Rev. John Gavin, S.J. Profiled in Holy Cross Magazine’s Fall Issue

Posted on November 1, 2013 by College of the Holy Cross

PresReportFather_articleA three-year member of the faculty, Rev. John Gavin, S.J., is thrilled with the support new faculty receive at Holy Cross, including special workshops, get-togethers and mentoring.

“From the start, you are being formed into an excellent teacher,” he says.

This year he takes a further step toward excellence through a junior research leave, an opportunity offered to tenure-track faculty to focus on professional research at full salary. Leaves are typically granted to assistant professors in the fall or spring semester of their third year of teaching. In the past five years, Holy Cross has underwritten 47 semester-long junior leaves.

With his focus on late ancient and early medieval Christianity, Fr. Gavin plans to write extensively during his time away from the classroom. Supported by both Holy Cross and the Jesuit Community, he will be able to undertake a yearlong leave, during which he will write a book on John Scottus Eriugena, an important intellectual and mystic during the later years of the Carolingian Renaissance in the 9th century.

Read the full article in Holy Cross Magazine.

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André Isaacs ‘05 Profiled in Holy Cross Magazine’s Fall Issue

Posted on November 1, 2013 by College of the Holy Cross

PresReportIsaacs_articleHoly cross is a community of scholars. Close-knit connections are especially reflected in Crusaders who come to the Hill as stellar students and return as distinguished faculty. Holy Cross faculty alumni include Melissa Boyle ’00 (economics), Thomas Cecil ’68 (mathematics and computer science), Daniel DiCenso ’98 (music), Joshua Farrell ’94 (chemistry), Ericka Fisher ’96 (education), Lisa Fluet ’96 (English), Timothy Joseph ’98 (classics), Steven Levandosky ’92 (mathematics and computer science), Edward O’Donnell ’86 (history) and Mary Roche ’90 (religious studies).

That list also includes André Isaacs ’05. Arriving from  Jamaica, he quickly found a home-and a passion-in a Holy Cross chemistry lab. He returned to the College last year to launch his own lab.

Isaacs specializes in synthetic organic chemistry and research related to the treatment of cancer, among other goals. He feels a special affinity for his Holy Cross students, who are not far behind him in their academic trajectory.

Read the full story in the Holy Cross Magazine.

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David Damiano Profiled in Holy Cross Magazine’s Fall Issue

Posted on November 1, 2013 by College of the Holy Cross

PresReportDavid_articleFinding and developing relationships-among people and data-sets David Damiano apart as a teacher and a researcher. Over the past year, he and his students have begun a new study of pre-clinical images of cancers.

Damiano and a student researcher are analyzing high-quality images of their test subjects-mice with tumors-provided by Holy Cross alumnus and mathematics major Jack Hoppin ’98, who took a seminar with Damiano in his junior year on the Hill. After earning a Ph.D. at the University of Arizona in applied mathematics, Hoppin went on to co-found inviCRO, LLC, which provides the growing field of molecular imaging with information processing and data analysis. Now, 15 years after his Holy Cross graduation, he is helping Damiano and his current students to be actively involved in work that offers new knowledge to the medical community while providing important research experiences and career opportunities to students.

Read the full story in Holy Cross Magazine

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Photo Gallery: Holy Cross Family Weekend Offers a Time to Reconnect

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Amy Kotsopoulos

1

A beautiful fall New England weekend provided the perfect backdrop for Holy Cross Family Weekend, Oct. 25–27. This campus-wide celebration invites parents, grandparents and all extended families to experience their student’s home away from home. By all accounts, the weekend was a huge success.

Here are some highlights.

Celebrating the Arts at Holy Cross. The arts were on full display throughout the weekend. A variety of art, music and theatrical performances showcased an array of student talent, from a cappella singers to modern dance. It also provided an opportunity for visitors to experience the newly renovated Brooks Concert Hall.

Crusader Athletics. Sports fans had their choice of men’s ice hockey, football, field hockey, men’s and women’s swimming, and men’s soccer teams to cheer on. The field hockey team claimed the weekend’s only victory; but despite the losses, there was no shortage of Purple Pride on display.

Family Fun. Embracing the Halloween spirit, faculty families, student families as well as students donned costumes and went trick-or-treating in a Haunted Healy House. Holy Cross Science Ambassadors treated future Crusaders to a hands-on science class Hogwarts style.

President’s Hour. A record number of people attended The President’s Hour at which College president, Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., brought families up to speed on campus news and fielded questions about programs and other areas of interest to families.

Mark your calendars for next year’s event: Oct. 24–26, 2014!

Photography by Dan Vaillancourt

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re-Think INK: 25 Years at the Mixit Print Studio

Posted on October 31, 2013 by College of the Holy Cross

CantorArtGallery_JoelJanowitz_VeniceBridgeThe Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery, College of the Holy Cross will present the second installation of “re-Think INK: 25 Years at the Mixit Print Studio” from Nov. 7 through Jan. 31, 2014. An opening reception will take place on Thursday, Nov. 7 from 5 – 8 p.m. Catherine Kernan, one of the three principle partners of the studio, will give a talk in the gallery beginning at 5 p.m.

Mixit Print Studio, a Boston-area printmaking collaborative, was founded in 1987 in the former Mixit Soap Factory. Randy Garber, Jane Goldman and Catherine Kernan, studio partners and organizers of the exhibition, assembled a special portfolio of prints to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Mixit Print Studio.  A selection of prints and three-dimensional installation works which incorporate printmaking techniques into their construction were juried by Karen Shafts, assistant keeper of prints at the Boston Public Library.

Roger Hankins, director of the Cantor Art Gallery, worked with Susan Schmidt, professor of visual arts, to bring “rethink INK” to the College and the Worcester community.  Schmidt has worked at Mixit Print Studio for many years and her work is included in the exhibition. “Susan has taught printmaking courses here for many years and is an active and accomplished artist and printmaker who has inspired students to explore this medium,” says Hankins.

First shown at the Boston Public Library during the summer of 2012, the exhibition highlights works produced at this influential resource for artists living in the greater-Boston area in one of the premier intellectual and artistic printmaking communities. Comprised of 150 works from over 70 artists, “rethink INK” represents a wide range of ideas and approaches to fine art printmaking today.

Hankins is equally excited to present Part II of “rethink INK”, and says, “The work included in this second installation is as strong, if not more so, as the work that was shown in the first installation and visitors who come back will be glad they did.”

Related Events

  • Opening Reception, Part II: Thursday, Nov. 7, 5 – 8 p.m.
  • Opening Talk by Catherine Kernan: Thursday, Nov. 7, 5 – 6 p.m.
  • Gallery Talk by Randy Garber: Friday, Nov. 8, 12 – 1 p.m.
  • Gallery Talk by Jane Goldman: Wednesday, Nov. 13, 12– 1 p.m.

Gallery Information

Founded in 1983 through the generosity of Iris & B. Gerald Cantor, the Cantor Art Gallery serves both as a venue for a changing series of historical and contemporary public exhibitions, as well as a vital resource for Holy Cross faculty and students, linking exhibitions to the broader liberal arts curriculum.

The hours for the Cantor Art Gallery are Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 2 – 5 p.m. Please note: the Gallery will be closed during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, please call ahead for hours. Located in O’Kane Hall, 1st Floor, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College Street, Worcester, Mass., 01610.  Visitors needing assistance with handicap accessibility should contact Public Safety at 508-793-2011. Admission to the gallery is free.

For additional information please call 508-793-3356 or visit the Gallery’s website at: holycross.edu/cantorartgallery.

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College Connections to the Red Sox Run Deep

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Bridget Campolettano

BaseballWith the victory at Fenway Park last night, it might be easy to forget that there were some nail-biting moments in this series. But while the Red Sox fought their way to the World Series title over the past month, members of the Holy Cross community have been with them, watching the late-night thrillers closely.

Needless to say, there is no shortage of diehard Red Sox fans on campus, but some of the interest in the Red Sox stretches beyond just being a fan.

The Telegram and Gazette spoke to Dominic “Nick” Lovullo ’16 about his father Torey, a bench coach for the Boston Red Sox. “Me being in Worcester and my dad in Boston, it couldn’t have worked out better,” Nick said. “We missed out on so much time together because he’s always been on the road. Finally, the baseball gods are giving back. It’s pretty special. The fact that all this is happening makes it even more special.” You can read the full article on the Telegram’s website.

Local television station Charter TV 3 spoke with Nick about his experience attending the World Series games, as well as with Paul Irish, associate dean of students, about what kind of reaction he expected to see on campus after the game. You can watch the video on their website.

For those who didn’t have tickets to the game, there was an opportunity to view the game in Crossroads, in the basement of Hogan, with fellow students. With the game projected on a giant screen and the Crossroads grill open for business, the excitement in the air was palpable.

While you may be thinking that the Red Sox winning the World Series would mean an economic boon for Boston, Victor Matheson, professor of economics, told WGBH that this wasn’t necessarily the case. He said that with large sporting events like this, consumers may spend money differently, but they aren’t necessarily spending more. However, said Matheson, “one of the great things about Boston is Boston has highly successful sports teams that have taken almost no public money.” Watch his interview on the WGBH News website.

Check out the other connections that members of the Holy Cross community have to the Red Sox:

  • Brian Abraham ’07 was one of the men catching balls in the bullpen as pitchers warmed up to enter the game. A former catcher for the Crusaders, Abraham has been a bullpen catcher since June 2013.
  • James McCloud ’06 is the vice president of sponsorship sales for Major League Baseball Advanced Media, which operates mlb.com as well as the 30 Major League Baseball club pages. McCloud was a pitcher and a first baseman for the Crusaders.
  • Bradley Pearson is an athletic trainer for the Red Sox. He was an intern athletic trainer at the College in the 2000-2001 academic  year,  and his brother Todd Pearson is head coach of the men’s crew team.
  • Before becoming head baseball coach at the College, Greg DiCenzo held a number of other coaching positions. One of these was with the Falmouth Commodores, where in 2004 he had a young Jacoby Ellsbury on his roster.

 

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Holy Cross Psychology Professor Helps Lead a $1.4 Million Grant

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Sara Bovat ’14

Richard SchmidtRichard Schmidt, professor of psychology at the College of the Holy Cross, is one of two principal investigators on a project titled “Modeling the Behavioral Dynamics of Social Action and Coordination,” which was recently awarded a $1.4 million grant by the National Institutes of Health.

Schmidt and colleagues will be examining bodily movement in interactive social actions – including conversation and competitive sport tasks – to be able to understand the dynamical processes underlying them. The mathematical models developed in this five-year project are anticipated to have a transformative impact on numerous fields, including the study of human movement science, the breakdown of social coordination in autism and schizophrenia, and human-robot interactions.

The grant involves faculty researchers at other universities, including Michael Richardson (principal investigator) and Rachel Kallen from the University of Cincinnati, Elliot Saltzman from Boston University, and Steve Harrison from the University of Nebraska. Also, Patricia Kramer, professor of psychology at Holy Cross, and Bob Caron from Assumption College are participating as consultants.

For 12 years, Schmidt and Richardson have been collaborating on understanding the dynamics of interpersonal synchronization. The pair has earned a number of National Science Foundation grants, which contributed to building the foundation for the current more ambitious grant.

The study will develop dynamical models of four distinct social interaction tasks that require physical coordination: rhythmic targeting tasks, social object-moving tasks, conversation tasks, and competitive sports tasks. At Holy Cross, Schmidt and his two student research assistants, Kelly Clarke ’16 and Alison Franco ’15, both psychology majors, will be in charge of investigating the competitive sports tasks and conversation tasks.

“For the competitive sports tasks,” explains Schmidt, “We are studying a martial arts (Aikido) exercises in which an attacker’s overhead strike is disarmed by a defender. We are interested in mathematically modeling the synchronous nature of the defender’s movements and how the advantage of the attacker is taken through anticipating then leading their strike.”

Schmidt says for the conversation tasks, he is interested in modeling the coupling of body rhythms when people are speaking to one another. To investigate this, he will have subjects perform structured conversation tasks like telling jokes to one another or trying to reach a consensus on “one thing they would like to see changed on campus”.

Schmidt’s student researchers will be conducting experiments where they record people’s bodily movements. Then, the three will determine how particular dynamical properties of coordination change under different task, information and physical conditions. From this data, the faculty research team will develop dynamical models of the steady state behavioral modes observed as well as transitions to and from those modes.

Kelly Clarke ’16, who hopes to major in psychology and religious studies, is one of the Schmidt’s student researchers. Clarke, who is currently enrolled in his “Cognition and Memory” class, says “I have always wanted to help autistic and schizophrenic patients. If our research goes well, we could create a robot that would be therapeutic to those patients.”

Schmidt also has a personal curiosity about his grant research as well as a longtime practitioner of the martial art of Aikido. “I am most looking forward to understanding more about how a defender takes the advantage of an attacker in our Aikido task experiment,” he says.  “I have always wanted to understand this skill, which is often characterized spiritually in the martial arts, in scientific or mathematical terms. Not that this will in anyway enhance my Aikido skill! But it will satisfy my curiosity.”

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Holy Cross Lecture to Explore Jesus and Judaism

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Danielle Kane

Amy-Jill LevineAmy-Jill Levine, University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University, will give a lecture titled “Jesus and Judaism: The Connection Matters” on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Rehm Library at the College of the Holy Cross. The lecture, supported by the Kraft-Hiatt Fund for Jewish-Christian Understanding, is free and open to the public.

Levine has dedicated her career to helping Christians and Jews understand Jesus in the Jewish context, thereby deepening the understanding of him and facilitating greater interfaith dialogue.

“Jesus of Nazareth followed the Torah of Moses, grounded his teachings in the prophets of Israel, and offered a message that some Jewish men and women found compelling. Yet too often Christians and Jews incorrectly regard Jesus as rejecting Judaism,” Levine said.  “Understanding Jesus in his Jewish context brings new meaning to his parables, his politics, and his piety, and it offers as well a new path for Jewish-Christian relations.”

Levine is author of “The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus” (HarperSanFrancisco, 2006), an editor of “The Historical Jesus in Context” (Princeton, 2006) and co-author of “The Meaning of the Bible: What The Jewish Scriptures and the Christian Old Testament Can Teach Us”  (HarperOne, 2011). She is also an editor of the 14-volume “Feminist Companion to the New Testament and Early Christian Literature” series.

The Kraft-Hiatt Fund for Jewish-Christian Understanding, administered by the Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture at Holy Cross, is committed to deepening understanding of Judaism, Jewish life around the world, and Jewish-Christian relations.  To learn more about this event and find lectures online, visit www.holycross.edu/mcfarlandcenter.

About the Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture:

Established in 2001 and housed in Smith Hall, the McFarland Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture provides resources for faculty and course development, sponsors conferences and college-wide teaching events, hosts visiting fellows, and coordinates a number of campus lecture series. Rooted in the College’s commitment to invite conversation about basic human questions, the Center welcomes persons of all faiths and seeks to foster dialogue that acknowledges and respects differences, providing a forum for intellectual exchange that is inter-religious, interdisciplinary, intercultural, and international in scope.  The Center also brings members of the Holy Cross community into conversation with the Greater Worcester community, the academic community, and the wider world to examine the role of faith and inquiry in higher education and in the larger culture.

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Worcester Baseball Unveils Five Finalists in Team Naming Contest

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Cristal Steuer

baseballWorcester baseball will return to Fitton Field at the College of the Holy Cross in June. But one question still remains: who will the Worcester-area community be cheering for in the stands? The Worcester Bravehearts? How about the Worcester True Blues?

Worcester Baseball has identified the top five finalists submitted by fans to name Worcester’s new team in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. “More than 1,000 names were submitted to team officials,” according to David Peterson, general manager of the new team.

The five finalist names are:

  • Worcester Bravehearts: an homage to Worcester’s brave men and women in uniform serving locally and abroad as well as a reference to “the Heart of the Commonwealth.” Submitted by Kevin Hunt of Charlton, Mass.
  • Worcester Canal Diggers: a reference to Worcester’s industrial history where scores of Irish immigrants dug the Blackstone canal through the region. Submitted by David Mitchell of Worcester, Mass.
  • Worcester Freight Trains: a reference to Worcester’s proud past and present operationof locomotives. Submitted by Jack Margoupis of Sutton, Mass.
  • Worcester Mighty Caseys: a nod to the poem, “Casey at the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888,” written by Ernest Thayer on Chatham Street in Worcester. Submitted by Cecilia Foley of Worcester, Mass.
  • Worcester True Blues: meaning “unwaveringly or staunchly loyal, especially to a person, a cause, etc.; the real deal” and a reference to Worcester’s pride and blue collar heritage. Submitted by Kris Hart of Boston, Mass.

Last month, Holy Cross announced the new partnership with the City, local business owner John W.S. Creedon Jr., and the Futures League, at a press conference overlooking Fitton Field.

Cast your vote by Nov. 8 at www.WorcesterBaseball.com.

The team will then begin the process of designing a logo and is planning to unveil it with the team name in early December.

Related Information

Photography by Christian Santillo

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Polish Organist To Perform as Part of Holy Cross’ Annual Chapel Artists Series

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Bridget Campolettano

Marcin Szelest (1)Marcin Szelest will be performing at the College of the Holy Cross’ St. Joseph Memorial Chapel on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 3 p.m. as part of the Chapel Artists Series. The program will include pieces by Adam of Wągrowiec, Hieronymus Praetorius, Heinrich Scheidemann, Georg Böhm, Johann Adam Reincken, Johann Pachelbel , and Dieterich Buxtehude.

In addition to performing around the world in solo concert along with period instrument ensembles, Szelest is the chair of the early music department at the Krakow Academy of Music and is an organist of the historic Church of the Holy Cross in Krakow, Poland. While performing, he appeared under Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony as a continuo artist in Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion.” Szelest also supervised the restoration of the early 18th century organ at the Church of the Holy Cross, one of Poland’s most well known, historic organs.

In 1995, Szelest was the first prize-winner of the Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck Organ Competition in Gdansk, Poland.

The music department’s Holy Cross Chapel Series also includes the following upcoming performances:

  • Sun., February 16; 3 p.m.
    Christian Schmitt
    UPDATE: Due to a family situation, Christian Schmitt will be unable to perform this concert. This date will instead feature organ scholar Abraham Ross ’16.
    St. Joseph Memorial Chapel
  • Sun., April 27; 3 p.m.
    Philipp Christ
    St. Joseph Memorial Chapel

For additional information please call the Holy Cross music department at (508) 793-2296.

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Holy Cross Among National Leaders In Student-Athlete Graduation Success Rate

Posted on October 28, 2013 by College of the Holy Cross

Twenty of Holy Cross’ athletic teams have achieved a perfect 100 percent graduation rate, according to the Graduation Success Rate Report, which has been released by the NCAA. The data used to calculate the Graduation Success Rate is from the four-class aggregate of entering classes from 2003 through 2006, for which the NCAA has compiled sport-by-sport figures.

In addition, Holy Cross’ overall Graduation Success Rate for all student-athletes was 98 percent. This mark tied for the fourth best in the nation among all Division I institutions with Bucknell, Colgate, Davidson, Duke, Harvard, Lafayette and Yale, behind only Brown (99 percent), Dartmouth (99 percent) and Notre Dame (99 percent).

Read the entire story on GoHolyCross.com baseball

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‘Recognizing an extraordinary life … on the court and off’

Posted on October 27, 2013 by Holy Cross in the News

kaftan_njcomWhen former Celtics basketball player George Kaftan ‘49 reflects on his life, the highlight reel begins with his time as a star basketball player at the College of the Holy Cross alongside teammate Bob Cousy ‘50. While he was recently named to the list of top 75 players in NCAA tournament history and began his career with positions on the Celtics and the Knicks, Kaftan names his later career as a professor of anatomy and physiology as his most rewarding.

“Basketball opened doors for me, and I’m grateful for that,” Kaftan tells The Star-Ledger. “But out of those professions, the one that gave me the most gratification by far was teaching. That’s the lesson of my life, anyway. If you have a chance to share what you know, and steer young people to the right path, that’s what we’re here for.”

This “Holy Cross in the News” item written by Sara Bovat ‘14.

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New York Philharmonic to Broadcast Concert Featuring Works by Osvaldo Golijov

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Jacqueline Smith ’15

golijov_brooksThere will be an encore presentation made available of acclaimed composer and Holy Cross professor Osvaldo Golijov’s “Last Round,” performed by the New York Philharmonic string orchestra. Originally performed on Oct. 12 and 15, the concert will be broadcast online through New York Philharmonic’s website and on New York’s local station 105.9 FM WQXR, along with various nationwide radio stations.

Golijov is the Loyola Professor of Music at Holy Cross and a 2003 MacArthur Fellow.  He has won two Grammy awards in the categories of Best Opera Recording and Best Classical Contemporary Composition, and was named Musical America’s 2006 Composer of the Year.

Most known for blending influences from many musical traditions to reflect the multicultural modern world, “Last Round” is no exception to Golijov’s unique style of composition.  “I composed ‘Last Round’ (the title is borrowed from a short story on boxing by Julio Cortázar) as an imaginary chance for Piazzolla’s spirit to fight one more time,” Golijov wrote. ” There are two movements: the first represents the act of a violent compression of the instrument and the second a final, seemingly endless opening sigh.”

The encore radio broadcast will air in New York on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. on 105.9 FM WQXR. You can also listen to the broadcast online starting Friday, Nov. 8 by clicking on “Radio Broadcasts” in the Watch & Listen section of New York Philharmonic’s website.

Related Information

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Holy Cross Theatre Department to Perform ‘The London Merchant’

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Bridget Campolettano

FinalLondonMerchantPosterThe department of theatre at the College of the Holy Cross will present the 18th century show “The London Merchant” written by George Lillo and directed by Scott Malia, assistant professor of theatre, on October 31 and November 1-2 and 8-9 at 8 p.m. in Fenwick Theatre (located on the second floor of O’Kane Hall). Tickets are $7 for members of the Holy Cross community and $10 for the general public. Tickets can be reserved by calling the box office at (508)-793-2496.

In this seldom-seen 18th -century tragedy, the narrative follows George Barnwell, a naïve young apprentice who is seduced by the prostitute Sarah Millwood.  She leads him down a path of duplicity, theft and murder; as his loved ones try to prevent his descent into crime, the young man wrestles with his sense of duty, identity and morality.  George Lillo’s gripping play asks whether we can ever achieve true forgiveness and redemption.

“The play is about the darkness in each of us,” said Malia. “To emphasize this, we’ve set the play during the time of Jack the Ripper, so the audience can expect some scares along with the deep moral questions the play asks.”

The play features a cast of 19 undergraduate students, including Patrick Simas ’14 as George Barnwell and Cecilia Wolfe ’15 as Sarah Millwood. In addition to an entirely undergraduate cast, students also make up the production crew, from lighting and sound to props and costume.

Related News

Image by John Buckingham.

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Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Gamini Keerawella to Address Campus

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Bridget Campolettano

Gamini KeerawellaFulbright Scholar-in-Residence Gamini Keerawella will give a talk titled “War and Peace in Sri Lanka: Lessons Beyond the Borders” on Thursday, Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. in Rehm Library at the College of the Holy Cross. The talk is free and open to the public, and will be followed by a reception. This event is co-sponsored by the dean’s office, the history department, and the Peace and Conflict and Asian Studies programs.

Keerawella, professor and former department chair of history at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, is an internationally renowned expert in conflict management and peace building processes in multiethnic communities. This lecture presents a unique opportunity to hear the first hand experiences of a high level negotiator in Sri Lanka, where his responsibilities included advising the president, as well as appointments in the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs and the Ministry of Justice.

In 1993-94, Keerawella was a Fulbright Scholar-In-Residence at the University of California at Berkeley. He has published two books, “From National Security to Human Security: Evolving Security Discourse in Sri Lanka” (Dhaka: Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), 2008) and “Japan in South Asia in the Context of New Discourse on Peace and Security” (Chiba: Institute of Developing Economies, 2005), and contributed to numerous publications and journals. Additionally, Keerawella has accepted invitations to deliver talks at venues ranging from the United Nations World Conference in 2001 in South Africa to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in Switzerland, and consulted in discussions on matters relevant to his area of expertise, such as bilingualism and multiculturalism in Canada, and the peace process in Northern Ireland.

The second Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence hosted by the College, Professor Keerawella is one of approximately 800 foreign faculty and professionals who will teach and/or research in the U.S. through the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program in 2013-2014. In addition to this lecture, students at the College will have the opportunity to work with Professor Keerawella in two courses offered by the history and political science departments in the spring semester:  “War and Peace in Contemporary Asia,” and “Ethnicity and the State in Asia.” For more information, please contact the departments.

Related News

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Holy Cross Faculty and Students Participate in a Rare Research Excursion at Sea

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Sara Bovat ’14

SEAThirty-six College of the Holy Cross faculty and students from various disciplines sailed aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer, one of Sea Education Association’s (SEA) sailing research vessels, for a rare three-hour excursion in Boston Harbor.  SEA, based in Woods Hole, Mass., is an internationally recognized leader in educating undergraduate students about the ocean and the environment.  SEA maintains tight working relationships with many of the world-class research institutions located in Woods Hole, including the Marine Biological Laboratory, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the U.S. Geological Survey.  The ship was only in Boston for a week, and Holy Cross was one of only three colleges chosen to take part in a short excursion.

Justin McAlister (biology), William Sobczak (environmental studies), Loren Cass (political science), Daina Harvey (sociology), Sara Mitchell (geology), Mary Conley (history) and Gwenn Miller (history), were a few of the faculty who participated in the day sail which offered a glimpse into SEA Semester, a 12-week study abroad program for undergraduates that combines academic study on shore with a sailing research voyage at sea. Each SEA Semester includes foundational coursework in environmental studies, oceanography, maritime studies, and nautical science, an individual research project, and is designed to offer a multidisciplinary platform from which to study our oceans.

During the excursion, students and faculty were divided into three groups (watches) that rotated through the various activities normally conducted on a working research vessel.  During the trip, students set sails, steered the vessel, towed a neuston net to collect plankton, deployed and retrieved a sediment grab, and examined scientific samples in the lab.  SEA faculty and crew directed activities and were available to answer questions about the ship and SEA programs.  All participants were fed a delicious lunch and the beautiful weather made for a memorable trip.

McAlister, one of the coordinators, has a particular enthusiasm and attachment to SEA Semester since he is an alum of the program.  Miller is also a SEA alum, highlighting the program’s interdisciplinary nature as she pursued a humanities-focused career path, while McAlister followed a scientific-centered track.  In fact, 50 percent of the students who participate in SEA Semester are non-science majors. “The key thing for Holy Cross is that by strengthening ties with SEA,” explained McAlister, “Holy Cross students from a variety of backgrounds, interests, and majors will have an outlet for examining the history, cultures, and science of the human interaction with the sea.  Global change is leading us towards a future where coastal communities are going to be severely impacted and educating students about this from a variety of different angles is very important.”

Colleen Curtin ’14, a biology and French major, found the multi-disciplinary aspect to be the most rewarding element to the trip as well. She said, “It was interesting to learn a little more about the different classes and disciplines that the SEA Semester covered. It was also interesting to hear how students related scientific experiments and projects to some of the history classes they were taking and how they made connections between the history of human interactions at different islands.”

Biology major, Elizabeth Tobey ’14, who went on the day trip on September 28 and studied abroad through one of the College’s rarer environmental study abroad programs, Costa Rica’s Sustainable Development Studies, spoke about the benefit for Holy Cross to build a stronger relationship with the SEA Semester.  “As an alum of a different but also unique study abroad program, I think that nontraditional study abroad programs are extremely valuable, especially for biology students who might otherwise have a hard time studying abroad due to the many requirements of the major, she explained.  “A tighter connection with SEA might allow interested students to have an easier time applying to the program and receiving credit for it.”

Ten Holy Cross students have participated in SEA Semester programs in the past, through the Center of Interdisciplinary Studies’ Semester Away program at the College. McAlister hopes those numbers will rise in the next couple of years.

Casey Dannhauser ’14 recently returned from a semester at SEA this past spring. Although she was interested in the program as an environmental studies major and a longtime sailor, she prides the program for being open to non-science majors without any sailing experience.

Dannhauser found the program to be a growing experience as both an oceanographer and a person.  She reflected, “Life at sea is difficult; without email or telephones, you rely on your shipmates for everything. It teaches you to become more trusting and much more responsible, and I learned to appreciate quiet times during which I’m not in constant contact with my cell phone or computer. Also, I developed a bond with my 28 shipmates that will never be broken.”

The September 28 day-excursion not only provided a fun opportunity for Holy Cross students and faculty, but also set an important first step towards strengthening the relationship between the College and SEA.

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Holy Cross Receives Distinction as Tree Campus USA

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Bridget Campolettano

The College of the Holy Cross, through partnership with the National Arbor Day Foundation, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Worcester Tree Initiative, was officially certified as a “Tree Campus USA” on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at a ceremony at Fitton Baseball Field. The College joins the University of Massachusetts Lowell as the second campus in the state to earn the recognition. In Worcester, Becker College and Worcester State University are currently working to achieve the status and were also recognized at the ceremony for their efforts.

Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president of the College; Michael O’Brien, city manager; Mary Knittle, Worcester Tree Initiative Steering Committee co-chair; Andrew Varuzzo, a member of the Holy Cross class of 2015;  and Mollie Freilicher, Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation community action forester, each spoke at the event about the importance of this recognition for the City of Worcester.

“The distinction of being recognized as a Tree Campus USA belongs not only to the College of the Holy Cross, but also to our neighbors, our community, and the City of Worcester,” said Fr. Boroughs. “It is a symbol of our continued commitment and partnership in making College Hill and the City of Worcester a beautiful place to live and work.”

As part of the event, more than  30 trees were planted along College Street and Caro Street by faculty, staff, students and volunteers. In the coming weeks, up to an additional 10 trees will be planted on residential properties surrounding the College for those who requested to participate in the event. The trees will be a variety of species picked specifically to thrive in the northeast climate, as well as in their particular planting location, taking into account foot traffic, power lines and other property structures. They will be cared for by the College grounds crew, who also maintain the more than 6,000 trees that are currently part of the Holy Cross arboretum.

To achieve Tree Campus USA status, a college or university must achieve the following core standards. First, a campus advisory committee, made up of a student, a faculty member, a facilities employee, and a member of the community, must be established. Next, a tree care plan is created, followed by a campus tree program; together, this ensures that the trees will be taken care of from a grounds perspective as well as ensuring that there will be annual budgetary considerations for maintenance. Finally, the school must commit to observing Arbor Day annually and implement a service learning project within the year of Tree Campus recognition.

About Tree Campus USA

Tree Campus USA, a national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation, honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation. Tree Campus USA is supported by a grant from Toyota.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization of one million members, with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at arborday.org, or by visiting us on Facebook, Twitter or our blog.

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Photography by Christian Santillo

http://www.necn.com/10/22/13/3-Worcester-Mass-colleges-looking-a-lot-/landing.html?blockID=855783&feedID=11106

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Holy Cross Lecture to Explore Afro-Catholic Tradition in Brazil

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Danielle Kane

20131023pic_selkaStephen Selka, associate professor in American studies and in religious studies at Indiana University, will give a lecture titled “Our Lady of the Good Death: Afro-Catholicism in the Brazilian National Imagination” on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. in the Rehm Library, Smith Hall, at the College of the Holy Cross. The lecture, presented by the Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture, is free and open to the public.

Author of “Religion and the Politics of Ethnic Identity in Bahia, Brazil” (University Press of Florida, 2007), Selka will focus on the Sisterhood of the Good Death (Boa Morte) in Bahia, Brazil and their week-long Feast of the Assumption. The holiday is a blend of Catholicism and Candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian religion that has its roots in the African slave trade. Selka explores current Afro-Brazilian religious practice in the context of cultural tourism, the state’s investment in cultural heritage, and a black consciousness movement trying to reclaim the Afro-Brazilian heritage from political and commercial appropriation.

This lecture is part of Catholics and Cultures, and initiative to better understand the religious lives and practices of Catholics around the world. To learn more about this event and find lectures online, visit www.holycross.edu/mcfarlandcenter.

About the Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture:

Established in 2001 and housed in Smith Hall, the McFarland Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture provides resources for faculty and course development, sponsors conferences and college-wide teaching events, hosts visiting fellows, and coordinates a number of campus lecture series. Rooted in the College’s commitment to invite conversation about basic human questions, the Center welcomes persons of all faiths and seeks to foster dialogue that acknowledges and respects differences, providing a forum for intellectual exchange that is interreligious, interdisciplinary, intercultural, and international in scope.  The Center also brings members of the Holy Cross community into conversation with the Greater Worcester community, the academic community, and the wider world to examine the role of faith and inquiry in higher education and in the larger culture.

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Kiplinger’s Ranks Holy Cross No. 21 ‘Best Value’ Liberal Arts College

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Bridget Campolettano

students walking on campusKiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine has ranked the College of the Holy Cross No. 21 among all liberal arts colleges in the country in its annual list of “best value” schools, an increase from last year’s ranking of No. 25. The full list, which appears in Kiplinger’s December 2013 issue—on newsstands Nov. 5—features institutions that provide high-quality academics at a reasonable cost, particularly during these tough economic times.

According to Kiplinger’s, Holy Cross was ranked highly because “it exemplifies the attributes parents and students look for in higher education, including small class sizes, a good freshman retention rate and a high four-year graduation rate.”

To come up with their best values for 2013-14, Kiplinger’s took into account cost and financial aid, which were weighted most heavily; student indebtedness; competitiveness; student to faculty ratios; graduation rates; and academic support. Holy Cross was viewed particularly favorably because of its commitment to meeting the full demonstrated financial need of accepted students.

Visit the Financial Aid website to read more about Holy Cross’ financial aid policies.

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Information on Holy Cross Women’s Basketball

Posted on October 16, 2013 by College of the Holy Cross
Wednesday, October 16, 2013 – 4 p.m.

Holy Cross women’s basketball head coach Bill Gibbons announced to his team this afternoon that he has voluntarily offered to step back from his coaching duties while the College reviews claims in the lawsuit filed by a former student and member of the basketball team. His assistant coaches will now assume all coaching duties. The College said that while the situation is under review, Coach Gibbons will be on administrative leave with pay.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013 – 10 a.m.

Message to Campus Community:

As you may know from media coverage this morning, a lawsuit has been filed by a former Holy Cross student against Holy Cross and the College’s head women’s basketball coach. The student claims verbal and physical abuse while she was a member of the team. The lawsuit also claims that Holy Cross did not sufficiently investigate the claims.

We received the lawsuit yesterday afternoon, and we are in the process of reviewing the claims.

The former student brought her concern to the College this summer, and we investigated at that time. The lawsuit received yesterday includes a series of new allegations and we will now bring in outside counsel to review those allegations.

All members of the College Community should know that the physical, mental and emotional well-being of all our students is the highest priority at Holy Cross.

We will continue to keep you informed about developments related to this situation.

Because of interest from members of the media in the matter, we remind you that all press inquiries regarding College policy or requests for information related to students or employees should be directed to the Office of Public Affairs at 508-793-2419. Thank you for your cooperation.

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