Seattle Pacific University's Student Newspaper

The Falcon
Seattle Pacific University President Dr. Deana Porterfield smiles after her inauguration ceremony at the First Free Methodist Church on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Seattle.
Cutting back to come back
May 1, 2025
Portrait of Pope Francis by Conner DeCoursey in the lower lobby of Ashton Hall on April 23, 2025.
Mourning loss of historic Christian leader
April 25, 2025
Photo of Conner DeCoursey near Demaray Hall on April 23, 2025.
New majors raise concerns from students
April 17, 2025
Photo of The Barbell Brotherhood club founders Gideon Priest (far left), Emilio Tolomei (middle right), and Jack Wiebe (far right), and member William Davis (middle left) at the Royal Brougham Pavilion on Apr. 16, 2024 in Seattle.
A new club making waves
April 17, 2025
Skiers take the lift up to the peak at Whistler-Blackcomb on Nov. 30, 2024 in Whistler, BC, Canada.
Struggles getting to the slopes
April 10, 2025
A student grabs a pride scarf during an event on April 14, 2023, in Seattle.
Queer joy at SPU’s [Redacted] Fest
May 29, 2024
Dr. Kevin Neuhouser (left) points in support of a student speaker during a demonstration in Martin Square on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, in Seattle. The demonstration was an announcement and commemoration of the lawsuit that students, faculty, and staff members brought against the Seattle Pacific University Board of Trustees.
SPU seems quiet after years of protest: why?
January 10, 2024
A pride flag can be seen next to a Seattle Pacific University Banner during a demonstration in Martin Square on Monday, Sept. 12, 2023 in Seattle. FILE PHOTO
First hearing for Seattle Pacific University V. Bob Ferguson
November 17, 2023
A flag in a window on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023.
End of the rainbow
September 27, 2023
End of Guillot v. Whitehead
End of Guillot v. Whitehead
July 31, 2023
Students Participate in a Genetics lab in Eaton Hall led by Dr. Tracie Delgado on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2023 in Seattle. FILE PHOTO
College continues after COVID-19
November 1, 2023
Students working early Friday morning in Dr. Cen's UFDN 1000 class on February 24th, 2023.
Reflecting on classes during COVID
March 1, 2023
Valerie masking as she heads for coffee. With illness on the rise, are more and more people masking again.
Recovery from the pandemic
January 18, 2023
COVID emergency no more
COVID emergency no more
October 26, 2022
A person checks in at the curative testing center at Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Wash. Sept. 16, 2022.
Coronavirus in the new year
September 21, 2022
Mississippi, Music, and Vampires
June 3, 2025
Shapadooah 2025: A night of music, community and tradition
June 3, 2025
Clover at Shapadooah
SPU’s hit band is set to have an exciting summer
May 28, 2025
The Falcon’s Weekly Event Rundown (5/20 – 5/23)
The Falcon’s Weekly Event Rundown (5/20 – 5/23)
May 20, 2025
A poster advertising All Hall Ball
All Hall Ball closes out 2024-25 school year
May 15, 2025
Future of SPU student government
Future of SPU student government
February 19, 2025
Jordan at Senate
Multiple public meetings detail plans for students experiencing cuts to their majors
December 10, 2024
President Deana Porterfield presents to Seattle Pacific University staff and faculty on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Seattle.
Fate of programs and faculty jobs uncertain as President Porterfield delivers speech to employees
November 22, 2024
Senior Justice Dean tosses a volleyball in Royal Brougham Pavilion's lower basketball court.
New look for intramurals
October 15, 2024
KSPU host Hadley Weathers queuing her favorite songs for her weekly segment "Hadley's Hard Day's Morning."
Tune in to be part of the excitement!
October 11, 2024
A steak Banh Mi from Curbside, photographed on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Seattle.
Long road to Curbside
May 1, 2025
Retreat Cafe's activated charcoal latte and Mayan bowl. (Gabrialla Cockerell)
Relaxed approach to mindful eating
May 4, 2022
Memos Mexican Restaurant, located in the University District, is a late night fast-food joint that offers a variety of burritos, tacos and other Mexican eats for a great price. (Gabrialla Cockerell)
Tacos for two
March 4, 2022
With a variety of creative tacos, including various vegan options, there is something for everyone at El Borracho. (Taylor VanLanduyt)
Plant-based flavor town
February 24, 2022
Tea Republik has a wide array of tea and pastry options for customers. (Taylor VanLanduyt)
More options than milk or sugar
February 18, 2022
Melanie Martinez performing on stage as her new character during the song 'Battle of the Larynx.'
Stepping through ‘Portals’ to new eras
June 19, 2023
Do the write thing
Do the write thing
June 2, 2023
Miguel Castellano on the floor, then L to R: Calder Shilling, Claire Marx, Kelly Karcher, and Tyler Matthew Campbell in Jeeves Takes a Bow at Taproot Theatre. Photo by Robert Wade. Miguel Castellano on the floor, then L to R: Calder Shilling, Claire Marx, Kelly Karcher, and Tyler Matthew Campbell in Jeeves Takes a Bow at Taproot Theatre.
Standing ovation for ‘Jeeves Takes a Bow’
June 2, 2023
Wednesday preforms at Neumos for a 21+ only concert.
Let us in!
May 26, 2023
People gather at Gas Works Park to enjoy the sun on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
Adventure on every avenue
May 10, 2023
‘Folie à Deux’ falls flat
October 18, 2024
'The Primevals,' released 30 years after filming. (courtesy of SIFF)
When a yeti, alien and a grad student walk into a battle arena…
May 24, 2024
The Höss family in their lovingly tended garden nextdoor to Auschwitz in The Zone of Interest.
Happening in your own backyard
February 9, 2024
‘The Holdovers’ is Hollywood holiday magic
January 26, 2024
A large interactive poster advertising the opening night of Mean Girls at Regal Cinemas Meridian on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2023, in Seattle.
Making ‘Mean Girls’ fetch again
January 19, 2024
Professor Snedker teaching a 9 am Prisons and Corrections class in Demeray Hall.
Vocational journeys
May 26, 2023
Ava Van Jenson's promotional image for "Love is Blind" Season Four courtesy of Ava Van Jenson and Netflix.
Former SPU student finds way to reality television on Netflix’s ‘Love is Blind’
May 5, 2023
Candace Vance and Nathan Hedman in Black Coffee.
Accepting God’s call to theatre
February 24, 2023
Jesse Jorgensen
Adjusting to unknown worlds through travel
February 3, 2023
SPU student Cara Hiroyasu displays her jewelry business "All Things Utensils." (Gabrialla Cockerell)
Silverware is a student’s best friend
April 15, 2022
Crypto Catastrophe
Crypto Catastrophe
February 13, 2025
Tyranny of popular opinion
January 24, 2025
Unpromised tomorrow
January 24, 2025
Unhelpful, yet immovable
January 24, 2025
Free to use image from pexels.com
Controversial marketing at 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
November 15, 2024
Falcons row fourth-place finish at NCAAs
Falcons row fourth-place finish at NCAAs
June 3, 2025
Fresh start ahead for women’s volleyball
Fresh start ahead for women’s volleyball
May 28, 2025
Another visit to NCAAs
Another visit to NCAAs
May 28, 2025
Falcon duo finishes in top 10 at NCAAs
Falcon duo finishes in top 10 at NCAAs
May 27, 2025
Maya Ewing (left) hugs Annika Esvelt (right) during SPU's Senior Day celebration after the GNAC meet (Courtesy of SPU Athletics).
Esvelt, Ewing will race for national success in Colorado
May 22, 2025
Par for course
Par for course
April 16, 2025
Running up ranks
Running up ranks
April 9, 2025
Brains, brawn, bright future
Brains, brawn, bright future
March 5, 2025
Seattle Pacific Univeristy middle blocker Hannah Hair reacts after getting a kill during a match on September 23, 2023, in Seattle.
Change of a journey
December 3, 2024
Tacoma Defiance goalkeeper Lars Helleren looks on during a training session with the Seattle Sounders on Jan. 19, 2024 at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. Helleren joined the Sounders organization after a five Seasons with the Falcons, Two with Ballard FC and a stint on Colorado Rapids II.
Pitch professional
May 14, 2024
Falcons row fourth-place finish at NCAAs
Falcons row fourth-place finish at NCAAs
June 3, 2025
Falcon duo finishes in top 10 at NCAAs
Falcon duo finishes in top 10 at NCAAs
May 27, 2025
Maya Ewing (left) hugs Annika Esvelt (right) during SPU's Senior Day celebration after the GNAC meet (Courtesy of SPU Athletics).
Esvelt, Ewing will race for national success in Colorado
May 22, 2025
Gold River once again
Gold River once again
May 21, 2025
Season Ends with Ws
Season Ends with Ws
May 14, 2025
(Last?) Lū-au
May 17, 2024
Courtesy of Seattle Pacific University Disabiliy Support Services
“You don’t notice it till you have to”
March 13, 2024
Seattle Pacific University forward Shaw Anderson (24) lays in the ball past a Northwest Nazarene player during the second half of a GNAC basketball game on Feb. 1, 2024, in Seattle.
Growing together, becoming more
February 29, 2024
Art and basketball
Art and basketball
February 6, 2024
Rae Perez speaks at a demonstration in front of Demaray Hall on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Seattle
Flags wave for Gaza at SPU
January 31, 2024
The Welcome Edition
The Welcome Edition
September 22, 2023
The Welcome Edition
The Welcome Edition
September 8, 2022
The Mind Edition
The Mind Edition
May 16, 2022
The Green Edition
The Green Edition
February 24, 2022
The Welcome Edition
The Welcome Edition
September 8, 2021
Naoshi Yonezawa is a third year majoring in Music Therapy
Creating a Home at SPU
March 1, 2024
Comfort and confidence after gender-affirming care
Comfort and confidence after gender-affirming care
November 15, 2023
Building connections through sports
Building connections through sports
November 14, 2023
Seattle's hidden gems
Seattle’s hidden gems
November 13, 2023
Rediscovering your roots after 18 years
Rediscovering your roots after 18 years
November 8, 2023
SPU's Season Recap with The Falcon
SPU’s Season Recap with The Falcon
September 14, 2023
Guantanamo Bay Exhibit - Opening Night
Guantanamo Bay Exhibit – Opening Night
November 21, 2022
Campus tradition returns: All Hall Ball is back
Campus tradition returns: All Hall Ball is back
May 24, 2022
Making the Mind Edition
Making the Mind Edition
May 8, 2022
A Day in the Life of a Student Athlete
A Day in the Life of a Student Athlete
April 25, 2022
Angela Ide has been the Opinions editor for The Falcon for the past year.
Farewell to The Falcon
March 11, 2021
Illustration by Mickey Flores-Nieves
Closeted life causing mental health concerns
February 25, 2021
Using the past, rewriting the future.
Excerpt of Spencer Vigil’s “Courage of Conviction”
February 20, 2021
Illustration by Gabrialla Cockerell
“Bimbo” is back
February 11, 2021
Illustration by Micky Flores-Nieves
Addressing the forgotten third-party
February 4, 2021
Seattle Pacific University's Student Newspaper

The Falcon
Seattle Pacific University's Student Newspaper

The Falcon
Rio Giancarlo

Rio Giancarlo, Editor-in-Chief

Rio is a senior visual communication major with a minor in journalism. After serving two years as the photo editor Rio was hired as editor-in-chief for his final year with The Falcon. An accomplished photojournalist Rio was accepted into the Eddie Adams XXXVII and does freelance photography for Getty Images, the AP, and other local outlets.  In his free time you can find him skiing, or wishing he was skiing. 

All content by Rio Giancarlo
A car drives past the Flatstick Pub on Westlake avenue in South Lake Union on Thursday night, Oct. 6, 2022.

[Photo] Thursday night tee time

October 7, 2022
Through the smoke a bus can be seen crossing the West Seattle Bridge across Eliot Bay from Kerry Park in Queen Anne Wednesday evening, Oct. t, 2022. The bridge had been closed for nearly two years before reopening a few weeks earlier.

[Photo] Reconnecting West Seattle

Audrey Oscarson, News Editor
October 5, 2022
A couple holding hands walks through Martin Square in front of a row of red flags, one reading, "She expects commitment from me way too fast" on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022. The flags are part of a campaign raising awareness about and helping prevent stalking, dating violence, and sexual assault on college campuses.

[Photo] Red Flags at Tiffany Loop

David Armour, Staff Writer
October 19, 2022
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From left to right, Jeff Gordon, Evan Carpenter, Darius Holmes, and Kainoa Lee cheer during a SPU women's volleyball game on Sept. 29, 2022.

[Photo] Student section struggles

Stephanie Fombona-Osorio and Maya Ewing
October 4, 2022
From left to right Rory Mcclelland, Jon Owen, Drew Thompson, and Brennan Leblanc line up at the start of the Puget Sound Invitational race in Lakewood, Wash., on Sept. 3, 2022. (Rio Giancarlo)

[Photo] A giant chip on the shoulder

Kyle Morrison
October 4, 2022
Junior physiology major Kenzie Garrett listens to "Bad Omens" by 5SOS during a late night study session in her dorm.

[Photo] “BLENDER” of emotions

Isabella Tranello, Features Editor
September 30, 2022
Sophomore Hiyan Zamora looks at a casting call for the SPU theater departments winter play that is posted in Weter Hall. Auditions were held in September and the play will run February 2nd-4th and 9th-11th.

[Photo] Break a leg, get on stage

Clarissa Minton, Staff Writer
September 30, 2022
A student holds a rainbow flag while another holds a sign saying "closets are for cloths" during a demonstration in Martin Square at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Wash., on Sept. 12, 2022.

[Photo] SPU faces hiring difficulties

Ella Beth Sessions, Staff Writer
September 28, 2022
Junior defender Donovahn Allen (4) celebrates with teammate Cade Cooke (5) after scoring a header against Western Oregon at Interbay Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Sept. 22, 2022.

[Photo] Making the goal

Uriah Aguon and Callaghan Bluechel
September 27, 2022
5L0A2829

[Photo] One runner’s story

Mahad Abdulqadir, staff writer
September 27, 2022
Copies of the lawsuit were placed on the small stage set up for the demonstration in Martin Square at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Wash. on Sept. 12, 2022.

[Photo] Lawsuit filed as SPU lands worst list

Ella Beth Sessions, Staff Writer
September 21, 2022
Wildfire smoke drifting in from outside Seattle gives the sunset over Interbay extra color.

[Photo] World on fire

Caleb Cissna, Staff Writer
September 21, 2022
SPU Alumn Nik Reisrson passes the ball forward past a Lane United Defender during Ballard FC's away game at Lane United's Civic Stadium in Eugene, Ore. June 17, 2022.

[Photo] Soccer-crazed neighborhood in a soccer-crazed city

Kyle Morrison, Sports Editor
September 20, 2022
SPU Men's soccer Alumn Alex Mejia dribbles past a Defender during Ballard FC's match against Cultures United at Interbay stadium in Seattle, Wash., June 6, 2022.

Libby Michael sprints to victory at the Puget Sound Invitational race in Tacoma, Wash., on Sept. 6, 2022.

[Photo] Reloaded and ready to run

Kyle Morrison, Sports Editor
September 20, 2022
Junior middle blocker Allison Wilks (3) spikes the ball past the Alaska Fairbanks block while libero Abigail Cunningham (1) looks on, Royal Brougham Pavilion, Seattle, Wash., Sept. 15, 2022.

[Photo] Love, diligence and joy

Kyle Morrison, Sports Editor
September 20, 2022
Seattle Pacific University students gather in front of Ames Library on the SPU campus in Seattle, Wash. on May 15, 2022

[Photo] Controversy continues

Audrey Oscarson, News Editor
September 13, 2022
Lebron James dunks the ball as spectators look in awe.

[Photo] SPU fills Seattle basketball void

Kyle Morrison, Sports Editor
September 13, 2022
The bench celebrates Sofie Beedle's game winning during the first half of their opening game against San Francisco State at Interbay Stadium in Seattle,Wash., Sept.1, 2022

[Photo] Unfinished business

September 13, 2022
Attorney Paul Southick addresses protesters in Martin Square at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Wash., Monday, Sept. 12, 2022.

[Photo] First Guillot v. Whitehead hearing draws near

Ella Beth Sessions, Staff Writer
February 15, 2023
Atterny Paul Southwick

SPU community members at demonstration in Martin Square on Sept. 12, 2022. There is a strong sense of allyship within the SPU student body that can be seen during the demonstrations.

[Photo] First day outcries

Audrey Oscarson, News Editor
September 13, 2022
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[Photo] Wounded in body and soul

Kevin Neuhouser, Guest Writer
October 27, 2022
Lebron James Dunks the ball as spectators look on in awe.

The Student Financial Services office is located on the bottom floor of Demaray Hall.

[Photo] Forgive and forget

Audrey Oscarson, News Editor
September 13, 2022
Jason Rhine, SPU's new women's volleyball coach, previously coached at Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colorado. (Rio Giancarlo)

[Photo] Rowing has impressive performance at Windermere Cup

Isabella Tranello, Sports Editor
May 10, 2022
Johnny Lo controls a ball during warm ups. (Rio Giancarlo)

[Photo] Mind or matter?

Uriah Aguon, Staff Writer
May 4, 2022
Sophomore distance runner Ellie Rising takes a practice start before the 800m at the Doris Heritage track festival. (Rio Giancarlo)

[Photo] Falcons dominate GNAC long jump records

Isabella Tranello, Sports Editor
April 26, 2022
Protesters wave flags at the oncoming I-5 traffic. (Rio Giancarlo)

[Photo] Pandemic pause for students

Vy Khanh Vu and Audrey Oscarson
April 6, 2022
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