Crusader 2/14

Volume XCII, Number 10

February 14, 2014

Worcester, Massachusetts

Holy Cross Dining Announces Major Renovations to Kimball Dining Hall Kevin Deehan Chief News Editor

“brick oven pizza, a super-food-inspired station, and handcrafted deli sandwiches” as a few of the features that this project will integrate. The

a Bread/Soup Station, as well as a Dessert Station.

“I am especially excited for the brick oven pizza and for the oppor-

News.......................1 Opinions.................5 Features..................9 Eggplant................12 Sports.....................13 mented, “The brick oven pizza will

be a nice touch—I can’t wait to see this all come to fruition.”

Plans for this project have been Last Monday, February 10, Holy underway for some time Cross Dining confirmed the now—two and a half years. rumors about the upcoming However, HC Dining says that Kimball Dining Hall renovait is always eager to hear stution project through an email dents’ opinions as the project to the student body. The plans moves towards its final stages. are to renovate the Main DinIn the first of two scheduled ing Room’s serving area. Constudent feedback sessions, the struction will begin following lunchtime crowd at Kimball the conclusion of the spring last Wednesday, February 12, semester, and the new servhad the opportunity to share ing area should be completed their favorite meals with the in time for students’ arrival in Dining staff. These suggestions August. Partners by Design, a are being taken into account as Massachusetts-based food serKimball plans its new menus vices design firm, is commisfor the upcoming school year. sioned to take on the project.

On Wednesday, February 26, “I am a frequent Kimballin the Main Dining Room, stugoer. Ever since freshmen year, dents will have another opporI have noticed a variety of tunity to make suggestions for small changes, but I am looknext year’s menu. ing forward to coming back Photo by C. Paddock “I am so excited Kimball is after I graduate and seeing that The current Kimball Dining Hall serving area (above) is set to be renovated over this upcoming undergoing a renovation under summer big changes have been made to the guidance of the students’ make Kimball an even better suggestions,” said Gianfagna. dining option,” said Jennifer Lillis, current plans also call for an Aller- tunity to view my food being made With this renovation taking ’14. gy-Free Station, a Stir-Fry Station, in front of me right before I eat it,” The serving area is the focus of a Classics Station, a Breakfast Sta- said Tricia Gianfagna, ’16.

See KIMBALL, page 4 the renovations. HC Dining listed tion, a Grill Station, a Pasta Station, Elizabeth Fiorentino, ’16, com-

BSU Celebrates Art and Fashion with its 16 th Annual Fashion Show Emily Bowman Staff Writer On Friday, February 7, the Black Student Union hosted their 16th annual Fashion Show at Mechanics Hall in downtown Worcester. The theme of this year’s show was “The Art of Fashion,” and the night was divided into five different artistic time periods: Impressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, Pop Art, and Futurism.

Tickets for dinner and the show were available, as well as balcony seating, which excluded dinner.

Many clubs and organizations bought out entire tables so that their members could attend for free. In fact, by Tuesday of last week, all tables had sold, leaving only balcony seating remaining.

The event was held in Mechanics Hall, a Renaissance style venue located in Worcester. The runway and tables were set up in the banquet hall, with red-carpeted stairs and chandeliers setting the mood.

Continuous transportation was available between the Hogan Center and Mechanics Hall from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Students arriving at the Hall were able to take pictures before

Inside The Crusader

heavily tied into this year’s fashion show. “This campaign holds that, no matter what people wear or do not wear, they are never ‘asking for it,’” said host Brendan Higgins. The atmosphere of the room shifted at an emotionally powerful excerpt from The Vagina Monologues, which described one woman’s experience with the trauma associated with being a victim of rape—an introduction meant to remind the audience of a larger purpose.

Then, the models hit the runway.

For each era, the hosts gave a brief description of its artistic techniques and movements and presented a slideshow with famous pieces from the time period. The clothes modeled were specific for each period and displayed the main characterisPhoto by C. Paddock tics of art during those times. ImBSU attendees strike a pose, showing off some of the outfits on display during the pressionism featured an assortment 16th annual fashion show held at Mechanics Hall in downtown Worcester. of pastels and blending of colors, while Cubism relied on geometric patterns. Surrealism introduced the sitting down for dinner at 7:00. and embracing one’s own identity. more unique ensembles, with outfits The hosts of the evening, Brendan This year, the BSU teamed up with including headpieces and unusual Higgins and Seun Oke, welcomed the the Women’s Forum to promote the materials. audience and talked about the BSU— “Not Ever” campaign, a campaign a club founded by the first class of centered on raising awareness about African-American students at Holy violence against women and providCross that focuses on encouraging ing support for women who are vicSee BSU, page 4 diversity, leadership opportunities, tims of such violence. The cause was

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“Dinand 2020” Renovation Project Another renovation coming to Holy Cross

Page 3

Opinions on the Winter Olympics This week’s “Pulse Page” features thoughts on Sochi’s games.

Page 5 Valentine’s Day Thoughts & Tips Is Nicholas Sparks ruining Valentine’s Day?

Page 11 Holy CrossBoston College Rivalry Returns The Purple Pennings weighs in Page 16

2 The Crusader

NEWS

February 14, 2014

Student Government Association Corner Providing You With Your Weekly SGA Updates SGA Update Communication. Research. Support. Practicality.

A New Student Voice Be sure to make time in your schedule this semester to stop by the SGA Office in Hogan 220 to voice your concerns and chat with SGA members!

Saferide will continue to run on Thursday nights!

Check back weekly for updates on what your SGA is doing, as they listen to the students’ voices and work to create a stronger campus community.

Upcoming Events Women’s Ice Hockey—Saturday, February 15th 1:00 p.m.

Bring Your Child to Work Day—February 17th Trivia in the Pub—February 25th Health and Safety Week—February 24th-28th The Amazing Race—April 6th Pints with Professors in the Pub—April 10th Purple Pride Day and Cornhole—April 11th WSGA Conference—April 12th at WPI

Be sure to look out for Appreciation Week Inter-departmental Field Day Watch out for more info on the upcoming Kimball renovations!

History Class Celebrates President Public Safety Abraham Lincoln’s 205th Birthday Blotter Friday, February 7 Mulledy Hall: Screen door was knocked off of a third-floor fire box Loyola Hall: RA reported suspicious person on first floor Saturday, February 8 Lehy Hall: Staff requested physical plant clean third floor bathroom Kimball Dining Hall: Manager requested officer’s help—believes a cook broke his finger Off-campus: Officer stopped a vehicle with 3 females inside—they were arguing in the middle of the road Monday, February 10 Hart Center: Pool guard called to report that male party had injured shoulder Mulledy Hall: Student appeared to have injured foot and was being helped to walk by other student on roadway between Mulledy and Loyola—Officers were unable to locate

Photo by C. Paddock

Fr. Kuzniewski shakes hands with the birthday president (left); “Lincoln and His Legacy” classmates pose with Abe’s cake (upper right); Mr. Lincoln’s cake (lower right).

Father Anthony J Kuzniewski and his esteemed history class “Lincoln and His Legacy” celebrated Honest Abe’s 205th birthday with a visit from the former president himself. An annual event for this class, Fr. Kuzniewski’s class came together, as they do weekly, to commemorate one of America’s most loved presidents.

The Crusader student newspaper College of the Holy Cross Published weekly since 1925

The Crusader is a non-profit, non-partisan, student publication of the College of the Holy Cross.

The Crusader is distributed free of charge to all students, faculty, staff, and employees of the institution.

Charlotte Errity, Elizabeth O’Brien Co-Editors-in-Chief Kevin Deehan, Evan Grogan, Megan Izzo, Kelsey Littlefield News Editors Victoria Fritz, Garrett Bych, Johnathan Thompson, Julie Booth Opinion Editors Maggie Walsh, Hannah Shaw, Stefanie Schefter, Natalie Correa Features Editors John Morton, Patrick Buscone, Emily Iannoconi Sports Editors Brendan Higgins Eggplant Editor Jonah Choe, Kyle Hughes Web Editors Colleen Paddock Photography Editor Megan Izzo, Trey Altieri Copy Editors Rachel Franchella, Julia Levesque, Emily Watson, Paige Tortorelli Publicity Managers Lucas Keefer Business Manager Lauren Biolsi Advertising Manager Professor Steve Vineberg Faculty Advisor Dean Jacqueline Peterson Faculty Advisor

Please address correspondence to: The Crusader P.O Box 32A College of the Holy Cross 1 College Street Worcester, MA 01610-2395 Email: crusader@g.holycross.edu Web: www.thehccrusader.com

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The Crusader welcomes letters and op-eds from its readers. Please include your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address. No submissions will be printed anonymously. All submissions may be edited for content, and must be received by the Sunday prior to publication. The Crusader reserves the right not to publish any letter or content deemed objectionable or which does not meet the editorial standards of the newspaper.

Letters may be mailed, e-mailed, or brought to The Crusader office in Hogan 235.

The opinions expressed within the newspaper are not necessarily those of the College of the Holy Cross. This newspaper is printed by Community Newspaper Company. Reproduction of any part of this paper is by permission of The Crusader only.

The Crusader NEWS

February 14, 2014

“Dinand 2020:” Big Changes for Holy Cross’ Main Library Raymond Altieri Copy Editor

“suit the product to the purpose,” therefore planning each piece of this all-encompassing renovation with reason in order to benefit the academic success of each Holy Cross student.

Hansen and others involved in the initiative have made site visits to other colleges that offer modernized libraries to discover what

spot.” She then added that if Holy Cross students really think about it, the Dinand library is one of the most used locations on campus, esDinand Library has just been pecially during exam season. added to the list of the several ren“Dinand is the central place for ovation projects that are set to take me to get my work done. I like place in the upcoming years. The the privacy in the stacks because entire library will be experiencing it is well-lit and offers a variety of an extensive renovation as part of seating arrangements,” says Linnea what the faculty and Brandt, ’16, who Dinand staff are referalready finds Diring to as, “The Dinand nand to offer suf2020 Initiative.” Dificient amenities. nand will be complete“I like the old ly updated, becoming Ivy League feel; it’s a state-of-the-art facilscholarly and acaity designed with the demic. I feel like needs of students and I’m in line with faculty in mind. tradition when I The renovation is work at Dinand,” headed by a team of says Brendan ConPhoto by C. Paddock four faculty members nallon ’16.

The Dinand Library is set to undergo some major changes through an and one librarian, who One of the best initiative known as “Dinand 2020” are completely dedielements of this cated to this exciting renovation is the change. “We are gathering infor- makes these libraries successful and customization and input students mation from students and staff what changes would be suitable for will have in the process. Starting about what they want to see,” says Dinand. They want to make sure Tuesday, February 18, there will Alicia Hansen, Head of Research each piece of the renovation will be a blog on the Dinand Library and Instruction Services at the Di- be used by Holy Cross students Homepage called “10 Days to nand Library. “We are questioning and has a purpose.

Have Your Say.” The Dinand staff the faculty to see what amenities “We don’t really realize how many asks that students please take the they want their students to have in hours students spend in the library time to post their thoughts in ororder to complete assignments.” during the academic year,” says der to ensure that this renovation According to Hansen, they want to Hansen. “It is truly an important achieves the success it deserves.

3

Clark Professor Discusses Idea of “Emerging Adulthood” Evan Grogan News Co-Editor On Tuesday, February 11, Professor Jeffrey Jensen Arnett from Clark University gave a discussion in Rehm Library called “Emerging Adulthood: The New Life Stage from Age 18 to 25.” Arnett’s argument centered around his belief that “emerging adulthood is a separate and distinct stage from adolescence versus young adulthood,” highlighting his most recent research on emerging adulthood and specifically focusing on his “surveys and interview data with emerging adults (particularly college age students) regarding the influence of social class on this developmental stage between adolescence and adulthood.”

Professor Arnett’s main point stated that there were five distinctive features that comprise the “emerging adulthood stage: identity exploration, instability, self-focus, feeling in-between, and possibilities/optimism.” “Identity exploration” is a person’s belief that their time is about finding out who they are, while “instability” is the recognition that this stage of life is filled with changes. “Self-focus” refers to an emerging adult focusing on him-

or herself and what is best in the context of current life, and “feeling in-between” centers around the idea that emerging adults are undecided about whether they truly feel like an adult or not. Finally, “possibilities” and/or “optimism” is a person’s confidence that he or she will eventually get what they want out of life.

Professor Amy Wolfson, Professor of Psychology and Associate Dean of the Faculty, and Professor Patricia Bizzell, Professor of English, were both instrumental in planning the presentation, given that their senior seminar “Liberal Arts, Leadership, and Social Change” is currently working on “questions about emerging adulthood and college students of today,” a topic very relevant to Professor Arnett’s talk. In addition, the class is reading excerpts from Professor Arnett’s 2006 book Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens through the Twenties.

Professor Wolfson said, “In light of reading his book and Professor Arnett being nearby at Clark University, it made sense to invite him to both meet with our class and to speak to the larger campus. He is See ADULT, page 4

A Look into Holy Cross’ Study Abroad Kelsey Littlefield News Co-Editor Academic rigor, smaller class sizes, and an interest in a liberal arts education crossed with Jesuit ideals are only a few of the reasons students choose to attend Holy Cross. However, some students also choose Holy Cross for the enriching study abroad experience that it offers. The Study Abroad office is under the direction of Professor Brittain Smith, where he and his staff oversee and assist students with the application processes and prepare accepted students for their departure during the upcoming academic year.

The Study Abroad Program is open to sophomore students and requires a two-step process.

Sophomores should attend a general meeting in the fall, where an overview of the program and the credentials needed for each institution are laid out. Students

then attend information sessions hosted in the fall for the specific destination they want to attend, and finally, apply to the Holy Cross Study Abroad Program in mid-November. Acceptances for the program are usually ongoing. If accepted, students are then given the green light to apply to the specific institution abroad of their choice.

Specific institution acceptances are usually given in late March or Early April. Professor Smith noted that first-year students are not exempt from preparation for the Study Abroad Program. “Explore your options and be open to the prospect of other opportunities outside of Holy Cross. We tend to make students believe that this college is one of the greatest place on earth; however, students should look at study abroad as an extension of their curriculum and enjoy the experience.”

The Study Abroad office of-

fers four different study experiences. Students can opt to go to their destination for either one or two semesters during the academic year, for the summer, or for a summer tour that is associated with their current course load. Most interested students opt to go during the academic year, where around 250 students apply for acceptance, while others withdraw their application due to the specific qualifications of the institute they had hoped to attend abroad. Around 130160 students are accepted into the program, and most go for the full academic year. Professor Smith encourages and advocates for students to go for the full academic year because of a “more enriching experience.”

Some of the most popular destinations are the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, University College: Galway and Trinity College, both located in Ireland.

Most students tend to study in

Ireland due to the majority of students identifying with Irish roots. Students primarily choose locations that fit the language they are practicing here at the College. For example, those who study French tend to study abroad in France. Recently, enrollment in the Universidad Del Salvador in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Pontificia Universidad de Peru in Lima, Peru have both seen growth in applications.

As Holy Cross is an institution rooted in its Jesuit identity, it is important to note the transformative process that occurs when one goes abroad.

Professor Smith states that, in terms of education, studying abroad “promotes independent learning, where students learn to take responsibility for their own education and develop selfconfidence and self-reliance skills.” The experience also “allows students to interact with a variety of people and form con-

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nections that otherwise would not be present and promotes cultural acclimation and an appreciation for other cultures.”

The personal merits of the study abroad experience include “making you a better person and becoming a more attractive, interesting, and marketable candidate for professional school.”

Professor Smith utilizes an exercise analogy to sum up the real life implications to the experience, where “in the moment it hurts, but once it’s over, you feel much better for having done it.”

Professor Smith reminds students not to believe the myths they hear about not being able to study abroad in certain circumstances. “Whether you are pre-health or have two majors, there is no reason for you not to be able to go abroad.” He encourages students to feel free to contact him or his team with any questions related to the process.

4 The Crusader

THAT’S NEWS TO ME

News Stories from Around the World Baghdad, Iraq — A car bomb instructor accidentally set off a bomb, killing 21 militants in the process and alerting authorities of the training camp. Two dozen people were arrested in connection to the bomb.

Sochi, Russia — The opening ceremony for the Olympics took a surprising turn as the illumination of the five iconic rings was reduced to four and an asterisk. Over the weekend, a story spread on social media that the technician responsible was later found dead, but the rumor was later confirmed to have originated from The Daily Currant, a satirical paper.

Geneva, Switzerland — The United Nations mediator cautiously skirted around an issue regarding the evacuation of civilians from the Old City of Homs by humanitarian agencies, as representatives of Syria’s government attempted to negotiate a second round for peace.

Mexico — Authorities arrested Dionisio Loya Plancarte, a high-ranking leader of the Knights Templar drug cartel, who was hiding in a closet. His reign of terror throughout Mexico has caused vigilante groups to unite in order to combat his destructive nature.

Washington, D.C. — The Obama administration announced a federal requirement delay for companies to give their employees health insurance, especially for medium-sized companies. The January 1, 2015 initiative entitled the “employer mandate” has now been pushed even further back. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees are exempt.

Tucson, Arizona — Magistrate Judge Bernardo P. Velasco sent 70 immigrants attempting to enter the country to jail, with each being given around 25 seconds to hear their charges, enter a plea, and receive a sentence.

Taipei, Taiwan — China and Taiwan held a series of official talks, the first development in the longstanding tension between the two countries since China’s civil war in 1949.

Kabul, Afghanistan — Afghanistan is one of only three countries where polio is still endemic; however, its neighbor Pakistan has shown an increase in cases of the disease. A 3-year-old Afghan girl is thought to have contracted polio from her native Pakistan.

Fairhaven, Massachusetts — A small 2.4-magnitude earthquake rocked the towns of Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, and New Bedford on Tuesday at 5:46 pm. No damages were reported.

NEWS

February 7, 2014

HC Professor Discusses the Economics of the Olympics Megan Izzo News Co-Editor The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia has brought together thousands of economic theorists to speculate on the event’s impact in Sochi and beyond. Interest is heightened by the fact that these Olympics will likely carry the largest price tag in history at a projected cost of $50 billion—around $510 million for each event. Professor Victor Matheson of the Holy Cross Economics department is among those who have engaged in analysis to study the effects of the Olympics. Matheson specializes in the economic impact of “mega-sporting” events on host cities, and has published nearly three dozen academic papers on sports economics and economic From BSU, page 1 Pop Art was a slew of vibrant patterns, making use of the technique known as color blocking, which creates outfits with a few different solid colors. Finally, Futurism closed the show with predominantly heavy black makeup and leather.

In between the art periods were performances by the Fusion Dance Team and the Dance Ensemble.

There was also a prize giveaway with two attendees each winning a $25 gift card.

Overall, the amount of work that went into this production was immense. Everything was perfectly planned—from the hosts’ humorous interludes to each model’s unique hair and makeup. The mod-

impact analysis. Recently, he contributed to a New York Times article addressing the financial reality of the 2014 Games.

The article, written by David Gillen and Channon Hodge, acknowledges that the Games are often “billed as a boon” for host cities, “a two-week bonanza of tourism and valuable television time.” Matheson’s research, however, dispels that notion. “Economists generally find that local organizers and sports boosters routinely exaggerate the benefits and underestimate the costs of hosting major events such as the Olympics,” Matheson has previously written. “As a path to riches and long-term economic development, most Olympic hosts have been sorely disappointed.”

In fact, only a few host cities have experienced economic gain els mastered their bold runway struts and their sassy poses, while modeling outfits that were creative and inventive. The members of the BSU and fashion show committees saw their hard work pay off as the large crowd delivered boisterous and enthusiastic applause.

The BSU also hosted two events this past week in honor of Black History month. On February 11, the organization hosted a Motown 10-Spot in Crossroads to honor the racial integration between artists of different genres that Berry Gordy Jr. promoted as the founder of the Motown Record Company. On February 13, the BSU also hosted “Black Love” in Hogan Suite B/C from 6-8 p.m. in conjunction with a student panel.

following the Olympics. According to Matheson, when all costs related to the Games are taken into account, the likelihood of the Olympics ever causing a city major economic success is not high.

“If a city is using an expectation of a financial windfall as justification for hosting the Olympics, past experience suggests that the host will be in for a rude awakening.” Large-scale tourism, a major source of cost offset for host cities during major sporting events, is not necessarily guaranteed. Beijing’s 2008 Summer Games, for example, actually brought a drop in hotel bookings to the city.

“One of the things you’re always hoping is that you’ll have some long-term impact,” said Matheson. “And there had better be some sort of legacy, because if you’re going to spend $50 billion on the Olympics, like Russia, there’s no way you can possibly get that back in the two weeks that they are going on.” The best

outcome for Sochi would be for its new infrastructure—highways, hotels, venues—to contribute to future tourism. The 1992 Summer Olympics, for example, “put Barcelona on the map as a worldclass tourist destination,” and the city’s visitor counts have flourished ever since. However, the likelihood of the same occurring for Russia is almost certainly not as high, especially given President Vladimir Putin’s controversial politics.

In a recent Boston Globe article, Matheson also addressed Boston’s Olympic aspirations for 2024. Whereas other economists believe that every dollar spent on hosting would represent a “legacy investment” for the state of Massachusetts, Matheson believes that economic success is “a long shot.” However, he agrees that economics are not everything.

“The Olympics may not make us rich,” Matheson said, “but they make us happy.”

From KIMBALL, page 1

From ADULT, page 3

place months from now, big changes are already in place at other Holy Cross Dining locations. Regarding the changes, SGA Director of Dining and Auxiliary Services, Katie Werbner, ’14, stated, “I have been working with Dining throughout the year to have healthier options around campus…such as the stir-fry and rice bowls that have been instituted in Crossroads.

“Additionally, the weekend hours for Cool Beans have been extended to open earlier—which makes these facilities more accessible for students.”

the founder of the field in psychology that now studies this stage of emerging adulthood, and thus, the true expert on this topic.”

This presentation is perfectly suited for an audience on a college campus, because Arnett’s work on emerging adults is extremely relevant not only to students, but also to the faculty and student affairs staff that work with the “emerging adult” age group. As students transition from college to their personal and professional adult lives, Professor Arnett’s words may help them to be more conscious of the process of “emerging adulthood.”

Health Services Advises that Some Cancers Can be Avoided Martha Sullivan, FNP-BC Director of Health Services Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection in the United States: up to 80% of people will be infected with HPV. The HPV vaccine provides protection from the two most prevalent lowrisk HPV viruses (Types 6 and 11), which cause the majority of genital warts. It also protects against the two most prevalent high-risk viruses (Types 16 and 18), which cause cervical, vulvar, vaginal and anal cancer in women and anal cancer in men. The vaccine does not provide protection against HPV types to which a person has already been previously exposed, or HPV types not contained in the vaccine.

HPV genital warts and HPV infection of the genital tract are primarily transmitted by genital contact. Digital/anal and digital/ vaginal contact can also spread the virus. A recent study found HPV in 46% of women prior to first vaginal sex, and 70% of these women reported non-coital behaviors that

may in part explain genital transmission. Thus, even students who use condoms are not fully protected because the virus is spread by skinto-skin contact. Only students who refrain from any sexual activity are not at risk for HPV. The good news about HPV is that most adults who are young and healthy will clear the virus from their system within 6-12 months. However, a minority of young adults with persistent, highrisk HPV infections are at risk of developing pre-cancerous lesions.

There are two tests available to screen for HPV. For the Pap test, a healthcare provider collects cells from the cervix and sends them to a lab to determine whether the cells are abnormal. In women over 30 years of age, an HPV DNA test is performed to evaluate for persistent high-risk HPV. Female students on campus should familiarize themselves with the Pap smear guidelines for the majority of college-age women: • No screening for women younger than 21 years of age.

• Screening every three years for women 21 to 29 years of age.

• Anyone with an abnormal Pap

test or who has a compromised immune system should discuss their screening needs with their medical provider.

There are ongoing studies demonstrating the effectiveness of the HPV vaccine. One study in the USA demonstrated a 56% decline in HPV virus types 6, 11, 16 and 18 in females 14-19 years of age, a 20% decrease in all CIN2/3 (precancerous lesions) among 21- to 24-year-olds, and a substantial decrease in genital warts among female military members under the age of 26 between 2007 and 2010.

A study from Australia, where 80% of school-age girls are fully vaccinated, found that high-grade cervical lesions have declined in women under 18 years of age. In 15- to 24-year-old females, the proportion of genital warts cases declined by 85%, and genital warts have declined by 71% among males of the same age, indicating herd immunity.

Many would think that all young adults would get a vaccination to prevent cancer and genital warts, but currently only 33% of teens in the United States are fully vaccinated with all three doses. Vaccination

of adolescents before their sexual debut would help to decrease these cancer rates.

Health Services encourages all male and female students to obtain protection with the HPV vaccine, even if they are already sexually active. Currently, only 872 female students and 124 male students have received all three doses. If you have not completed the series, please schedule an appointment with your doctor or with Health Services. Health Services can help you arrange an appointment with UMASS/Memorial Hospital to obtain the vaccine. Health Services also encourages all female students over the age of 21 to obtain a Pap smear, a service which the College offers. Health Services physicians and nurse practitioners have years of experience screening for cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infections. Students who choose to obtain a Pap smear through Health Services will benefit from meeting with a health professional who has the time to perform a thorough examination and address all questions and concerns in a safe, confidential environment.

The Crusader

OPINIONS

Opinions

February 14, 2014

5

The Pulse of Events

“The Pulse of Events”: a page dedicated to the debates of our times.

This week’s topic: The Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Ryan Miller’s Time to Shine Julie Booth Opinions Co-Editor One of the hardest parts of leaving Western New York and coming to Holy Cross was leaving my hockey team’s territory. I love the Buffalo Sabres, and coming to Worcester meant no more of their games on TV. Thankfully, you can watch just about anything on the Internet nowadays; but still, nothing beats walking into First Niagara Center, breathing in the icy air, and cheering on my favorite hockey team.

However, since the NHL is on an “Olympic break,” I can’t watch the Sabres for a while. Yes, you can laugh at me all you want and joke about how I love a losing team— they’re not doing so hot, but I know they’ll come around! The Sabres may be on a losing streak, they may be last in the Atlantic Eastern Conference, and their L10

record may only be 2-7-1, but a girl’s got to have a little home-team pride, right? And that pride stems from the one and only Ryan Miller, starting goalie for the Sabres.

The only consolation for not being able to watch the Sabres games is, of course, getting to watch Buffalo’s beloved Ryan Miller play for Team USA in Sochi. This is Miller’s third time representing Buffalo and America in the Winter Olympics, and although the USA men’s hockey games haven’t started yet, I know he won’t disappoint.

Miller first represented the USA in the 2006 Winter Olympics when he was made a reserve on the team.

Unfortunately, he didn’t get to play that year. However, Miller played as the starting goaltender upon his return to the team in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. That year, he led the team to a silver medal (the gold went to Canada in a excitingly tense

overtime, and the bronze went to Finland), was voted MVP of the team, and was also placed on the all-star team. Later that same year, Miller also won the Vezina Trophy for being the best goaltender of that NHL season. Since the 2010 Olympics, Miller has continued to perform amazingly on the ice during the regular NHL season, even though the rest of the Sabres struggle to catch up. Miller is an outstanding player, which is difficult to see when his talent is overshadowed by the follies of his Sabres teammates. The Olympic rink, however, is where Miller’s talent never goes unnoticed.

Now, Miller is back for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, and if his past progression shows us anything, it’s that we can only expect more from this Sabres goalie. I couldn’t be more excited to watch him play this year and to

see if the drive that brought him the silver in 2010 will take him to the gold in 2014. As a Sabres fan and a Western New Yorker, I’m proud to say that my favorite goalie, Ryan Miller, is representing our country for the third time in the Olympics. He’s proven himself to be a Sabres fan favorite as well as an outstanding leader for both the Sabres and Team USA. The first game for Ryan Miller and Team USA is coming up on the thirteenth and is against Slovakia, which could be a tough competitor for America. Still, with winger Marian Gaborik’s collarbone injury, Slovakia is missing a top player, which could prove to be detrimental in the end, and with Ryan Miller holding down the net and with players like Zach Parise on the ice, I think Team USA has a great chance of winning.

Courtesy of The Daily Hampshire Gazette

Ryan Miller (right), with teammate Paul Martin, will play the first game for Team USA on the Thirteenth.

Was Sochi a Mistake? I Want to Be a ProVictoria Fritz Chief Opinions Editor I love the Olympics. There’s something powerful about tuning into the Opening Ceremonies and watching while half the world away your countrymen get emotional about how far they have come. And then there’s that awesome feeling you get when you see athletes representing the US kill it in their respective sport- watching them celebrate becomes so much more personal. So why is it, exactly, that the Olympic Committee chose to hold such a universally important sporting event in a country that can’t really seem to hold it together?

A little background to the Games location picking: the intention of awarding the Games to a certain location is to bolster its economy, while each location must also prove that it can support the traffic and cost of hosting. So here is where my first concern comes from pre-Olympics: Sochi was a small city whose economy centered around the fishing industry, home to about 350,000 people. In order to make way for the Olympics, and to make sure that Sochi could host all the events necessary, Russia spent upwards of 7 years building all-new arenas, hotels, and Olympic village at a price tag of around $50 billion. Not only is this more expensive than the past 13 Olympics combined, but much of the construction isn’t finished. Many hotels were not ready for athletes or mem-

bers of the press, and complaints about actual elements of competition tracks are being reported; halfpipe snowboarders continue to criticize the construction of the halfpipe, citing it to be too dangerous and forcing organizers to make adjustments after dozens of falls.

Criticizing Russia for spending money alone would be out of line- hosting the Olympic Games, by definition, is costly; Beijing, as the next most expensive Olympic location, reportedly spent $15 billion, though some will claim this is a gross underestimation. What helps to balance these costs is the overall profit made from hosting the Olympics- coming in from spectators, athletes, press, and continued profit from visitors or future events once the Games have finished.

The intent behind the awarding of the Games to a particular location is the idea that this location will be able to incorporate the construction into any existing infrastructure and continue to use it- and here is where my criticism lies. How on earth will Sochi be able to use any of the construction that $50 billion bought them?

Sochi is not, in any sense of the word, a vacation spot. Prior to its hosting of the Games, I had never even been aware of its existence. The people of Sochi have little use for the Olympic village or the many arenas constructed for the Games.

Think back to previous locations that did a great job incorporating the buildings into the

existing city: Atlanta’s Olympic buildings are still used today by colleges like Georgia Tech, and Barcelona’s arenas continue to be used for sporting events like this past summer’s X Games. What, exactly, is the potential for reusing Sochi Olympic infrastructure in the future? How could this location possibly continue to bring in revenue after the weeks of the Games have passed and the athletes have all gone home?

In addition to this come reports of terrorist attack near Sochi, turmoil over stringent antigay laws and their enforcement (with many world leaders refusing to attend), and reports that migrant workers from countries other than Russia made up the bulk of the workforce- putting money not into the Russian economy but into the economies of the countries around Russia. It’s nearly impossible to host the Olympic Games without something going wrong, be it delayed construction, budget oversights or another setback among the hundreds possible.

However, it seems to me that the controversies surrounding the current location have grown into a monster the IOC has never seen before. The choice was made for Russia to host years ago, but even then was it a wise one? I, for one, am intrigued to see how the rest of the Games play out and if Putin can manage to turn them around.

fessional Curler Garrett Bych Opinions Co-Editor

How awesome are the Olympics?

I mean, seriously. Where else can you find the gross mismanagement of funds, sketchy hotels, millions of people from every culture imaginable, and a bunch of maniacs jumping thirty feet in the air and (hopefully) landing gracefully? As the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi kick off, these are just several of the many story lines to be cognizant of. For me personally, nothing says “Olympics” like lazily sprawling across a comfy couch, bag of Tostitos and Queso dip in hand, observing the best athletes in the world compete in grueling events testing their physical and mental toughness.

While I gave up my aspirations of becoming a professional athlete over a decade ago, Sochi 2014 has reinvigorated my enthusiasm for one particular sport. As I embrace my final semester at Holy Cross, I have come to the conclusion that my resume is missing one key ingredient: “Professional Curler: January 2014-Present.” I have yet to walk this idea up the multiple sets of staircases to Hogan 2 where career services sits, but somehow I know they would approve. I mean, come on. Just try and tell me that you don’t want to gracefully slide on one skate, throw a huge metal object down a narrow path of ice, and then scream at the top of your lungs willing that metallic force to spin in just the right way. Or, if you’re not the throwing type, you could be a sweeper, mak-

ing the object land in the right spot by pushing ice in ridiculously rapid motions forcing everyone watching at home to almost die out of sheer excitement.

If you have gotten this far into my column, I am sure you now realize how little I actually know about curling. And while this may make you label me an ignorant fool, I would argue that it is sports like curling that are at the heart of what the Olympics are truly about. In America, we have our “Big 4” sports that come attached to titles like “world champion” “best athlete on the planet.”

While some of these labels may be true and others just blatantly false, there is not better stage than the Olympics for culturally diverse sports and athletes to come together and compete for the gold medal, a true description of World’s Best.

Curling, like many other Winter Olympic events, is not an activity widely seen in America today. This is part of what makes the Olympics such a special event. Once every four years, the world joins together in rather chilly fashion to embrace the beautiful yet intense competition that helps prove that the various peoples and traditions that live throughout our world really do have a sense of commonality tying us all together. So, for the next two weeks, let us all cheer, scream and shove Tostitos in our faces for all of the tremendous athletes in Sochi helping unite our world and inspire lazy students everywhere (like myself) that careers in curling may in fact be in our future.

The Crusader

6

OPINIONS

Time for a Road Trip Elizabeth O’Brien Co-Editor-in-Chief

What are some symbols of Valentine’s Day? Most people think of all the commercialized hearts, candy, extravagant cards, and teddy bears you can buy at nearly any store this month. It is the holiday hallmarked for couples. But why should we celebrate this holiday, and why should it matter if you’re single, in a relationship, married, or just confused about your relationship status? The point of Valentine’s Day is to love in general.

Love does not have a limited use that applies to a small portion of people.

The Christian roots of Valentine’s Day go back to the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia where a man would pick a woman’s name out of a hat and keep her as a companion for a year. Pope Gelasius I was against this practice, and changed it so men and women would pick saints to emulate for the year. The name Valentine comes from two men, whose names were both Valentine, executed in ancient Rome and their martyrdom was recognized by the Catholic Church.

Okay, enough of the history. The point I’m trying to make is that Valentine’s Day is supposed to be about emulating love and honoring sacrifices that were made out of love, not scrambling to find a

person you can label as “lover” or “valentine.” Why should we only have one valentine? Shouldn’t we be able to show our love for our friends and family as well? Valentine’s Day was fun as a kid because everyone in your class who you gave a card to was your valentine. This whole notion of Valentine’s Day only applying to couples is a misunderstanding of what the holiday should truly mean.

If you’ve given up on Valentine’s Day at least hear me out on this one point: use this day to celebrate love and friendship. Go on a day-trip with your friends and enjoy each other’s company. Take a trip to Boston or go skiing. Worry about who’s going to make the music playlist on the drive up, not how you’re going to sulk in misery tonight. Celebrate with your friendship like it is someone’s birthday or a vacation. If you don’t confine the concept “love” to two people, then you shouldn’t confine Valentine’s Day the same way either. Think of everyone you love, and those are the people that should motivate you to enjoy this holiday.

Now, call up your family and tell them you love them. Start sending out that group message about making plans together. Be spontaneous or meticulous, extravagant or practical in your plans. Make Valentine’s Day exciting like it was in elementary school where everyone is included.

Crimes and Misdemeanors Jonathan Thompson Co-Opinions Editor On February 1, 2014 Dylan Farrow, the adopted daughter of now divorced Mia Farrow and Woody Allen, wrote an open letter in the New York Times detailing her personal account of the abuse she dealt with in the early 1990’s from her now estranged adoptive father.

This news took the media by storm as many began to question both Allen and Farrow about the resurfacing allegations. On February 7, 2014 Allen responded to Farrow’s public tell-all, once again once again denying the charges that were brought against him in 1993.

After reading both letters and thinking about the highly personal effects of such a situation, I cannot help but sympathize with both parties. I’m sure that having this all play out in the public eye only exacerbates the pain and frustration felt by all involved.

Farrow’s heart-wrenching letter stood out to me. There was a sense of emotional release in her writing. After all these years of remaining quiet, and as Allen has received much acclaim for his beloved films, one can only imagine how difficult it was to finally tell her story. It is worth noting that roughly three weeks prior to the publishing of Farrow’s letter, Allen received the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 70th annual Golden Globe awards. This has been seen as a tipping point for this widespread debate as many think that Allen shouldn’t have received such an honor.

Allen’s main argument in his letter seems to be that Dylan (at seven years old) was “coached by Mia Farrow”. This makes me question Allen, as Dylan Farrow is now twenty-eight years old and perfectly capable of

February 14, 2014

In, Out Jackie Bellando Staff Writer It snowed last Wednesday on the Hill, and after looking out longingly at the eight accumulated inches, my roommates and I trudged outside to the back of Figge to go sledding. Fellow Figge seniors watched us from their back windows, some waving at the – I’m sure – ridiculous sight of three bundled-up-girls, slightly pudgy in layers of sweatpants and jackets. We went out on impulse, and it was well worth it. We made our own little path along the hillside and, somehow, managed to gain some speed sliding – and hysterical laughing – down.

Yet as soon as we were back in our apartment, all three of us had a second, probably much more typical of Holy Cross students, impulse: we stripped off our snowy layers and ran to our phones. You know the feeling. Whether it’s just to text a friend or to take (I’ll admit) a wonderfully addicting Buzzfeed quiz (“What Disney Princess Romance are You?”), we’re all guilty of succumbing to the iPhone app and social media craze.

Of course, there must be a

forming her own thoughts and opinions on what happened to her. After all, Farrow is the only person who can accurately tell her story.

It is just as vital that Allen come out with his statement. Without both letters it would be very simple to dismiss Allen as a sex offender, as many had (myself included) prior to February 7. Allen undoubtedly presents a solid argument as a panel of experts cleared him. He also passed a lie detector test that Mia Farrow refused to take in 1993. His argument that Dylan was coached could also be seen as viable, if indeed Farrow’s mind was affected by the ideas inflicted by Mia Farrow. Allen has always been a character of controversy in Hollywood as he still maintains his marriage with Soon-Yi Previn, Mia Farrow’s adopted daughter who was just 19 years old when their relationship began in 1991 (Allen was 56).

I cannot overemphasize how important it is that sexual assault victims come forth with their stories. Perhaps the most important thing to come out of this is the open dialogue about the issue of sexual abuse it has generated. It is safe to say that Farrow’s bravery could set an example for many victims struggling with whether or not to come forward.

As many have already said, the sad truth about this scandal is that in all likelihood, no one will ever know what truly happened. There has been nothing presented that clearly proves either Allen’s guilt or his innocence. As is the case with most sex crimes, as time has passed it has grown more and more unlikely that any such proof will ever surface. Overall I am saddened by this situation and hope that at some point, there will be a resolution for Farrow and Allen.

I’d like to leave with one final note: According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, in 2009 only 2-8% of sexual assault reports ended up being false.

reason we all love our phones; they provide endless entertainment and connection to our friends and the world, yet often ironically distract us from the world right in front of us. Last semester, I wrote an article questioning the growth of technology in the last ten years that described my elevenyear-old brother and his new LG phone. Well, this semester he received a second new technological treat: an iPad, free of charge for the spring, from his public middle school.

Indeed, the iPad is used for a few school assignments; but it can also be used to play games, adding to his slightly obsessive love of online gaming. I asked him today, “Why don’t you go play outside in the snow?” Annoyed, he responded, “No, it’s cold out! No one is even out there!” as he played Angry Birds on the iPad. Sure, we were all 90’s kids– we grew up on a healthy dose of Hey Arnold and Rocket Power, turning off our TVs to either go to sports practices, boy/girl scout meetings, or the like; and kids my brothers age, the “millennium babies,” still have extra-curricular activities and (not as cool) television shows to devour. Yet,

our entertainment was made up of limited, finite activities – we came home from soccer practice, the episodes of Doug ended. The social media taking up our time and my brother’s time, however, has no real time limit– and worse, no (also ironically) real “social” element to develop his face-to-face social skills. Imagine being in middle school today. I know I couldn’t be there, with a bunch of preteen, fighting-to-fit-in students not only running around, but running around with IPhones– and now, too, with iPads.

Is it really necessary to “go in” to our isolated iPhone, Mac, or iPad bubbles as often as we do? It scares me that the first thing my friends and I do when we spend time together is document our every move – our fancy entrees and drinks at a restaurant, our outfits going out on a Friday night. It scares me that my friends and I go out sledding only to come back in and, instead of sitting still and taking in the fun moment, go back into the iPhone domain. Do you remember what it was like before we lived with iPhones? Or perhaps a better question to leave you with: do you want to remember?

The Crusader OPINIONS

February 14, 2014

7

Free Thinking: In Defense of the New Year’s Resolution Sarah Free Staff Writer New Year’s resolutions don’t really have the best reputation. We seem to divide ourselves up into various camps of thought regarding their legitimacy (or lack thereof) as a cultural tradition. You have one camp claiming that resolutions are for the feeble-minded who need a designated day to kick start self-improvement, and the other claiming that we should not be culturally mandated to better ourselves, but should rather have an intrinsic motivation to become better people. Both of these trains of thought are framed in terms of deficiency, labeling a resolution as a tool for the weak, placing their emphasis on the fallibility of humans other than themselves.

Additionally, there are those who couldn’t care less about resolutions, neither forming nor expressing an opinion for or against

the idea. Lastly, there are the rest of us: the feeble-minded, unmotivated masses who partake—some half-heartedly, and others with gusto—in the resolution tradition.

I’ve never been particularly huge on resolutions. It’s not because I didn’t believe in them, but rather because my goals were always a little less “lose 10 pounds” and a little more “be healthier.”

Less “make five new friends” and more “appreciate those in my life more.” To me, resolutions were never about tangible, measurable goals that could be calculated, quantified, analyzed, and then spat out one year from now as either a checked box or an unfulfilled, empty square. They were goals that could be undertaken daily, that would make me more present, and whose success could only be measured by how I felt at the end of each day. If I faltered, tomorrow would provide me ample opportunity to start again. Many fail to realize this notion; it is the

underlying idea behind the resolution, rather than the resolution itself, that gives this tradition value.

New Year’s resolutions are sometimes viewed as a crutch for those who somehow cannot find it “within themselves” to decide daily to be better people. There is the claim that having time-sensitive, idealistic goals set before us are a way to escape from reality, and that they do not give us a realistic agenda to live by. Because resolutions are not often characterized by a prescribed course of daily action (e.g., consume X amount of calories every day for the next year), they allow us to ignore the timesensitive nature of our own lives.

They detract from our living in the present moment. What the antiresolution camps have in common is that we should be so fully immersed in the present that the future—hours that have yet to pass, and days that have yet to appear— should not take our focus away from living in the present moment.

This viewpoint emphasizes our mortality, and although it is naïve to completely ignore that our time on Earth is limited, resolutions allow us to envision and plan for the people who we wish to become, and who we plan on becoming. They ignore the fact that tomorrow may never come, but rather emphasize that simply having these goals immerses us deeper into reality, rather than taking reality away from us. When we are able to acknowledge where we fall short as people, we are simultaneously enabled to infuse a sense of possibility into our lives.

Resolutions inspire and foster a sense of possibility that living strictly in the present moment does not allow for. Without comparison points—now versus the past, the future versus now, and the past versus the future—we would have no sense of what exactly it means to become better people, let alone how we could become better people. Living in

the present is as necessary as the acknowledgment of both times passed and times yet to come.

Though our resolution efforts often end up falling short, changing course along the way, or being abandoned completely, it is the idea that there are times where we can and want to be better people that makes the New Year’s resolution worthwhile. The New Year’s resolution does not mandate strict adherence to whatever our ideas of a better self happened to be on January 1st, but rather allows for the acknowledgment of our own fallibility while emphasizing possibility. In a world where nothing is guaranteed—not the least of which, time—resolutions allow us, if only for a brief moment, to forget our own limited existence and believe that we have days ahead where we will become better than the 365 from which we just emerged.

Flapping The Bird At Social Media Gavin Reidy Staff Writer When I approached my roommate last week to ask why he was yelling out in anguish so much, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. “Flappy Bird!” he exclaimed. “How do you not have it yet?”

Moments later, I found myself tapping my finger on my iPhone screen, keeping some sort of flightless bird alive in a quasi Mario Brothers World. Though I sympathized with my roommate’s frustration with the game’s difficulty, I could not stop. I always needed to beat my high score, beat my friend’s high score, or at least pass the time. Throughout all of this, I always had a positive experience.

However, this was not the case for most “Flappy Bird” users.

“YOU BEST NOT BE DELETING FLAPPY BIRD BECAUSE I WILL MURDER YOU IF U DO,” wrote one Twitter user. A second enthusiastic user wrote: “If you delete flappy bird I will literally kill myself. It’s my drug and I am so addicted!!” A third emphatic Twitter user added “PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS TO MEEE PLEASEE…I’ll find you and I’ll kill you.”

These were all real comments left on Dong Nguyen’s Twitter page. Mr. Nguyen is the Vietnamese Indie game creator of “Flappy Bird” who has incurred the wrath of many “Flappy Bird” users. They hold him personally accountable for the pain and frustration that they experience while playing the game. Mr. Nguyen took all of this so personally that he felt the need to tweet from his personal account: “I can call ‘Flappy Bird’ a success of mine. But it also ruins my simple life. So now I hate it.”

Is the purpose of Social Media to cause this entire backlash? Mr. Nguyen did not create this app with the intent to ruin people’s lives. Though not much is known

about Mr. Nguyen, reading his Twitter page reveals that he has been creating games for 10 years. He has been creating not because it pays his bills, not because he is in between jobs, but because this is what he enjoys. This is what he loves to do with his life. Who are we, as Twitter and as Social Media users, to take that away from him?

One could make the argument that the “Flappy Bird” success is the biggest in app history, reportedly earning Mr. Nguyen over $50,000 a day at its peak.

Why couldn’t he just take the money and be happy? His self-proclaimed “simple life” could be greatly improved by his increased capital. Even if not, he might deserve the ridicule he is getting. He is putting himself out there by making an app available to the world, and by attaching his Twitter account to it.

On February 8th, Mr. Nguyen answered all of these naysayers in this Tweet: “I am sorry ‘Flappy Bird’ users, 22 hours from now, I will take ‘Flappy Bird’ down. I cannot take this anymore.” He refuses to give the power to these hurtful users. He refuses to have his life ruined any longer by these hurtful comments.

But Mr. Nguyen’s experience begs the previously posed question: Is this really the purpose of social media? To be hurtful and to ruin a simple man’s life? When we Tweet, post on Facebook, share a photo on Instagram, or any of the other social media sites, we must remember that it is available to the world, and our readers have feelings. Social Media is a wonderful tool to connect and reconnect, to inform and protect. It has the power to let the world know of any sort of information in the matter of seconds, but it also has the power to ruin lives, such as Mr. Nguyen’s.

So next time you think about tweeting about how frustrated you are about a certain individual, about a certain situation, or even just hitting Mario’s green pole, remember how hurtful your words can be.

Someone is always listening.

8 The Crusader

OPINIONS

February 14, 2014

Dear HC Athletics, Follow the Money: A Series Connor May Staff Writer When I turned 11 years old, my grandfather gave me two gifts: a purple Holy Cross Tshirt and money. I associated the color purple as a girly color and never heard of Holy Cross, so I threw the shirt in the back of my closet never to be worn.

Later, as I did every year on my birthday, I spent all my money at the Boston College bookstore.

We can all giggle and gaggle at the irony now, but there is an important lesson to this story that Holy Cross can greatly benefit from listening: sports branding!

Fast forward to my senior year in high school, I am interviewing at various small, liberal arts colleges like Holy Cross. There was one big outlier, which was of course Boston College. Here’s a school with a combined 14,000 undergrads and graduate students. When I knew I liked the small liberal arts school atmosphere, why did I apply here?

“Boston College has a mystique about it,” I told my parents and peers. I could not explain it then, but I understand now. I grew up watching Boston College sports on television with my family and friends. I was at their jam packed

first ACC football game ever played in 2005 vs. Florida State.

I remember having parties cheering their basketball team during their March Madness runs.

Boston College was part of my life, way before college was even a consideration for me. They were a brand that did not just sell to me strong academics and a pretty campus but memories that I have generated with them, since I was a baby. This resulted in copious amounts of birthday money from me, and a nice $60 check with an additional number on their admissions applications.

Boston College made a decision in the 1970s to develop itself as a sports brand. You may have heard of the Flutie Factor.

According to Boston College’s Spring 2003 magazine article, Phenomenology, after Doug Flutie’s famous Hail Mary pass that won Boston College the Orange Bowl in January of 1984, that fall the number of student applications in the admissions department rose 16% and then another 12 % the following year. To be fair, this was in an era when Boston College was expanding their student body and so actively recruiting a wider national base, but they cemented this idea that becoming a nation-

ally known school in sports does aid a school’s prestige. I was a product of their investment in sports by spending all my birthday earnings there for years, as well as a nice $60 application check and an additional number on their admissions stats.

College sports are entertaining, and millions of people are fans.

The jersey with the school’s logo is the greatest marketing tool that a school has. When alumni see their school doing well at a big time sport, this can generate affinity for their alma mater resulting in donations for the school. When a school’s sports team plays on national television consistently, the national population is familiarizing themselves with the school, and so the school establishes a wider fan base. This means more money for the school: ticket sales, apparel sales, television contracts, and even companies like Nike and Adidas competing for better sponsorship packages. This also affects admissions. The more people that know about Holy Cross, the greater the prestige, which means more applications and a lower acceptance rate.

George Mason and Butler University are two prime examples of schools that invested

The Roving Reporter “Life is too short to blend in.”

-Vanessa Herrera ’14

“All incoming freshmen should know how to pronounce Worcester right.”

in their basketball programs and received great results for their school’s prestige.

For those of you not familiar with the NCAA’s March Madness tournament, it is a basketball playoff consisting of the top 64 teams in the nation. Teams are ranked 1 to 16, 1 being the best and 16 being the worse. George Mason Basketball was seeded #11 in the 2006 March Madness tournament. They made an unexpected run to the Final Four. According to Bill Pennington’s article in the New York Times, “In the first admissions cycle after the Final Four appearance, the number of out-of-state applications to George Mason rose by 54 percent … Visits to the admissions department’s web site increased by 150 percent.” The article even mentioned that there was a 25% increase in alumni donations the next year. Butler University was seeded #9 in the March Madness, and the team made an unlikely run to the Championship game in 2010. According to Jonathan Mahler, a reporter for the Indiana Gazette, his article, titled “Fast Track for Collegiate Credibility,” the national exposure from Butler University’s run in the tournament generated precisely $639,273,881.82 worth

of publicity for the school. That statistic does not include the rise in merchandise and ticket sales, or charitable giving. In addition, applications next fall increased by 41% from the previous year.

These are staggering numbers!

Television is the main broker between a college’s sports and their national audience. Football and men’s basketball hold the biggest television contracts, followed by men’s college hockey.

Holy Cross needs to invest more money into one of these sports, if we want to see our school as a sports brand. I believe our athletics department is watering its potential down because of the way we have chosen to invest in our sports up to this point. I will explain myself in my next article, along with the pros and cons of investing more of our available funds in each of the three sports listed previously.

Above is Part One in a weekly series.

Read again next week to find out more!

If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be?

“Don’t live life with regrets.”

-Yeraldine Vasquez ’14

“Get involved with things you are passionate about.”

-Christina Richardson ’14

“Never underestimate yourself.”

-Brendan Doherty ’17

“Don’t hesitate to form new friendships and relationships.”

-Gary Acquah ’14

-Andrew Cook ’15

Compiled by Michelle Moreno-Silva

The Crusader FEATURES

Features

Crusader of the Week:

Justin Grabowski, ‘15 Natalie Correa Features Co-Editor Name: Justin Grabowski Year: 2015 Hometown: Beverly, MA Major: Philosophy Best Dorm: Wheeler Favorite Animal: Chinchilla Favorite Book: Jean-Paul Sartre’s Existentialist Theory of Consciousness Favorite Color: Robin’s Egg Blue Favorite Movie: Avatar by James Cameron Favorite Song: “Say It Right” by Nelly Furtado Favorite TV Show: Game of Thrones Favorite Holy Cross Class: Ethics Favorite Meal On Campus: Salad Bar in Kimball Favorite Professor: Professor John Manoussakis Favorite Off-Campus Restaurant: Chipotle Campus Activities: Ballroom Dance, RA, Ignation Gentlemen Advice for fellow Crusaders: Be authentic.

Guilty Pleasure: In-House Coffee Embarrassing Story: When I was 6 years old, I filled the locks of my family’s car with mulch.

Hobbies: Magic Pet Peeve: Passive-Aggression Starbucks Drink: Grande Dark Roast—Black

Number One Thing On Your HC Bucket List: Break into the Exorcism Room

Your Mantra: Be the kind of person that when your feet hit the floor, the devil says, “Oh crap! He’s up!”

Twitter or Instagram: Twitter Crossroads or Kimball: Kimball Where Do You See Yourself In Ten Years?: In the mirror Goals for Second Semester: To boost my GPA! If you know someone who shoud be the Crusader of the Week, email us at crusader@g.holycross.edu with you suggestion.

Astrologer Weekly: Compatibilites Hannah Shaw Features Co-Editor On a day all about love, I thought I’d explain a little about astrological compatibilities. Compatibilities are one of those hot topics in the world of astrology. Do they work? Don’t they? There isn’t exactly a right answer. Star sign compatibilities tend to work, but as in all matters of love, it’s hardly an exact science.

First, which signs are compatible? Answering this will take a little background information. The zodiac signs can be divided into four separate groups. Each group is representative of an element: fire, earth, air, and water. The fire signs include Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.

The earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Air signs: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. Water signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. While all signs have their own distinct qualities, the signs of the same element tend to have more in common and in astrology, opposites attract.

So, the general consensus is that fire signs dig air signs and earth signs are quite taken with water signs. The logic behind this is a

matter of extraversion and introversion. Regardless of whether you would call yourself an introvert or an extravert, the characteristics behind each elemental house are divided between extraversion qualities and introversion qualities. The air signs and the fire signs are generally considered the extraverts, while the earth signs and the water signs are assumed to be the more introverted personalities.

A tip to find your astrological other half: If you’re a fire sign: your astrological soul mate will be a person with big ideas, always talking about their next great scheme If you’re an earth sign: try to seek out a “creative-type.” According to the stars, your love is an intuitive soul who is all about self-expression If you’re an air sign: look for a love with a sense of adventure! Your astrological match is known for their enthusiasm If you’re a water sign: pursue your next interest with the stars in mind, a down-to-earth love, who is both practical and sentimental.

February 14, 2014

9

Faculty Spotlight Professor Todd Lewis

Maggie Walsh Chief Features Editor

In 1990, Professor Todd Lewis came to Holy Cross as a pioneer for the Asian religious studies program here at the College. In teaching Comparative Religion, Hinduism and Zen Buddhism, Professor Lewis gets “some of the best students in the college” who are “interested in exploring outside of the boundaries that Holy Cross would normally have.” Many students enter his classes looking to learn more about Asian religions and, in doing so, come “to understand their own faiths on a deeper level.”

During an alumni event at which Professor Lewis gave a mini-lecture on Zen Buddhism, an alum spoke out saying “You know, when I was here in the 60s, you would have never been here.” Rather than speaking with skepticism, the alum praised the Asian religious studies program, finishing with “and I’m glad you are because the world has changed.” Professor Lewis has left an impression on both the religious studies program and the student body as

a whole, often giving his advisees the advice to, in a practical sense, “get more sleep and be organized” but also “when you come across the boundary of what you know, to not accept that boundary.”

For Professor Lewis, part of testing these boundar-

figure out what the course of your life is going to be.”

Though he claims to hold little back from his students, they may not know Professor Lewis is an avid cross-country skier—so as you cross your fingers for a snow day, you can guarantee that he will be doing

ies requires students to study abroad and, as an advisor for the Sri Lanka program, he cites studying abroad as one of the most transformative experiences a person can have, since “the world is globalizing so quickly that without that experience, it’s really hard to

just the same. With his love for adventure and for pushing students’ understanding past its comfortable boundaries— religious and otherwise—Professor Lewis’ classes have the potential to change students’ worldviews profoundly.

The Art of the Love Letter Mike Dunbar Love Letter Scholar You don’t have time.

You’re no good at writing. You’re out of paper.

Get all the excuses out of the way up front. It’s time to write a love letter.

You’ve heard the tired complaints about how “no one writes letters anymore.” It’s not true, of course. Love letters haven’t died. Last year, the USPS processed 158 billion mail pieces. Not all of those could be people mailing in their taxes.

Letter-writing has new meaning in our generation. We no longer need to write letters to keep in touch. The necessary evil has lost its necessity.

When you get a letter in 2014, it has a Christmas morning feeling. Imagine the smile you could give your amor today when she opens her mailbox and sees an envelope with her name on it tucked next to the Dominos flyer and the Seelos schedule. What does your beau realize when he gets a little note from you (even if it’s

only a page)? He realizes you consider him, quite literally, worth your time. And time, as we all know at Holy Cross, is our most valuable currency.

Now, the little issue of what to say. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to be John Keats. You just have to be you.

Be conversational, be disorganized, be honest. Try writing in ink, too. You’ll misspell words and you’ll phrase things awkwardly. You’ll worry you don’t sound cool enough.

Perfect. Now, lick the envelope and drop it in the box.

It’s good to see how others have tackled this challenge throughout history. Here are a few excerpted examples. Note that even geniuses struggle to get their feelings across, and the result is charming: Beethoven to his “Immortal Beloved:” ...We shall surely see each other; moreover, I cannot communicate to you the observations I have made during the last few days touching my own life—if our hearts were always close together I would make none of

the kind. My heart is full of many things to say to you—Ah!—there are moments when I feel that speech is nothing after all—cheer up—remain my true, only treasure, my all as I am yours; the gods must send us the rest that which shall be best for us.

Vita Sackville-West to Virginia Woolf: But oh my dear, I can’t be clever and stand-offish with you: I love you too much for that. Too truly.

You have no idea how stand-offish I can be with people I don’t love.

I have brought it to a fine art.

But you have broken down my defenses. And I don’t really resent it.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning to Robert Browning: And now listen to me in turn. You have touched me more profoundly than I thought even you could have touched me—my heart was full when you came here today. Henceforward I am yours for everything...

Now, pick up a pen, tear out some notebook paper, and go.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Love,

The Features Editors

10 The Crusader

FEATURES

February 14, 2014

Finals Week in León, Spain: Experiences Studying Abroad Emma Cronin Study Abroad Staff Writer I remember the day like it was yesterday: I was sitting in a sunny classroom at the University of León, listening to our program director, Mercedes, explain cultural differences between Spanish and American university life. It was September 3rd, and I had arrived in León just two short days before.

I was still adjusting to the city and family that would become my own for the year, and although I appreciated Mercedes’ advice, I’m not sure I fully understood it.

Fast forward four months, and while sitting in the library preparing for an exam worth over 75% of my grade, I finally understood what Mercedes had attempted to explain when we arrived. The Spanish university system is completely different than the American system.

Spain, along with a few other countries in Europe, still relies on an incredibly traditional form of education. The majority of classes are lecture-based, without any form of student participation, and a student’s evaluation lies in his or her performance on a massive cumulative exam at the end of the semester.

In the fall, I didn’t think too much of that though, I was just glad to receive a break from constant homework, presentations, and papers. That is, until finals week rolled around.

Overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information I needed to memorize, along with the fact that everything was in my second language, I found myself longing for the days in Dinand when I slaved over papers, or the countless nights spent in Hogan working on group projects.

I was accustomed to finals that were just a small addition to my grade, so the thought of the final as my only form of evaluation was unbelievably stressful. To top it all off, the exams were based on facts – that is, my ability to absorb information and rewrite it on the exam.

As a Political Science major, I’m not typically required to memorize. Of course, there is some level of memorization in all subjects, but as students at a liberal arts college, we are tested more on our ability to analyze, criticize, and form conclusions than our ability to regurgitate information.

Needless to say, final exams were tough. Studying abroad is an incredible experience – but

The Hundred Days Games

Maureen Dougherty Staff Writer

“…And so it was decreed, that each year, the various residence halls and off-campus houses of Mount St. James would offer up in tribute, senior men and women to fight for their dignity in a pageant of friendship, unity, but mostly: inebriation.”

The DCU center is the arena. All seniors in attendance are tributes, who all coincidentally volunteered by purchasing a completely overpriced ticket (this is a very loose metaphor, bear with me). All of us volunteered because of the chance to leave as a victor. Victory can mean leaving with fond (or any) memories, having a fun night with friends, or to be perfectly honest, making some sort of connection with that person you’ve been pining for since freshman year.

In Panem, a Career is someone who has trained their whole life to compete in the Games. They see this as a golden opportunity rather than a test to be endured.

An HC Career is someone in possession of a mental or physical list. They enter the arena with one goal: to come out victorious: names crossed off a piece of crumpled loose-leaf paper. I am equal parts terrified and intrigued to see the fanatical HC Careers.

Most of us are not Careers, but just regular tributes trying to survive (i.e leave with our dignity).

the first word is “study”, and that’s not always easy. Now that my exams are over though, I feel strangely thankful for the experience. I know it’s cliché, but it’s only in times of stress or hardship that one realizes the truly important people in life.

For me, finals week made my friendship with the other HC students in León even stronger – they helped me cram for my Medieval Literature exam and understood my pain as I told them that all I wanted was my spot in the stacks in Dinand.

This month, I found more reasons to love my host mother, as well; she made my favorite meals and brought me cups of coffee late at night, all because she was wanted me to “sacar buenas notas” on all of my exams.

Final exams have been the most challenging aspect of my study abroad experience thus far, and although I thought I’d never say this, I’ll be happy to return to my place in the library, midnight breakfast, and even the occasional all-nighter next year.

For now, though, I’m grateful for the experience, my host mother, and all the friends who have helped me along the way.

There will be Katniss Everdeens in attendance. These are underdogs who come out victorious. These blessed, lucky individuals don’t flaunt their talent at navigating social settings with music, dancing, and members of the opposite sex.

No one expects them to thrive, but they do! These people are rare, but I know they exist, and I’m totally rooting for them! Their success stories are the reason the rest of us poor slobs bought tickets.

I, like many others, am Peeta Mellark in this very poorly constructed metaphor. Peeta and I both have strong feelings for bread but the most important similarity we share is that we could NEVER win the Hunger Games without our allies. Let’s say that Peeta’s lack of survival skills, common sense, and overall uselessness is symbolic of social awkwardness.

My allies are my friends who love me and stick with me despite my inability to handle social situations with grace. I know that no matter what happens, if I am not on anyone’s list, or (the more likely situation) I am on everyone’s list and can’t handle all the attention and praise, I am going to be fine because I will be rolling in with my fabulous and loyal crew. So, to my fellow seniors I say this: let’s enjoy this last night together, let’s sing Timber and let’s celebrate how far we’ve come as a class. May the odds be ever in your favor.

Juan Pablo’s Week: Catching up with The Bachelor Karina Camargo Staff Writer The minute I found out that this season of The Bachelor would feature a Latin Bachelor, I was all ears. Being Mexican-American and Greek-American myself, I love when pop culture incorporates cultural diversity. First, let me just point out that I was never a huge fan of this show. I think the whole idea is pretty superficial and forced but after actually watching it for the first time, I find it entertaining. It’s a guilty pleasure, harmless.

I don’t know if you all are joyously plugged into the TV every Monday night to watch JP capture the girls’ hearts and cause chronic anxiety for every moment of uncertainty, but I started putting it on my calendar to watch with my girlfriends.

If you don’t keep up with the show, but are interested in being filled in on the past 5 weeks of drama, I can do that for you. To start off, let me tell you a little bit about El Bachelor.

His name is Juan Pablo Galavis and he’s a Venezuelan former professional soccer player. He’s also a 32-year-old, single parent with a daughter named Camila. His good looks, charming sense of humor, cute accent, and his love for all things music and dance, are some of the things that cause all of the girls to swoon over him whenever they are near. This past

week though was definitely a true game-changer in the competition.

One of the aspects of the show that I really appreciate is the fact that they get to travel all the time. Who would’ve thought that there’d be the slightest bit of education in a show like this? All jokes aside, this past week the whole gang went to Vietnam. Juan Pablo chose to take Renee, another single parent, currently from Florida, but actually born in MA (reppin’ the home state), on the first one-on-one date. Together they explored the charismatic and seemingly scorching-hot city. Other one-on-one dates so far this season have included a winter wonderland in LA with Clare, a half Mexican hairstylist from Cali; a nice dinner in Seoul, Korea with Sharleen, an opera singer from Germany, and more.

This week was the last week where it was clear who he would send home at the rose ceremony.

Juan Pablo seems to be very open and obvious about his feelings towards the girls he likes as well as the ones with which he knows there’s no connection. It’s about to get real exciting because as the number of girls decreases, the playing field seems to be getting more even and he’s going to have to make some pretty tough decisions. As of right now, I’m predicting that Nikki and Kat will be the next ones to go, but we’ll have to wait and see.

“Lone Survivor” Popular War Film Inspires Controversey

John Gray Staff Writer Last month’s “Lone Survivor”, a film based upon the real-life experience of Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, set an opening weekend record and is the highest-grossing film about the Afghanistan war, earning a domestic total beyond $100 million. The film’s subject matter and its immense popularity has elicited various reactions.

The controversy stems from a critical scene at the end of the film’s first act: Luttrell’s company of 4 soldiers, on a classified mission to assassinate Taliban military leader Ahmad Shah, is discovered by a group of goat herders just outside Shah’s encampment. The SEALs must decide whether to kill civilians or let them go. The SEALs discuss both options and ultimately decide to release the civilians.

Shortly after, Taliban from the encampment engage the SEALs in a firefight that will lead to the death of 3 of the company, along with 16 other American military personnel. Many people feel that the option of killing the villagers

(one of which is a child, another a teenager) defames the troops.

Eric Eliason, a chaplain for a Special Forces Group that patrolled the same river valley in the Pech District of Konar Province in 2004, just one year before the film’s events, wrote, “We passed goatherds [and shepherds] almost daily... Never once did we think to detain, let alone kill, them.”

Eliason believes that to portray the soldiers considering committing a war crime as “routine” casts a bad, and false light on the troops.

The top-secret nature of their mission and number of hostile combatants in close proximity, hardly qualify as routine circumstances.

Routine or not, the film is at least somewhat accurate in its depiction: the debate did take place.

Luttrell recounts the events in an interview with Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes: ‘We talked about zip tying ‘em and leaving ‘em... zip tying ‘em and taking ‘em... We talked about zip tying and eliminating the threat, the human threat.’ Many, like Eliason, believe the film unjustly vilifies the Afghani people.

The film explicitly shows a cause and effect relationship between the goat herder’s release and the Taliban attack. Eliason points out that, ‘Any number of things, from poor contingency planning to Talibs with binoculars, could have compromised [Luttrell’s] team.’ While it’s true that we can’t know for sure how the troops were discovered, it’s unfair to say the film vilifies Afghanis. Granted the entire second act is basically a Taliban shooting gallery; though this is more characteristic of cinematic exploitation of unpopular political groups, in the same vein as the piles of dead Nazis found in old Ronald Reagan movies. Perhaps the most valiant character in the film is Mohammad Gulab, one of many Afghani villagers who shelters Luttrell from the Taliban at great personal cost.

The film doesn’t earn the controversy surrounding it, but what the movie does justify is its immense popularity. Behind all the politics is one of the most visually dazzling and well-paced action films in recent years.

The Crusader

FEATURES

Valentine’s Day Attire: Flirty, Fabulous, & Feminine Natalie Correa Staff Fashionista Whether you have romantic plans this Valentine’s Day or not, there is no excuse as to why you can’t look festively fashionable in honor of this lovely national holiday. Here are some quick tips on how to dress to impress, or just simply to look good for yourself, for a good outfit never goes to waste.

1. Red, Pink, & Purple Who says you can’t rock pink, red, and purple on the same day?! I absolutely love this color combination and cannot wait to give it a try soon! Although I prefer pink all the way (just saying), it is quite essential that you wear and WERK one of the three colors above. I would mix any of these colors together or with

white pieces, or for any of you “antiValentine’s day-er’s” out there, any of these three colors can definitely be pulled off with black for an edgy look.

February 14, 2014

How Nicholas Sparks is Ruining Valentine’s Day Maggie Walsh Chief Features Editor

He’s not going to write you 365 letters. He’s not going to write you every day for a year. No one has the time or patience to handwrite 365 letters and mail them every single day. So why would anyone 3. The Three F’s It’s all about the personality! No one do this when they could text owns one’s outfit unless they feel Fab- “hey” in five seconds or less?

Some girls may claim that ulous, Fierce, and Free in it. So what if chivalry is dying or that no you don’t have plans for Valentine’s Day, one really dates anymore, but don’t act like a “wanna-be,” rather be as society evolves, the presthe Crusader everybody WANTS to be. sure put on relationships must adjust appropriately. If you’re I hope you all have a glamorous a bird, he probably doesn’t V-Day! want to be a bird too. Maybe xoxo -Nat he hates birds. This shouldn’t mean he doesn’t like you.

Every girl I know has watched Nicholas Sparks’ “The Notebook” upwards of ten times, and with every mindon’t—unless you want to make this ute of romantic screenplay, your reputation, then go right ahead. they fall more in love with Noah and less in love with the 2. Eat a big dinner! Since the event starts after dinner, make sure you eat a nice calorie-filled dinner before starting to drink. You will thank yourself later! And do you really want to not be able to get on the bus, or worse Stefanie Schefter —get transported from the DCU?!

Features Co-Editor 3. Make a list. Interpret this as you Whenever the ides of Febmay, whether it is to make a list of the ruary roll around, I’ve noticed top five Holy Cross hotties you have people usually have one of had a major crush on for the past four two opinions about Valentine’s years or if it is a bucket list for senior Day: that it’s a fun way to celyear. Sadly, having 100 days left means ebrate your cute new (or old) only 100 more days of living with your boyfriend, or that it’s a painfully best friends, so make every day count. lonely “single awareness” day.

I’ve been on both ends of 4. Have fun. Enjoy the moment and this spectrum. As Valentine’s make the most of it. If your dress rips Day approaches again this year, because it’s left over from high school, I’m reminded of a new perlaugh about it because this is it, folks. spective I got last year, while These are the so-called “glory years,” studying abroad at St Andrews. so dance until you can’t dance anymore.

Valentine’s Day last year Ask Anytime, brought with it a bright and Alannah sunny Tuesday, unseason2. Hearts, Hearts, Hearts Of course anything with a heart on it is absolutely acceptable. Although it looks so cliché, it still epitomizes Valentine’s Day.

Ask Alannah Alannah Heffernan Features Alum

Dear Alannah, 100 Days is this Friday, and I’m scared.

Sincerely, The Senior Class Dear Senior Class, Don’t be scared! It’s all in good fun and you’ve come this far so what’s another 100 days or so? Follow these tips to make your 100 Days Ball a success.

The tips to succeed: 1. Don’t be THAT girl/guy. While it is socially acceptable to go a little wild, remember that the girl who makes out with 40 people, will always be remembered at reunions (and for the next 100 days) as that girl who made out with 40 people. So

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real lives they are living. The possibility of a guy writing you letters evolves into expectation and plagues the female mind.

If you’re sitting around waiting for Noah to climb his way up a Ferris wheel towards your heart, you shouldn’t hold your breath. There’s a difference between settling and adjusting your expectations, and it’s a disparity to be conscious of.

Genuine love exists and people do romantic things all the time, but the media has seized the hearts of every woman in society and forced us to hold love to an impossible standard.

I too have fallen victim to the allure of Ryan Gosling’s multitude of romantic comedy characters, but—I hate to break it to you—he probably doesn’t behave like that in real life.

My intention isn’t to crush the hopes and dreams of every romantic crusader, but to provide some perspective for Valentine’s Day skeptics. If you find yourself hating today

regardless of your relationship status, lower your expectations. He isn’t going to write you a poem or a love ballad but if he sends you a text, it means he was thinking about you.

Guys should be kind and be gentleman but they should not be expected to go to any extremes that you wouldn’t go to in return. A genuinely good person who loves you should not be at all discredited for not meeting the ridiculous expectations that you probably didn’t even tell him about. He isn’t a mind reader, and neither are you.

As enticing as the romantic comedy movie industry is, how often do you leave the theater with a heart full of envy as every girl breathes, “I want that” upon her exit?

Envy is one of the deadly sins, after all. I wouldn’t expect your crush to start single-handedly building your dream house anytime soon.

A New Perspective ably warm for the middle of February in Scotland. I either didn’t have class or I chose not to attend, either way I spent the day mulling around historic and scenic St Andrews, basking in the sunlight and sipping on an iced coffee with friends.

We meandered down to West Sands beach, the famous and scenic shoreline of the North Sea. My friends and I set down blankets and towels and sat out on the rocky outcroppings.

As I watched the waves break at my feet and felt the brisk Scottish air whip past my face, I remember thinking to myself, single or not,

how awesome it was to be living in a foreign country, surrounded by people who had come to be some of my best friends.

So—this Valentine’s Day, if you’re feeling bummed about being single, go out and do something fun with the people you love.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be about sharing love with a significant other—share love with your friends, your siblings, or even just do something for you.

Fall in love with a new experience or place this Valentine’s Day.

Mixtape

100 Days (& V-Day) Playlist Julia Midland Staff D.J Welcome back music junkies. The column has been on a bit of hiatus, but never fear, good music is here.

Here is a compilation of tid-bits picked up from over break along with some 100 Days Ball themed music (oh ya Valentine’s Day too).

100 Days & Valentine’s Day 1. “Kiss Me” New Found Glory (angsty punk rock cover of a 90’s classic) 2. “Bigger than Prince [Hot Since 1982 Remix]” Green Velvet (Kick Drum, Kick Drum, Kick Drum.)

3. “Confident” Justin Bieber feat.

Chance the Rapper (emphasis on

Chance, he is amazing, good download his free mixtapes, now.)

4. “Te Quiero [Paul Kalkbrenner Remix]” Stromae (Belgian pop star known for Alors en Danse. Fascinating specimen, great music.)

5. “Modern Love” David Bowie (Isn’t that what we’re all doing?)

6. “Feel the Love” Rudimental (Can’t get enough of this UK ensemble) 7. “Fall in Love” Phantogram (Warm fuzzy on your insides music) 8. “Says She Loves Me” Aer (A song about hooking up!!!!!1) 9. “Drunk in Love” Beyonce (Come on.)

10. “F For You” Disclosure (Just listen to this whole album, why

don’t ya?)

Other Cool Tracks 1. “Crane Your Neck” Lady Lamb and the Beekeeper 2. “Daddy was a Real Good Dancer” Dismemberment Plan 3. “Holding on For Life” Broken Bells 4. “Paris” Lizzo 5. “Donkey” Sleaford Mods 6. “Easy Easy” King Krule 7. “Boris” Lo-Fang 8. “Pumpin Blood [Acoustic]” NONONO 9. “This is the Last Time” The National 10. “Love More Worry Less” Bipolar Sunshine

12 The Crusader

FEATURES

February 14, 2014

The Eggplant The Crusader’s Satirical Page A Better’s Guide to the George Zimmerman Vs. DMX Fight Nick “Nico” Fasano Italian American Our culture revolves around money and visually appealing things. If its flashy, colorful and mildly entertaining America is all about it.

This cultural phenomenon is exactly why boxing is one of America’s great pastimes. We go to the ring, bet money on it, lose a large portion of it, and probably get in a fight in the stands.

It’s so important to our culture that cinema has captured it and all of its glory in movies like Rocky and Bruce Dern’s Diggstown. We all love the thrill of two unnaturally strong men beating one another to a pulp and betting money on it. It’s only logical that we continue this legacy of greatness with a boxing match between two of America’s best (read worst) personalities: DMX and George Zimmerman.

This is going to be just like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. A legendary clash of titans that will decide who ultimately rules the cosmos, just like Zeus versus Hades. In fact, so much money is going be staked on this match that if you’ve chosen to be major in Bookmaking

you may as well plan on an early retirement. You’re going to have more clients than you know what to do with, you might as well make bets like whether or not DMX raps in the ring or if Zimmerman is going to cry after or before the first round.

Of course though, the biggest bet of all is without a doubt going to be who wins. I’m hedging my bets with X. He’s got a criminal record longer than our college’s mission statement and he is most definitely pissed off.

No one is really sure why he’s so mad (it probably has to do with being bankrupted by his child support payments for his 12 kids) but when he’s mad he’s been known to violently shout the lyrics for X Gon’ Give it to Ya, entering a superhuman trance, unable to feel pain or not speak without rhyming and shouting. It’s a matter of time before the man is foaming at the mouth like a rabid pitbull, and from then on the Zimm Zamm is flimm flammed.

That’s scary stuff in the ring and I wouldn’t be surprised if most of you are counting Zimmerman out already.

I would caution against that however because Vegas is

much smarter than you think.

First of all, they would never allow a fight like this to go down unless they really believe that Zimmerman could hold his own in the ring.

And second of all, it’s also entirely possible that DMX is going to bet every penny to his name (Zero dollars and zero cents) on Zimmerman and throw the match just like Butch Coolidge in Pulp Fiction. You honestly can’t put it past him, he recently crashed a man’s wedding and rapped X Gon’ Give it to Ya (and yes he entered aforementioned trance) just for the laugh.

Either way here I think you’re going to net out on your utils if you bet on this match. You watch what American’s do best, making fools of ourselves for money and you could make an easy buck.

At this point its hard to tell who’s going to come out on top so I would advocate strongly for the specialty bets that have nothing to do with the outcome.

It is absolutely essential to keep one thing in mind though when you’re betting on or watching this charade, remember that without a doubt, X Gon’ Give it to Ya.

Student Narrowly Escapes Death in Loyola Cecilia Wolfe Shakes Your Confidence Daily Public Safety received a frantic emergency call last Sunday morning at 8am when the body of a freshman male was discovered in one of the back stairwells of Loyola Hall.

“It was the smell that attracted me first, like Dominos cheesy bread mixed with cotton candy-flavored Burnetts,” said Patrick O’Konis, the sophomore Loyola resident who made the call.

This is the second near-fatal incident the dorm has had this year.

Back in January, two girls were found huddled by the basement vending machine after a long Saturday night, with no memory of how they got there and no concept of how to escape the building.

The layout of Loyola baffled even the architects who designed it in 1689, after basing their blueprints off of a game of Temple Run. “The problem is that these crazy kids go there on the weekend for their shenanigans and can’t remember how to get the heck out,” says Officer Krupke, on behalf of Public Safety. Containing the college’s Health Services, a Ballroom, dorms, a gym, the Presidential Suite, offices, a secret swimming pool, a ferris-wheel, and a helicopter landing pad, the building has come to

be known as the Narnia of campus.

Demands are being made by students and parents that each stairwell come with an EMT-trained Eagle Scout, to assist lost students who visit the dorm on weekends.

Another petition is making its way around Cool Beans to install GPS directional guides that attach to the highly popular hydration stations.

The Board of Directors will discuss this issue at the next meeting.

The college for years organized haunted house labrynths throughout the hall. It was a low cost project, as tours were only ran on Saturday mornings when the halls looked like a haunted house to begin with, but students complained that there were “privacy” issues, and the last ride took place in 2004 when a small child was thrown up on.

In the meantime, college administrators are asking for a suspension of all festivities in Loyola.

“We hope that Williams and Figge start attracting more students on the weekends, for the safety of everyone involved,” Father Boroughs said in a statement to the press. If any of our readers plan to venture into Loyola’s labyrinth, we highly recommend unraveling a large ball of yarn as you go—just remember to tie one end to your pinky. Good luck.

Dozens Injured in Kimball “Chicken Parm Brawl” Abe Froman Definitely His Real Name Black eyes and broken noses were abundant on campus this past week as students are still recovering from last Thursday’s incident at Kimball, which has been dubbed “The Chicken Parm Brawl.” The incident was the worst case of student on student violence at Holy Cross since the infamous “St. Patrick’s Day Bludgeoning” of 1978, in which Catholic and Protestant students drunkenly battled each other in viscous hand-to-hand combat on Caro Street. The administration released a statement following the Kimball incident, stating, “we by no means condone the primitive

acts of churlish violence that occurred in Kimball this past Thursday. An investigation is ongoing to identified the instigators and all involved in the melee. Punishment will swift and severe.”

The incident occurred last Thursday evening at approximately 5:43pm ET. Thursday was of course chicken parmesan night at Kimball, and as usual hoards of students arrived early in an attempt to avoid the tremendous lines that quickly develop. By 5:25, however, the line was out of control. Like the fabled anaconda it snaked from the buffet line, out into the dining area, and stretched right out the door into the Kimball quad. Sis, usually unfazed by mobs of hungry students, was complete-

ly overwhelmed and abandoned her cozy, blanketed post, causing further uproar from the ornery students yet to enter the building.

With trouble already brewing in the outer stretches of the line, the real spark came near the front when a series of line cuttings ignited the explosive situation.

“I was standing in line, minding my own business waiting for my chicken parm, and this (expletive) guy just strolls right up and cuts me,” said an incensed Holy Cross student known soley by the mononym of T-Mac. “And I say, Guy, what do we got? What do you think you’re doing? And this jackaloon turns around and acts like he didn’t do anything! I couldn’t believe it. Fires me up man.”

A number of students made similar statements to the one they call T-Mac, reporting that numerous students strolled to the front of the line and pulled the “I’m just talking to my friend in line” move to successfully cut the line. These cuts did not go unnoticed, as students waiting patiently for their Italian delicacy soon became belligerent, venomously calling out cutters with threats of violence.

The threats soon morphed into reality. Eyewitnesses say that just after a group of girls “met up with their friends” near the front of the line, they were confronted by an irate male individual squawking about “respecting the pahm.”

When a group of guys tried to calm down the infuriated student

he responded with fist-a-cuffs.

“I saw some guys arguing near the front of the line, someone got shoved, and then all hell broke loose,” said innocent bystander Nat Domagala. Violence quickly erupted throughout the dining hall, as students engaged one another with punches, kicks, bites, hair pulling, plate smashing, and fork stabbing, all in the name of chicken parm.

“It was an all out melee. Girls, guys, it didn’t matter. I saw one guy heave a chair across the room and it clobbered some poor girl right in the face. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said junior Jacob Youso.

“It’s really sad that one food item can turn people into animals.”

Comic by Zacchaeus Patterson

The Crusader SPORTS

Sports Patrick Kerr Contributing Writer Coach Milan Brown entered Sunday afternoon’s game with a 2-6 record versus Bucknell since he has been at the helm of the Men’s Basketball program for the past four seasons. In fact, the Crusaders have not defeated the formidable Patriot League rival since Winter Homecoming of the 2011-2012 season. Nevertheless, Justin Burrell and company snapped the 3 game skid to the Bison with a decisive double digit victory at the packed Hart Center and on national television, provided by CBS Sports.

The momentum of the first half swayed to the Holy Cross side quickly due to a ferocious slam dunk by Taylor Abt. The 6’8” Junior, who has been in-and-out of the starting rotation, sparked the Crusaders with his emphatic post-slam battle-cry that amplified throughout the Hart Center. From that point on, the Crusaders did not look back, cruising to a 66-50 victory with a clear home court advantage.

The Crusaders played a solid forty minutes as a collective unit with strong man-to-man defense and timely scoring with 13 second chance points. Although only up by six points at halftime, the Saders pulled ahead by as much as 21 in the second half, coasting to a critical Patriot League win. Burrell led all scorers by dropping a season-high 19 points, including 50% shooting from beyond the arc. Malcolm Miller also added 14 points, along with two emphatic

February 14, 2014

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Saders Sting Bison for Eighth Patriot League Victory

swats, thereby confirming his consistently helpful presence for the Saders. Sophomore Eric Green scooped up several offensive rebounds and manufactured points with a shifty reverse lay-up and a smooth fade away jumper just be-

exciting dunk that erupted the Sader Faithful. Furthermore in the second half, Dave Dudzinski blocked a Bucknell shot and trailed down the floor in transition; when he received a pass at the top of the three point arc, he hit nothing but nylon.

demonstrated their defensive prowess by holding Bucknell to only fifty points. More impressively, the Saders forced the Bison to shoot 7 for 27 from the field in the second half, and held their best player, Cameron Ayers, to zero points in the

Justin Burrell led all scorers in the HC victory with a season high 19 points

low the right free-throw elbow.

The Crusaders won by dominating in all facets of the game, including locking up several loose balls for jump-balls, much to the annoyance of the Bison. Also, the Crusaders exuded their creativity, when at one point in the second half, Cullen Hamilton was set to inbounds the basketball. Instead of dumping it short, Hamilton heaved the ball down court to a streaking Malcolm Miller who caught the ball and lit up the Hart Center with a high octane dunk. Eric Green also delivered an

After the game, when asked about the flurry of dunks, Coach Brown replied, “It does get us revved up on the defensive end… it almost makes our attack mentality go through the roof.” In other words, the slams provided not only a spectacle for the crowd, but served as the basis for maintaining momentum in the double digit victory over a historic Patriot League rival from start to finish.

Although the Crusaders soared through the Hart Center en route to plenty of slam dunks, the team

Photo by C. Paddock

second half. Star Senior Dudzinski brought down 12 boards, blocked three shots, and added nine points for a well-rounded performance.

Cullen Hamilton, who has struggled to regain his play as a leading scorer on the squad due to his lingering knee injury, robbed Bucknell Star Cameron Ayers of the ball. In the next swoop, Hamilton’s turnover produced an offensive opportunity for the Crusaders, and more importantly, emphasized the sophomore’s grit and determination in spite of an ailing knee. The

game was littered with examples of high energy efforts that make the Crusaders a dangerous team to play against in the latter part of the conference schedule. Plays such as these exhibit how the Crusaders have truly bought into Coach Brown’s philosophy of playing mentally tough with a keen sense of togetherness that results in players putting their bodies literally on the ground for the sake of their team.

The Crusaders will have hosted Army this past Wednesday February 12th in hopes of continuing their exceptional play at home with a 6-2 record at the Hart. Tomorrow, on Saturday, February 15th, the squad will travel to Lehigh in hopes to beat the Mountain Hawks for the second time this season.

With the Patriot League schedule winding down, the Crusaders find themselves in a favorable position atop the standings due to their combination of high flying offense and a tenacious defense.

Most importantly, the Holy Cross Men’s basketball team thrives due to their consistently high energy efforts fueled by the leadership of Burrell and Dudzinski. The performance on Sunday may have signaled to the Patriot League the re-emergence of the Crusaders as a prominent league contender, akin to the early 2000s teams that hoisted four Patriot League titles. Only time will tell how this season fares, but most Sader fans are now rallying around this highly likable team that continues to perform and wow the Hart crowd.

The Love for the Game of Football Emily Iannaconi Sports Co-Editor I would be willing to bet that nine times out of ten, boys are late because the game ran late. At least, I know that this is why my dad is never on time.

Yet somehow, he is never late to arriving to the actual game.

With season tickets to the Giants, my dad has never once missed the coin toss at Giants Stadium, now Metlife Stadium, on a Sunday. And when the Giants are away, playing a 1 o’clock game, my dad goes food shopping at 9:00 in the morning on Sunday to ensure that he is back and ready to watch in time for the snap.

We stayed in Aruba for five days instead of six when I was in sixth grade, because we had to be home in time to see the Giants play the Cowboys.

My dad never wishes anything bad on anyone, but he was thrilled when Tony Romo broke his finger. He told me he didn’t care if Tony Romo broke every bone in his body. My dad never raises his voice, but he yells at the Giants.

When we was younger, my dad

punched a hole in the wall after the Giants lost one to the Eagles.

He definitely gets his passion of sports from my grandfather, whose love of sports has

Michigan State was the home team and Chris Schenkel and Bud Wilkinson were the announcers. The first quarter remained scoreless. The second quarter

Notre Dame vs. Michigan St. on November 19, 1966 also known as the Game of the Century.

defined his life in many ways.

For example, on November 19th, 1966, Notre Dame played the Michigan State Spartans.

Notre Dame had a record of 8-0 and was ranked number 1, while Michigan State was ranked number 2 with a record of 9-0.

was the most exciting, with Notre Dame scoring 7, and Michigan State scoring 10. The third quarter remained scoreless, and Notre Dame scored again in the fourth to tie the game at 10-10.

Notre Dame elected to not go for a score on their final series, and

the game ended in a 10-10 tie.

That game between Notre Dame and Michigan State happened on the same day that my dad was born. For my grandfather, a smart and passionate sports fan through and through, November 19th, 1966 was the day of his son’s birth and of the big game. So do you want to know what my grandfather did? He dropped my grandma off at the hospital and then went back home to watch the game.

To my grandfather’s credit, the game between Notre Dame and Michigan State has since been called the “Game of the Century.” It remains controversial to this day. On a day when my grandfather’s love of sports was pitted against his love for his son. I’m not sure which love was ranked number 1 and which was ranked number 2.

It was close. Just like the game.

In my opinion, it is only fitting that my dad was born on the same day as the “Game of the Century.” He takes no offense that his father missed his birth because he too understands the power that is the love of a sports fan. Togeth-

er, my grandfather and father have attended every home Giants game for the past 46 years, rain, sleet, snow, or wind. They know that the trick to keeping your feet warm is to wear a sock, then a plastic bag over it, and then another sock. You are never allowed to go to the bathroom once the game has started, and all phones better be off the entire time.

Together, my father and grandfather can re-tell the story of any game from any year. They remember a game ten years ago as if it were yesterday. Sometimes, they even remember a game better than they remember other important life milestones, such as the birth of a child.

This love translates into a world beyond the world of sports, however. And so, on a day like Valentine’s Day, my grandfather and father cannot help but be reminded of a love that I think a lot of people can relate to. A love not for just one individual, but for a team. For a game.

14 The Crusader

SPORTS

February 14, 2014

United States Men’s Hockey Team Goes for First Gold Medal since “Miracle on Ice” in 1980 John Morton Chief Sports Editor I remember watching Edgar Renteria hit a grounder back to Red Sox closer Keith Foulke as the Red Sox completed a sweep of the Cardinals en route to their first World Series victory since 1918, a drought that lasted for 86 long years.

I remember the seconds ticking away on Vancouver as the Bruins dominated the Canucks to the tune of 4-0 in Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals ending a championship drought of 39 years.

However, something I have not been alive to witness and something that I really want to see is the United States Men’s Olympic Hockey team win the gold medal.

If the United States is able to win the gold this year in Sochi, it will mark the team’s first gold medal since 1980. In that year, a ragtag team of college and amateur players defeated the undisputed best team in the world, the Soviet Union, in the semifinals before beating Finland for the gold. The Soviet Union had won nearly every world and Olympic championship since 1964 and the United States’ 4-3 victory is considered one of the biggest upsets in sports history. There’s a reason that the 2004 sports film based on the event is called Miracle. An interesting side note to their historic uspset is that Mike Eruzione, the captain of the team, has a brother named Vinnie Eruzione who was a punter on the Holy Cross football team.

Shortly after 1980, the United States decided to use NHL players in the Olympics, making the victory over the Soviet Union even more impressive for the group of college players that demonstrated heart, guts, and an emphasis on team, surpassing the desires of an individual, as they aimed for glory.

However, the 2010 Olympics almost featured an upset that rivaled the historic 1980 upset. The United States was in position for a gold medal in 2010 in Vancouver. After defeating Finland in the semifinal, the United States faced Canada for the gold medal. For any hockey fan who watched the gold

medal game vs. Canada, it certainly seemed like the United States was in position to win that game.

Trailing 2-0, the United States dug deep against Canada, who had the best team on paper, and

perts who say that the team should have added prolific scorer from the Ottawa Senators, Bobby Ryan.

Ryan was one of the best players in 2010, but interestingly he was left off the roster this time around.

an impact in their first Olympics.

One of the most interesting positional battles to watch is who is going to play in net. Even though Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard looks locked into the third

play on February 13 against Zdeno Chara and Slovakia before playing Russia on Saturday and Slovenia on Sunday. Because of the time differences, all three games are on at 7:30 in the morning.

Even though the games are early, an avid hockey fan like me will be watching in the hopes that this is finally the United States’ year.

Thirty-four years is a long time without a gold medal. Even though Miracle is one of my favorite movies and came out 10 years ago, it is hard to picture a country with as much talent as the United States, without a gold medal for so long.

Frustration with interrupting the NHL season could mean that 2014 is the last year that NHLers will be participating in the Olympics. It is difficult to imagine the NHL sending its players in 2018 for the games in South Korea.

If the United States team actually does end up in the gold medal game,

Mural depiciting the celebration of the United States’ triumph over the Soviet Union in 1980

got on the board midway through the second period when Ryan Kesler scored on a deflection.

The game remained 2-1 until Zach Parise scored with 24.4 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

Hockey fans remember what happened next. After 7 minutes and 40 seconds passed, one of the best players in the world Sidney Crosby scored on Ryan Miller (who played phenomenally for the whole Olympics) to end the game and give Canada the gold.

Four years later, the United States finds itself in a similar position. They have a young team, Canada is the favorite to win the whole tournament, and the desire for the gold is still there.

The team that the US assembled this year has faced criticism from ex-

However, I hope that the US is channeling the coach of the 1980 team Herb Brooks here who did not look for the best players but the right ones.

Unfortunately, as a Bruins fan, the team does not have one player from Boston. Defenseman Torey Krug came very close to making it, but his relative inexperience caused the team to look in another direction. However, as a follower of the NHL, I can say the team still looks poised to make a run in Sochi this year. Although the team may not have all of the best US players on it, it does have some talented ones. Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, and Zach Parise are back to lead the team and players like James van Riemsdyk, Cam Fowler, and Derek Stepan are all looking to make

spot, the decision between Jon Quick (a local Umass Amherst grad) and Ryan Miller will be difficult.

Quick led the Los Angeles Kings to a Stanley Cup in 2012, yet has struggled with injuries this season.

Conversely, Miller has had a rough season for the Sabres. While he is still playing well, he does not have the wins to show for his efforts.

The team that the United States has put together may allow him to finally get the wins he deserves.

This year, the United States plays in the Group A bracket with Slovakia, Slovenia, and host Russia, who is also under a lot of pressure to get the gold.

Meanwhile, the best team on paper in Canada plays in a bracket with Finland, Norway, and Austria.

The United States begins pool

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Ryan Miller, who started almost every game for the United States in the 2010 Olympics, will face tough competition, not only from the other teams in the tournament, but also from fellow American goaltender Jonathan Quick.

Kurt Russell’s pregame speech in Miracle will be in my head as they aim to end a long overdue gold medal drought and, if that game is against Canada, it could be one of the biggest upsets in sports history, rivaling even the upset in 1980.

The Crusader

SPORTS

February 14, 2014

15

Men’s Hockey Defeats Sacred Heart, Preps for Stretch Run John Morton Chief Sports Editor The Holy Cross men’s hockey team needed a win like this past Saturday to spark them for the stretch run. After going through a tough stretch with six losses in a row, the team has slowly begun to turn it around going 4-2-1 in their last seven. Last Saturday’s game vs. Sacred Heart where the Crusaders dropped six goals on the Pioneers may have been the boost the team needed to move up in the Atlantic Hockey Standings.

Senior Assistant Captain Adam Schmidt and freshman Mike Barrett had two goals apiece as the Crusaders notched four power play goals and one shorthanded goal en route to the 6-1 win.

Schmidt, who registered his 100th point in a game last week against RIT, spoke about the impact that this much-needed win will have about the team’s confidence.

“Winning a big game like that with such dominance is a huge confidence boost for us,” said Schmidt. “It shows ourselves that we can play like that and we need to play with that confidence all the time. We are

moving in the right direction and Saturday definitely helped.”

The game started out evenly until the Crusaders took advantage of the first Sacred Heart penalty with Schmidt scoring the first of his two goals on the night.

They held onto the 1-0 lead un-

progress on a breakaway. Holy Cross needed a big play and senior goalie Derek Kump, who played brilliantly all night long, delivered. His save was one of the turning points of the game as he prevented the Pioneers from gaining any more momentum.

man, Schmidt got his revenge and scored again for his second goal.

“It was a hectic shift during a delayed penalty, even though we were already on the powerplay,” said Schmidt. “Everyone was buzzing and moving around. We were able to get two or three good

Photo by C. Paddock

Jake Bolton, 2, makes a pass in the offensive zone. He registered 1 assist in the 6-1 win.

til midway through the second period when Sacred Heart got on the board. Shortly after, Sacred Heart was awarded a penalty shot after a Crusader impeded his

After a five minute major penalty when one Sacred Heart player hit Schmidt up high, the Pioneers committed a hooking penalty.

With Kump pulled for the extra

shots on net and during the mess I somehow ended up on the point.

Logan Smith made a great play to kick it to the point and I just fired it on net. Shayne Stockton had a

great screen in front and the goalie had no idea where the puck was.”

The Crusaders never looked back after going up 2-1 as they added two more powerplay goals and a short-handed goal in the 6-1 win. With an 8-17-3 record overall and a 7-11-3 record in the conference, the Crusaders currently sit tenth out of twelve teams. However, with 6 games to play Holy Cross has a chance to move up with wins against division rivals.

Adam Schmidt discussed what the team needed to improve on to get them in a better playoff position saying, “[We] just [need to] improve on focusing on playing our style of hockey every game.

When we play hard and together we are a scary team we just need to be as consistent as possible.”

With two games each against Connecticut (one of which is Pink the Rink on February 15), American International, and Army the Crusaders can really improve their playoff positioning by playing a consistent game. The hopes of an Atlantic Hockey championship are still alive for the Crusaders as Saturday’s win showed what a dangerous team they can be.

16 The Crusader

SPORTS

February 14, 2014

Purple Pennings with Patrick Buscone Mark your calendars ladies and gentlemen: September 8, 2018 and September 5, 2020, for that is when the Holy Cross Crusaders and Boston College Eagles will renew their rivalry in football at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill.

Now, I’m sure you’re thinking a few things right about now. The math majors reading will quickly deduce that 2018 and 2020 are four and six years away which means that none of us will still be here, except for the few and proud freshman in the class that will put themselves on track for the five-year graduation plan, the “Super Seniors” as they will be called.

The rest of us will be proud alum, coming back to the game to talk about the glory days of when we went here, that is, we will talk about our tailgates on Freshman Field and the baseball field.

You are probably also wondering about my use of the word “rivalry” in the opening sentence. I (try to?) make jokes throughout these articles because, let’s face it, why else would you read? But including the word rivalry was neither a joke nor a typo.

Although the rivalry wasn’t exactly the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980’s—at times it was more like the Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees, hammer and nail, rivalry of pre-2004—it still was one of the biggest games of the season in New England college football, generally played at the end of the season. In a ninety-year span (1896-1986), the Crusaders and Eagles faced off 82 times with a final record of 31-48-3 for Holy Cross. Better than you thought, huh?

What happened in 1986 (besides my dad graduating from the Cross, which I doubt had much of an impact on the scheduling of football games) was both teams severed ties after it became clear that the programs were moving rapidly in the opposite direction. Holy Cross made the decision to move to Division I-AA and the Colonial League (which we now know as the Patriot League). Meanwhile, BC would soon join the Big East and later the ACC. The dropping of the game was not unexpected because by 1986, the rivalry really was not a rivalry anymore. In fact, of their last 20 meet-

ings, Holy Cross had won just three.

But it was not always that lopsided.

Up until the 1970’s, you could count on a Holy Cross-Boston College football game to not only draw a massive crowd, but also to provide the fans with something to talk about until the next season’s meeting.

The games were so popular that they quickly outgrew both Fitton Field and Alumni Field (now

was so sure of victory that, in an incredibly bold move, they scheduled a victory party at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub prior to the game.

Well, the Crusaders made plans of their own. However, their plans involved the actual game, unlike the plans of BC. The Crusaders shocked the Eagles that day, winning 55-12 in a massive upset. Holy Cross ruined BC’s undefeated sea-

in similar positions to 1942. Boston College was riding high, fresh off the “Miracle in Miami” in which Doug Flutie won the game on a last second Hail Mary pass. Everyone remembers that game, yet few remember the game the next week, when Flutie took on the Crusaders at Fitton Field.

Like in 1942, Flutie had made plans for after the game; he was going to the Heisman ceremony to accept the

Holy Cross and Boston College face off at Fenway Park in 1916

Alumni Stadium). In 1916, the Crusaders and Eagles played at the newly built Fenway Park, which really puts the rivalry in perspective; it’s older than Fenway Park!

Six years later, a record 54,000 people watched the game at Braves Field, where the old Boston Braves played. Keep in mind that the record attendance for a game at Fitton Field is exactly half of that—27,000—and I can imagine that was not too comfortable.

Twenty years passed in the rivalry, with both teams playing fairly evenly over the years. In 1942, though, the undefeated Boston College Eagles came in as the clear favorite, much like they will in 2018 and 2020. BC

son, but that was not all they did.

That very night, the Cocoanut Grove nightclub burned down, killing nearly 500 people. The Boston College football team, however, was not there as planned. Instead, they were in their dorms, still shocked and disappointed over the loss.

Thus, the upset—which still is one of the best in team history—saved the lives of the entire BC team. It’s the kind of story you can’t even make up.

It would be another 42 years before another such story would come out of the rivalry. At this point, Holy Cross football had already begun its descent and the rivalry was quickly losing steam.

In 1984, the two teams came in

award he had already won. He also had a plan for the game, though, to throw a touchdown pass to freshman Darren Flutie—his younger brother.

In the 45-10 blowout of Holy Cross, Darren Flutie had two touchdowns, one of which came on a pass from his brother. Doug did not stay long after the game. Instead, he drove straight to Worcester Airport and flew to New York City to the Heisman Ceremony.

That game was symbolic of the turn that the two programs had taken. Boston College was blowing out Holy Cross and then flying their quarterback to accept the Heisman trophy. And two years later, the rivalry was cancelled or, rather, put on

hold, but not before the Eagles made it clear one last time that the two teams were not of the same caliber.

Like BC in 1942, Holy Cross came into the 1986 matchup undefeated and, realistically, as good as they had ever been. They even had a future NFL player on the team: Gordie Lockbaum—who was also a Heisman candidate. Before the game, the Boston Globe sports section’s headline was a purple 10-0 (basically the Purple Page, just a lot more legit, I suppose).

Yet, the Crusaders did not finish the season undefeated, rather BC handed them an embarrassing 56-26 loss on the Saturday following their recognition in the Globe. And that was the last time the two teams would meet.

If Holy Cross couldn’t compete with BC with their best team in years, how could they expect to stay within 50 points with a mediocre or bad team?

BC had become a legitimate football program. Meanwhile, Holy Cross just wasn’t a football school anymore. Even today, you would be hard-pressed to find someone that truly considers Holy Cross to be like they were when they were going back and forth with Boston College on the gridiron.

That said, the program is clearly moving in the right direction—that is the opposite direction that it took in the 1980s. Just last year, the school brought back scholarships for the team, and it immediately paid dividends with a strong freshman class.

Now, in the next logical step of elevating the program, the team will play a more difficult schedule with the addition of Boston College as an opponent. Sure, the rivalry may never be as good as it was before 1980, and I doubt that the team will ever save the entire Boston College team from certain death again.

But, at the very least, it seems that the school is taking a concerted interest in the improvement of the football program which is a great sign for the future of the team. For a school with a history of good athletics, it’s about time that they become relevant again and the football program is on that path.

Support the Crusaders in the following games!

Men’s Ice Hockey: 2/14 @ Connecticut @ 7 PM 2/15 vs. Connecticut @ 7 PM Men’s Basketball: 2/15 @ Lehigh @ 2 PM

Women’s Basketball: 2/15 vs. Lehigh @ 3 PM

Women’s Track and Field: 2/15 @ Scarlet and White Invitational

Women’s Ice Hockey: 2/14 vs. Nichols @ 7 PM 2/15 vs. Manhattanville @ 1 PM

Men’s Lacrosse: 2/15 @ St. John’s @ 1 PM Women’s Tennis: 2/16 @ Southern New Hampshire @ 6 PM