The Torch Online

Torch Photo / Brenden Willsch On Wednesday night, several non-SJU students entered the Residence Village and snuck into Montgoris Dining Hall and Donovan Hall. These unauthorized guests found a way past the Montgoris entrance attendant and helped themselves to the food inside the Dining Hall. Afterwards, the intruders went to the freshmen residence hall, Donovan.

Photo Courtesy / YouTube Sky News Australia The upcoming midterm elections mean a lot. Every midterm carries significant weight, but several key differences stand out this time around. For most of the 21st century, these races have served as an opportunity for the minority party to gain significant ground in the House and the Senate. In 2022, two years after a democratic rout, both the upper and lower chambers of Congress became more red, with the latter flipping entirely.

Torch Photo / Sebastian Zelaya When you think of the current St. John’s roster, one of the last guys you’d think of is Ruben Prey. However, the Portuguese big man might just be the secret weapon needed to bring the Red Storm to glory. Following the legendary career of Zuby Ejiofor, many are worried about the future surrounding the Johnnies’ center position, having just one player on the roster able to play the position, that being Prey.

Torch Photo / Luis Barrett The St. John’s Men’s Soccer Team let a hard-fought result slip through its fingers in the final minute, falling 2-1 to No. 16 Hofstra on Sept. 1 at Belson Stadium. A 90-minute weather delay pushed the season opener back before a ball was even kicked. Once play finally began, the two local rivals  settled into a tense, physical battle. Neither side found much rhythm early on, and the first 35 minutes passed without a real threat on either net.

Torch Photo / Sebastian Zelaya The college basketball transfer portal has been an all-out warzone. NBA players re-joining college programs, such as RJ Luis Jr, the former St. John’s forward who signed a two-way NBA contract with the Celtics last year, then joined Will Wade and LSU to form a controversial “pro” team containing several fifth-year and international options.

Torch Photo / Sebastian Zelaya Let’s try this again: the St. John’s 2026-27 roster is officially set. The Johnnies will be adding Indiana forward Reed Bailey, first reported by Zach Braziller of the New York Post. The sudden opening in their roster comes after international prospect Gildas Giminez was declared academically ineligible, a coincidence after the new transfer rules.

Torch Photo / Sebastian Zelaya The Big East Conference hired former Major League Baseball (MLB) executive and former Georgetown student athlete Tim Brosnan as its next commissioner on Aug. 10. Brosnan will oversee the 11-team league and succeeds outgoing commissioner Val Ackerman, who announced her retirement on April 20 after 13 years in charge. Aug. 31 is Ackerman’s last day on the job.

Torch Photo / Sara Kiernan Dozens of St. John’s University employees were laid off in July as the University said it would undergo organizational changes to better align itself with its previously announced “Strategic Plan Reimagined.” The organizational changes are part of the administration’s three-year strategic plan, “Moving Forward Together,” designed to overhaul student success, financial health and operational efficiency and innovation.

The Johnnies Vice President and Director of Athletics was appointed to the position by his colleagues following two successful seasons in Queens. Torch Photo / Sebastian Zelaya St. John’s University Vice President and Director of Athletics Ed Kull was named chair of the Big East Athletic Director group for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year, the athletic department announced on July 31.

In addition to the new position, the veteran coach will remain as the team’s associate head coach to Rick Pitino. Torch Photo / Sebastian Zelaya St. John’s men’s basketball associate head coach Steve Masiello will assume a new role as the program’s general manager, insider Adam Zagoria first reported. The veteran collegiate coach will continue to serve as the associate head coach to Rick Pitino. The change comes after St. John’s parted ways with former general manager Matt Abdelmassih in January.