The Good 5 Cent Cigar

The Good 5 Cent Cigar "The URI students’ voice since 1971." Follow us! Twitter and Instagram: Want to get the latest scoop on the URI campus?

Interested in hearing about the best new events to hit the Ryan Center? Want details about what's going on in Rhody Nation? Check out The Good Five-Cent Cigar! The Good Five Cent Cigar is the University of Rhode Island's weekly, student-run news organization. The Cigar gives the university's readers the latest information about on-campus issues and events, as well as editorial, sports and entertai

nment content. The Cigar is published every Thursday during the academic year and copies can be found in the Memorial Union and most academic buildings or online. We are always accepting new writers and photographers! Stop by our meetings, Thursdays at 7 p.m. in room 125 of the Memorial Union for more information.

The Good 5 Cent Cigar is holding elections on December 8th at 6PM in Memorial Union Room 125! All positions are paid and...
12/01/2025

The Good 5 Cent Cigar is holding elections on December 8th at 6PM in Memorial Union Room 125!

All positions are paid and no experience is needed — just bring your passion and creativity. Whether you’re interested in writing, photography, social media, editing, or design, there’s a role for you. Send your top three position choices to [email protected] to be considered.

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of URI’s official student newspaper and make your voice heard!

Housing and Residential Life is building two new apartment-style dorms to accommodate on-campus upperclassmen as part of...
11/24/2025

Housing and Residential Life is building two new apartment-style dorms to accommodate on-campus upperclassmen as part of their ongoing housing construction plan.

The dorms will reside on Flagg Road, called Flagg Road North Hall and South Hall, according to Ellen Reynölds, vice president of student affairs at the University of Rhode Island. The north building has already begun construction and is expected to conclude in August 2027, opening fall 2027. Similar to Brookside Hall, it will have 514 rooms, with the option of two and four-bedroom suites, with individual bedrooms, two bathrooms, a shared kitchen and common
room.

The dorms will impact parking on Flagg Road as the new residence halls will be on part of the lot, according to Reynolds. In the scope of the project, the lot will be unavailable for student parking for two years. To ensure adequate student parking. HRL has redirected them to park in Plains Road lot while construction is underway.

Read the full story by Casey Chan-Smutko at rhodycigar.com

11/19/2025

Thorr Bjorn has recently accepted an offer to be the new senior deputy athletics director and chief administrative officer at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, after eighteen years as the University of Rhode Island’s Athletic Director.

In a press conference held at the Martin Jacobson performance center at UMass last Thursday afternoon Bjorn shared why he made the decision to join UMass’ athletic staff and what his future plans are at UMass’.

“This is a really big step for us to take to make sure that we’re giving Joe, the men on his staff, and ultimately the student athletes every opportunity to find success and for this program to go and be a championship program again like we’ve known in its history,” UMass Athletic director
Ryan Bamford said.

To get more details on Bjorn’s plans, watch the full newscast on YouTube

The student-run 193 Coffeehouse has taken initiative to aid those affected by government-shutdown influenced Supplementa...
11/19/2025

The student-run 193 Coffeehouse has taken initiative to aid those affected by government-shutdown influenced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cut-offs.

The coffeehouse is holding a food drive accessible for anyone who wants to drop off food items in their Memorial Union location. The drive has been going on for about a week, beginning on Nov. 3. They have two whole boxes filled.

The coffeehouse is accepting non-perishable foods to be donated to the Jonnycake Center for Hope, according to the coffeehouse Instagram.

Coffeehouse employees have experienced the community pull together first hand, according to Kalli Marek, fourth-year student and president of the coffeehouse.

“It has been an incredible turn out, I am surprised at how much stuff we have gotten,” Marek said.

Read the full article by Olivia Arcari on rhodycigar.com.

Every weekend, the house is alive. Kegs are tapped, pong balls bounce and music blares so loud that the night ends with ...
11/18/2025

Every weekend, the house is alive. Kegs are tapped, pong balls bounce and music blares so loud that the night ends with a noise complaint. This is the frat guy’s natural habitat. He thrives on it: the cheers after a perfect shot, the drunk flirting, the sense that he is always in the middle of something bigger than himself.

Frat culture doesn’t exactly train men for patience or emotional nuance. It rewards audacity and charisma. A frat guy knows how to make an entrance and dominate a table. Love, commitment or even meaningful attachment? That’s foreign territory.

The irony is that the very traits that make him a party hero can also make him a good partner, if only he learns to repurpose them. He’s practiced at reading the room, improvising under pressure and winning people over. Those same skills, applied differently, could make someone feel loved. But achieving that requires effort, and effort in the frat world sometimes could feel like a liability.

So can a frat guy love someone more than the party? Maybe. But what’s more interesting is watching him try. He fumbles, negotiates and sometimes just fails spectacularly. He does this all while still representing the court that trained him to be fearless and untouchable. The tension between the party and personal connection defines him.

Read the full article by Ella Gerdts on rhodycigar.com

Fourth-year assistant captain Tim Crane is a crucial part of the men’s hockey program, but some of his biggest contribut...
11/17/2025

Fourth-year assistant captain Tim Crane is a crucial part of the men’s hockey program, but some of his biggest contributions have come off the ice.

Crane took over running the team’s social media in his freshman year and has since become the marketing and communications manager. His role has grown past posting on Instagram to planning theme nights and finding other ways to build the program’s presence.Adding promoting and planning to the schedule of a student-athlete. Crane has put a lot on his plate.

“It’s a lot, but it’s kind of everything I was asking for with it.* Crane said. *Am I stressed out a lot on certain days? Sure, but at the same time, it’s also worth it because I know that if I wasn’t doing the marketing stuff and all the media stuff for our team, nobody really would.”

Saturday saw the Rams host their “Pucks & Pups” night in association with Animal Rescue Rhode Island, which was organized by Crane. The theme night benefited the organization’s local animal rescue work while offering the opportunity to meet shelter dogs.

Read the full article by Charlie Adams on rhodycigar.com.

Housing and Residential Life at the University of Rhode Island plans to remove the resident academic mentor position beg...
11/17/2025

Housing and Residential Life at the University of Rhode Island plans to remove the resident academic mentor position beginning next year, replacing it with additional resident assistant roles.

The RAM position, or guides for first-year and transfer students to manage college life within their chosen area of study, is still listed under the University of Rhode Island website. HRL has yet to release a statement to explain the decision.

The position change was communicated informally among student staff, according to a fourth-year student and RA, who requested to stay anonymous.

“RAMs are very important,” The RA said. “They don’t have your typical RA responsibilities like being on call or having to respond to roommate conflicts. Their purpose is to be the academic person for the LLC. Freshman year can be an overwhelming adjustment, both academically and residentially.”

Read the full article by Jill Cervantes on rhodycigar.com

Third-year forward Daniel Goba only played in four games for the University of Rhode Island men’s soccer team this past ...
11/13/2025

Third-year forward Daniel Goba only played in four games for the University of Rhode Island men’s soccer team this past season before undergoing a health scare, and while Goba’s season may have been over, his career and life might’ve been saved.

Goba had no problem adjusting to the Division I level, as he made an immediate impact by scoring a goal in his URI debut against Iona University. Goba continued to be an influential player for the Rams when he scored his second goal against Providence College on Sept. 1. 

The following week, Goba had a fainting episode that led to a cut on his head. On Sept. 7, the URI athletic staff referred Goba to South County Hospital.

At South County Hospital, Goba received a C.T. scan that revealed a precancerous Stage 2 glioma tumor in his frontal lobe. Goba was transferred to Hasbro Children’s Hospital, and on Sep. 9, he underwent open brain surgery to remove the tumor.

“It could’ve been so much worse,” Goba said. “It was definitely a blessing in disguise and definitely gave me a lot of perspective on what’s important in life… It could’ve been a stage three tumor, which would’ve required intensive radiation and chemotherapy, so I’m super lucky in that sense.”

Read the full article by Ryan McKenna on rhodycigar.com.

The RKO Army put on a shadowcast performance of the 50-year-old musical comedy movie “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at ...
11/12/2025

The RKO Army put on a shadowcast performance of the 50-year-old musical comedy movie “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at Edwards Auditorium on Oct. 31 in an event organized by the University of Rhode Island Gender & Sexuality Center.

Before the movie started, a cast member introduced the show and the concept of a shadowcast and encouraged audience participation in the form of dancing and callbacks, a hallmark of the “Rocky Horror” experience. Cast members invited first-time viewers of a shadowcast, whom they referred to as “virgins,” to the Edwards Auditorium stage for what they referred to as a
“cherry popping ceremony,“ where the audience members blew up a red balloon and then popped it.

“My favorite part of it is just being able to get on stage with a whole bunch of people where you don’t necessarily have to have extravagant acting or singing experience or anything like that,” Anthony said. “It’s just so much fun to get up there and do your thing.”

“It’s fun, it’s raunchy, it will give you a good laugh every time and it will be different every single
time,” Anthony said.

Read the full article by John Moran on rhodycigar.com

11/11/2025

Do you have concerns about dietary options on campus?

Casey Chan-Smutko sat down with members of URI Dining services to discuss how The University of Rhode Island accommodates those with dietary restrictions.

“I never forget to ask the question, do you have any kind of dietary restriction,” URI Dietary Nutrition Specialist Karen Orabona said. “ [Or] any kind of concern that we would need to address in terms of the food that you prefer or are in need of having.”

Watch the full story and weekly newscast on YouTube

The University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team hosted Stetson University for its first regular season game of the ...
11/10/2025

The University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team hosted Stetson University for its first regular season game of the 2025-26 season on Monday night, opening the season with a 93-62 victory.

Coming in with an entirely new starting lineup, URI brought in eight Division I transfers during the offseason, with only one returning scholarship athlete that saw playing time last season.

Seventh-year guard Tyler Cochran scored the first Rhody points, taking advantage of the win on the jump ball and charging into the paint for a layup to set the tone for the Rams.

“[It felt] amazing being out there with the guys and just playing basketball again,” Cochran said. “I think, for the most part, people that are around know that of my game, which is being an everywhere kind of guy. But, I mean, just trying to play hard, play for my team. It’s the best way I
can [help the team].”

Throughout the second half, the Rams did not let their lead dip under 20 points, cruising to their third straight season-opening win. Cochran finished as the highest point scorer and rebounder of the night for Rhody, with 17 points and nine rebounds. Six different Rams had double-digit
points in the contest.

Read the full article by Abby LePage on rhodycigar.com.

After a yearlong debate over the status of Boon Street Market’s liquor license, the Narragansett Town Council has decide...
11/09/2025

After a yearlong debate over the status of Boon Street Market’s liquor license, the Narragansett Town Council has decided–after a five-hour discussion–to let them keep their liquor license, but with tighter restrictions.

It was decided in a 4-1 vote that in order for Boon Street to keep their license, they must abide by these rules: outdoor music is to end at 9 p.m., outdoor activities are to be over at 10 p.m., the patio and windows must be closed by 11:30 p.m. and indoor service may remain open until 1 a.m., according to The Independent RI.

Council President Alex Menzies was the only one to vote against the rest of the board. Rather than differing closing times, he would have preferred the bar to close entirely at 11 p.m. By doing this, it would address what Menzies said is the root of the problem–when patrons leave late at night, it disturbs households.

Read the full article by Jill Cervantes at rhodycigar.com

Address

Kingston, RI

Telephone

+19736994813

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Good 5 Cent Cigar posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Good 5 Cent Cigar:

Shortcuts

Share

Category