The Alvernian

Breaking Down the Walls, Building Bridges and Connections

Kyle Rudart Contributing Editor

The sounds of breaking brick and mortar rang out the day the American House wall-breaking ceremony was held at the historic building.

Alvernia University hosted this ceremony, marking a new chapter in the university’s CollegeTowne initiative.

Students, faculty, and staff, as well as other community leaders, gathered at 401 Penn Street to celebrate this new start that would connect education, business, and community in Reading, PA.

The expansion started with the main “Hill” campus outside Reading in nearby Shillington. Since then, Alvernia has expanded to places like the PLEX, the John R. Post Center, and now to the new building where the American House stood.

Alvernia President Dr. Glynis Fitzgerald described this as a moment that reflects Alvernia’s vision.

“American House shows what Alvernia’s CollegeTowne idea looks like in real life,” Dr. Fitzgerald said.

“By restoring a historic building downtown, the university expands access to healthcare and support services in the community. This also creates hands-on learning opportunities for students.”

While these expansion efforts have happened swiftly, Dr. Fitzgerald still emphasizes the importance of Alvernia’s Hill Campus as the university’s heart. CollegeTowne demonstrates a growing commitment to

learning that takes place both on campus and in the community.

The American House project continues a pattern of expansion. This pattern includes the PLEX and Post Center. These sites have become central to students’ learning experiences and the revitalization of the Reading area.

The Alvernian had a chance to sit down with Chief Operating Officer John McCloskey, who has overseen much of Alvernia’s expansion in the downtown area, and to reflect on how much progress the university has made.

“The most important part was the groundbreaking moment, it felt real,” McCloskey said.

“We secured the funding and proved that people believed in what we were doing. When we bought 401 Penn Street, we estimated it could take 5 to 10 years to fully build out that building. But we managed to transform everything, from academic programs to housing, within the first three years.”

This CollegeTowne initiative is now gaining some traction, but students who live on the main Hill campus wonder why it is far away from the Hill campus.

“It was easier to take the area in downtown Reading and flip it rather than building something new on the existing Hill Campus,” he said.

McCloskey explained it was easier to buy and renovate an existing downtown building in partnership with the

community than to build a new one near the main campus, which would have required removing parking lots.

Partnerships and community have been central to this vision since its launch in 2019-2020. Alvernia’s connections with local institutions like Reading Area Community College (RACC) and nearby businesses help create the college experience students want and crave.

“Three blocks down is RACC, which is a great partner,” McCloskey said.

McCloskey explained that bringing students and community businesses together in the city makes the work practical and energizes economic growth. Alvernia’s entrepreneurial efforts have helped other nearby buildings and changed the city of Reading in a very positive way.

Some students have expressed concerns about paying for renovations through their tuition.

Addressing these concerns, McCloskey explained that the funds for the renovations did not come from student tuition. Instead, he said, the money and donations for these projects were provided by local partners and generous donors.

“We wanted to get nursing and other healthcare professions to a state-of-theart level,” McCloskey said.

“And importantly, we’re not using student tuition dollars to build any of this. Every part of the project has been funded by philanthropy,

grants, and foundations, not by tuition. Ultimately, these investments benefit students by providing better facilities and more opportunities.”

The CollegeTowne vision and expansion so far have brought different food options that were not around this time ten years ago, with places like Freshens and the Starbucks in the downtown Reading, PA area.

For those wondering whether there will be more food options available with the incoming American House, they may not have to wait long, as this ceremony has brought attention to local restaurants.

“We’re still figuring out a good solution for meal plans with surrounding restaurants,” McCloskey said.

The American House renovation, like earlier expansion projects, demonstrates Alvernia’s commitment to economic growth in the city and providing more educational opportunities, sparking the “entrepreneurial ripples” McCloskey described.

“We are a major player and have made significant investments in downtown Reading,” McCloskey said.

With each new project, Alvernia is bridging the gap between the classroom and the community, turning these historic spaces into hubs of collaboration.

April/May 2026

the alvernian Absolute Wonder Woman: The Reinvention of an Icon Cole’s ComiCs Corner

Managing Editor

Grace Wanner

Layout

Amelia Fortunato

Section Editors

Cole

Brianna

Amelia Fortunato

Kyle Rudart

Danica Leister

Anthony Parsons

Shawn

Jacob Wells

Michael Peffer

Braden Livingston

Contributing Writers

Kiley Delfin

Lindsay Kerchner

Kenneth Miller

Hector Malave

Albert Vargas

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Ryan Lange

The Alvernian is the official student newspaper of Alvernia University.

Articles submitted for consideration into The Alvernian should be written in some semblance of AP style. Letters to the editor, requests for advertisements, and general comments and questions may be submitted to ryan.lange@alvernia.edu.

The editors reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, accuracy, and length.

The views expressed in The Alvernian are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the student body, faculty, staff, administration, or sponsors.

Cole Windsor Contributing Editor

In October of 2024, DC Comics launched its Absolute Universe, with reinventions of the three biggest DC superheroes, Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Even with the steep competition, many critics consider Absolute Wonder Woman to be the best to come out of the new Absolute Universe. All-Star writer, Kelly Thompson, and up-and-coming artist, Hayden Sherman, team up to create one of the most unique superhero comics, both narratively and visually.

The series starts with a five-issue arc, called “The Last Amazon.” Unlike the regular Wonder Woman, Absolute Wonder Woman did not grow up on Themyscira with the Amazons. She grew up in Hell, being raised by Circe, who in the regular DC Universe is a Wonder Woman villain. Rather than being a god-like character, Absolute Wonder Woman takes after Circe and becomes more of a witch-like character. This first arc flashes back and forth between past and present. In the present, Wonder Woman fights the Tetracide. Due to the creature being related

to the Greek mythological past of Wonder Woman, the present storyline connects with the origin of the character through flashback sections. The second arc follows Wonder Woman as she reflects on her past and where she came from. This leads her to enter a mystical labyrinth, where many different creatures live, being stuck, with no exit. Wonder Woman helps the people escape the labyrinth, while reflecting on her past and how the labyrinth connects to the Greek gods and the Amazons. Similar to the first arc, Thompson uses flashbacks of the past to connect with the present of the story. This gives the reader context, background, and a deeper understanding of the themes, all in one fell swoop.

Following the second arc are a few issues that connect and develop the story, including a crossover issue with Absolute Batman. This leads to the current arc, where Wonder Woman fights the Absolute Universe’s Suicide Squad. This Suicide Squad is made up of typical Wonder Woman rogues, like Cheetah and Giganta. They are being controlled by Veronica Cale, a rich woman known for taking down people who get in her way. Kelly Thompson masterfully utilizes flashback sequences to show the audience the backstory of Absolute Wonder Woman, which never feels out of place. The flashbacks are

used to reflect the present moments of the story, providing context, or even thematically mirroring the events. Thompson utilizes arcs to create individual stories, while leaving loose ends for the story to continue to the next arc. Each issue builds on the next while still creating self-contained stories for new readers.

Absolute Wonder Woman #15 Reviews Hayden Sherman (they/them) is a unique up-and-coming artist working at DC Comics. They’re known for their unique sketchy art style, with amazing posing and panel work. Colorist Jordie Bellaire supports Sherman with her dark, yet pastel color pallets, creating a mystical, dreamy aesthetic. Their collective vision creates a unique dark, yet warm, color palette, perfectly matching the atmosphere built by Thompson.

Thompson, Sherm combine to create one of the most unique comics, combining the interesting Wonder Woman-related characters with the new, darker twists of the Absolute Universe. This narrative atmosphere is visually told through amazing page design by Hayden Sherman and a beautiful color palette by Jordie Bellaire.

Absolute Wonder Woman has quickly become an iconic story for DC Comic fans.

Coffee Talk

April/May 2026

Kiley Delfin

Contibuting Writer

7 Brew, a growing coffee and drink drive-thru service, has become a popular place to create fun, creative drinks from its extensive menu. Many Alvernia University students can be found with their latest concoction while they work or study.

7. Brew was founded in 2017 by Ron Crume in Arkansas. The name was inspired by the seven original coffee drinks that were on the menu when it opened. The company was heavily invested in by the investment management firm Blackstone in 2024, leading to a rapid growth of locations. 7 Brew currently has over 500 locations in the United States and is looking to expand even more.

7 Brew offers a wide variety of drinks, including coffee, energy drinks, fizzy drinks, smoothies, milkshakes, lemonade, chai, matcha, and tea drinks. There

The 7 Brew Phenomenon

are hot drink options to choose from, but most people order their iced drinks. You can easily customize your drinks with over 25 syrups and flavorings, including sugar-free options. Given the number of drinks and flavors available, over 20,000 different drinks can be made.

Customers love adding syrups, flavors, cold foams, and toppings to their coffee.

“I love 7 Brew because they have a variety of options for whatever mood I’m in when I go,” said an Alvernia sophomore nursing student.

Some customers love making “dirty sodas” by adding creamer to 7 Brew’s fizz and energy drinks.

“How much more carbohydrates do you all need?” Dr. Ryan Lange, full professor of communication

and black coffee drinker, said.

“The thought of a dirty soda makes my teeth hurt.”

In the Reading, Pennsylvania area, there are two local 7 Brews. One location is in Muhlenberg Township on North 5th Street Highway. The other location is in Sinking Springs, on Penn Avenue.

Their operating hours are Sunday through Thursday from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Their prices heavily depend on the size and customization of each order. The estimated price of one drink ranges from $5 to $9.

7 Brew regularly offers discounted days and specialty items that are included with orders. For example, on Valentine’s Day, the company ran a promotion where customers could get two medium drinks for $9. They also offered Valentine’s Day stickers with that purchase.

“I love 7 Brew because

you can get any type of drink you want for a good price, and they have great reward systems,” Addison Boltz, junior, said.

“After purchasing 10 drinks and using the app, you get a free drink of any size.”

“My go-to order is an iced cookie butter blondie with cold foam, caramel drizzle, and toasted marshmallow,” Grace Weissenberger, firstyear student, said. “I don’t have a location near me in my hometown of New Jersey, so trying different flavors here is fun.”

As a loyal customer, my personal favorite drink is an iced, sweet-and-salty drink with toasted marshmallow, cupcake, and caramel drizzle.

7 Brew is growing to be a major competitor in coffee drive-thru’s and may one day become as popular as Starbucks and Dunkin. Alvernia students are leading the way in starting their days each day with a 7 Brew drink in their hands.

A New Coffee Spot Takes Root in West Reading

Lindsay Kerchner

Contributing Writer

Deep Roots Café, located in the heart of West Reading, is one of the area’s newest coffee spots. The café, which opened in February, offers specialty drinks and baked goods in a cozy, aesthetically designed space that has already begun drawing attention from locals.

The striking interior of the café features natural wood tones, plants, and warm lighting that give it a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. The design creates a comfortable place for customers to sit, talk, study, or simply enjoy a coffee break.

“The aesthetic was one of my favorite parts,” Hannah Tyler said. “It felt really cozy and welcoming.”

The café’s menu focuses on specialty coffee drinks with creative, dessert-inspired flavors. During my visit, I ordered an iced Bananas Foster latte along with a chocolate chip cookie.

The iced Bananas Foster combines espresso with banana and caramel flavors inspired by the classic dessert, creating a sweet but balanced latte. The banana flavor in the latte was

noticeable and helped the drink stand out from more traditional coffee flavors.

The chocolate chip cookie paired well with the drink and added a simple but satisfying dessert.

Another drink on the menu, the iced cheesecake latte, leans further into the café’s dessert-inspired theme. Ana Lopes tried the drink along with a brownie and said the latte had a distinctly sweet taste.

“It definitely tasted like a dessert,” Lopes said. “It was really interesting and fun to try.”

Another customer, Grace Wanner, also shared her experience visiting the café,

noting both the atmosphere and accessibility.

“The cafe was easy to find and had plenty of parking,” Wanner said. “It had a smalltown mom-and-pop vibe on the inside, and I absolutely love that. It fits right into West Reading. I got the cheesecake latte, and I really enjoyed it. Their cold foam on top is so thick and creamy, it’s basically Cool Whip. I would definitely recommend checking it out. The only downside is that they aren’t open most days of the week.”

Along with specialty drinks, the café offers baked goods such as cookies and brownies that complement the sweeter coffee flavors.

The desserts provide familiar options that pair well with the café’s unique drinks.

While the drinks and desserts were enjoyable, one thing that stood out was the café’s relatively limited selection of flavored coffee compared with larger chain coffee shops. However, the flavors that are offered are creative and distinctive.

“They don’t have a huge list of flavors,” Tyler said, “but the ones they do have are really fun.”

Pricing is another factor customers may notice. Like many specialty coffee shops that focus on handcrafted drinks and quality ingredients, the items are slightly more expensive than what students might expect at larger chains. For example,

the small lattes we ordered were around $7.00, whereas you can go to Dunkin and get a medium sized latte for less than that.

“It was a little pricey,” Lopes said, “but the drinks were really good, and the place had a nice atmosphere.”

Despite the slightly higher price point and smaller menu selection, Deep Roots Cafe is quickly becoming a unique addition to the local coffee scene. The café is located at 22 N. 6th Ave. in West Reading and is currently open Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. With its cozy interior, creative drink flavors, and welcoming atmosphere, the café offers a new weekend coffee option for students and residents in the Reading area.

April/May 2026

PoP CulTure

Fruit Love Island’ Is a Fruit Salad of AI Slop on TikTok

Hector Malave

Contributing Editor

A TikTok account called AiCinema is gaining widespread attention for its viral AI-generated series “Fruit Love Island,” a parody of the hit reality dating franchise Love Island that transforms fruit into melodramatic contestants searching for romance.

The page, launched March 13, quickly exploded online, reportedly gaining about 3.1 million followers in nine days as viewers embraced its bizarre mix of reality-TV satire, romantic chaos, and internet humor.

One of the standout characters is Cherryta, “A Cherry”. Her character became popular after resembling Huda from Love Island Season 7 by simulating the popular scene from “I’m a Mommy”.

Individual videos have drawn millions of views, showing how strongly the series has connected with TikTok audiences.

The appeal of “Fruit Love Island” lies in how closely it mirrors the recognizable Love Island formula. Like the popular dating show, the videos revolve around coupling, jealousy, betrayal, dramatic recouplings, and over-the-top emotional confessions. But instead of human contestants in a luxury villa, AiCinema uses animated fruit with human faces, exaggerated voices, and ridiculous storylines.

One of the viewers, Yosef Flecha, who currently studies animation at Sagrado Corazon University in Puerto Rico, said. “This is less like a replacement for traditional art and more like a digital parody of a media culture audiences already know well.”

The videos succeed because they understand the language of reality TV. Love Island has become a recognizable global franchise built around romance,

conflict, recoupling, and audience fascination with relationship drama. AiCinema borrows those familiar conventions and pushes them into absurd territory, creating a version of the show that is intentionally artificial, self-aware, and unserious. That self-awareness is part of what makes the content feel creative rather than threatening.

Fruit Love Island has gone incredibly viral, and other

accounts are doing their own versions of the show. Too fruity to handle, Married at 1st sight, I’m a fruit, get me out of here, Veggie Love Island, and many more that will likely arise from the viability of Fruit Love Island.

Many TikTok users comment that these parody accounts are going viral because the viewers behind the screen are “Parents giving their kids their unlocked phone. Maddie Thompson, a fan of the original “Love Island,” said, “I’m sorry, but why not watch the original reality TV shows instead of this slop?

The conversations about artificial intelligence and media will continue. “Fruit Love Island” stands as a new example of AI content that is less about erasing art and more about remixing it. In AiCinema’s hands, parody becomes the point. And for millions scrolling through TikTok, that absurd digital villa has become must-watch entertainment.

“Bridgerton” Season Four Sparkles like a Diamond

Amelia Fortunato

Contributing Editor

“Will you be my mistress?” Isn’t every young woman’s dream being asked this question? This powerful quote comes from season four, episode four of “Bridgerton,” “An Offer from a Gentleman,” a nod to the title of the book this season is based on. The question is asked by Benedict Bridgerton, who is part of the wealthy family which the series follows, to Sophie Baek, a maid of illegitimate origins.

“Bridgerton” first took the world by storm when its first season aired on Netflix in 2020. Today, the series is the streaming platform’s seventh most popular series of all time with 113.3 million views in total. However, even before the show debuted, Julia Quinn’s novel series had a passionate fanbase. 750,000 copies of the books sold in 2021 alone. Additionally, in the US alone, the series has sold 17 million books as of 2023.

Season four follows Benedict Bridgerton as he searches for the Lady in Silver, a mysterious woman he met at a masquerade ball. The Lady in Silver turns

watches the show with her daughter. “I love the bonding time that we have with it,” she said.

However, “Bridgerton” may not be the ideal show to watch with family. Since season one, the show has been known for its salacious content.

“I forgot how risqué a lot of the scenes are,” Fortunato said. The show is rated TV-MA, and it works to earn that rating.

out to be Sophie Baek, the illegitimate daughter of an earl. The story of season four is very much inspired by Cinderella.

“Bridgerton” season four is the show at its best. While the complex interwoven storylines sometimes challenges many audience members, season four expertly weaves them together by the end of the season. The love story is deeply touching. The focus on the working class also endeared people to this season.

Cindy Fortunato, who watched the series during its initial release in 2020,

Danica Leister, a sophomore at Alvernia majoring in communication, also found herself in a similar situation. “I find myself skipping scenes that make me uncomfortable or scenes that are really awkward,” she said.

“Yeah, well, try watching the first episode of “Game of Thrones” with your in-laws,” Dr. Ryan Lange, full professor of communication, said. He quoted survivalist Bear Grylls. “Adapt. Improvise. Overcome.”

One of the weaknesses of this season, one which many fans were outraged at, is the lack of Anthony, the eldest son and Viscount, and his spouse, Kate. Some audience members felt it was odd that he did not attend the funeral of his brother-in-law, John. There is a brief comment

about his absence, and yet nothing else is said beyond that.

Cast members on “Bridgerton” facing racism is not a new thing. Regé-Jean Page, who played the love interest Simon in season one received lots of online vitriol, to the point that fans trended #NotMyDuke on social media. Ruby Barker, who played Marina, experienced such bad racism that she ended up having “two psychotic breaks.”

Regardless of the serious problems occurring outside the show, this season was phenomenal. The romance was beautifully done, the character arcs were satisfying, and of course, the dresses were beautiful.

“The dresses and decorations are really eyecatching and honestly my favorite thing to look at,” Leister said.

“I thought this season was fabulous. I loved it. It’s getting better with every season,” Fortunato said.

April/May 2026

sPorTs

Alvernia Golf Tees Off This Spring

Shawn Williams

Contributing Editor

The spring athletic season is here, and the Alvernia golf program is back on the golf course. During the long, cold winter months, the golf program has prepared for the warmer months on the PLEX Simulator and in the gym, working on swing mechanics, muscle memory, and strength and conditioning. Now that golf courses are back open, members of both the men’s and women’s teams have spent quality time at the golf course preparing for their first event.

“I’m super excited for the spring season,” Kenton Lightburn, sophomore, said. “I’ve been practicing really hard, and I know the team has been as well, so I can’t wait to see the progression and results we achieve this semester.”

The men’s team saw some positive results in the fall season, with bright moments from the new members on the team and success from

their returning players. The returning members of the team embraced the new members very well and created team chemistry that the program has not seen in years. But as ever, golf is mainly a game where players are fighting to be better than their previous outings.

“I’m really looking forward to the spring season. I had a strong fall season and got off to a great start, but there are still a few areas I want to improve. A personal goal of mine this spring is to lower my scoring average by focusing on fixing small consistency issues in my game,” Zach Neuin, first-year student, said.

“As a team, I feel we all share a common goal, and everyone is motivated and focused on winning and is willing to push each other to be the best golfer and teammate they can be.”

The highlight of the fall season for the men’s team was winning their home event, the Alvernia Fall

Invitational, at LedgeRock Golf Club. The men’s golf team’s spring season schedule is highlighted by the Alvernia Spring Invitational at LedgeRock Golf Club; the Sea Gull Invitational, hosted by Salisbury University, at Green Hill Country Club; the Franklin & Marshall Spring Invitational at Bent Creek Country Club; and the MAC Conference Championship at Golden Oaks Golf Club.

The women’s golf team has a different approach to this

spring season in comparison to the men’s team. This women’s program has shown incredible success, winning 31 tournaments over the past 3 years, including 2 MAC Conference Championships in the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons. With a rebuild year and two seniors graduating, this team’s focus is on enjoying this spring semester, as it will be the last for a few of them.

“It has been such an amazing experience getting

to play for and representing Alvernia,” Grace Spielman, a graduating senior, said. “In my last semester here, I’m really looking forward to just being in the moment and enjoying my last few tournaments as a collegiate golfer. My main focus this season is just to have fun and enjoy the last of everything.”

The highlight of the fall season for the women’s team was winning the Elizabethtown College Invitational at Hershey Country Club.

The women’s golf team’s spring season schedule is highlighted by the Alvernia Spring Invitational at LedgeRock Golf Club; the Elizabethtown Invitational at Hershey County Club; the Kutztown Spring Invitational at Moselem Springs Golf Club; and the MAC Conference Championship at Berkleigh Country Club.

Make sure to tune in to the Alvernia University golf program’s spring season!

Winders To Lead Esports Program

Anthony Parsons Contributing Editor

The Alvernia esports program has gone through numerous changes over the last five years. However, with new leadership entering the head office, it may be that the program’s best days still lie ahead of them.

Since its founding in 2021, the Golden Wolves have won nine championship titles across Overwatch, Valorant, League of Legends, Rocket League, and Super Smash Bros.

Yet, the esports program has struggled to maintain consistent leadership in the past few years, with two directors and a semester without one in Spring 2025.

Further, in recent years, the program’s marketing has declined significantly, along with recruitment across all game titles.

Prior to 2026, the last post from the Alvernia Esports socials regarding recruitment was in April 2025, and the last match update was May 9, 2025, when the Overwatch team won the Division 3 title in the National Esports Collegiate Conference, both on Twitter.

The program’s last post on their Instagram page was

in August 2023 regarding hiring a Valorant head coach.

The de-emphasis on the program has made it difficult to grow this otherwise highly successful and competitive program.

Anthony Parsons is a graduating senior this semester and played on the esports team for Overwatch. Parsons have raised concerns about the viability of some of the rosters.

“Two of our game titles haven’t been able to field a competitive roster for around two years, and it’s been a pain to grow our program as a result,” Parsons said.

The new esports director is Jace Winders. Winders comes to Alvernia as an experienced director, having served Montgomery County

Community College’s Esports program for two and a half years. Under his leadership, MCCC earned five championship titles in both the New Jersey College Athletic Association and the Eastern College Athletic Conference, while hosting one of the best Marvel Rivals teams in collegiate competition.

Esports team members have immediately seen positive changes from Winders’ arrival.

“He’s only been here for a week, and he’s already got our socials up and running again,” Michael Peffer, a member of the Rocket League squad.

Winders’ esports background began at the University of Iowa, where he

played League of Legends on their esports team for three semesters.

After their coach graduated, he decided to step up and take a coaching role. Winders graduated with a bachelor’s in marketing management and pursued a minor in Sports and Recreation Management.

After graduating, Winders was hired to direct sports at Montgomery County Community College.

“I will be bringing experience on how to win championships, how to create a winning culture, and how to mix casual student involvement to maximize support for competitive teams,” Winders said.

“I plan on increasing Alvernia’s social media presence, hosting events for students to come watch us

play in matches and getting our recruiting back to where it should be to fill out all of our teams with competitive rosters and eventually adding more games.”

Alvernia’s esports facility is located on the lower level of the Post Center in Collegetown. Most people who go down there for classes may not even realize that the facility is there.

Hosting gaming and esports events using the lobby area TVs and the 30+ esports setups could allow for more on-campus traction and interest in the program.

Within Winders’ first week of directing the program, he jump-started posting game updates on X/Twitter and Instagram and has already met with squad coaches on current and future needs of each team.

around Town

April/May 2026

Discounted Opportunities You Have as a College Student

Michael Peffer Contributing Editor

Have you ever wished that you could do more while in school? Have you ever had a free weekend but chose to stay on campus or go home because doing cool things costs too much? Have you ever felt that if you did cool things you would need to get a job or work more than you already do just to afford it?

If you relate to any of these feelings, you are not alone. As a college student, your schoolwork becomes your job for 8 to 9 months a year. Depending on your area of study, this can mean you have very little time and energy to pursue income while in school. With no time, money, or energy to get more money, most students find themselves heavily restricted in the activities and experiences they can have in college.

However, businesses have become aware of this and sometimes offer special discounts for college students

who wouldn’t typically be able to afford their service.

Spotify has a promotion for college students where they can sign up for a onemonth free trial and pay just $6.99 a month for full access to Spotify and Hulu for the duration of their college careers.

“I had no idea this existed until you told me about this. I was listening to music with

ads because I couldn’t justify the price of premium, but this is way better!” Alvernia student Caleb DeFrank said.

Google has a promotion for Google AI Pro where students can get a 12 month free trial for their premium AI tool.

“I used Gemini for my internship and now I can keep using their pro version for all of my personal projects.” Alvernia student Jason Tavener said.

Amazon has a promotion for Amazon Prime where young adults aged 18 to 24 can enjoy a 6 month free trial and half off ($7.99/month) on Amazon Prime’s bundle of offerings until age 24.

There are great opportunities to get services for a low price as a student, but there are also great opportunities for discounted experiences as well. One of these discounted experiences

is skiing/snowboarding at Big Boulder Ski Resort in the Poconos. The average price for a lift ticket here is around $100 per day and the rentals are about $60 per day.

With the student discount that Big Boulder ran this year, the total cost for a lift ticket and rentals came out to just over $40, which is 75% off. Being able to afford these experiences can make a huge difference for college students who are looking for a break from schoolwork or just to get off campus and do something fun. There are many more deals like this one for all kinds of different products, experiences, and even travel. There are tons of these deals waiting to be uncovered by searching online or stumbling upon an offer on TikTok. These are the kinds of experiences that students will take with them long after they have graduated and that will give them memories for years to come.

The Food Court Nobody Sees

Brianna Corbett Contributing Editor

Did you know there’s a food court near Collegetowne at 6th and Court?

“No, I did not,” Dr. Ryan Lange, full professor of communication, said.

The location has existed in some form for years, but before becoming a food court, it served several different purposes.

The building the food court occupies was originally the Berks County Trust Company, built in 1909. As the years passed, the building has housed Meridian Banes apartments, office space, and finally began hosting a food court on April 23, 2024.

Shuman Development spent around $13 million to restore the building before it became home to half a dozen food vendors. The food court is located on the building’s first floor and is accessible to Alvernia students.

The current roster of food court vendors includes: Fresh and Hot, which serves pizza, wings, and burgers.

The Pulse Cafe, offering brioche, ciabatta, and croissant breakfast sandwiches, and an assortment of pastries.

Clean Plates, offering coldpressed juices and vegan cuisine.

Donut Lovers, serving custom donuts and drinks.

Sizzling Island, which offers Jamaican, Haitian, and other creole Caribbean cuisine.

Brazilian Sweets and Treats, traditional Brazilian desserts and snacks like chocolate, coconut, and condensed milk.

Sunset Mexican Ice Cream, colorful ice cream inspired by Mexican flavors, severing refreshing treats like paletas and creamy ice cream.

JoJo’s Bakery Creations Cafe, serves coffee, pastries, crepes, acai bowls, and

breakfast sandwiches.

JoJo’s is new to the food court but it focused on custom Puerto Rican-style cakes and Latin pastries, It offers a variety of sweet treats and catering options, making it a unique addition to the food court and appealing to customers looking for both everyday deserts and special event orders.

A true hidden gem

Over the months, people have been going to this food court to grab a bite to eat. Despite the general ignorance of the Post Center’s population of its existence, the location is very successful. Some businesses have already

moved to accommodate more customers or work space.

“The food court has a really nice atmosphere, with a beautiful interior that preserves many of the original features from when the building was a bank,” Nicholas King, Graduate Assistant of Operations, said.

While the food court has been on 6th & Court on Penn Street, many people who work and study at Collegetowne had no idea where it was.

“I know Dr. Fitzgerald had mentioned there being a food court around here, but I never knew where it was,” Dr. Lange said.

“I think they need to post more advertisements at the Post Center, so people know

it exists. I imagine they’d get a lot of foot traffic. We should be supporting local businesses whenever we can.”

“When it first opened, there were plenty of food options and a great donut shop that made it feel lively.” King said.

What other hidden gems might be lurking in the Collegetowne neighborhood? Let us know what you discover.

“Stop holding out on us, Reading!” Dr. Lange said. “Everyone in [the Post Center] needs to know where they can go for lunch.”

sChool news

April/May 2026

Keeping Healthy as a College Student

Jacob Wells

Contributing Writer

Many Alvernia students juggle part-time or fulltime jobs, caretaking responsibilities, and their schoolwork at the same time.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle under those pressures may seem impossible. How do Alvernia students rise to the challenge?

“Personally, I think it is all about setting goals for yourself,” Mark Rice said. Rice is a first-year student with a double major of Healthcare Science and Addictions & Mental Health. “I think if you have a strict plan to see what you want to be in a month or in a year, I think definitely writing out your goals, which is something I do

personally. I think that eating right, staying consistent, and staying disciplined is also a really big thing. I feel like if you draw short of one of them everything else comes crashing down.” Maintaining good fitness habits is critical to student-athletes. Proper diet and rest are foundational for good performance in workouts, practices, and on game day.

“For me it’s a lot about my diet I eat,” Nina Viola said. Viola is a first-year student majoring in Athletic Training and is also on the women’s softball team. “At least fruit and protein every day. Then we lift two to three times a week, and then we practice every day.”

“Yeah, definitely your diet and staying hydrated,” Abigale Millhouse said, another first-year student. Millhouse is a freshman in Occupational Therapy and plays on the women’s softball team alongside Viola. “Working out a lot and even sweating a lot.”

Keeping track of your calorie intake is important for both losing weight and gaining muscle. Apps such as MyFitnessPal allow users to track their food intake, exercise, and daily step count. Many experts recommend aiming for around 10,000 steps per day to maintain a healthy lifestyle which can even help against joint and knee pain, according to Nuffield Health.

Alvernia CAB Recap

Danica Leister

Contributing Writer

Alvernia University Campus Activities Board (CAB) attended the APCA National Campus Activities Planning Conference Held in Hershey, PA.

The delegation included advisor Felicia Nelson, the Associate Director of Student Activities at Alvernia University, Catherine Scott, the Vice President of Engagement for CAB, Danica Leister, an event chairperson for CAB, and Sydney English, a CAB general board member.

The conference was held from March 5 through 8, and the focus was on bringing new ideas and programming back to campus.

The conference, hosted by APCA (Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities), was a large-scale event featuring 50+ live acts, 42 session presenters, 22 novelty vendors and roving artists, and 57 exhibitors.

Attendees followed a structured daily schedule that included educational sessions, exhibit halls, showcases, and late-night events. Attendees also received a notebook detailing each day’s schedule with all relevant information.

There were plenty of student educational sessions happening during the same time block. The first ed session offered seven options, but the number varied across time blocks. These sessions had options like recruiting and retaining group members and officers, marketing, engagement, and programming strategies, but also topics like mental health leadership, stopping procrastination, and dealing with social anxiety.

“I enjoyed the educational sessions because they gave practical ideas for programming and student engagement. They were also a great opportunity to hear from professionals and students from other

campuses. My favorite session focused on student engagement and programming trends because it had a lot of useful tips that we could realistically apply at our school,” Sydney English, a CAB general Board member, said.

With so many options, smaller delegations often split up to attend and report back to their group. However, these educational sessions were not just for students, but there were advisor-only sessions offered as well.

“My favorite part of the educational sessions was gaining new ideas and perspectives from other institutions, especially hearing what’s been successful on their campuses.

It was valuable to walk away with practical strategies and creative programming ideas that I can bring back and implement, along with seeing how others approach engagement and student involvement,.” Felicia Nelson, Director of Student Activities, said.

There were also meal and non-meal showcases where students could experience live performances. This included music artists, comedians, speakers, and more. They took up a considerable amount of time, and a large portion of the day was dedicated to them.

“The showcases were one of the most exciting parts of the conference. I liked seeing the range of performances,

Even if you are not an athlete, try to aim for an hour a day when you have free time to work out. If you need to get steps in on the treadmill, you can listen to music or watch your favorite shows to keep yourself occupied. If you need to lift some weights to put on some muscle or just trying to get stronger, make yourself a playlist that fits your mood and stay in the zone.

from comedians to musicians and speakers. My favorite type of performance was the comedy acts because they were very engaging and tended to have the whole audience laughing, but I also really enjoyed listening to the different artists sing,.” English said.

All showcases were open seating, allowing different delegations to interact with one another. This gives students and advisors a chance to exchange ideas from their campuses.

“My favorite part of the conference was seeing the musicians, comedians, and other entertainers perform. It opened my eyes to all of the possibilities we have in bringing entertainment to campus, and I also really enjoyed being able to connect with people from other universities,.” Catherine Scott, Vice President of Engagement for CAB, said.

The conference provided inspiration, connections, and practical ideas for delegations to bring back to their campuses. CAB plans to use what they learned to better future events at Alvernia University and better their organization.

April/May 2026

Grace Wanner Managing Editor

Looking for something new? Well then, keep looking, because this is about Facebook Marketplace, where one man’s trash is slightly better than what you already have. Step into the digital yard sale that is the Facebook Marketplace and explore all the oddities it has to offer.

If you are unfamiliar with the shopping section of Facebook, it is a built-in feature on the app where users can buy and sell any legal thing in their local communities and beyond. Shoppers can browse listings based on location, category, and price to find the perfect deal to suit their needs.

Sellers can post listings with photos, descriptions, and prices with the option to provide contact information or message buyers directly.

Facebook Marketplace has gained traction in recent years for a multitude of reasons. The platform is

news Marketplace Madness

convenient and easy to use, and the prices are often negotiable. With the rise in popularity of secondhand shopping, the Marketplace is a great sustainable option for the environmentally conscious.

The prices are also unbeatable. With an inflationary economy, prices are rising, but on Marketplace, you can find items for as little as or no cost at all. This makes the platform ideal for more frugal individuals or young adults who have expenses to spare. Plus, for those looking for a side hustle, it’s a great way to make some extra cash. Some users have turned it into a small-scale entrepreneurial endeavor, turning Marketplace into a second stream of income.

“What I like about Facebook Marketplace is that you don’t have to ship anything. Everything is done locally,” Candice Templeton, local seller, said.

In Berks County, the Marketplace is full of listings with anything you can imagine. From boats to books and hot tubs to tractors, whatever you’re searching for is surely available and relatively nearby.

If you’re an environmentally conscious shopper, the locality makes the Marketplace ideal. Local transactions mean no carbon footprint from shipping or warehouses and fewer contributions to the landfills. It’s a great alternative to Amazon and big box stores, economically and environmentally.

Facebook Marketplace has also gained traction on social media for an unexpected reason. Some people have started throwing Marketplace parties where guests bring the strangest item they could find on Facebook and vote on whose object wins the crowning title of “weirdest item”. This online trend has sent users to Facebook to

look for some strange objects of their own. A few unusual listings in the Berks County area found include “The Waffle Wagon” food truck, a “lot of mallard ducks”, and dental cleanings for $25 (not recommended). While Facebook Marketplace is ideal for local sales and great deals, engage with caution. Since the accounts are connected to real profiles and real people, it is usually perfectly safe and legitimate. Michael Peffer, senior writer for The Alvernian, recently bought a mountain bike from Marketplace. “It was a great experience, the only thing I

would say is bring a friend with you. Where I went was in a sketchy neighborhood, but the guy was really nice and threw in some extras,” said Peffer. Most Facebook Marketplace transactions are great experiences, but it is always a good idea to exercise caution. Buyers should be aware that scammers do exist on the platform. It is good practice to always meet buyers and sellers at a public place and to bring a friend when possible. Facebook takes scammers and user safety very seriously, so if you have any issues, please report any misuse of the forum.

From Doubt to Dynasty - The Redemption of Sam Darnold

Albert Vargas

Contributing Writer

Sam Darnold led his team to win Super Bowl LX, but his journey to that victory was full of tests and challenges.

During his high school days at San Clemente High School in San Clemente, California. Darnold wasn’t a flashy fivestar quarterback that every school in the country was chasing. He was better known for basketball than football.

“I didn’t start playing quarterback until later in high school.” Darnold said.

Darnold didn’t get the full-time starting quarterback position until late in his high school career. What stood out to people was his toughness, leadership, and keeping his cool under pressure.

When Darnold committed to the University of Southern California in 2014, the start of this journey was tranquil at first. He got there, redshirted his freshman year, and had to play the waiting game. He became a starter in 2016 and went on to lead USC to a championship, which was split into two teams because they had the same record. Like in the Rose Bowl. This performance brought him national attention, making him one of the top

quarterback prospects in the 2018 NFL draft.

Darnold was selected as the third overall pick by the New York Jets, and became one of the youngest Week 1-starting quarterbacks in NFL history. The expectations of the fan base were extensive and expensive, but Darnold showed flashes of brilliance with big throws. However, Darnold’s success was challenged by coaching changes, offensive line struggles, injuries, and an

inconsistent weapon around him. After three seasons with the Jets, Darnold was traded to the Carolina Panthers. Once more, Darnold struggled against external conditions. Injuries and a weak roster slowed his momentum. All the critics were labeling him as a bust, and many quarterbacks would be unable to recover from that type of narrative.

“Since the start of last season, Sam Darnold has come up short in almost

every big game he’s played in.” John Breech said.

“Pressure haunts Darnold… throws his timing, rhythm, and ball placement off.” Nick Falato said.

Darnold spent time with the Minnesota Vikings during that 2025-2026 NFL season. In Minnesota, he benefited from a stable offensive system and veteran leadership. From this stability, Darnold refined his understanding of defenses without having to carry the full weight of being “the longterm guy.” That experience helped him mature mentally and professionally and gave him a perspective on what it takes to succeed in the NFL. Darnold ultimately made his way to the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle provided him the “just right” structure and balanced offense system he needed

to flourish. This amount of growth led him to the most significant moment of his career, Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California.

On the biggest stage in the world, Sam Darnold performed brilliantly, playing with poise and efficiency. He avoided turnovers, delivered a key touchdown pass, and controlled the tempo of the Seattle Seahawks’ offense as they defeated the New England Patriots 29-13. The same type of calm presence he showed in high school and at USC allowed him to lead the Seahawks to victory.

What we learn from Darnold’s experience is that development is not always direct. It’s not about how you start, but how you finish.