Aidan Vanhoof

Student Journalist

recent posts

  • Vanhoof: Please stop trying to save me

    Aidan Vanhoof, Staff Writer

    October 22, 2025

    "People aren’t persuaded by fear and discomfort; they lash out against it." (Alexander Cruz / Graphics Editor)

    “People aren’t persuaded by fear and discomfort; they lash out against it.” (Alexander Cruz / Graphics Editor)

    I don’t think many of us like hecklers. It doesn’t matter who —  be it a salesman, a political organization, or a preacher. Having a person shout at me to manipulate me in their own favor is a genuinely dreadful experience. 

    So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that I’ve grown to dislike the preachers. It’s nothing personal. I’ve spoken to them, and they seem like lovely people. But their message, supposedly the good news, is nothing except an attempt to scare what they call sinners, i.e., college students deviating from a set mold, into submission. 

    Daily, I see LGBTQ+ kids rushing past them. Sometimes, someone gets daring and steals something or kicks a sign over. One even ripped a sign in half a few weeks ago. While I certainly don’t advocate for vandalism or violence, I get it. Truly. 

    Watching as two men rave about the end times, the cleansing of sinners, and eternity, isn’t in itself a miserable experience. But when you’re the one cleansed during the end times and given an eternity of suffering because you like the same sex, identify a certain way, or hold alternate beliefs, it becomes miserable. 

    Not too long ago, I wrote an article about them and a few other preachers. In speaking to students, the reviews weren’t positive. Non-Christian students mentioned preachers calling them out, shouting at them to remove religious garb and repent. LGBTQ+ students consistently despise them and their presence. Students outside both communities regularly found them disruptive and annoying. Even some Christians had real issues with them and their aggressive approach. 

    Obviously, this attitude isn’t universal. But it’s a problem for many students, not only me. These preachers are here five days a week, all semester long. They’re inescapable. 

    It might be reasonable just to ignore them. Walk by, maybe even run by, and tune them out. However, that’s easier said than done, especially when each word spoken is directed at you. 

    Words are potent. We can’t act like they mean nothing, like they can be ignored. But words are just symbols. So, all you have to do to change a word’s meaning is change what it represents. 

    In this case, sinners, as a term, carries weight, even if the aforementioned sinner isn’t religious. It signifies the sinner as a member of an out-group; someone to be attacked. In this way, it’s not just a religious term, it’s a scarlet letter marking rejection. 

    So when preachers condemn an oppressed and vulnerable group, they’re doing more than insulting them. They’re actively alienating students from the environment they’re in. 

    As a result, power walking by or avoiding the area may not be enough. Imagine having a random man harass you, attack your lifestyle, and literally declare you a cosmic failure, then print it all on a sign in big bold letters. Obviously, that’s not easy to ignore. 

    Of course, two preachers bothering students doesn’t justify violating the First Amendment. It’s not like they can be removed. Rowan University is a public institution, so they’re preaching on public property. They have a right, just as we have a right not to listen. 

    But even if they’re allowed to be here, it’s obnoxious and exhausting. I’m tired of spotting those signs and the ensuing urge to pick a different route to class.

    It doesn’t help that it’s a bad approach. People aren’t persuaded by fear and discomfort; they lash out against it. Salesmen flatter and swoon for that reason. LGBTQ+ students aren’t drawn to this God because they’re told he’ll send them to be tortured; Muslims rarely turn to Christianity because they’re harassed by two random men on a street corner. 

    Regardless, they’re a problem. I appreciate their right to express themselves and spread their spiritual beliefs to anyone who will listen. But, given the clear backlash and the preexistence of campus Christian organizations, it should be clear to them that they’re unnecessary and unpopular. 

    If the administration can’t do anything, students need to. Cruelty and vandalism won’t get us anywhere, but confronting them may. Protesting, respectful arguments, calling them out, complaining to the administration, etc., aren’t unhelpful. Even if zeal ensures they don’t budge, anything that protests their presence or tells them they’re unwelcome is a step in the right direction. 

    For comments/questions about this story, DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email opinion@gmail.com

  • Meet the Rowan graduate making a ride-share app just for students

    Aidan Vanhoof, Staff Writer

    October 22, 2025

    "On her way to class at Rowan College of Burlington County, Louwinda Soy’s car broke down, hurting her grades and social life. As unpleasant as this was, it inspired something important: Baron Rides." (Contributor / Lauwinda Soy)

    “On her way to class at Rowan College of Burlington County, Louwinda Soy’s car broke down, hurting her grades and social life. As unpleasant as this was, it inspired something important: Baron Rides.” (Contributor / Lauwinda Soy)

    On her way to class at Rowan College of Burlington County, Louwinda Soy’s car broke down, hurting her grades and social life. As unpleasant as this was, it inspired something important: Baron Rides. 

    Soy, who will graduate next May with a Master’s in Business Administration, depicts Baron Rides as a place where students can pay for transportation, not from random strangers, but from fellow students. 

    “Think of it as a matching app. Instead of you finding your soulmate or partner for life, you find your fellow students, your potential friends. For example, not too long ago, my car broke down. So let’s say you’re a student and this happened to you, it would match you to other students already living nearby who you can carpool with,” said Soy.

    In part, Baron Rides exists to help international students, who often have a particularly challenging time finding affordable transportation and student community spaces. 

    “Born and raised in Haiti, I know how it is to learn English and live in another country,” said Soy.

    To her, ride-share apps like Uber and Lyft can be overly expensive, and public transportation proves sporadic or unreliable. 

    “I found out that so many students were struggling with transportation issues … Since we are students, and we know we don’t make money like that, it’s a consistent price compared to what’s out there. You can actually budget for it,” said Soy.

    Each of these plays into her community-centric ambitions, involving the creation of community spaces linked specifically to Baron Rides. To her, our world is devoid of solid connection. She aims to be the solution. 

    “In terms of buses and everything, I was really struggling … I want to move beyond Rowan. I want to move beyond having it just be an application. As life gets more complicated, it’s hard to make connections. So I want to make a community out of Baron Rides,” said Soy.

    She met her cofounder, Pietra Oliverira, at RCBC, whose computer science background was indispensable. Oliverira returned to her home country of Brazil, but she remains Soy’s coding adviser. 

    “The short answer: she is still part of the story of Baron Rides,” said Soy. 

    The app’s name stems from RCBC’s mascot, Barry the Baron. At first, Soy tried changing it. But since Oliverira left, Soy liked it as a reminder of their close friendship. 

    “Initially, we considered changing the name; we didn’t want the ties to a specific college. But after Pietra moved back to Brazil, I decided to keep it,” said Soy. 

    Soy aims to create more apps in the future, all with her stated goal: bringing people together. 

    “At this very moment, my passion is literally bringing people together. I don’t know if it’s because I was born in a different country, but it’s a passion of mine to connect people. Eventually, it may be something bigger,” said Soy.

    Her ambitions extend beyond ride-sharing, into non-profit work and further entrepreneurship. 

    “If I could put together students willing to learn to be social media managers, like for small companies … Having some sort of a media company run by students willing to help non-profits and stuff like that,” said Soy. 

    At the moment, Baron Rides isn’t complete. She hopes to release it by September 2026 — the beginning of the Fall semester. 

    “We will launch across universities in N.J. to really get feedback,” said Soy. 

    For comments/questions about this story, DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email features@thewhitonline.com

  • Climate Revolution Action Network visits Rowan for policy training

    Aidan Vanhoof, Staff Writer

    October 8, 2025

    Activist Ben Dziobek, 25, gives a presentation to the Rowan Environmental Action League. Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. Glassboro, N.J. (Aidan Vanhoof / Staff Writer)

    Activist Ben Dziobek, 25, gives a presentation to the Rowan Environmental Action League. Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. Glassboro, N.J. (Aidan Vanhoof / Staff Writer)

    The Rowan Environmental Action League (REAL) welcomed guest speaker Ben Dziobek, a 25-year-old political and environmental organizer who works as the executive director for the Climate Revolution Action Network (CRAN), a community-based organization that focuses on addressing environmental issues and fighting for climate justice.

    During the workshop, which was hosted in Discovery Hall this past Tuesday night and saw about 25 people attend, Dziobek discussed New Jersey’s environmental policy and the ongoing fight against climate change. 

    “There’s no youth voices around the state, and when we’re talking about legislation and policy and whatnot, none of our opinions are included. So our whole thing is to uplift you all into these spaces, whether it be local town councils, accomplishing resolutions, or working on the ground with preserving land or something like that, coordinating,” Dziobek said. 

    This event was organized as part of a broader effort to bring more organizations, especially colleges, to CRAN. The group hopes to build a coalition of New Jersey organizations and college clubs to combat climate change, according to Dziobek. 

    According to Kyle Mains, the president of REAL and a senior computer science major, the workshop aimed to educate people in a more experiential or engaging way.

    “A workshop was a catch-all term. As opposed to a lecture, it’s more of a teaching experience,” Mains said. 

    The workshop began with a recap of future events, including a kayaking trip to Scotland Run Park on Oct. 16. Soon after, Dziobek started his presentation. 

    Dziobek singled out three ongoing priorities during his presentation: “Save Black Run Preserve,” an effort to save a nature reserve from a property developer; “Save Watchung Mountain,” an effort to keep property developers from blowing up the top of Watchung Mountain; and finally, “Make Polluters Pay,” an effort to force major polluters to pay significant fines for environmental damages. 

    Most of the presentation revolved around “Make Polluters Pay,” which refers to the New Jersey Climate Superfund Act, an act requiring polluters to fund climate change mitigation. Ideally, it will hold contributors directly accountable instead of the taxpayer, and by regulating companies, it will slow climate change. Dziobek claims it can save taxpayers up to $50 billion. 

    “We have new legislation that maybe we’ll get past next year, but the superfund’s the really important piece. And the super fund is a national issue. If we do this here, it, quite literally, triggers the rest of the states to be like, ‘These three states got it at this point, this makes sense, right?’” Dziobek said. 

    Dziobek continued, discussing ongoing organizing efforts and the hurdles faced by both activists and environmental protection as a whole under the Trump administration. 

    “We can do this. Young people can make this happen,” Dziobek said. 

    The club proceeded outside to the Discovery Hall lawn, where a picture was taken, and Dziobek answered any further questions attendees had. 

    “I think it was really informative and entertaining at the same time,” said Conor Flaherty, a junior geographic information sciences major.

    For comments/questions about this story, DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email news@thewhitonline.com

  • Do Rowan students believe in conspiracy theories?

    Aidan Vanhoof, Staff Writer

    October 8, 2025

    “I don't actually believe him, but I choose to believe him…the mothman." (Graphics Editor Alexander Cruz)

    “I don’t actually believe him, but I choose to believe him…the mothman.” (Graphics Editor Alexander Cruz)

    With the rise of the internet, conspiracy theories pervade everything from everyday conversation to whole political movements. In 2020 and 2024, conspiracy theories like Q-Anon spread like wildfire on the American right wing. 20% of Americans believe COVID-19 vaccines microchip Americans, and another 54% of Americans believe that JFK’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, did not act alone. 

    Despite this, overall, college students believe in conspiracy theories less than the average American, mostly due to a stronger education. Is Rowan University any different? 

    On average, not really. Among Rowan students, such theories don’t appear too common, though they’re not nonexistent. 

    Gracie Tomeipar, a junior majoring in liberal sciences, is skeptical but finds them fun, citing a belief in the “mothman,” a winged creature from West Virginian folklore thought to be a bad omen. 

    “I don’t actually believe him, but I choose to believe him…the mothman,” Tomeipar said.

    To Tomeipar, logic is more important, citing limited evidence in most cases.

    “I think the world is weird enough that we don’t really need conspiracy theories … some of them have way too many statistical problems … I’m somebody who likes to have empirical evidence,” Tomeipar said. 

    Another student, Daniel Eang, a junior majoring in computer sciences, like Tomeipar, considers most of them unreasonable, but still finds one convincing: aliens. 

    “My mom did say that she saw some video about UFOs online. I mean, it does exist, space outside of the Solar System … So I do believe in those kinds of alien conspiracies,” Eang said.

    Jaedon Angelus, a junior majoring in biology, says he enjoys reading about them, but doesn’t believe in any. He simply remains open-minded.

    “I wouldn’t say I necessarily believe any of them, but I enjoy reading about them. I’m talking, getting my own perspective on conspiracy theories instead of just believing what I read,” Angelus said.

    To him, conspiracy theories aren’t very reliable, since many begin in internet echo chambers and change as they’re repeated without sufficient pushback.

    “I just try not to trust other people … A lot of information just gets put out there, it’s really reverberated in echo chambers and everything,” Angelus said.

    Travis Reese, a sophomore majoring in psychology, doesn’t believe in any, although he didn’t specify any reason why not.

    “I don’t think I have a particular reason. I just don’t,” Reese said. 

    Like Reese, Hani Patel, a junior majoring in computer science, doesn’t feel they can be substantiated. To her, this means they likely aren’t true. 

    “I just don’t believe them. If you can’t see it, it’s not real. That’s what I think,” Patel said. 

    Among those interviewed, some of whom refused to be quoted, few appeared to believe in any popular conspiracy theories, like Roswell or the aforementioned JFK plot. 

    As to why, on average, students in higher education have greater analytical tools, exposure to different viewpoints, and tend not to attribute intentionality to otherwise random events. 

    A lack of critical thinking skills and echo chambers reinforce conspiratorial ideas, all of which higher education combats, according to a research paper in the National Library of Medicine. 

    Despite this, many students, like Tomeipar and Eang, remain open-minded and engage with such theories, mostly for fun or out of personal interest. 

    For comments/questions about this story, DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email features@thewhitonline.com

  • Catholic students come together at Newman House

    Aidan Vanhoof, Staff Writer

    October 8, 2025

    Students watch Father Thomas Piro give a presentation on his life and vocation. (Catholic Campus Ministry via Instagram)

    Students watch Father Thomas Piro give a presentation on his life and vocation. (Catholic Campus Ministry via Instagram)

    At the Newman House in downtown Glassboro, dozens of Catholic students and alumni gathered to hear Father Thomas Piro give a presentation on his life and work. 

    Initially, students flowed in at 6 p.m. on Oct. 1, settling at tables and eating free food.

    “We always start with a free dinner at 6 o’clock on Wednesdays and then have our meeting after,” Campus Minister Kari Janisse said. 

    The meeting started properly an hour later, with Janisse recapping the Catholic Campus Ministry’s schedule for the week. After about ten minutes, Father Thomas Piro started his presentation, where he discussed, in great detail, his early life, upbringing, and journey through religion and priesthood. 

    “Hopefully we’ll have some questions, but before we’ll get to hearing about who I am and my vocation,” Piro said. 

    A question and answer session was held afterward, wherein eleven students asked a mixture of deeply personal and broader, theological questions. Some students asked about Piro’s life and time in the church; others asked for advice. 

    “I have students asking these very deep questions and really seeking to know why … It’s been a great blessing,” Piro said. 

    Piro is Rowan’s Parish Parochial Vicar, a Catholic priest assisting the main pastor. He started at Rowan in July, and this is his first assignment since graduating from seminary. He’s popular for his youth, energy, and relatability. 

    “You don’t see a lot of young priests; we’re used to seeing older men…[he’s] very relatable in that sense … Students can understand [him] because it’s part of their generation as well. Working with him since July … has been super joyful,” Janisse said.

    Events like this one happen weekly, often featuring presentations from relevant speakers with a focus on faith and vocation. Last week, they had a couple discuss the adoption process, another Catholic vocation. 

    “There is usually a speaker every Wednesday … Like last week, we had a married couple from the parish come and give us their story,” Janisse said.

    Students enjoyed the presentation, finding it insightful and helpful for their own spiritual or religious lives. 

    “A lot of us have anxiety about something, like other people … I think [presentations like this] do a lot of good,” said James Scalice, a sophomore history major.

    Students from the surrounding area attended, as well, like Dae Miller, a sophomore liberal arts major from Rowan College of South Jersey. Like Scalice, he considers this to be a sort of “home away from home,” though he’d appreciate more student presentations. 

    “I think we’re very lucky to have a Catholic community right here on a public university campus … [but] I think they could incorporate some more speeches from students … I don’t get to hear from Rowan University students as much; it’s usually a lot of older people,” Miller said. 

    While the event ended around 8:15 p.m., students lingered for hours afterward, as the Newman House remained open until 11 p.m. the same night. The Catholic Campus Ministry’s next meeting will be on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

    For comments/questions about this story, DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email features@thewhitonline.com

  • Vanhoof: Rowan’s partnership with Lockheed Martin is an ugly one

    Aidan Vanhoof, Staff Writer

    October 1, 2025

    "Lockheed Martin benefits from Rowan. By working with them, Rowan supports Lockheed Martin, implicitly condoning their actions and business model." (Lockheed Martin- Partner Page)

    “Lockheed Martin benefits from Rowan. By working with them, Rowan supports Lockheed Martin, implicitly condoning their actions and business model.” (Lockheed Martin- Partner Page)

    Twice a week, on my way to class in Robinson Hall, I pass a poster listing major companies Rowan University graduates have gone on to work for. Among them are companies like Bloomberg, NJM, Inspira, and BetMGM. 

    However, one stood out: Lockheed Martin.

    Rowan University offers unique programs, both for students here at Rowan and for employees at Lockheed Martin. This includes a Rowan-exclusive graduate program, designed especially by and for Lockheed Martin called the Certificate of Graduate Studies in Combat Systems Engineering, and benefits for employees enrolled in Rowan’s Rohrer College of Business. 

    They write on their partner page, “Rowan’s Rohrer College of Business (RCB) is proud to partner with Lockheed Martin in the educational pursuits that complement their strategic goals and bolster their employees’ careers.”

    By offering these programs, Rowan connects itself to something much larger than just one company. Our taxes, when they go to the military, aren’t just dedicated to training soldiers or dropping bombs. In part, they’re funneled from the government to a massive corporate machine dedicated to perfecting the art of war: the military-industrial complex.

    It’s a strictly systemic construct born of lobbying, corporate influence over the government, and an already expansive private defense industry.  

    Lockheed Martin is one of those corporations. In fact, 73% of Lockheed Martin’s profit comes from defense contracting, 19.5% comes from international contracting, and only 1% comes from regular commercial sales. 

    They create weapons of war, designed specifically to destroy while spending as few resources as possible. It makes sense; competition breeds innovation, and maintaining a military like ours demands innovation. 

    But at what point is it concerning that American companies are profiting from war? 

    These companies don’t just need defense to survive. In fact, they’re often on the offense. 

    For example, the United States sends money and weapons to Israel, who, according to the United Nations, continue to perpetrate a genocide against the Palestinian people. 15 out of every 16 Palestinians killed by the Israeli military are civilians, and their onslaught has only inflated, thanks in large part to the United States, whose supplies, according to The Guardian, are designed and manufactured by companies like Lockheed Martin.

    In addition, they have billions in contracts with Immigration & Customs Enforcement, or ICE, which they use to develop systems made to monitor and capture immigrants, according to Lockheed Martin’s own website.

    That’s not to mention the influence they hold over our government via lobbying and campaign donations. Over the last 20 years, the defense industry has contributed nearly $160 million in campaign donations and about $150 million in congressional lobbying, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

    And Rowan decided this would make a great partnership. 

    By bringing in large corporate collaborators, Rowan appears more attractive to prospective students seeking jobs in defense.

    Many engineering and business students will enter the defense industry either way. Engineering students deserve good jobs, and they’re paying Rowan thousands to help them. It makes sense for a university to support its students throughout their journey. 

    Still, Rowan’s alignment with such a thing as Lockheed Martin can’t be neutral. It’s a deeply ethical and absolutely political statement.

    Lockheed Martin benefits from Rowan. By working with them, Rowan supports Lockheed Martin, implicitly condoning their actions and business model.

    If they were neutral, they’d keep away; if they were against it, they’d oppose it. But they’re not. By acting to Lockheed Martin’s benefit, Rowan is only bolstering their influence, effectively endorsing it. 

    This doesn’t mean much in itself. But it mirrors a less-than-ethical attitude Rowan has towards investment and partnership that, given Rowan’s ethics encompass the whole institution, extends to all of us as students—not just to their industry allies.

    It’s not totally about the partnership itself. It’s about what it means: If it’s beneficial to them as an institution, regardless of how genuinely awful, they don’t mind it.

    Public institutions like Rowan have an ethical obligation to serve the public; Lockheed Martin’s only responsibility is to deliver profit to its shareholders. These interests are antithetical, with Lockheed Martin and companies like it failing over and over again to act in society’s best interest. 

    At the very least, this mandates a neutral position. Yet this partnership only widens Lockheed Martin’s influence, gifting them discounts, careers, and innovation, meaning Rowan’s indifference actively wounds the public. 

    So this partnership isn’t just unethical on an ideological basis—it’s a failure to fulfill a public institution’s most basic ethical function. 

    Rowan and Lockheed Martin’s partnership is a stain on an otherwise great institution, and it needs to end.

    For comments/questions about this story, DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email opinion@gmail.com

  • South Jersey metalworkers on strike for higher wages

    Unionized Deptford metalworkers are striking for higher wages amid contract negotiations

    Striking metalworkers hold up signs on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, reading, “Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 on Strike.” (Aidan Vanhoof)

    By Aidan Vanhoof

    Oct. 2, 2025

    DEPTFORD, N.J.—Metalworkers waved signs and chanted slogans outside South Jersey Metal, or SJM, in Deptford on Thursday, protesting diminishing wages amidst higher costs of living. 

    Workers’ employment contracts expired on Sept. 30 after three years, leading to now stalled negotiations for higher wages and better working conditions, union officials said.

    Sheet Metal Workers Local 19, a tri-state area labor union, organized this strike.

    “We’re out here demonstrating for workers rights and higher wages,” said Bryan Blum, Union Business Agent for Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 and a striking SJM metalworker.

    According to some workers, current wages hardly afford food and basic utilities. They’re seeking a $3 wage increase each year over the next three years, meaning a $9 total by 2028.

    “[We want to be paid] to where the guys can keep a loaf of bread on the table… and have dignity in life and be able to retire,” said Blum.

    Larry Meekins, a striking metal polisher at SJM, works for $20 an hour—$5 above New Jersey’s minimum wage. 

    “I don’t know what they offered, but it wasn’t high enough for our union leaders to want to even present it to us,” said Meekins. 

    Craig Tucker (far left), Larry Meekins (far right), as well as two other metalworkers who declined to be named, hold up signs on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, reading, “Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 on Strike.” (Aidan Vanhoof)

    They’ve been striking since Wednesday, Oct. 1; they mean to strike until a deal is made.

    “That’s the thing about strikes. You never know how long it’s going to go on… we could be here for another week, a couple of weeks, months… God only knows,” said Craig Tucker, a striking sheet metal worker at SJM. 

    Despite protesting, Blum made one thing clear: the relationship between workers and management is positive and respectful; only, they’ve reached an impasse. 

    “We’re at an impasse right now in negotiations, and we’ll get past it… It’s just a disagreement on a few things… and we try to meet somewhere in the middle,” said Blum.

    According to Blum, some workers have been at South Jersey Steel for upwards of 40 years. In that time, they’ve only been on strike a few times, having been treated well by SJM management. 

    According to Meekins, it’s been 19 years since their most recent strike in 2006. At the time, they were aligned with a different union, Local 194. 

    Union representatives will meet with SJM management at 11:00 a.m. on October 2nd to negotiate further.

    Deptford sheet metal company, South Jersey Metal, photographed Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. (Aidan Vanhoof)

    The mayor, as well as retirees from Local 107 Teamsters, met the strikers to provide them food and coffee, according to a post on Sheet Metal Workers Local 19’s Facebook page. 

    Despite its localization, comments on the Facebook post announcing the strike tout it, among others like the labor protests at Valley Forge Casino, as one link in a greater regional workers’ rights movement. 

    SJM’s management was contacted but did not respond. 

  • Campus preachers divide students

    Aidan Vanhoof, Contributor

    September 24, 2025

    A sign held up by a brother in front of the Rowan Owl statue. (Aidan Vanhoof).

    A sign held up by a brother in front of the Rowan Owl statue. (Aidan Vanhoof).

    In front of Savitz Hall, right by the Rowan Owl statue, like clockwork, two brothers wielding well-worn Bibles preached, hoping to save as many students as possible. Signs with Bible verses in bold black and red text towered nearby. According to them, the end is near, and God’s judgment is approaching. 

    Later that day, by the traffic circle, a microphone projected a man’s voice. At his feet, a sign sat on one side and a speaker on the other. His name is Roy Nembhard, and he comes to Rowan once a week to spread the Christian faith. 

    “I want to plant a seed, to get it out there so they may remember something I may have said…That’s part of how God opens the door,” Nembhard said.

    These three men, and many others dotting the campus, aren’t tied to any major organizations or denominations. They’re united only by conservative theology and a profound desire to spread the word of God.

    “A lot of students are outside of Christ,” Nembhard said.

    According to Nembhard, college students are impressionable and open to ideas and concepts they may otherwise avoid with age. To him, Gen Z needs it more than anyone, having grown up with constant access to social media and the internet.

    “When you condition a generation not to care…everything becomes hopeless,” Nembhard said.

    As he preached, some students passed by and cursed, and others praised his work. To Nembhard, ignorance drives his critics, while those who praise him know the truth.

    “You’re going to get some that agree and some that don’t agree… They criticize the Bible, but most of them have never opened the Bible,” Nembhard said.

    But ignorance might not explain everything. Attacking a person’s lifestyle, regardless of ignorance, will bother them. Preachers preach homophobic ideas very publicly or outside LGBTQ+ events, compounding the prejudice many students already endure. 

    “We’ve had a number of students that have complained to say they don’t like what’s being said, or don’t like what’s on their side,” said Dean of Students Kevin Koett.

    Jay Turner, a senior geology major, found the preachers with megaphones and speakers noisy and disruptive. 

    “The one with the megaphone is disruptive enough [that] I can hear him from my apartment since we keep the windows open,” Turner said. 

    Claims that preachers single out and harass students are commonplace. And according to Koett, incidents of physical contact and threatening language, while rare, have occurred. 

    As a result, some students seek help from Rowan’s administration.

    “We want to hear their concerns…even if I can’t say that’s a violation of the law or that’s harassment or that’s discrimination, there might be things that we could do to help support students,” Koett said.

    Rowan University is a public institution. Unless preachers issue threats, attack people, or disrupt university functions, they can’t be forced out.  

    “People have the right to say what they want,” Koett said.

    Despite this, a few students are openly disdainful, even aggressive, towards them. For example, the brothers by the owl statue had a student steal their sign and rip it in half on Monday. One student kicked over their sign, then power-walked away. Another thanked God once they learned that preachers aren’t affiliated with Rowan. 

    “It feels like it could be perceived that they are attacking them,” said Ellie Grant, a senior computing informatics major. 

    Grant is a Christian who appreciates their presence and the messaging, but critiques their intensity.

    “Personally, as a Christian, I love seeing the word of God being spread on campus… but I think their approach could be refined in some ways in talking to students,” Grant said.

    Grant doesn’t mirror all Rowan Christians. Sympathetic students shake preachers’ hands, bless them, and know them by name. And Grant remains supportive of their mission; she only criticizes their methods.

    “In essence, I do believe it is wonderful that they are spreading the word of God, and trying to, you know, really connect with students,” Grant said.

    But for students who have any feelings of uncertainty surrounding the campus preachers, there are resources provided by the school that may be able to help. Reporting any concerns and seeking support is encouraged, even if it doesn’t lead to legal action. 

    For comments/questions about this story, DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email features@thewhitonline.com

  • New project replaces lawns with native habitats

    Aidan Vanhoof, Contributor

    September 24, 2025

    The garden and plain behind the science hall. (Aidan Vanhoof).

    The garden and plain behind the science hall. (Aidan Vanhoof).

    Behind the Science Hall is a swath of barren, almost deserted land. Grass isn’t growing; in fact, all that remains is hay. Dried-out foliage litters the exposed soil, in stark contrast with the perfectly manicured lawns everywhere else. 

    However, this dead landscape serves to create life.

    Dr. Stephen Bentivenga, the department head of biological and biomedical sciences, and the department chair, Dr. Michael Grove, will work alongside landscapers, students, and organizations to fill this space with a “native plant meadow” over the next few years, according to a Rowan Announcer.

    In the long run, the duo aims to replace parts of Rowan’s otherwise clean-cut campus with a more natural, less curated appearance.

    “Let’s plant [on] things that used to be or currently are just lawn. Let’s turn it back into … [a] more native habitat,” Grove said.

    This fits into a broader project called Homegrown National Park. The initiative stresses changing the way we landscape in ecological ways to promote biodiversity and healthy habitats. Unlike native plant life, grassy lawns, while they’re green, don’t emerge naturally, and constant maintenance with fertilizer, mowing, etc., hurts biodiversity. Few animal and insect species thrive, and many species of grass can be invasive, even damaging, to their surrounding environment. 

    “It’s essentially from an ecological perspective … a desert,” Grove said. 

    Grove specifically referenced some here at Rowan. To him, sprawling lawns represent untapped potential.

    “We really want them to be native plants. Because of their coevolution with the native insect species, native bird species… they are so much stronger. They’ve had this long evolutionary history together.” Grove said.

    Ideally, the introduction of plants native to South Jersey will bring in more native animals and insects. Pollinators, for example, are needed, as their populations continue to decline, in part due to the introduction of non-native species. This project aligns with Rowan’s ongoing goal to cultivate a more sustainable, ecologically friendly campus. 

    According to Dr. Bentivenga, we should see serious progress within the next few years.

    “The native meadow will likely take several growing seasons to become established,” Bentivenga said over email.

    The meadow will be arranged both for educational purposes and to be enjoyed as a place to study, teach, and explore. 

    “There’s a bunch of ways we could use this space,” Grove said.

    They will set up clear spaces, plaques, and benches. Grove described a literature class teaching Shakespeare in a flower meadow with students studying or socializing at its center. The Rowan Announcer proposes “a living laboratory for students and visitors.” The project’s funding came from a grant. According to Grove, they’ve spent close to $3,500 and planted over 300 plants. 

    “It’s like there’s a bunch of ways we could use this space. I think somewhat for our classes. You know, if somebody wants to bring their literature class out here and read through Shakespeare or something,” Grove said. 

    Despite constant maintenance, weeds are an ongoing problem. Currently, the meadow is just a small sliver of garden up against the Science Hall; much of it is nut grass and crab grass, but blooming flowers and bushes draw attention away from the weeds. He went on to describe how some clubs and organizations may contribute to weeding, planting, and maintenance efforts. 

    “It was a bunch of student help … There was definitely student help because we had reached out to the clubs,” Grove said.

    Beyond the Science Hall, biodiversity efforts are dispersed across campus. By the softball field, a meadow, which neither Bentavenga nor Grove knew about, has been established, featuring signs warning against mowing. The bridge used to enter Robinson Hall crosses a stream surrounded by thick, green plant-life. The biodiversity found there is new and deliberate.

    “If you look at their strips in the parking lots, they’re actually pretty densely planted. Actually, some of the stuff on the other side of Robinson, right where that bridge is … all that stuff has been put in the last, I want to say, 5 years,” Grove said.

    Referring to the project behind the Science Hall, students say, while its current state isn’t pretty, the result makes it worth it.

    “I would say in its current state, this is ugly. [But] they’re actively working towards making it a nice spot for the campus, so I’m fine with it being in its very clear growing stage,” said senior music technology major Matthew Farmer.

    While this bald spot on an otherwise lively campus may not be pretty, it will grow into something substantial and beautiful, contributing to an overall more ecologically friendly and diverse campus experience. 

    For comments/questions about this story, DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email features@thewhitonline.com

  • Estrogents Bring Punk Grit to Rowan

    Aiden Vanhoof, Contributor

    September 17, 2025

    Another article I wrote for Rowan’s school newspaper, The Whit.

    “All of our songs have a story,” said Darischuk. (@mcintyr3.media on Instagram)

    “All of our songs have a story,” said Darischuk. (@mcintyr3.media on Instagram)

    Glassboro’s music scene, and by extension Rowan’s, is thriving, with a heavy focus on hardcore and punk music. In this sea of noisy guitar riffs and rapid drum beats, one band seems to stand out: Estrogents. 

    They’ve played all over southern New Jersey, as well as parts of Pennsylvania, continuing to expand beyond their roots as a high school band born of boredom and into a serious live act with a solid recorded catalog. 

    The band began in middle school with two members—Dee Philips and Grey Hobbs—but by high school, Jack Darischuk joined on lead guitar and vocals, and Mike Redd on rhythm guitar. 

    For a time, they were The Stains, but other bands had taken that name beforehand, pushing them to change it.

    “In the beginning of middle school, I was a vegetarian, so I was eating a lot of foods that were high in soy. Soy creates estrogen in the body, so that was a joke,” said Darischuk.

    Their hometown, being quite rural, is deeply conservative, so the name, Estrogents, seeks to defy their town’s generally anti-LGBTQ atmosphere. Especially given their drummer is LGBTQ+. However, their lyrics aren’t often political. 

    “All of our songs have a story,” said Darischuk.

    Many of the songs concern silly high school adventures and everyday activities relatable to anyone. The band members remain consistently close friends, so lyrics often describe their personal lives. 

    Early on, confined by skill, their music relied on whatever they could do with two chords. However, evolving as musicians, their sound evolved with them, and continues to do so as they rehearse, record, and tour. 

    Their first album—released in 2021—contained relatively simplistic songwriting. However, new singles are more complex in their lyrical and musical themes, keeping their distorted punk sound, but deepening the lyrics, improving the production, and showcasing stronger instrumental skills. 

    “What Grey has done with the lyrics is actually insane, and what I’ve done with my guitar parts is so much better than what it was,” Darischuk said.

    Lately, while Hobbs still writes most of their lyrics, Darischuk’s played a bigger role in songwriting. 

    The whole band works in tandem, collaborating wherever possible. 

    “Like Dee will come up with a base part that works with a song. No matter what, he’s always locked in. Then Mike will play rhythm guitar, and he comes up with vocal harmonies that are so out of this world. All 4 of us work together,” Darischuk said.

    While they continue to grow, the focus remains on the music. “I love music, it’s my entire life,” Darischuk said. 

    They’re working on their next album, Chemical Burns, which will release sometime soon.

    “Just keep your eyes peeled, because the album’s going to be releasing very soon,” Darischuk said.

    “Jack is a Straight Edge Punk,” “Yadda Yadda,” and “AGE” are their latest singles. Each song echoes a variety of influences in punk and noise rock, outputting a violent yet melodic sound. 

    They recently concluded a tour. Their latest show, played on Friday, Sept. 12, sold out quickly. 

    They are taking a break from touring, but will return in October and November. 

    Their music is available on a variety of streaming platforms, including Spotify and YouTube.

    For comments/questions about this story, DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email arts@thewhitonline.com.