Volume XCVII, Number 5
November 8, 2019
Worcester, Massachusetts
Holy Cross to Hire Director of Sustainability Jackie Cannon ‘20 Editor-in-Chief
The College of the Holy Cross will be hiring a Director of Sustainability in the coming months in an effort to further improve sustainability on campus and continue to work towards the goal of being carbon-neutral by 2040. John Cannon, Director of Facilities Operations and head of the hiring committee for the Director of Sustainability, shared that the Director’s main responsibility “will be to foster a culture of sustainability among students, faculty and staff” through the creation of a Sustainability Office and working with different groups to implement sustainability initiatives. The Director is anticipated to begin before the start of the Spring semester. Renee LeBlanc ’21, who is a co-Chair of Eco-Action and the Eco-Action representative on the hiring committee for the Director of Sustainability, expressed her view that having a full-time employee at the College dedicated to environmental sustainability will allow for “high-level structural change.” “We need to have someone that can
build relations across campus and connect invigilates in order to generate change on a wide scale,” shared LeBlanc. “ I will be on this committee to advocate for the students’ voice and I know that
working with them.” A significant portion of the Sustainability Director’s role will involve working directly with students through overseeing student sustainability internships
Photo by John Cannon
Eco-Action hosted the “Repair and Reuse” Fair last Spring.
the faculty and staff in the committee are very supportive of students requests. This position is a result of the hard work of students and we look forward to
and collaborating with student groups by providing expertise, said Cannon. The Sustainability Director will also chair the Presidential Task-Force on the
Environment, which was established in 2007 by former president Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., and which established the College’s carbon-neutral plan in 2009, according to the Holy Cross sustainability website. LeBlanc elaborated on the type of work that she envisions the Director of Sustainability doing with students: “We are looking to learn and be mentored by the Sustainability Director. They will help lead Green Fund projects and will help sustain the success of Green Fund projects on campus. The Director will have a much needed influence on how students, staff and faculty are educated about the environment and teach people how they can lessen their environmental impact.” Holy Cross is also a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), which can provide tools like the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), which is “a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance,” ac-
See DIRECTOR, page 3
Women in Business Conference Returns for 14th Annual Gathering Devyn Forcina ’22 Staff Writer On November 2, over 250 women attended the 14th Annual Conference for Women in Business in Hogan Ballroom. Over the past fourteen years, the Women in Business community has grown and continues to welcome back alumnae each November. At the registration desk, attendees were conscious of the graduation years on the nametags: alumnae spanning forty years returned to the hill for this conference. The ballroom brimmed with contagious energy and a sense of empowerment in the conference’s early moments. Conversations between former and current students about experiences at Holy Cross became hushed as Dean Freije introduced the highly anticipated keynote speaker, Maggie O’Neill, a member of the Class of 1999. Ms. O’Neill was a political science major when she attended Holy Cross. Political science is not her only passion, for she is also a gifted artist. Believing in art’s power to make a social impact, Maggie has channeled her creativity, talent, and leadership to create her own
businesses. Today, she is the Co-Founder and Cheif Creative Officer of SWATCHROOM, a design, art, and fabrication firm. Her work through SWATCHROOM has enabled commercial establishments to transform into jawdropping and tangible experiences. She is also the founder of SUPERFIERCE, a traveling art exhibition that features works by female artists and that mentors up-and-coming ones. She has also received many accolades for her personal artwork, businesses, and charity. Her Keynote, however, also focused on the obstacles she had to overcome as she established herself in business. Her story was engaging and inspirational, and the end of her speech was received with applause and many words of praise during the Q&A. After the Keynote, Kim Miles, Founder and CEO of Miles in Heels Productions, LLC facilitated an icebreaker that allowed students and alumnae to begin networking. Kim’s equally vivacious personality and curriculum, “Getting Past Hello!”, encouraged all conference attendees to engage in conversation and to get to know each other.
Seated by industry, alumnae gave advice to students who were interested in similar careers. Women shared stories about interviews and networking, as well as their experiences of working in fields sometimes dominated by men. This session caused discussions to flow and relationships to form. Later in the day, breakout sessions enabled conference attendees to develop more specific skills. Multiple sessions were offered by panels of alumnae in diverse fields; these sessions included Design Thinking, Culture Fit, Polishing Your Personal Brand, and Launching Your Career. After attending these sessions, stu-
dents had the chance to network with alumnae using the new skills they learned about before the conference came to a close. Congratulations to the Conference Organizers and Sponsors on a very successful event! The Women in Business community offers opportunities beyond this annual conference. A new student-run Women in Business Club meets weekly and continues to help students learn the language of business and explore opportunities. Be sure to mark your calendars for the 15th Annual Women in Business Conference on November 7, 2020.
Inside The Spire
News.......................1 Opinions.................4 Features..................6 Eggplant.................8 Sports.....................9
Landon Cass ’20 Awarded Vanicelli Prize Page 3
The Internship Dilemma Page 4
“Falling Out of Time” Puts Audience in Touch with Universality of
Page 7
Eggplant: OJ Simpson’s Fantasy League Page 8
Photo courtesy of the Women in Business Conference
HC Football Remains Undefeated Page 10
NEWS
The Spire
2
November 8, 2019
Student Government Association Senate Segment THIS WEEK IN THE SGA SENATE: Roundtable
Sub-Committee Updates
A roundtable was held to discuss new proposals or updates within the Senate. Some ideas were connecting with Academic Services to better publicize events, working with Crossroads to offer more gluten free food options, and creating a tech free zone for studying.
The RSO committee presented the organizations Alexander Hamilton Society and Unified Sports. These organizations came in to become formally recognized and they passed. The SBC committee gave an update on what clubs they have granted money to over the past week. The SOAC committee updated us on the “Cupcake for a Concern” event they are planning.
Stop by Hogan 519 on Sunday, November 10th for our next session at 8:15 p.m.!
Confirmation Hearings The Senate confirmed Anna Parker ‘23, Elina Kang ‘23, Sarah Cooper ‘23, Max Caron ’23, and Erin Reinhart ‘23 as clerks for this year’s Senate. Congratulations to all!
INSTITUTE CHANGE
Sarah Cooper ’23 is the Public Affairs Clerk for the Senate. Check back weekly for more Senate-specific updates and initiatives to make student life easier on the Hill. CONTACT US: www.facebook.com/HCSenate Instagram: @sga_hcsenate sgasenate@g.holycross.edu
Snapshots From the Hill: “Ah, Wilderness!”
Photos by Kim Fetherston ‘22
A sneak peak inside the Theatre Department’s upcoming production of “Ah, Wilderness!” 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
Please address correspondence to: The Spire P.O. Box 32A College of the Holy Cross 1 College Street Worcester, MA 01610-2395
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.
To advertise in The Spire: Email: spire@g.holycross.edu Phone: (508) 293-1283
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.
News
The Spire
November 8, 2019
3
Vannicelli Award-Winner Presents D.C. Thesis
Ethan Bachand ‘22 Chief News Editor
In front of a large crowd in Rehm Library, Landon Cass ‘20 presented his thesis that won the Vannicelli Award on November 4th. Friends, family, and the Holy Cross community came to the talk, “Renewable Energy Policy in a Changing World”, which was also a celebration for Cass’s winning of the prestigious award for the Spring 2018 Washington Semester. Each semester, students that participate in the Washington Semester program must complete a thesis while also interning and going to class. Students must defend their work to a board of faculty, and in the end one thesis is chosen to be the best from a group. The award is named after former Holy Cross Professor Mauricio Vannicelli, who also has a seminar room dedicated to him on Fenwick 3. Each recipient of the award is granted the opportunity to present their thesis when they return to campus, and have their name added to a plaque in the Smith 3 hallway. This year, Cass earned the award for his thesis in the Spring semester. During his time in Washington D.C., he
also interned at prominent lobbying firm Flywheel Government Solutions. Professor Gary DeAngelis, the director of the program, opened the event by talking about the significance of the Washington Semester, noting the hard work that all students put into it. After speaking about the history of the award and Mr. Vannicelli himself, he introduced Cass for his presentation. As previously mentioned, the talk was titled “Renewable Energy Policy in a Changing World”, which was a shortened version of his thesis. The presentation revolved around Renewable Portfolio Standards, specifically the policy, partisanship, and prospects that surround it. When asked about what inspired him to choose this topic, Cass said, “The work that I was doing in D.C. A lot of our work was happening around clean energy and renewable energy, so I wanted to explore that in a more indepth way outside of the workplace.” Following the talk, the audience was invited to join in a question and answer session with the award winner. Despite an array of questions from faculties and peers, Cass was able to answer all questions with confidence and defend his research.
Speaking to The Spire after the talk, Cass stated that when he found out he had won the award, “I was pleasantly surprised. I know how hard all of my colleagues worked while we were down there, and so it was humbling to receive the award because I was with them in the library, so I knew how much work went into it.” He would continue his statement, saying “It’s just a great honor. It is totally humbling, and I’m just happy to write a great paper [which] is what it is all about”. When asked if this was a career path that he wanted to follow, Cass responded “Potentially. [I’m] figuring all of that out. Senior year, so we’ll figure it all out and hopefully in some capacity I will continue researching and being active in the renewable energy field.” Two more talks featuring the recipients of the award are slated for the Spring semester, as the Fall 2018 and 2019 winners will deliver similar presentations. The first one of the year, however, set a high bar for those that follow.
Photo by Davey Sullivan ‘22
Landon Cass ‘20 presents his award-winning thesis in Rehm Library.
November 9: Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Innovation Challenge
What’s Happening on Mount St. James?
November 11: Anthropologist Juliana Flinn gives a lecture in Rehm Library on Mother Mary in Micronesia
Check out this spot each week for a schedule of upcoming events that you won’t want to miss!
November 13: Alan Rosen gives a lecture on Memory as Proteset in Rehm Library
From DIRECTOR, page 1 cording to the AASHE website. Such tools would allow the Sustainability Director to “assess the strengths and weaknesses of the current sustainability program [at Holy Cross] and then develop a focused plan to advance and meet our goals in a cost effective and efficient method,” said Cannon. By making the move to hire a Sustainability Director, Holy Cross is following in the steps of many other higher education institutions, such as Williams College, Wellesley College, and Bentley University, which are just a few of the private colleges and universities in Massachusetts that have hired staff dedicated to sustainability and created Offices of Sustainability. When asked why the College has chosen this year to hire a Sustainability Director, Cannon shared, “there is a lot of momentum for sustainability worldwide through a large movement calling for climate justice, but also among our faculty, staff and students, so it is time to take this next step.” Cannon also em-
phasized that the record-high number of students involved with sustainability through Eco-Action, the SGA, Montserrat, and other groups. “We want to capture all this momentum to bring the college to the next level,” concluded Cannon. Alongside the active search for a Sustainability Director, several other sustainability initiatives are underway at the College. Cannon shared that facilities and the SGA have collaborated to implement composting in Figge and Williams, which will be finalized in the next few weeks, with some of the food waste students produce in their kitchens. Eco-Action is likewise working on several initiatives for the Spring semester, such as a Sustainable Business Conference, a residence hall competition to reduce the use of heat and water, and Purple Goes Green Week, which is held in April. Additionally, on Friday, Nov. 22, Jose Martinez Diaz, the Engagement Director for Greenpeace USA, will be speaking, and Eco-Action will provide lunch to attendees.
As highlighted recently on the Holy Cross website, the College was featured for the tenth consecutive year by the Princeton Reviews “Guide to Green Colleges,” with a score of 89 out of 99. Holy Cross has also reduced its carbon emissions by nearly 50% since 2007, and is on-track to reach the goal of being carbon-neutral by 2040. In a comment to the Spire, Rev. Philip L. Boroughs S.J., president, reflected on the College’s decision to hire a Sustainability Director: “Care for our common home is a priority for Holy Cross, the Catholic Church, the Jesuits, and all who work together to support our shared mission. Hiring a Sustainability Director will help the College advance and expand the work we’re already doing here on campus, to ensure we’re doing our part to safeguard the earth and ensure its health for future generations.”
November 12: Resume Writing Workshop with the Center for Career Development
Public Safety Blotter ~Eggplant Eddition~ Sunday, November 3rd Mount St. James- Studnets participated in rioting Sunday night as the New England Partiots lost for the first time this season. At the same time, students who are not from New England were fast asleep. Monday, November 4th Stein Hall- A professor called for assistance when a student showed up to class as an Astronaut, claiming he had worn the costume since the previous friday. Wednesday, November 6th Hoval - Police responded to what was thought to be a mass protest on the Hoval. Instead, those involved said they were just enjoying the last nice day until April.
4
The Spire
Opinions
OPINIONS
November 8, 2019
See What Other Students Are Thinking Around Campus...
No Shame Ryen Cinski ‘22 Opinions Editor This past weekend I was doing some online shopping. As I scrolled through Brandy Melville, a popular women’s clothing brand known for their bold one size fits all system, I saw a pair of pants that I liked. I clicked on the photo of them and went to add them to my cart, but was surprised to see that for this particular style, a size small was equal to a 24 inch waist. I myself am a size small and can usually fit into a pair of Brandy Melville pants, but only if they have an elastic waist. Still though-to market a size 24 as an equivalent to a small? That’s insane. Revolve is a very popular site that sells shoes, clothes, accessories and more, and is host to various popular, higher end brands. One of these brands is Levi’s, everyone’s favorite denim brand. I wanted to see how Brandy Melville’s small could compare to a Levi’s small in terms of inches. What I found made sense, and also made me sad because of the expectations that Brandy Melville causes girls to have. For a pair of Levi’s jeans, a size small is equal to a 27/28 inch waist, and a 24 inch waist size is equal to an XXS. An XXS. Just to be clear, I believe that every body is beautiful and perfect, whether it fits into a size 24, a 28, a 36, or any-
thing else. There is no shame in being able to fit into a pair of Brandy’s pants, and there certainly isn’t shame in not being able to fit into them either. There is shame, though, in telling im-
I began to ask myself why I’m about to try to squeeze myself into a pair of pants that is way too small, instead of looking on a different site that is host to various, sensical sizes. I conclude
one of the girls that can wear Brandy Melville pants. I know that this sounds really trivial, but I promise it’s not. Every woman (and person in general) is
Photo Courtesy of FinancialTimes
Brandy Melville Clothing and Accessory Brand
pressionable girls and women that the ideal, one perfect size, is an XXS. At this point, I’m astounded, and
that I am on the site because I want the brand name on the stupid pants, and at the end of the day, I want to be
markets solely to very thin individuals, that this is the only right way to be, the one size for all, it’s very damaging. The reality is that different sizes exist for a reason; not everyone can wear the exact same size because everyone is built differently, and all of these builds are perfect. Brandy Melville is a brand that appeals to exclusivity. This means that if someone asks you where your shirt is from, and you say “Oh, it’s Brandy,” there will actually be an acknowledgement in both your minds that you can in fact squeeze into this elusive one size fits all. Wearing and purchasing Brandy Melville is in part about actually liking the clothes, but is also about wearing and purchasing them because you can. At the end of the day, I like Brandy Melville. Do I take issue with the brand though? Yes. I think that it is extremely important to be good to yourself, to be accepting of yourself and to cater to what you need. Should I be trying to squeeze myself into a pair of pants that are two sizes too small? No - I shouldn’t, and neither should anyone else. Again, if you can fit, no shame, and if you can’t, no shame.
unique. When a person is told that they should fit some completely unrealistic standard set by a brand that
The Internship Dilemma Maggie Connolly ‘21 Opinions Editor A fifth summer of lifeguarding at a neighborhood pool. No business casual involved, getting paid and getting a tan? Sure, sign me up! Getting paid just over Indiana’s measly minimum wage? Adding another year of hometown lifeguarding instead of a viable internship to my resume? No thanks. I constantly say I need to get a real job for the approaching summer. A real job with an office, a dress code that does not involve a bathing suit and a whistle. A real job, preferably in a city like New York or Boston, not Muncie, Indiana. In those places, I have to pay for rent. In those jobs, I am lucky if I get a salary or a stipend. This is all part of a larger issue. Entry-level internships are accessible to a very specific population. Students have to live in the right place if they want to commute to work. It is best if you are located in a suburb of Boston or a town that is a short train ride away from New York City. My city does not really cut it. Chicago is close by, but not short of enough to commute. Indianapolis? Maybe, but the pathway to post-grad success lies in the east coast hubs. So, who gets these positions? Who is filtered directly into internships with
great return offers, boosting resume additions, while adding a reference or two while they are at it? It is most often
ment on little-to-no salary and tend to live in areas that lend themselves to wealthier populations, like well-to-do
these exceptions are anomalies to the larger world of undergrad interns. Think about who is even applying
Photo courtesy of medium.com
Who Has Access to Internships Today?
students who reach a socio-economic status where they can afford to commute or pay for an expensive apart-
suburbs and small towns with wellfunded public-school systems. There are always exceptions, but oftentimes
to these internships in the first place. Students at higher-education institutions with great alumni networks,
schools like Holy Cross. Schools with structural barriers to attendance, like Holy Cross’s recent disposal of needblind admissions, attracts a certain demographic to these institutions. Again, there are always exceptions, and Holy Cross remains a need-based financial aid and test-optional institution. These policies, among others, helps dissipate other structural barriers to entry. All of this is to say that there is a clear path to internships and success in the post-grad workforce. I may have spent my summer lifeguarding while many of my friends and peers were working in a more traditional office setting, but I will still be able to get an internship and have access to the Crusader Internship Fund and Holy Cross’s comprehensive alumni network. Living far away from the internship hubs of the United States is only one barrier to a world with many, much larger barriers. Larger barriers that are incredibly difficult to recognize when you are benefitting from the structure of this institutional system.
The Spire
OPINIONS
November 8, 2019
5
Do We Actually Know Worcester? Julia Maher ‘23 Opinions Editor Whether it is called “the Woo,” “the Heart of the Commonwealth,” or simply “Worcester,” the second most populous city in New England is certainly a fascinating place. Worcester is rich in history and diversity and has many attractions to offer, including restaurants, colleges, museums, and art. Although Worcester is an interesting and distinctive city, sometimes it is not appreciated fully, particularly by Holy Cross students. Since Holy Cross lies south of downtown Worcester and is relatively isolated, it is easy to separate Holy Cross from the rest of Worcester and to create an “us” versus “them” mentality. Furthermore, since Holy Cross students spend most of their time on campus, the detachment is inevitable unless students make a conscious effort to engage with the community. Because of this distance, Worcester can be misjudged and underestimated by Holy Cross students. Instead of debasing Worcester, Holy Cross students should focus on its numerous positive attributes and use their position of privilege to serve and get to know the people of Worcester. Although not all Holy Cross students have the same opinion of Worcester, many students have observed others talking poorly about
the city. Some students believe that Worcester is inferior to Boston and that it does not offer much, but those
ter probably have not made an effort to spend time in different places around the city. Most Holy Cross students
Another common misconception that Holy Cross students have about Worcester is that it is an exception-
Photo courtesy of thisweekinworcester.com
Worcester has more to offer than you may think! statements could not be further detached from reality. Worcester has plenty to offer for Holy Cross students if they practice an open mindset and actively seek out enriching experiences, like service. Most of the time, the students who speak poorly of Worces-
have visited places like restaurants on Shrewsbury Street or the Shoppes at Blackstone Valley, but only some have actually immersed themselves in the culture of the city by serving through organizations like Student Programs for Urban Development (SPUD).
ally dangerous city. Obviously, crime will occur in all cities, but Worcester actually has a relatively low crime rate compared to most cities, including my hometown, Tacoma, Washington. Tacoma and Worcester have comparable populations, but Tacoma has 13,965
crimes annually, while Worcester has only 5,620—less than half of the amount of crimes in Tacoma. There are many positive aspects of Worcester, some of them including its rich history and diversity and wide array of attractions. Holy Cross students should focus on the unique qualities and opportunities that Worcester has to offer instead of their misguided perceptions. The Holy Cross community can seem like a bubble that is isolated from the rest of Worcester. Holy Cross students should take advantage of the diverse service opportunities to become more holistically educated people and experience the charm of the city. There are many experiences to encounter in Worcester besides dining and shopping. Ultimately, as a Jesuit institution, Holy Cross emphasizes the obligation to serve the poor and powerless, and Holy Cross students should make an effort to develop a holistic understanding of Worcester through service. They should utilize their position of privilege and numerous opportunities to serve the less fortunate through organizations like SPUD. Serving and assimilating to Worcester can introduce enriching experiences that form well-rounded students.
SHAPE Column: How to Have opinions? Improve Time Management Share them! Allison McGrath ’22 SHAPE Contributor
beneficial to your analysis, because it will help you identify patterns in your routine. Make sure to take note of the days that you were able to accomplish all of your necessary tasks, and the days that you were not able. Ask yourself, “What did I do differently on my more productive days?” To manage time effectively, you must identify what should be a prior-
This way, what is most important is always accomplished, leaving less important tasks to be conquered afterIn a college setting, it’s easy to idenwards. This method minimizes the tify daunting tasks in your schedule. chance that something important also Some of these tasks seem to require too becomes urgent. much time to be completed than your To maximise productivity, create schedule allows. Time, as with money, a to-do list that is sorted in order of is incredibly valuable to a college stupriority. The level of priority is deterdent... and is all too often just as scarce! mined by which category it belongs The good news is, if you are able to: important, not important, to create an effective time budurgent and not urgent (Covey get similar to a financial budget, et.al. 1994). Using a color codyou may find yourself rich. The ing system may help yourself Student Health Awareness Peer organize your to-do list. A well Educators (SHAPE) wants to organized list allows you to say emphasize the importance of “no” to activities that may be time management during such time consuming, because they a busy time in the semester. do not fit into your structured According to a 2005 Dodd and plan of action. Sundheim study, people who Your mental health is imporexercise good time managetant to the members of SHAPE. ment were more likely to feel We hope you can implement better about themselves, acsome of these tactics into complish more tasks, and feel your routine to become more less stressed. There are many productive, while being less ways to implement time manstressed. Be sure to follow us on agement skills in your life with Photo courtesy of Psychology Today Instagram @holycrossshape for some patience, planning, and With finals season approaching, now is a great point in more tips for healthy living! the semester to work on your time management habits! self-evaluation. In order to create a time budget, you need to identify where you spend the most time in your daily ity in your life. Prioritizing where to routine: personal, sports, club activi- spend your time may be classified as to ties, friends, job, etc. This may help what is urgent, and what is important you analyze which activities consume (MacKenzie, 1990). At first glance, the majority of your time, and which one may prioritize what seems most parts of the day you tend to be most urgent, but it may be more productive productive. Keeping a time log may be to prioritize what is more important.
If you have thoughts on Holy Cross happenings, Spire articles, current events, or anything else, let us know! The Spire accepts submissions by students, staff/faculty, and alumni. Email your submission to spire@g.holycross.edu.
Have a LOT of opinions? The Spire is looking for two opinions editors to consistently write articles. Email spire@g.holycross.edu today for an application!
FEATURES
The Spire
6
Features
November 8, 2019
Simply Ineffable: Good Omens is the Feel-Good Show to Watch
Crusader of the Week: Katie Knippler ‘22
Kimberly Fetherson ‘22 Chief Photographer
Name: Katie Knippler Favorite Book: “A Walk in the Hometown: Hanover, New HampWoods” shire Favorite Kimball meal: Tacos Major: Undeclared right now, but Favorite Cool Beans Drink: Iced thinking English and German Coffee Campus Activities: RA, RA AdFavorite spot on campus: Rehm visory Board, Club Rugby, Club Library Tennis, Women in Business, SPUD, Favorite off-campus restaurant: The Research Associate, CAB, College Fix Honors Program Guilty Pleasure: Watching reality tv Favorite Movie: Der Vorname shows with my friends Favorite Some song: “Bosmall hemian things that Rhapmake your sody” day better: Favorite Saying hi singer/ to all of group: I my resilike evdents, and erything studying Favorite with my color: friends Blue First thing Favorite you do sports when you team: wake up: Patriots Shut my Photo courtesy of Katie Knippler Favorite class taken alarm off at Holy Cross: Last thing you do beThey are all amazing fore going to bed: Turn my alarm on Favorite Professor: All of them Favorite place you have traveled to: Item on HC Bucket List: Study in California every library on campus before I Role-model: My best friend graduate Something you look forward to when Biggest HC Regret: Not knowing you go home: Seeing my friends about Rehm sooner Post-Graduation Plans: I would like Embarrassing HC Moment: Falling to go to graduate school following up the stairs of Dinand my graduation Bragging Rights: I was a research Favorite memory at HC: Watching associate at Dartmouth College this the Super Bowl with my friends past summer Words to live by: “You’re off to great places, today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.” - Dr. Suess One thing you would change at HC: Less hills Favorite TV Show: Friends and The Office
It’s not often that the movie or television adaptation of a book is as good as the source material, so the BBC’s and Amazon’s Good Omens is a treat for fans of the book and those who have never read it alike. Consisting of six, hour-long episodes directed by Douglas Mackinnon, Good Omens is an easy binge full of lighthearted reminders that people are neither inherently good nor bad and social commentary that is just as relevant today as it was when the book was originally published in 1990. The show follows the angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and the demon Crowley (David Tennant) as they try to work together to prevent Armageddon, which is supposed to be started by the Antichrist (Sam Taylor) that the two have inconveniently lost. Along the way, viewers gain insight into the history of Aziraphale and Crowley’s relationship and their time on Earth, as well as how the two of them have come to work together despite all odds. Aziraphale isn’t a perfect angel, he’s indulgent, a bit too independent of a thinker, and a bit too kind, much to the chagrin of his superiors who want nothing more than for Armageddon to happen so they can wipe out Hell. Crowley isn’t a perfect demon either, he’s too nice and much too attached to the world to help it to come to an end. In a way, Aziraphale and Crowley have become too human from their time spent on earth and so much of their story comes from a desire not to fit in with their respective “homes,” but rather to do what they think is right for themselves and the world. The moments in which the show delivers commentary on social or political endeavors are pointed,
Photo courtesy of amazon.co.uk
Lighthearted yet thoughtful, Good Omens is an irresistible binge-watch.
with critiques on the increased use of nuclear energy, whaling, and the infrastructure around London. These were all written into the book, either as something the Antichrist decides to put an end to or as something that was created by demons. (The authors of the book seem to harbor a particular resentment for the M25 and its traffic patterns around London.) However, some commentary came out only in the show, with Adam and Eve (Anthony Kaye and Schelaine Bennett) played by black actors and God (Frances McDormand) voiced by a woman. These casting decisions angered some people to the point that they petitioned Netflix, the wrong streaming service, to stop streaming it. Gaiman poked fun at the petition in a tweet from June 19, 2019, where he joked about not telling those who signed the petition that they were asking the wrong streaming service. Neil Gaiman, co-author of the original book and showrunner, has made it very clear that as much as
“Thank You” from Eco-Action To the Holy Cross Community, We wanted to take the time to thank all of you who voted “yes” on the Green Fund. Because of you, we, together as a community, have ensured that sustainability will always be able to be funded and pursued at Holy Cross for years to come. That’s a BIG DEAL! So thank you to those who made that gesture in support of sustainability and the environment. In addition, the Student Government Association and the Administration have been immensely helpful in navigating the rules and requirements that are necessary when working to implement the Green Fund, which would not have been possible without their support. We also wanted to notify everyone about the next steps for the Green Fund. If it ultimately passes the Board of Trustees, the Green Fund will be in place starting next year, meaning that the Holy Cross Community will now
have a financial resource for sustainability and environmental projects. Therefore, we also need members of the community to apply to the Fund for the money to get used! We want to urge all of you who are interested to come up with great project ideas! More information on the project submission process will come out next semester, and applications should be open in the Fall of 2020. Hopefully, as a result these new projects we will be able to start seeing Holy Cross transform into the great, sustainable campus we know that it can be! Additionally, any student who will be on campus next year can apply for one of three positions on the Green Fund Administration Board. These positions include a Student Treasurer, a Student Visibility Intern, and a Student-at-Large. The descriptions for the positions are as follows: - Student Visibility and Transparency Intern works to make projects funded by the Green Fund
more visible on the Holy Cross campus by maintaining social media for the Green Fund and overseeing the process of publicizing Green Fund sponsored projects such as through the creation of permanent plaques, posters, etc. The Visibility and Transparency Intern has one vote in the project approval process. - Student Treasurer keeps track of expenses and budgets for projects, monitors the Green Fund Account balance, creates a report at the end of the school year outlining the allocation of funds, and updates students throughout the year on money allocation of ongoing projects. This position will work closely with the Student Government Association Treasurer, and has one vote in the project approval process. - Student-at-Large serves as a voice for the student body in the voting process and may be any current student. The Student-at-Large has as one vote in the project approval process.
If anyone has any interest at all in these positions, we will be sending out more information about the application process next semester so be sure to be on the lookout for it! Stay Green, Eco-Action Email us at eco-action@g.holycross. edu if you have any questions or want to be involved. Follow us on Instagram: hcecoation
this show is a work of love for all the fans who have supported the book throughout the years, he really pushed for this adaptation to be as accurate as it is for the late Terry Pratchett, the co-author who passed away from Alzheimers in 2015. Pratchett had always wanted to see the book adapted for the screen, which Gaiman made his mission after, in his own words at a talk this past summer at Rutgers University: “Terry rather inconsiderately died.” The show is a love letter to all that the two of them did together in writing this cult-classic, and in creating it, Gaiman and Mackinnon have doubtless sparked a love for it in a whole new generation.
Got a friend with a lot of personality? Nominate them to be Crusader of the Week! Email kagall22@g. holycross.edu to nominate your friend as Crusader of the Week!
The Spire
FEATURES
November 8, 2019
7
Falling Out of Time Puts Audience in Touch with Universality of Grief
Kelly Gallagher ‘22 Chief Features Editor
Falling Out of Time is aptly named. It’s easy to lose track of time while immersed in the stirring song cycle composed by Osvaldo Golijov, Loyola Professor of Music at Holy Cross, and performed by Silkroad Ensemble, artists-in-residents at the College. Based on David Grossman’s book, also called Falling Out of Time, the song cycle explores the experience of parents grieving the loss of their child and the father’s journey to find his son. The world premiere of Falling Out of Time on Thursday, October 31, in Brooks Concert Hall, was highly anticipated by the lucky audience members of the sold-out concert - and still exceeded expectations. Rev. Philip L. Boroughs S.J., president, welcomed the audience to the concert, reflecting on what an exciting opportunity it was for the College to host the premiere. The College has provided ample creative space for the development of the show since Professor Golijov began working with Silkroad Ensemble in 2017, as part of the group’s residency at the College. Father Boroughs shared that as part of the creative process, Professor Golijov and the Ensemble were joined by author David Grossman on a retreat to the Joyce Contemplative Center in January 2019, which was followed by a workshop performance of the workin-progress in Brooks Concert Hall. Father Boroughs also thanked Trudie and Cornelius B. “Neil” Prior, Jr., Esq. ‘56 for their support of Silkroad Ensemble’s multi-year residency at the College. Mr. Prior’s vision and generosity also initiated the Performing Arts center, which is currently under construction at the College. The pair were in attendance at the premiere. 13 singers and musicians command-
ed the stage, the latter performing with instruments from around the globe, characteristic of Silkroad’s style. Professor Golijov’s music drew inspiration from Delta blues and ballads of Central Asia, which are styles that
ments blended with the vocals before all ceased. Some of these climatic moments were followed by a short, complete silence which was then broken by a startling blast from a sheng, a Chinese reed instrument consisting
thoughts.” The music had the most marvelous sense of being in contact with universality. Of course, the varied nature of the instruments suggested this as the bass guitar, Chinese pipa, and Iranian
Photo courtesy of Arts Transcending Borders. Above, the Ensemble rehearses for the world premiere of Professor Osvaldo Golijov’s Falling Out of Time.
are especially well equipped to wrestle with the topic of grief. Co-Artistic Directors of Silkroad Ensemble, Nicholas Cords and Shane Shanahan, noted in the performance’s program that they are “two traditions which have relentlessly explored grief through a musical lens.” They also noted that “[g]rief is a journey towards breathing again” and invited the audience to join the performers in a “collective, melodic breath forward.” The operatic music was in turns bittersweet, hopeful, beautifully sorrowful, and agonizingly raw. The music rose and fell throughout the program, swelling in intensity as more instru-
of vertical pipes. Audience members appeared transfixed, eyes glued attentively to the stage, and once the music ceased for the final time, listeners rose to their feet for a standing ovation. A wide variety of community members packed the concert hall, including professors, students, and members of the Board of Trustees. Natasha Rollo ‘23 celebrated getting one of the coveted tickets after being placed on the waitlist. A music lover, she attended the concert out of personal interest, rather than for a class. She told The Spire, “I thought it was a beautiful, insightful piece that encapsulated many different levels of emotions and
kemancheh joined in unlikely harmony. In addition, the singing was conducted in both English and Hebrew, the latter being the language the original book was written in. But the performance didn’t just represent universality, it put its audience in touch with universality, creating an effect similar to how one might feel below a vast, starry night sky. The concert did a sublime job of making its audience not just understand, but actually feel the universality of grief. About half the audience stayed for the Q&A following the performance, eager to discuss the creative process and resulting piece with the composer
and performers. One of the questions addressed the relationship between the song cycle and the book it was inspired by. Professor Golijov elaborated on this relationship, identifying his work as a different experience than the book. He pointed out that Grossman’s book is itself an interpretation of grief, and the two pieces ultimately interpret grief differently. One of the common threads between the two works is their exploration of grief as both an individual and universal experience. The show has garnered national attention in the music world. Earlier this fall, Falling Out of Time was previewed by the LA Times as one of “The 13 best classical music concerts to see this fall,” an article by classical music critic Mark Swed. The show will likely gain further attention on its national tour during November, visiting Germantown, TN; Wolf Trap, VA; and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. Arts Transcending Borders, which ardently supported the event, also provided the campus community with the opportunity to engage with the performance beyond its premiere, which was live-streamed as part of a Holy Cross Online Learning initiative. Alumni, parents, students, and other interested parties were welcomed to participate in the threeweek online program, which grants access to a recording of the premiere and encourages participants to connect with Professor Golijov, Silkroad Ensemble, and Holy Cross faculty and administrators. According to their webpage, the final week’s content, featuring a talkback with Professor Golijov and Silkroad Ensemble, was released November 7, “[leading participants] on an exciting tour of how creative work comes into being.”
What’s In Seelos: Us Clarabel Smith ‘20 Features Editor Horror movies are often measured by different standards, not only from other movies in general but also depending on what kind of horror movie the audience expects. Occasionally, however, there is a horror movie that not only fulfills the horror fan’s desire for scares and gore, but that also has a strong visual language and engages with the themes of its plot in a way that is actually satisfying. Us, directed, written, and produced by Jordan Peele two years after his hit premiere film Get Out, is not a typical horror movie. The movie certainly doesn’t rely on jumpscares or visible gore to shock the audience. In fact, most of the twohour film is not meant to shock. It does awe, however, in a way that left me with my mouth hanging open for the last act, and it stays with you so that you almost immediately want to watch it again. The film follows a typical American family, the Wilsons, on a beach va-
cation to Santa Cruz. However, the and the caliber of every actor, who all play their normal characters as well as mother Adelaide, played by Lupitheir counterparts. Of these perta Nyong’o, has disturbing memformances, Nyong’o’s cannot be ories of her own childhood at the overpraised. Adelaide goes from boardwalk that begin to surface in a nervous, protective mother to uncanny coincidences. If you’ve a brutal survivor within minseen the trailer or any poster you utes of screen time, and Red, her know the initial twist: the family doppelganger, only appears for is being hunted by their doppela few scenes but dominates the gangers. Although this initial act entire movie. Winston Duke is slow and relatively mundane, also should receive his fair share a sense of the otherworldly is evof praise for acting as initial voice erywhere thanks to the soon-toof reason and ultimate dorky be-iconic opening scene, which dad, while also adding intriguing informs the rest of the movie and depth to both this character and its twists. his terrifying counterpart. Us is also a uniquely watchable For those who watched Get Out, horror movie for those who get Us is not a direct sequel. Although spooked easily. Not that the movthe movies do not share exactly ie isn’t scary, it just lets dread pool the same themes, they both take in mundane and action-filled mothe same attitude towards transments alike. You could sit through forming an underlying social ill the entire movie and be calm into a physical, horrifying threat. enough to notice the movie’s imIn Get Out, the main fear was of pressive “coincidences” and easter the “Sunken Place,” of the mareggs, its fantastic soundtrack ginalization and victimiza(look out for “F*ck Tha Police” Photo courtesy of IMDb. tion of racism. In Us, the in one hilarious moment), Us will haunt you longer than your typical horror movie. main fear is of the “Teth-
ered,” which Peele describes as: “the shadowy, mysterious ‘other’ that’s gonna come and kill us and take our jobs and do whatever, but what we’re really afraid of is the thing we’re suppressing: our sin, our guilt, our contribution to our own demise…” For me, the best horror movie is not one that makes you scream or gasp (although I certainly gasped watching Us)- it’s the one that keeps you up at night. And I’m going to be up for a while. Us is showing at Seelos Theatre on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9 at 7 pm.
The Spire
8
EGGPLANT
November 8, 2019
The Eggplant
The Spire’s Satirical Page The Juice Is Loose: OJ Simpson’s Fantasy League Greg Hausler ‘20 Chief Eggplant Editor Since his release from incarceration for armed robbery and kidnapping, former football star, national icon, and murderer OJ Simpson has made a return to public life via Twitter. While most are anxiously waiting to hear The Juice speak about his time behind bars, OJ has taken a different route to reconnecting with the general public: fantasy football. This calculated decision has led to a plethora of inquiries regarding potential members of the league and more importantly their team names. Being the highly acclaimed international investigative journalists that we are here at The Eggplant we have received countless tips from our sources regarding the league members and their strategies on draft night. And yes, most importantly, this is an 8 team point per reception(PPR) league. Listed below are the league members, their respective team names, as well as their draft night strategies. 1. OJ Simpson: Two Birds One Knife When asked why he drafted fellow bad samaritans Ben Roethlisberger, Tyreek Hill, or Joe Mixon, Simpson insisted “I didn’t but if I did I would have taken…” before being cut off and hastily taken away from the microphone by sock mogul and legal counsel Rob Kardashian Jr. 2. Dennis Rodman & Kim Jong-Un(Co-Owners): 2 Friends, One Team, One Empire Dennis and Kim selected Kim-Jong Un with their first, second, third, fourth, and fifth rounders because after all there is no better athlete in the world. While every other league man-
ager needed a restroom break this was no worry for this team as Coach Kim’s body is so well calibrated he does not feel the urge to urinate or defecate. 3. Martin Shkreli: Pharma Bros Shkreli asked for the league buy in to be increased from a reasonable price to one which nobody could afford. He then offered his Wu-Tang Clan album to Giuliani who declined having no idea who the iconic rap group was.
4. Casey Anthony: The Dynasty Anthony selected rookie star Kyler Murray with the 4th overall pick in the draft. When asked why she selected Murray, Anthony said she valued his youthful presence, and mistakenly believed that this was a dynasty league. 5. Jeff Probst: Celebrity Survivor Season 99: Fantasy Island The longtime Survivor host chose to join the league for the challenge of surviving a night with The Juice and Kim in the same room. 6. Rudy Giuliani: New York Knicks The former New York City mayor and CNN reality TV star believed this was a fantasy basketball league and missed the draft as he lacked strong signal in Ukraine. However, he butt dialed in and selected Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman with his first two picks. 7. Matthew McConaughey: The Lincoln Ballers Matthew called in using the hands free feature in his brand new Lincoln Aviator, which can be bought at your local Lincoln retailer for $52,480 and only $5,000 at down payment. When asked to comment on why he traded out of the 1st pick and selected a defense first round, McConaughey commented “Sometimes you gotta go back to actually move forward” 8. Nicholas Cage: National Treasure 3 Cage ran into the draft in costume in an attempt to steal the 1st pick. When he realized he could not steal the pick, he proceeded to film 7 low budget films throughout the duration of the draft. All films can be accessed on DisneyPlus.
A Day in the Life: Moscow Halloween Hannah Johnson ’21 Big Russia Girl I woke up on that fine Thursday to a gentle snowfall outside my apartment window. Is it Christmas? Based on the dreadful feeling in my chest, either it’s actually Halloween (and the terror has already settled itself into my heart), or I’ve simply realized I have to go to Russian Grammar, my first class for the day. In hindsight…it was both. Don’t get me wrong; I love ghosts, werewolves, and witches as much as the next guy, but you know what *really* rattles my bones on Halloween? Russian grammar. Social anxiety. Student loan debt. You get it, I’m sure. Anyway, the scares don’t end there for me. I get ready for class; I make my 20 minute walk down Novoslobodskaya to the university. It’s 30 some degrees and snowing so no surprise that everyone is bundled up in coats and scarves, and not in any fun spooky costumes. But I do feel a little pang of sadness, because there are exactly zero decorations to be seen. Halloween isn’t widely celebrated in
Russia, and everyone in Moscow lives in apartments in tall buildings. There’s nowhere to put out pumpkins. Stringing fake cobwebs everywhere is simply vandalism. I roll up to the university. What better way to celebrate Halloween than having to take two tests and give a short presentation? They weren’t too bad for me, but still. Bones = *authentically* rattled. It’s not just Halloween, this is *life*. And life is scary. I survive the school day. Some Russian students offer me a bat-shaped caramel lollipop on my way out of the university. Scares me a little, but it’s fine. It’s mostly young people, I think, who take any interest in Halloween here. I’m glad nonetheless to see anyone spreading that Halloween spirit. It warms my heart as the snow still falls and the wind chills my face. It reminds me of home. I head to my favorite haunt, a Starbucks near the metro station. I like the pleasant cafe atmosphere--and a genuine Starbucks, which usually plays western music in English, is very comfortable for me and also
reminds me of home. I head inside and thaw out. You’d think that this is the part of the day when I relax, done with classes for the day, in a Starbucks, right? There’s no more spooks in store for me? On the contrary. Do not fear (or, perhaps, do fear), because the spookiest spook of this story is yet to come. So I’ve gone inside. The baristas always greet every patron by calling out “Zdravstvuyte!” and when I look towards the registers, it seems to me that some of the employees are wearing funny hats today. At the time, this made me happy again, but really, I should have been more observant. I should have, in hindsight…prepared myself. I take a seat in a chair. I put my phone away for charging and take out my Grammar homework. I have a long trip this weekend, so I need to do some homework before I leave. I’m working quietly, and in my peripheries a barista in a green apron approaches me. I disregard them, thinking they’re just cleaning up the area, but they come right over to me, of-
fering me a cappuccino or something that they mistakenly believe I ordered. This is already startling, right? I’m just quietly focused on my work and suddenly, there’s a Starbucks employee in front of me, trying to figure out whose order they’re holding, but that’s not the part that startled me. You wanna know what startled me? The employee that came up to me was Pennywise, the dancing ****ing clown. Full clown makeup, red hair, and two red balloons trailing them. It was ****ing Pennywise in a Starbucks barista’s uniform. You may laugh now, but that was possibly the most scared I have ever been. Imagine it. You think the worst of the day is over. You go to a place you feel safe--you *depend* on it to be a safe place. You sit down, lose yourself in your homework… and suddenly
Pennywise the clown is next to you-he was working at the Starbucks all along--and you realize that you are NOT safe. *You want this cappuccino? Take it. We all float down here!*
Opinions: Popcorn Tuesday Rated Matt Anderson 21 Eggplant Editor Hogan— Though it is a weekly event, and many have heard of it, few have actually partaken in Popcorn Tuesday. While it fills Hogan with a pleasing smell, most people simply don’t want to seek it out. Have you gone to it?
“I was just tired of the emails and thought they’d go away if I went.” -Matilda Timms, Bagpipinhg Major “I’ll be six feet under in the cold, hard ground before I recognize Popcorn Tuesday as a legitimate assembly.” -Garrett Owens, Citrus Enthusiast
“It’s great. Popcorn Tuesdays give students a place to take a break and grab a quick snack in a supportive, social space. It’s like, half as good as chicken parm night.” - Maurice Gibson, Ketchup Bottler “I’m allergic to shellfish so I can’t eat popcorn.” -William Rimes, Bifocal Examiner
The Spire
Sports Billy Fitzpatrick and Greg Hausler Roommates and League Pass Subscribers With the NBA season underway, we take a look at the best and worst teams to watch this year from the perspective of two NBA nerds. Yeah, obviously the LA teams, Philly, and Milwaukee are going to be fun to watch, but we wanted to go a little off the beaten path here. Alas Teams to Watch 1. Toronto Raptors Toronto? Really? Sure, the best player on the planet is no longer in the North, and the veteran core of Kyle Lowry/Marc Gasol/Serge Ibaka is another year older, their bodies another year creakier. Without Kawhi Leonard, their ceiling is much lower, with an Eastern Conference Finals appearance likely constituting a successful season. Yet, Masai Ujiri and Toronto find themselves in a Spursian situation where a young core is emerging to take the torch from the old guard. Pascal Siakam, shining at some points during last year’s postseason run, floundering at others, looks keen to take a leap into top-15 player territory. He is one of a handful of guys in the league in contention for the All-Star, All-NBA, All-Defense trifecta. Their spunky young role players like Fred VanVleet, Norman Powell, and OG Anunoby are playing with a newfound confidence only a Larry O’Brien trophy can unleash. With Leonard gone, Nick Nurse can fully implement his free-wheeling egalitarian offense. Championship swagger, an emerging superstar, and visually appealing basketball; what’s not to like? - BF 2. Dallas Mavericks Although we are merely weeks into the season, reigning Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic has taken his game to another level, nearly averaging a triple double with 26.7/10.3/9.7. With continued superstar-level play from
SPORTS
November 8, 2019
9
Who to Watch (and Not Watch) in the NBA This Season
the 6-foot-7, the rest of 2 0 -ye a r - o l d the champiSlovenian onship core point guard, is long gone the addition and has subof 7-foot-3 sequently left All-Star and Cleveland in Ivan Drago NBA wastedoppelgangland. Unless er Kristaps you love ofPorzingis, fensive reand marksbounding, as men shootThompson ing from Seth and Love re“The Other main forces One” Curry on the glass, and former or enjoy inefVillanova star ficient, turnand Wooden over prone Photo courtesy of Sky Sports young guards Award winLuka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis make Dallas a must-watch team in the NBA this season. ner Jalen such as rookie Brunson, the point guard Mavericks Darius Garpesky outfit, going 12-deep and having are teetering towards nightly “must the roster versatility to match up with land and 2018 8th overall pick Collin watch” status. Though Doncic is cer- most anyone. That depth can be a Sexton, then the Cavaliers are most tainly not the fleetest of foot and lacks chemistry curse (where do all the min- certainly a team that should not be explosive athleticism, watching him utes go?), but with an injury-plagued making an appearance on your League weave and meander around pick and roster (see: Jimmy Butler, Goran Pass stream. Although the team’s new rolls to eventually thread the needle Dragic, Dion Waiters, James Johnson, hire of former University of Michigan to corner shooters or lobs to Porzin- Justice Winslow), Miami will be able head coach John Beilien brings hope gis is basketball at its finest. Doncic to weather inevitable injuries and give for aesthetically pleasing basketball and Porzingis are making a case for everyone playing time. Rookie Tyler with his motion-heavy offense, the themselves as one of the league’s most Herro is already developing a cult fol- team remains a bottom dweller both dynamic duos, and have Dallas fans lowing in the vain of Devin Booker, statistically and from an entertainreminiscing of the Dirk Nowitzki- Butler is finally in a place of his choos- ment value. At the current moment Steve Nash early 2000s teams with ing, and Pat Riley has the assets to the only reason to watch the Cavaliers their lethal pick and pops. With Don- make a blockbuster trade if a star be- is if you are a fellow degenerate gamcic looking like a future MVP, it is comes available (CP3?). Odds are Mi- bler or if you are a fan of a team lookonly a matter of time before we begin ami won’t threaten to join the league’s ing to trade for a rejuvenated Love or to start nit-picking every aspect of his upper echelon this year, but the party Thompson at the deadline. - GH game and social media usage, so join is back on in South Beach. Don’t miss the Mavericks bandwagon before it it. - BF 2. Chicago Bulls becomes too late. - GH Chicago was a trendy pick to challenge for the eight-seed, and, despite Teams to Avoid 3. Miami Heat a ghastly first two weeks, they still Ever since the end of the Big Three 1. Cleveland Cavaliers might be in the mix, thanks to the unera, Miami has been stuck in NBA Just three years ago this was a team inspiring competition. Even if they do mediocrity, never tanking, but never that featured LeBron James, Kyrie make the playoffs (which is unlikely), contending. That is unlikely to change Irving, Kevin Love, and JR Smith don’t waste your valuable time and in 2019-2020, with Philadelphia and and was coming off of repeated NBA hard-earned US dollars on the 2019Milwaukee as the far-and-away fa- Finals appearances. While Love and 2020 Chicago Bulls. It’s a shame, bevorites to come out of the East. Yet, center Tristan Thompson remain, cause there is a lot to like about this this Miami team looks to be a fun and group. Coby White might be one of
the steals of the 2019 Draft. The young frontcourt duo of Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. has shown glimpses of promise and complementarity, despite health and complementarity concerns. There are useful vets like Thaddeus Young. But whoever thought that giving Zach LaVine the reins of a Jim Boylen-coached team does not deserve to be making decisions in an NBA front office. I love that there is a head coach from the Herb Brooks school of leadership in the most modern sports league in the world, but LaVine (a high-volume shooter allergic to defense) is the antithesis of a “Jim Boylen guy.” There aren’t many teams in today’s NBA that would respond well to Boylen’s old-school approach, and Chicago certainly is not one of them. This season could get ugly - stay away. - BF 3. Charlotte Hornets The most exciting aspect of the Charlotte Hornets is that they are owned by Michael Jordan. Excluding His Airness, it is hard to find much to get excited about with the Hornets franchise. After letting star point guard Kemba Walker sign with Boston, the Hornets have no household name to call upon. His replacement, Terry Rozier, was gifted an inexplicably massive three-year, $58 million deal which is indicative of the current status of the Hornets roster. The team is cap locked with underperforming veterans who allow the team to remain competitive enough to win some games, but do not allow them to truly tank for a Zion Williamson or Luka Doncic type of prospect. The team’s recent late lottery picks of Malik Monk, Miles Bridges, and surprisingly effective rookie PJ Washington all show promise but between inconsistent play and no chance at stardom, none make the team worth tuning into nightly. The term NBA purgatory exists for a reason, and no organization has defined it better or for longer than the Charlotte Hornets. - GH
Crusader Sports: Women’s Soccer into PL Semis, Men’s Hoops Falls to #7 Maryland Billy Fitzpatrick ‘20 Editor-in-Chief Let’s take a look at what two Crusader sports teams, women’s soccer and men’s basketball, have been up to recently. Women’s Soccer The Holy Cross women’s soccer team (5-3-8 overall, 3-1-5 Patriot League) secured a decisive 3-0 victory at home over Bucknell to send the Crusaders into the Patriot League playoffs last Friday, Nov. 1., for the first time in 19 years. Sophomore forward Caroline Harkins kept HC in the game with a dramatic goal line clearance in the 18th minute that denied the Bison a go-ahead goal. With the game scoreless at the break, the relentlessness of the Holy Cross attack took over, with HC pouring in three goals
in the second half. Harkins added to her startling display in the 58th minute when made a run from midfield to the top of the box, and then fired a shot that deflected off the Bison goalkeeper’s hand, off the crossbar, and into the goal to put HC up 1-0. First-year forward Katie Quinn capitalized on a Bucknell mistake in the 82nd minute to add an insurance goal, while junior midfielder Jenna Barnes put the icing on the cake by converting a one-on-one in the 85th. The win propelled the Crusaders to a second-place regular season finish in the Patriot League. HC will take on the three-seed, Army West Point, in the PL Semifinals tonight (Nov. 8) in Annapolis, Md. The two teams faced off on Sept. 22 in Worcester and played to a 1-1 2OT draw. If the Crusaders can beat Army, they will take on the winner of the other semifinal
matchup between one-seed Navy and Loyola (Md.) on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 1:00 PM. Holy Cross beat Navy 1-0 at home last month, and tied Loyola 1-1 in double overtime earlier this season. Men’s Basketball The Holy Cross men’s basketball team - full of new faces both on the court and on the bench - kicked off its 2019-2020 season with a road loss to a top-10 team in #7 Maryland, 95-71. First-year point guard Drew Lowder led the Crusaders with 24 points and five assists in an impressive collegiate debut. The Crusaders held a 19-16 lead seven minutes into the game, but Maryland rattled off a 17-5 run to take control of the game for good. The Terrapins, who come into this season as contenders for both a Big Ten title and a Final Four appearance, were simply too physical for HC, winning the re-
bound battle 47-33 and getting to the free throw line 24 times to Holy Cross’ five. First-year forward Joe Pridgen totaled 12 points and eight boards in his first collegiate game. This was the Crusaders’ first game under first-year head coach Brett Nelson, who takes the HC job after spending the last five years as an assistant at Jesuit basketball powerhouse Marquette. Nelson has a re-building job ahead of him, with HC losing five key players from last year’s team: Jehyve Floyd, Pat Benzan, and Matt Zignorski to graduation, and Jacob Grandison and Caleb Green to transfers. The only returning starter from last year’s team is junior wing Austin Butler, who struggled at Maryland, but will have to supply leadership and offensive production for this young squad. Junior forward Connor Niego looks to bounce back from a sophomore season that was mostly lost to
injury. Holy Cross faces UNH on the road this Saturday before taking on Fairfield for the home opener Tuesday Nov. 12 at 7:05 PM.
Got some hot sports takes, or want to cover Holy Cross athletics events? Email spire@g. holycross.edu for more details on joining the staff!
10
The Spire
SPORTS
November 8, 2019
The Inept Bowl: Previewing Giants-Jets Bobby Tuzzio ‘20 Chief Sports Editor It would be wrong to say that the matchup between the New York Giants and the New York Jets isn’t going to be ugly. After all, both teams have struggled all season, with the Giants posting a 2-7 record and the Jets starting the first half of the season 1-7. Football in New York City has been a complete and utter mess the last few years; however, this year might be the worst of them all. Both teams have virtually shown no progress this season, leading, in the words of New York sports radio legend Mike Francesa, to tagline Sunday’s game “The Inept Bowl.” Coming into the season, expectations for the Giants were not very high. Saquon Barkley was the clear highlight of last season. He came into the league in a big way and really gave Giants fans hope for the future. This season, he’s been good, but not dominant. A lot of his runs have been one or two yard gains, unlike Ezekiel Elliott, who really hits a homerun on most of his runs. Barkley is still the second best running back in the league (Elliott being the best in my opinion), but it’s amazing how the Giants have made him look so ordinary this season. Now to Daniel Jones. Game in and game out, Jones makes some really great throws, and he really does show that he has the potential to be a very good NFL quarterback in the future. However, the biggest problem with Jones continues to be his ball security. He’s a fumbler, plain and simple. It is an issue that he’s going to have to
work on, otherwise he’ll never reach his full potential. People were crazy to think that Jones would turn this team around in his first year. It is extremely rare for a rookie quarterback to make an immediate impact on their franchise (with Dan Marino and
and it is no surprise that their opponents’ offenses stay on the field for so long. That is an area that the Giants desperately need to figure out. Overall, the Giants have many flaws, but they can be a winning team in the future. They have a talented
Pittsburgh. Moreover, they had what I thought was a really good draft performance. Thus, many people, including myself, thought that the Jets might be half-decent this season. Their first game of the season, they lost to the Bills. Okay, no sweat, they
Photo courtesy of SportsBookReview The Giants and the Jets have both struggled the first half of the 2019 NFL season.
Patrick Mahomes being the notable exceptions, even though the Chiefs offense was already really good without Mahomes). Thus, through experience and time, we will see what kind of quarterback Daniel Jones really is. The Giants defense has also been lackluster. Forget the defensive line (although pass rush has certainly been an issue), it is their secondary that has been atrocious. The Giants’ secondary, time and time again, gives up big plays to pretty much every opponent they face. The secondary provides bad coverage on big third-down scenarios,
offense, but they lack fundamentals, make plenty of mistakes, and practically force the officials to throw the penalty flag. Over time, with a more stable offense, and probably a better head coach, this team could win down the road. Now to the Jets. The Jets came into this season with medium expectations. Their quarterback, Sam Darnold, had a really strong rookie year, and hopes were high that he could build off that this season. They also acquired running back Le’Veon Bell, who had some dominant years in
lost a close game to a good Bills team. Then chaos struck when Darnold got mono and was out for multiple weeks. Without him, it was obvious that the Jets would struggle, and they certainly did.. However, when Darnold came back in Week 6 to face the Cowboys, a game that the Jets were supposed to lose, Darnold and company showed up in a big way, beating a really good Cowboy team. So, some optimism about the rest of the season returned. Then, Darnold started seeing ghosts. The Pats crushed the Jets on Monday Night Football, and Darnold
looked really bad out there, throwing four picks. The same could be said for the next two weeks, with a loss to the Jaguars, and an embarrassing performance against the Miami Dolphins. All of a sudden, Darnold, the man who was supposed to save the franchise, is looking less and less like the strong rookie he was last year, and is now showcasing what is referred to as a “sophomore slump.” Down the road, it could be said that Darnold could return to strong play, because he is extremely talented, and with a much better offensive line, he’ll get better pass protection. So, Jets fans should not give up on Darnold just yet. However, if there is one person that Jets fans should give up on, it is Adam Gase, their head coach. He has turned this franchise into an absolute disaster. If the Jets get blown out by the Giants this Sunday, it could be Gase’s last game with the team. If he doesn’t get fired after this weekend, he certainly will by the end of the season. Overall, I could see the Giants winning on Sunday. Realistically, the game is going to be decided by who plays a little less poorly than the other. If Darnold plays the same as he did against the Jaguars and the Dolphins, and if Daniel Jones has a strong outing, then expect the Giants to come out on top. However, whatever the outcome, both teams have many issues to fix before New York football returns to relevance.
Holy Cross Football Remains Undefeated in the PL Play Luke Anthony ‘23 Sports Editor The Holy Cross football team (5-4 overall, 3-0 Patriot League) sits atop the Patriot League standings through Week 9 following back-to-back wins versus Colgate and Saturday’s victory at Lehigh. Following a 31-0 blowout over Colgate, the Crusaders went on the road to Bethlehem, Penn., to take on Lehigh for an important conference matchup. Lehigh came into Saturday’s game riding a four-game win streak after taking down Merrimack, Colgate, Fordham, and Georgetown. The key for HC would be to gain momentum early by getting on the board first, and they did just that. In their second possession of the game, the Crusaders started from their own nine-yard-line. Senior running back Domenic Cozier took matters into his own hands with an 88-yard burst that brought HC down to the Lehigh three-yard-line. Two plays later, junior quarterback Connor Degenhardt punched it in on a one-yard run to put the Crusaders up 7-0. As Lehigh tried to respond, the Crusader defense stonewalled the Mountain Hawks on fourth down inside their own territory to regain possession heading into
the second quarter. Though Degenhardt was intercepted on the ensuing drive, he would strike again before halftime. A fourth down kick-catching interference call against Lehigh would grant HC favorable field position, starting at the Lehigh 31-yard-line.
coach Bob Chesney elected to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the Lehigh one. Sophomore running back Peter Oliver drove through for a touchdown run to put Holy Cross up 14-0 at the half. Lehigh responded quickly with a one-yard score of their own, topping off a nine play, 75-yard drive.
To keep the momentum alive, sophomore defensive back Terrell Prince forced a fumble on Lehigh running back Zaythan Hill on the first play of the second half. Fellow defensive back junior Kendrick Knight recovered the fumble to set HC up on the opponent’s 33-yard-line. In just six
Photo courtesy of GoHolyCross.com Holy Cross Football boasts a 3-0 record against Patriot League opponents this season.
Once again, Domenic Cozier would string together a pair of great runs, including two that went for 17 and 11 yards respectively, to bring the Crusaders down to the three-yard-line. After being stuffed three times, head
Holy Cross refused to go away while Degenhardt and Cozier led the offense down the field, and put three more points on the board as sophomore kicker Derek Ng nailed a 37-yard field goal to put HC up 17-7.
plays, Degenhardt connected with junior wide receiver Tenio Ayeni for his fourth touchdown of the season to put HC up 24-7. Lehigh responded with a 33-yard strike from quarterback Tyler Monaco to wide receiver Devon
Bibbens to narrow the lead to 24-14. Following a missed field goal off the upright from Ng, Lehigh made one of their own from 38 yards to again inch closer, making it 24-17. The Holy Cross defense was charged with stopping a game-winning drive from the Mountain Hawks to preserve the win. After starting from their own 21, Lehigh was able to get down to the Crusader 35-yard-line. Senior defensive back Chris Riley shut down Lehigh’s drive after intercepting Monaco on his own five-yard-line to keep Holy Cross on top of the Patriot League. Cozier’s 190 yards on 22 carries earned him Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week honors. His 88-yard run in the first quarter was also the second-longest in school history. The Crusaders’ next three weeks will decide which team captures the Patriot League title. They take on Lafayette this weekend, then travel to the Bronx to face Fordham, and finally return to Worcester for the regular season finale against Georgetown. The last time Holy Cross won the Patriot League was 2009.
The Spire
SPORTS
November 8, 2019
11
Liverpool F.C. Surge for Another Comeback Win Mike O’Brien ‘23 Staff Writer In their last three Premier League games, Liverpool F.C. have given a new definition of what it means to be “comeback kids.” With an 85th minute equalizer against Manchester United to earn a 1-1 draw, a 75th minute penalty against To t t e n h a m to secure a 2-1 win, and two improbable goals in the 87th and 94th minutes to complete a 2-1 comeback against Aston Villa, Liverpool have proved that they should never be counted out. In a Premier League season in which every point is vital, especially after falling short of the league trophy to Manchester City by just one point last season, Liverpool have played like they will refuse to be denied the title this year. With Manchester City already having lost two games on the season, Liverpool now sit atop the league table by six points, which could prove to be vital later in the year. In their Oct. 20 clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford, which is never an easy stadium to play at, Man U opened up the scoring late in the first half with a 36th minute goal from Marcus Rashford. VAR replay technology was not in favor of the Reds in the first half, as Man U’s chance was created from a potential foul on Liverpool’s Divock Origi, as well as VAR taking away a potential
equalizer away from Sadio Mane, whose goal was called back due to a handball. However, Liverpool kept pressing on. In the 71st minute, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp opted to sub-
the Champions League Final in Madrid. Tottenham came out swinging, with Harry Kane scoring the opener in the first minute of the game after heading in a rebound that came off the post. However, this proved to be
spot and buried a shot into the bottom right corner of the net for the eventual game winner. After one last gasp for Tottenham which saw Danny Rose sail a shot over the crossbar in the 89th minute,
Liverpool players celebrating after another come-from-behind victory.
stitute captain Jordan Henderson for Adam Lallana, which proved to be a wise decision. After taking the pitch for just 14 minutes, the ball found Lallana after a gorgeous cross from left-back Andy Robertson, which Lallanna tucked by Man United keeper David de Gea. Although Liverpool’s streak of 18 straight EPL games with a victory came to an end, picking up a point in such a competitive league was vital. Although it felt like Liverpool should have won this game with a dominating 67.9 possession percentage, one point is better than none. Next up was a clash with Tottenham at Anfield on Nov. 27, their first meeting since Liverpool’s triumph in
one of Tottenham’s only bright spots on the day with Liverpool again dominating possession with a percentage of 68 as well as completing 631 passes compared to Tottenham’s 298. After giving up the early goal, Liverpool came back into the second half on a mission to secure at least a point. In the 52nd minute, Fabinho saw a cross into the box that found Jordan Henderson to volley into the back of the net. After 23 more minutes passed by, Sadio Mane found himself streaking into the box to establish a promising scoring chance, but was fouled by Spurs defender Serge Aurier to draw a penalty shot for the Reds. Liverpool winger Mo Salah stepped up to the
Photo ccourtesy of TheAnfieldWrap
the final whistle blew and Liverpool emerged victorious. With yet another comeback win at Anfield, this was Liverpool’s 10th straight game at home that saw them eventually win or draw after giving up the first goal of the game. Comebacks seem to be in the Reds’ blood throughout this impressive stretch. This theme of comebacks was not lost in Liverpool’s Nov. 2 match against Aston Villa at Villa Park, and was perhaps their most dramatic come-from-behind victory in quite some time. In a game that saw Liverpool dominate offensively yet again with 25 shots compared to Villa’s four and a whopping 74 possession
percentage, it seemed that Liverpool would not be rewarded for their efforts. In the 21st minute, a cross into the box found Villa’s Mahmoud Hassan for an early lead that stuck with them for the majority of the game. Just when it seemed that Liverpool would be upset for their first loss of the season, against a team fighting off relegation nonetheless, the Reds came alive in the 87th minute off a beautiful cross from Sadio Mane that found a streaking Andy Roberston for a header that Villa keeper Tom Heaton could only get a small piece of before it headed into the back of the net. When it seemed that Liverpool were just about settled for coming away with a point on the road, they shocked the soccer world yet again. After a 94th minute corner kick was taken by Trent Alexander-Arnold, the ball caught Sadio Mane’s head just enough to trickle into the bottom left corner. Mane was later deservedly named the Man of the Match for his clutch assist and goal to give Liverpool the win. During this incredible stretch of comebacks, it just seems to be in Liverpool’s DNA to score late winners. This was the club’s 35th game in their history in which they have scored a winning goal in a league game in the 90th minute or later, which is ten more than the next team. Excluding their tie with Manchester United, Liverpool have had a near perfect start to their season with ten wins in 11 matches. While it may be too early to tell, the Reds are playing like true European Champions, and look like they could well become the kings of English soccer come springtime.
This weekend in Holy Cross athletics... visit goholycross.com for more information on how to watch or listen to HC athletics. Friday: Women’s soccer takes on Army in the Patriot League Semifinals in Annapolis, Md. (7:00 PM) (Watch on Patriot League Network) Field Hockey takes on American in the Patriot League Semifinals in Washington, D.C. (11:35 AM) (Watch on PLN) Men’s ice hockey hosts Sacred Heart at the Hart Center (7:00 PM) Women’s ice hockey travels to Boston to take on Northeastern (1:00 PM) Volleyball hosts Bucknell in Patriot League action (6:05 PM) Saturday: Football looks to stay undefeated in PL action when they host Lafayette (12:00 PM) Men’s basketball looks for their first win as they travel north to take on UNH (1:00 PM) Women’s basketball opens their season at Big Ten foe Illinois (3:00 PM) Women’s ice hockey hosts Maine at the Hart Center (6:05 PM) Men’s and women’s swimming & diving travel to Orono to take on Maine in a dual meet (1:00 PM) Sunday: Women’s soccer (1:00 PM) and Field Hockey (12:05 PM) PL Championship Games if they advance Tuesday: Men’s Basketball home opener against Fairfield (7:05 PM)