News

WORCESTER, Mass. – Students may be staying up late to study during finals, but they won’t be alone. Administrators at the College of the Holy Cross—including President Michael C. McFarland, S.J.—have volunteered to serve the scholars breakfast late into the night. The menu includes scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage links, assorted bagels, assorted juices and nightly specials.

The events will kick off Sunday, Dec. 13 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in Kimball Dining Hall. The following members of the College community have volunteered:

Sunday, Dec. 13, Kimball 10 p.m – 1 a.m.
Timothy Austin, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College
Ellen Keohane, director of information technology services
Rev. Michael McFarland, S.J., president
Michael Perry, vice president for development and alumni relations
Frank Vellaccio, senior vice president

Monday, Dec. 14, Hogan Crossroads 11 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Nancy Baldiga, assistant dean, class of 2013
Ronald Jarret, assistant dean, class of 2012
Esther Levine, assistant dean, class of 2010
Mark Freeman, assistant dean, class of 2011
Margaret Freije, associate dean of the College

Tuesday, Dec. 15, Hogan Crossroads 11 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Edwin Coolbaugh, assistant dean and director of residence life
Kristine Cyr Goodwin, associate dean for student life
Cathleen Doane, community development coordinator of Lehy
Jacqueline Peterson, vice president for student affairs and dean of students

Wednesday, Dec. 16, Hogan Crossroads 11 p.m. – 1 a.m.
William Bellerose, associate athletic director and business manager
Scott Sandstrom, associate professor of economics, prebusiness advisor
Ann Zelesky, associate athletic director

Thursday, Dec. 17, Hogan Crossroads 11 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Jesse Anderson, director of audio-visual services
Holly Hunt, multimedia resource center supervisor
Lynne Myers, director of financial aid

WORCESTER, Mass. – In recognition of the 61st anniversary of the United Nations declaration of human rights and the recent enactment of a more comprehensive federal hate crimes law, the College of the Holy Cross and the City of Worcester will sponsor an educational forum on bias and hate crimes on Dec. 10 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Hogan Campus Center, Room 519 at Holy Cross. The event is free and open to the public.  Seating is limited. RSVP at 508-799-1186 or to humanrights@worcesterma.gov

Panelists will include:

* Maura T. Healey, chief attorney, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Civil Rights division
* Edward Karcasinas, first district attorney, Office of District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.
* Edward J. McGinn, deputy chief of police, City of Worcester
* Gladys Rodriguez Parker, director of Community Affairs and Inter-governmental Relations, Office of Congressman James P. McGovern

Among the questions that will be addressed at the forum: What is the definition of bias and hate incidents and crimes? Who is protected under federal law and state law? What is the role of law enforcement? What resources are available for victims of bias and hate?

The event is sponsored by the City Manager’s Community Coalition on Bias and Hate, Human Rights Commission, Commission on Disabilities, and the “Hate: Not Here!” committee at Holy Cross.

WORCESTER, Mass. – The College’s Moot Court team dominated the Southeast Moot Court regional tournament, hosted by the University of Tampa on Nov. 13 and 14, finishing 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th and winning three of the top 10 orator awards.

Team captains Elizabeth Conway ’10 and Cara Howe ’10 led by example going undefeated during the preliminary rounds on Nov. 13 and earned the number one seed heading into Saturday’s playoff rounds. Nipping at their heels were Erin Barrett ’10 and Molly Delaney ’10 who also went undefeated in the preliminary rounds earning the number three seed.

Two-and-a-half of the other Holy Cross teams also advanced to the playoffs on Saturday. Robert LiCalzi ’12 and Timothy Whooley ’11 advanced as a 7 seed and Katherine Andrew ’11 and Mark Weyland ’12 advanced as a 12 seed. The “half” Holy Cross team was represented by Stacie Provencher ’11 a first time competitor whose partner was stricken with the flu just days before the tournament started. The same thing happened to another student from Armstrong University and the two healthy competitors were paired up to compete. This “hybrid” team earned the 15 seed and advanced to the playoff rounds making Holy Cross the only school to advance all its competitors to the playoff rounds.

Based on their performances in Friday’s rounds Cara Howe, Elizabeth Conway and Katherine Andrew were awarded top 10 orator awards; 4th, 7th and 10th respectively out of a field of 48 advocates.

The second day brought tougher challenges and the students rose to meet them. The hybrid team was eliminated in the round of 16 by the eventual champions and two seed from Drake University. However, the remaining Holy Cross teams were victorious. Thus, in the quarter finals, every match up was a Holy Cross team versus another university. “You just can’t get away from them!” said Moot Court executive director Paul Weitzer as he announced the matchups.

After the quarter final round, two Holy Cross teams were left standing but were put in the difficult situation of having to compete against one another. Team captains Conway and Howe edged out Andrew and Weyland to advance to the finals against Drake University.

The final round was held in the State of Florida Second Appellate Circuit courtroom. The final judging panel was comprised of four judges with over 150 years of State and Federal judging experience. After 45 minutes of deliberation, the longest in Moot Court history, the judges were forced to make a decision. Despite a 2-2 split, the chief justice awarded the victory to Drake University. “I think those two judges were the only people in the room who thought Drake won that round,” said team coach John M. O’Donnell ’04.

But Conway and Howe will live to fight another day as they will compete at the National Moot Court Tournament held in Miami this January. Joining them will be Katherine Andrew, Erin Barrett, Molly Delaney and Mark Weyland. Robert Lizalzi and Timothy Whooley are likely to be awarded an “at large” bid to the National Tournament for their performance.

The Holy Cross Moot Court program was founded in 2003 by Scott Sandstrom, associate professor of economics and prelaw advisor. John O’Donnell ’04, who was a Moot Court team captain, now coaches the team. Holy Cross has been very successful with several top 5 finishes at the national tournament and numerous top orator awards.

By John M. O’Donnell ’04
Coach of the College of the Holy Cross Moot Court team

WORCESTER, Mass. – The annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the College of the Holy Cross, hosted by the Purple Key Society and the Office of Student Life, will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. on O’Kane Porch. The event is free and open to the public.

The evening will feature performances by the Holy Cross Pep Band, the College choir, and the Nativity School Choir. The tree will be lit by Rev. Charles Dunn, S.J., vice president emeritus and assistant to the director of planned giving at the College.

Stop by and have some cookies, hot chocolate and cider and sing along to your favorite Christmas carols. “It is a great way to kick off the holiday season and we will have Santa Claus handing out candy canes for everyone,” says Kelly Lyons ’10, organizer of the event.

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross football team will face Villanova in the first round of the 2009 NCAA football championship subdivision playoffs. The Crusaders will play the No. 2 seed Wildcats on the road at Villanova Stadium at noon on Saturday. Tickets will be available through the Holy Cross Ticket Office (508-793-2573) starting on Monday morning at 9 a.m.  All tickets are reserved, and cost $20 for adults and $10 for students.

Holy Cross will be playing in the postseason for only the third time in school history, while advancing to the NCAA playoffs for just the second time. The first postseason appearance for the Crusaders came in Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 1946, when they lost 13-6 to Miami (Fla.). The only previous NCAA appearance for Holy Cross came in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs on Dec. 3, 1983, when it was defeated by Western Carolina 28-21 in the quarterfinals.

The Crusaders enter the playoffs after winning the 2009 Patriot League championship with an overall record of 9-2 and a 5-1 mark in the conference. Villanova currently stands 10-1 overall and won the Colonial Athletic Association with a 7-1 mark in league games.

WORCESTER, Mass. – The College chaplains and the College choir will present the 31st annual Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols on Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel. Join Chaplain Kim McElaney for an evening of seasonal music with the choir and holiday scripture readings by members of the College community. The religious service is based on one celebrated every year at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England.

Other events include:

Blessing of the Advent Wreath
November 29, 10 p.m., St. Joseph Memorial Chapel
Join Rev. Greg Lynch, S.J., who will preside and preach, as the Advent wreath that hangs from the chapel’s ceiling is blessed and lit. The event is free and open to the public.

Advent Mass in American Sign Language
Dec. 1, 7 p.m., McCooey Chapel
Rev. Joseph Bruce, S.J., will preside and preach during this Mass which is free and open to the public.

Advent Reconciliation Service
Dec. 7, 8:30 p.m., Lower Chapel Gathering/ Baptismal Space.
Chaplain Marybeth Kearns- Barrett, will preside and preach during this service of scripture, prayer, song and the opportunity to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation (penance, confession) with one of eight Jesuit priests.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
The Roman Catholic Holy Day of Obligation is the patronal feast of the Catholic Church in the U.S. Masses for the Advent holy day will be celebrated at 8 a.m. (McCooey Chapel), 12:05 p.m. (Mary Chapel), and 10 p.m. (Mary Chapel).

Advent Holiday/ Community Mass
Dec. 13, 8:30 p.m., St. Joseph Memorial Chapel.
The last Sunday Mass of the fall semester will be celebrated by Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., president.  It will replace the regular 7 and 10 p.m. Sunday Masses. A reception will follow in the Lower Chapel Gathering/ Baptismal Space.

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Camille and Henry Drefyus Foundation has awarded Kenneth Mills, associate professor of chemistry at the College of the Holy Cross, a $60,000 Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award for his proposal titled “The Mechanism of Protein Splicing: Non-canonical Inteins.”

Mills’ research focuses on the chemical process of protein splicing.  He’s particularly interested in proteins that are interrupted by another protein, called an intein. The inteins, which could play a role in controlling post-translational regulation of gene expression, must coordinate their own removal as well as the joining of the flanking segments, which is a costly way for a cell to produce the final protein.

Mills and his research team want to understand the chemical mechanism of the protein splicing process, as well as why the protein splicing may regulate the gene expression rather than express the uninterrupted protein.  They would like to determine if inteins are molecular parasites that do not have function to the host, or if there is an advantage to the intein’s presence that prevents the host organism from selecting against the intein.

The stipend will fund undergraduate student research in Mills’ lab during the summer and will be used to purchase supplies for the lab during the academic year.  In addition, it will help support the goals of the biochemistry concentration, including bringing speakers to campus who will broaden students’ exposure to top flight research work.

Mills, of Holden, Mass., has been a member of the Holy Cross faculty since 2001.  He earned his Ph.D. in chemistry and chemical biology at Harvard University.  He directs undergraduate researchers in the study of the mechanism of hedgehog autoprocessing and protein splicing.  In 2005, Mills received the National Science Foundation’s CAREER grant for CAREER: Alternative Mechanisms of HINT Domain Autoprocessing: An Integrated Undergraduate Research and Education Program.”  He is the co-chair of the biochemistry concentration and has served as a member of the Academic Affairs Council and the Curricular Review Steering Committee.

The Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program is “intended to support and encourage young scholars who demonstrate excellence in both research and teaching” and emphasizes the nominee’s accomplishments in teaching and scholarly research with undergraduate students.

WORCESTER, Mass. – Patricia Bizzell, professor of English at the College of the Holy Cross, has been named the Rev. John E. Brooks, S.J., Professor in the Humanities. This rotating professorship is awarded to Holy Cross faculty for a term of three years and recognizes a professor in the humanities for his/her achievements. The chair is named in honor of Rev. John E. Brooks, S.J., president emeritus of Holy Cross, who initiated the beginning of co-education, a strong commitment to athletics, the professionalization of the teaching faculty, and a growth in endowment to pay for the advances.

“I have the greatest respect for him [Rev. Brooks] and well remember working with him on several college committees while he was President. I am honored to occupy a chair bearing his name,” says Bizzell.

Bizzell will use the professorship to complete a master’s degree in Jewish Liberal Studies at Hebrew College in Newton Centre, Mass., and to pursue other scholarly projects including work in the College’s Passport Program, an innovative, residential program designed to acclimate first-year students to the challenging academic life at the College; and to develop a course on American rhetoric and public speaking for the College’s Montserrat program.

Bizzell, a member of Holy Cross faculty since 1978, earned her B.A. from Wellesley College and her Ph.D. in English literature from Rutgers University. She is a nationally recognized authority on the teaching of composition and has lectured and conducted workshops at other institutions and at scholarly meetings. Bizzell is the author of numerous articles and essays on composition theory. Her book, The Rhetorical Tradition: Readings from Classical Times to the Present, which she co-authored with Bruce Herzberg, received the National Council of Teachers of English Outstanding Book Award in 1992. She was recently awarded the 2008 Exemplar Award by the Conference on College Composition and Communication. The award recognizes those representing the highest ideals of scholarship, teaching, and service to the entire profession, through a national and international scope.

At Holy Cross, Bizzell has served as the director of the Writing-Across-the-Curriculum Program, chair of the English department, director of the College Honors Program, and as Speaker of the Faculty.

Bizzell, who resides in Worcester, Mass., will formally assume the position on July 1, 2010.

WORCESTER, Mass. – Susan Rodgers, professor of anthropology and chair of the sociology and anthropology department at the College of the Holy Cross, has been named the W. Arthur Garrity Sr. Professor in Human Nature, Ethics and Society. This rotating professorship was established in 2002 to honor the legacy of W. Arthur Garrity, class of 1905.  It is awarded to Holy Cross faculty for a term of three years.

Rodgers studies indigenous peoples and their print literatures, focusing on Southeast Asia and, in particular, Indonesia. She specializes in the translation and interpretation of Indonesian novels, epics, and memoirs and has published seven books, all but one of them about Indonesian writing and art.  She has guest curated numerous exhibits on the vibrant art of Indonesian golden textiles for the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery at Holy Cross.

As the Garrity chair, Rodgers will continue her research on the politics of literature and art in Indonesia.  She will also work on a new book on the political history of the vernacular press of Sumatra in the late Dutch colonial era.  In addition, she will prepare a new exhibition of Indonesian textiles, for a Cantor Art Gallery show titled Transnational Ikat, for spring 2013.

As the Garrity Chair, Rodgers will also develop a course titled “Body, Power, and Global Health” that will introduce first- and second-year students to the political anthropology of global health through an analysis of the body in relation to poverty and structural violence in places like Haiti, Indonesia, and mainland Southeast Asia.  The course will conclude with an examination of local health conditions in Worcester through the lens of the anthropology of structural violence and poverty.  Guest speakers will form a central part of the class.

Rodgers earned her B.A. from Brown University and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.  Joining the Holy Cross faculty in 1989, after 11 years at Ohio University and a tenured position there, Rodgers was instrumental in developing the College’s anthropology program. She has also been involved in the Women’s and Gender Studies program and was a former director of the Asian Studies program.

Rodgers, an internationally respected scholar in her field, has received research grants from numerous institutions including the Social Science Research Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Fulbright Association, and the Southeast Asia Council.  In 2001, she was awarded a fellowship at the School of Social Sciences at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, New Jersey, and in 2004 she was the first recipient of the distinguished Holy Cross Marfuggi Faculty Scholarship Award.  Recently, she has served as the Southeast Asia book review editor for the Journal of Asian Studies.

Rodgers, who resides in Worcester, will formally assume the Garrity professorship on July 1, 2010.

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Alternate College Theatre (ACT) at the College of the Holy Cross presents Agatha Christie’s murder mystery And Then There were None, Dec. 3-5 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 5-6 at 2 p.m. in Fenwick Theatre (second floor, O’Kane Hall). Tickets are $7 for members of the Holy Cross community and $10 for the general public. Tickets can be reserved beginning November 9 by calling the ACT box office at (508)-793-3536 or they can be reserved at the Hogan Lobby Tables beginning November 30.

Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None is a murder mystery set in 1940s Britain. Ten people find themselves stranded in a lonely house on Indian Island when their supposed hosts send word that they have been detained in London. A mysterious voice indicts each one of the eight guests and two servants of murder. Suddenly, one by one, they each begin to die according to the “Ten Little Indians” nursery rhyme. The race to find the murderer winds along a path of mistrust, betrayal, fear, and doubt, until time runs out—And Then There Were None.

ACT is a student-run organization at Holy Cross. In each production, students manage every aspect from directing and acting to lighting and set design. In And Then There were None, the director is senior Daniel Libatique ‘10; other members of the production staff include producer Grant Greeley ‘11, costume designer Kate Hultgren ‘10, set designer Carolyn Stuka ‘12, lighting design Emalee Blumhagen ‘10, and stage manager Justine Cameron ‘11.

And Then There were None is suitable for all audiences.

WORCESTER, Mass. – Daniel P. Barbezat, professor of economics at Amherst College, will give a lecture titled “Flourishing Economies: Supporting and deepening personal and public awareness” at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17 in Rehm Library, Smith Hall, at the College of the Holy Cross. The lecture, part of the yearlong economic series “After the Fall: Capitalism and a just way forward,” sponsored by the Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture, is free and open to the public.

The series explores the lessons learned from the credit crisis that began in 2007 and offers diverse perspectives on how to construct a new economy that is sustainable and just.

Barbezat’s recent work explores the relationship between habits of consumption and personal well-being and how government policies and economic conditions can affect well-being.  While statistics point to greater well-being among wealthier countries and sectors of society, Barbezat argues that a deepened awareness can increase a sense of self-satisfaction from within, despite external factors. “Happiness is as much an inside job as it is an outside job,” he says.

Barbezat has been a member of the faculty at Amherst College since 1988 and received the Jonathan Hughes Prize for Excellence in Teaching Economic History from the Economic History Association in 2004. He holds a B.A. in economics and philosophy from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in economics from the University of Illinois at Champaign.

The talks in the lecture series are recorded for podcast and available at Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture. A corresponding Web forum encourages feedback and dialogue to continue online. Additional events will be planned for the spring 2010 semester.

To learn more about this series and to sign up for e-mail updates visit the Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture.

About The Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture:

Established in 2001 and housed in Smith Hall, the 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.