Section Editors Say Goodbye to the Marist Circle
Members of the Marist Circle. Top: Emily Klena '28, Owen Whelan '27, Hannah Tone '26, Ben Leeds '26, Cora Flynn '26, Ava Battinelli '26, Emma Gaecklein '26, Eric Johnston '26 and Ben Rossi '27. Bottom: Lillian DeFilippis '26, Jacqueline Drain '27, Ciara Molloy '26, Katie Verde '28 and Ava Verret '28 Photo by Grace DeMarco '27
Eric Johnston, Co-Campus News Editor
“We don’t make mistakes, we have happy accidents.”
The words of Bob Ross, instantly recognizable to millions for their advice on painting, excellently describe the college experience, too. While my time at Marist University has strayed far from the straight-and-narrow on several accounts, I can say without hesitation that my involvement with the Marist Circle was the happiest accident of them all.
To begin with, I didn’t even attend a Circle meeting until my second semester, simply because I didn’t know where and when the meetings occurred, and I evidently didn’t care enough at the time to look into it further. When I finally did get started, writing my first article wasn’t my undertaking, either – Co-Features Editor Owen Whelan ‘27, a staff writer at the time, practically begged me to co-write an article on the Omanye Music and Dance Ensemble’s visit to campus back in February of 2024; an article that just so happened to feature Ava Battinelli ‘26 as its photographer. Writing that article with Whelan was a total leap of faith. It is perhaps the proudest decision I have made in the entirety of my time at Marist.
Becoming a section editor was another happy accident. At the conclusion of the Spring 2025 semester, I applied to be a copy editor for the upcoming year with roughly 2 ½ semesters of semi-consistent writing behind me. When I received word that the Circle brass wanted me to join their ranks as a Co-Campus News Editor, I was totally shocked, though this time I was sure from the outset that the best course of action would be another leap of faith.
This past year of editing for the Circle has been an ecstatic whirlwind. Helping shape the first couple pages of Marist’s only student-run newspaper was no easy feat, nor was it one I ever took lightly; thus, I am universally proud of the work my co-editor, Hannah Tone ‘26, and I were able to achieve, keeping Red Foxes informed about the happenings of this lovely little world on the Hudson that we are so fortunate to inhabit. That, of course, would not have been possible without the writers and photographers who so eagerly filled our section – and every section – throughout the year. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who ever wrote or took pictures for any of us, or even just joined in the fun on Tuesday nights in the basement of LT from time to time – your presence was welcomed and appreciated.
A special thanks goes out to my co-editors – everyone who filled our office space on those other Tuesday nights with laughter and commiseration on the strains of editing and writing. I am also grateful for the way you all filled our television screen with SNL skits, music videos and, of course, Le Fishe, often to the chagrin of any passerby not in the loop. Those office hours – even at the end of Tuesdays that became increasingly dreadful for me as the year wore on – were so frequently the highlight of my week.
Finally, to all current and prospective Circle writers, no matter what mountain you seek to climb, what story you want to chase, or what perspective you want to get heard, always keep near and dear to yourself… that it’s “Marist University” on first mention.
Hannah Tone, Co-Campus News Editor and Multimedia Director
When applying to college in 2021-2022, I knew I wanted to attend a school with its own newspaper. I looked for that on every tour. During my first trip to Marist, I saw the Circle in every building across campus, and I remember going on countless tours and events at different schools afterward, and nothing truly compared.
More importantly, I remember meeting Professor Leander Schaerlaeckens during Admitted Students Weekend and talking to him and a student next to me about writing for the newspaper. That student was Ava Battinelli ‘26, our now Editor-in-Chief, who would soon become one of my best friends at Marist.
After some of the conversations I had that day, my answer was clear: Marist was going to be my home.
Within the first few weeks of freshman year, I was writing articles covering campus stories about the Class of 2026, Mporium and Student Government. I loved covering campus news stories because I always wanted to be involved with the wide variety of campus happenings. It allowed me to meet many new people, including Emma Gaecklein ‘26 – thank you for always coming to meetings with me freshman year. You have pushed me to become a better writer and an even better friend.
Soon after becoming a staff writer, I joined the multimedia team, where I helped manage story uploads across social media and on our website. Getting involved beyond writing allowed me to play a more active role on the editorial staff. I later became Director of Multimedia, overseeing digital publishing and social media efforts (including the launch of our TikTok) for almost three years.
During my time abroad in Florence, Italy, I was approached by the then-current editorial staff about applying to be an editor, and I was instantly excited to give back to the paper what it had given me.
Editing alongside my co-Campus News editor, Eric Johnston ‘26, and the rest of the Circle team has become one of the most meaningful parts of my Marist experience. They not only challenged me to grow as an editor, but more importantly, they became some of my closest friends.
Week after week, I enjoyed coming to the office and learning about things going on around campus (while also fighting for our lives to get tickets for SPC events and trips), and I will miss it greatly after graduation.
For anyone considering getting involved with the Marist Circle, whether as a part of the class of 2030 or as a current student, take the leap. My involvement with the Marist Circle has shaped my entire college experience, and no other organization has offered me the same sense of community and growth.
Ciara Molloy, Co-Arts & Culture Editor
To be completely honest, I never thought I’d join the campus newspaper when I went to college. When I came to Marist, I was undecided and really had no idea what I wanted to do. I remained undecided throughout my freshman year, but ultimately declared history at the beginning of my sophomore year, and later on, added a journalism minor.
However, I was always a decently strong writer and had this passion for music and pop culture, and thought I could explore that interest with the Circle. And I did just that. I went to my first meeting in the fall of my sophomore year, and if I remember correctly, I don’t think I claimed or pitched an article. At the next meeting I attended, I challenged myself and pitched a story idea to the then Arts & Culture editor, Andrew Breen ‘25, about the Talking Heads concert film “Stop Making Sense,” which was being re-released in theatres, to which he reacted with excitement.
That was the first article I wrote for the Circle, and I re-read it occasionally from time to time and am proud of that piece. It’s a reminder to myself that I can step outside of my comfort zone and do things I thought I might never do.
I also never thought I’d be a section editor with the Circle, but again, I pushed myself and decided to apply. I am so glad I decided to do it, as being in this role during my senior year has been so fulfilling and I am even more appreciative of the fact that I’ve been surrounded by great people.
Being part of this staff has been truly incredible, and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to work alongside this great team.
To my co-editor, Emily Klena ‘28, I truly could not have asked for a better person to work with. We clicked so well from the get-go, and you are such a smart, talented and hard-working individual. You have such a bright future.
I wish I had enough room to congratulate everyone individually, but to my fellow senior editors, congratulations to you all. To all the other editors continuing on with the Circle and carrying the torch, I wish the best of luck to you all in your future endeavors with the Circle and during the rest of your time at Marist. Working alongside you all has been a privilege, and I’m so glad for the fond memories I get to carry with me as I depart from the Circle.
If you’re a Marist student considering joining the Circle, do it! Your first few articles might be crap, and that is ok! It’s almost a rite of passage. Do things you thought you’d never do; that is what college is for.
It feels like my life for the past three years has been measured in the two-week cycles that the Circle comes out, and it’s weird to think that that will no longer be part of my routine. However, I’m truly thankful for the Circle for shaping a large part of my college experience, and I’m so glad my life led me down this path. Peace out, Marist Circle.