“President Obama pledges debt relief for college grads”

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Holy Cross in the News

Lynne Myers

Lynne Myers, director of financial aid at the College of the Holy Cross, was interviewed on WGBH’s “Greater Boston” and graced the front page of the Telegram & Gazette, where she discussed President Obama’s announcement of a 10% cap on student loan repayments, the financial burden families and students undertake to attend college, as well as what schools do to help alleviate the burden.

“Any steps to make student debt easier to pay off, including certain aspects of the president’s new plan, could give students more options after they graduate,” she told the Telegram & Gazette.

Related Information

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

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Holy Cross Students Invite Community to Trick-or-Treat on College Hill

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Sara Bovat ’14

The College of the Holy Cross student group S.A.D.E.R. (Student Ambassadors Developing External Relations) will host a Halloween Extravaganza trick-or-treat event for local children on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 4:30 p.m.  Families and children should meet at the College Hill Civic Association Building (79 Kendig Street), where refreshments will be served, to obtain a map of participating student and neighbor houses.  Houses will also be marked with orange and black balloons.

The event is free and open to neighbors of the College, children of Holy Cross faculty and staff, as well as other residents of Worcester.   Drivers and walkers are welcome.  For additional information contact Paige LaBella ’12 at 914-447-0275 or PBLABE12@g.holycross.edu.

NOTE: This event was originally scheduled for Oct. 31, but was postponed due to inclement weather.

Children of faculty and staff are invited to trick-or-treat tonight, Oct. 31, in Hanselman Hall on campus beginning at 5:15 p.m.

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Holy Cross Among National Leaders In Graduation Success Rate

Posted on October 25, 2011 by College of the Holy Cross

Twenty-one 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 2001 through 2004, for which the NCAA has compiled sport-by-sport figures.

Read the entire story on GoHolyCross.com

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Holy Cross Ranks 13th in Kiplinger’s “Best Value” List for Liberal Arts Colleges

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Holy Cross in the News

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine has ranked the College of the Holy Cross 13th among liberal arts colleges across the country in “The Kiplinger 100: Best Value in Private Colleges” list, which appears in Kiplinger’s December 2011 issue.  Up two spots from last year, this the fourth year in a row the College has been included in the top 15.

According to Kiplinger’s, Holy Cross was ranked highly because of its high four-year graduation rate, low average student debt at graduation, good student-to-faculty ratio, excellent on-campus resources and overall great value.

Each year, Kiplinger’s assesses quality according to the percentage of students who are admitted out of those who applied, the test scores of incoming freshmen, the ratio of students to faculty members, and the four- and five-year graduation rates. This year, Kiplinger adjusted its criteria to better reflect the issues affecting families. The rankings now give more weight to the four-year graduation rate—a measure of the college’s ability to deliver academic support and of the overall cost to families—and to colleges that keep student debt down.

Holy Cross remains committed to meeting full demonstrated financial need of accepted students, and is one of only a handful of colleges in the U.S. that also has need-blind admission policy.

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

This “Holy Cross in the News” item by Kristine Maloney.

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Local Community Buzzing About Tableaux Vivants

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Holy Cross in the News

Benson Sisters

The local community has been buzzing about Worcester Art Museum’s lively event, Tableaux Vivants, which means “art coming to life.” College of the Holy Cross theatre students dressed up in costume and makeup as characters from the treasures in the museum’s permanent collection. These tableaux vivants came to life before guests’ eyes, sharing knowledge about the works of art that they embodied.

Holy Cross’ costume designer Kurt Hultgren and his staff created all the costumes for the event, which celebrated the museum’s director, Jim Welu, who stepped down after 25 years of service. Annie Le ‘13, who modeled the work of Itō Jakuchu, a Japanese painter, says it was exciting to hear people’s reactions when she told them she made and painted her kimono costume. She says that she was ready to answer any and all types of questions about her character. “One can never be over-prepared when in character,” she says.  

Shannon LoCascio ’14, who modeled the oldest Benson daughter from Portrait of my Daughters by Frank Benson, said the night flew by, “Catherine and Abby (who played my sisters) and I kept in character as the Benson daughters, and many people stayed to listen to us talk to each other as the sisters,” she explains. “People seemed positively euphoric about the event.”  

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

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Men’s Hockey Upsets No. 7 Boston University In 5-4 Thriller

Posted on October 24, 2011 by College of the Holy Cross

Sophomore Adam Schmidt, of Warrington, Pa., scored two goals and senior Andrew Cox, of Lombardy, Ontario, posted one goal and two assists as the Holy Cross men’s hockey team defeated No. 7 Boston University, 5-4, in front of a crowd of 5,766 at Agganis Arena on Saturday in non-conference action.

With the win, the Crusaders improve to 2-1-0 overall, while the Terriers fall to 2-2-0 overall. This is Holy Cross’ first ever win over Boston U., as the Terriers won the only other meeting by a 3-2 score on Nov. 25, 2008. It is also the Crusaders’ first win over a ranked team since the 4-3 NCAA Tournament overtime victory over No. 3 Minnesota on March 24, 2006.

Holy Cross’ 2-1-0 record is its best start since going 2-1-0 to begin the 2007-2008 season. After Holy Cross scored the first goal of the game, the Terriers scored the next two, but Holy Cross then netted four straight goals for a 5-2 lead. Boston U. scored two more goals to cut the deficit to 5-4, but could not get any closer and the Crusaders clinched the win.

Read the entire story on GoHolyCross.com

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Three Holy Cross Seniors Make it to Finals in Business Ethics Competition

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Sara Bovat ’14

Intercollegiate Business Ethics Case Competition

Three Holy Cross students were among four teams of finalists in the Intercollegiate Business Ethics Case Competition in Seattle, Wash., last month.  Juliana Biolsi ‘12, Lauren McCarthy ‘12, and Casandra Medeiros ‘12 made it to the final round of the contest, which is the world’s most successful academic business ethics case competition, with their presentation titled “Coca Cola’s Deceptive Marketing Tactics.” Biolsi edged out the competition as champion of the 90-second ethics challenge. “It was exciting, but at the same time nerve-racking,” says Biolsi of having to recite her 90-second winning case in front of 200 people at the closing ceremonies. 

The competition consisted of 16 undergraduate and graduate teams from across the world including Boston College, Loyola Marymount, and Oxford University. Each team (three to five students per team) was responsible for selecting a case and presenting a problem with a legal, financial, and ethical dimension. Next, the judges questioned the teams and gave feedback. After the preliminary round was complete, Holy Cross and three other teams were selected to face off in the final round where each team presented again, focusing primarily on the ethical component of their case. 

“The competition was a great experience that allowed me to establish and further develop presentation, research, and team collaboration skills that are crucial as a college student and a post-graduate,” says Medeiros.  “I was also excited to be part of a competition in which I could share my passion for the subject of law by providing the legal aspect of our case.” 

Karen Teitel, associate professor of economics, built the team of three rising seniors at the end of the spring 2011 semester. Biolsi, a psychology major, McCarthy an accounting major, and Medeiros, an economics major, all compliment each other with their diverse academic backgrounds, and a common interest in business, she said. Each member of the team was responsible for one specific component of the case (i.e. legal, ethical, and financial). “I am very proud to have been able to work with the talented women that represented Holy Cross at the competition this year,” says Teitel. “It is a testament to their hard work and preparation that the team was a finalist.”

This past summer, in addition to working full time, the students researched and brainstormed ideas to come up with an appropriate case. Finally, Biolsi pitched the “Coca Cola’s Deceptive Marketing Tactics” idea to the team and Teitel. It was inspired by her summer internship at PepsiCo, inc. where she worked directly with SoBeLifeWater brand, which is the popular VitaminWater brand’s direct competitor.

“In 2009, consumers nation-wide filed complaints about the exaggerated health benefit claims made by Coca-Cola and identified the advertising techniques as deceptive [for their new Energy Brands],” explains Biolsi. “We took on the role of consultants presenting to Coca-Cola management, and offered our suggestion that the company needs to restore consistency with their core values, mission, and their code of business conduct that they emphasize to their employees around the world.”

McCarthy says she attributes the team’s success to the fundamentals they have learned at Holy Cross. “With the liberal arts foundation and rigorous workload, Holy Cross encourages students to think outside of the box,” shares McCarthy. “Although we all are not ‘business majors,’ we were able to implement our analytical skills and interests to take on the challenge.”

This is the first time Holy Cross has competed in the competition. Biolsi advises future competitors: “Take on a case that interests you. We had a lot of fun with our case; it was an extremely contemporary and interesting case.”

Teitel says she hopes that Holy Cross will be able to have a competition on campus to select a college champion to represent the College at the next year’s competition. “It was a rewarding experience for all involved, and I would like to get more students involved next year.”

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First-Year Students Take Part in Inaugural Worcester Immersion Program

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Sara Bovat ’14


Last week during Fall Break, a group of Holy Cross students packed their bags and headed off campus to immerse themselves in a new culture and community that was only minutes from their residence halls. From Friday, Oct. 7 to Wednesday, Oct. 12, 10 first-year students and two senior leaders, moved out of their dorms and into Concordia Lutheran Church in Worcester as part of the inaugural Worcester Immersion Program.  Designed in response to student requests for such a program, the Chaplains’ Office created the experience especially for first year-students to become engaged with their new city.

“The idea of having a Worcester Immersion Program came from students initially,” says Martin Kelly, assistant chaplain and director of the Arrupe Immersion Program. “It seemed that each year a student would come to my office asking whether we could develop a program to allow students to draw closer to the city and its people.  The emergence of the Fall Break allowed us to think more creatively about this, and the Worcester Immersion became a reality.”

The program was organized by Linda Sula ’12, who worked as an intern for the Chaplain’s Office over the summer.  Her time was spent exclusively forming contacts within the Worcester community, and creating a program that combined cultural, social, civic and service activities.

Throughout the week, students visited various houses of worship to learn about Worcester’s religious diversity, they ate at local ethnic restaurants, visited cultural organizations including the Worcester Art Museum, attended the Columbus Day Parade, and participated in various service opportunities such as serving meals to the homeless, and volunteering at afterschool programs.  

Dan Sheehan ’12, one of the leaders of the trip, explains, “Part of what made this trip unique was the breath of experiences we had, from volunteering at Abby’s House and Friendly House to learning about Islam at the Worcester Islamic Center, as well as listening and sharing in the open and friendly community at Concordia Lutheran, where we stayed for the duration of the trip.”

Christopher Campbell ’15 says it was meeting citizens of Worcester, particularly the children, that was one of most rewarding experiences. “I don’t have any siblings, but I was able to see them as my little brothers and sisters. I miss them already.”

Sheehan and his co-leader, Colleen Melaugh ’12, had both participated in Spring Break immersion programs previously, including trips to New Orleans, Appalachia and El Salvador. However, both agreed that every immersion trip is unique, and this one was rewarding in a new type of way, because Worcester is their home away from home.

“It was eye opening to see the same needs I have seen through participating in other immersion trips domestically and internationally exist right outside of our gates,” explains Melaugh. “It has motivated the group to maintain the relationships we formed and to participate in the community beyond just the one week we spent on immersion.”

On the final day, students had the opportunity to meet with Worcester Mayor Joseph O’Brien and other elected officials at City Hall to gain their perspective on the city and all that is has to offer.  They also gained insight on what City Hall is doing to address the issues that the students had experienced at first-hand, including in the areas of poverty, religion, and education.

“Our meeting with Mayor O’Brien on the last day rounded out the trip as we were able to have a substantial discussion about what we as Holy Cross students can do to make a difference in our community,” says Andrew Sullivan ’15.

“I would definitely recommend this experience to other first-year students for I strongly believe that all first-year students should take part in activities that allow them to immerse themselves into Worcester. We live here now, so we are a part of the Worcester community,” Campbell says.

In addition to Worcester, students also took part in Fall Break Immersion Programs in Camden, N.J., Chicago, Ill., and at L’Arche communities (faith-based communities of people with and without intellectual disabilities) in Haverhill, Mass. and Syracuse, N.Y.

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Photo Gallery: Study Abroad Photo Contest Yields Impressive Results

Posted on October 20, 2011 by

The inaugural Study Abroad photo contest challenged students studying around the world to view their experience through a new lens — a photo lens, to be exact.

Jeannie LaPlatney, assistant director of Study Abroad, who initiated the contest, explains that students share their experiences with the campus community in essays, speeches during events such as the Academic Conference, in classroom presentations, and other co-curricular activities. The photo contest is another way for students to express these experiences — which they often refer to as life-changing — to fellow students, faculty and staff.

Three prizes were awarded, including three honorable mentions. The six photos were recently on display near the Cool Beans coffee shop on the highly-trafficked first floor of the Hogan Campus Center.

Jeannie LaPlatney, assistant director of Study Abroad, who initiated the contest, says all entries were impressive.

“The photos are part of our students’ contribution to the campus as global citizens,” she says. “I hope that they inspire other students to study abroad and garner respect for what our study abroad students do when they leave Holy Cross for a sojourn abroad.”

Roger Hankins, director of the Cantor Art Gallery, served as juror. He said he chose the winning photographs because they aren’t easily forgotten.

“I was looking for photographs that held that vividness of place that a viewer could feel — somewhat like what the student must have seen when taking the picture.”

Award Winners

First Place
Carson Townsend ’12
“Tannery of Tetouan”

“During a three-day weekend my friend and I went to Tetouan, one of the last not-touristy-but-still-pretty-big cities in Morocco. Here we stumbled upon some of the most traditional scenes we had seen during our entire nine months in Morocco.”

Location: Tetouan Medina (old city), Morocco
Program: Amideast Education Abroad Program – Rabat, Morocco

Second Place
Audrey Gehring ’12
“No Fences”

“We were all a little concerned with the lack of barrier between tourists and imminent death.”

Location: Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare, Ireland
Names of people in photo: Audrey Gehring and Christine Brennan
Program: National University of Ireland, Galway

Third Place
Jamie LaCasse ’12
“Making friends with the locals”

“I love this photo because it captures one of the three times we were able to swim with sea lions, the subject of my directed research project and subsequently, my new favorite animal.”

Location: Loreto National Park, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Program: School for Field Studies

Honorable Mentions
Nora Marino ’12
“The most beautiful street in La Coruña!”

“The main harbor in this Galician city with many colorful fishing boats. Behind the boats, the row of buildings are apartments with decks enclosed by large glass windows. Due to the large amount of rainfall in La Coruna, the residents use these decks to look out on their loveable city and keep dry! Back in the day, women would tearfully bid their husbands farewell from these decks as they sailed off to sea.”

Location: La Coruña, Spain
Program: Universidad da Coruña

Stephanie Marlin ’12
“Elephants of the Serengeti”

“Taken in Serengeti National Park, this image truly captures the beauty of the natural landscape. Serengeti, meaning “endless plains,” is home to a plethora of wildlife including the African elephant. Shown in the picture is a small herd walking alongside our vehicle in the middle of the park.”

Location: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Program: School for Field Studies

Carson Townsend ’12
“Stables”

“During a group trip to Meknes, we visited the ancient horse stables. In this photo one can observe the majestic architecture that maintained hundreds of horses hundreds of years ago, still intact.”

Location: Meknes
Program: Amideast Education Abroad Program – Rabat, Morocco

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Holy Cross Junior Awarded Scholarship to Pursue Teaching Career in Urban Areas

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Sara Bovat ’14

Zachary Kenny

Zachary Kenny, a member of the class of 2013 and a mathematics major in the Teacher Education Program at the College of the Holy Cross, has been awarded the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship. Supported by a National Science Foundation grant awarded to the College, the scholarship, which provides Kenny $19,000 for his third year at Holy Cross, encourages talented students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to become middle- and secondary-school teachers in these disciplines.

As a part of receiving this honor, Kenny will need to spend at least two years in a high needs school or school district after graduation. “I feel that teaching in urban areas, which is where I have done a significant amount of my tutoring, is where I can feel the best about what I am doing,” he shares. “There is something special about helping students understand material that does not automatically come to them, and there is, unfortunately, more of that type of student in the urban school system.”

“Zach has been a significant contributor to our Noyce tutoring program since his first year at Holy Cross. As a scholarship recipient, he will be participating in an important national effort to bring highly qualified math and science teachers to the schools that need them most,” states Danuta Bukatko, professor of psychology and education at Holy Cross.

Working as a tutor in the Worcester Public School system is where Kenny discovered his true calling of becoming a teacher. “I have wanted to become a teacher for a while, but it was not always my first career option,” explains Kenny. “After doing the Noyce tutoring, I realized that this is what I need to do.”

On campus Kenny is a deejay for the campus radio station, WCHC, and a three-year member of the Good Time Marching Band, where he serves as the uniform manager. “Being in the band will definitely give me a creative edge when thinking about how to approach problems and then give that advice to my students,” explains Kenny.

As an active member of the Holy Cross extracurricular community, he says, “My favorite thing about Holy Cross is probably the endless possibilities of things to do here on campus and in the city.”

Candidates for the Noyce scholarship must be a rising third or fourth year student who is also a math or science major, be enrolled in the Teacher Education Program, and maintain a high grade point average. The application process also involves teacher recommendations, the submission of a personal statement, and an interview.

This is the second year the scholarship has been awarded.

Posted in Education, News, Press Release | 1 Comment

Short Story Author Anthony Doerr to Give a Reading as Part of Working Writers Series

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Cristal Steuer

Anthony Doerr

Anthony Doerr, author of short stories, a novel, a memoir, and essays on science, will give a reading as part of the Working Writers Series on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Rehm Library at the College of the Holy Cross. The event, sponsored by the College’s Creative Writing Program, is free and open to the public.  

Doerr is the author of four books: The Shell Collector (Penguin, 2003), About Grace (Penguin, 2005), Four Seasons in Rome (Scribner, 2007), and, most recently, Memory Wall (Scribner, 2010).

Memory Wall, which takes place on four continents and addresses issues ranging from Alzheimer’s in South Africa to infertility in Wyoming to fishing for endangered sturgeon in Lithuania, has received numerous awards including being named a Notable Book of 2010 in the New York Times, a Top 12 Book of 2010 by the Boston Globe, and a San Francisco Chronicle Book of the Year.

The New York Times called Memory Wall: “Strange and beautiful…Doerr writes about the big questions, the imponderables, the major metaphysical dreads, and he does it fearlessly.”

“Most writers should want to be Anthony Doerr when they grow up—short story alchemist, novelist, travelogueur; anthologized, lionized, winner of literary awards—despite which his writing really is crazy good,” according to The Oregonian. 

Doerr’s short fiction has won four O. Henry Prizes and has been anthologized in The Best American Short Stories, The Anchor Book of New American Short Stories, and The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Fiction. He has won the Barnes & Noble Discover Prize, the Rome Prize, the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Fiction Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship.

Doerr lives in Boise, Idaho with his wife and two sons. He teaches in the MFA program at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina. His book reviews have appeared in the New York Times and Der Spiegel, and he writes a regular column on science books for the Boston Globe.

The 2011-12 Working Writers Series will also include the following readings and performances during the fall semester:

• Thursday, Nov. 17 – Rosanna Warren, poet and translator

• Thursday, Dec. 8 – Steve Almond, author of both fiction and creative nonfiction, and Betsey Lerner, a poet, nonfiction writer, editor, and literary agent, in a panel on “A Life in Letters,” moderated by Leah Hager Cohen, the Jenks Chair of Contemporary American Letters at Holy Cross

The Working Writers Series was formerly known as the Visiting Writers Series.

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“Women in the Church”

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Kristine Maloney

Caroline Johnson Hodge

In an episode of Mysteries of the Church, an Emmy-nominated documentary style program based in New York that examines the many teachings and beliefs of the Catholic faith, Caroline Johnson Hodge, associate professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross, talks about the role of women in the early church.

In a segment about Mary Magdalene, Johnson Hodge shares “In every gospel, she’s the one who finds the empty tomb, who first bears witness to the resurrection.  In several accounts in the Bible, she is the one who receives the first experience of Jesus after he’s been resurrected.”

She continues, “She is someone who rallies the apostles together when they’re distraught, they’re fearful for their lives.  She is one who is considered to have the true teachings of Jesus.  And this shows up enough times in these ancient texts that catch our attention and make us think, she really must have been important.”

 

This “Holy Cross in the News” item by Kristine Maloney.

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“Is the Tea Party a Religious Movement?”

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Holy Cross in the News

Mathew Schmalz

In an ABCNews.com story about the Tea Party’s anthem, “I am America,” Mathew Schmalz, associate professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross, says he’s not surprised the song appeals to Tea Partiers, because of its religious themes.

The Tea Party “is in part a religious movement,” Schmalz told ABCNews.com. “There are ways in which its political philosophy resonates with evangelical Protestants in this country.”

Though Tea Party leaders deny their movement is religious, Schmalz and other scholars see many connections to Christian conservatism, particularly in the group’s emphasis on the founding fathers. 

“I think in some ways the founding fathers are almost divinized,” Schmalz said. “They don’t say this explicitly. There is this resonance they were these far-seeing individuals who had more than normal human perception.”

 

This “Holy Cross in the News” item by Kristine Maloney.

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Prized Economist to Lecture at Holy Cross on Anti-Poverty Policy

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Cristal Steuer

Esther Duflo

Esther Duflo, co-author of Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty (PublicAffairs, 2011), will talk about her work in a lecture on Thursday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. in Rehm Library, Smith Hall at the College of the Holy Cross.

The lecture is presented by the Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture at Holy Cross. It is free and open to the public.

Duflo has made unique contributions to the study and practice of international development and poverty alleviation. Her research focuses on microeconomic issues in developing countries, including household behavior, education, access to finance, health and policy evaluation. She has made her mark as the champion of high quality evaluation research using field experiments designed to improve the lives of people in developing nations.

She described her research in a presentation for TED.com in 2010.

Duflo is the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics and director of the Jameel Poverty Action Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She was named among Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2011 and is winner of the David N. Kershaw Award, the John Bates Clark Medal, and a MacArthur Fellowship.

For more information about this and other events hosted by the McFarland Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture, and to listen to lectures online, visit http://www.holycross.edu/crec.

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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Holy Cross Employees and Cancer Survivors to Host Panel in Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Cristal Steuer

Pink Revolution

The College of the Holy Cross will host a breast cancer awareness panel with the PINK Revolution Breast Cancer Alliance, a group of dedicated individuals in the Worcester area with a commitment to those affected by breast cancer, on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. in the Hogan Campus Center Ballroom. The event, in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is free and open to the public. 

This inspirational panel will celebrate the lives of those touched by breast cancer and includes Jackie Peterson, vice president for student affairs and dean of students; Helen Freear-Papio, lecturer of Spanish and director of the Foreign Language Assistant program; Ann Zelesky, associate athletic director; and Amy Sheridan, wife of Edward Sheridan, dining room manager at the College. 

Doctors Robert Quinlin, a member of the Holy Cross class of 1966, and Kathryn Edmiston, both directors of the Comprehensive Breast Center at UMass Memorial Cancer Center will join the panel discussion and share insights about living with the disease, their journey through treatment and the latest advances in breast cancer research and care.

The forum will be moderated by Audrey Kurlan-Marcy, co-founder of the PINK Revolution Breast Cancer Alliance. The Alliance will also be honoring students and athletic teams that have gone above and beyond to support breast cancer. 

The event will include a candle-lighting ceremony, in which participants light candles honoring or memorializing a friend or loved one. Votives will be available for purchase at $5 each.

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Steve Zychowski Wins 77th Annual NEIGA Championship

Posted on October 18, 2011 by College of the Holy Cross

Holy Cross junior men’s golfer Steve Zychowski, of Mendham, N.J., took home top individual honors for the first time in his career, winning the individual medal at the 77th annual NEIGA Championship, held at the Captain’s Golf Course. Zychowski combined for a two-round score of 146 (two-over-par), leading the Holy Cross team to a fourth-place finish.

Read the entire story on GoHolyCross.com

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“Rich and Poor, From St. Luke to Warren Buffett”

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Holy Cross in the News

In an op-ed in the Huffington Post, Rev. Thomas Worcester, S.J., professor of history at the College of the Holy Cross,  writes about St. Luke, a “saint particularly articulate in defense of the poor,” who is celebrated each year on Oct. 18.  As All Saints Day, which is celebrated annually on Nov. 1, approaches, Fr. Worcester emphasizes how important it is to look back at the work of St. Luke and other saints that are highlighted in the Gospel to understand how their teachings shaped  Catholics’ continuing devotion to the poor today as part of the Catholic doctrine.

“In more recent times some Christians have been advocates for the poor and have worked tirelessly for them,” he wrote.  “Call it the social gospel, Christian social teaching or some kind of social “ism,” but this is what the Catholic Church teaches, and it is not some optional or marginal part of the Church’s doctrine.”

“And though Warren Buffett may not be a saint—at least not yet—in calling for the wealthy to pay more in income taxes,” Fr. Worcester wrote , “He shows them a way to a responsibility, to an accountability and, indeed, to a salvation that may otherwise elude them.”

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

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Holy Cross Celebrates ‘Jesuits and Colleagues at Work’

Posted on October 18, 2011 by

Since its founding in 1843, Holy Cross has been faithful to its Jesuit tradition and character.

Reflecting on this rich history, the Mission and Identity Committee is honoring the impact Jesuits have had on the College with a yearlong series of events based on the theme “Jesuits and Colleagues at Work.”

“The committee wanted a theme that would explore how collaboration in the apostolate between faculty, staff, administration, and students has carried out and furthered the values and mission of Ignatian education at Holy Cross,” says committee member Rev. Gregory Lynch, S.J., who also serves as assistant chaplain and director of service and social justice. “The idea of ‘Jesuits and Colleagues at Work’ will address several areas that speak to the shared ministry that has been a pivotal part of our mission.”

Guest lectures, liturgies, discussions and concerts will draw upon the Jesuit influence that pervades every aspect of campus.

“By inviting various speakers and holding a multitude of events, the committee hopes the community will be inspired to a greater appreciation of Holy Cross’ Jesuit roots and a reaffirmation of the College’s Jesuit identity,” Fr. Lynch says.

The events for the fall semester, which are free and open to the public, follow.

Oct. 19
7:30 p.m., Hogan Campus Center, Room 320
Alumni Panel: Learn About the Jesuit Volunteer Corps
Holy Cross alumni share their JVC and JVI experiences in a panel discussion moderated by Tom Cadigan ’02, associate director of Alumni Relations.

Oct. 20
4:30 p.m., Rehm Library
Lecture: “Learning From and Working With Jesuits”
Charles S. (Chick) Weiss, longtime faculty member and chair of the Board of Nativity School of Worcester, will speak on lay-Jesuit collaboration and how he has come to understand his role in the sharing of this responsibility. Weiss, a member of the department of psychology since 1975, is the director of the Office of Grants and Corporate and Foundation Giving at Holy Cross.

Oct. 23
7 p.m., Mary Chapel
World Mission Sunday Mass
An opportunity to learn more about the Church’s missionary activity, with Jesuit guest homilist from Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

Nov. 17
4:30 p.m., Rehm Library
Lecture: “Navigating Culture and Faith as Lawyers”
Greg Kalscheur, S.J., will discuss how undergraduates who are interested in the legal profession might navigate culture and faith as lawyers. Kalscheur is an associate professor at Boston College Law School.

Related Information:

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Holy Cross Announces Naming and New Initiative of Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Kristine Maloney

McFarland Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture

Before an audience of 400 alumni, parents and friends at the annual President’s Council dinner, the College of the Holy Cross announced that the Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture will be named in honor of Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., the College’s 31st president, who is stepping down at the end of the year after a 12-year tenure.  The change in name is effective immediately.

The naming of the Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture was made possible by a gift from Michael and Maureen Ruettgers, the parents of two Holy Cross graduates.

The Center was formally established in 2001 and is housed in Smith Hall on the campus.  It sponsors a wide range of interdisciplinary conferences and lectures on important issues of meaning and morality today.

The naming announcement also coincided with the news of the launch of an ambitious scholarly initiative on global Catholicism at the McFarland Center. Since no other program with this scope currently exists, the initiative—Catholics and Cultures—will give Holy Cross the opportunity to take the lead in the scholarly study of Catholic life and practice around the world.

“Through Catholics and Cultures and the ongoing work of the McFarland Center, Holy Cross intends to make a special mark in Catholic education in the 21st century,” said Frank Vellaccio, the College’s senior vice president, in making the announcement.  “Although the Center was at its early development when Fr. McFarland arrived on campus 12 years ago, he immediately embraced it, seeing it as important to the College’s Jesuit mission and as fundamental to how Holy Cross could better articulate Jesuit liberal arts education in today’s secular and global world.”

Vellaccio also said that the many alumni and friends of the College who wish to honor Fr. McFarland on his 12 years of leadership will be encouraged to make a gift in support of the Catholics and Cultures initiative.

Thomas M. Landy, director of the McFarland Center, said the initiative will significantly increase the Center’s ability to understand how religion, ethics and culture are interrelated.  Catholics and Cultures will draw scholars from around the world to explore how Catholic practices, beliefs, trends, and ethical concerns are manifest in very different cultural settings.   As part of its program offerings, the initiative will offer web-based resources, scholarly conversations, international conferences, and publications, including a scholarly e-journal.  It will also sponsor postgraduate or visiting fellows who will develop their scholarship at Holy Cross, offer a wide array of new courses to students, and create summer immersion and research opportunities for students in church settings worldwide.

“Catholics and Cultures will host programs to bring the global church to Holy Cross, and to send Holy Cross students and faculty out to meet it firsthand,” Landy said.  “Faculty and students from many departments at Holy Cross are excited about this opportunity, and eager to help develop unique scholarly resources on world Catholicism that will be useful for Catholic education everywhere.”

Fr. McFarland, a computer scientist with extensive liberal arts teaching experience and a special interest in the intersection of technology and ethics, was named president of Holy Cross in July of 2000.  Since that time, he has led the College through rapid and progressive change.  The many accomplishments during his tenure include:

  • More than 400,000 square feet of new building space, including the acclaimed Integrated Science Center, and two student residences, Williams Hall and Figge Hall.
  • A 61 percent increase in the College’s endowment, which now stands at nearly $617 million.
  • The record-setting $216.3 million “Lift High the Cross” campaign, which concluded in 2006, surpassing its goal of $175 million and raising funds for financial aid, faculty resources, and other critical campus priorities.
  • Financial aid initiatives, including a program whereby Worcester students admitted to Holy Cross whose families earn less than $50,000 per year receive free tuition.
  • An expanded applicant pool (applications have increased about 50 percent to more than 7,000) and the simultaneous increase in the diversity of the student body.  The number of students of color entering Holy Cross has doubled:  Today, African American, Latin American, Asian-American, and Native American students represent 20 percent of the student body, compared to 10 percent 11 years ago.
  • Significant community partnerships in Worcester, such as establishing the Nativity School of Worcester (a Jesuit middle school for boys from Worcester’s most vulnerable neighborhoods); giving the Worcester Tornadoes professional baseball team a rent-free summer home on the Holy Cross campus; expanding the community-based learning opportunities for Holy Cross students; and fostering an affordable housing program in cooperation with the South Worcester Neighborhood Improvement Corporation.Fr. McFarland will step down from his post at Holy Cross at the end of the year.  Rev. Philip Boroughs, S.J., formerly vice president for mission and ministry at Georgetown University, will succeed him as the 32nd president of Holy Cross.
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Holy Cross Athletics Creates Leadership Academy

Posted on October 14, 2011 by College of the Holy Cross

Holy Cross director of athletics Richard M. Regan, Jr., announced today the creation of the Holy Cross Leadership Academy, a campus program specifically developed to support Crusader student-athletes in their quest to become world-class leaders in athletics, academics and life. Holy Cross is partnering with the Janssen Sports Leadership Center, the premier organization of its kind, to create the curriculum for the Academy.

Read the entire story on GoHolyCross.com

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