Stars talk about COVID-19 Vaccine

Photo Credit: pharmaceuticaltechnologies.com Amber Syed - Scene Editor With the COVID-19 vaccine being available since last month, many stars that we see on television have already received the vaccine. Here's a few of the people who received it and had something to say about it. President-elect Joe Biden, received his first dose of the vaccine …

Reflection on Modern Anti-Racism

Photo Credit: Pixabay Anna Fisher - News Editor The Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion hosted the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast Monday. The keynote speaker was community organizer LaTosha Brown whose talk focused on three evils Dr. King fought: racism, poverty, and militarism. “I appreciate Ms. Brown's honesty, in saying that we …

2021 Sports Guide

There are currently 160 athletic competitions scheduled for the 2021 season. The first was played on January 14th. Photo Credit: benueagles.com Tim Folliard - Sports Editor As chaotic as the 2020 athletic season was...2021 will start off on a similar foot. All of the competitions will be held without fans for at least the foreseeable …

BenU Campus Expands Testing

Photo Credit: Benedictine University Website Kaitlyn Estopare - Staff Writer To “Protect Our Flock”, the Benedictine University expanded mandatory COVID testing, according to an email from the BenU COVID Response Team on Sunday. “Testing will include all Benedictine residents and student-athletes (commuters included) as well as select faculty and staff,” said the COVID-19 Response Team. …

Lil Uzi Vert Heartbroken over Rihanna

Photo Credit: Compex.com Amber Syed - Scene Editor Most people know Lil Uzi Vert is a huge fan of Rihanna. Some people might even say he’s a little bit obsessed. Out of the millions of his instagram followers he only followed Rihanna, not to mention he would wear her merch and clothes with her face …

NACC Uncertain About 2021 Season

Photo Credit: naccsports.org Tim Folliard - Sports Editor Across the country, very few Division III schools have been playing basketball. Adrian College in Michigan and Trine University in Indiana are the only nearby Division III schools that have played more than one game this season. Benedictine’s conference, the NACC, has not announced anything about the …

Unwillingness to Concede, but Still Proceed

Photo Credit: CNN Politics Kathy Karagiannis - Staff Writer While President Donald Trump’s final days are numbered in the White House, the construction process for President-elect Joe Biden’s Inauguration is soon underway. Despite Trump’s unwillingness to concede, the transition remains in progress. “The 46th President of the United States will be sworn in on Wednesday, Jan. …

Fun Things to do this Winter Break

Photo Credit: themarylhurstschoo.org Sanampreet Kaur Bhullar - Staff Writer With the Fall semester nearing the end, and finals coming up soon, many of us have already started planning out our Winter breaks. Whether your break is filled with studying, working, or simply relaxing, there’s always a need to take time off school and to focus …

Stress in Students Worsen During Pandemic

Photo Credit: Yellow Picture Studio/Getty Images Sara Molina - Staff Writer The mental health of college students has continuously been a concern.  With the introductions of COVID-19 pandemic, stress in U.S. students has increased profoundly. A survey study created and conducted in Texas A&M University researched how the pandemic has affected student’s well-being.  Among the …

Supply Shortages at COVID Testing Sites

Photo Credit: Jakayla Toney, Uplash Sajina Jacob - Staff Writer “I just wonder how much longer they can continue to do it.” Dr. Kathleen Beavis, a professor of pathology and the medical director for quality at the University of Chicago’s laboratories is overwhelmed by the number of individuals at COVID testing centers during this surge …

Why is Tuition the Same When Classes are Online?

Anna Fisher – Staff Writer This semester is marked by change: virtual classes, distanced athletics, frequent reminders to wear masks. However, tuition, housing, and course fees have not changed. Students may wonder why these charges are the same as last fall when the traditional college experience has been altered. “I don’t think it’s fair, because …

Residents and Reservations: The Semester in Review

Photo Credit: ben.edu Anna Fisher – Staff Writer The second-floor library is a quiet study space now. The practice rooms in Scholl play John Cage’s 4’ 33’ on repeat. The change to virtual space has meant changes in experience, and some students have concerns about what this semester has brought.  “I get very upset about …

The Other Side of the Coin: BU Professors Discuss Their Struggles with Online Learning

Photo Credit: almanacnews.com Syeda Saberi - News Editor The switch from in person learning to online learning has taken a toll on students and faculty alike. While several students have voiced their concerns with tuition charges and altered learning experiences, faculty have also had their share of hurdles. Students have been frustrated with the workload …

Disappointing Bears Continue Downward Spiral

Preston Smith throws up deuces in the endzone after scoring to put the Packers up 27-3. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Tim Folliard - Sports Editor After starting the season with a record of 5-1, the Bears have gone 2020 mode and have lost the last five games. The most recent 16-point loss to the Packers especially …

Holiday Outfits 2020

Amber Syed - Scene Editor Below are my favorite outfits for the 2020 Holiday season: Anything Sparkly is never the wrong way to go. You could wear a sparkly dress or your favorite sparkly sweater with jeans. Pair it with your favorite booties or nude heels. For accessories keep it simple and wear your favorite …

Hurricanes Add More Damage to Central America

Photo Credit: Delmar Martinez Sara Molina - Staff Writer Two weeks after Hurricane Eta, category 5 Hurricane Iota landed in Central America Nov. 16 causing more damage to those already affected. Over 40 deaths have been confirmed in Nicaragua, where Hurricane Iota made landfall, with more than 400,000 people effected by the storm and in …

Holiday Season Restrictions Underway

Photo Credit: Fox Lake, IL - Official Website Kathy Karagiannis - Staff Writer As the holiday season soon approaches, cases continue to arise throughout all of Illinois as the anticipated resurgence heads nationwide. Due to the newly effective mitigations upon us, typical holiday festivities celebrated need to be done differently this year. Illinois Governor J.B …

BenU Athletics on Pause Until 2021

Tim Folliard - Sports Editor As campus closes this week, Benedictine athletics are locking up as well until the next calender year. Sports will not be able to train and have a two month break before they are able to return to campus. In years past, winter and spring sports would continue their training period. …

New COVID Tests Reveal Better Results

Photo Credit: AP News Amber Syed - Scene Editor Just about 2 weeks ago, Pfizer announced their vaccine proved to be over 90% effective with 2 doses. Moderna announced last Monday, November 16th, that they created a two-dose vaccine that tested to be almost 95% effective. According to the New York Times, Moderna only released …

Trans Remembrance and Mia Green

Photo Credit: Hollie Adams, GQ Magazine Sajina Jacob - Staff Writer The Transgender Day of Remembrance is Friday, November 20. TDOR is an annual observance that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of violence. The day was started in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to …

Trump’s Twitter After the Election

Amber Syed - Scene Editor President Trump has always utilized Twitter to express his thoughts. Regardless of how you feel about him, his tweets are highly controversial and are constantly fact-checked because they are false or often misleading. Here is a list of tweets that took place after the election.  On November 5, President Trump …

Rivera Hired as Men’s Track & Field Coach

Gabe Rivera will now coach the men's track & field team. He started his coaching career at College of Dupage and UIC. Photo Credit: benueagles.com Tim Folliard - Sports Editor Gabe Rivera has been hired as the new men’s track & field head coach. Rivera returns to Illinois from sunny southern California, where he was …

Claims of Voter Fraud

Photo Credit: WBOY.com/news Kaitlyn Estopare - Staff Writer From the beginning of the Presidential campaigns, this election term has been hectic, to say the least. The presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Joe Biden have been battling head to head to secure the honor of being the President of the United States. Starting on Tuesday, November …

COVID-19 Getting the Best of College Football

Alabama had their game last Saturday against LSU cancelled due to COVID-19. It was one of the many games to be cancelled so far this season. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis Kevin Gallagher - Sports Writer College football programs are struggling to keep the virus from affecting their season.  Many teams have had games …

Eagles Hire Two New Coaches

Jordan Atkins (left) and Zontavius Johnson (right) are the new head coaches for Benedictine XC and Track and Field. Photo Credit: benueagles.com Tim Folliard - Sports Editor Jordan Atkins and Zontavius Johnson have both recently been named head coaches here at Benedictine. Atkins will be coaching men’s and women’s cross country and Johnson will be …

Bears Hope to Bounce Back Against Vikings

Foles and the offense have struggled in the past few games. Photo Credit: Ben Margot/AP Logan Shepard - Sports Writer The Bears are starting to sound like a broken record. The offense was struggling, and the defense was paying for it. The Bears are looking ahead in their schedule to take on the Minnesota Vikings …

Will There Be a Vaccine Soon?

Photo Credit: washingtonpost.com Amber Syed - Scene Editor Pfizer and BioNtech announced, earlier this week, that they found their vaccine to be over 90% effective in phase 3.  Their study includes 43,538 participants, of which 43% have diverse backgrounds. Ater comparing the participants who received the placebo compared to participants who received the second dose …

Election Results: What We Know Now

Photo Credit: Scott Olson/Chip Somodevilla Sara Molina - Staff Writer "I am humbled by the trust and confidence you have placed in me. I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify. Who doesn’t see red and blue states, but a United States. And who will work with all my …

Pritzker Moves to Phase 2

Syeda Saberi - News Editor America has once again hit a Covid-19 record with nearly one million hospitalizations as of this November. This second wave is supposedly bigger and more widespread than the first and is projected to increase in the next few days. Officials at the Harvard University’s infectious diseases research center say that, …

Thanksgiving Outfits 2020

Amber Syed - Scene Editor With the start of November, the holiday season has officially begun. Here are a few quick outfits to piece together for a stylish thanksgiving look or any other holiday party look.  Sweater and skirt combo is perfect to still use your summer skirts. You could pair a plain white or …

Political Satire: Where Do We Draw The Line?

Photo Credit: Roselle D. Quiao Kathy Karagiannis - Staff Writer Film and television commonly illustrate many historical and political content into context. Whether left-wing or right-wing, the variety of news outlets cater to both sides. While nightly news and publications aim for a more-so stern outlook, late-night shows deliver the reality of American politics with …

Week 10 College Football Preview

#4 Notre Dame squares off against #1 Clemson. Clemsin will be without Trevor Lawrence, who has COVID-19. Credit: Justin Berl/Getty Images Kevin Gallagher - Sports Writer There are plenty of games to watch this Saturday especially with the MAC returning to play.  The top game for Saturday will be #1 Clemson vs #4 Notre Dame. …

How the NFL is Tackling COVID-19

The Chicago Bears have had one player put on the COIVID-19 reserve list since July and are currently playing home games with no fans. Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune Tim Folliard - Sports Editor With the conclusion of Monday’s game, the NFL has officially completed half of their 2020 regular season. The 119 total games that …

Weekly COVID Tests for Athletes and Residents Begin

Anna Fisher - Staff Writer Benedictine residents and student athletes are now tested for COVID weekly on Thursday mornings in Rice after a procedural change to the “Protect Our Flock” initiative that began Oct. 26. The University partnered with Loop Medical Center for nasal swab tests. The self-administered surveillance tests are free, covered by students’ …

Who is Most Likely to Win?

Photo Credit: AFP Syeda Saberi - News Editor Voters have flooded the mailboxes and the voting polls to submit their last-minute votes for this year’s presidential election. While it may still be too early to predict who will be given the Presidential title, it seems that Biden is in the lead. Each president needs 270 …

Post-Election Violence Threat Looms Over the U.S.

Photo Credit: Pawel Janiak Sajina Jacobs - Staff Writer With the election happening, there are an increasing number of people worrying for their safety. Messages containing threats of murder and rioting have been spreading across all media platforms. Cities are preparing for protests, civil unrest, and other acts of violence regardless of the election’s outcome, …

Make or Break: Third-Party Voters

Photo Credit: Roman Voytko Barr Kathy Karagiannis - News Writer With the 2020 Presidential Election soon underway, the stakes are high and tensions are rising. The Washington Post exclaimed early-voting numbers have hit a record high with more than 60 percent of voters either sending in mail ballot or attending in-person polls. While some voters …

Professional Sports Encourage America to Vote

The NFL and NBA have been raising awareness for Americans to get out and vote in this year's election. Photo Pool Credit:Pool Photo/USA Today, Tommy Ljugbald/KC Star, Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images, Garrett Ellwood/NBAE, NFL.com/votes Tim Folliard - Sports Editor This Presidential Election has grabbed almost every part of American life and sports are included in …

Graduated Income Tax and Fair Tax: What Does it Mean?

Photo Credit: Olga DeLawrence Sajina Jacobs - News Writer Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has proposed changes to Illinois’ tax code, promoting a constitutional amendment to allow a graduated-rate income tax and proposing a new rate and bracket structure, according to Taxfoundation.org. Graduated income tax is a flat tax rate regardless of how much money you …

Election Day: What’s on the Ballot?

Photo Credit: yesmagazine.org Sara Molina - News Writer The Presidential Election is this Tuesday, Nov. 3rd.  Voters will need to know how to fill out the ballot for their respective county and vote for who they believe best fits each individual position. The DuPage ballot includes 9 categories with 14 sub-categories: -Federal, for President and …

Why Vote? 4 Common Excuses and Rebuttals

Photo Credit: Josh Fisher Esq. Anna Fisher - News/Perspectives Writer Don’t let the mire of politics or shoddy excuses keep you from voting. Below are some of the most common reasons students won’t vote and some reasons to reach beyond excuses. Confusion Perhaps you’re confused: you don’t know how and where to vote. You don’t …

Bears Might be in Trouble

Nick Foles and the offense struggled this past Monday against the L.A. Rams. Photo Credit: Kevin Kuo/AP Photo Logan Shepard - Sports Writer The Bears look to get rid of the bad taste in their mouth after losing to the rams 24-10 last Monday. The game was not something the Bears offense wants to talk …

Getting to Know the Candidates: 2020 Election

Photo Credit: wbez.org Amber Syed - Scene Editor Elections are next week, and it is your right as an American citizen to go out and vote. You should vote for what you stand for, believe in and think would best benefit American society. Below is a list of candidates for Dupage county along with 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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …