Flames of the Torch: New Year, New Opportunities
September 20, 2018
The start of a new school year is synonymous with new beginnings, and that is especially true for us at The Torch and St. John’s as a whole. As we all settle into the routine of balancing a busy schedule packed with class, work and extracurriculars, we’d like to recap the newest changes on campus th...
Staten Island Campus Student’s Racist Post Prompts Investigation
Derrell Bouknight, News Editor
May 10, 2018
After students on the Staten Island campus reported a “racist picture” that appeared on an Instagram account belonging to a fellow student in the Phi Eta Chi sorority on campus, President Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw said that the incident was “unacceptable and will not be tolerated” in an inter...
Two Months Later, Gempesaw Talks Town Hall
Suzanne Ciechalski, Editor-in-Chief
April 4, 2018
St. John’s President Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw said he understands why many students walked out of an emotional Town Hall meeting about race relations held on campus a little over a month ago. “As an immigrant and a person of color, I fully understand where they’re coming from,” Gempe...
Walk Outs: Gempesaw’s Town Hall Goes Awry
Nick Bello, Assistant Photo Editor
February 14, 2018
First, half of the students walked out. Then, so did the president. The 85-minute town hall meeting last Thursday in which students spoke directly to administration — including University president Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw — about race relations and diversity issues at St. John’s was fill...
Flames of the Torch: It’s time for Gempesaw to listen
February 8, 2018
This week President Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw will do what is arguably the most important thing he’s tackled since arriving at St. John’s. On Thursday students will be given the opportunity to meet with him at Taffner Field House to air their concerns regarding race relations on campus directl...
Call for Action: Gempesaw to Meet With Students Thursday
Suzanne Ciechalski and Angelica Acevedo
February 7, 2018
The hundred-plus students who have already publicly voiced their disappointment, frustration and anger with the state of race relations on campus will have the opportunity Thursday to bring their concerns directly to University President Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw. The session, expected to be announce...
President Gempesaw Addresses SJU
Isabella Bruni, Co-News Editor
September 13, 2017
St. John’s University President Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw delivered his third annual State of the University Address on Sept. 6 to faculty, students and alumni, highlighting key information from the past year. The theme of the address, “Accelerating the Momentum for Change” related to the...
Welcome the Stranger
Ariana Ortiz, Co-News Editor
September 13, 2017
University President Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw responded to the Trump Administration’s controversial decision to repeal the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program by reminding the university community that he is among hundreds of college presidents who called for the DACA program to “be...
The Trump Window
Angelica Acevedo and Isabella Bruni
November 16, 2016
A group of St. John’s students in Century Hall is receiving backlash for demonstrating support for President-elect Donald Trump on their dorm window. An image of the window, which has made waves on Twitter, shows a Trump and Mike Pence flag on the left, the U.S. flag in the middle and another T...
St. John’s Student killed at Carnival
Angelica Acevedo, News Editor
September 7, 2016
On Monday morning, Tiarah Poyau, a student at St. John’s University, was fatally shot in the face during the J’Ouvert Carnival, according to the New York Police Department. Several news outlets reported that Poyau and her friends were at the carnival celebrating West Indian and Caribbean heritage in...
