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Est. 1879|The Official Student Newspaper of Mount St. Mary's University
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U.S.- Iran Tensions Rise
Anna Hsia The war with Iran may be closer to the United States than many think, as Americans are already feeling its effects at the gas pump. As tensions rise around the Strait of Hormuz, prices have increased with no clear end in sight. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important waterways, carrying about 20% of global oil shipments and 20% of seaborne liquefied natural gas. Now largely closed to U.S. access, the disruption is already affecting gas prices natio
Anna Hsia
7 days ago2 min read
Oscars 2026: Big Wins Bigger Impact
Audrey Owens The 98th Academy Awards were held March 15, 2026, in Hollywood, California. "One Battle After Another," a film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, dominated the ceremony, winning six awards, including best picture, best supporting actor, best director, best screenplay, best film editing and a new category, best casting. This makes "One Battle After Another" the first film in history to receive that honor. The only movie close to rivaling Anderson’s work was "Sinner
Audrey Owens
7 days ago2 min read


Black Women in Pop Deserve Better
Kelby Chichester Black women pursuing acclaim in pop music have long been misunderstood throughout history. Many are overlooked or pigeonholed into R&B and soul. Others stumble on the path to stardom while still not being fully appreciated for their contributions. Black female pop stars pour themselves into an industry that does not always love them back. That reality is difficult to ignore when considering Manon Bannerman’s recent departure from the girl group Katseye. The
Kelby Chichester
7 days ago4 min read
Roses Are Red, Violets Are Posted: Valentines for Your Followers
Audrey Owens Thanks to social media, many experiences have become performative. People post for social approval and extrinsic image rather than simply enjoying the experience. In many ways, holidays have amounted to this as well. Take, for example: Valentine’s Day. Feb. 14 was first declared a holiday in A.D. 496 by Pope Gelasius I as a feast day to honor Saint Valentine, but it didn’t become associated with love until the 14th century, when English poet Geoffrey Chaucer lin
Audrey Owens
Feb 262 min read
Lift the Ban: Why MSMU Should Regulate Scooters, Not Remove Them
Jasmin Sorrell No one wants to walk in the freezing cold or the blazing heat from their room to the ARCC. It’s not about being lazy; it’s useful. In case you didn’t know, Mount St. Mary’s University first placed its ban on e-scooters and other privately owned electric micro-mobility devices on Oct. 12, 2025. There was a follow-up email stating that the ban will continue to be in place on Jan. 16, 2026. The reasons for this stated by the university were because of a rise in
Jasmin Sorrell
Feb 263 min read


Black History Month Celebrated at MSMU with BSU-Led Events
Jasmin Sorrell Feb. 1, 2026, began the celebration of Black History Month. BHM was officially created and recognized by the U.S. government in 1976 by President Gerald Ford. February marks the month to celebrate and recognize the important contributions to the nation made by historic Black figures. We shine the spotlight on civil rights trailblazers, innovators, doctors, educators, heroes and leaders, professional athletes and so many more who have paved the way for the follo
Jasmin Sorrell
Feb 262 min read
If This Isn’t American, What Is? Bad Bunny and the Super Bowl Culture Clash
Audrey Owens On Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, America came together for the one thing the country has always agreed on: football. This year, though, was different. The Super Bowl halftime show, performed by artist Bad Bunny, sparked controversy and division, as well as an interesting conversation about what it means to be American. Save for one line, the performance was sung entirely in Spanish, with only a short song in English from guest artist Lady Gaga. Despite the language barr
Audrey Owens
Feb 262 min read


Dare to Enter: Field of Screams Awaits!
Ahmad Mhusen I walked in thinking I wasn’t easily scared. Little did I know I couldn’t have been further from the truth. Field of Screams (FOS) was nothing less than a great time. Being my first time at FOS, I was really surprised by the environment. It felt like I was walking through a fall-themed fair. The music blared while people frolicked along the straw-covered ground, walking from attraction to attraction, waiting to get the scare of a lifetime. There were many differe
Ahmad Mhusen
Oct 23, 20252 min read
Remnants of Typhoon Halong Sweep Through Alaska
Nicole Campos Villaran A typhoon usually begins as a tropical depression that turns into a tropical storm when winds reach 39 miles per hour, then becomes a hurricane (typhoon) when winds reach 74 mph. The devastating storm happened on Sunday, Oct. 12, tearing through Alaska’s southwest coast. Many people believe that the storm was unusual because Merbok happened in 2022, but it’s similar to Halong. A week earlier, there had been a typhoon east of Japan, and the stream picked
Nicole Campos Villaran
Oct 23, 20252 min read
A Deadly Kiss! The Bug Behind a Growing Threat
Nicole Campos Villaran The kissing bug is native to the Americas, but its origin is in Central and South America. Due to its rapid population growth, its presence is considered endemic and is found in more states than many have thought. Many pet owners are alarmed for their pets’ health because these insects attach themselves and feed on blood; however, they do not cling to the skin like ticks. This can happen to humans too, not just pets. A bite from this insect can transmit
Nicole Campos Villaran
Oct 23, 20252 min read


Postcards From Florence
Anna Hsia Ciao from Florence, Italy! This past weekend, we traveled to Rome. Our day started early on Friday, Sept. 19, when we took a high-speed train into the city. After a short two-hour ride and settling into our hotel, we had some free time. My friends and I decided to grab lunch at a little panini restaurant and then headed to St. Peter’s Basilica. St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most famous and important churches in the world. It is often considered the spiritual ce
Anna Hsia
Oct 23, 20252 min read


Observations from an Atypical Mount Student
Kandace Fernandez As someone who doesn’t quite fit the typical mold of a Mount St. Mary’s undergraduate student I came to the Mount with...
Kandace Fernandez
May 2, 20253 min read
Protests Across the US Against President Trump
Kelby Chichester In yet another baffling display of ignorance and authoritarian fantasy convicted felon and former president Donald Trump...
Kelby Chichester
May 2, 20253 min read


Changes in Honors Living
Stacey May Historically McCaffrey has been first-year honors housing. This coming year McCaffrey and Horning Tower will be honors...
Stacey May
May 2, 20253 min read


Fellowship of Catholic University Students Leaving Mount
Colin Long The Mount has officially parted ways with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) causing great controversy and...
mjleavitt
May 2, 20252 min read
Five Years Post COVID-19
Nicole Campos-Villaran It’s officially been five years since our country announced a full shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19...
Nicole Campos Villaran
Apr 4, 20252 min read
Trump's First Presidential Address
Kelby Chichester On March 4. 2025, President Donald Trump delivered his first address to a joint session of Congress in his second term...
Kelby Chichester
Apr 4, 20252 min read
AI Makes it to the Cinema
Colby Brooke Artificial intelligence (AI) has now found its way into cinema and one of the biggest movies of the year: The Brutalist ,...
Colby Brooke
Apr 4, 20252 min read
The Dismantling of the DoE Causing an Education Crisis
Kelby Chichester The right of American families to determine how their children are educated has long been tied to the nation’s struggle...
Kelby Chichester
Apr 4, 20253 min read
Columbia Expulsion Crisis
Kelby Chichester Columbia University has faced intense criticism after making a series of major concessions to the Trump...
Kelby Chichester
Apr 4, 20252 min read
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