It’s subterranean champagne soirees and secret speakeasies. High adventure propelled by hurricanes and blizzards. It’s fraternity forged in the clandestine heist of a decommissioned missile. It’s street cred earned in hall jai alai and inspired scribbling done in drafty garrets.
Like many, Tim Youd ’89 goes to work and types at a desk. However, the desk varies depending on the state or country he’s in, and when he types, it’s not on a desktop or the newest MacBook: It’s on a typewriter, technology of the past that proves instrumental to his work.
In a recent commentary for Commonweal Magazine, Mahri Leonard-Fleckman, assistant professor of religious studies at Holy Cross, points to the Hebrew Bible as an important source of wisdom, having made the connection between war and pandemic in Psalm 91—known as the “Song of Plagues” (shir shel pegaim) in Jewish tradition.
“Psalm 91 has been, and continues to be, a powerful prayer of hope for communities in upheaval,” says Leonard-Fleckman. “It shows the path from confusion to freedom. Let’s make it our own.”
According to Leonard-Fleckman—whose areas of expertise include literary history and the development of the Hebrew Bible, the social and political development of the ancient Near East and interdisciplinary approaches to biblical interpretation—the Hebrew Bible encourages us to “focus on one’s inner orientation” when living through challenging times, and not on the hardships themselves.
“We face a choice: we can expand our connection to God and others, or we can contract into fear and self-absorption,” says Leonard-Fleckman. “Social distancing doesn’t mean turning our backs on our neighbors. It means making sacrifices so they might live.”
To read the full article, go to CommonwealMagazine.org.
Today’s CreateLab class in Brooks Concert Hall hasn’t started yet, but already the space is buzzing.
Six musicians from the Grammy Award-winning Silkroad Ensemble — a musical collective founded by famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma — mingle and warm up on stage, adjusting their instruments or making notes on sheet music. As students file in and settle into chairs, it’s hard to spot the team-taught course’s five professors spread out and seated among them, chatting.
When Michelle Rosa Martins interviewed on campus last fall, word started to spread among students that the former associate director of the Office of Multicultural Education (OME) was back on The Hill. “All day long we had students coming to the office and trying to get a glimpse of her,” says Michelle Bata, associate dean for student engagement.
Cathy Liebowitz began her work in April as the College’s first Director of Sustainability. Liebowitz joins Holy Cross from Emerson College, where she was the Campus Sustainability Manager.
Congratulations on becoming the first-ever Director of Sustainability at Holy Cross. What made you want to take this job?
Throughout the hiring process, I felt welcomed and inspired. I appreciate that the Holy Cross community works together to reach common goals and supports one another’s own ambitions. During my on campus interview, I could tell that individuals truly care about fostering a positive and curious environment. When I was offered the position, I could picture myself within the Holy Cross community and could envision my past experience integrating into the college’s sustainability goals.
Can you tell us a little about your past experience, and how you hope that background will help you in the new role?
Raised in rural New Hampshire, I grew up surrounded by New England mountains, rivers, and farms. This environment sparked my professional interest in sustainable community development, so I attended Dartmouth College to pursue my BA in Environmental Studies. However, the mentors in my life showed me the importance of role models and support systems. I recognized that sustainable community development requires education and active-listening, so I pursued my MA in Higher Education Administration, where I also served as a Resident Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life. My combined knowledge in environmental studies and education allowed me to manage the million dollar green fund at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and progress Emerson College’s carbon neutrality goal. I’m thrilled to take this foundational knowledge and experience to Holy Cross. I hope my varied background will give me the tools and skills to partner with different college stakeholders so we can integrate environmental efforts within the college’s values and practices.
What’s your top priority for sustainability at Holy Cross?
Since 2007, Holy Cross has decreased its carbon footprint by over 46%. That’s an incredible accomplishment and a testament to the community’s dedication to environmentally-conscious practices. My top priority is supporting the College’s 2007 Carbon Commitment to become carbon neutral by 2040. More concretely, I’m striving to expand student engagement opportunities and outreach channels, so our community knows about the Carbon Commitment and feels confident getting involved.
Where have you been impressed by the efforts already underway here at Holy Cross? Where do you think we have room to grow?
As I meet new people and learn about different initiatives, I’m energized by the many pockets around campus that have woven sustainable efforts into their work. The student body voted to start the Green Fund in Fall 2020. The Facilities department has installed energy recovery systems and upgraded windows to high-efficiency. Environmental Studies faculty will teach the program’s first capstone course next year. Dining Services purchases over 25% of its food from local sources. Holy Cross should take pride in these efforts, and share them. If Holy Cross improved its story about sustainable efforts happening on campus, I believe more individuals on and off campus would feel energized to participate in the college’s environmental stewardship.
We’re all having to adjust to being away from campus, how has our current situation affected your plans?
When I join a new community, I like to listen and observe how a community currently functions. I seek answers to questions like: What do individuals and groups get excited about discussing? Where are there points of pride? Why are certain processes and programs in place? Starting my position at home has put a pause on visiting campus sites, like the freezer composting program at Figge Hall. However, working remotely has also brought forward Holy Cross’ resilience, sense of community and openness to new ideas.
Is there anything else the Holy Cross community should know?
According to the Brundtland Report, “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Using this definition as a launching point, I view sustainability work as interdisciplinary and as a community-wide effort. Whether someone is a first year student, a researcher, or an alum, I’m always happy to collaborate on a challenge, project or vision so we can advance campus sustainability.
Anyone interested in getting involved or learning more about Holy Cross’ sustainability efforts can contact Cathy Liebowitz at cliebowi@holycross.edu.
Like many students around the world, 157 Holy Cross students completing semester-long or year-long courses of study abroad found their programs suddenly cut short last month due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. After first prioritizing the safe return of these students to the U.S., the College worked with its partners abroad to help students continue their studies remotely where possible. For students who were unable to continue with their host institutions, the College issued a call to Holy Cross faculty for new courses, running from March to May, that would allow these students to complete their semester of study. The overwhelming response from faculty exceeded expectations with over 40 course proposals and, in an extremely short timeframe, resulted in 10 offerings of new courses on a range of topics.
“The response from faculty was quick and enthusiastic, with the number of course proposals submitted greatly exceeding the number of courses needed,” says Loren Cass, Dean of Experiential Learning and Student Success. “It was gratifying to see how quickly colleagues responded to this latest challenge, which involved not just envisioning how to offer the material in an online course, but how to develop one on a different ‘semester’ schedule and to do so within a short timeframe.”
Classes cover subjects such as “Industrial Organization and Public Policy,” “Introduction to Astronomy,” and “Women in War and Revolution.” The range of courses offered includes ones that address common area requirements and some major requirements as well as courses of general interest. Some of the offerings are particularly timely and relevant for students today, including “Health Psychology,” “Theological Perspectives on Medical Ethics,” and “Home and Belonging in an (Im)mobile World,” which will contextualize some of their discussions with current examples from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The College is committed to ensuring that students complete the semester and make progress toward graduation,” says Cass. “Students worked with me, their Class Dean, and advisors to ensure they selected classes that they found compelling and that advanced their courses of study. Faculty members really stepped forth to support students in creating these classes, and we think that their efforts will help make this semester as rewarding for students as possible under the circumstances.”
Since he was a kid growing up outside Toronto, Tyler McGregor ’06 dreamed of becoming a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon. Today, the standout member of the Holy Cross men’s ice hockey team from 2002-2006, can say “mission accomplished.”
“That was the thing I always kind of had my sights focused on, just growing up with sports and watching teammates get hurt and things like that,” McGregor said in a recent interview with Worcester Telegram & Gazette. “I wanted to be able to put people back together and get them back to doing what they like to do.”
On March 23, 2006, the Holy Cross men’s ice hockey team made history with their defeat of No. 1 seed Minnesota. Only 53 seconds into overtime, McGregor, now a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon in Indiana, scored the final goal that would bring the Crusaders a 4-3 victory and change the college hockey world forever. Almost 15 years later, the victory still resonates as the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history and as one of the greatest moments in Holy Cross sports history.
Since then, McGregor, who was a psychology major in the premed program (now health professions advising), has been back on the Hill several times — most prominently to marry Ashley Schroth ’08 on campus in 2013 and for a 10-year reunion of the historic 2006 season.
To read the full article, go to Telegram.com.
Thomas Martin, professor and Jeremiah W. O’Connor chair of classics. Photo by John Buckingham
The exponential spread of the COVID-19 pandemic across the nation has scholars comparing it to the 5th century BC “plague” in Athens, a virulent infection with chilling effects on the ancient city, credited largely to the democratic government’s failure to prepare ahead for the spread of illness or to react quickly enough.
In a commentary for The Washington Post, Thomas Martin, professor and Jeremiah W. O’Connor chair of classics at the College of the Holy Cross, writes that a key lesson to be learned from this historic parallel is that we “must have plans in place to figure out how to respond to disasters before their effects overwhelm us.”
“Preparing for the next crisis will require leaders like Anthony S. Fauci (who majored in classics at Holy Cross, where I teach) who understand both the medical complexity and social dimensions of epidemic disease,” says Martin. “We should strive to do better than the Athenians by being prepared to act for what we have not expected.”
Martin specializes in the ancient history of democracy, its roots in Athens, and how it compares with modern American democracy.
To read the full article, go to WashingtonPost.com.
Ellis Jones, assistant professor of sociology. Photo by Avanell Brock
From buying items in bulk to online shopping, the COVID-19 global pandemic has radically altered what, when and how people are buying.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Ellis Jones, assistant professor of sociology at the College of the Holy Cross, stressed that now more than ever it is imperative to consider the consequences of our shopping choices.
So how we can be conscientious shoppers in a pandemic? “If you can find ways to help individuals and smaller businesses, then the balance goes in favor of that,” Jones recommends.
A scholar of social responsibility, global citizenship, and ethical consumerism, Jones is currently working – with the help of his students – on the 7th edition of “The Better World Shopping Guide,” a comprehensive guide for socially and environmentally responsible consumers.
To read the full article, go to NYTimes.com.
Andrew Hwang, associate professor of mathematics. Photo by Tom Rettig
You’ve probably been hearing the term “exponential growth” quite often in the news recently. In a piece for the Conversation, Andrew Hwang, associate professor of mathematics at the College of the Holy Cross breaks down what it means for the potential spread of the coronavirus.
Exponential growth, such as in a viral epidemic, starts deceptively slowly, then quickly balloons, according to Hwang. “Under these conditions, each eight-day delay in public health response translates into roughly 10 times as many cases and deaths as immediate action,” said Hwang.
This is why in an epidemic, early action saves lives. “By waiting until mid-March to act as a nation, the U.S. lost control over the starting value,” said Hwang.
To read the full article, go to TheConversation.com.
Ann Sheehy, professor of biology, is seen here leading her Montserrat class in oral presentations. Photo by Tom Rettig
As more and more people are diagnosed with COVID-19, researchers worldwide are racing to find ways to stop the virus from spreading and to cure it. One effort includes collecting blood plasma from people who have recovered from the disease in hopes it could be used to save the lives of others infected. How does this work?
In an article for The Conversation, Ann Sheehy, virologist and professor of biology at College of the Holy, explains the science behind “convalescent plasma therapy” and how this technique that dates back to the 1800s could potentially be a key to fighting COVID-19.
According to Sheehy, whose research focuses on the cellular immune response to retroviruses, isolating enough antibodies to be effective is a “laborious” process, but 21st-century advances in molecular medicine are allowing for a much faster scale-up of the therapy.
“The immune systems of COVID-19 survivors figured out how to combat and defeat the invading SARS-CoV-2 virus,” said Sheehy. “As the U.S. enters the exponential phase of COVID-19’s spread, this treatment cannot come soon enough.”
To read the full article, go to TheConversation.com.
For assistance scheduling an interview with Professor Ann Sheehy or for additional information on our faculty experts, please contact Nicoleta Jordan at njordan@holycross.edu.
Patrick Lowe ’12
Holy Cross alumnus Patrick Lowe ’12 is one of many fourth-year medical students in Massachusetts who have volunteered to graduate early this year in order to join doctors on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, following a statewide call from Governor Charlie Baker who is expecting a surge in patients.
Lowe, a biology major in the premed program at Holy Cross – now called Health Professions Advising – from Northborough, Mass., told the Worcester Telegram & Gazette in a recent interview that he never expected his career to begin in one of the worst pandemics in decades.
“There are certainly a lot of mixed emotions,” said Lowe, who graduated virtually from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester Tuesday and is planning on going into emergency medicine. “We’re all trained and ready – there’s a degree of excitement in fulfilling your role.”
With the expectation that state hospitals could be straining under the anticipated surge of COVID-19 patients over the next few weeks, experts say the need for qualified health care workforce is urgent.
Dr. Michael Collins ’77, chancellor of UMass Medical School and another Holy Cross grad, has enthusiastically welcomed the state medical board’s decision to loosen rules for physician credentialing.
“While this is voluntary for members of our graduating class, in Massachusetts alone, accelerating the graduation of students at all four medical schools could infuse our health care delivery system with more than 700 new physician caregivers,” said Collins.
To read the full article, go to Telegram.com.
Lowe is one of many Holy Cross alumni who are, or will be, helping in the fight against the pandemic, and we urge you to share more stories with us at news@holycross.edu.
Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad Ensemble performs pop-up performances around campus.
Throughout their multi-year residency hosted by Arts Transcending Borders at the College of the Holy Cross, Silkroad Ensemble has engaged the community in activities and conversations that explore the roles that passion and art can play in learning.
Founded by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Silkroad Ensemble creates music that engages difference, sparking radical cultural collaboration and passion-driven learning to build a more hopeful world. Since their first visit to campus in 2017, the ensemble has returned each semester to work with students and faculty on creating intersections between art and the world. At the end of January, Silkroad Ensemble held their final event of their residency, an evening highlighting the percussionists of the group.
“The partnership between Holy Cross and Silkroad Ensemble has been a powerful example of the diverse array of opportunities for the integration of the arts into a liberal arts educational experience,” said Margaret Freije, provost and dean of the College. “In their multi-year residency, they’ve engaged with students and faculty across disciplines, helping our students cultivate their skills and talents while engaging with questions that lead them to a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them, through the rich lens that the arts can offer.”
Take a look back at a few of the highlights of Silkroad’s time with the Holy Cross community.
Ed O’Donnell, associate professor of history, is seen here teaching the “Struggles for Justice” course to a group of first year Holy Cross students using remote video conferencing technology. Photo by Ed O’Donnell
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that continues to spread in the United States, the College of the Holy Cross in March announced plans to transition to distance learning and cancel on-campus events for the remainder of the semester.
“These are very difficult steps to take, particularly here at Holy Cross, where we place such value on the strength of our on-campus community. Being together is a large part of who we are,” President Fr. Boroughs has said in his March 11 message to the campus community. “I am confident that we will find creative ways to function as a community and to support each other even when we are not physically in the same place.”
As students resumed their classes on Monday, March 23, they were greeted by professors and classmates as they picked up online where their lessons had left off in person, and together, they commenced their journey through a new teaching and learning environment.
To facilitate a smooth transition to distance learning and to provide additional support for students, the College has put together a variety of virtual resources. Information Technology Services has been hard at work preparing both students and faculty for the technical logistics required for the remainder of the semester. Professors have been using different technologies to engage all students in a high-quality distance learning experience. They have also been working to modify courses, changing content, adjusting assignments and developing new strategies for everything from class discussions to group projects to office hours.
“One of the hallmarks of a liberal arts institution, and indeed of the Holy Cross educational experience, is our commitment to learning from and alongside one another,” said Margaret Freije, provost and dean of the College. “Our faculty will be using a variety of technologies to engage our students and to be available to support their learning, continuing their vital work of educating our students throughout this semester.”
The Class Deans prepared some strategies for distance learning, and Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Michele Murray hosted a virtual Dean’s Forum on Thursday, March 26. She was joined by Kelly Saintelus, Director of Academic Services and Learning Resources, and several others, during an interactive discussion of tips and tools for achieving success in our new academic environment. Dean Murray also shared some helpful tips for distance learning in a video message to students.
Academic Services and Learning Resources has added material online related to supporting students during the College’s transition to distance learning. Their information on Academic Support Continuity details how students can engage with the office staff and tutoring programs for remote academic support. Students are also able to meet with professional tutors or peer consultants in the Writer’s Workshop for sessions that include video, chat, and a collaborative editing board.
Also, a number of library resources have shifted online, and a guide on how to access library resources has been created, which includes information on personal research session appointments and inter-library loans.
For the most up-to-date information on the College’s virtual student support offerings and resources as we transition to remote learning, visit the Student Resources page.
St. Joseph Chapel on a sunny day. Photo by Avanell Brock
As many across the country seek to find creative ways to stay connected in a time of social distancing, the College chaplains at Holy Cross are introducing a new video series, “Closing the Distance,” to offer the wider Holy Cross community an opportunity to find comfort and to strengthen a sense of togetherness during this challenging time.
The video series will be offered every Sunday and during the Holy Days before Easter, and each video, featuring a chaplain or Jesuit, will aim to share a saving word where solace and wisdom might be found.
In the inaugural reflection on the fourth Sunday of Lent, Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president, introduces the series, noting, “The College chaplains wondered how they might continue to unite our dispersed community in this troubled time. One of the experiences that students and alumni tell us is so meaningful to them is the opportunity to hear homilies and reflections from Jesuits and chaplains who can speak to their experience.”
“The strength and support that our community provides to one another in times of need continues to inspire all of us,” notes Marybeth Kearns-Barrett, director of College chaplains. “It is clear that we are learning how to be what St. Ignatius called a communitas ad dispersionem – a community dispersed, yet one.”
All are welcome to view the series by subscribing to the “Closing the Distance” playlist on YouTube, or watch the first video on the Holy Cross YouTube channel. The College also continues its Lenten Reflection series, Return to Me, a daily digital series filled with the voices of faculty, staff, students, Jesuits and alumni.
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci ’62 is seen here during a 2010 lecture for to the Holy Cross community titled “Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases: The Perpetual Challenge to Global Health”
As the coronavirus pandemic has upended daily life across the globe, Holy Cross alumnus Dr. Anthony Fauci ’62, expert on infectious diseases and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, has become a trusted voice in leading the nation’s response to the epidemic.
This is not the first time we have looked to Fauci for leadership during a public health crisis. A renowned international expert on the immune system, Fauci took over as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health in 1984, shortly after scientists had identified the retrovirus that was killing thousands of people—known today as HIV.
He has since pioneered the development of therapies that extend the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS and pushed for a vaccine to prevent the infection—work that has earned him 45 honorary doctoral degrees from universities around the world, the National Medal of Science, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Today, he is widely considered the nation’s leading expert on infectious diseases.
A classics major with a premedical concentration at Holy Cross, Fauci credits his professional success to the Jesuit intellectual rigor that was a core part of his education, instilling in him a lifelong commitment to social justice.
“There was a certain spirit of scholarship up there that was not matched in anything that I’d experienced,” Fauci told Holy Cross Magazine in 2002. “The idea of seriousness of purpose—I don’t mean nerdish seriousness of purpose—I mean the importance of personal development, scholarly development and the high standard of integrity and principles that became a part of everyday life at Holy Cross. And that, I think, was passed down from the Jesuits and from the lay faculty to the students.”
Having guided the U.S. through the HIV/AIDS, Zika, and Ebola epidemics, Fauci has become a familiar media presence, with The Boston Globe calling him “the point man on coronavirus” as the pandemic escalates. Widely respected for his ability to explain complex science in layman’s terms to the general public, Fauci is fighting the coronavirus “with the sledgehammer of truth,” according to The Washington Post.
Whether researching graphic novels or studying the ethics of major companies, Holy Cross faculty members are making significant, lasting impacts on their fields. Learn more about the four recently promoted faculty members below.
Victor Matheson, professor of economics . Photo by Austin Bosworth
The potential threat of the novel coronavirus has been raising questions for sports event organizers worldwide, and particularly for those on the International Olympic Committee. Will the 2020 Tokyo Olympics be able to go on as planned?
Victor Matheson, professor of economics at Holy Cross and a leading expert in sports economics, was asked to weigh in by Yahoo! Sports. His prediction? The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo will still go on, just maybe not this year.
“I cannot imagine the IOC not postponing it to 2021. There is no excuse just to throw in the towel completely,” said Matheson. A postponement would be problematic, he assures. “But at least you get the Games in.”
To read the full article, go to Yahoo! Sports.
