The Alvernian- Vol 60, Issue 1

Alvernia News

Celebrating The Past and Present During Black History Month

Sherrin Smith

Contributing

Writer

February is known for two things: love season for some and Black History Month for others. What these two have in common is that the same words and faces are shared every year. As a member of the black community, I believe it is important to know that black history is not just Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech and Rosa Parks’ act of resistance on a bus during the era of segregation. Black History Month is a time to celebrate and recognize all the milestones that members of the black community have accomplished, even the ones made today.

Recently, Fisk University, a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), made history. The women’s gymnastics team, which consists of all black members, became the first HBCU gymnastics team to compete on the NCAA level. The arrival of Fisk into NCAA gymnastics is a milestone for the black community. According to the NCAA (NCAA Demographics Database - NCAA.org), in 2022, across all divisions in the NCAA, there were only 8% black female gymnasts and 9% black male gymnasts that competed. Representation matters, and Fisk University did just that during their last competition.

To continue with the “Black Girl Magic,” Kamala Harris became the first black and south Asian woman to be placed on a presidential ballot and be elected Vice President of the United States. I remember watching her being inaugurated in January of 2021 and thinking “what a moment in history to witness.” To not only see

a woman in power, but a black woman in power proved to me that black women can do anything. Vice President Harris became a beacon to black women by encouraging them to go after leadership roles.

Shortly thereafter, Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Once again, another powerful example of black history being made in modern time. The Super Bowl will also be making history this year. Super Bowl LVII will be the first time two black starting quarterbacks, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes, face off against each other in the league’s history. Besides the highly anticipated comeback of Rihanna, who is also the first black woman to own a cosmetics brand that is worth over one billion dollars, fans will be witnessing an historic game during Black History Month.

When asked how she feels witnessing impactful history, senior Jenna Philippe said, “when focusing on history made in the black community, we are growing to be more and more outspoken about the issues we face today, yet external forces are simultaneously growing stronger to silence those voices and to keep the black community down.” Those external forces include the American education system.

Despite history still being made, black history is usually poorly taught in classrooms around the country, if it is taught at all. Growing up, many of us only learned about Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, and usually not about their more radical statements and views. Today, young black people rely on social

media to teach them their history because it’s not being taught in their classrooms. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently banned Advanced Placement African American studies from schools statewide. DeSantis’ ban sparked an outcry and a high demand for this ban to be overturned in the name of black history being American history.

Navigator, Tyler Kearney-Good, commented on how the education system can improve in teaching black history. “I would like to see Black history taught as just history. There is so much that isn’t taught that is important to the development of our country today. Even today, black people and black culture have obvious influences om pop culture and vernacular,” she said.

The more things change in America, the more they stay the same. America’s sad history of racism and discrimination continues to harm people in the present. The fear of black men still exists, the unequal treatment in predominantly black schools is still occurring, and the underappreciation for black women is experienced every day. The promise of this country that all people should be treated equally is still not met, and efforts to conceal the long history of America’s failure to meet its promises have

only intensified as more “forgotten history” is being publicized. Luckily, unheard stories are being displayed, mainly in movies. For instance, “Hidden Figures” highlights three “computers,” Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughn who assisted NASA with its first mission of orbiting the Earth, the movie “Harriet,” tells the true story of Harriet Tubman and how the Underground Railroad was the name of an abolitionist group. Simple inventions have been created by black people.

Frederick McKinley Jones patented the first refrigeration system in 1940 to transport frozen food and produce. Garrett Morgan was responsible for creating hair straighteners for black people, the first known breathing mask for miners and firefighters, and the traffic light. Small things that we don’t usually think about or appreciate came from the minds of black inventors.

It is important to stay in the know about what events contribute to this country’s history. So, as you go throughout Black History Month this year, take the time to learn of other figures that brought us to where we are today and appreciate the ones continuing the legacy of those before us.

Vice President Kamala Harris being inaugurated in 2021

Credit: Kevin Tanenbaum via Flickr

EntErtainmEnt

the alvernian

Managing Editor/ Layout

Sarah Mies

Section Editors

Kevin Kazokas

Aleksandra Kolenikova

Yesenia Maldonado

Sarah Mies

Cole Schlappich

Contributing Writers

Dareen Alanazi

Michkeel Allen

Samantha August

Taralle Hayden

Kevin Kazokas

Aleksandra Kolesnikova

Yesenia Maldonado

Sarah Mies

Tony Mongeluzi

Steven Pierce

Melanie SanchezGonzalez

Cole Schlappich

Peter Smith

Sherrin Smith

Atticus Wickert

Faculty Adviser

Ryan Lange

“You’re a Radical, Harry”

Peter Smith Contributing Writer

Everyone knows who Harry Potter is. People the world over have read the books, seen the movies, or visit amusement park attractions. However, the original creator, J.K. Rowling, is not received as warmly. It has gotten to the point where many fans are choosing to boycott the upcoming video game, Hogwarts Legacy.

Joanne Kathleen Rowling, the author of the original seven Harry Potter novels, has come under fire in the past few years for her stance on transgender individuals. Scrolling through her Twitter history, you can find numerous links to news articles, memes, and tweets related to bigotry, crime, and the trans community. Many of these political opinions are based on her past experiences of being a domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor.

real, there’s no same-sex attraction,” Rowling said. “If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.”

The Alvernian is the official student newspaper of Alvernia University.

To contact newspaper staff, the office telephone number is 610-796-8358.

Articles submitted for consideration into The Alvernian should be written in some semblance of AP style. Letters to the editor, requests for advertisements, and general comments and questions may be submitted to ryan.lange@alvernia.edu.

The editors reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, accuracy, and length.

The views expressed in The Alvernian are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the student body, faculty, staff, administration, or sponsors.

Although she claims that trans people pose no threat and deserve protection, many of Rowling’s remarks hold a hint of transphobia. For instance, in 2020, Rowling wrote in a 4,000word blog post, “When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he’s a woman... then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside.”

One of her most controversial statements came from her Twitter account. “If sex isn’t

These views have become very controversial, earning many likes but also plenty of backlash in the replies from the LGBTQ+ community. Mainly transgender persons and allies. Many Wizarding World fans even expressed their disappointment of supporting a TERF, trans-exclusionary radical feminist, and having the reputation of this wonderful fantasy series ruined. Even the actors who portrayed Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Newt Scamander spoke out. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Eddie Redmayne have all criticized the author and shown their support for the LGBTQ+ community. It appears Rowling does not care about losing

fans due to this, though. To quote her Twitter, “Deeply amused by those telling me I’ve lost their admiration to the disrespect I show violent, duplicitous rapists. I shall file your lost admiration carefully in the box where I keep my missing f---s.” Despite her opinions, this snarky defense against the criticism garnered positive attention.

Because of Rowling’s political views, many have called for a boycott of the new video game, Hogwarts Legacy. Hogwarts Legacy is an action RPG that lets players live out their dreams of being a Hogwarts student and exploring the Wizarding World during a period before the events of the novels. However, Warner Bros. has confirmed that not only is Rowling not involved in the project, but there are also more universal character customization options to allow for trans wizards. So why the boycott?

This may just be a case of people being unable to separate creator from

creation. For some people, it is easy. Many 90s kids still adore Ren & Stimpy for its zany humor but shun the cartoon’s creator, John Kricfalusi, for being a sexual abuser. In this case, however, it may be harder to separate J.K. Rowling from Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts. Her name is on the cover, clear as day.

Ever since 1997, the Wizarding World franchise has touched many people’s hearts, and the release of Hogwarts Legacy proves it will not be stopping anytime soon. The conflict of feelings towards the creation vs. creator can make people feel upset or guilty for supporting someone with differing, controversial political stances. You can buy the game, or you can boycott it. However, what matters most is understanding the whole situation and showing your support to those that need it.

Hogwarts Legacy is available now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC and is coming soon to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Will you be playing?

Editor’s Book of the Month

The House Behind The Cedars by Charles W. Chesnutt

As we end Black History Month and move into Women’s History Month, The House Behind the Cedars is a striking novel that tells of the hardships of a black woman in the early 1900s. It is sad and inspiring and a must read this month.

© 2022 The Alvernian

Hogwarts Castle at the Wizarding World in Universal Orlando

Credit: Carlos Cruz

A Renaissance of Video Game Movies

Peter Smith

Contributing Writer

For many years, Hollywood adaptations of video games have been... less than stellar. Just looking at their Rotten Tomatoes scores should say a lot about their quality. Street Fighter has a measly 11% Tomatometer score. Resident Evil: Apocalypse, 19%. There was even a Tekken adaptation that somehow managed 0%! But could the 2020s see a turning point for this genre of entertainment?

Adapting media into another form is far from a new concept. Conversions as common as comic books to cartoons or as rare as songs to movies are ever present in the entertainment industry. One of the most infamous conversions is video games to film.

One of the first mainstream adaptations was Super Mario Bros. in 1993. This film was essentially related to the Nintendo classic in name only. Instead of a colorful kingdom of blocks and mushrooms, the titular brothers are sent to a dinosaur-themed city in

an alternate dimension. This city is run by King Koopa and his reptilian Goomba henchmen. Keep in mind the original Goombas are based on chestnuts and shiitake mushrooms, not dinosaurs.

The film was an absolute flop. It did not make back its budget. It only scored 29% on Rotten Tomatoes and 35 on Metacritic. Despite its “so bad, it’s good” quality to some people, Super Mario Bros. still left a bad taste in the public’s mouth. Even actors Bob Hoskins and Dennis Hopper greatly regret starring in this film!

The main problems with Super Mario Bros. and many video game adaptations after it are a flimsy or nonexistent plot and a weak connection to the source material. Many of these films, such as Mortal Kombat and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider opt for flashy action sequences and shove the story and character personalities to the wayside. They leave audiences confused, bored, and wanting to play the games instead.

However, one film would change this track record.

Detective Pikachu was based

on the Pokémon series, specifically a Nintendo 3DS spinoff of the same name. The film stars Justice Smith as Tim Goodman, a man who teams up with an English-speaking Pikachu, voiced by Ryan Reynolds, to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his father Harry.

Was the film perfect? No, but it was still a very fun time for both die-hard Pokémon fans and general audiences. Detective Pikachu was a box office success. It became one of the first international video game movies to earn and maintain a “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with 68% on the Tomatometer and a 79% audience score. How was it able to accomplish this? Forbes writer Scott Mendelson said it best in his review. “Detective Pikachu works because it’s a good movie first and a promising franchise-starter or a brand cash-in second.”

Most movies that came after seemed to take this advice and run with it. The Angry Birds Movie 2 greatly improved on the original and showed that comedic films based on mobile games can work. Both

Two friends playing video games

Sonic the Hedgehog movies were filled with humor, action, and creative ideas while still being faithful to the source material. And Werewolves

Within, despite bombing financially, is currently the highest rated video game movie of all time on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic! All of these films make sure to be faithful and engaging first and foremost. These films seek out to appeal to gamers with nods to their origins and grab nongamers’ attention with a fun or dramatic story.

Even Mario is getting a second chance with Illumination’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The teaser trailer introduces gorgeous animation, an all-star cast, and a much more faithful representation of the Mushroom Kingdom.

Music, Movies, and The Brain

Yesenia Maldonado

Contributing Editor

For a moment, think about the movie Jaws: A shark fin appears in the water and slowly inches closer. Then, you hear music slowly creep in, ‘da dum … da dum.’ Suddenly, the shark is now swimming alongside the boat, and three men stare down at it in fear. Now, think of the movie Rocky: as the iconic theme song plays, the training montage begins. He is running across the streets of Philadelphia and triumphantly makes it up those steps. Now, imagine both of those scenes without any music. It’s not quite the same.

Music’s effects on the human brain have been studied for centuries, and it’s an essential part of the way we experience movies. As music enters the brain, it increases our dopamine levels, which are connected to senses of pleasure and trigger our emotional responses. Essentially, your body is immediately aroused. And according to studies from Harvard Health, music activates areas of the brain associated with things like memory, reasoning, and

emotion.

It’s why hearing music in movies like Jaws can alert us and further be why we draw emotional connections with the situation we are presented with. As we are alerted by that low, eerie sound, we additionally become aware of it signaling the presence and predatory nature of the shark,

“It had the effect of grinding away, coming at you, just as a shark would do,”

John Williams, the composer for Jaws, stated, “instinctual, relentless, unstoppable.”

Jaws also incorporates a

musical motif, which is the recurring music and feeling that arrives during specific scenes, or in its case, the foreshadowing of the shark, making scenes more intense throughout the movie.

The role of music in movies both apply to the meaning of the story and manipulate our emotions. Whether the goal is to make us feel hopeful, sad, or scared, the music choices in a film further tell how capable a film is of conveying a specific theme, feeling, or connection with a character. It’s a way of further communicating with

the audience. For instance, we see this in many people’s interests in horror films. Why are we drawn to them? It is our interest in the uncanny.

The purpose of viewing horror films is to feed the fears, desires, and urges within our subconscious. And for the film to further impact us, the music plays a crucial role. Music can enhance the storytelling aspect. It guides the audience and enriches their experience emotionally,

“Music can work in powerful ways to evoke memories and ideas and thereby engage our thoughts

And that is not to mention the fanservice with the inclusion of the penguin army. Regardless of whether or not the film will be good, I have a strong feeling it will be better than the liveaction Super Mario Bros. from the 90s.

With this new track record, Hollywood adaptations of video games are entering a new era. Plenty more films are planned for the future, based on games such as Five Nights at Freddy’s, Portal, Space Channel 5, and Borderlands. Time will ultimately tell if these films will be any good, but this trend of video game movies getting better shows plenty of promise.

and feelings,” Nanette Nielson, a researcher in musicology, states, “Music can quite contribute to shaping the stories of our lives.”

Movies must use music to their advantage as we are entranced and led to specific moods. It makes the situation, setting, and what the characters are experiencing and feeling all that more real. It further shapes the narrative, immersing us in other lives and stories.

Ultimately, films and their music truly impact us. Its visuals tie in with sound, enhancing the emotion and immersion into a movie. We are engaged through the medium and its message. We must consider the movie’s purpose and music to fully obtain an experience and a feeling when watching a film. If anything, it feeds something already a part of us psychologically.

“Lights, Camera., Action!”

Credit: Jon Tyson via Unsplash

See The New Music Releases of 2023 So Far

Contributing Editor

Listening to any good music recently? If not, refresh your playlist for the new year with these new releases.

From rock to country to pop, artists did not wait to put out their music for 2023. The first album you should take the time to listen to is RUSH! by Maneskin. Maneskin is a new rock group that has gotten big after their cover of “Begging” went viral on TikTok. With this album they showed off their rock and roll sounds, but also have a mix of English and Italian vibes. Make sure you listen to these hits on the album, “BABY SAID”, “GOSSIP”, and “FEELS”.

“RUSH! truly represents a rejection of any kind of mold or stereotype, a phenomena Måneskin is known for. Not only are the bandmates’ fashion evolving, but so are their musical abilities; they are playing with different styles of playing their instruments that lie outside the hard rock genre. This album feels influenced by the likes of Conan Gray, Aerosmith and even The Weeknd’s more soulful, pop/R&B sound, all while creating a cohesive and powerful tone.” (North by

Northwestern)

The next album that only came out a few days ago is from Sam Smith, called Gloria. This album is full of pop and soul, talking about how to love yourself and love someone else with respect. Sam Smith has been quiet in the music industry, so it is a real pleasure to see him on the charts once again. The songs that should be checked out are, “No God”, “I am Not Here to Make Friends”, and “Perfect”.

The last album that has been rising on the charts, is by a country artist called HARDY. From his fans’ perspective, his album is quite different from his usual sound. His focus was more on metal with a slight mix of country for only this album. With the rock sound his album has been appealing to more than just country fans. Songs that have been given a lot of attention are “SOLD OUT”, “wait in the truck”, and “red”.

“Hardy is very reliable for standard issue male-sung radio country songs, including on this album with tracks like “beer” and “red,” and later the more rockified “TRUCK BED” and “THE REDNECK SONG.” No, the caps lock is not on the fritz, that’s Hardy’s punctuation to distinguish the country and rock songs. A split

personality is also evidenced in the songs irrespective of genre, with about half presented for commercial purposes, and the other half to flex Hardy’s creative muscles.” (Saving Country Music).

If you want to see other artists who have released this year, make sure you check out your music apps like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, or Amazon Music.

Music is not just sounds and vocals that are played at get-togethers or stores. It can also be a great outlet to help you with stress, especially for students in an incredibly stressful college life. When studying or doing homework in general, play some slow music, even classical or jazz music, to stimulate the brain into calmness. Especially if a college student is surrounded by a loud dorm, or cannot seem to concentrate, music is a perfect way to escape the busy life and make you grounded.

It is scientifically supported that music is the best way to study. Florida National University put out an article about how much music has so many benefits, they said “ Rather than distracting college students, a Stanford study found that ‘“music moves [the] brain to pay attention’.”

Researchers utilized musical compositions from the 1800s in their study and found that “music engages the areas of the brain involved with paying attention, making predictions and updating the event in memory” (Baker). They believe that music choice was influential in brain processing, revealing, “The goal of the study was to look at how the brain sorts out events, but the research also revealed that musical techniques used by composers 200 years ago help the brain organize incoming information” (Baker). Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven can help students categorize information, which is an influential asset to studying. Listening to a specific song while studying can be a perfect way to remember certain terms or definitions, as you can sing the song in your head

Depression Among College Students

Melanie Sanchez Gonzalez Contrbuting Writer

Communication majors have it easy, some students may say. Why would they be worried or depressed? Meanwhile, those nursing majors have it the worst they are always crying and complaining somewhere in a corner.

There was a story about a guy who was a communication major that was watching a tv show in the library after taking what he thought was an easy 10 question exam. When all of a sudden, he heard someone crying. When he approached the person, it was a nursing student with her phone in her hands crying because she received her exam grade. When he asked her what she received she said an “76%”. He was confused because he thought that was a good grade until he learned that a 76% is a failing grade in the nursing department. It was at the moment when he realized how hard some students have it at school and how grateful he was that he was a communications

major.

The stereotype that communication is a stressfree major and nursing is the hardest is only an opinion. It is not true. All students who are in college face stress that can do them harm.

Depression in students affects their mental health whether they are a first year or a senior. Many college students leave their comfort zone to enter a new environment and it can affect them emotionally, physically, and mentally.

Mental health is a key factor in undergoing changes in college students. In some cases, people start college to

make their parents proud. Many college students at Alvernia in particular are the first in their family to attend college, but everyone has their own reasons to be here. It is extremely important to identify your weaker suits when beginning college because if it does not get recognized it can become deeper. Depression can be caused by trauma in the past or even in the present. Some examples could be something happening back at home, relationships, or friendships. Oftentimes pain and depression can create a vicious cycle in which pain worsens symptoms of

depression (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2019). It is crucial to identify symptoms of depression because they can lead to greater defects over time.

“I was extremely depressed when I first started school because it was a new journey that I had to face alone” Nicole Sanchez Depression can affect your body and your mind. That is why it is important to listen to your body and know when you need rest or when it’s time to reach out to a trusted individual. “In prolonged stress, not only do mental symptoms such as anguish and depression develop but physical symptoms also arise.” (Wasserman, 2011). It is important to recognize what your body is telling you. It is important to take care of yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally. College is hard no matter the major. It can be hard for students to communicate their needs because they are far from home and don’tAlvernia University offers counseling services, the

during the exam, and the brain can more rapidly recall the last time you studied with that song playing.

Music can be played anywhere. From going to the gym, studying, in the shower, at parties, and in cars. It is the perfect sound to fill in awkwardness, spark up interest and conversation, or help with unexplainable emotions or feelings. The next time your workload gets a bit too much, put your headphones in and let music zone out the world.

Make sure to check out the new albums and new hits. The new year is already jam-packed with sound and will give you a great start to using your headphones.

counseling center is staffed by a licensed psychologist and counseling intern. Mental health counselors are available, and the university offers screening for those who are struggling emotionally. Home techniques to help with feelings of depression. Talking to a close trusted friend or family member, set up an appointment to see a counselor, or write in a journal. There are also therapeutic techniques that allow you to relax, such as going for a walk, coloring, listening to music, and or doing something you have a passion for. Whatever you find that brings you peace will allow you to overcome those feelings of sadness. Always remember that Alvernia University cares for the well being of their students and are here to help. Feeling hopeless or depressed? Text ruOK to 484.816.ruOK (7865)

Student overwhelmed by schoolwork Credit:

Alvernia student, Elizabeth Klein using music to help her study

Credot: Alek Kolenikova

Alek Kolesnikova

The Value of an Internship

Yesenia Maldonado

Contributing Editor

What are your plans after college? This is a daunting question for many students as they consider what is next after years of studying,

“The transition from campus to career can be overwhelming,” Karen Piraino, the Executive Director of Career Development, said, “The more prepared you are for this transition, the more successful it will be.”

Internships play a critical role in shaping one’s career path. An internship allows you to work in a professional environment to apply and develop professional skills. Being able to work for an organization, whether for pay or college credit, provides you with a safe place to learn and grow alongside people who share your interests. Career Development works diligently to help students get the internships they need to succeed,

“That’s what our organization is all about. Supporting students in that transition in a meaningful way,” Piraino said.

Many Alvernia students can testify to this fact and have shared the value internships have held for them. But what exactly are those benefits?

learn so much about myself, as well as the healthcare system in another country.”

Applying what you have learned is essential in furthering your education as you delve into a career, gain technical training, and interact with those in the community.

2. Learning More About Yourself

Internships are a wonderful way to build new relationships, increase your professional visibility, and show what you offer to a professional field. It can also be the foundation of a supportive network and impactful connections. And the interactions you have through an organization give you a chance to meet industry professionals,

1.

Gaining Real-World Experience

Getting a degree is a great accomplishment! However, gaining practical hands-on experience will help you apply what you have learned. No matter your major, getting hands-on experience benefits everyone,

“It is crucial to allow students to get involved in a different community and/or culture to learn more about their chosen discipline.” Kyra Connolly, an Occupational Therapy major and Psychology minor, said. Connolly chose to intern in Belize, where she was able to get hands-on experience working at various clinics. Through this internship, Connolly, along with fellow Occupational Therapy major, Jacqueline Gentile, became more confident in providing occupational therapy services,

“I went to LIFE, which was a home health organization that serves over 100 seniors across Belize City,” Gentile said, “Having this trip made me

Exposure to a real work environment allows you to explore what you may like and dislike about a specific job or career path. Internships will also enable you to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, considering what you want to continue doing or thinking about what else you want to learn. You will receive more clarity about what you want to do,

“I wanted to intern at a place where I could still work with social media and engage with the community,” Daniela Silva, a Communication major, said. Silva is currently a social media intern at Berks Community Television, where she is responsible for creating Instagram posts and campaigns. She loves the exciting projects that community members bring forth and being part of a friendly staff,

“Internships are important because that’s when you have a taste of what your major can provide you,” Silva said, “You can decide whether you like it or not, and it will help you on the path you would like to pursue.”

3.

Networking Opportunities

“I got to hear from very successful women in different industries, step outside of my comfort zone, and build connections,” Samantha August, a Communication major and Digital Media Marketing minor, said. As an intern at the O’ Pake Institute of Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, August attended an Alvernia Women’s Council networking event dedicated to fostering personal and professional relationships.

Networking is crucial to personal and professional development. As you build the connections necessary for your growth, you show others the skills you have to offer.

4. Enhancing Your Skills

By applying what you learn to real situations, you are learning to grow in your discipline and improving on the skills that are invaluable in the workplace. You are learning to communicate with professionals, gain technical experience, manage your projects, and much more! It gives you a chance to obtain what will make you career ready, “I’ve been able to enhance

my public speaking and critical thinking skills and strengthen my writing.” Micah Yarbray, a Criminal Justice and Psychology major, said. Yarbray is currently an intern for The Parden Project of Berks County, which seeks to assist individuals with criminal records. Yarbray is responsible for determining a potential candidate’s eligibility, accessing court documents, and identifying their convictions.

5. Standing Out!

As you prepare to enter the workforce, your internships will have already aided in your professional growth. Your work experience and applicable skills will increase your confidence in what you have to offer and your desirability to employers,

“Internships provide coveted work experience which will help to differentiate them for the employer during the candidate selection process,” Piraino said, “Internships mean you are serious, you are committed, and you are prepared. Employers want serious, committed, and readily prepared employees.”

If you want to start preparing for an internship, Career Development is here to help you! The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. You can pay them a visit in Room 103 in Bernardine Hall, call 610-790-2878, or email careerdevelopment@alvernia. edu.

Student Jaqueline Gentle during her internship in Belize

Credit: VJacquline Gentle

aLvErnia nEws

Switch in Senior Leadership at Alvernia

Sarah Mies Managing Editor

On Thursday February

2nd, Alvernia students learned there will be a shift in senior leadership at the university. President John R. Loyack will be stepping down as President and President-Elect Dr. Glynis Fitzgerald will take over his responsibilities. “I have so enjoyed the opportunity to lead this great university and campus community,” President Loyack said, “And I could not be prouder of the transformational progress we made together over the past four years.” President-Elect Dr. Fitzgerald worked alongside President Loyack since June of 2019. Together they built the CollegeTowne initiative and welcomed the three biggest incoming classes Alvernia has ever seen. Loyack has begun planning for new locations in

Philadelphia and Pittston, where he is originally from. Education is extremely important to both Loyack and Dr. Fitzgerald. Loyack himself was a firstgeneration college student and he prides himself on prioritizing education. He worked hard to make his mark at Alvernia University over his past few years.

Prior to his time at Alvernia University, Loyack was the Vice President for Business and Administratio at King’s College. He has also worked at Wyoming

Seminary in Kingston, PA, The Luzerne Foundation in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and The Greater Pittston Historical Society. Loyack will remain CEO of Alvernia University and continue working closely with PresidentElect Dr. Fitzgerald.

In June of 2021, Loyack was contracted to remain in the Presidency until 2027. But now, less than 2 years later, he will no longer be holding this position. As many students were aware, PresidentElect Dr. Fitzgerald was

supposed to be leaving Alvernia to be President of The College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Nebraska. “As thrilled as I was about assuming the presidency at CSM, the unexpected opportunity to lead Alvernia as president is one I cannot turn down,” Dr. Fitzgerald said. The College of Saint Mary has reopened applications for the presidency.

Dr. Fitzgerald has over 20 years of higher education experience. She has worked as the

associate vice president of Academic Affairs and dean of the School of Graduate Studies at Central Connecticut State University. She is now ready to take the next step and become the first female president of Alvernia in over 30 years. She is currently serving as president-elect and will be formally inaugurated on July 1st.

Students are excited about this switch. “I am grateful of all that President Loyack has done for the Alvernia community,” said Olivia Blockberger, junior Occupational Therapy Major, “However, I am ready to have strong female leadership take over our school.”

Alvernia is now in search of a new provost to take over the responsibilities of Dr. Fitzgerald.

Alvernia’s Food Crisis, and How We Got Here

Atticus Wickert Contributing Writer

Pink chicken is not the new green eggs and ham.

Have you ever been through the lunchroom, filled up your plate, sat down and then bit into something that you can swear just isn’t supposed to taste like that? And then for some reason, your food has a texture that just doesn’t make sense?

Students at Alvernia have historically complained about the food. While there have been peaks and valleys in the quality of the meal plan offerings, in general students do not believe it to be very good.

“The Chicken is super dry and sometimes inedible and the quality is different every time I go, I also think that the food could be diversified better and have more options for students.” Said Nickolas Mudjialim a Sophmore student here at Alvernia.

The issues many students who complain about the food have stem from allegedly undercooked food, stale food, inadequate portions, or unappetizing offerings.

“know one time when I ate the food I felt sick to my stomach afterwards for a few days, and I did not like what

I ate.” Said Ryan Silaghi a Freshman here at Alvernia.

The Alvernian is taking a deep dive into why Alvernia’s food is so gross, and what, if anything, there is to be done to fix it..

Alvernia’s food service provider is Aladdin, which is actually a sub-company for a bigger company, Elior North America. Aladdin is employed by at least 150 other clients, and their dining and food is almost comparable at each college.

Having been to three different colleges now, two of which used Aladdin dining services, the food quality has been almost the same. In Columbia College of Missouri, the food was almost always undercooked, and there was never enough food for everyone. Turnover was also an issue. Line cooks would constantly be quitting, and then the cafeteria would be understaffed, leading to more problems with the offerings.

Turnover may also be a problem here. That seems to also be the case here, where Alvernia is going through cooks and head chefs every year, and while there might not be as much of a food shortage here, this contributes to the fact that there are people who just don’t want to eat at the cafeteria anyway.

The quality of lunchroom offerings mysteriously increases significantly when potential students are here to take tours. The bait-and-switch tactics to mislead visitors about the food is arguably not Franciscan. Now there is some food that can be edible, and sometimes they actually do a good job, unfortunately this seems to be whenever students are taking tours through the school.

These complaints are not new. Well-known cases of food poisoning have led some students to only eat at Freshens, which cannot be used for every meal. Why does Alvernia continue to use

Aladdin for food service? Cost may be the main reason.

In the meantime, what can be done? Document your issues clearly and objectively-. If you are wanting to contact Aladdin and complain about the food, you are able to under this link https://alvernia. edudine.com/contact-us-3/. You can also complain to the student government body and bring up how the food is affecting you at sga@alvernia. edu.

Hopefully, Alvernia can solve this food crisis eventually, but until then, make sure to take another look at what’s going into your mouth.

Presient-Elect Dr. Fitzgerald along side Presudent Loyack

Credit: Bil uhrich via The Reading Eagle

nEws

Alvernia Alumni Spotlight

Samantha August

Contributing Writer

Have you ever wondered where some of the Alvernia alumni are now and how their careers are going? I had the chance to talk to a few recent graduates about their successes after graduation. Nicole August, 23, graduated in 2021 from Alvernia with her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Special Ed.

Today, Nicole resides in Toms River, New Jersey and teaches preschool special education in Barnegat, New Jersey. As a former student athlete at Alvernia, Nicole told us how through her teaching career she can continue her love for softball and teaching all at once by volunteering to coach her school district’s high school softball team.

What did you love most about Alvernia?

“There were so many different aspects of Alvernia that I truly adored. I would have to say the connections and friendships that I made with so many different people were the thing I loved the most. I still keep in touch with so many of those amazing people today.”

How did the education program at Alvernia help you succeed in your career now?

“The education program paved the way for my success today. I was president of

the education association for a year and that allowed me to work with different organizations and educators. The ed program allowed me to explore my passions for special education by volunteering for different public events! Without these opportunities I would have never discovered my passion for special education.”

What person or course did you feel made a major impact on you during your time at Alvernia?

“I had two amazing people who had a major impact on me during my time at Alvernia. One professor who changed my outlook on education was Dr. Luci Schaeffer. From my first

special education class with her, to my last, and even through covid, she was always there rooting for me. I built a great relationship with her and even outside of Alvernia spent time with her group called Unending Promise, where I got to meet so many different people in the community. I was also a student athlete which always helped me in the classroom. Coach Landrum had always pushed me to be my very best and always had my best interest at heart, as an athlete and as an educator.”

What advice can you give current Alvernia students?

“I would tell current students to not take your time there for granted. College goes

by in a blink of an eye, and you should make the most of it! I wish I could go back and play one last softball game, play mega bingo, and hit up courtside with my friends!”

We also want to spotlight another Alvernia alumni, Dominic Gallo, 24. Dominic also graduated from the class of 2021, and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. He went on to serve our country as a Warrant Officer in the United States Army.

Dominic currently resides in Fort Rucker, Alabama and is training to become a helicopter pilot. Dominic will graduate with his pilot wings sometime in 2024.

What did you love most about Alvernia?

“What I loved most about Alvernia is the second family I made while attending the university. Playing soccer gave me the opportunity to form a strong bond with my teammates and gave me lifelong friends.”

How did the criminal Justice program at Alvernia help you succeed in your career now?

“The criminal justice program set me up for success, as someone who is currently a warrant officer in flight school for the US Army. Alvernia molded me into the person I am today and is the reason I am thriving in my career.”

What person or course did you feel made a major impact on you during your time at Alvernia?

“The course that made the biggest impact on my life was my internship class. I was able to do an internship with the violent crime unit with the US marshals in downtown Philadelphia. This was only made possible because of the flexibility of my internship class, because of that I made amazing connections that will help me for the rest of my life.”

“What advice can you give current Alvernia students?

“Enjoy it. College is a once in a lifetime experience where you will meet amazing people and will have to challenge yourself. As my former soccer coach at Alvernia used to say after every game and practice, “these 4 years will fly by and before you know it, it’s over,” and that could not be farther from the truth.”

It was great to hear from Alvernia alumni and where they are now. It is important to make the most of your time in college. Alvernia opens the door to many opportunities and lifelong friendships, Enjoy your time here at Alvernia while you can!

Alumni Nicole August on her first day teaching

Credit: Nicole August

Mission Moment

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken,”

- Oscar Wilde

The Big Game Really Lived Up to Its Name

Tony Mongeluzi Contributing Writer

This NFL season has been one of the most exciting in a long time. That excitement has now carried to the Super Bowl. Here’s how conference champions the Eagles and the Chiefs found themselves in the big game.

The stage was set for the two top seeds in the NFC to meet up in the NFC Championship. In the battle between the one-seed Eagles versus the two-seeded 49ers, the league-ranked number one offense versus the league-ranked number one defense. These narratives weren’t the only ones. A big narrative was how the 49ers would play with Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy, at the helm fair against a very good Eagles defense. In Purdy’s starts up to this point, he was anything but irrelevant. When Jimmy Garoppolo got hurt, Purdy came in as a rookie who was the last pick in the NFL draft and seemed to orchestrate the offense even better than Garoppolo did. Purdy went 5-0 as the starter. In the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, he threw for 332 yards and 4 total touchdowns in the 49ers 41-23 route of the Seahawks. In the Divisional Round Purdy didn’t play spectacularly, but he did enough to help the 49ers get a hardfought victory against the Cowboys. The sensational Mr. Irrelevant found himself up against an extremely good Eagles team. Before we get into the game though, let’s talk about the Eagles.

The Eagles throughout the entire year have dominated. A big surprise for this team was the superstar jump from quarterback Jalen Hurts. He has become one of the better passers in the NFL, along with becoming one of the better rushers in the NFL despite being a QB. Now not only has Hurts gotten better, but the Eagles are loaded all around as well. In the offseason, they traded for star wideout

Aj Brown, who had the best season of his career this past season. The Eagles also signed ex-allpro cornerback James Bradberry, stud pass rusher Hassan Reddick from the Panthers, and Saints safety Chauncey Gardner Johnson who has really come into his own this season. In the draft, they also had a homerun pick in Jordan Davis who when healthy was a game changer. Other additions they made during the season like Linval Joseph, Robert Quinn, and Ndamukong Suh just further add to the insane amount of depth this team has. These are just additions; the Eagles still were able to keep all their best guys from last season. They find themselves still with the best o line to go with the best ground game in all the NFL. Devonta Smith is a wide receiver one., Dallas Goedert is a sure-fire top-five tight end in the NFL, and their defensive line is extremely scary.

Many people believed the game would be hard fought because the 49ers’ defense would cancel out the Eagles’ offense and the Eagles’ defense would cancel out the 49ers’ offense. Well, it was like this up to a certain point. The Eagles found themselves up 7-0 in the first quarter after a bad no-call on a catch by

Devonta Smith on a 4th down. This would set up a six-yard touchdown run from Miles Sanders. On the 49ers’ first drive though, the game would get flipped upside down. On a 2nd and 6 play, Brock Purdy got strip-sacked by Hassan Reddick. Not only did they lose the fumble, but Purdy got hurt. The 49ers’ defense would try to keep them in the game, and the backup Josh Johnson came in and led the 49ers on a touchdown drive. There was still hope for 49ers fans, but it would go away quickly. Johnson would leave with a concussion, which made Brock Purdy return. Purdy was unable to throw the ball at all, though after the game an MRI showed that he tore his UCL in his elbow. With no passing threat, the 49ers’ defense was gassed and couldn’t do much to save the game. They steamrolled the 49ers En route to a 31-7 victory. The Eagles would now be heading back to the big game.

Out in the AFC, the stage was set for the Bengals to head to Arrowhead and matchup with the Chiefs. Let’s start off with the Bengals. The Bengals came into this season off a super bowl loss. Many people had them as favorites to make it back to the Super Bowl this year because of Joe Burrow. It didn’t start off great as they

dropped their first two games of the season to the Steelers and the Cowboys. After that, they returned to being the Bengals (except for an outlier 32-13 loss to the Browns). Burrow had another great year. The defense came back into form later in the year, and all their receivers in Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd were fantastic when they were healthy. Their running back Joe Mixon had a down year, but that goes hand and hand with the new and retooled offensive line underperforming. Besides that, the Bengals looked great and won big games in the regular season against both the Bills and the Chiefs. When the playoffs came around, they found themselves against the Bills in the Divisional Round in Buffalo. The Bills were outmatched from the start. The Bills could neither stop the Bengals’ offense nor muster up enough offense to get them back in the game. The Bengals found themselves now in the AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs at the beginning of the year were not Super Bowl favorites at all. They lost Patrick Mahomes’ number one wide receiver in Tyreek Hill and replaced him with no real stars. Yes, Juju Smith Schuster is a

great possession receiver and Marquez Valdez Scantling is a deep threat like Hill, but neither are on the level of Hill. Not having Hill was no problem for the Chiefs. They looked like their dominant selves still, just a little less explosive. Mahomes still showed why he is the best quarterback in the NFL with another season where he won MVP. Travis Kelce had a monster season as well. Even a rookie like Isaiah Pacheco found himself now as the lead back in the rotation. All this regular season momentum would carry over to the playoffs where they’d win a close game against the Jaguars. In this game, Pat Mahomes did suffer a high ankle sprain that would hamper him throughout the rest of the playoffs.

This game had a lot riding on it for both quarterbacks but more for Patrick Mahomes. In headto-head matchups up to this point, Burrow was 3-0 against Mahomes. Because of this, they started to call Arrowhead Burrowhead. In the AFC Championship Mahomes and the Chiefs would keep doubters quiet getting off to an early 6-0 lead. The Bengals would make a field goal of their own, but Mahomes would come right back the...next

Continued on page 10

Philadelphia Eagles Football Jersey

Credit: Tony Mongeluzi

Alvernia Presents Esports: The Next Competive Pastime

Cole Schlappich Contributing Editor

Ten years ago, if you asked someone if it were possible to make a career out of playing video games, the answer would most likely be no. However, competitive gaming tournaments have been around for much longer than many know. Spanning over half a century, the history of e-sports is short when compared to traditional athletics but has only grown in popularity over time.1

“E-sports will keep growing,” Joshua Buchanan, Director of Esports for Alvernia University, said. “It is going to be a cool space to see how Alvernia is going to make their mark.”

I sat down with Josh to discuss how e-sports leagues are influencing the communities around them, and why Alvernia made the decision to create a league of their own. Buchanan said that Alvernia examined the outcomes of other schools that created e-sports teams, like Albright and DeSales, and determined that a program of their own would be beneficial to the Reading community.

Alvernia’s e-sports facility, located in CollegeTowne, contains 36 PCs and 4 Nintendo Switch consoles to

accommodate their 45 players. Alvernia is invested in creating a league to rival those in the Mid Atlantic Conference (MAC).

“When you look at Pennsylvania programs,” Buchanan said, “Alvernia is one of the schools that is the most invested and really committed to not only being competitive but also providing a really good student experience.”

Not only does Alvernia benefit from their e-sports league, but the students themselves are incentivized to improve their skills. Schools competing in tournaments award scholarships to students who achieve higher ranks. These scholarships are provided by the developers who created the games that are played. By providing scholarships, schools find it easier to recruit students to sign up for an e-sports league, and in so doing solidify a new athletic program.

Developers like Blizzard, who created Overwatch, work with universities to organize and promote tournaments.

As of now, there is no NCAA equivalent in the world of e-sports. Subsequently, because Overwatch is owned by Blizzard, a licensing agreement is needed with colleges to host a large-scale Overwatch tournament. The

Redemption Season

Mickeel Allen

Contributing Writer

Is redemption on your mind?

You will never achieve success unless you first experience failure. That is a lesson the men’s basketball team learned last year and has kept us motivated throughout the 2022-2023 season. Last year, the Golden Wolves were defeated by Widener in the first round of the playoffs at home, ending their season and playoff run.

“I love this team, and I love coming to pratice with this group of guys”--Head Coach Mike Miller

Adversity is when events or circumstances conspire against you. The men’s basketball team continues to face adversity this season by battling various illnesses, injuries, classes, work, and even long practice days. Their greatest adversary is human nature: The Golden Wolves are a strong contender, so

same can be said with Rocket League, Valorant, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and League of Legends.

Alvernia’s e-sports program is also working with academic departments to build connections and improve collegiality, such as the communication department. The Digital Media Major is one discipline that has shown interest in working with e-sports to create an environment to gain experience for real-world applications. One application would be for students to cast commentary over the matches. The engineering department also reached out to create a collaborative expo for e-sports and the college of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Visitors would be able to see demonstrations of the 3D printing labs, while also having the opportunity to participate in an e-sports tournament.

At present, there are no commentator positions available to host games, but there is talk about space being allocated for broadcasting purposes. A commentator would need specialized equipment to see the matches, capture their audio and video, and be broadcasted in conjunction with the live streaming. The hope is that communication and engineering students could work together to create a broadcast that is on par with other sports commentators during live games.

Building a strong, connected community is one of Alvernia’s

goals when fostering students who want to be a part of something greater. The gaming community is one of the most open and welcoming groups you can find. Students who grew up in different high schools come together to Alvernia to join the e-sports league.

“Most people think it’s going to be all super competitive people,” Devin Haas, a member of Alvernia’s Overwatch 2 team, said. “Yes, it is, but you also get more interaction with your teammates and start making connections with them. It is very fun, and with e-sports growing, it is one of the fastest growing communities in the world. It is fun to be doing this and to meet new people.”

Esports provides an opportunity for students whose hobbies involve playing video games to explore a career path in competitive team gaming. In any sport, the best qualities for a team are passion, dedication, and comradery. Alvernia’s e-sports league opens a new avenue for students to explore that was not previously available in the Reading community.

If you are looking to join Alvernia’s e-sports league, send a message to Joshua Buchanan at joshua. buchanan@alvernia.edu.

assistant coach Mike Miller

As a member of this year’s squad, I’ve witnessed the attitude, grit, and camaraderie that each of our players has. This year’s team is unique, and everyone is on the same accord. We not only have the chemistry on the court, but it is arguably even better off of the court. This team is a true family, and if we continue to work together, we will be able to bring a title back to the Wolves Den.

there is always a temptation to ease up and relax. The teams on the schedule were worthy opponents, but the Golden Wolves continue to overcome.

“This is my last year, I owe it to myself”--starting forward Malik Green.

So far, the team is ranked first in the MAC with a 9-2 record in conference play and 15-5 overall. The Golden

Wolves are on course to make another playoff run. Big wins against teams Eastern University, Widener University, and Stevenson University. Alvernia’s MAC rivals are in the playoff race and just as hungry for victory.

“As the weeks dwindle down, we have to continue to stay together and disregard outside distractions”--

I interviewed head coach Mike Miller and a couple of players Billy Fisher and Jake Kelly on their thoughts on this season and how it’s going so far and this is what they had to say. Coach Miller’s standpoint on adversity is, “it has to do with the day in and out grind”. He believes that as a player especially here at Alvernia your always going to be tested through the hard practices and the numerous things that can happen off the court. The main focus is grinding it out.

Billy Fisher grizzled veteran of the men’s team a player that’s been in the program for some time holds guys accountable and knows what it takes. He says, “the basketball season is the longest out of any of the sports. It’s hard to stay focused, but I feel like it’s my job to keep the guys going”.

The last game of the season this saturday will determine if the Golden Wolves will retain the first seed going into MAC playoffs. After that the first playoff game will be wednesday February 22nd. The coaching staff and players look forward to seeing our fans come out, pack the court, and root for us this year as we make a run for playoffs.

Joshua Buchanan talking with the Esports team

Credit: Cole Schlappich

The team celebrating on the bench

Credit: Marissa Lombardo

Continued from page 8

drive and convert a 4th down touchdown throw to Travis Kelce to score the game’s first touchdown. Going to half time the game would be 13-6 after Burrow led the Bengals down the field to get a field goal before the half.

Right out of the break Burrow would have an amazing 27-yard touchdown throw to Tee Higgins tying the game 13 all. This wouldn’t last long as the next drive Mahomes would go the length of the field and put up another touchdown. Burrow would help equalize the game again by driving down the field and setting up a Semaje Perine touchdown.

This game was as good as it could get, and the 4th quarter was even more nerve-racking. Both teams couldn’t get anything until the final drive where an unnecessary roughness call against the Bengals set up a gamewinning 45-yard field goal from Harrison Butker. In this game it wasn’t just Pat Mahomes that played great, but also the defense stepped up picking Joe Burrow off twice and sacking him 5.5 times.

The stage is now set for the two best teams in football to meet in the Super Bowl. Both teams have some experience in the Super Bowl. Something to make sure to watch is how Jalen Hurts handles the pressure. Like said before Mahomes has been here, but this is the first time Hurts has ever made it this far. Will the Chiefs be able to stop Hurts and the Eagles’ potent offense? Will

Hurts be able to step up or will he crumble under the pressure? How will Mahomes be with his ankle injury? How will the Eagles guard this Chiefs team? Which Kelce brother, Travis or Jason, will come out on top?

This Superbowl was nothing short of something straight out of a movie. The game started with the Eagles winning the coin toss and receiving the kickoff. During the first drive, Jalen Hurts and Devonta Smith already set up a great report with each other quickly connecting three times for 41 yards. Hurts ran for 11 yards of his own, and after a Kenneth Gainwell touchdown was overturned, Hurts snuck it in for 6. The Chiefs wouldn’t be far behind though. With great runs from Isaiah Pacheco and a few timely strikes to Travis Kelce, the Chiefs would cap the drive off with an 18-yard touchdown to Kelce. With the game tied at 7, the Chiefs’ defense would hold the Eagles to a three and out. The Chiefs would squander this opportunity, however. Coach Andy Reid decided to go for a 42-yard field goal instead of going for it on fourth down. Harrison Butker proceeded to miss the field goal giving the Eagles great field position heading into the second quarter.

On the first play of the second quarter, Hurts made an incredible 45-yard throw to AJ Brown for a touchdown. The Chiefs’ chances looked even bleaker as their offense sputtered to a three-andout. The Eagles seemed to be one touchdown away from putting this

game away. Chiefs’ linebacker Nick Bolton would not let this happen. Jalen Hurts on a routine keeper play fumbled the football where Bolton picked up the ball and took it all the way to the house. Tie game,14-14, and it looked like the Chiefs were back in it. As soon as things looked to be on the up, things got much worse. Hurts, not fazed by the fumble and bright lights of the Superbowl, got the ball back and drove right down the field for his second touchdown of the day. This wasn’t all as Mahomes when getting tackled reaggravated his high ankle sprain that was a big question coming into the Superbowl. With the Chiefs’ superman banged up again and the Eagles kicking a field goal before halftime, it seemed like the Chiefs were dead in the water. Heading into the game the Chiefs were already not favored, so adding everything that happened, just put more doubt into the Chiefs faithful.

During halftime, Mahomes amongst other teammates gave talks to lift the spirits of the locker room. This team had been here many times before, and Pat Mahomes had gotten them through situations like this. Right out of the break Mahomes and the Chiefs looked rejuvenated. With hard-fought runs, the Chiefs would drive down the field and punch the ball into the end zone with a run from Pacheco. The game looked like it wasn’t lost after all, and the Chiefs were only down 24-21. Hurts and the Eagles weren’t done though.

Early on in their next drive, the Chiefs linebacker was thought to have recovered a fumble, but it was eventually ruled that the initial pass was incomplete. On that same drive, the Chiefs would challenge whether Dallas Goedert had control of the ball throughout hitting the ground. The play was ruled a catch, which set up a field goal putting the Eagles up 27-21. Heading into the fourth the Chiefs were still down on the scoreboard, but what came in the fourth showed that they couldn’t have been more confident.

To start the fourth, Mahomes systematically picked apart the Eagles’ defense leading to an open 5-yard touchdown for Kadarius Toney. For the first time in the Superbowl, the Chiefs found themselves up 28-27. The Eagles got the ball back, but the Chiefs’ defense stood tall again forcing a punt. Toney would proceed to return the punt 65 yards setting up the Chiefs on the 5-yard line. The Chiefs would quickly score with a 4-yard out to Skye Moore piling onto the Chiefs lead making it 35-27. Hurts, playing even better than Mahomes, connected with Devonta Smith on a 45-yarddeep ball. This set up Hurts to get his third rushing touchdown of the day followed by a 2-point conversion to tie the game 35 all. Many people were wishing for this amazing game to go to overtime, but Mahomes had other plans. The Chiefs got the ball back and drove down the field the same way they had all second half; systematically moving the ball

with small chunk plays. On this drive, however, Mahomes showed why he is Kansas City’s superman. Still on a bum ankle, Mahomes escaped the pocket and rushed for 26 yards putting the Chiefs in field goal range. Then came the most controversial play of the game. On third down, Mahomes dropped back and threw a ball up to Juju Smith Schuster that seemed to just be a bad pass. The refs would throw a flag on James Bradberry for a defensive holding. The Chiefs got the first down, milked the clock, and knocked the game-winning field goal through the uprights. After the game, Bradberry would own up to the call, but many fans agreed that those calls weren’t called early in the game, so the refs should’ve let the players play on.

This call is very controversial, but that doesn’t take away from how amazing this game was. With Hurts being eligible for a massive contract extension this offseason, the Eagles won’t be going anywhere for a long time. The Chiefs will continue to be contenders for years to come. More important though is Patrick Mahomes. This cements him as already being in the same conversation with some of the leagues greatest quarterbacks to ever play. There’s so much more that could be said about these teams and players, but this article will go on forever. The main thing that should be taken away from this is that the Chiefs and Eagles aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.