November 1, 2019

Volume XCVII, Number 4

November 1, 2019

Worcester, Massachusetts

Holy Cross to Move Forward with Independent Investigation Jackie Cannon ’20 Editor-in-Chief

The College of the Holy Cross will be moving forward with an independent investigation, announced Rev. Philip L. Boroughs S.J., president, on Wednesday, October 30, in an address to the campus community in the Hogan Ballroom.

Several minutes into his thirteen-minute address, after reflecting on recent allegations and the concerns they have raised among the Holy Cross community, Boroughs stated, “I fully embrace a comprehensive investigation that will answer these questions.

Of course, there are many details that we need to figure out with regards to the investigation, but I hear you and I agree with you that the investigation must be thorough and impartial, and that the investigator must be laser-focused on finding the truth.”

Fr. Boroughs shared that he has already met with Speaker of the Faculty,

Miles Cahill, and Chair of the Academic Governance Council (AGC) ad hoc Committee on Faculty Sexual Mis-

cated that “a small committee of faculty and administrators will work together to develop recommendations on the

Photo by Valentina Moran ’23.

conduct, Vickie Langhor. Elaborating on the process, Fr. Boroughs communi-

goals and the focus of the investigation, the process of choosing an investigator,

and how to communicate findings.”

The group will be coordinated by William Phelan ‘73, Chair of the Audit Committee of the Board, with Professors Cahill and Langhor assisting in developing the process for selecting three faculty members, and Fr. Boroughs choosing three administrators for the group in the near future.

Responding to Fr. Boroughs’s announcement, Professor Cahill shared with the Spire, “I welcome the President’s commitment to support an inquiry with the goal of understanding why abuse has been prevalent on our campus for so long so we can learn from our past and move forward in the future. As Speaker of the Faculty, I am committed to a transparent process that engages with the faculty to make sure that any inquiry will serve the community’s shared goal to restore trust.”

Additionally, this group “will be proSee Boroughs, page 3

Family Weekend Festivities

Inside The Spire

News.......................1 Opinions.................4 Features..................7 Eggplant.................9 Sports.....................10

54th Annual Hanify-Howland Lecture Page 3

Taming of the Shrew: What Role Do Men Play in Taming Bro-Culture?

Page 4

Did You Know...

Worcester Edition Page 8

Photo by Zoe Petit ‘22.

The Football team huddles before their game

Photo by Kim Fetherston’22.

Photo by Kim Fetherston ’22.

Holy Cross scores first.

Millie the alpaca is fed by students.

Eggplant: True Crime: A Spaghetti Story Photo by Kim Fetherston ‘22

Students play giant pool on the Hoval with family and friends.

Photo by Kim Fetherston ’22.

Parents join students at the tailgate on Freshman Field.

Photo by Kim Fetherston ’22.

Page 9

Students try their hand at axe throwing on the Hoval.

College Football Check-in Photo by Kim Fetherston ‘22

The Holy Cross Marching Band performs during half time of the football game.

Photo by Valentina Moran ‘23.

Holy Cross fans cheer on Field Hockey during their last home game of the season

Photo by Kim Fetherston ‘22.

Students and families paint pumpkins on the Hoval Saturday afternoon.

Page 11

2 The Spire

NEWS November 1, 2019

29 Students into Elite Jesuit Honor Society Jackie Cannon ‘‘20 Editor in Chief On Sunday, October 27, 28 members of the class of 2020 were inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu, the prestigious Jesuit Honor Society. All in the top 15 percent of their class, members display dedication and commitment to both academics and service.

Membership to Alpha Sigma Nu is by application only, and is “the highest honor bestowed at Jesuit institutions,” according to the honor society’s Holy Cross website.

The following students were inducted on October 27th:

Landon R. Cass Cassandra Cheeseman Carlye A. Cording William J. Crowley Surbhi Daryani Anna G. Desmarais William M. Fitzpatrick Rose G. Grosskopf Janna S. Hearty Katherine A. Hegermiller Taylor L. Hobbs Sibgha Javaid MaryGrace S. King William O. LaFiandra Kerry A. Larkin

Nicholas J. Leone Justin S. Makuc Hannah Z. Matthews Samantha H. McCann Kaitlyn N. Meehan Meaghan R. Moran Emma S. O’Connor Eleanor M. Oser Liam Z. O’Toole Madeline E. Piccione Michael G. Raheb Kerry C. Shortell Maggie E. Strunk Robert A. Welsh

Public Safety Blotter ~Eggplant Eddition~ Saturday, October 26 Healy - Students filed complaints about left over pumpkins littered around the building, asking that the four year old sibling who painted it be held responsible Monday. October 28 Stein Hall- A noise complaint was submitted for excessive shouting, after a professor failed to announce that classes would be cancled this upcoming Friday.

Wednesday, October 30 Hogan 1- Public saftey officers were required to control the crowd at the post office, as students rushed to pick up their last minute Amazon costumes for the following night.

Students Vote “Yes” on Green Fund in First Campus-Wide Referendum Page Cohen ‘21 Staff Wrtier On Tuesday, October 8 through Thursday, October 10, the Holy Cross Student Government Association (SGA) asked students a question: Should Holy Cross establish a Green Fund, a financial resource for student-driven sustainability projects, funded by a $10 increase to the annual Student Activity Fee? In this, the College’s first student referendum, the answer was a decisive 78 percent YES. The SGA reports that 1,340 students voted, over 40 percent of the College’s 3,000-student population. Now that the Green Fund has student approval, it will be presented to the College’s Financial Planning Committee and finally to the Board of Trustees for implementation in the 2020-21 school year.

Student Government Association Co-Presidents Caroline Babinski and Christian Realbuto shared this statement: “We are pleased with the voter turnout for SGA’s first referendum, and we thank every student who engaged with the materials regarding the Green Fund and used this opportunity to ask important questions. We look forward to connecting with the students who have worked on the Green Fund Charter in the coming weeks as SGA members prepare to present the proposal to the next Financial Planning Committee

coming up at the end of the month.”

The charter for the Green Fund was drafted by students in the 2018-19 school year, calling the Fund a “financial mechanism...specifically dedicated for the purposes of environmental sustainability, renewable energy, and

dent Activities Fee will be designated each year for Green Fund use only and any leftover funds will be carried over to future years. Outside donors will also be able to contribute to the Fund. For the first five years of the Fund’s existence, the maximum dis-

ministration, and a member of Facilities. These practices and stipulations are modeled on similar sustainability fund programs already implemented at over 200 other colleges and universities across the U.S. If approved by the Financial Plan-

Neutral by 2040 Plan. Other initiatives and programs include “trayless” dining halls to reduce water waste, more robust recycling and print management systems, and -- new as of 2019 -- electric vehicle charging stations.

The student group Eco-Action has been involved in advancing many of these initiatives and provided much of the support for the Green Fund.

SGA co-directors of Environmental Concerns Fatima Oseida and Emma Powell released this statement following the result announcement: “We believe that the high numbers of support of the green fund demonstrates that there is an upward trend of campus culture supporting sustainability. We cannot wait to see what green-funded projects are instituted in the future.

Holy Cross students are responding to a call for climate justice. The green fund is by students, for the students, and affirmed by the students. It is a groundbreaking piece of legislation for the SGA. We are so proud of Eco-Action and SGA’s collaborative efforts to let the students vote on this. This is democracy at its best!”

Photo by Davey Sullivan ’22.

energy-efficiency projects on campus, led by any member(s) of the Holy Cross Community, including any students, faculty, administration and staff.”

The $10 increase in the SGA’s Stu-

bursement for one project will be $15,000. Students applying to receive Fund resources will have to receive majority approval from the Fund’s administrative review board, made up of students, faculty, a member of the Ad-

ning Committee and Board of Trustees, the Green Fund would be the latest in a series of recent sustainability initiatives at Holy Cross. Since 2007, the College has been reducing campus carbon emissions through its Carbon The Spire student newspaper College of the Holy Cross Published weekly since 1925

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

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

Jackie Cannon, Billy Fitzpatrick Editors-in-Chief Ethan Bachand News Editor Olivia Pan, Maggie Connolly, Ryen Cinski, Julia Maher Opinions Eds. Kelly Gallagher, Joe Begg, Clarabel Smith Features Editors Greg Hausler, Matt Anderson, Hannah Johnson, Mario Micallif Eggplant Editors Bobby Tuzzio, Luke Anthony, Charlie Krumsiek Sports Editors Hope Goodman, Olivia Cesarini, Kennedy Corrado, Bridgie English Copy Editors Kim Fetherston, Zoe Petit, Davey Sullivan Photographers Olivia Cesarini Web Editor Caroline Manganaro, Cassie Smith Social Media Managers Professor Steve Vineberg Faculty Advisor Dean Brenda Hounsell Sullivan Staff Advisor

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The Spire 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 Spire reserves the right not to publish any letter or content deemed objectionable or which does not meet the editorial Email: spire@g.holycross.edu standards of the newspaper. Letters may be mailed, e-mailed, Website: hcspire.com or brought to The Spire office in Hogan 235.

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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 Spire only.

The Spire

News

November 1, 2019

3

Hanify-Howland Lecture: To Infinity and Beyond

Ethan Bachand ‘22 Chief News Editor On Tuesday, October 29th, Dr. Scott Parazynski delivered the 54th Annual Hanify-Howland Memorial lecture in Hogan Ballroom. Sharing his life experiences and expectations for the future, Dr. Parazynski gave a warm and well received presentation that lived up to the significance of the event.

The talk, which was originally named the Hanify Memorial Lecture, was established in 1965 to honor the Honorable Edward F. Hanify. Judge Hanify was a Holy Cross graduate in 1907 and served as a justice on the Superior Court until the day he died.

The award’s name was modified in 1976 to include the name of Weston Howland, who established the lecture.

Prior to the event, Dr. Parazynski had the opportunity to interact with a select group of students for a seminar.

Speaking about his experience with the group, Dr. Parazynski said, “You know I loved the curiosity… First off, I would say that I went around the room to understand who they were as well and to person they all have expansive views and majors that suggest they want to make a difference in the world. That really gave me hope and optimism for the future. Great, great questions with a sense of curiosity that is great to see.”

A formal dinner followed the aforementioned seminar as well as a dinner reception. This would bridge the gap between the meeting with students and the formal talk scheduled at 8:00 PM. In an interview with The Spire prior to the event, Dr. Parazynski shared his thoughts on his experience at Holy Cross, saying “I’m just amazed at how beautiful it is. You know of course that New England is famous for its beauty and the leaves and so on.

Being here today I am sort of reminded of Old New England or even like

Future astronauts pose with Dr. Parayznski.

From Boroughs, page 1 vided with experienced, outside legal counsel to help them understand the legal landscape where it is applicable,” said Boroughs. Fr. Boroughs and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Richard Patterson, would use the recommendations the selected group makes to establish the next steps for the investigation itself.

In regards to the investigation, Professor Cahill reflected, “In the near future, it will also be critical to engage the community to specify the elements of an inquiry that are essential for it to be successful, and for it to be a process that empowers survivors and does not re-victimize them. I am grateful to the survivors, witnesses, and other members of the commutty who are working hard to help the college we love is worthy of our mission.”

Fr. Boroughs’s most recent address was originally scheduled as a result of

the allegations made by alumna Jaime McCallister-Grande ’99 that she reported a professor’s possible misconduct to her class dean at the time, current Provost and Dean of the College Margaret Freije, and that she felt Freije did not take the appropriate actions to address McAllister-Grande’s concerns.

In his Oct. 20 message to the campus community, which was the second response to these allegations, Boroughs shared that he was open to considering an independent investigation.

Two days later, on Tuesday, Oct. 22, the Faculty Assembly voted to support a motion to request Fr. Boroughs hire such an independent investigator.

The ad hoc Committee, who presented the motion, portrayed the vote not as a lack of confidence in the administration, but as an opportunity to move forward and rebuild trust as a community. Fr. Boroughs echoed these sentiments in his Oct. 30 address.

Dr. Parayznski gives his lecture to a large crowd in Hogan Ballroom

an old European city with the citadel on top of the hill. It’s really a beautiful campus.”

Co-Chairs of the Hanify-Howland Committee Spencer Caron (’20) and Rex Tayag (’21) started the talk by in-

Photo by Kim Fetherston ‘22

In the conclusion of his address, Fr. Boroughs spoke primarily to the faculty, and how they could help the Holy Cross community move forward: “The world around us is getting increasingly angry, divisive, distrusting, irrational, and cynical. I know that we are better than that, and our students need to see in us models of reflectivity, encouragement, excitement about the questions we encourage, and the ability to disagree respectfully.

I know that we are capable of this, and I trust that you do as well.”

troducing the history of the award.

After the brief statements and recognition of the Hanify family, Dr. Parazynski was introduced to give his talk, “The Opportunity and Obligation to Innovate”.

Dr. Parazynski covered a wide variety of subjects in his talk, one of which being the infamous spacewalk he took to repair a damaged part of the International Space Station. As he told it to The Spire: “My last mission, STS-120, involved five space walks. The last of which turned out to be just an epic.

We had installed a large solar ray trust from the top of the space station and plugged it in at the very tip of the international space station. As the solar panels were being commanded to unfurl, they actually began to rip apart.

This was a really critical situation … so people worked around the clock for 72 hours to come up with this amazing recovery, sending myself and Dough Wheelock on another spacewalk mission to the tip of the station” He would continue to recount his story, saying “It took 45 minutes just to get out to the work site on this gangly robotic arm and work on a live, energized solar panel … Miraculously it all worked per plan. It was something we

Photo by Kim Fetherston ‘22

had never trained to do before, it had never been envisioned that it could even happen. But one of the amazing things about NASA is its capacity to take these impossible situations and find brilliant solutions for them.”

When asked how he would recommend students interested in following his footsteps, the CEO of Fluid Mechanics responded “I think there has never been a more exciting time to set your sights for the stars. It’s not just going to be NASA in the future, but companies like Virgin Galactic, Blue Origins, Space X, Bigelow Airspace, many different private sector companies are going to be sending rockets and people up into space in the not so distant future. So the space economy is growing by leaps and bounds, and for engineers and scientist that want to get involved this is a great time.”

While the lecture series has been going on for 54 years, and is sure to continue for many more, students and faculty alike were treated to a talk by Dr. Parazynski that they will never forget.

Got a nose for news?

Apply to be a news editor and you could be on the front lines of campus news!

Email spire@g.holycross.edu today for an application or more information!

4

The Spire

Opinions

OPINIONS

November 1, 2019

See What Other Students Are Thinking Around Campus...

Taming of the Shrew: What Role Do Men Play in Taming Bro-Culture?

Olivia Pan ‘20 Chief Opinions Editor

On Wednesday, October 23rd, exiled movie producer and (accused) rapist Harvey Weinstein attended an event on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, known as “Actors Hour.” This event is described as one which is “dedicated to artists,” according to the event’s website. A female comedian by the name of Kelly Bachman, who was performing that night, took jabs at Weinstein, joking, “I didn’t know that we’d have to bring our own rape whistles and mace to Actor’s Hour.” According to Vice.com, “Her comment was met with (masculine-sounding) boos from the audience.” Later on during the event, two other actors, Zoe Stuckles, who uses “they”/”them” pronouns, and her friend Amber Rollo, approached and confronted Weinstein, and were subsequently escorted out of the event. According to Buzzfeed news, Weinstein, who has been accused by multiple women of sexual assault and harassment, is set to stand trial in January for rape.

The kind of men who would heckle Men do not recognize their power in foster a world where women’s voices a female comedian for simply calling supporting, instead of subverting, oth- are not heard, but rather quieted, out an accused serial rapist are the er violent men and are, in fact, enabling bullied, and shouted down, even in kind of men who blindly contribute to and empowering the Weinsteins of a public arena for all to view. I mean, toxic masculinc’mon ladies, ity and the probquiet down. The lematic “broguy only raped, culture” that tormented, haexists in society. rassed, threatThink about it. ened to destroy These men who careers if not heckled Kelly provided sex, Bachman would and did in fact rather support destroy lives and an accused rapcareers. ist than attempt If men at this to empathize event did not with the deeply care for what uncomfortable Bachman had to position young, say, then that’s Photo Courtesy of Vox.com their female artists opinion.

Accused Rapist and Former Movie Producer, Harvey Weinstein were put in durHowever, to acing this event. tively boo her Harvey Weinstein has faced countless the world. The kinds of men who en- and tell her to “shut up,” as one audiaccusations of sexual assault/harrass- gage in behavior like that exhibited at ence member did, is abiding by the ment, and yet, he was welcomed and “Actors Hour” are knowingly engaging troubling bro-code and bro-culture, supported at this event, while two in bro-culture behavior and helping in which men feel they shouldn’t call women who were brave enough to to create the Harvey Weinsteins and out other men. confront him were thrown out.

Matt Lauers of the world. They help There have been countless good,

young men who have witnessed passed out females in compromising and dangerous situations at parties, bars, and campuses all over America.

Yet, many stood by and said and did nothing. Just like the queen bees of the mean girl set, there is an alpha male or males within a group. Some boys and men feel the push and pull to not confront the behaviors that they themselves would never engage in. Bro-culture, like white privilege and rich privilege, is a real thing. It is my belief that if men took the hardest stance against the Weinsteins, the Lauers, and their own roommates or co-workers, in this society, who engage in violence against women, and in the world at large, we would see an elimination of rape, harassment, and domestic violence the likes of nothing we have ever known.

Costumes Should Reflect Our Creativity, Not the Dark Side of Humanity Amit Taneja and Mable Millner Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion A “slutty” nun. A domestic violence survivor with a black eye accompanied by her assailant.

A victim of the Boston Marathon bombing. An ISIS/Muslim terrorist. Caitlin Jenner.

Cecil the Lion’s Killer Dentist.

White trash. “Crazy Eyes” from OITNB. What do these themes have in common? Not much, other than the fact that they comprise the internet’s lists of some of the most offensive and controversial Halloween costumes in the past few years.

Every year, we see news reports about problematic and offensive Halloween costumes and themed parties. Recent protests at UCLA after a “Kanye Western and Kardashians” themed party comprise a long list of events on college campuses that make some students feel devalued and marginalized.

As a Jesuit institution, our values are grounded in the call for us to be “men and women for and with others.” Furthermore, two prominent questions in our mission statement also ask “What are our obligations to one another? What is our special responsibility to the world’s poor and powerless?” These questions are not meaningless words, but outline the

ethical and moral principles for us to co-exist in a respectful community on our campus and beyond.

In order to proactively promote

Resources the Student Government Association, and other campus leaders have signed on in an effort to create thoughtful dialogue around these

reflect my creativity and talents? How does my costume reflect particular historical contexts? Does my costume reinforce stereotypes associated with

Photo courtest of Colorlines.com

Remember to be thoughtful when selecting a costume for Halloween festivities this weekend! more dialogue and education on these issues, our offices have partnered with a few different campus organizations to post Ohio University’s “We are a culture, not a costume” poster campaign. The staff of the Office of Residence Life and Housing, Human

issues. Our hope is that students can use these dialogues to contemplate their costume choices. We encourage students to ask critical questions of themselves, and one another. Here are some suggested questions for your consideration: How does my costume

historically marginalized populations?

Does it condone power, domination and violence towards others? Does it represent an appropriation of a culture that I am not part of? Does it represent my values, people and professions that I admire? What emotions

might my costume evoke in others, and especially those whose identities are represented by my costume? And most importantly, what does my costume say about me?

Answering these questions requires introspection, understanding of history, and an ethic of care and empathy toward others. A “white trash” or “urban ghetto rapper” costume is not disconnected from stereotypes, history of blackface, or the lived experiences of some students, faculty and staff on our campus. Do we simply reflect the inequities in society for a cheap laugh, or do we push ourselves and use our gifts and graces to express our creativity, values and talents? The reflective questions we raise in this letter are part of the Jesuit discernment process, but know that ultimately the choice is yours. Let your imagination flow, and have a safe, fun and happy Halloween!

Contributed by Amit Taneja, Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Mable Millner, Associate Dean of Students for Diversity and Inclusion, and Director of the Office of Multicultural Education This article was first published in the Crusader in 2015.

The Spire

OPINIONS

November 1, 2019

5

Why Athletics are Not Overrated: The Many Benefits of Being a Student-Athlete Julia Maher ’23 Opinions Editor There are some people who believe that athletics are highly overrated.

They think that people place too much importance on athletics when they could allocate that importance to other areas, like academics. And it is pretty easy to hold this opinion if they are not athletes themselves. Especially at Holy Cross, a large portion of the student body seems to value athletics highly. Seemingly, this dynamic divides students into two different social groups. Although both opinions of athletics are valid, I believe that athletics are not as overrated as some people perceive them to be.

The first reason why athletics are actually very important for students is that they contribute to a healthy social life. Athletics play an integral role in the social life of many students because athletes tend to hang out around each other. Since they hang out around each other, they form very close bonds. Although some people may perceive athletic social groups as exclusive instead of inclusive, I do not believe that most athletes intentionally exclude other students. It is simply inevitable that athletes will create strong friendships with each other because they have many bonding opportunities and common interests. It

is not, however, impossible to have a healthy social life without participating in athletics. I am merely asserting that they can aid in strong friendships, just as any other extracurricular activ-

Since athletes are obligated to attend practices and other athletic events, they inevitably will exercise more than their other peers. Without participation in athletics, it can be very

ricular activities that require commitment, which means that athletes are also committed to exercising regularly.

Consistent exercise is obviously integral to maintaining physical and men-

Photo couresty goholycross.com

Athletics may provide students with skills to succeed in college, including time management and healthy habits.

ity.

The second reason why athletics can be important to the overall college experience is the obligation to exercise.

difficult for some people to gain the motivation to exercise because, technically, they are not required to do so. Athletics, however, are extracur-

tal health, so athletics are an easy way to stay healthy in general.

The third reason why athletics are important in college is time man-

agement skills. Since athletes attend practice for many hours each day, they must schedule their other duties around their athletic commitments.

Although some people may think that athletes are less successful academically because they have less time to study, they are more useful with their time, instead, and study more efficiently.

Without athletics or other extracurricular activities to fill up students’ schedules, it can be pretty difficult to not procrastinate on homework and studying. With athletics, however, there is simply no time left to procrastinate.

Ultimately, although non-athletes may not believe that athletics are important for success in college, they are incorrect. The gap between athletic social groups and non-athletic social groups is merely perceived, and the Holy Cross community should work to bridge the seeming gaps. Despite some people’s beliefs that athletics are not conducive to success, athletics actually allow students to thrive socially, academically, physically, and mentally. These four aspects of health lead to more well-rounded students.

And who wouldn’t want to be a more well-rounded person?

Accessible Knowledge: A Doorway to Greater Thought Ryen Cinski ’22 Opinions Editor As a student who has attended a rigorous public high school and is now enrolled in a liberal arts college, I’ve encountered my fair share of daunting texts. Whether it be an AP biology textbook or page after page of Chaucer, I’ve been challenged. The biggest academic challenge that I’ve ever come to face so far though, is my queer theory class, Modern Love.

Prior to this year, I’d never come into contact with queer theory, having little to no knowledge on the expansive and diverse discipline. Although I felt a strong sense of excitement when I first enrolled in the class last year, I also felt very anxious. While my public high school challenged me in many ways, it had never challenged me to consider things “queerly.”

When I got back to my room with a big box of books that I’d just picked up from The Hub, I dropped them on my desk and began to look through them. When I came upon a graphic novel, I was honestly in shock.

“Queer: A Graphic History,” the title read. Flipping through the book, I saw little blurbs and illustrations, but also a comprehensive and accessible approach to an extremely hard subject.

Sometimes the concept of accessibility can be confused with a sort of “dumbed down” version of a complex

piece. “Queer: A Graphic History” is actually my textbook for Modern Love, and the fact that there are illustrations and that evrything is broken

been expected to explore. This would be counterproductive, as possible outcomes could be confusion, a lack of foundation, or even so much frus-

the heterosexual matrix, and understanding/deconstructing compulsory heterosexuality, I have a good footing which will then allow me to move

The cover and a page from “Queer: A Graphic History.”

down is extremely helpful and comforting. Imagine trying to dive head first into a world of new terms and ideas, things that you have never once

tration that you call it quits and curse the subject (hi chemistry, I’m talking about you). Thus, when wrestling with the topics of biopsychosocial,

Photo couresty of amazon.com

foward and expand.

Accessible knowledge is so absolutely essential to moving in a positive and progressive direction as a society.

This isn’t to say that we should ban the use of complex academic terms, but more to point out that it is much easier to approach things when they are put into simpler terms. I am no scholar in queer theory, yet I want to understand it and to spread the knowledge and acceptance that comes with it. A graphic novel for a textbook in conjunction with theory readings, media clips and other forms of knowledge allows myself and others to get a good grip on a challenging and everchanging discipline that continues to baffle and amaze.

Knowledge is the greatest power that one can possess. It would be a shame to turn away from or to preach hate towards something because you refuse to or simply cannot understand it. Accessible knowledge allows everyone, no matter what academic background they have, to verse themselves in extremely important issues and matters.

6

The Spire

OPINIONS

November 1, 2019

The Next Generation: An Interview with Congressman Joseph Kennedy Alex Diblasi ‘23 Staff Writer Promise is once again in the political air in Massachusetts as Congressman Joseph Kennedy announced his bid for the United States Senate. This District 4 representative from Newton captivated all of America when he gave his poignant Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s 2018 State of the Union Address from a vocational high school. Kennedy is challenging fellow Democrat, Senator Edward Markey in the primary election and aspires to be the third Kennedy to be elected to the U.S. Senate.

His great-uncles, President John F. Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy, preceding him. I recently had the privilege to interview Representative Kennedy and discuss the soaring costs of college tuition, the mental health crisis, and the future of the Democratic Party.

The astronomical cost of earning a degree weighs heavily on the students here at The College of the Holy Cross like it surely does across the Commonwealth. What is your realistic plan to help decrease student debt within the next 4 years?

“Students shouldn’t be leaving college with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt hanging over their heads. Not only is the skyrocketing cost of a college education pricing students out of a degree and limiting their opportunities after graduating, it’s draining our entire economy. That’s why I have cosponsored both the Student Loan Debt Relief Act and No Student Loan Interest Act to ensure students are not driven into bankruptcy simply because they wanted to pursue a higher education.”

Mental health diagnoses are rising among college students in America.

As this is not solely a college community issue, what should our government be doing to help combat this nationwide crisis?

“Our failure to fix a badly broken mental health system has devastat-

ing consequences in every corner of this country. Until we begin treating behavioral health issues the same way we treat heart disease or a broken arm, we will not make good on our promise to care for all patients equally.

This means a complete overhaul in the way we treat mental and behavioral healthcare, including payment rates and reforms, expansion of telemedicine and robust loan forgiveness programs for providers. In addition, as we debate reforms in Congress, we should finally enact mental health parity by passing my Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act that would increase oversight, accountability and transparency in our mental health system.”

Why did you enlist in the Peace Corps after graduating Stanford University? What were able to take away from your work in the Dominican Republic and apply to your life in political service?

“Every single day since I returned from the Dominican Republic, I have drawn on my experience in the Peace Corps. But there are two lessons I learned there that I draw on most.

First, that too many communities, both in the Dominican Republic and

here in the United States, are denied equal access to our laws and government. The young men I worked with there had been exploited not just by the tour companies that were underpaying them, but the government that turned a blind eye to those abuses.

That was and is unacceptable in any

with new regulations and higher taxes in order to redistribute the wealth because it is not right that “The average CEO makes 361 times what their average worker makes.”

How would you shift corporations from no longer focusing on shareholder payouts to instead increase employee wages? Wouldn’t more taxes and additional corporate guidelines dissuade executives from growing their companies and entrepreneurs from creating new start-ups?

“For decades, our government has judged economic success by stock market heights and corporate profits while wages stagnate and worker protections crumble.

Investments in our social contract and higher wages are not mutually exclusive from economic success, in fact they are deeply Photo courtesy of Congresssman Kennedy i n t e r t w i n e d .

MA Congressman Joseph Kennedy Economic justice requires a reimagining our country, our own included. Second, economic structures and passing bills there is no substitute for trust in any like my Worker Dividend Act that community you serve. You need to lifts up American workers.” listen and understand the challenges I have heard numerous people your neighbors face before you can state that the Democratic Party was begin to act.” no longer the same party as it was You have spoken about “moral during the Kennedy through Clincapitalism” and how the Federal ton days and that is why they voted Government should intervene for President Donald Trump in

2016. What would you say to those moderate Democrats who feel no connection to the Democratic party?

“A Democratic Party that fights for economic equality, climate justice, civil rights, LGBTQ+ equality and universal health care is one that fights for all Americans. As I said during my response to the President’s State of the Union, we can choose both the mechanic in Pittsburgh and the daycare worker in Birmingham. It’s on us to make the case that we will show up and demand dignity for all Americans and that the policies we put forth will strengthen their present and their family’s future.”

It is the year 2024 and you are President of the United States.

What are the top items on your “to do” list for the first 100 days?

“I think I have too much on my plate in 2019 to even imagine that scenario, but here are the top items on my current to do list: convince my kids to sleep soundly through a single night, show up in as many Massachusetts communities as physically possible, and continue my work in Washington on behalf of my constituents in the 4th District.”

Congressman Kennedy’s campaign promises to bring a “strong moral leadership” to Washington, D.C. and fix a system which is broken for many. Many say his road to the Senate will not be an easy one as there is little policy difference between him and the popular incumbent, Senator Edward Markey. However, according to a recent Suffolk University-Boston Globe poll, Congressman Kennedy is ahead of Senator Markey with 42% of the votes. While his political family legacy is humbling to him, Congressman Kennedy’s mantra is truly inspirational. His youth and optimism shine a bright light on the future of Massachusetts.

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The Spire

Features

FEATURES

Allison Cravalho ‘22 Staff Writer

Name: Kaitlyn Bickerton Favorite Cool Beans Drink: Iced Hometown: Norwood, MA mocha Major: Psychology Favorite spot on campus: Rehm library Campus Activities: SPUD, CBL, Favorite off-campus restaurant: Via Women in Business, and Fellowship of Italian Table St. Francis Guilty Pleasure: Binge-watching Favorite Movie: National Lampoon’s Friends on Netflix Christmas Vacation Some small things that make your Favorite song: “Only One” by Kanye day better: Dogs, friends, coffee or tea, West sunshine Favorite singer/group: Post Malone First thing you do when you wake up: Favorite color: Blue Brush my teeth Favorite sports Last thing you do team: Boston Bruins before going to bed: Favorite class taken Set my alarm at Holy Cross: AfFavorite place you rica and the Other have traveled to: Favorite Professor: Ireland Professor Burnep Role-model: My Item on HC mom Bucket List: Try the Something you look sandwich station in forward to when Kimball you go home: Seeing Biggest HC Regret: my family, friends, Not trying a fried and pets egg or an omelet for Post-Graduation so long Plans: Graduate Photo courtesy of Kaitlyn Bickerton Embarrassing HC school Moment: Not realFavorite memory at izing that Smith, O’Kane, Fenwick, and HC: Walking around campus at night Brooks Music Hall are all connected for with my friends during the first snowfall several weeks my freshman year last winter Bragging Rights: Invited to apply to the College Honors Program, Dean’s list Words to live by: “Grow through what you go through.”

One thing you would change at HC: The stairs Favorite TV Show: Friends, Law and Order: SVU Favorite Book: The Catcher in the Rye

by J. D. Salinger Favorite Kimball meal: Empanadas

tense, or laughing and lively. Topics varied from racism and women’s struggles to her pet Betta fish, Telly.

Toi Derricotte, an American poet Through listening to these pieces, known for her intimate pieces on spoken by Derricotte herself, audiAfrican-American women, visited ence members were allowed an inRehm Library on Thursday, Ocside glimpse into what the author tober 24th to read multiple pieces feels passionately for. Derricotte of her original work and encouraged audience speak to students about members, saying “writing her life’s events and chalabout the things you love lenges. Derricotte is the is very important, and successful author of six they can be small things, poetry collections and is like a goldfish!” the cofounder of the Cave Derricotte explained her Canem Foundation, a feelings of representing a national poetry organizadefiance. She has consistion dedicated to helping tently broken the norm Afican-American poets of not revealing too much grow professionally and about oneself in poetry, artistically. She is also the and has instead chosen author of literary memoir, to rawly express herself, The Black Notebooks. The vulnerabilities included. reading was co-sponsored She left the audience with by the English, Africana one overarching question Studies, and Gender, of purpose: What are you Sexuality, and Women’s doing with language to Studies departments. make it do what you want Derricotte began the it to do? Toi Derricotte’s event by reading the lyrics poetry reading was heartof “Deep Song” by Billie felt, inspiring, and will not Holiday. She explained soon be forgotten by those that as a young woman, privileged to be in attenthis song brought forth the dance. realization that there were Derricotte’s reading Photo by Kim Fetherston ’22 others that understood took place as part of the Guest Author Toi Derricotte explores her passions and her feelings and knew her Working Writers Series questions through poetry. problems, thus “speaking and was sponsored by the [her] language.” Born the daughter wanted to write poetry.

Creative Writing Program, Africana to two African-Americans, DerDerricotte read multiple pieces Studies, and Gender, Sexuality, and ricotte’s life has always been defined from her collections. These pieces Women’s Studies. by race. After reading aloud directly represented a variety of tones. off of her birth certificate that the Though most were serious and color of each of her parents was cat- emotional, some were light-hearted egorized as B1, Derricotte explored and comical. Proof of this fell with the implications of these categoriza- the audience, either silent and in-

What’s on for Halloween own! An RSVP was required by this Sunday night, but everyone should keep an ear out for friends who attend, and maybe even find out who did it.

Those looking for a more chill Halloween experience this week attended the Artists’ Series concert this Tues-

7

Poet Toi Derricotte Poses Questions to Rehm Audience

Crusader of the Week: Kaitlyn Bickerton ‘22

Clarabel Smith ‘20 Features Editor

November 1, 2019

day. With organ students Michelle Sacco ‘21 and Matt Lucia ‘22 performing spooky classical music like Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by Bach, this is a fantastic way to get in the Halloween mood (dark, broody, possibly pumpkin spice flavored) between Halloweekends.

In a less scary but definitely thrilling vein, PRIDE is finally throwing its first ever drag ball the day after Halloween, on Friday November 1st at 8 pm guests include Worcester drag icon Victoria Obvious. Drag is not required (it is appreciated/ beloved/stanned) but all participants should dress your best and wildest! No tickets or entrance fee is required, so anyone interested in getting involved in PRIDE or just ready for a night of looks and friends should drop by for a different kind of costume this Halloweekend.

Happy Halloween and good haunting from The Spire!

For students, Halloween is probably less of a campus activity than an off-campus one, but nonetheless there have been Halloween events around campus that draw small but spooked crowds.

Some of these include classics like the Healy Haunted House, which this year had the theme “Horror Movies of the 2010s,” including Annabelle, The Purge, IT, and Stranger Things. The haunted house was open on Wednesday night, from 8:00 to 9:30.

Other events are more recently arrived to campus, like Alternate College Theatre’s Murder Mystery Party. After the success of last year’s party, in which the Pit in Fenwick was decked out as “Woolsworth Pendleton III’s 50th Wedding Anniversary,” ACT decided to continue the experience with a Las Vegas themed murder. ACT members and regular students alike Graphic courtesy of Healy Hall Council. were encouraged to dress up, Visit Haunted Healy for a “spook-tacular “ evening! play a character or create their

tions. What differences arise in the lives of those categorized as B1 and those as B10? What differences arise in the lives of those categorized as B and those as W? It is questions like these that have inspired Derricotte’s poems since she first got the feeling, at a mere seven years old, that she

Got a friend with a lot of personality?

Nominate them as Crusader of the Week!

Email kagall22@g.holycross.edu to nominate your friend as Crusader of the Week!

8

The Spire

FEATURES

November 1, 2019

Cantor Art Gallery Presents: “Dharma and Punya: Buddhist Ritual Art in Nepal” Kelly Gallagher ‘22 Chief Features Editor Tucked away from the heavier foot traffic of Fenwick and Smith Halls, beneath the iconic Holy Cross clock tower, the Cantor Art Gallery has assembled a historic exhibition. “Dharma and Punya: Buddhist Ritual Art of Nepal” offers an in-depth, breathtaking encounter with a culture likely unfamiliar to most inhabitants of the West, featuring many items that are being displayed now for the first time.

The name of the exhibition stems from the practice of “punya,” in which devotees create good karma, as according to the teachings of Buddha, also called “dharma.” To paraphrase Brittanica.com, “punya” can be generated through giving, observing moral principles, and meditation. The exhibition calls attention to the fact that monks are not the only people who follow Buddha’s teachings. As explained by their website, dharmapunya2019.org, the exhibition is “centered on how the Buddha’s teachings were arrayed as much for worldly householders as otherwordly seekers.” In other words, plenty of unordained householders also strive to attain “punya.”

Dr. Meredith Fluke, director of the Cantor Art Gallery, was kind enough to share her thoughts on the exhibition’s relationship with the College

with The Spire over email. “As the art gallery for the Holy Cross campus, the Cantor is meant to promote and support the intellectual and cultural life of the College,” she wrote. “The best exhibitions do many things for the campus community: their content ties into the curriculum; the ideas in them promote conversations around the meaning and value of human endeavor; and the physical objects provide opportunities for close looking and contemplation. ‘Dharma and Punya: Buddhist Ritual Art of Nepal’ hits on all of these points, and, in addition, has a unique point of view that has never been explored in an exhibition anywhere. In it, the curators — Professor Todd Lewis (Religious Studies, Holy Cross) and Jinah Kim (Art and Architectural History, Harvard University) — explore how Buddhism has been and continues to be practiced in Nepal over centuries of time, through the works of art that surround and support that practice.”

Regarding the exhibition’s historical significance, Dr. Fluke continued, “There are not many items like these in American collections, and thus this exhibition represents an enormous accomplishment. The artworks span more than a century of production, and have been borrowed from museums across the United States — including the Metropolitan Mu-

seum of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and more, as well as from Nepal. Because borrowing works from major museums and from overseas is an enormously labor-intensive and expensive undertaking, often exhibitions like this one require years of development and coordination. The driving forces behind ‘Dharma and Punya’ were Professors Lewis and Kim, who also secured [a National Endowment for the Humanities] grant to help bring the objects here.

In addition, Professor Lewis helped to bring a visiting Fulbright scholar — Professor Naresh Bajracharya — from Nepal, to further enrich the campus’ engagement with the topic.”

Pieces in the gallery include visual guides to the rituals devotees should perform in order to attain “punya” and objects used in such rituals. Rituals involve making donations, raising flags with mantras printed on them, and welcoming individuals or icons into sacred spaces in the Lasa Kusa ritual.

The gallery contains a measuring vessel used in the Lasa Kusa ritual to pour flowers, puffed rice, or dried fruit onto the head of the welcomed. The gallery also displays a vajracarya crown from the 13th-early 14th century, inlaid with semiprecious stones, lapis lazuli, and turquoise, which is on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Obviously the exhibition is meant to

be experienced as a whole, but when asked which piece she wouldn’t want visitors to miss, Dr. Fluke wrote, “I am partial to the large, rare 19th-century scroll of a mythical story called the Svayambhupurana. The story tells the origin of a sacred stupa and other sacred sites in the Kathmandu Valley with dozens of amazing scenes of mythical events. It is a masterwork of storytelling that would have been displayed on the wall of a Buddhist monastery and read/interpreted to a crowd. It is in the collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, but has always been in storage — its display here at the Cantor is the first time it has been on view to a public audience.”

College is full of learning opportunities, but the exhibition stands out as an especially rich one. Dr. Fluke elaborated on why this is, stating “[c]ollege should be a time when you deepen your awareness for ideas and cultures that are outside of your experience, and this exhibition provides a window onto a culture that will be new to most Holy Cross students. Many, if not all, of the objects in ‘Dharma and Punya’ are not usually on view even in their parent museums. In addition, the curators have done a great job providing videos, study objects, interpretative texts, photos, and other technology help bring to life the ways in which these objects were and are still used in

Nepalese Buddhist ritual.”

The exhibition encourages student engagement through both supplementary lectures and live demonstrations. Upcoming lectures include “Local Manifestations of Universal Compassion: Lokesvara of the Four Places in Nepal,” led by Dr. Bruce Owens of Wheaton College (November 07, 7 p.m., O’Kane 495), and “Believe in Belief: Looking at Religious Art,” led by Holland Cotter, co-chief art critic of The New York Times at (November 14, 4 p.m., Rehm Library). For those seeking a more hands-on experience, visiting Fulbright Professor Naresh Bajracharya will demonstrate “Making Clay Stupas” in the Gallery on November 09, at 1 p.m.

The “Dharma and Punya: Buddhist Ritual Art of Nepal” exhibition is free and open to both the student body and the general public until December 14. The gallery is located on the first floor of O’Kane Hall, and hours are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon - 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The gallery is fully handicap accessible.

Did You Know...

Worcester Edition Did you know… Worcester was home to a celebrated pioneer of American rocket Scott Parazynski’s lecture on his experience as a NASA astronaut or are dreaming of science? booking a flight on Virgin Galactic’s commercial space tours have a fellow Worcester Dr. Robert Hutchings Goddard (1882-1945) was born and worked right in Worces- resident to thank for his contributions to space travel as we know it! ter, Massachusetts. Goddard is known for developing and launching the first liquid fuel rocket, changing the future of space travel. NASA published an online article chronicling Goddard’s contributions to rocket propulsion, in which they state “It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterthat “the flight of Goddard’s rocket on March 16, 1926, day is the hope of yesterday and the reality of tomorrow.” at Auburn, Massachusetts, was as significant to history - Dr. Robert Hutchings Goddard as that of the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk.” The location from which he shot his rocket is now Pakachoag Golf Course.

The article also notes that “Goddard first obtained public notice in 1907 in a cloud of smoke from a powFor more information on Dr. Goddard, check out der rocket fired in the basement of the Worcester Polyhttps://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/about/history/ technic Institute physics building.” Luckily for Goddr_goddard.html. dard - and the future of American rocketry - school officials recognized the potential of his work, and did Citations: not expel him.

Goddard’s entire education was based in Worcester.

“Dr. Robert H. Goddard, American Rocketry PioHe graduated from South High Community School, neer.” National Aeronautics and Space Administrareceived his B.A. from Worcester Polytechnic Instition, NASA, 08/03/2017. <<https://www.nasa.gov/ tute, and earned his M.A. at Clark University, where centers/goddard/about/history/dr_goddard.html>> he also completed his Ph.D. Goddard died in Balti“Robert H. Goddard.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia more, but was buried in Worcester’s Hope Cemetery.

Foundation, Inc. <<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ There is now a crater on the Moon named for him, as Robert_H._Goddard>> well as a shuttlecraft on Star Trek and a drink (“RockPhoto courtesy of NASA Dr. Goddard with his liquid-fueled rocket. et”) from Worcester’s Wormtown Brewery. Clark University’s main library is also bears Goddard’s name.

Holy Cross students who recently attended Dr.

The Spire

EGGPLANT

November 1, 2019

9

The Eggplant

The Spire’s Satirical Page True Crime: A Spaghetti Story Greg Hausler ‘20 Chief Eggplant Editor A group of off campus seniors (names redacted) have been cited for a noise complaint and disruption of the peace for hosting a family style dinner at 4 pm on a Sunday afternoon.

Among the noises cited in the complaint were the clinking of forks and plates, a “mazel tov” to begin the festivities, and a prolonged grace blessing from one of the home owners. When asked about the crimes, a neighbor (name redacted) stated “It was simply far too loud. I immediately could hear the chewing and moaning from

outside of the kitchen and at that point I said ‘enough is enough.’”

The neighbor took his complaints to campus authorities at once, who agreed that the meal was simply too rambunctious to continue and warranted further investigation.

When authorities arrived, the home owners were fast asleep in their respective beds. They were immediately awoken from their deep, food-induced slumbers and told to exit

the premisses immediately. The authorities scoured the house and their conclusions are listed below: -A full dishwasher -A freshly cleaned sink with slight remnants of pasta sauce/gravy -A refrigerator tightly packed with leftovers To all involved this was conclusive evidence of wrongdoing and warranted a formal handwritten apology from the homeowners. Being the highly respected, big j Journalists that we are at the Eggplant we were able to find an original transcript of the group’s written apology. Their apology, directly taken from the Ip-

hone Notes App, is as follows: We deeply regret our wrongdoings and apologize to the entire campus for our reckless behavior. First, we would like to apologize to our parents for using their recipes to make the meal.

Secondly, we would like to announce that we never again will cook a homemade meal without ensuring that the noise is kept as silent as the awkward tension when a family member brings up religion and politics during the holiday season. As a formal expression of our deep regret we have made a donation to 1-877-Cars 4 Kids to ensure that something this tragic never occurs again.

The Russian Comi-Con Experience Hannah Johnson ’21 Gamer Girl Word on the street is the REAL Scout from the beloved online free-to-play game Team Fortress 2™ was spotted at the Moscow Comic-Con © this weekend. Being from Boston, his Russian isn’t very good, but at least he’s very smooth with his fans, and especially with the ladies.

We asked him to describe his experience, and here’s what he said: “There was a surprising amount of beautiful, half-naked ladies, enticing men over to their booths to sell them gaming equipment. But I ain’t complainin’. The Russian women were gorgeous.”

“I can’t believe they let me in through security with a (real) baseball bat. Really, into a crowded convention hall, with a REAL, 32-inch baseball bat! I felt very powerful. For once in my life.”

“The cosplays were AMAZING. I’m sure people came from all over the world to show off these stellar costumes.”

“I got stopped for a lot of pictures. Sometimes it’s a little hard to understand the natives, but they’re all very nice. I enjoyed saying some of my English voice lines, knowing fully well they probably wouldn’t understand me, such as: ‘We both got buckets of

chicken… wanna do it?’ or ‘Hey, let me show you CLOWNS how to conga!’ or the classic, ‘BOINK!’” “At most of the anime merch booths, they had these buckets filled with what I can only describe as miniature, hand-held body pillows with all sorts of anime characters on them. The buckets were labelled things like ‘vaifus’ (waifus) or ‘trapi’ (traps), which I thought were hilarious. So I bought myself, like, twelve waifus. They’re so cute.”

“Also popular at the convention were these face masks with various kawaii designs on them. Makes sense to me—if I could change my face so that it looked like ‘OwO,’ I would.”

“While standing around and waiting for our group members to finish taking photos, a guy ran into the baseball bat I was carrying over my shoulder. His face was priceless—maybe he was a little intimidated when he realized that I was carrying around a real bat. But then, as he’s composing himself and leaving, the guy WINKS at me. What a mad lad.”

“On the way home, I started talking to a guy who was working at the Dell Gaming area. We talked all the way back to my metro station about the convention, about gaming, about our countries, about culture… It just goes to show, really, how welcoming and warm the Russian people are. Gotta love ’em.”

First-Years Horrified to Find Bubly & Not La Croix in Lower Kimball Matt Anderson 21 Eggplant Editor As they arrive on the Hill, many first-years must come to terms with the fact that their romantic notions of the college experience are, in fact, a fantasy. Although James McDavid ‘23 was disappointed that the liquid in the fountain in Memorial Plaza wasn’t made of White Claw, as the tour guide had promised, he wasn’t surprised. “You know, it sounded too good to be true,” was his response. “At least I’ve heard a lot of good things about this Lower place. Since my family and I pay a total of $69,810 for me to come here, I can’t wait to see what they treat us to down there.”

Upon walking through the entrance to Lower and entering into the sacred vestibule towards the food court proper, I saw the color drain from James’ face. “W...w-what is that!?” he managed to sputter as he gestured towards the drink cooler.

“Those are the meal deal drinks,” I replied. “You’ve got your typical sodas, bottled water, and Bubly.” At the mention of the last option, James let out an anguished wail and dropped to the ground, gnashing his teeth.

“How could they do this!” He wailed.

“I need my Pamplemouuuuuuuuse!”

I haven’t seen James since that incident. Once the paramedics arrived, they informed me that he would need at least a semester to recover.

This “disappointment” exists among other first-years. Elizabeth Grimaldi ‘23 voiced her discontent: “How am I gonna take boomerangs of me and my friends in Lower now? I have to flex on my friends back home, and I can’t afford for us to look poor with Bubly’s in our hands.” Since James’ breakdown, Elizabeth and other first-years have set up the Society for the Promotion of La Croix (SPLC) that seeks to end the monopoly which Bubly has on static water on this campus.

Scout, sharing a drink with Gadget, known in Russia as “Gayechka”

A Shuttle Frizzles Over Mario Micallef ’22 Magic School Bus Enthusiast A shuttle bus turned to chaos Monday night as a strange woman tried to take the bus hostage enroute to Boston. Reports say that a woman with glasses and frizzy hair wielded a small green dog at folks waiting in the bus. Jack Elizabeth Muldowney ‘22 was there and described the incident, “I’ve never been more afraid in my hecking life.” According to a low-ranking police officer on the scene, the hijacker made a request of $5000

to be wired to an offshore account on the moon. Surprisingly enough, after the original bus driver passed out (who wishes not to be named), the frizzy assailant kept in line with current bus driver protocol when she

turned up the radio jams and gave stressful instructions to the students. This is not the first time strangers to Mt. Saint Jim have attempted to take a shuttle bus hostage. December 5 will mark the sixtieth anniversary of the WPI bus incident. In case you are a firstyear (can’t believe I’m calling them that) and are not aware, the WPI bus incident ensued when a cloaked individual took over a shuttle bus with an automatic air gun and left a WPI satchel behind to evade campus knights (yeah, Pub Safe is a relatively new department).

Holy Cross has a dark history with this frizzy assailant.

According to the official campus employee registry, a woman matching Monday night’s scare has applied to teach in every department of science since the addition of Smith Labs. Her multiple rejections are indeed an obvious motive, but her attempt at taking the students sitting in the bus on a “field trip inside Father Boroughs’ body” stumps even our blessed police dog detective Gracie. The woman in question would have almost driven the bus away if it wasn’t for the complex maze created by the new Artsy center construction sight.

One thing is for sure, if this offender strikes again, the student body is not ready. I spoke (shouted) with the guy that constantly pops up in the mirror and asked, “Oh wise mimicker, what should the students of Holy Cross do to fight against bus hijacking?” His reply?

“Take the train.” If you or anyone you know has information on this incident or might have video of this heinous wacko, email arnoldperstein99@downwithscholastic.net.

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The Spire

Sports

SPORTS

November 1, 2019

Crusader Sports Roundup Through October 29 6-3) is in its first season competing in the prestigious Hockey East conference, and is led by first-time head coach Katie Lachapelle. The highlight of the campaign thus far came early in the season when the Crusaders managed two ties against a competitive Penn State club. Through the team’s first nine games, senior forward Rachel Moore leads the team with six points (five assists, one goal). The top goal scorers are sophomore forward Sommer Ross and first-year forward Mary Edmonds, with two apiece. HC takes on Providence this Friday at 7:05 PM at home.

Billy Fitzpatrick ‘20 Editor-in-Chief With fall sports teams nearing the end of their seasons and some winter sports already underway, let’s take a look around campus to see how Crusaders sports have been faring.

(Note: all stats updated as of Oct. 29.)

Football The Holy Cross football team (4-4 overall, 2-0 Patriot League) has hit its stride two-thirds of the way through the season. On Oct. 12, the Crusaders made the short trip down Route 146 to take on Brown in Providence.

The hosts held a 14-13 lead early in the second quarter, but junior quarterback Connor Degenhardt connected with explosive first-year wideout Ayir Asante twice before halftime for touchdowns of 69 and five yards to give HC a commanding halftime lead. The Crusaders pulled away in the second half and walked away with a 47-31 road win.

Holy Cross returned to Worcester the following week for a homecoming game against another Ivy League foe in Harvard. HC could not extend its two-game winning streak as Harvard pulled out a 31-21 road win. Senior running back Domenic Cozier racked up 150 yards from scrimmage and scored two touchdowns on the day, including a 66-yard touchdown run to open the game. The Crusaders bounced back on Family Weekend by topping Patriot League rival Colgate 31-10. Cozier and Asante both dazzled again for Holy Cross, with Cozier rushing for 153 yards and Asante notching two more touchdown catches, including a 58-yarder. Junior wideout Tenio Ayeni also snagged a touchdown catch, his third of the season.

The win brought the Crusaders back to .500 for the year and propelled them to second in the conference standings.

HC takes on Patriot League leaders Lehigh this weekend in Beth-

Elsewhere

Photo courtesy of goholycross.com First-year wide receiver Ayir Asante earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors this week, his second time winning the award.

lehem, Penn., in an important conference matchup. The team will then close the season at home against Lafayette, at Fordham, and back home against Georgetown.

Men’s and Women’s Soccer The Holy Cross men’s soccer team (3-13 overall, 1-6 PL) started the month of October strong with a 1-0 road win over Boston University, with junior attacking midfielder Max Krause providing the decisive goal. The Crusaders then dropped consecutive home conference games to Bucknell and American, the lone HC goal of the two games again coming from Krause.

On Oct. 16, Holy Cross took down Delaware on the road, 3-2, behind two goals from sophomore forward Dylan Scanley and one from senior midfielder Rory Birse, his first collegiate goal.

The Crusaders rebounded from a road loss to Army by topping Brown 1-0 thanks to an overtime winner from Birse, his second goal in three games.

Holy Cross dropped the following two contests to Loyola and Vermont, and will take on Lehigh at home this Saturday at 1:05 PM on Senior Day. The women’s soccer team (4-38 overall, 2-1-5 PL) will wrap up its regular season at home this Friday at 5:05 PM with a chance to reach the postseason. The Crusaders will guarantee themselves a place in the Patriot League playoffs with a win against Bucknell, but could also get in with a tie depending on other results around the league. Over the past few weeks, the Crusaders have helped their cause with two wins and a draw in their last four games. HC topped Navy at home on Oct. 12 thanks to a header from senior Kelly Crowley. The Crusaders

then took down BU on the road, 2-1, in a comeback win behind goals from senior Carly Flahive and Crowley.

Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey The men’s ice hockey team (1-1-2) started the season with one of the best wins in recent Holy Cross athletics history by taking down #6 Providence on the road in overtime, 3-2.

The Crusaders fell behind twice, but leveled the score both times, with the final equalizer coming with under a minute remaining in the third period. Senior forward Kevin Darrar scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give HC its first win over a ranked opponent since 2016. Since then, the Crusaders have fallen to Merrimack and notched ties against Northeastern and St. Lawrence.

The women’s ice hockey team (0-

Men’s and women’s cross country competed at the New England Championships at Franklin Park in Boston on Oct. 12. The men, led by sophomore Karter Seitz with a time of 25:54.2 over the 8k distance, finished in 14th out of 25 teams. The women, propelled by a pair of top-10 finishes, placed 5th out of 22 teams. Senior Jenna Gasparrini provided the low stick for the Crusaders, coming in fourth, while her classmate Allison McArdle rounded out the top 10 of the race. Both teams compete at the Patriot League Championships hosted by Colgate in Hamilton, New York, this Saturday.

The men’s and women’s rowing teams competed at the famed Head of the Charles Regatta on the weekend of Oct. 19-20. The men’s collegiate eight boat finished fourth out of 38 teams, while the women’s club fours finished 30th out of 55 teams.

The field hockey team has put in a solid season, going 6-10 overall and 2-3 in the Patriot League. The Crusaders wrap up the regular season this Saturday at Bucknell. Junior forward Minke Kooman leads the team with 19 points (eight goals, three assists).

College Football Check-In: LSU, Bama, and Ohio State Ahead of the Rest

Mo Amin ‘23 Staff Writer As the college football season rolls into week ten, the Crusaders still remain unranked. A small price to pay for salvation. However, the games did not disappoint this weekend with highlights such as Notre Dame at Michigan, Auburn at LSU, and Wisconsin at Ohio State. With the thriller at Death Valley, it’s safe to say LSU has faced some of the toughest opponents in its journey to the top of the college football rankings. With an impressive win against a formidable Florida defense, an early win against a tough Texas, and their latest win against astounding Auburn, the Tigers look dangerous heading into their highly anticipated matchup against Alabama next weekend.

Yet, this isn’t to say that Alabama is finally an underdog versus the LSU

Tigers. Perhaps they are. With the Crimson Tide possibly missing Tua Tagovailoa, their Heisman-hopeful quarterback, and with LSU quartberack Joe Burrow making a strong case for the best signal caller in college football, it looks as though the Tigers will finally take one in this heated rivalry.

A win on Saturday would be one in their last nine matchups against Alabama. However, if anyone can rally a win, it would be Nick Saban and his unparalleled resume.

With all eyes set on LSU, the Buckeyes have been sneakily dominant in their path to an 8-0 record. With a tougher schedule than its counterparts in the top four, Ohio State has been perfect by a large margin. Would the Clemson Tigers even be in the conversation if they weren’t the defending national champions? With Justin Fields tossing dimes on his way into the Heisman conversation and the

well-rounded team being fully recognized as a force in the college football scene, it’s safe to say a January playoff matchup between the Tigers and the Buckeyes would be a beauty to watch.

As the weeks roll by, their last regularseason matchup against the No. 5 Nittany Lions of Penn State will be their true test of might. Will the Buckeyes hoist the college football trophy at the end?

How about them SMU Mustangs?

Who would’ve thought after eight weeks they’d be ranked in the top 15 teams in the nation with an undefeated record? It’s a peculiar story, but the Mustangs have a handful of hard-fought wins to their name.

The recent SMU victory over Houston makes them the first SMU team since the death penalty to win eight games with only four more games to go in their search for a perfect season.

Turning to Michigan’s win against

Notre Dame, there’s not much to say about the Wolverines. It’s tough to be dominant when facing the Ohio State Buckeyes at their prime in college football. However, it’s a pleasure to see great teams facing great teams and the matchups between these two are always thrillers.

If the Crusaders’ win over Colgate wasn’t enough for college football fans, the games this past week have been nothing short of amazing. College football has always brought some of the best memories, and the matchups that await us are unprecedented.

It’s an understatement to say that the New Year’s Six bowl games will be a great holiday gift to share with family and friends. With the game of this week being No. 8 Georgia versus Florida, another battle in Jacksonville, we’ll certainly have another week of sensational college football.

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The Spire SPORTS November 1, 2019 11

Celtics Opening Week: Slow Starts, but Offense Showing Signs of Life Charlie Krumsiek ‘20 Sports Editor Note: All stats updated through Oct. 29.

The Celtics opened their season facing off against the new-look Philadelphia 76ers, with Al Horford ringing the bell to signify the new season, and were defeated in a sloppy game 10793, typical for opening night in the NBA. This game was characterized by quick and constant foul calls and poor shooting, with freshly extended forward Jaylen Brown picking up his fifth foul in the very early third quarter. These fouls had the Celtics looking to their bench unit to produce much earlier than head coach Brad Stevens would have liked. New addition Kemba Walker and third-year forward Jayson Tatum had very poor shooting nights; Walker shot 4-18 for just twelve points, while Tatum managed an inefficient 21 on 8-22 shooting.

Both good shooters throughout their careers, this is hopefully just them getting the rust off after being involved with Team USA at the FIBA World Cup Tournament into September.

Gordon Hayward, on the other hand, had a very encouraging first showing, tallying 25 points on 8-15 shooting. While plagued by their stars’ poor shooting nights and foul trouble, the Celtics were able to hang in this game until the last few minutes, where the Philadelphia defense made all the difference and Boston was unable to mount a last-minute comeback.

The Celtics home opener was

Photo courtesy of AP Photo/Chris Szagola The Sixers and Celtics will continue their rivalry this year with the Eastern Conference up for grabs.

against the reigning champions, the Toronto Raptors, who stand at 3-1 after their first week and look like they will be able to hang on despite the loss of Kawhi Leonard. The Cs put in another poor shooting performance, shooting 38% on the night as a team, but this game was a showing out game for the Celtics’ highly touted young duo, with Brown and Tatum leading the way with a combined 50 of the Celtics 112 points. Walker’s slow start continued but his 11 points

in the fourth quarter made all the difference in this close 112-106 win.

One of the biggest takeaways from this game is what the Celtics plan to do at the center position. The three options manning the center position for now (Daniel Theis, Robert Williams, and Grant Williams) will not offer much offensively, but Boston needs them to shore up the defensive side of the ball. The team has been missing Enes Kanter due to injury, a veteran who contributes a good amount on

the offensive end and the glass, but bleeds points on the defensive end, especially in pick and roll coverage.

Against Toronto, the three-pronged center committee was strong defensively, holding Marc Gasol to only one point. Grant Williams looked particularly solid on the defensive end which translated into more minutes for the next game. He looks like he will have a major impact in filling the colossal hole left in the Celtics’ defense by Al Horford’s departure.

The Celtics finished their week and went on a mini vacation until Wednesday, eventually winning in convincing fashion over the Knicks after another very slow start. After going down in the first half, the Celtics’ offense came alive led by Walker (no stranger to performing well under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden), who had his best game in green thus far with 32 points. The young starters also had another good showing, with Tatum scoring 15 to go along with 9 boards and Brown adding 19 and leading the team in plus/minus.

This game was close throughout with the Celtics only pulling away in the fourth quarter, but it did feature many of the new additions to the team in garbage time minutes, including exciting rookie center Tacko Fall. Fall immediately became a fan favorite this summer because of his immense stature, standing at 7 feet 6 inches. Carsen Edwards, Summer League phenom and Purdue product, also made his first major appearance but still appears to be finding his footing amidst NBA level defenders.

The Knicks remain winless and appear to be one of the teams hurtling towards the high lottery again, but this was an encouraging game for the Celtics, with their offense finally showing some signs of explosiveness.

Tiger Ties Snead for Most PGA Tour Wins of All Time

Bobby Tuzzio ‘20 Chief Sports Editor

Last April, I wrote an article following Tiger Woods’ triumphant win at the Masters. Since then, Tiger has certainly played well, but it is fair to say that his play has regressed just a bit since he won the Green Jacket. He had so-so performances at the rest of the majors this past summer. However, no matter how well he performed in the rest of the tournaments of the season, he was always one of the biggest stories of the week. And he had stiff competition, including Brooks Koepka, who had a dominant summer. Still, Tiger remained highly relevant despite his average play.

Also in that article, I wrote about how the chase for Jack Nicklaus’ record for most major titles - the ultimate record in golf - is back on.

Tiger currently has 15 major titles to his name, three shy of the great Jack Nicklaus. He has four chances to add to that collection next year, including a chance to repeat his Masters victory. Thus, right from the first major in April, Tiger will provide golf fans with a lot of excitement.

One piece of information that I neglected to discuss in my previous article was how close Tiger was to achieving another record, one that is arguably just as impressive and revered. I am of course referring to Sam

of this is Brooks Koepka, who seems to always strike in the majors, with very little exposure during other PGA events so far in his career.

That said, this past Sunday, Tiger made his mark on Snead. With his win at the Zozo Championship in Japan, Tiger Woods has tied Sam Snead’s revered record for most PGA Tour wins, yet again cementing himself as one of the greatest players of all time. It also took Tiger six years less than Snead to achieve 82 wins. While 2019 may have unofficially have been the year of the Tiger, 2020 could end up being Tiger’s best year yet.

Tiger Woods in action at the Zozo Championship this past weekened.

Snead’s record for the most wins on the PGA Tour. In a span of close to 30 years, from 1936-1965, Sam Snead won 82 PGA Tour events. This record has stood for over five decades. Think about the golfers who have played on the tour since then: Palmer, Nick-

laus, Watson, Player, Ballesteros, Hogan, Mickelson, and the list goes on.

However, no one has overtaken Snead, arguably the greatest golfer of all time - or at least the greatest golfer of the first half of the 20th century.

Now, to be fair, it said that some golf-

Photo courtesy of golfdigest

ers, including the aforementioned Jack Nicklaus, did not play in many PGA tournaments throughout the year. In fact, Nicklaus was famous for this; when he was not playing in tournaments, he was usually practicing for the majors. The modern-day example

12

The Spire SPORTS November 1, 2019

The Undefeated Niners: Legit Contenders or Frauds?

Mike O’Brien ‘23 Staff Writer As we approach the midway point of the 2019-2020 NFL season, there now remains two undefeated teams in the league: the 8-0 New England Patriots and the 7-0 San Francisco 49ers. While it is no surprise that New England has been able to steamroll the competition with the combination of a smothering defense and a favorable schedule thus far, the 49ers continue to be one of the league’s biggest surprises.

Coming off a measly 4-12 campaign last season that included an ACL tear to franchise quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and not winning a single game on the road, San Francisco is having one of the greatest turnarounds the league has seen in recent years.

The Niners are the first team since the 2013 Kansas City Chiefs to win four games or less in their previous season and then start 7-0 the following year. The main strength in this Niners team has been the defense. While the New England Patriots undoubtedly own the league’s best defensive unit, San Francisco is not far behind; the Niners rank second in the NFL in fewest total yards allowed per game with 223.5 as well as ranking first in fewest passing yards allowed per game with 133.5. The main defensive weapons include Nick Bosa and Richard Sherman. Bosa, a rookie defensive lineman and the younger brother of San Diego Charger Joey Bosa, is already wreaking havoc on the league. Bosa ranks inside the top 25 sack leaders in the NFL already, including three against the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday while tacking on an interception.

While Bosa leads the defensive front, cornerback Richard Sherman anchors the secondary. Sherman is tied with a handful of other players for 11th best in the league for interceptions, with 2 on the season already, including a pick-six on Jameis Winston of Tampa Bay in Week 1.

While Garoppolo looks to be the face of the 49ers franchise on offense,

the Niners running game has taken over as a force to be reckoned with.

The three-headed monster of Tevin Coleman, Matt Breida, and Raheem Mostert have propelled the Niners

legend Rob Gronkowski. Kittle currently ranks amongst all NFL players for 44th in the league for receiving yards, including wide receivers. While it is not likely that he will be able to

victory. After allowing a touchdown to the Rams on the opening drive of the game, the 49ers defense turned up the heat and did not allow a score for the rest of the game. The secondary

Photo ccourtesy of NinerNoise Can San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo elevate the 49ers to the upper echelon of contenders?

to an average of 172.2 rushing yards per game, good for second best in the league. Coleman displayed just how good he is with a four touchdown showing against Carolina this Sunday, while Mostert added a score of his own. Whether it be the Niners staff being hesitant to overuse Garoppolo after coming off an ACL tear last season or the emergence of an elite running back committee, these Niner running backs are stomping all over the league and carrying San Francisco thus far.

Many would also consider 49ers tight end George Kittle to be the best in the league, and for good reason.

Although the 4-12 record may not be an indication of any bright spots for the team last season, Kittle was far and away the shining star for the team. The second year tight end set an NFL record for single-season receiving yards by a tight end, an honor previously held by former Patriots

match his other-worldly receiving production from last year due to the emphasis on the rushing game and a bolstered receiving corps with the addition of Emmanuel Sanders, Kittle’s impeccable contribution to run and pass blocking is just as important as his receiving roll this year.

San Fancisco had many doubters at the start of the season, as its first four games were played against lesser opponents such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns, whose combined records now amount to a horrible 6-22. It was time for San Francisco to face a worthy opponent during a Week 5 game against the defending NFC Champions and divisional rival Los Angeles Rams. While many thought that San Francisco would not be ready for this test after not having to face a real opponent to start the season, the Niners were ready for Los Angeles with a 20-7

did its job by holding Jared Goff to a meager 78 yards on the day. Kittle and Jimmy G were a sharp contrast to the Rams nonexistent aerial attack with Garoppolo throwing for 243 yards and contributing a rushing touchdown, while Kittle tacked on eight receptions for 103 yards.

Still, San Francisco had doubters after a small margin of victory over the struggling Washington Redskins by a score of 9-0. But the score did not tell the whole story of the game; playing in a downpour of rain in D.C., it was evident neither of the offenses could get going, and yet again the Niners proved that they had a superior defensive unit compared to their opponents, pitching their first shutout of the season. Another seemingly large test for the 49ers appeared to be against the Carolina Panthers, who after dropping their first two games of the season went on a 4-0 run with newly promoted quarterback Kyle Al-

This weekend in Holy Cross athletics...

Visit goholycross.com for more information on how to watch or listen to Crusader athletics.

Friday: Women’s soccer hosts Bucknell in an important game with playoff implications (5:05 PM) Women’s ice hockey hosts Providence at the Hart Center (7:05 PM) Men’s ice hockey travels to Rochester to take on RIT in Atlantic Hockey action (7:05 PM) Men’s and women’s swimming & diving hosts Fairfield in a dual meet (4:00 PM) Saturday: Football travels to Pennsylvania to take on Bucknell in important Patriot League action (12:30 PM) Men’s soccer hosts Lehigh for Senior Day - come support your seniors! (1:05 PM) Men’s ice hockey travels to Rochester to take on RIT in Atlantic Hockey action (5:05 PM) Men’s & women’s XC travels to Colgate for Patriot League Championships (12:00 PM) Field hockey travels to Lewisburg, PA to take on Bucknell in last regular season game (12:00 PM) Volleyball hosts Army in Patriot League action (5:00 PM) Sunday: Women’s ice hockey travels north to take on New Hampshire (2:00 PM) Volleyball hosts Colgate in Patriot League action (1:00 PM)

len. With Allen having a record of 4-0 as a starter and the Niners boasting a 6-0 record on the season, something would have to give. And it was the Carolina Panthers who folded. With a staggering final score of 51-13, the Niners dominated the Panthers on both sides of the ball. With gamechanging contributions from Coleman and Bosa, the 49ers put their foot on the gas and never looked back to move onto 7-0.

But the doubters do seem to have some points to their arguments.

While the Rams and Panthers seemed to be formidable opponents, LA is not the team it was last year, losing as many games through Week 8 (three) as they did last year en route to a 13-3 record and Super Bowl appearance. The Niners also preyed on the inexperience of Allen in their rout of Carolina. While the Niners have had a favorable schedule so far, the real tests will come in the second half of the season, with a schedule that includes playing the Seattle Seahawks twice, the Green Bay Packers, and the Saints and Ravens both on the road. All four of these teams have been contenders the entire season, so this will be a real challenge to go up against these teams in such a short span of time.

Additionally, while the 49ers defense seems to have no real holes, Jimmy Garoppolo does seem to raise some question marks on offense. With no prior playoff experience, and the 49ers looking like a lock for the playoffs barring a midseason collapse, Garoppolo could struggle in a game with much higher pressure than the regular season. Additionally, with such an emphasis on the running game, the 49ers rank poorly in passing YPG, just 24th in the NFL. Therefore, if the Niners come up against a team that can stuff the run such as New Orleans, they may be in trouble. However, if the NFC runs through San Francisco in the playoffs, there is no denying that Garoppolo is undefeated at home as a starter. While there may be some lingering concerns on the backburner, look for these 49ers to make a deep postseason run.