Harrington Steps Down Effective July 31
Kieran Lynch, Editor-in-Chief
May 8, 2013
An earlier version of this story was published on May 3, 2013. The more recent version, below, appeared in the Torch’s May 8, 2013 ‘Special Report’ print edition. Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., President of the University, announced in an email to the University community... Read More
College Needs More of a Career Focus
Kieran Lynch, Editor-in-Chief
May 2, 2013
There are certain expectations that students have when they begin their college education. They expect to learn, to grow as people and to gain skills to help them perform in their chosen career field upon graduation. From my experiences at St. John’s, the last expectation seems to be only... Read More
Lavin Gets His Man: Jordan to St. John’s
Kieran Lynch, Editor-in-Chief
April 24, 2013
The St. John’s men’s basketball team secured its sole target for the 2013 recruiting class today as Rysheed Jordan announced his commitment to the Red Storm over Twitter this morning. “I am looking forward to taking the next steps as a basketball player and in continuing my education... Read More
Faculty Writers Deliver Petition to Newman Hall
Kieran Lynch, Editor-in-Chief
April 11, 2013
The five faculty members who drafted the open letter to the Board of Trustees earlier this semester have delivered the document to the office of Rev. Donald J. Harrington, President of the University. The letter, which can be viewed in its entirety below, contained the signatures of 66 faculty... Read More
Top Recruit Rysheed Jordan Commits to St. John’s
Kieran Lynch, Editor-in-Chief
April 11, 2013
The St. John’s men’s basketball team got its sole target for the 2013 recruiting class today as Rysheed Jordan announced his commitment to the Red Storm over Twitter this morning. “I am looking forward to taking the next steps as a basketball player and in continuing my education... Read More
Faculty Members Circulate Petition Aimed at Board
Kieran Lynch, Editor-in-Chief
March 27, 2013
UPDATED AND SEEN IN PRINT EDITION, APRIL 10, 2013. Five St. John’s faculty members have drafted a letter to the Board of Trustees calling for more transparency pertaining to the fallout from allegations of financial impropriety at the highest levels of the University. The letter, which... Read More
Sir’Dom Plays Hero for Johnnies
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
March 20, 2013
The St. John’s men’s basketball team lived to see another day as Sir’Dominic Pointer made a last second step-back fade away shot to down Saint Joseph’s 63-61 in the first round of the NIT tournament at Hagan Arena in Philadelphia, Pa. “He deserved a high point given the degree of... Read More
‘Cats Bounce Johnnies from Tournament
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
March 13, 2013
The St. John’s men’s basketball team barely had enough time to take in the scenery before they were bounced from the Big East tournament by Villanova on Wednesday night. The Red Storm (16-15, 8-10) fell to the Wildcats (20-12, 10-8) 66-53 after a game that saw the team go from being down... Read More
Sampson Named Rookie of the Year
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
March 13, 2013
Freshman JaKarr Sampson was named the 2012-2013 Big East Rookie of the Year, which is voted on by the conference’s coaches and was announced yesterday. Sampson is the third player in school history to win the award and the second in a row after Maurice Harkless received the trophy following... Read More
Heartbreak at the Garden
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
March 13, 2013
With time running down, the St. John’s men’s basketball regular season finale looked like it was going the way that so many of the team’s games against ranked teams went – a promising beginning followed by a bitterly disappointing end. That outlook looked like it could change beginning... Read More
Pop Goes the Bubble
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
March 6, 2013
St. John’s entered yesterday’s game fighting for its NCAA tournament life. It exited simply fighting, with any hopes of dancing long gone. The Red Storm, who held a four-point lead going into halftime before being outscored 44-14 in the second half, fell to No. 24 Notre Dame 66-40 at Purcell... Read More
Harrison Suspended for Remainder of Season
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
March 1, 2013
Sophomore D’Angelo Harrison has been suspended for the remainder of the 2012-2013 season for “conduct detrimental to the team,” according to the team. The third leading scorer in the Big East will miss all remaining regular season games, as well as the Big East tournament... Read More
Orlando Sanchez Cleared By NCAA
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
February 28, 2013
Senior Orlando Sanchez has been deemed eligible by the NCAA to play for the St. John’s men’s basketball team during the 2013-2014 season, according to the team. The 24-year-old player was deemed ineligible prior to the 2012-2013 season after the NCAA ruled that he had used all four... Read More
Sanchez Tries to Make Best of NCAA Situation
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
February 26, 2013
When senior Orlando Sanchez was declared ineligible to play NCAA basketball in the fall of 2012, the outlook wasn’t necessarily what it is today. The 6 foot 9 forward thought about leaving, thought about returning to his home country of the Dominican Republic or possibly playing professionally... Read More
Report: Rev. Harrington, Robert Wile Deeply Embedded in Chang’s Gift-Giving
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
February 25, 2013
Deceased former St. John’s dean Cecilia Chang showered President Rev. Donald J. Harrington and his chief of staff, Robert Wile, with extravagant gifts supposedly paid by “unnamed donors,” when they were really being charged to the University, according to a report in New York Magazine. The... Read More
NCAA Hopes Hit Roadblock as Johnnies Fall to Pitt
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
February 24, 2013
The St. John’s men’s basketball team is hoping do “to do something special come March,” as head coach Steve Lavin puts it time and again, but the NCAA tournament looked like a distant dream as the Red Storm (16-11, 8-7) fell to No. 20 Pittsburgh (21-7, 9-6) after a second half disappearance... Read More
Sanchez Lawyer Speaks Regarding Case
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
February 23, 2013
Following St. John’s exhausting their own means in an attempt to get Orlando Sanchez eligible, the University hired Robert Orr to defend the player. The issue of his eligibility revolves around the 3 minutes 38 seconds that Sanchez played for the Dominican National Team in July of 2010,... Read More
Report: Sanchez Eligibility Issues Stem from D.R. National Team
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
February 22, 2013
The source of Orlando Sanchez’s eligibility issues is a 3 minute 38 second cameo in a game for the Dominican Republic National Team in 2010, according to a report in the New York Times. The current senior played for the national team as a 22-year-old in the same calendar year that he... Read More
Not In The Cards
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
February 20, 2013
The St. John’s men’s basketball team couldn’t sustain a series of runs as they fell to then No. 12 Louisville 72-58 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY. The Red Storm (15-10, 7-6) started the second half by going on a 10-0 run, but the Cardinals (21-5, 9-4) quickly rebounded with... Read More
Students, Admins at Odds Over GSA
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
February 13, 2013
Gay rights advocates won a symbolic victory when Notre Dame announced in December the approval of a student-run, university-funded LGBTQ organization on campus starting this semester. Many in the St. John’s LGBTQ community (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning) and its... Read More
Johnnies Edge Past Huskies
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
February 7, 2013
With the ring finger on his right hand swollen to what looked like double the size, sophomore D’Angelo Harrison’s hands tell the story of the ups and downs of Wednesday night’s game against Connecticut and maybe of the season as a whole. From that injured hand came the struggles of shooting... Read More
Not Quite March, but Our Time’s Now
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
January 31, 2013
There was a point last basketball season when I was sitting at Madison Square Garden and thought to myself something along the lines of, ‘this program is headed in the right direction, but I may have seen all the big moments I was destined to see as a freshman in 2010-11.’ Now, it looks... Read More
Nostalgia Sparks Fascinating Comparison
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
January 30, 2013
Exactly two years ago, the 11 seniors of the 2010-2011 St. John’s men’s basketball team upset the then No. 3 Duke in grand fashion and sparked off a meteoric rise to the finish line in March that resulted in a trip to the NCAA tournament and captivated a city. This year, the cast is very... Read More
Conference Frenzy Continues
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
January 23, 2013
When St. John’s students departed for the start of winter break, the school’s athletic programs were facing an uncertain future in the form of conference realignment. On Dec. 15, the seven Catholic and non-football members of the Big East announced that they would be departing the conference... Read More
Holdin’ On In Chi-Town
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
January 23, 2013
The St. John’s men’s basketball team held off another late rally, this time from DePaul, as they defeated the Blue Demons 71-62 at Allstate Arena in Rosemmont, Ill. The Red Storm (11-7, 3-3) had built a 17-point lead that began to dwindle down the stretch, getting to within three points... Read More
Johnnies Knock Off Ranked Bearcats
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
January 5, 2013
The St. John’s men’s basketball team held off a late rally from Cincinnati with the help of a delayed flourish from sophomore guard D’Angelo Harrison to defeat the No.14 ranked Bearcats 53-52 at Fifth-Third Arena in Cincinnati on Saturday evening. The game was the first time that the... Read More
Chance Lost
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
December 23, 2012
The St. John’s men’s basketball team was stunned in their final out of conference game as they lost to UNC-Asheville 72-65 after relinquishing a 17-point lead. The Red Storm (8-4) got ahead early but couldn’t sustain it as they allowed Asheville to go on a 14-4 run with 6:45 remaining... Read More
Catholic Schools Announce Big East Departure
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
December 15, 2012
The Big East’s seven Catholic schools have announced their decision to break away from the conference in a press release Saturday afternoon. The seven schools involved are St. John’s, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall and Villanova. “Earlier today we voted unanimously... Read More
Lav Lends Thoughts On Big East
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
December 11, 2012
According to reports, the seven Big East Catholic schools met with Big East commissioner Mike Aresco on Sunday to discuss the future of the conference and the possibility of other options for the schools. St. John’s, as one of the seven schools and an original founding member of the Big East,... Read More
San Fran Stifles Red Storm
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
December 5, 2012
Slow starts are becoming the norm for the St. John’s men’s basketball team, though this time they failed to recover as they lost to San Francisco 81-65 at War Memorial Gym last night in head coach Steve Lavin’s homecoming. The Red Storm (6-3) fell behind early once again thanks, in part,... Read More
Johnnies Stumble Against Murray State
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
November 18, 2012
After another quick start down in Charleston, the St. John’s men’s basketball team couldn’t keep momentum and fell to Murray State 72-67 in the semi-final round of the tournament. Momentum started to shift before the half as the Racers went on a 13-3 run to cut the Red Storm’s lead... Read More
Bourgault Cleared by NCAA
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
November 16, 2012
Junior Marco Bourgault has been cleared by the NCAA to play for the St. John’s men’s basketball team, according to the team. A student at St. John’s gave a first hand account of what he saw transpire in his Tuesday morning class in Sullivan Hall around 10:50 am. “He... Read More
Johnnies Sail Through Charleston
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
November 15, 2012
The St. John’s men’s basketball team opened up the Charleston Classic by defeating the host school, College of Charleston, 64-53 to advance to the semi-finals in the tournament. The Red Storm (2-0) pulled away early in the first half, running up and down the floor with relative ease, and... Read More
Gas Shortage Affects NY Area
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
November 14, 2012
For Rob Delsignore, a junior commuter student, returning to school on Nov. 5 was no easy task. In order to make his way to campus, he had to leave behind his normal mode of car transportation for a crowded LIRR train. Without easily accessible gasoline, his car was useless and unfortunately... Read More
Supreme Court will determine Obama’s legacy
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
November 7, 2012
Over the course of the last year, President Obama and Mitt Romney have battled over every issue under the umbrella of American politics. They turned attention to the economy, foreign affairs and human rights. Basically, anything that could show some sort of short-term impact that could play... Read More
Red Storm Deals With Roster Issues
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
November 3, 2012
Four players didn’t play in the men’s basketball team’s first preseason game against Sonoma State on Nov. 3. Senior God’sgift Achiuwa, junior Orlando Sanchez and sophomore Marco Bourgault sat on the sidelines in sweatsuits, while Felix Balamou didn’t see playing time despite wearing... Read More
Johnnies Top Sonoma State in Preseason Opener
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
November 3, 2012
The St. John’s men’s basketball team gave their first official performance of the winter as they opened up their preseason schedule with a 73-55 win against Division II side Sonoma St. on Nov. 3 at Carnesecca Arena. After the Red Storm went on an 11-0 run to start the game, the Seawolves... Read More
Student Spotlight: ‘Dare to Believe’
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
October 24, 2012
The famous Frank Sinatra song goes, “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.” “Here,” of course, refers to New York City and the idea of making it in the city has been a dream of people young and old long before the song became a hit and long after. Chris Dare, a junior... Read More
Here We Go
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
October 17, 2012
The men’s and women’s basketball teams ceremoniously kicked off their 2012/13 campaigns with the annual “Red Storm Tip-Off” event that featured player introductions, a scrimmage and dunk contest this past Friday at Carnesecca Arena. More than 3,000 fans celebrated the return of head... Read More
Voter ID laws the real fraud here
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
October 3, 2012
We as Americans often hear about “wars” that take place domestically. Media pundits often spin these ideas of people’s rights and beliefs as being trampled in order to help create a sense of outrage. People will put war in front of anything in hopes of drumming up awareness for their... Read More
Student Spotlight: #Dieslow
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
October 3, 2012
There are many things that are synonymous with the autumn season at St. John’s. Among them are cooler temperatures, a new college basketball season and the return of the intramural flag football league. For one of the teams in the league, it isn’t enough just to win; they want to record... Read More
‘Dribble Stirs Excitement
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
September 26, 2012
The men’s basketball team is gearing up for a new season that will feature the return of head coach Steve Lavin to the sidelines full time as well another highly regarded recruiting class ranked as high as No. 8 in the nation. Lavin, as well as sophomores D’Angelo Harrison, Amir Garrett... Read More
Student Spotlight: Jason Lapin
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
September 26, 2012
Whether you’re riding the subway from Queens to Manhattan or taking a trip on the Metro to the Louvre in Paris, you may have gotten to hear some music along the way. It comes in different forms from different people, just like the students at St. John’s. Jason Lapin, an English major... Read More
Barber Wars II: New Gen Hits Back
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
September 26, 2012
The owner of New Generation Barber Shop has hit back at his rival Union Turnpike barber, Igor Pinhasov, claiming that the pair never worked together and that the pictures of him fixing Pinhasov’s haircut are “real.” Pinhasov told the Torch that the two worked together for 10 months, something... Read More
Mascot to Rappel from 470 ft. Building
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
September 26, 2012
Johnny Thunderbird is getting set to rappel down the side of a 470-foot skyscraper in Jersey City, NJ, this Friday and the man in the suit will be Clint Wolfrom, a junior. Johnny will be taking part in the event , known as Over the Edge, live on the “Today Show” alongside celebrities such... Read More
Manhattan Campus Remembers 9/11
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
September 12, 2012
Eleven years ago yesterday, 2,996 people lost their lives in downtown Manhattan, Washington D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania in the worst attack on American soil. While many New Yorkers’ lives were forever changed that day, there was a group of St. John’s students whose whole fall... Read More
Why Aren’t We Better Off, Mr. Romney?
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
September 5, 2012
Last Thursday night, I sat down to watch Mitt Romney’s Republican nomination acceptance speech. I expected to be bombarded with more inaccuracies than I ended up receiving. One thing, however, stuck out in its ridiculousness. It was a statement, but in reality was being posed as a question. “Are... Read More
Vincenzo’s Raises Price for ‘Dollar Slices’
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
September 5, 2012
The famed $1.00 slice at Vincenzo’s Pizzeria on Union Turnpike saw its price get bumped up to $1.25 on Sept. 1 due to the rise in everything from energy costs to cheese costs, according to workers at the restaurant. “It’s Con-Ed, the water bill, the gas bill,” said Alberto, who wished... Read More
From graffiti artist to surgeon
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
August 30, 2012
Most people use hobbies as ways to pass the time and others figure out ways to turn a hobby into a career. For Michael Brodnansky, it’s a little combination of both. Brodnansky, a junior biology major from Glen Cove, Long Island, started drawing at such a young age he doesn’t really remember... Read More
Tartamella Introduced as Women’s Head Basketball Coach
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
April 27, 2012
St. John’s announced the hiring of Joe Tartamella as the eighth women’s basketball head coach to replace Kim Barnes Arico in a press conference Friday morning. “Joe has spent the last nine years as Coach Barnes Arico’s right hand person,” Director of Athletics, Chris Monasch said. ... Read More
Students Fill Cheap Seats at Citi
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
April 18, 2012
Coming into the 2012 Major League Baseball season, the New York Mets were predicted to finish in last place in the National League East by the vast majority of analysts and fans alike. Starting out the season at Citi Field, their home since 2009, in nearby Flushing, the Mets won their first... Read More
‘Nerd’ Breaks Into NYC Comedy
Kieran Lynch, Features Editor
April 10, 2012
Every friend circle has a “funny guy” within their group to keep things light and entertaining. Once in a while that guy is someone who recognizes that what comes naturally to him might be something that others find unique and could possibly be a means to an end. Kevin Wolfring, a sophomore... Read More
Women’s Basketball Survives Late Creighton Rally to Advance
Kieran Lynch, Staff Writer
March 18, 2012
Junior Nadirah McKenith hit a game-winning shot with 0.1 seconds left as the St. John’s women’s basketball team survived a scare from No. 14 Creighton, winning 59-57 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. After the Red Storm held the lead for most of the game, the Blue Jays evened... Read More
Women’s Basketball Sent Off in Style
Kieran Lynch, Staff Writer
March 16, 2012
The St. John’s women’s basketball team received a warm sendoff at Carnesecca Arena Friday afternoon before heading to Norman, Oklahoma for their first round NCAA matchup. St. John’s students enjoyed food, games, and prizes as they waited for the No. 3 seed Red Storm to make their... Read More
Johnnies are Dancing Again
Kieran Lynch, Staff Writer
March 14, 2012
The St. John’s women’s basketball team heard its name called on Selection Monday for the third straight year and will be heading to Norman, Okla. for a first round matchup against Creighton. “It’s a great feeling and I’m really proud of the kids and the program for being able... Read More
Women’s Basketball Still Storming: McKenith Ties Career High as Johnnies Extend Winning Streak
Kieran Lynch, Staff Writer
February 22, 2012
The St. John’s women’s basketball team extended its winning streak to six games with a 63-54 win against West Virginia at Carnesecca Arena on Feb. 21. Junior guard Nadirah McKenith tied her career high with 26 points while junior guard Shenneika Smith added 12 points and eight rebounds... Read More
Preview: Cincinnati
Kieran Lynch, Staff Writer
February 8, 2012
St. John’s returns to action against Cincinnati for the second time this season this Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. The two teams all ready faced each other once this season when the Red Storm earned their first road win of the season with a 57-55 on a buzzer beater put-back by freshman... Read More
Greene and Co. Look to Avoid Letdown at DePaul
Kieran Lynch, Staff Writer
February 1, 2012
St. John’s heads to Rosemont, Ill. on Wednesday to face fellow Vincentian institution DePaul in a Big East matchup at Allstate Arena. The Red Storm (9-12, 3-6) are coming off a 83-76 loss against No. 6 Duke University, in a game that saw a large Blue Devils lead dwindle in the second... Read More
Moe Shows New Intensity
Kieran Lynch, Staff Writer
February 1, 2012
St. John’s freshman Maurice Harkless earned Big East Rookie of the Week honors after averaging 26.5 points per game and 13 rebounds against West Virginia and Duke last week. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 26.5 points and 13.0 rebounds a game over the course of the week where the Red... Read More
Women’s Basketball Falls in Season Opener to Bonnies
Kieran Lynch, Staff Writer
November 16, 2011
The No. 25 St. John’s women’s basketball team was upset in its season opener by St. Bonaventure, 64-58, on Nov. 12 at Carnesecca Arena. St. John’s was ahead by as many as 13 midway through the first half, but St. Bonaventure chipped away at the lead and finally overtook the Johnnies... Read More
“Madness” Comes to St. John’s
Kieran Lynch, Staff Writer
October 20, 2011
St. John’s unveiled its 2011/12 men’s and women’s basketball teams at Oct. 14’s Red Storm Tip-Off, which was held at Carnesecca Arena for the second straight year. The event marked the official beginning of practice for both programs. The women’s team returns three starters from the... Read More
Volleyball Drops Big East Opener at Louisville
Kieran Lynch, Staff Writer
September 25, 2011
Nothing has come easy for the St. John’s volleyball team this season and Friday’s Big East conference opener at the KFC Yum! Center against the University of Louisville was no exception. Coming off a pair of losses to Iowa and Columbia in the Columbia Invitational last Saturday,... Read More
Men’s Golf Takes Fourth at The McLaughlin
Kieran Lynch, Staff Writer
September 20, 2011
The St. John’s men’s golf team placed fourth at their opening tournament of the year, The McLaughlin, at Bethpage Red on Sept. 16-17. Playing as hosts at the Long Island course, the Red Storm enjoyed cool weather and strong performances from senior Mark Costanza and junior Pat Wilson. They... Read More
Volleyball goes 2-1 in Kaiser Classic
Kieran Lynch, Contributing Writer
September 12, 2011
After suffering a loss in straight sets to Northeastern on Friday evening, the St. John’s volleyball team needed stars and newcomers alike to step up against Brown and Buffalo on Saturday in the Kaiser Classic. They got it from the likes of senior mainstays Darlene Ramdin and Paulina... Read More
Volleyball Struggles to 1-2 Record in Spartan Showcase
Kieran Lynch, Contributing Writer
September 8, 2011
The St. John’s volleyball team traveled to East Lansing, Michigan this past weekend to compete in the Spartan Showcase hosted by Michigan State. After entering with a 3-0 record, the Red Storm went 1-2 over the weekend, suffering defeats at the hands of Michigan State and Cleveland State... Read More