STORIES

For many, our mornings start with the sharp, blaring noise of an alarm, forcing us to wake up. Some of us are ready to tackle the day, while others may groan in an attempt to silence the echo in our minds of a new monotonous day; a list plays through: class, brush your teeth, draft paper, get dressed, reply to peers’ discussion posts, and so on. As a student, you’ve probably shared this sentiment numerous times. The absolute dread of an early morning or the hallucinogens of

The information I am about to share is highly confidential and must be taken seriously. It is with great trust that I share my life’s work. I have accomplished the greatest endeavor one can achieve. With endless testing, the countless hours I have dedicated to this and more than my fair share of failed attempts, I know how to catch a leprechaun. First and foremost, there is a limited window of opportunity to catch a leprechaun. Preparation is crucial, since they only make an

This past weekend, staff from the Encounter attended the annual Illinois College Press Association (ICPA) conference in downtown Chicago. The attendees this year included Editor-in-Chief Rodolfo Flores, Assistant and Sports editor Scarlett LaBuda as well as Head of Public Relations and Feature and Entertainment editor Kathleen Norton. The ICPA conference features all college press across the state of Illinois coming together for two days to share work, attend sessions run by

The Encounter Podcast once again strikes with expansive stories on the issue released TODAY!! Starting off the episode with the Men's Baseball Preview with two coaches John McGuire and Luke Ketchum. Then to the Archway Review with Rodolfo Flores. Going from there we move to the Rec Club Rebrand and Cara Currier's Retirement. Lastly we start our new segment for Point Counter Point, you loved our Presidential Debate and now we introduce Girl Talk with "is Valentines Day good or

This past week, excitement has been buzzing as the Archway Review held its launch party, celebrating the publication of its fifth issue! Such a milestone truly highlights the hard work and dedication from students and faculty alike that brought this magazine to where it is today. However, this success did not come overnight, but rather through the advocacy and vision of Dr. Anna Ioanes and Dr. Elizabeth McDermott, who both wanted to establish a platform that would be able to

One of the fastest rising sports in the United States, softball has had no shortage of success here at the University of St. Francis (USF). They have finished as a top two team in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) the last three seasons, including winning the conference title in 2023 and 2024. Finishing behind St. Xavier University last season under rookie head coach Alyssa Moreno, she will look to lead the team to their first NAIA tournament under her dir

Despite it all, the University of St. Francis (USF) keeps on digging, gaining a new ace up its sleeve! We have all witnessed the women’s volleyball team break records year after year, and now, USF has proudly announced its 21st intercollegiate athletic program: a men's volleyball team. This new addition to our athletic program will compete at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) level and in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC). With

With the rise of reorganization from budgets to curriculum and faculty, the University of St. Francis (USF) President, Dr. Ryan C. Hendrickson, announced the creation of a Strategic Initiatives Task Force that would undergo efforts to strengthen USF and build the foundation for a vibrant, sustainable future. This Task Force is composed of three distinct groups that each maintain differing areas of necessity, balancing USF’s Catholic, Franciscan heritage with the harsh financi

Over the past few months, there have been numerous announcements made regarding the current financial situation at the University of St. Francis (USF). Following a series of budget cuts that have altered job positions as well as undergraduate programs, concern and frustration have carried a cold weight across campus due to the unexpected plot twists filled with a lack of transparency. In an effort to reinforce its financial foundation, USF is currently aiming to restructure p

Every year like clockwork, Valentine’s Day shows up in red, pink and sparkles acting like it owns the place. Suddenly, the world is drowning in heart-shaped everything and even the grocery store strawberries are dressed like they’re going to a high school homecoming. It’s always made me wonder: Is Valentine’s Day actually about love, or is it just a glitter‑covered Hallmark holiday we all pretend to enjoy? Let’s be honest, Valentine’s Day only works if you believe in the kind

When you think of the Athletic Department here at the University of St. Francis (USF) you think of Dave Laketa and Cara Currier. At the end of this semester however, that will change. Assistant Director and women’s volleyball coach Cara Currier will be retiring at the conclusion of the spring term. Currier has spent 24 years as the head coach of the women’s volleyball team. Prior to that she experienced coaching at various high schools, youth teams and junior colleges. Curri

Cancer is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for an estimated two million lives lost in 2025. With these daunting statistics, finding the cure for cancer has remained an important healthcare issue for decades. While this has not been achieved yet there, is an effective treatment for it that students can major in here at the University of St. Francis (USF): Radiation Therapy. According to the Cleveland Clinic, radiation therapy is a common cancer trea

The USF Recreation Club (Rec Club) has made a presence on campus over the last few semesters with their monthly bonfires, slip-and-slides in the Quad and their annual spring break ski trip. This club made an effort to not only be inclusive to all students on campus, but also engage students in ways other clubs typically did not with outdoor activities. Like all the other clubs on campus, Rec Club also felt the budget cuts and had to adapt what their events looked like, which

The Recreation Club (Rec Club) is revamped and ready for an active spring semester. They started the new year on a high note with new board members and two events in January, and will keep the momentum by filling the spring semester with a multitude of exciting events. On Jan. 12 the club posted on Instagram announcing the new board members. This is an entirely new team which is made up of mostly students majoring in Recreation and Sports Management. The team consists of si

Similar to most other holidays, Valentine’s Day might feel like just another holiday in which you have to spend money. In reality, it has always been more than just another consumerism ploy. It is our yearly reminder to be present in our relationships and to show people that we love them. Of course everyone would want flowers or a heart-shaped box of candy. However, in the yearly plastering of decoration and needless junk, connection was lost. People feel more obligated to b

After another long and cold winter in Joliet, Illinois, the University of St. Francis (USF) Baseball team is finally ready to get back on the field. After falling just short of postseason play last year, despite having a winning conference record, assistant coach Luke Ketchum feels that the experience that this year’s team has will be a difference maker. “We’re kind of just building off the years past. We have a lot of guys on our team that were in both of our opening round s

The Archway Review is a student-run literary magazine that publishes once per semester. The magazine publishes poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, art and photography. Anyone who is affiliated with the University of St. Francis (USF) can submit creative works to the magazine. It provides an opportunity for creative writers to become published. The Archway editorial team is made up of students who are involved through a class or an internship. Once works are submitted, the e

Cold cases. Something that pesters many investigators across the United States. Many of these cold cases are tied to one of the most severe crimes of all. Homicide. According to Project: Cold Case, 37% of homicides that happen in the United States go unsolved. One of the most famous of these occurred not too far from the University of St. Francis (USF). On a quiet February morning in Tinley Park, Illinois, tragedy struck at the Lane Bryant store in the Brookhaven Marketplace

This edition of the Podcast features stories: Campus Cuts with Lindsey Prosperi, Cuts commentary with Mars Angulo, feature on Victoria Adams, Christmas Music debate with Braeden Smith and Carter Abraham, and Esports talk with Steve Wettergren.

Per the most recent Student Government Association (SGA) meeting, club budgets have officially been cut by 25%. This was not unexpected as reductions have been implemented all across campus. As a result, all clubs must learn to adapt with all of the changes. For Cameron Sicinski, president of Criminal and Social Justice (CSJU) Charter Club, the cuts did not come as a surprise. “When SGA gave us those two options, we weren’t necessarily blindsided but it still kind of stuck u