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The Independent Student Newspaper of St. John's University

The Torch

The Independent Student Newspaper of St. John's University

The Torch

The Independent Student Newspaper of St. John's University

The Torch

Remnants of what once was St. John’s University Staten Island campus located in Grymes Hill. 
Torch Photo / Isabella Acierno
Behind the Staten Island Transition: SJU Students and Faculty Adapt to Campus Closure
Isabella Acierno, Outreach Manager • October 21, 2024

St. John’s University President Rev. Brian J. Shanley sealed the future of Johnnies across the Verrazano just 19 days before the start...

Five Halloween Costumes Inspired by Classic Hits
Molly Downs, Culture Editor • October 21, 2024

With Halloween right around the corner, the time for planning the greatest costume is fleeting. Some of the best costumes come from references...

Brady Dunlap is Ready to Rewrite the Red Storm Story
Olivia Seaman, Editor-in-Chief • October 20, 2024

Sophomore slumps are common — but Brady Dunlap plans to rewrite that narrative in his second year with the Red Storm. A promising freshman...

Liam Payne’s Death and Public Opinion: Complicated People, Complicated Problems
Carlyann Carey, Opinion Editor • October 20, 2024

Liam Payne, the former member of boyband One Direction, tragically died on Oct. 16. The singer fell to his death in CasaSur Palermo Hotel...

Torch Illustration /
Five Chilling Halloween Reads
Celina Mullady, Asst. Culture Editor • October 20, 2024

As Halloween approaches,  people look for media to consume to prepare for the season. For many, the obvious choice is classic Halloween...

Oct. 8, 2024 Full Issue
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Torch Photo / James Williams
Tip-Off Officially Begins the 2024-2025 Basketball Season
James Williams, Asst. Sports Editor • October 19, 2024

St. John’s annual Red Storm Tip-off event was held in Carnesecca Arena on Oct. 18, ushering in the rapidly approaching basketball season....

Carnesecca Arena’s Red Storm Tip-Off line at 10:05 a.m.
Torch Photo / Isabella Athanasiou
St. John’s Students Secure Seats for 2024 Tip-Off
Isabella Athanasiou, Asst. News Editor • October 18, 2024

St. John’s University students trickled into Carnesecca Arena’s box office on Oct. 18 to claim their tickets to this year’s Red Storm...

Torch Photo / Isabella Athanasiou
Italian Cultural Society Joins NYC Columbus Day Parade
Isabella Athanasiou, Asst. News Editor • October 15, 2024

The Italian Cultural Society (ICS) at St. John’s University participated in New York City’s 80th annual Columbus Day Parade on Oct....

Pictured: Member of Neturei Karta International at the vigil before being escorted off campus by public safety
Torch Photo / Malak Kassem
Students Hold Vigil For Palestine
Malak Kassem, News Editor • October 10, 2024
Public safety intervened citing unauthorized external attendance.
Torch Photo / James Williams
Jewish Students Association Hosts 'Day of Unity' to Mark October 7
James Williams, Asst. Sports Editor • October 10, 2024

For the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel, the St. John’s Jewish Student Association (JSA) met during common hour...

Torch Photo / James Williams
Tip-Off Officially Begins the 2024-2025 Basketball Season
James Williams, Asst. Sports Editor • October 19, 2024

St. John’s annual Red Storm Tip-off event was held in Carnesecca Arena on Oct. 18, ushering in the rapidly approaching basketball season....

Ber'Nyah Mayo
Torch Photo / Sebastian Zelaya
Ber’Nyah Mayo and Jailah Donald Named Women’s Basketball Team Captain
Isabella Cautero, Sports Editor • October 16, 2024

Almost 24 hours after St. John’s held their annual Men’s and Women’s Basketball Media Day Head Coach Joe Tartamella has found his squad’s...

Rick Pitino enters his second season as Men's Basketball head coach.
Torch Photo / Sebastian Zelaya
St. John’s Hosts 2024 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Media Day
Isabella Cautero, Sports Editor • October 15, 2024

  St. John’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball Head Coaches Rick Pitino and Joe Tartamella addressed local media on Oct. 15 in Carnesecca...

Junior Zuby Ejiofor will serve as co-captain of the St. John's Men's Basketball team.
Torch Photo / Sara Kiernan
Zuby Ejiofor and Kadary Richmond Named Basketball Captains
James Williams, Asst. Sports Editor • October 12, 2024

Head Coach Rick Pitino has found his team’s leaders less than a month before tip-off. Per the Hall of Famer’s very active X account,...

Pictured: Kadary Richmond, Zuby Ejiofor, Elijah Hutchins-Everett, Isaiah Coleman
Torch Photo / Sara Kiernan
St. John’s Newcomer Kadary Richmond Impresses in Practice
Kyler Fox, Managing Editor • October 10, 2024

What a luxury it is to have a Hall of Fame head coach who’s active on social media. Thanks to the self-reporting from Rick Pitino, St....

Photo Courtesy / YouTube Sky News Australia
Hurricane Season: Misinformation Plays With People’s Lives
Carlyann Carey, Opinion Editor • October 17, 2024

Two hurricanes, 13 days. Hurricane Helene came first on Sept. 24 and touched down on the Florida coast as a Category 4 major hurricane...

Photo Courtesy / YouTube Sky News Australia
Melania Trump's Memoir Openly Contradicts Her Husband…to His Benefit?
Micah Grayson, Contributing Writer • October 17, 2024

One of the most eventful election cycles in modern history got even more hectic last week when former First Lady Melania Trump took an overtly...

Photo Courtesy / Unsplash Zoe
Op-Ed: The Whitewashing of Wuthering Heights
Olivia Rainson, Features Editor & Social Media Manager • October 15, 2024

Within the first two pages of Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights,” it is made abundantly clear how main character Heathcliff appears...

Photo Courtesy / YouTube The Hill
Op-Ed: What Vance and Walz Are Selling to Americans
Carlyann Carey, Opinion Editor • October 7, 2024

For those who don’t know, the last scheduled debate of the 2024 election season took place on Oct. 1 in New York City. Vice presidential...

Torch Photo / Fernando Mejia
Column: Women’s Soccer’s 2-1 Loss to Marquette Shows a Larger Team Problem
James Williams, Asst. Sports Editor • October 6, 2024

The St. John’s Women’s Soccer team remains winless in Big East play, due to an uninspiring offensive showing against the Marquette Golden...

Photo Courtesy / Unsplah Nick Fewings
From Ancient Origins to Corporate Candy: The History of Trick or Treating
Alexandra Prettitore, Staff Writer • October 15, 2024

The Halloween season is officially in full swing — spooky decorations, trendy costumes and horror movie marathons are festive ways in which...

Photo Courtesy / Briana Tola
St. Vincent de Paul Society: A Spirit of Service
Alexandra Prettitore, Staff Writer • October 12, 2024

St. John’s University identifies and embraces its Vincentian tradition, the service-centered teachings of St. Vincent de Paul. This is...

Photo Courtesy / YouTube Mimi
Should We “X” Our Exes Out of Our Lives?
Carlyann Carey, Opinion Editor • October 10, 2024

Keeping tabs on an ex has become increasingly easy. You can watch their Snapchat score go up or look through their tagged pictures on Instagram....

Torch Illustration
Media Literacy: A Conversation With Dr. Elisabeth Fondren
Olivia Seaman, Editor-in-Chief • October 8, 2024

When false headlines go viral in seconds and deepfakes blur the line between truth and deception, media literacy has become a survival skill...

Photo Courtesy / YouTube Saiehello
Mastering the Perfect Fall Makeup Routine
Madison Coombs, Contributing Writer • October 1, 2024

With summer transitioning into fall, it is the perfect excuse to try out new products. This time of year is great to try a bold lip and glowing...

Torch Illustration /
Five Chilling Halloween Reads
Celina Mullady, Asst. Culture Editor • October 20, 2024

As Halloween approaches,  people look for media to consume to prepare for the season. For many, the obvious choice is classic Halloween...

Torch Photo / Parker Songco
Mk.gee’s “Two Star & The Dream Police” Tour Stops In Brooklyn
Parker Songco, Contributing Writer • October 15, 2024

Artist Michael “Mk.gee” Gordon — pronounced “McGee” — took to the stage on Sept. 29 in Brooklyn at the borough’s historic Brooklyn...

Photo Courtesy / Youtube Trapped
“MIXTAPE PLUTO:” A Lackluster Addition to Future’s Discography
Fernando Mejia, Contributing Writer • October 10, 2024

To say Future has had a successful 2024 music campaign would be an understatement. The rapper released two collaborative projects with critically...

Torch Photo / Olivia Rainson
Freakin’ Out With Briston Maroney
Molly Downs, Culture Editor • October 8, 2024

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Briston Maroney stopped by College Street Hall in New Haven, Connecticut on Oct. 2 for the second leg of...

Photo Courtesy / YouTube Dennis van Aarssen
Dennis van Aarssen: The Next Jazz Icon
Alexandra Prettitore, Contributing Writer • October 7, 2024

The viral TikTok soundbite, “When you think of me, am I the best you ever had?” is used humorously and typically sarcastically by many...

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