“A Force For Respect and Equality”: Ogretta McNeil Honored Posthumously For Her Impact on Worcester Public Schools

Posted on December 6, 2023 by College of the Holy Cross

Over a decade ago, when Worcester resident Sarai Rivera was considering a run for a city council seat, she turned to one person: Ogretta McNeil, Holy Cross associate professor emerita of psychology and, at the time, a member of the Worcester School Committee.

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Did Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Improve the Economy Wherever She Played?

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Megan Bard

Girl making a heart-hand symbol for her favorite band. Photo credit: astrosystem

No one can question singer-songwriter Taylor Swift’s business acumen; however, the reported Midas Touch effect that her 2023 Eras stadium tour has had on local economies is questionable and deserves greater analysis, according to one expert.

“She is a remarkably good business person. Re-releasing select albums is absolutely genius and how she structured her Eras Tour is brilliant,” said Victor Matheson, professor of economics. “However, the data on the economic impact for local communities is not clear and is more perception than reality.”

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Cancer Survivor Fights For Children’s Greater Access to Treatment

Posted on November 24, 2023 by Megan Bard
Young man wearing a black sweatshirt looking over his left shoulder.

Benjamin Lepper ’25, a pediatric cancer survivor, is advocating for greater access for children in need of life-saving cancer treatment. Photo credit: Michael Ivins/Holy Cross

When it comes to improving access to care for childhood cancer patients, Benjamin Lepper ’25 uses his inner strength pulled from personal experience to advocate for change.

This fall, Lepper joined advocates from the New England region of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) in Washington, D.C., to lobby Massachusetts Congressional members in support of the bipartisan Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act. The bill would improve children’s access to needed out-of-state health care by streamlining the Medicaid provider screening and enrollment process.

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The Food Insecure Population You Didn’t Expect: College Students

Posted on November 21, 2023 by Megan Bard

Volunteers pack food supplies for donation. Photo Credit: Mediaphotos (stock.adobe.com)

Last year, 17 million American households were considered food insecure, up from 13.5 million in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Within that community is a subset that is often overlooked: college students.

“This should be an issue that concerns everybody,” said Christopher Staysniak, a lecturer in the Holy Cross history department, whose scholarship includes American food and food systems.

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Gen Z Wants to Talk About Mental Health

Posted on November 8, 2023 by Megan Bard

Caroline Hanson ’27 and Hunter Sullivan ’24 are encouraging peers and educators to normalize talking about and seeing support for mental health challenges. Photos by: Michael Ivins/Holy Cross

Nauseous and dizzy, Caroline Hanson ‘27 didn’t know what was happening. The intense anxiety she felt led to an overwhelming desire to immediately leave whatever situation she was in. She was in elementary school and needed help. “It’s confusing when you’re young. You don’t know why you feel this way and don’t know how to communicate how you feel. I needed someone to explain this to me in a way that my child brain could understand,” Hanson said.

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How Does Road Salt Affect the Blackstone River Ecosystem?

Posted on November 6, 2023 by College of the Holy Cross

Curious about the effect that road salt has on the ecosystem of the Blackstone River, Aidan Bowler ’24 and Francisco Luc Zafon-Whalen ’24 worked with Pedro Torres, assistant professor of biology, collecting and analyzing data in the hope of gaining a better understanding of the changes.

Video by Avanell Chang.   

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Why is The Pope’s Monthlong October Meeting Making Headlines?

Posted on October 26, 2023 by Megan Bard

Pope Francis waves to the faithful in Vatican City in 2018. Photo by: Ashwin Vaswani on Unsplash

The Pope has convened a gathering of more than 400 bishops and lay people from around the world in Rome this month, a move that is garnering headlines due to some of the invitees and potential topics of discussion; however, experts say the significance of this meeting is not the issues, but the people actually involved.

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One Government Shutdown Averted, But is There Another Ahead?

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Megan Bard

The sun rises over the U.S. Capitol. (DoD photo by Cpl. Christina O’Neil, U.S. Marine Corps/Released)

While the government shutdown did not materialize as feared on Sept. 30, it does not mean the U.S. is in the clear due to intense political polarization.

“At the end of the day, the decision on these spending bills is going to have to be bipartisan. Delaying the inevitable is creating a lot of pain on the country,” said SoRelle Wyckoff Gaynor, assistant professor of political science whose research centers on the U.S. Congress, congressional leadership, partisanship and the policy-making process.

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How Edgar Allan Poe Became His Most Famous Character

Posted on October 7, 2023 by Megan Bard
Woman sitting at a desk with a raven perched on top of a lamp.

On the 174th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s death, Susan Elizabeth Sweeney, Distinguished Professor of Arts and Humanities, talks about the author’s literary influence and continued popularity. Photo by: Michael Ivins/Holy Cross

Edgar Allan Poe’s ability to incorporate the dark side of the human psyche, his creation of several literary genres and his innovative approach to storytelling makes him one of the world’s most influential writers — even 174 years after his death, according to one expert.

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Now More Than Ever: Elevating Suicide Education and Prevention for Young Adults

Posted on October 6, 2023 by Megan Bard

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teen and young adults. Henry Meiser ’27 and Holy Cross officials are advocating for greater education, prevention and postvention action and support. Photo by: Michael Ivins/Holy Cross

Already an established advocate for school and student safety, it was a no-brainer for Henry Meiser ’27 to be invited in 2021 to sit on the Maryland Governor’s Commission of Suicide Prevention. Yet thinking he didn’t know enough about suicide prevention and education, he declined.

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“I Saw That my Dreams Were Actually Attainable”

Posted on October 5, 2023 by Megan Bard

Cassandra Smith ’23 (left) and Micaela English ’08 reunite to talk about the importance of the Holy Cross fashion and beauty networking group. Photo by: John O’Boyle

As a child, Cassandra Smith ’23 was enamored by the glamour of the Met Gala and New York Fashion Week. The designs, colors and displays caught her attention and fueled her dreams of one day being part of the international fashion industry.

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Thinking About Upgrading to an iPhone 15? Consider the Environment, Too

Posted on September 28, 2023 by Megan Bard

Experts warn that the amount of E-waste is predicted to double by 2050, with only a small portion of it recycled. Photo Credit: BingAI/Michael Ivins

Last Friday, Apple released the iPhone 15 in stores, selling out available stock around the world and marking the fifth fall in a row the company has released a new model. Yet before consumers upgrade, an expert in ethical consumerism advises they should also think about the consequences of the decision.

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Documenting How Climate Change Affects Apples

Posted on September 22, 2023 by College of the Holy Cross

As climate change has a more significant effect on local orchards, Ross Comcowich ’25 and Matthew Rigione ’25 worked with Daina Harvey, associate professor of sociology and anthropology, to document how orchardists and cider-makers are preparing for the changes to apples throughout New England.

Video by Avanell Chang

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LGBTQ Alumni Network Serves as a Visible Sign: You Are Welcome

Posted on September 21, 2023 by Holy Cross Magazine

It was spring 2011 when Phil Dardeno ’02 and Meg Griffiths ’04 visited campus to attend a community conversation for LGBTQ students and alumni, an event requested by the students. Neither can recall where the event was, debating whether it was held in Rehm Library or on the third floor of Hogan Campus Center, with Griffiths jokingly calling them “unreliable narrators.” But what they both are sure of is there was a conversation about creating an alumni network for LGBTQ students and allies.

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Holy Cross’ New Superpower

Posted on September 19, 2023 by Michael Bonner

Historically dismissed as juvenile at best, evil at worst, graphic novels and comic books are finding their place as a valuable academic tool in higher education.

Beyond Marvel and DC, faculty are using the College’s Dr. Mark D. Nevins ’86 Collection for the Study of Comics and Graphic Novels as a centerpiece to teaching. Learn more in our graphic novel, below.

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Remembering Alice Laffey: Dedicated Bible Scholar, Mentor, Friend

Posted on September 14, 2023 by Megan Bard

Alice Laffey, late associate professor emerita, is remembered as the conscience of the Department of Religious Studies. Photo credit: College of the Holy Cross

Thanks to her acute sense of justice and purpose, a sharp, analytical mind, and tremendous kindness, friends and former colleagues say Alice Laffey was the conscience of the religious studies department during her 35-year Holy Cross teaching career and through her retirement, until her recent death at 78 after a brief illness. 

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‘The First Impression is That You’re Home’

Posted on September 4, 2023 by College of the Holy Cross

On August 26, first-year students experienced their first Holy Cross tradition, Move-In Day, when they were welcomed to Mount St. James by students, staff, faculty, and alums who helped carry their bags and boxes to their dorm rooms. Video by Avanell Chang

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For Five Worcester Students, The Future Is 3.5 Miles Away

Posted on September 1, 2023 by Michael Bonner

Worcester’s North High School is building up a substantial base of student and alumni crusaders, including, left to right, Gordon Burnett’ 12, Shakira Suazo Valdes ’27, Sofia Torres ’27, Krystle O’Clair ’13, Yuliana Sanchez Reyes ’27, Vanessa Acheampong ’12 and Juleein Nicolas ’27. (Submitted photo)

Holy Cross surrounded Shakira Suazo Valdez. Four of her classmates at North High School in Worcester — including her best friend — received acceptance notifications in March. Three of her teachers proudly wore purple as alumni.

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The Class of 2027 Hits The Hill

Posted on August 28, 2023 by College of the Holy Cross

On Aug. 26, members of the Class of 2027 were welcomed to their home for the next four years by Holy Cross leadership, staff, students and alumni, first at their actual move-in and, later, at the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit.

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More Expensive or Unavailable: How Wild Weather Will Affect Your Favorite Foods

Posted on August 23, 2023 by Megan Bard

A spring freeze and a hot, wet summer will translate into a challenging fall for New England orchards, says Daina Harvey, associate professor of sociology and anthropology. Photo by Avanell Chang/Holy Cross

Already a precarious endeavor, farming in an age of wild weather fluctuations has become more challenging, and growers and consumers will need to make adjustments to navigate the nation’s food system in the months and years ahead, according to experts.

“Most of what we have now were developed for taste and storage, not climate resiliency,” said Daina Harvey, an associate professor of sociology and anthropology who researches agrarianism and food geographies.

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