Women’s Basketball to Host Third Annual ‘Get Fit with the Crusaders Day’

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Jacqueline Smith ’15

Get Fit game On Wednesday, Dec. 18, the College of the Holy Cross women’s basketball program will host its third annual “Get Fit with the Crusaders Day” when it takes on Quinnipiac at 11:30 a.m. at the Hart Center.
More than 1,000 Worcester public school students will be in attendance to cheer on the Crusaders and to learn about nutrition and physical activity. Holy Cross faculty and staff are invited to attend free of charge.

“This is a great opportunity for local elementary and middle school students to see Holy Cross and the student-athletes compete,” says associate head coach Ann McInerney. “They also get a chance to learn about physical activity and eating healthy.”

The students will watch the Crusaders take on the Bobcats and then at halftime Holy Cross head strength and conditioning coach Jeff Oliver and dietitian an Kathy Egan will give a presentation about eating right and exercising.

The women’s basketball team has had a stellar start to the season with a 6-1 record, triumphing over historically successful teams including UMass Amherst and Northeastern.

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Inspiring Students in Math and Science

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Cristal Steuer

Karsten Stueber In a letter to the editor in the New York Times, Karsten Stueber, professor and chair of the philosophy department at the College of the Holy Cross, argues that it is time for a fundamental attitude change toward STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education.

In response to, “Who Says Math Has to Be Boring?” (editorial, “Numbers Crunch” series, Dec. 8), Stueber writes, “We do not do our children any favors by telling them that math is fun. Skills must be mastered and a certain amount of drudgery must be endured. However, mastery, like winning, can be a lot of fun.”

This “Holy Cross in the News” item by Cristal Steuer. 

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Four Holy Cross Alumni Named as 2013 Power Players

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Holy Cross in the News

powerIn a new list from the Worcester Business Journal, four College of the Holy Cross alumni are named among the top 25 “power players” in the Worcester business community in 2013. According to the publication’s editor Rick Saia, the list highlights professionals “who have the  leadership position, the money or the artful ability to persuade others…some have a combination of all three attributes, which can make their influence quite potent.”

J. Christopher Collins ’80 is the senior vice president and general counsel of the Unum Group in Worcester. Collins and the Unum Group have demonstrated substantial community involvement and engagement in the City of Worcester, in addition to his own personal efforts in the non-profit community. Most recently, Collins and his brother, Dr. Michael Collins ’77, co-chaired the 2010 United Way campaign.

Dr. Michael Collins ’77 is chancellor of UMass Medical School in Worcester, providing “critical direction and leadership” as the school expands. In addition, to their significant economic contributions to the City, the Worcester Business Journal highlights UMass Medical School and Collins as key players in fixing America’s health care system.

P. Kevin Condron ’67,  chairman and CEO of The Granite Group LLC and chair of the Board of Trustees at Holy Cross, may not be based in Worcester, but was monumental in the development of three major projects in downtown Worcester: the DCU Center’s convention facility, Union Station, and Worcester Medical Center. “I’ve always felt that whatever you do, you want to do it better than anyone else ever did it,” Condron told the Worcester Business Journal in 2012 about his involvement in the City. “And when an opportunity comes along, you want to do it and do it better than anybody else did it.”

Fred Eppinger ’81, president and CEO of the Hanover Insurance Group, has been at the helm of the company since 2003, and credits his entire Hanover team for the work the company has accomplished. Under his leadership, Hanover has invested in the City Square project, making the groundbreaking of that project a reality; purchased naming rights for Fitton Field at Holy Cross, home of the Worcester Bravehearts starting this summer; and invested in the arts through the restoration of Showcase Cinemas into the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Read more about each alumnus, as well as about the other 21 professionals on the list:

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This “Holy Cross in the News” item written by Bridget Cass.

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Holy Cross Dining Launches ‘Kimball to Kitchen’ Grocery Program

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Lynn Cody

Kimball to Kitchen The College of the Holy Cross is a primarily residential campus with 91 percent of students living in on-campus housing.  With the addition of two apartment-style residence halls, Holy Cross Dining recently launched an online grocery ordering program specifically designed for students living in apartments. “Kimball to Kitchen” allows students who wish to prepare meals in their apartments the opportunity to purchase raw ingredients using their meal plan’s Dining Dollars.

Kimball to Kitchen is an easy and convenient way for students to do their shopping right on campus.  Orders are placed online at the students’ convenience and picked up in the College’s main dining hall, Kimball Hall.  For a student body that is highly competitive academically, committed to volunteer service in the community and comprised of 25 percent varsity athletes — convenience is key. “It’s really the best of both worlds,” says Linda Nardella, director of Holy Cross Dining. “When students are busy they still have the convenience of a traditional meal plan, but they can also experience cooking in their apartment without worrying about how to get groceries.”

Kimball to Kitchen utilizes a Google Form which captures a few pieces of the students information, their order and when they’d like to pick up their groceries. Each grocery bag order costs $20 dining dollars and must be placed 24 hours in advance.  Students are able to choose up to six items to fill their order: a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, pantry staples such as pasta and rice, soy and rice milk, chicken breasts and even steak!  Pick up is available during normal business hours and orders are packed each morning by Holy Cross Dining staff so they’re available for pickup at the students’ chosen time.

“Since the program is currently only available to students living in apartments, we started small with the marketing efforts,”  says Nardella.  An email was sent to all students living in one of the College’s two on-campus apartment buildings and anyone with the College’s “Apartment” meal plan.  “Within about an hour of announcing the program we already had eight orders and new orders are still coming in every day.”

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Holy Cross Professor Publishes Book on Men’s Health

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Jacqueline Smith ’15

ThompsonWhat’s the secret to living the healthiest lifestyle?  The three-legged stool.  Found in “A Man’s Guide to Healthy Living,” co-written by Edward Thompson, professor emeritus of sociology and former director of the Women and Gender Studies program at the College of the Holy Cross, and Lenard W. Kaye, a professor of social work and director of the Center on Aging at the University of Maine, the metaphor coined by Thompson describes the ideal balance for heeding a healthy lifestyle, each leg representing a vital aspect: social health, physical health, and psychological health. The book was published by Johns Hopkins University Press on Nov. 25, 2013.

Unlike most publications on the market, “A Man’s Guide to Healthy Aging” is more than a diet and exercise supplement, it is a fully encompassing guide for men looking to “what’s next.”  The book refutes the idea that aging men should spend their later years settling down, and instead explores how men should use this time to reawaken passions and restore their vitality.  In collaboration with experts in the medical and health care fields, the guide is separated into four sections: “Managing Our Lives,” “Mind and Body,” “Bodily Health,” and “Living with Others.”

“My favorite part is chapter six, ‘Social Health: Vital Relationships.’  People don’t realize the importance of personal relationships,” says Thompson.  “When there’s a sense of community, the feeling men experience is a mixture of personal recognition, mutual trust, and respect for their autonomy and time.  By far the most important contributors to men’s social health and over-all well-being are personal relationship.”

The book also focuses on staying active, eating well and less, getting a good night’s sleep, reducing stress, taking care of his appearance, getting in touch with his spiritual self, being heart healthy and guarding against a wide range of diseases men are at risk of experiencing including diabetes, cancer, alcohol and drug abuse, vision and hearing loss, bone and joint problems, sexual dysfunction, and being mentally stable.

A number of Holy Cross alumni contributed to this project including Kaitlyn Barnes ’10, Elizabeth Connor ’10, Katherine Guardino ’10, Elizabeth Kayajian ’10, Alexandra Leichthammer ’10, Bethany O’Dell  ’10, and Stefanie Tedesco ’10.

Thompson will be at the Tatnuck Booksellers in Westborough for a book signing on December 21, from 1 – 3 p.m.

Thompson earlier edited the first collection of original articles examining elderly men (Older Men’s Lives, 1994) and another on Men as Caregivers (2001). He encourages researchers to study men’s lives, and serves as the co-organizer of the men’s issues interest group for the Gerontological Society of America. He lives in Westborough, Mass.

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College Administrators to Serve Midnight Breakfast to Students

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Bridget Campolettano

midnight-breakfastRecognizing that students stay up late to study during finals period, administrators at the College of the Holy Cross volunteer each semester to serve the scholars breakfast late into the night. To close out the fall 2013 semester, midnight breakfast will be served Sunday, Dec. 8 through Thursday, Dec. 12.

The menu includes popular breakfast items, such as scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage links, assorted bagels, Belgian waffles and topping bar, assorted juices and nightly specials. The following members of the College community have volunteered:

Sunday, Dec. 8, Kimball Hall, 8:30 — 11 p.m.

Tracy Barlok, vice president for development and alumni relations
Rev. William Clark, S.J., associate professor of religious studies
Rev. James Hayes, S.J., associate chaplain, director of faith formation
Rev. Robert Keane, S.J., director of special projects in mission
Rev. Gregory Lynch, S.J., assistant chaplain, director of service and social justice programs
Rev. Keith Maczkiewicz, S.J., assistant chaplain
Jacqueline Peterson,  vice president for student affairs and dean of students
Frank Vellaccio, senior vice president

Monday, Dec. 9, Crossroads, 11 p.m. — 1 a.m.

Margaret Bramley,  director of the Holy Cross Fund
Michael DeCristofaro, assistant director of the Holy Cross Fund
Heather Palmer, associate director of the Holy Cross Fund

Tuesday, Dec. 10, Crossroads, 11 p.m. — 1 a.m.

John Anderson, dean, class of 2015
Francisco Gago-Jover, dean, class of 2016
Patricia Kramer, dean, class of 2017
Esther Levine, dean, class of 2014

Wednesday, Dec. 11, Crossroads, 11 p.m. — 1 a.m.

Liliana Castro, community development coordinator
Daniel Kagdis, assistant director of student involvement
Neal Lipsitz, associate dean for student development
Amanda Miles, assistant director for student programs
Derek Zuckerman, associate director for student life

Thursday, Dec. 12, Crossroads, 11 p.m. — 1 a.m.

Jesse Anderson, director of audio visual services
Anthony Cashman, director of the Office of Distinguished Fellowships and Graduate Studies

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Holy Cross Balinese Gamelan Orchestra to Present Concert Directed by Distinguished Visiting Artist

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Jacqueline Smith ’15

GamelanThe Holy Cross departments of theatre and music present their famed Balinese gamelan orchestra, Gamelan Gita Sari, under the directorship of visiting fellow in Balinese performing arts Suasthi Bandem, in concert on December 6 at 8 p.m. in the Brooks Concert Hall. These semi-annual concerts, free and open to the public, are routinely standing room only and provide for a thrilling evening of Balinese music and dance. Special guest artists will include I Made Bandem, Ida Ayu Ari Candrawati, Putu Bagus Krisna Saptanyana, and Kadek Bayu Saptanyana.

The concert will begin with “Tabuh Blaganjur,” followed by feature pieces from the classical repertoire, including the “Pendet,” a welcoming dance; the “Baris,” an important ritual dance, known as the warrior-drill dance and choreographed by I Made Bandem; and the “Topeng Tua,” which is accompanied by the piece “Tabuh Telu” and performed by professor of theatre Lynn Kramer.   The show will also feature the “Cak Dance,” a new form of dance sometimes referred to as the “Monkey Dance.”

Gamelan Gita Sari was founded in 1999.  Gita Sari translates as “the essence of song.”  The company is composed entirely of students and faculty from the College.  The group performs on its Gong Kebyar gamelan, built for Holy Cross in 1998 by master Balinese craftsman Pande Made Sukerta.  Following a blessing ceremony in Mengwitani, the gamelan was shipped to Massachusetts, where a second blessing ceremony was conducted in July 1999.  This coincided with a Henry Luce Foundation Grant Holy Cross was awarded to fund a Balinese scholar-artist-in-residence for four years.

In addition to holding two concerts a year at Holy Cross, Gamelan Gita Sari has performed at Brown University and Wesleyan University, as well as for the New Hampshire Humanities Council and the conference “Continuities and Change: A Celebration of Balinese Music, Theatre and Dance” hosted by Holy Cross.  Members of the ensemble have played and danced at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Bard College.

Suasthi Bandem received a B.A. from Indonesian Dance Academy in Denpasar, Strata 1 in dance from Indonesian Institute of the Arts in Yogyakarta, and her Magister and Ph.D. in Performing Art Study from Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.  Since 1984, she has been a faculty member at the Indonesian Dance Academy and has taught at UCLA and Wesleyan University.  She is the founder of the Makaradhwaja Performing Arts Group.  As an accomplished dancer and choreographer, Suasthi has performed throughout Europe, North American, Latin America, Australia, Zimbabwe, Japan, Maldives, and Southeast Asia.  She has created and designed the costumes for many dances including Belibis, Puspanjali, Cendrawasih, Sekar Jagat, Sarawati, Topeng Dalem Balingkang, and Gadung Kasturi.  Additionally, two of her dances have become official dances performed for graduation ceremonies in Indonesia, and she choreographed the dances for the Canadian film “Bali Nocturne.”

Among her many honors are the Siwa Nataraja Award from the Indonesian College of the Arts in Bali, the Gold Pin Award from the Balisani Hotel for her work in developing and preserving the arts and culture, and the Adhi Karya Award from the Minister of Tourism, Post, and Telecommunication of the Republic of Indonesia for her achievements in supporting tourism through the arts.

For more information about the concert and Gamelan Gita Sari, contact Joan Townsend at 508-793-3490.

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New Futures League Baseball Team Named the Worcester Bravehearts

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Cristal Steuer

Bravehearts ShieldWorcester’s new Futures League baseball team, has a name — the “Worcester Bravehearts”.  The team name was selected as a finalist along with four others from more than 1,000 name ideas submitted by the public. Finalists were chosen based on each name’s uniqueness and significance to Worcester. Of the five finalists, the “Bravehearts” name was then voted for overwhelmingly by the public with a two-to-one margin in the naming contest. The name “Bravehearts” was submitted by Kevin Hunt of Charlton. Hunt will win season tickets for life, an authentic team jersey and cap, and will throw out the first pitch at the team’s home opener on June 5, 2014, on Fitton Field at the College of the Holy Cross.

Team owner John W.S. Creedon, Jr.,explained that the team name has two meaningful components. First, the “Brave” component is a tribute to Worcester’s brave men and women in uniform serving locally and abroad. More particularly, the word “Brave” is also an homage to Worcester’s recent fallen firefighters who epitomized bravery including Jon Davies who perished on December 8, 2011, as well as the six who perished in the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire on December 3, 1999 (Paul Brotherton, Timothy Jackson, Jeremiah Lucey, Jay Lyons, Joseph McGuirk, and Thomas Spencer). Tuesday marks the fourteenth anniversary of the Cold Storage Warehouse firefighters’ bravery, and Sunday marks the second anniversary of Jon Davies’ bravery. Second, the “hearts” component is a reference to Worcester’s nickname as the “Heart of the Commonwealth.”

“We are humbled to name the team in honor of all those in Worcester who presently answer the call of duty to protect and serve, and especially as a tribute to Worcester’s fallen firefighters who demonstrated legendary bravery,” said Creedon. “The courage of these heroic people – past and present – defines and galvanizes our city. We will wear the name with pride and respect.”

As the team’s key presenting sponsor, The Hanover Insurance Group entered into an agreement with the team which includes naming rights to the Bravehearts’ home field on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross. The field, which is considered to be one of the premier ballparks in New England, will be known as Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field.

“We’re very happy to help bring baseball back to Worcester,” said Frederick H. Eppinger ’81, president and chief executive officer of The Hanover Insurance Group. “The Futures League offers an exciting brand of baseball, showcasing the game’s best young talent and stars of tomorrow. The team is a great fit for our city, adding another dimension to the broad range of entertainment opportunities available to residents of Central Massachusetts and visitors to the city and the region.”

In September, the College of the Holy Cross announced the new partnership with the City, local business owner John W.S. Creedon Jr., and the Futures League, to bring summer baseball back to Fitton Field.

The Worcester Bravehearts play their first home game on Thursday, June 5, 2014, followed by three more consecutive home games June 6, 7 & 8. For more information visit: http://www.worcesterbaseball.com/.

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‘Parents Of Sleep-Deprived Teens Push For Later School Start Times’

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Holy Cross in the News

Wolfson_AmyAs National Public Radio (NPR) added to the discussion on the growing grass-roots campaign advocating for later high school start times, Amy Wolfson, professor of psychology at the College of the Holy Cross, named five strategies to help teenagers sleep longer and better. These included keeping regular sleep and study schedules, and eliminating caffeine and technology before bedtime.

The NPR segment expounded upon Wolfson’s recommendation that students try to get “8 1/2 – 9 1/2 hours of sleep a night,” adding that waking up at 6 a.m. for an early school start time can lead to a pattern of sleep deprivation which can lead to a range of problems from depression to auto accidents.

This “Holy Cross in the News” item is by Sara Bovat ’14.

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Men’s Hockey Upsets No. 7 Boston College, 5-4

Posted on November 30, 2013 by College of the Holy Cross

Hoecky

For the first time in program history the Holy Cross varsity men’s hockey team defeated No. 7 Boston College, 5-4, at the Kelley Rink at Conte Forum on Friday afternoon in non-conference action. With the win, the Crusaders advance to 4-9-0 overall, while the Eagles fall to 8-4-2 overall. This victory was Holy Cross’ fifth win over a nationally ranked team in program history and the third versus a top 10 team. This is the first ever win by an Atlantic Hockey team versus Boston College. The last time Boston College lost to a non-conference opponent at home was on Oct. 14, 2011 when they fell to Denver, 4-2. Freshman Mike Barrett (Orland Park, Ill.) posted two goals and one assist for the Crusaders and earned the first star of the game. Sophomore Matt Vidal (Manorville, N.Y.) tallied two assists and scored a goal which earned him the second star of the game.

Read the entire story on GoHolyCross.com

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Holy Cross Students to Participate in Sixth Annual Benching for Breast Cancer Fundraiser

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Sara Bovat ’14

benching The sixth annual Benching for Breast Cancer Fundraiser will take place Friday, Dec. 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the Hart Center’s Varsity Weight Room at the College of the Holy Cross. Registration begins at 5 p.m. on the day of the event, and online pre-registration is encouraged. The participation fee is $10 per person.

Working in teams of four, students solicit donation pledges based on how much weight they think they can lift.  While wearing a costume, they compete against other teams lifting weights for prizes in three categories:  best team costume, most enthusiastic team, most money raised, and most weight lifted for males and females.

Last year, approximately 545 students participated in the event and raised more than $2,500. Michelle McGahan ’15, co-chair of HC for a Cure and organizer of the event, said this year their main goal is to raise awareness about breast cancer and focus the event on the students’ reasons for participating. “We’ve invited survivors to the event,” she said, “and are creating a wall titled, “Who do you bench for?”

“We hope that students write names, bring pictures to post, or bring anything they have that reminds them of why they participate in this event,” McGahan explained.

McGahan is benching for her mother, who lost her battle with breast cancer 10 years ago.  “She was an amazing woman with a contagious positive attitude,” shared McGahan. “For almost my entire life, my family and I have participated in the Making Strides walk in Boston, and when I came to Holy Cross, I decided to get more involved in the cause. That’s when I found HC for a Cure. When they asked me to help organize and run the event, I was more than happy to help.”

McGahan and Andrew McAward ’15, another student organizer and a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), say the goal is for all participants to reflect on their own experiences with breast cancer to spread awareness of the necessity to fight the battle.

“I have had relatives that have battled with cancer,” says McAward. “Partaking in events, such as Benching for Breast Cancer and Relay for Life, have truly defined my time here at Holy Cross.”

All proceeds from the event will benefit Pink Revolution, a Worcester-based breast cancer alliance of dedicated individuals with a unified commitment to those touched by breast cancer.

A varsity men’s ice hockey game against Air Force Academy will follow the event at 7 p.m. in the Hart Center’s ice rink.

Benching for Breast Cancer is sponsored by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and HC for a Cure.  SAAC is a group of student leaders made up of representatives from each varsity team on campus. They work with the NCAA and provide an athlete’s perspective on the recruitment process, eligibility, and other regulations that affect athletes.

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Mock Trial Has Strong First Semester of Competition

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Bridget Campolettano

gavelThe Holy Cross Mock Trial team is off and running with three competitions under its belt in the fall semester. After a fourth place season opener at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the team took first at fellow Patriot League school Colgate University. Most recently, the team competed in a competition at American University.

“Mock Trial is a wonderful, unique opportunity to challenge and improve the process of logical thinking, persuasive argument and public speaking,” said team coach James Healy ’81. “It combines all elements of the mission of a liberal arts education, in which all aspects of learning and communicating are combined.”

“We tell students at the outset of the season that even if you don’t intend to go into the field of law, you will at several junctures in your career be called upon to make presentations to a supervisor or decision maker, and mock trial prepares students for these real world experiences,” adds team coach Ed McDermott ’79. “It is really a unique undergraduate opportunity.”

Each year, the American Mock Trial Association releases a case that is tried by over 1,000 college and university trial teams. The cases alternate each year between criminal and civil law. Students spend the fall developing their advocacy skills while learning the rules of evidence used by lawyers during litigation. They also learn to work as a trial team developing case theories that will lead to presenting a winning argument.

This year’s case problem is a criminal case involving a theft and a ticket scam scheme at an amusement park. According to the indictment in the case materials, the state is charging a former employee at the park with two crimes: theft using force or the threat of force; and theft by deception in the ticket scheme. To win their case, the state has the evidentiary burden of a criminal prosecution – to prove its case “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

The winning team at the Colgate competition was captained by Julian Goding ’14, who won an outstanding attorney award, his second this season. Fellow teammates Emily Cross ’15 and Jennifer Vera ’16, attorneys for this case, also earned the outstanding attorney award, and witnesses Barry Quinn ’16 and Jonathan Formichella ’15 were honored as outstanding witnesses.

In the WONK Trial Invitational at American University, the team did not place in the top five but did finish with a 4-4 record. Cross earned her second outstanding attorney award this season at the invitational as well. The Holy Cross team competed against dozens of colleges from across the country.

The next competition for the team will be the Commonwealth Classic Invitational hosted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Jan. 25-26.

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10 Things You Should Know About the Finance Networking Reception

Posted on November 26, 2013 by

The extensive and dedicated Holy Cross alumni network will once again show its strength on Dec. 16 for the 10th annual Finance Networking Reception. To mark the anniversary, here are 10 things you should know about the event.

1.    Members of the Holy Cross Leadership Council of New York initiated the event in 2004 to help students interested in working in financial services industries learn more about the business world.

2.    The first reception was held in December 2004 under the moniker Careers in Finance. The event was initiated by John Mullman ’82, portfolio manager at Jennison Associates, and Morgan Kennedy ’87, director of investor relations at Eminence Capital.

3.    The first event, which Kennedy hosted at his then-employer Morgan Stanley, drew about 40 students and 25 alumni.

4.    The event has grown significantly since its inception. Approximately 125 students and 125 alumni are expected to attend this year.

5.    The event is hosted by different alums each year. This year’s event will be held at Goldman Sachs, thanks to Tom Osmond ’90, a managing director in Human Capital Management at the investment banking firm.

6.    The event is traditionally held the first working day after fall semester final exams to accommodate students who do not live in close proximity to New York. Students can use their time in January to shadow and set up further meetings with alumni they meet at the reception.

7.    Alumni share information about job and internship searches, interview preparation, networking, and the power of a liberal arts education.

8.    All financial services industries are represented, including investment banking, asset management, fixed income, financial planning, hedge funds, insurance, operations, human resources, and technology.

9.    It is highly beneficial for Holy Cross students who aspire to careers in financial services to attend the event. “It allows our younger students to learn about the various firms and practice areas within a large and complex industry. Our older students have the opportunity to establish relationships with alumni which result in networking opportunities for summer analyst and full-time opportunities,” says Amy Murphy, director of the Career Planning Center, who organizes the event.

10.    All alumni who work in the financial services industry are welcome to attend. Register here.

Related Information:

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Summer Baseball Returns to Fitton Field June 5

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Cristal Steuer

Worcester Baseball Worcester Baseball just released its full 56-game schedule for the 2014 season. The team will play its home opener on Fitton Field on Thursday, June 5. In September, the College of the Holy Cross announced the new partnership with the City, local business owner John W.S. Creedon Jr., and the Futures League, to bring summer baseball back to Fitton Field.

After the soon-to-be-named team begins its inaugural season on the road June 4 in Torrington, Conn., Fitton Field will then play host to four consecutive home games on the opening weekend. The first game will take place Thursday, June 5, against the Pittsfield Suns, then Central Mass rival, Wachusett, visits on Friday, June 6,  followed by a post-game fireworks display, and two-time FCBL Champion, Nashua, comes to town on Saturday, June 7. The opening weekend will be capped off with an afternoon game on Sunday, June 8, against the Seacoast Mavericks from Portsmouth, N.H.

“The schedule couldn’t have come together any better,” said General Manager Dave Peterson. “The league did an exceptional job publishing it so early, and the 4-game opening weekend sets the stage for an exciting summer full of entertainment.”

Of the 28 home games at Fitton Field, 15 of them will take place on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. Worcester is planning on 7:05 p.m. start times for games Monday through Saturday and 2:05 p.m. start times on Sundays. Other notable home games include a matinee on the 4th of July against Seacoast (time TBD), a Friday, June 13, contest against Torrington when the Massachusetts Democratic Party State Convention is in town, and the regular season finale slated for Wednesday, August 6, against Old Orchard Beach. Worcester looks to host two 11 a.m.  games: Thursday, June 12, against Brockton will be a game for area school students on a “field trip”; and Tuesday, July 15, versus Nashua will be a game for area summer camp kids.

New in 2014, the league has unveiled two divisions for the first time in its history. Worcester will be part of the West Division along with Wachusett, Torrington, and former Can-Am League counterparts Pittsfield and Nashua. The East Division is made up of Brockton, Martha’s Vineyard, North Shore, Seacoast, and Old Orchard Beach.

The 2014 FCBL playoffs will feature six teams in a three round format during the week of August 10. The winner of each division will have a bye in round one, while the next four teams with the best overall records will play one-game play-in contests. Both the semi-final round and FCBL Championship will be 3-game series.

The team is also preparing to announce its name and logo on December 3.

For more information or to view the team’s full schedule visit Worcester Baseball’s website.

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‘Talk of Olympics in Boston rehashes memories of Big Dig’

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Holy Cross in the News

In a recent interview with Fox 25 News, Victor Matheson, professor of economics at the College of the Holy Cross, questioned the longstanding economic benefits to hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics in Boston. He predicted that the cost would be as high as the Big Dig’s construction expense, but without the lasting infrastructure.

“In some cities you’re left with the nice legacy,” said Matheson. “You’ve upgraded your infrastructure and you have a nice set of things you can use after the event. But in most places, for example Montreal, you’re not left with a whole lot except for a big set of debt payments to pay back.”

Watch the full interview from Fox 25 News.

Related Information:
The Boston Globe, Nov. 16: An Olympic-size illusion”

This “Holy Cross in the News” item is by Sara Bovat ’14.

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Scholarly Connections: Professor-Student Team and the Links Between Medieval Poem, Political Commentary

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Andrew Cook '15

English Professor James Kee brought a lifetime of interest and experience when he spent part of the summer assisting English major Chase Padusniak ‘15 with his summer research project, titled “The Will to Charity: The Movement of the Will in Piers Plowman and the Works of George Grant.” The project was part of the College’s Summer Research Program.

Padusniak took Kee’s Readings in Medieval Literature class during his freshman year, alongside political philosophy courses in which he was introduced to the 20th century works of Canadian philosopher and political commentator George Grant. After noticing strong resemblances in the works of Grant with the long medieval poem “Piers Plowman” which he studied in Kee’s class, Padusniak devoted his summer to writing a thesis that explored the link between the two. “Looking at Piers Plowman and the works of George Grant was not just pleasurable,” Padusniak says, “but really touched on universal truth in two different historical contexts. The project was really aimed at seeing the unity in what seems a mountain difference.”

To help him with his undertaking, Padusniak also enlisted the aid of Matthew Dinan, visiting assistant professor of political science. Both Dinan and Kee were more than happy to provide the necessary assistance.

A 33-year veteran of the English department, Kee has a long history with “Piers Plowman.” Written and rewritten by English poet William Langland over a 20-year span in the late 14th century, the poem is an allegory in the form of a dream vision that focuses on the search to lead a true Christian life.

Kee, who wrote his doctorate dissertation on the poem and has returned to it countless times in the years since, says he still remains “impressed by the integrity of Langland’s poetic vision.” Langland wrote at the tail end of a century that began with Dante’s “Divine Comedy”, and Kee believes the two stand as fitting bookends for the philosophical and theological shifts that occurred in the interim. He admits the difficulty level is high for modern readers to descend into the work, but says this makes Padusniak’s independent study all the more impressive. While they both share the same infectious enthusiasm discussing “Piers,” Kee makes it explicitly clear that this was Padusniak’s ballgame from the start, and he was happy to simply provide some relief pitching.

“I didn’t see assisting in Chase’s project as work,” says Kee. “It was a real joy and pleasure to return back to the poem again alongside a fresh set of eyes. This is a work that allows for continual study, and seeing Chase’s work on it is just evidence that it will continue to prove so for many years to come.”

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College to Celebrate 2013 Advent Season

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Bridget Campolettano

Christmas Tree Lighting 2010The College of the Holy Cross will celebrate the Advent season with the following events:

The annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, sponsored by the Purple Key Society, will take place on Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m. on O’Kane Porch, and will include musical performances by several student groups and the boys choir from Nativity School of Worcester. Rev. James Hayes, S.J., associate chaplain, will light the tree and Santa is expected to make a special appearance during the ceremony. Cookies and refreshments will be served.

An Advent Reconciliation Service will be held on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lower Chapel Gathering/Baptismal Space. Prepare for Christmas by celebrating God’s forgiveness and reconciliation with the College’s Jesuit community. Megan Fox-Kelly, assistant chaplain and director of retreats, will preside and preach.

The Tuesday night 10 Spot on Dec. 3 will be a special Holiday a Capella Show. Held at 10 p.m. in the Hogan Campus Center Ballroom, the show will feature performances by the Fools on the Hill, the Delilahs, the Sound of St. James, Off the Record, and the Sons of Pitches. The event is sponsored by the Campus Activities Board (CAB).

The annual Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols will take place on Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel. Presented by the chaplains’ office, the College Choir and the Holy Cross Chamber Singers, the celebration will include seasonal music and holiday scripture readings by members of the College community. Marybeth Kearns-Barrett, director of the chaplains’ office, will preside. The religious service is based on one celebrated every year at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England.

During the service, there will be a collection taken up for disaster relief for those impacted by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. All proceeds will go to the Philippine Jesuit Foundation.

The festive holiday service will be streamed live over the web from St. Joseph Memorial Chapel. Bookmark the online location and be sure to tune in at 8 p.m. EST on Dec. 5.

The Advent/Holiday Community Mass will take place on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel. On the last Sunday evening of the fall semester, a single community Mass is celebrated in place of the two regular Sunday evening Masses. Rev. Robert Keane, S.J., director of special projects in mission, will preside and preach. The Mass will be followed by a reception in the Lower Chapel Gathering/Baptismal Space.

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Through Washington Semester, a First-Hand Look at Congress

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Sara Bovat ’14

michelle moreno-silvaMichelle Moreno-Silva ’15, a political science major from Pawtucket, R.I., recently completed a twelve-week internship through the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s nationally recognized Congressional Internship Program. She specifically worked in the office of Rep. David Cicilline of her home state. Moreno-Silva is one of 16 students working and studying in the nation’s capital as part of the College of the Holy Cross’ Washington, D.C. Semester Program for the Fall 2013 semester.

At her internship, Moreno-Silva gained first-hand exposure to the nation’s legislative process and issues pending before Congress. Her daily tasks ranged from writing letters to organizing the Congressman’s calendar and helping staffers draft legislation. She also had the opportunity to attend several Congressional hearings, which was an “exceptional experience” for her.

“I went to a hearing where the former Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe, was testifying and because it was such an intimate setting I was able to speak with him,” said Moreno-Silva. “We briefly discussed how the Colombian government needs to address and improve the refugee epidemic that it is experiencing. When President Uribe was later interviewed by the news, he mentioned the importance of tackling this matter. This moment made me realize that although I was only an intern, I was still able to influence policy at a minimal level.”

As an additional aspect of her internship, Moreno-Silva was asked to take on a community service project. She chose to work with high school students from the Latino Student Fund, a D.C. non-profit that runs programs which strive to improve high school graduation rates in the Hispanic community.

As part of Holy Cross’ Washington, D.C. semester program, participants compose a forty-page research thesis and take a public policy seminar in addition to their internship responsibilities. Moreno-Silva’s thesis topic assesses the extent to which the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has or has not been effective in protecting battered Latina immigrants in the United States, an issue of particular passion for Rep. Cicilline amongst other congressional leaders.

Moreno-Silva said that her experience in the nation’s capital has opened her eyes to a new perspective of the world, along with a potential future career path. “Attending Congressional hearings allowed me to fully grasp how interconnected our world is, and how decisions made in our government can trigger benefits or consequences for nations abroad,” she said. “Since the decisions made by U.S. leaders are so pivotal, I want to explore our state’s foreign affairs. Particularly, I want to work with marginalized communities in developing nations while representing the United States.”

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College Community Raises Funds for Victims of Typhoon Haiyan

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Bridget Campolettano

dinner2The network of the Holy Cross community has felt the impact of Typhoon Haiyan that hit the Philippines on Nov. 8, and many on campus were immediately looking for ways to provide relief.

“Having been born in Manila and spending the majority of my childhood there, I was saddened to know so many Filipinos were suffering,” said Paula Vianca Cunanan ’14. Cunanan, along with classmates Jeffrey Reppucci ’14, who interned in summer 2013 with Ambassador Harry Thomas ’78 in Manila, and Keeshia Laus ’14, who was born and lived in Tacloban as a child, organized a family-style dinner to raise awareness about the country, as well as to fundraise for relief efforts. Tickets for the event were $10 each, and there were additional tickets to purchase for raffles and door prizes, as well as opportunities to simply make a donation.

“In the Filipino culture, sharing a meal together is a very interpersonal and important aspect of communal bonding,” said Cunanan. “We thought serving home cooked Filipino food in return for a small donation would be a great way to engage in this cultural experience while raising awareness and helping the Jesuit social action group which is currently in Leyte helping victims.”

The dinner was held Nov. 19 from 5-7 p.m. in the Williams Hall social space. Students, as well as some family members, prepared home-cooked Filipino meals for the event. There were performances by the Spanish Choir, Fusion, Katiuska Fernandez ’15 and Mike Dunbar ’15, Fools on the Hill, a drum circle presentation by the Multicultural Peer Educators,  a demonstration of Tinikling dance by Asian Students in Action (ASIA), and Kateri Thekaekara ’14. Pinoy Time Food Mart, a local Filipino grocery store, donated food for the event, and the Holy Cross chaplains’ office donated cookies and drinks.

“We have a really strong Filipino community here, and the pride and commitment of that community really shone in this event,” said Reppucci. In addition to the ad-hoc student committee, the event was supported by a number of existing student groups including ASIA, Campus Activities Board (CAB), and the Latin American Student Organization (LASO). More than 150 students, faculty, and staff attended the dinner, and at the end of the night over $2,000 had been raised.

“Being from Tacloban and still having many family and friends there, this fundraising dinner meant a lot to me,” said Laus. “I was overwhelmed with the amount of support that we received from the Holy Cross community, and I know that our donation will make such a difference in my hometown.”

Continuing Opportunities for Disaster Relief

  • Students may donate meal swipes at Kimball Dining Hall Nov. 22 and Nov. 25.
  • Collections for disaster relief will be taken at all Masses, as well as the inter-denominational faith service, on the weekend of Nov. 23-24.
  • A collection will be taken after the Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols on Dec. 5.
  • There will be a opportunities for donations at the women’s home basketball game on Dec. 7 at 1 p.m., and at the men’s ice hockey home game on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.

All donations will benefit  the Philippine Jesuit Foundation.  For more information, please visit the foundation’s website.

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Charles Carroll Program Expands with Help From a Generous Alumnus

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Jacqueline Smith ’15

HenzlerThe Charles Carroll Program at the College of the Holy Cross is expanding its programming this year thanks to a generous gift from alumnus Robert Henzler ’55. Named after the only Roman Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence, the Charles Carroll Program promotes the study of the American political tradition’s major themes, which are distinctly connected to the College’s broader commitment to the liberal arts and Jesuit education. Using this lens, the program brings a series of highly regarded speakers to campus to lecture on topics ranging from historical political figures to market economics.

The Robert R. Henzler ’55 Fund has enabled the Carroll Program to expand its scope and extend its reach on—and beyond—campus with workshops, lectures, internships and a conference.  The program is led by Donald Brand, professor of political science, and Daniel Klinghard, associate professor of political science. “Mr. Henzler’s gift is allowing us to expand our speakers series and to bring to campus experts representing a diversity of viewpoints, thereby exposing students to the full range of opinions on topics of contemporary controversy,” explains Brand.

Now in its fourth year at the College, the program is also funded by Manhattan Institute’s VERITAS Fund for Higher Education at DonorsTrust, a donor-advised fund that seeks out professors at top-tier universities who are committed to bringing intellectual pluralism to their institutions.

Geared towards the development of rising sophomores, students may apply to take part in either summer research or a summer internship, which is made possible by the Henzler’s gift. Second-year students may also enroll in the seminar, ‘Greed: From Christianity to Capitalism.’ Open to all majors, the class is highly selective and students must be nominated and apply to participate.  The interdisciplinary course provides extensive exposure to the writings of Adam Smith, both as a moral philosopher and a pioneer of political economy.

“The seminar concludes with a brief overview of the contemporary economic crisis and the strengths, and weaknesses of an explanation of this crisis in terms of greed,” says Brand.

“Sophomore year is the perfect time to develop one’s interests and engage in deeper thought,” adds Klinghard.

The program will also feature a two-day conference in the spring comprised of lectures and panels discussing the thoughts of Adam Smith.  Students will have the opportunity to sit on the panels and share their thoughts.

Other speakers brought to campus this semester include Ronald Pestritto, from Hillsdale College, who spoke on “Was Lincoln a Progressive?”; Jerry Muller, from Catholic University, whose talk was titled “Thank God for Greed”; and Richard Boyd from Georgetown University.

The Charles Carroll program also funds the Jack-Miller Veritas Posdoctoral Teaching Fellow, which began in 2011. This year Faisal Baluch joined the political science department. Baluch received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Notre Dame.  He was a Loescher fellow at Notre Dame, where he taught courses titled “Arab Spring” and “Politics and the Novel.”  His main area of research is the history of political thought. He is currently working on a book-length study of Machiavelli’s political thought.

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