STORIES

USF Women's Basketball looks to keep dancing in the 2025-26 season

After one of their most successful seasons in program history, the University of St. Francis (USF) women’s basketball team looks to continue its dominance on the court. Last season, the team shocked the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) by finishing third in the regular season and reaching the conference championship game. This all culminated in reaching the NAIA national tournament with an at-large bid, where they won a game against Rocky Mountain College.

Rudy Flores

Oct 24

Fall, the most fashionable season in the Midwest

When people think of fashion, they often think of places like New York, Shanghai, Milan, Berlin, and Tokyo, some of the world's fashion capitals, but have we ever looked right in our own backyard? Outside of the fields of corn that extend as far as the horizon, the Midwest is graced with four distinctive seasons. While our summers are scorching and our winters are blistering, in the fall we transform into a gorgeous city of gold. Once that first leaf falls, our style has no l

Mars Angulo

Oct 24

Ashley Swanson advances sustainability on campus

The University of St. Francis (USF) Sustainability Committee is geared up for a momentous month. Considering that October is Campus Sustainability Month, the Co-Chair of the Sustainability Committee, Ashley Swanson, is amidst one of the busiest months of the year. “I usually go heavier on events in October and April… so, those are like my two busy times of the year,” Swanson explained. Swanson devised multiple events for the month of October including a Beehive Glow-Up as we

Lindsey Prosperi

Oct 24

HSI Grant Discontinued: what now?

The University of St. Francis (USF) has been a recognized Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) since 2023. Along with this, they have also received grant money for being an HSI. However, that has changed as the Department of Education is discontinuing the university’s Title V grant. This decision leaves a big question, what the university is going to do with the loss of the grant funding? I ask this question as the university has staff positions, student worker jobs and some re

Braeden Smith

Oct 24

SGA adds new legislation

KayJ Hood is a junior Studio Art major who is making an impact with her efforts to change and update SGA legislation and policies. In the last few months, Hood has taken the initiative to write legislation intended to positively impact students as well as clubs and organizations involved in the Student Government Association (SGA). Hood spearheaded three major initiatives to ensure legislation properly reflects the needs of the student body. Starting as a class senator, Hood

Scarlett LaBuda

Oct 24

USF Encounter Podcast October 2025

The Encounter Podcast brings you the Halloween themed October podcast. Featuring guests: Tykara Harrison and Laurelei Thormeyer on USF Women's Basketball, President Dr. Ryan Hendrickson on HSI Grant Funding, the Encounter staff on Top Halloween Movies and Kat Norton on Spooky USF Stories. Directed and Produced by Podcasting Executive Brant Singler.