uncertainties surrounding COVID-19. At this moment, we cannot control or predict the spread of the virus. Each event cancelled or rescheduled is a loss of …

Bears Claw Back to Beat the Lions

Logan Shepard - Sports Writer The Chicago Bears started the season off with a 27-23 win against the Detroit Lions. Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky led the comeback as he threw three touchdown passes in the final quarter. After a disappointing 8-8 season, the Bears acquired Nick Foles from the Jacksonville Jaguars. This move gave Trubisky …

Ties to Slavery Leads to Statue Removal

Tim Folliard - Sports Editor Photo Credit: Dave Kettering, Telegraph Herald DUBUQUE, IA - Loras College has removed a statue of its founder, Bishop Mathias Loras, after new research confirmed that he was a slave owner. Bishop Loras owned a slave from 1836 to 1852. The slave, Marie Louise, was purchased in Mobile, Alabama. Bishop …

Stanley Cup Playoffs Heating Up

Kevin Gallagher - Sports Writer Photo Credit: Gerry Thomas, USA Today The Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing with the Conference Finals currently taking place.  This postseason has been a weird one due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.  Like the NBA, the NHL also used a bubble format. The NHL had one bubble for …

Coronavirus Myths v. Facts

Amber Syed - Scene Editor Above is a map of the United States with the different colors signifiying the severity of COVID-19 by state. Photo Credit: wamu.com COVID-19 has changed a lot of norms for everyone and scientists are still learning more about this virus. Many people believe there is already a vaccine available. Although …

Kardashians Canceled After 20 Seasons

Amber Syed - Scene Editor Photo Credit: U.S.sun.com Keeping Up with the Kardashians announced their last season will air in 2021. Their 20th season will air 14 years after their first episode. Kim Kardasian posted a throwback photo on her Instagram captioning it “Our last season will air early next year in 2021." She also …

COVID-19 case on campus, resident

The follow is an email sent Wednesday, Sept. 9 from the university: -------------- All, The welfare and safety of our community during this time is Benedictine University’s primary concern. We are writing to inform you of a recent development related to COVID-19. The University has consulted with local public health officials, reviewed recommendations from the CDC …

Sox Bounce Back

Miguel Sano running home after a failed rundown, which gave then a 5-1 lead. Photo Credit: suntimes.com Logan Shepard - Sports Writer The White Sox have been one of the hottest teams in the MLB with a 22-13 record were on top of the AL central coming into the Minnesota Twins three-game series. Everyone has …

A Letter to the Editor

Acquired from Syeda Saberi - News Editor From: Dr. Kenneth Newbold (Provost) I am excited to be joining the Benedictine University community at this unprecedented time in history. Since beginning as Provost and Chief Academic Officer in May, I have felt welcomed and have worked to form relationships across the university. It has been a …

New Dining Experience on Campus

BenUeats photo wall. Left to Right: Jen Manola, Director of Dining Services and Blake Masterson, Sous Chef. Photo Credit: Kaitlyn Estopare Kaitlyn Estopare - News Writer The Benedictine University dining services have been modified over the summer to provide a fun, vibrant and safe way to dine. In order to create a safer dining experience, …

Gigi Hadid’s Pregnancy Update

Gigi Hadid's pregnancy photoshoot. Photo Credit: cosmopolitan.com Amber Syed - Scene Perspective One of the biggest announcements in the world of modeling and fashion during quarantine had to be Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik announcing their first pregnancy. They both have been keeping the pregnancy on the quiet side, but since their announcement everyone has …

Selena Gomez releases ‘Rare Beauty’

Photo Credit: cosmopolitan.com Amber Syed - Scene Editor Selena Gomez just launched her new beauty line, Rare Beauty, on Sep. 3. You can find it  Sephora stores or online at Rare Beauty.com. The story behind her makeup line is to make girls feel like they are not alone in life when society pressures them to …

Sports and Social Justice

Photo Credit: NCAA.org Tim Folliard - Sports Editor The NCAA has approved student-athletes in all sports to have messages on the back of their uniform to support social justice issues. In addition to the messages, athletes can have a patch on the front of their uniforms to show support as well. Patches on the front …

Everything You Need to Know About the new BenU Model

Photo Credit: ben.edu Syeda Saberi - News Editor Benedictine University welcomed Kenneth F. Newbold, Jr., Ph.D. as the new provost as of May 2020 and has been communicating with students and faculty over the past few months  to introduce the new teaching models, which provides guidelines on how the Fall 2020 semester will work amidst …

Kenosha Shootings Spark More Debates on Racism by Authorities

Photo Credit: adn.com Syeda Saberi - News Editor The shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha Wisconsin this past Sunday sparked an outburst of BLM protests in the area. Blake who remains paralyzed but is out of critical condition was shot 7 times in the back by officers as he was reaching into his vehicle. State …

Sports Pushed Back to 2021

Photo Credit: benueagles.com Tim Folliard - Sports Editor Benedictine Athletics announced that all events scheduled until December 31 would be postponed until 2021. The announcement comes after the NACC and many other Division III conferences making the same decision. The sports that have had competitions postponed include: Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Track & …

2020 Back-to-School Outfits

Amber Syed - Scene Editor Back to school is looking very different in 2020, but new trends never stop coming, especially with the opportunity to match them with new trendy masks. With all that is trending here are my top picks for your back-to-school outfits: Athleisure The first go-to outfit is the athletic look. It …