March 22, 2019

Volume XCVI, Number 12

March 22, 2019

Worcester, Massachusetts

The College Offers New Housing Option at The Edge to Accommodate Growing Student Body Allyson Noenickx ’19 Editor-in-Chief Last week, the College announced a new housing option for rising juniors and seniors at the Edge at Union Station, an apartment complex less than two miles away from campus. As the College faces its largest senior, junior, and sophomore classes in history next academic year, this new housing alternative will aim to alleviate the pressure that these swelling class sizes have placed on the housing system.

According to Edwin Coolbaugh, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life and Housing, it is anticipated that about 90 students, a combination of juniors and seniors, will live at the Edge.

Regardless of whether the Edge is occupied by primarily juniors or seniors, the new housing option will have a trickle down effect that will serve to benefit all students by opening up more beds elsewhere on campus.

Holy Cross students will be able to live in fully-furnished four bedroom, 4.5 bathroom apartments with single bedrooms, private bathrooms,

central air conditioning, and highspeed wifi. The apartments comes fully furnished with a 50 inch, flat screen cable TV and stand, dining table for four, coffee table, couch, and armchair. Each unit also has its own washer and dryer in the apart-

apartments and individual bedrooms can be unlocked via key fob. High ceilings, exposed brick, and track lighting also add to the building’s industrial feel.

According to Michele Murray, Vice President for Student Affairs

Photo by Hui Li.

Sample living room at the Edge apartments.

ment which can be used for no additional charge.

The bedrooms offer full-sized XL beds, a desk, dresser, ceiling fan, spacious walk-in closet, and private fullbathroom complete with a tub. Both

and Dean of Students, “The Edge will offer allow Holy Cross to expand our housing offerings, allowing Holy Cross students to experience offcampus living while enjoying many of the benefits of living on campus.”

Since the Edge will be considered “hybrid housing”, not fully-residential housing with on-duty RAs but not “off campus” housing, athletes on athletic scholarship and other students with financial aid covering housing will be able to travel to the Edge with their grants, which is not true for said students who choose to live in off-campus houses that are not owned by the College.

Much like in Figge or Williams Halls, each floor has its own trash and recycling facility. The housing price for the Edge will also be equivalent to that for the senior apartments, although students may not be required to purchase an apartment meal plan. One key difference between the Edge and the on-campus senior apartments, however, is that the Edge does not offer housekeeping services.

Both the College and the Edge will each run regular shuttles to and from the Hogan Campus Center.

Students hoping to bypass or supplement the regular shuttles offered by Holy Cross and the Edge with their own cars will be responsible for find See EDGE, page 3

New Exhibit Showcases HC LGBTQ+ History Kate McLaughlin ‘21 News Editor On March 11, the “I’m Not the Only One: LGBTQ+ Histories at Holy Cross” exhibit celebrated its opening night. The exhibit is part of an ongoing effort to collect and increase access to historical materials relating to LGBTQ+ histories at Holy Cross, as well as to honor the pain, hardships, courage, and hope of the many Holy Cross students whose stories have gone unwritten for so long.

“I’m Not The Only One” was inspired by current work at the Worcester Historical Museum, which is currently undertaking a major effort to preserve, digitize, and share Worcester’s LGBTQ+ history to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprisings, or a series of pivotal LGBT rights demonstrations in New York City.

The exhibit, the product of a Weiss Summer Research Project, was curated by Professor Stephanie Yuhl of the History Department and her students, Nora Grimes ‘19 and Emma Powell ‘20. The group worked on the project throughout the summer of 2018 and during the 2018-2019 academic year. They were responsible for every step of the exhibition process, from selecting the sources, to writing the script, to charting out the exhibit. They archived newspapers dating back to almost 100 years ago, although the earliest LGBTQ+

reference that they found was from into four thematic sections, includthe 1960s, according to Powell. The ing Student Voices and Publications group also worked with members of (featuring reporting and “letters to the faculty and staff to locate addi- the editor” from The Crusader/The tional sources and conducted, tran- Spire and The Fenwick Review), Edscribed, and published oral histories ucation In and Out of the Classroom featuring the experiences of Holy (featuring the development of Holy Cross LGBTQ+ alumni, which can Cross’ first LGBTQ+-related stube found on Crossworks. Powell en- dent groups and of curricula includjoyed the opportunity to participate ing LGBTQ+ subject matter), Spiriin the tual Life project, (featurwhich ing oral she said histow a s ries in “truly a which grassL G roots BTQ+ effort.” alumni “Mureflect seum on the exhibichaltions lenging comPhoto by Professor Daniel Libatique ‘10. r e l a m u tionship “I’m Not the Only One: LGBTQ+ Histories at Holy Cross” celebrated its opening night on March 11. nicate between what t h e i r story that society, culture, institution, faith and their sexuality), and Student and, often, regimes, want to tell,” she Organizations and Activism (featuradded. “For this exhibit, in particu- ing the history of the formation of lar, Holy Cross, as an institution, is student established organizations in claiming and bringing to the surface response to homophobia and hate a history that was largely uncollected crimes). and under researched before… BeThe curators acknowledge that fore everything was buried and we the work toward the acceptance and had the amazing opportunity to dig inclusion of members of the LGthrough the archives, conduct oral BTQ+ community on campus is not histories, and hunt down some awe- finished. One of the graphics refersome objects.” ences the alleged assault of an LG“I’m Not the Only One” is divided BTQ+ student on campus in Octo-

ber of 2018.

“Our exhibit team could never have predicted how timely and vital this exhibit is. This exhibition is telling the community that LGBTQIA+ history matters and Holy Cross does, in fact, have a vibrant LGBTQIA+ history,” said Powell, before adding: “To be clear, as an institution and a community, we are still not doing enough. This exhibit is just a small contribution from Professor Yuhl, Nora, and myself. The college needs to continue to protect, serve, and offer resources to the LGBTQIA+ community on campus.”

“I’m Not the Only One” is a testament to the many, varied experiences of LGBTQIA+ students at Holy Cross, across different gender identities and many time periods.

Powell said that the Student Organizations and Activism section is her favorite part of the exhibit, because it provides models of student activism that has taken place in the past.

She added, “In my opinion, apathy toward the LGBTQIA+ is one of the largest problems facing the Holy Cross community. Those who go to the exhibit are taking time out of their day to learn about a community.

What better way to do that than by finding out about someone else’s history and story?”

The exhibit will remain on display on the first floor of Hogan through April 11.

Inside The Spire News.......................1 Opinions.................4 Features..................7 Eggplant.................9 Sports.....................10

Babinski, Realbuto Among Students Elected to Student Government Association Page 2 The Power of Wealth in Higher Education Page 4 Don’t pit “Captain Marvel” against “Wonder Woman” Page 7 Eggplant: Holy Cross Announces Exciting New Housing Option in Punta Cana Page 8 Sports: Celtics Clicking at the Right Time Page 11

The Spire

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NEWS

March 22, 2019

Student Government Association Senate Segment THIS WEEK IN THE SGA SENATE: Bills Sub-Committee Updates Two bills based on the Constitution and increasing the number of Senators and changing the name of Senate to Congress were not passed. The fixed budget RSO’s that completed their applications were approved.

The SBC gave an update on how much money they have granted to different clubs. Legislative Secretary Noah Sisk ‘21 gave an update on the improvements made to O’Kane Computer Lab and the upcoming lighting improvements around campus. The Speaker gave an update on Senate’s Working for Worcester service day, the Dress Drive, and the March Madness Pub Night.

Stop by Hogan 519 on Sunday, March 24th for our next session at 8:15 p.m.!

INSTITUTE CHANGE

Maggie Ober ‘22 is the Public Affairs Clerk of 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 Off the Hill: Edge Apartments Views of rooms and amenities at Edge apartements in downtown Worcester, where rising juniors and seniors can live next year.

Apartments include a private bedroom and bathroom, washer and dryer units, and a full kitchen.

Amenities include a game room, a fully-equipped gym, and common rooms.

Photos by Hui Li ’21.

The Spire student newspaper College of the Holy Cross Published weekly since 1925 Please address correspondence to: The Spire P.O. Box 32A College of the Holy Cross 1 College Street Worcester, MA 01610-2395

Allyson Noenickx, Bobby Tuzzio, Jackie Cannon Editors-in-Chief Caroline Ahearn, Ethan Bachand, Sofia Maietta, Kate McLaughlin News Editors Olivia Pan, Maggie Connolly, Henry Noe, Grace Manning, Ryen Cinski, Tyler Christiansen Opinions Eds. Maggie Flaherty, Bianca Miccolis, Kelly Gallagher, Bridget Flaherty, Luke Walsh Features Editors Annie Hentschel, Mario Micallif, Sarah O’Rourke, Chris Shakespeare, Jackson Skelley Eggplant Editors Billy Fitzpatrick, Maggie Flaherty, Jackie Hart, Patrick Wareham Sports Editors Emily Kulp Senior Copy Editor Email: spire@g.holycross.edu Hope Goodman, Pamela Kote, Anna Morris, Sarah O’Rourke, Rebecca Tredwell Copy Editors Website: hcspire.com Hui Li Chief Photographer Kim Fetherston, Jake Bucci, Davey Sullivan, Zoe Petit Photographers Bianca Miccolis, Mary Kate Cunningham, Emily Pellegrino Web Editors To advertise in The Spire: Professor Steve Vineberg Faculty Advisor Email: spire@g.holycross.edu Phone: (508) 293-1283 Dean Michele Murray Faculty Advisor Dean Brenda Hounsell Sullivan Faculty Advisor

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.

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 standards of the newspaper.

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

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

NEWS

The Spire

March 22, 2019

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Babinski, Realbuto Among Students Elected to SGA Ethan Bachand ‘22 News Editor On Wednesday, February 27, the Student Government Association released a college wide email announcing the winners of 20192020 election. The most important result was the election of CoPresidents Caroline Babinski and Christian Realbuto for next year.

Elections went live the previous Monday, as students looked to campaign as much as possible in the 48 hours remaining before the polls closed. Signs and posters were littered all over campuses and dorms, as every vote in a small school election counts.

Candidates relied on friends in From EDGE, page 1 ing parking at one of nearby garages run by the City of Worcester.

The Edge, located in the completely renovated historic Osgood Bradley building, is marked by its factory-like exterior and brutalist, industrial interior––featuring exposed columns, concrete floors, and neighboring Union Station in-

order to promote their campaign, and in the case of the BabinskiRealbuto campaign, pass out candy.

Speaking about how they felt while the poll was open, Caroline and Christian said that “We are both amazed by and appreciative of the support and positivity surrounding both campaigns throughout the election process, and we are very proud of the campaign we ran. Our team worked very hard throughout the entire voting period, and we were so happy to hear the news that we will be serving in this role.”

They continued to praise their team and the people they talked to, stating “We were lucky enough to have a campaign team that was comprised of exceptional students

who were able to help us spread the word about our platform. We could not have had a successful campaign without students who engaged with us -- giving their feedback, ideas, and support.”

With the coming and passing of the official elections, there are still holes to be filled. Only the class of 2021 has a full delegation, as both 2020 and 2022 have open Senator positions. It is yet to be announced whether or not the spots are open, but as of now it certainly leaves a set of empty chairs at the SGA table.

As for the newly elected CoPresidents, they are ready to work.

“Right now, we are excited to begin selecting students to comprise our Executive Cabinet,” they said. “We

are looking forward to appointing a group of students that is representative of many communities on campus, and we cannot wait to begin working on initiatives with our Cabinet. We are also excited to start meeting with campus administrators and students to begin dialogue on issues and concerns around campus. We are so privileged to have earned the opportunity to represent Holy Cross in this role, and we cannot wait to get to work.”

The election results are as follows: SGA Co-Presidents: Caroline Babinski and Christian Realbuto.

Class of 2022: Angelo Carbone (President), Meah Austin (Vice President), Michael Luciano (Treasurer), Rose Kelly

(Secretary), Maggie Ober (Senator), and Karter Seitz (Senator).

Class of 2021: Christopher Cicciu (President), Gabe Piepergerdes (Vice President), Marie Robert (Treasurer), Alfonso del Aguila (Secretary), Natalie DeCoste (Senator), Noah Sisk (Senator), and Caitlin Tzimorotas (Senator).

Class of 2020: Marialena Bevilacqua (President), Charles Krumsiek (Treasurer), and Anthony Fimognari (Secretary).

Senators at Large: Michael Charla, Olivia Doherty, Meghan Gallerani, Connor McNerney, Helena Sabo, Margaret Telling, Zain Tirmizi, and Lindsay Vaca.

spired train decor. While one side of the building does face I-290, the abundant concrete serves to mute the sounds of nearby traffic.

The Edge’s the twenty-four hour fitness center, complete with exercise machines, weights, and even a studio that offers yoga classes, is likely to be a draw for students who have expressed recent frustrations over the state of the College’s

athletic facilities during the ongoing fieldhouse renovations.

The basement also offers a retrothemed study room decorated with rock albums and typewriters that serves as a quiet escape and place to study away from campus. This nostalgic theme continues into the social room, which features arcade games like Pac-Man, as well as several TVs, a pool table, and commu-

nal kitchen with plenty of seating.

Down the hall one can find a more modern game room with plenty of TVs, perfect for playing video games or watching sporting events.

Students will share the building with other Worcester area college students, graduate students, and young professionals. The apartments are within walking distance to downtown Worcester and

Shrewsbury Street, and next door to historic Union Station, offering easy commuter rail access to Boston.

Current sophomores and juniors will be receiving information regarding the application and selection process.

Unity Week Promotes Diversity, Inclusion, Activism Caroline Ahearn ‘20 Chief News Editor After several months of difficult divisiveness prompting unprecedented responses from across the Holy Cross community, including an alleged hate crime against an LGBTQ+ student that lead to the inaugural ENGAGE Summit, as well as sexual misconduct allegations against now several professors sparking an historic sit-in led by the student body outside the office of Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., the College of the Holy Cross held its annual Unity Week from March 14-24.

The Week was organized by the Student Government Association’s Co-Officers of Diversity, Mithra Salmassi ‘19 and Manuel Trejo ‘19, who have been working since the summer of 2018 with the Office of Student Involvement, the Office of Multicultural Education, the Office of Diver-

sity and Inclusion, and other Multicultural Student Organizations to plan programs and speakers.

Unity Week began on Thursday, March 14 with a lecture by author Harriet Washington, who spoke to a full Rehm Library about the history of medical and environmental racism in the United States. On Friday, March 15, the Men’s Involvement Coalition held a Women’s Appreciation Banquet, honoring Jimena Collingwood, Assistant Director of Study Abroad, Kayla Lee, Special Assistant to the Athletic Director/Student Athlete Development Coordinator, Mariel Aleman, Office Coordinator for the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students, and Isabelle Jenkins, Associate Director of the Donelan Office of Community Based Learning.

In the Hub, the Men of Color Athletes (MOCA) screened “Men of Color Athletes Presents: The Hub” on Monday, March 18 in

which they discussed their experiences at Holy Cross, and on Wednesday, March 20, Developing and Education South-Asian Ideologies (DESI) and Pinoys of Worcester (POW) held a discussion about colorism in Asia. From Tuesday, March 19 through Thursday, March 21, Feminist Forum held its annual “Why I Need Feminism” campaign at the Hogan lobby tables.

One of the most prominent events of Unity Week every year is the Keynote Address. This year’s speaker was DeRay McKesson, who spoke to a packed Hogan Ballroom as he delivered his speech entitled “Activism in the Age of Social Media: How to Use Your Platform to Incite Change.”

McKesson, a civil rights activist named one of the World’s Greatest Leaders by Fortune Magazine in 2015 and as one of the 30 Most Influential People On the Internet by Time Magazine in 2016, discussed agitated activism to create systemic

change. This resonated with the Holy Cross community, and caused many of them to reflect on the many forms of agitated activism that have emerged on campus this year, such as the “Sexual Assault on the Hill” Instagram account.

Unity Week will conclude this weekend with “Yappie: The (Re) Model Minority,” sponsored by ASIA and CAB on Friday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Hogan Ballroom, the 7th Annual First-Generation College Student Summit, sponsored by HCFIRST and the MOCA Game Night on Saturday, March 23, and the R.O.O.T.S. Showcase, “Karibbean Kingdom,” on Sunday, March 24 at 4:30 p.m. in the Hogan Ballroom.

Speaking of the importance of Unity Week at Holy Cross, especially this year, SGA Co-President Meredith Coolidge ‘19 shared, “I believe it’s important to devote time to highlight and recenter our commitments to one another. This

year has been a difficult one, but I do think that the students on our campus are more engaged than in previous years, which is encouraging. I think the ENGAGE Summit was helpful in disrupting our dayto-day routine and recommitting ourselves to each other and the larger community. My hope would be that Unity Week allows all HC community members to recommit to holding ourselves at a higher standard and recognizing the injustices and privilege we face everyday.

Unity Week is not just this week; while we do not have specific programming every single week surrounding diversity and equity, we do have daily responsibilities and commitments to being better, more thoughtful, and more engaged people in relation to one another.”

on Saturday, March 16 facing one count of murder, with more charges pending. He is set to reappear in court on April 5. Two other people were arrested in connection to the shooting and remain in custody, but authorities have yet to determine their exact involvement in the massacre.

Syed Mazharuddin, one of the survivors who was worshipping at the Linwood mosque, recalled heroic efforts on the part of another worshipper to disarm the gunman.

“The young guy who usually takes care of the mosque ... he saw an opportunity and pounced on [the gunman] and took his gun. The hero tried to chase and he couldn’t find the trigger in the gun ... he ran behind him but there were people waiting for him in the car and he

fled,” he stated.

Another survivor, 19-year-old Muhammad Luthfan Fadhli of Indonesia described his frantic attempt to escape. “There were many people falling and getting shot right next to me, behind me. There were just bullets flying everywhere, so I just ran as fast as I could, barefooted. Later that night I couldn’t sleep until 4 a.m. or something. And then I realized, it could have been me who was killed. I could have died and not seen my family again, anything could have happened.”

Speaking of his friend who was killed in the attacks, Fadhli stated, “He is a good man, he’s very religious and attends every Friday prayer that happens every week. It’s just unfair you know, he didn’t deserve it really. I thought that New

Zealand was the safest country in the world, they say. I never thought this kind of thing would happen in such a peaceful country.”

Since the massacre, countless political leaders and public figures across the world have spoken out denouncing the violence as well as the anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, and white supremacist ideas that Tarrant embraced. However, not everyone had positive things to say about immigrants and the Muslim community in the aftermath of the shooting. Australian Senator Fraser Anning has drawn sharp criticism in recent days from countless politicians and world leaders for his public statements regarding the shooting. On Twitter, Anning released a statement saying, “The real cause of bloodshed on New

Zealand streets today is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place.”

In response to the shootings, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Monday that the country’s legislature would be introducing gun reform in the coming week, including a possible ban on semi-automatic weapons.

Ardern stated, “The terrorist attack in Christchurch on Friday was the worst act of terrorism on our shores. It has exposed a range of weaknesses in New Zealand’s gun laws. The clear lesson from history around the world is that to make our community safe, the time to act is now.”

Anti-Muslim Attack Kills 50 in New Zealand

Sofia Maietta ‘19 News Editor An attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday, March 15 left 50 people dead and another 50 wounded in the nation’s deadliest mass shooting. The gunman was 28-year-old Brenton Harrison Tarrant, an Australian citizen who authored an 87-page manifesto espousing clear antiimmigrant and anti-Muslim sentiments. Tarrant live-streamed the attack with a head-mounted camera, and the footage was broadcast online briefly on sites such as Facebook. He used two semi-automatic weapons, two shotguns and a leveraction firearm to carry out the attack. Tarrant was taken from the scene alive and appeared in court

The Spire

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OPINIONS

Opinions

March 22, 2019

See What Other Students Are Thinking Around Campus...

The Power of Wealth in Higher Education Ryen Cynski ‘22 Opinions Editor “I do want the experience of like game days, partying. I don’t really care about school, as you guys all know.” This is what Olivia Jade, YouTube star and daughter of actress Lori Loughlin, had to say about her college career at the University of Southern California.

USC is a prestigious college located in California and boasts an acceptance rate of about 13 percent, as recently reported in 2018.

USC News reported that 64,000 students applied in 2018, and that they accepted only 8,200. Within this mix of 8,200 bright and hardworking students stood Olivia Jade Giannulli and Isabella Giannulli.

The two sisters were accepted into USC due to a bribe from their famous parents that totaled about $500,000. The girls were accepted as “crew recruits” even though neither of them had ever participated in crew. Olivia must have an inkling of passion for boats though, because for spring break she vacationed on USC’s Board of Trustees chairman Rick Caruso’s yacht in the Bahamas! This case is one of many that have been revealed in the 2019 College Admissions Bribery Scandal, causing mass outrage.

Attending a good college or university is a dream that lives within teenagers across the world. Each day there are high school students studying for hours, losing sleep due to stress, and participating in numerous clubs and athletics, all so

that they can go to college. Many of these coveted, upper-tier colleges are highly selective and require a rigorous high school curriculum with numerous extras on the side.

Yes, these were the two services offered to the rich by William Rick Singer, the CEO in charge of this heinous scandal. (1) A third party took the ACT or SAT in place of

or hear of the harsh reality taking place behind the scenes. How can we possibly promote academic integrity and value of higher education when “the best” colleges and

Photo Courtesy of Slate.com Actress Lori Loughlin with her daughters Olivia Jade Gianulli (left) and Isabella Rose Gianulli (right).

Holy Cross students: we worked so hard to get here, so how would you feel if you didn’t get in because someone’s parents paid thousands of dollars so that they could steal your spot? Holy Cross athletes: you have dedicated yourself to your sport, so how would you feel if a rich kid’s face was photoshopped onto a game day picture of you?

the student, and a high score was earned. (2) Connections with Division 1 coaches were used to obtain fake recruitments.

When news of the scandal broke, many students and parents felt both rage and heartbreak.

Although many of us could’ve guessed that things like this were happening, we never had to see

universities have let in undeserving children of the wealthy? What is there to say to the students of all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, sexualities, and credentials? How sad is it that wealth can overshadow determination and achievement?

Not being accepted to the college of your dreams after dedicating countless hours to being who they

asked you to be-- all to the hands of someone who just wants to vlog the parties and tailgates. All to someone who doesn’t care about furthering their education.

Sadly, Lori Loughlin is not the only person of immense wealth that has been accused of paying for these services. As of right now, 33 other parents have been accused of being a part of the 2019 College Admissions Bribery Scandal, also referred to as Operation Varsity Blues. Some schools involved are USC, UCLA, Stanford, Yale, Georgetown, Wake Forest, UT Austin, and possibly more. These are places that have always been held to such high standards, places where the dreams and futures of many young hopefuls resided.

I am lucky to be the daughter of two hard working and extremely loving, supportive parents. I’ve dreamed of attending Holy Cross since I was 15 years old. I took numerous AP and honors level courses, played volleyball year-round, participated in numerous clubs and worked in retail. I’ve spent most of my life building up my resume and trying to be who colleges needed me to be. But I am lucky. Compared to many people my age, I had it easy. I worked hard to get where I am but there are so many students who worked ten times harder. To think that they, along with myself, fell victim to the power of wealth in higher education hurts. We need to now ask ourselves one question: Where do we go from here?

COPE Sets the Record Straight Members of COPE Recently a student-run Instagram account called Erase the Stigma at Holy Cross was created with the intention of providing a platform for students to anonymously share their experiences with mental illness. Consequently, in an early February issue of The Spire, an article of the same name was written to address the mental health stigma that exists at Holy Cross. However, this article included misinformation and inaccuracies regarding the mental health initiatives and resources available on campus, therefore misleading students as to the hope and help that is available to them. Specifically, this article failed to cite the extensive work being done by both students and professionals on campus to reduce mental health stigma. COPE wants to establish that students’ struggles with mental health at Holy Cross are not being “grossly ignored” as the aforementioned article wrongly suggests. COPE and the Counseling Center continually work to effectively address mental health on campus and offer support and

help to those who are struggling COPE (Counseling Outreach Peer Educators) is an organization on campus that works to facilitate a strong connection between the Counseling Center and Holy Cross students through outreach programs designed to increase student awareness of mental health issues and reduce the stigma associated with seeking help. As peer educators, we receive specialized training to provide mental health education and resources, and promote emotional well-being on campus. Although we do not engage in peer counseling, we are a referral source for students who are struggling with mental illness and seeking assistance and advice. Throughout the year, COPE hosts a number of events focused on enhancing the quality of mental health in the student body. Specifically, from April 8-11 COPE Well Week will be taking place. During that week we will be holding events including Paint Night, Yoga, COPE’s annual Luminary event (featuring a student speaker in addition to guest speaker Leah Nelson), and an evening event with guest speaker Ivy Watts, who will speak about her struggles with

mental illness as a former student athlete. COPE continually works hard to create effective programming that addresses the needs of the Holy Cross student body and opens up the conversation about mental health. However, COPE is incredibly open to feedback and suggestions from students about mental health events and initiatives on campus so that we can continue to productively and effectively meet students’ needs. Please do not hesitate to contact a COPE member to engage in such discussions.

Regarding the Instagram account itself, we believe that reducing the mental health stigma on campus and opening up these important conversations is a fantastic initial idea that demonstrates the desire for change on campus.

However, the Instagram account was created without any consultation of COPE or the Counseling Center, and despite making moves to change the campus climate in terms of mental health, it does not provide accurate or comprehensive resources, and has become a place of negativity. As a result, COPE has been working to develop programming that reduces stigma in a

way that promotes hope and helpseeking behaviors among students.

During COPE Well Week, we will be creating a new stigma-reducing initiative, a display that will feature anonymous stories from peer educators and student leaders on campus depicting their past or current struggles with mental health, and pieces of advice or hope that they would like to share with students who might be dealing with similar struggles. This display will be featured in Hogan 1 as well as other academic buildings on campus.

For students who are struggling with mental illness, hope and help are available to you! You are not alone in your struggles, and recovery is possible. Remember, “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”-Aristotle. Please be sure to follow @HolyCrossCOPE on Facebook for information about on-and off-campus resources, and mental health tips and advice.

The College of the Holy Cross Counseling Center offers a variety of confidential services with the aim of meeting the mental health needs of students and promoting their academic success and person-

al growth. Clinicians are available to help students address a variety of concerns, including stress, anxiety, homesickness, and many more.

These include consultations if you wish to discuss helping someone who you know is struggling. If you or someone you know is struggling, appointments can be made by calling (508-793-3363) or visiting the Counseling Center (Hogan 207).

Urgent Care hours (Monday- Friday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.) are available for students needing to be seen the same day. For psychological crises that occur after hours when the Counseling Center is closed, an on-call crisis counselor via Protocal can be reached by calling the Counseling Center (508-793-3363) and following the prompts. For psychological emergencies at any time, please contact Public Safety at (508)793-2222 or call 911. For more information about on-andoff campus resources please go to h t t p s : / / w w w. h o l y c r o s s . edu/health-wellness-anda c c e s s / c o u n s e l i n g - c e n t e r.

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The Spire

OPINIONS

March 22, 2019

Learning to Fail in the Age of Coddling Olivia Pan ‘20 Chief Opinions Editor In the wake of the recent college admissions scandal involving multiple parents across the country, including actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, I think it would now be a good time to address the topic of failure in a culture that currently coddles young people and shields them from every possible hurdle or rejection.

I’m a liberal feminist, and even I become exasperated at the level of shielding done by today’s “helicopter” parents and also by colleges.

This nationwide scandal involving parents bribing their kids into colleges is a perfect example of such coddling. Clearly, the very idea of their child being rejected by a college was too much to even consider.

Let’s say you don’t get into the college of your choice. This is not a tragedy, and it is not the end of the world. This is going to sound cliché, but failure is a part of life.

Not that getting a college rejection should even be considered a failure. These parents must have been so utterly desperate to clear every

possible hurdle for their children Fidelak, whose name was originally larger problem that’s currently gothat they lowered themselves to the included in the filing of one such ing on. Young people place so much point of bribery and cheating. It’s lawsuit (she has since dropped out), pressure on themselves, and are besad. All i n g students codgoing dled through to the the colpoint lege apo f plication being process cripshould pled. k n o w Failt h i s : u r e whether does you ren o t ceive a even rejection seem or an act o ceptance regisfrom the ter as college a posof your sibilPhoto Courtesy of High Potential HR ity or choice, Recent scandals have raised debates of how students handle failure. at the a conend of cept. the day, life will go on and you will too. was apparently “so upset that she And this type of coddling is There are now several indi- did not get into her chosen schools taking place right here. The very viduals, students and parents alike, that she had an emotional break- fact that Holy Cross brings in filing lawsuits against the specific down and had to be hospitalized in therapy dogs for students during colleges and parents involved in Boston.” This extreme reaction to finals week is (if I’m being honest) this scandal. One student, Lauren a college rejection is indicative of a ridiculous and completely unneces-

sary. At least it should be unnecessary. If you are becoming so utterly stressed out during finals that you need a therapy dog, then you need to take a hard look at the kind of pressure you’re putting on yourself.

You need to ask yourself why you are so afraid to fail. Not to be blunt, but therapy dogs were brought in for Parkland students after their classmates were gunned down. Yet, we bring them in for students who are taking a couple of tests? There is no trauma in taking finals and there is no trauma in failing a final.

Failure is something that should be embraced rather than avoided at all costs. Kids are given trophies in sports for participation alone today. No one is being taught that it’s okay to fail and it’s okay to be rejected or told, “no.” You will never learn to cope with the many challenges of life if everything is made easy for you. These parents who had to bribe their kids’ way into college should take note.

SHAPE Column: Do You Get Enough Sleep?

Chloe Gonzales ’22 SHAPE Contributor Have you ever wondered how much sleep Holy Cross students get? Do you personally struggle with getting enough sleep in the midst of deadlines, events, and exams - especially during finals season? Along with our sleep outreach table that offers tips on how to get a better night’s sleep, the Student Health Awareness Peer Educators (SHAPE) were interested in tracking how many hours of sleep, on

average, Holy Cross students get.

Last semester, SHAPE set up a sleep-tracking board in Hogan from December 3 to December 7, which was the week leading up to finals week. 227 students marked the average number of hours of sleep that they get each night. According to the board, the highestmarked category was 7 hours of sleep (59 students), and the second-highest marked category was 6 hours (46 students). The range of hours on the board was 4 hours to 11 hours, but students

themselves inserted one more category: less than 4 hours of sleep.

Out of the 227 students, 12 got less than 4 hours of sleep a night.

SHAPE again set up the sleeptracking board this semester, from February 18 to February 22, which was about a month into the Spring semester. This time, 215 students marked the board. Once again, the highest number of hours marked was 7 hours of sleep (64 students), with the second-highest category being 6 hours (52 students). These results are noteworthy, since more

students were able to get these number of hours of sleep compared to finals season, and less students filled out the board. Also, the category of less than 4 hours of sleep went down to 5 students.

Whether it be finals season or a regular, busy point in the semester, you should aim to get 7-9 hours of sleep a night. A regular 7-9 hours of sleep improves your memory, attention, and learning. Getting up and going to bed at the same time everyday can also help you get the best quality of sleep. This may be

difficult, but try to have your last caffeinated beverage no later than 12 noon, since caffeine can stay in your system up to 24 hours and has a half life of 4-6 hours. Also, avoid using your computer and cell phone shortly before bed. Finally, there is no denying that naps can help with sleep deprivation, but try to avoid naps up to 4 hours before bedtime, in order to get all your sleep collectively at night. Follow these tips in order to maximize your cognitive abilities and feel great while tackling the rest of the semester!

Trading Scandal for Change: Let’s Start Treating Colleges Like Schools, Not Businesses Grace Manning ’21 Opinions Editor In light of the recent allegations of celebrities bribing prominent colleges and universities in order to have their children accepted, I think we are provided with an opportunity to look at our college admissions policies and at U.S. colleges themselves in order to try and understand why this issue isn’t as present at schools abroad and why these kinds of allegations bother us as students. While looking at colleges myself and beginning the application process to both schools in the United States and schools in Ireland a few years ago, it became quickly clear that there is a glaring difference. Take Trinity in Dublin for example. The fees per year are around 5,000 euro, translating to about $5,672 for EU residents, meaning that while this certainly isn’t an easy amount to pay for everyone, it still makes college far more accessible for a greater popu-

lation of secondary school graduates. Due to this relatively low fee, young people in Ireland from all different social and economic backgrounds can attend college and get a high level, full education, and degree. Contrast this then with the current cost of an elite college in the United States which costs anywhere from $50,000 a year to $70,000 a year and is steadily climbing. This kind of education is made mainly accessible to the upper middle class and upper class, with financial aid offered in certain situations, oftentimes not enough. Students from lower socioeconomic statuses may take one look at the cost of elite schools in the United States and decide not to even bother applying. Instead of concentrating on making sure they get the best possible education, young people in the U.S. have to think about whether or not college is worth having to struggle financially for many years post-grad while paying back student debt. This turns

college from an institution that is welcoming to everyone who wishes to further educate themselves, to one that caters to a select few. But if colleges here are justifying their high tuitions with promises of new facilities and guarantees of job offers post-grad, then why is the population of young people and their parents in the United States so upin-arms? Don’t we feel like we are getting a lot for our money? And although we may have strong feelings in opposition to tuitions being raised and colleges being turned into businesses, will anything really change in the near future?

The general feeling among undergraduates currently seems to be one of injustice and disillusionment with the college system in the United States. We feel used by a system that operates much more like a business than it does an education system. The news of celebrities bribing their childrens’ ways into school only solidifies and confirms our suspicions

that the college system has split off from its former goal of educating the country’s young people, and instead has become obsessed with image, “name value” and financial gain. It seems to have become a challenge between colleges in the United States to see who is the most competitive, has the most celebrity graduates and offers the most modern and technologically updated facilities. But these schools are paying a high price in losing their integrity and the respect of their students along the way.

Maybe it’s time for elite schools to stop trying to keep up with the Joneses, and to concentrate on that which makes them truly great learning institutions underneath their fancy, high-class exterior.

Holy Cross as a Jesuit school should be one of the first to stand out and to stand up for making college accessible to students of any socioeconomic background.

Our school was started in order to give Catholics fleeing persecu-

tion and poverty the chance to be educated at a high level, regardless of the fact that they had very little money. Later on in our history, Jesuits were searching the country for young black men to attend the college in order to give everyone, no matter their income, religion or the color of their skin, the chance to get a complete education which would then provide them with as many opportunities as possible later in life. We need to go back to our roots in order to change the current trajectory of not only Holy Cross, but of colleges across the nation. Instead of encouraging and inspiring young people from around the world to attend colleges in the States, colleges are essentially turning away whole chunks of the population who can’t afford a school that is trading the socioeconomic diversity of its students, for a luxurious and extravagant, but possibly fraudulent, exterior.

6

The Spire

OPINIONS

March 22, 2019

A Look into the Marvel Cinematic Universe Tyler Christiansen ‘21 Opinions Editor As of only a few months ago, I was one of the few people in the world who had seen only one or two Marvel films. I just found myself uninterested in the franchise, especially since there were two to three films coming out every year, making me feel inundated by the content. Everyone would always discuss them and while I knew just about every character, I really had no idea what the main storyline was. So, in preparation for “Avengers: Endgame” at the end of April, I watched three Marvel films a week to catch up. It was an arduous and sometimes exhausting experience, but I liked the majority of them for the most part. There are some huge hits and some real misfires, but I am only going to focus on my five favorite MCU films. Spoilers follow.

5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier The opening scene of “Winter Soldier” really lets you know the kind of Cap we are dealing with. The action scenes are more raw and feel more thunderous than “The First Avenger.” The revelation that Bucky is the Winter Soldier, a hired assassin, makes the fight between Cap and Bucky at the end even more emotional.

While most of the MCU films fall into the trap of having one-dimensional villains, the Russo brothers upped the ante by having the villain be the hero’s friend from back home. While this is one of the best MCU films, it is not the best of the Captain America trilogy.

4. Captain America: Civil War Essentially Avengers 2.5, this film centers around the differing ideologies of Tony Stark and Captain America pertaining to governmental oversight. While the villain is still not that well developed, the

work, but it really does. James Gunn knows how to put together a soundtrack and put a lighter spin on things, since most of the Phase 2 films are dour, except for AntMan. Chris Pratt’s transformation from the fat guy in “Parks and Rec-

what was happening) and felt so left out, hence the reason for doing the marathon. Now that I have seen it with context, it is solidly one of my favorites. The Russo brothers had so much to handle (20+ main characters in several in plot

light of the film; his acting really shines when he visits his father in the ancestral plane and how he tells all of the pas kings they were wrong for keeping Wakanda secluded from the rest of the world.

As far as I’m concerned, the thematic elements in “Black Panther” are unparalleled in the MCU. While “Infinity War” is the beginning of the end for the MCU and is a huge cultural moment, it’s not really about anything. “Black Panther” has something to say and it does it very well.

For those who are interested, I did the impossible task of ranking all of the other MCU films from worst to best. And no, I haven’t seen “The Incredible Hulk.”

Photo Courtesy of Forbes.com

The cast of “Avengers: Infinity War.”

real conflict comes between our heroes, making it a unique viewing experience. This one is definitely one of the least rewatchable ones, but the sheer emotion is brings with it, especially in the final confrontation between Tony, Steve and Bucky, puts it in the top tier.

The addition of Black Panther and Spider-Man are also praiseworthy.

reation” to Star Lord and Bradley Cooper as Rocket’s voice are highlights. The infinity stones, which come to full fruition in “Infinity War,” are first introduced in this film, providing a very early set up (“Infinity War” came out four years later). This is the most rewatchable MCU film and the most enjoyable.

2.

3. Guardians of the Galaxy This one is just pure fun. Essentially Marvel’s form of “Star Wars,” it follows a talking racoon, a tree, a human, and two aliens.

On paper, this really should not

Avengers: Infinity Wa This is going to sound awful, but this was actually the first MCU film I saw in theaters and the second one I had ever seen. I know.

I fell asleep in the theater when I first saw it (since I had no idea

lines) and what they came out with is really a surprising feat. The ending is as shocking as it is poignant, leaving me wondering when the film ended: what do they do now?

1. Black Panther Ryan Coogler, director of “Creed” and “Fruitvale Station,” made Wakanda feel so real and clearly showed care for his characters, even the villain, Killmonger.

This also has Marvel’s best musical score by Ludwig Goransson and some great shots by cinematographer Rachel Morrison. Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa is the high-

20. “Thor: Dark World” 19: “Avengers: Age of Ultron” 18: “Iron Man 2” 17:”Iron Man 3” 16: “Ant-Man and the Wasp” 15: “Ant-Man” 14: “Captain Marvel” 13: “Doctor Strange” 12: “Thor” 11: “Spider-Man: Homecoming” 10: “Iron Man” 9: “Guardians of the Galaxy vol.

2” 8: “Thor: Ragnarok” 7: “Captain America: The First Avenger” 6: “Avengers” 5: “Captain America: Winter Soldier” 4: “Captain America: Civil War” 3: “Guardians of the Galaxy” 2: “Avengers: Infinity War” 1: “Black Panther”

Why We Must Embrace Challenges to Facilitate Growth Henry Noe ’22 Opinions Editor Anytime difficulty is encountered, the immediate recourse is to retreat from encountering it and choose an easier option. Evading difficulties and challenges are routinely prioritized in our society, which is focused on quickly obtaining information and solving problems in the most streamlined manner. This popular course of action, however, excludes the positives which derive from combating difficulties head-on, struggling with them, and, through those struggles, growing as a result.

Breaking up one’s fortified routine by trying a new activity, joining a new club, or attempting to better oneself in another way brings about a plethora of hardships. Choosing to leave the comfort of an established routine takes strength and allows individuals to learn from that experience. Additionally, looking for positive challenges prepares individuals for times when

unwanted and sudden changes are thrusted upon them which call for decisive and immediate action.

Ultimately, electing to infuse new challenges and changes will better serve the individual in the long run.

The pursuit of scholastic difficulties is emblematic of this idea.

Students occasionally look towards the path of least resistance to achieve academic excellence. This idea is directly contrary to the notion of education shaping students through rigorous studying and work. Choosing the easy way out of an assignment or paper

robs students of an opportunity to grow through a challenge and come out stronger. Struggling with difficult concepts and collaborating with others to complete difficult assignments imbues not only

camaraderie, but also, an immense sense of pride once the assignment is finished. This feeling is nowhere

to be found if a student gives up or elects to take easier classes where every assignment proves to be no challenge at all. True academic excellence comes from embracing the hardships which come not from acquiescing to their d i f f i c u l t y, but instilling more effort and work to overcome the d i f f i c u l t i e s.

Along this same vein, taking classes strictly for their ease and the possibility of attaining a good grade is equally as unsatisfyPhoto by Hui Li ‘21. ing.

Difficult classes encourage the student to grow and dismantle bad habits which they may have developed in their

past educational experiences. As a result, the student undergoes a kind of metamorphosis wherein they become a more skilled pupil and they hunger for more positive challenges where they can grow even further. Possessing the resolve to make it through one difficult class will ignite a fervor within the student to take more of these difficult classes; in turn, enabling the student to truly reap every benefit education offers.

In a society transfixed with the idea of advancing quickly through life without stress, the practical and beneficial positives of infusing life with healthy challenges has been forgotten. Instead of struggling with challenges, overcoming them, and being filled with a sense of pride, individuals are petrified with the pain necessary to overcome the challenge itself. Being unafraid to struggle, to accept change, and to faithfully pursue the growth behind every challenge will prove to bring bountiful benefits for the future.

7

FEATURES

The Spire

Features

Crusader of the Week: Jason Millson ’19

Hometown: Buffalo NY cream one Major: Computer Science Favorite place to eat on-campus: the Activities involved in on campus: gardens with the cabbages Frisbee, Favorite Kimball Kimball meal: Captain, cucumbers and Math & CS grapes (in the club, Scone same bowl) the band Favorite spot groupie on campus: Favorite Math & ComMovie: Piputer Science rates of the Lounge (chemCaribbean: istry majors The Curse keep out) of the Black Favorite Pearl off-campus Favorite restaurant: Big song: Fireboi meats works by If you could Katy Perry live any place I mean in the world, Photo courtesy of Jason Millson ‘19 where would Animal Collective it be? 10 clay Favorite st’s basement singer/group: The Chainsmokers Favorite place you have traveled to: (you ever hear that song closer? So Goat Island good) Dream vacation: bathing in the river Song that you have completely styx memorized: Bitches Ain’t Shit (Ben Role-model: Sheogorath Daedric Folds cover) Prince of Madness Favorite sports team: Go Bills Last text you received: “Nigerian Favorite class taken at Holy Cross: princes were the OG f**kboys” Gardens and World Religions Something you look forward to Longest amount of time spent in when you go home: Smooching my Dinand: 42069 seconds dog & mom Number of All-Nighters Last SeFavorite memory at HC: when tpain mester: 0 im kinda nuts played im on a boat Favorite Professor and Why: Todd What if God was one of us: just a Lewis because I get to walk around his stranger on the bus woods and drink tea at his house What makes you quirkier than Bragging Rights: threw up during a Annie Hentschel: I grow a mint and 10 spot comedy skit lemon balm garden and make my own Favorite TV Show: too much tuna tea. Does Annie grow her own teas? I Favorite Book: goodnight moon thought not.

Favorite Food Truck Friday: the ice Smelly cheese: Blue Stilton

March 22, 2019

Don’t Pit “Captain Marvel” Against “Wonder Woman” Kelly Gallagher ’22 Features Editor

place feel pressure to compete with rather than support each other. Minn-Erva’s rivalry with Carol is contrasted by Carol’s friendship with her fellow Air Force pilot Maria Rambeau.

Their friendship is largely defined by their support for one another, and through this, the film encourages women to

that same treatment.

However, is it even worth it to dissect this debate? These When I first heard people are just movies, of course. But comparing “Captain Marvel” the Captain Marvel vs. Wonder to “Wonder Woman,” I didn’t Woman debate reflects and adsee a problem with it. The films vances a limiting view of femiare both the first female-centric nism. For example, by saying movies to emerge from their Captain Marvel is more feminist respective franchises of Marfor wearing a suit, we’re saying vel and D.C., and there’s something people compare wrong with wearing those franchises a skirt. A view as all the time. problematic as this is But after “Capworth dismantling in tain Marvel” any context. came out earMany feminists lier this March, agree that the goal I noticed that of feminism is not people were to urge women to be talking about a particular, perfect “Captain Martype of woman, but vel” and “Wonto provide women der Woman” in with choices. CapCourtesy of themarysue.com the context of tain Marvel wears a Brie Larson stars as Captain Marvel which is more suit, Wonder Woman feminist. For exwears a skirt. Neiample, people are prais-i n g make each other stronger, not ther choice is more feminist. It Captain Marvel (played by Brie tear each other down. is feminist to have two female Larson) for not having a love The other problem with des- characters who are depicted interest and wearing a suit in- ignating Captain Marvel or making different choices about stead of a skirt. I agree that it’s Wonder Woman as the “better” their lives and are considered great to have a female superhero female superhero is that this de- equals. In this way, the two films with those qualities, but I think bate propagates the mindset that make a more powerful stateit’s inaccurate to say that makes there’s an ideal type of female ment together than on their her a more feminist hero than superhero. It’s fair to compare own.

Wonder Woman (played by Gal Captain Marvel and Wonder When people talk about Gadot).

Woman - fans compare super- “Captain Marvel” and “WonThe first problem with pit- heroes all the time - but they der Woman,” it shouldn’t be in ting these two movies against should not be battling each oth- the context of which did more each other is the rivalry it cre- er for the title of “Best Female for feminism, but in the context ates between female characters, Superhero.” After all, when’s the of how important it is that we a practice cautioned against in last time Entertainment Weekly now have two awesome female the “Captain Marvel” film. Cap- ran an article on who’s the “Best superhero movies. Viewers tain Marvel, also called Carol Male Superhero?” Never, be- have more well-written female Danvers, is one of two female cause there’s not an archetypal characters to look up to, kids members in her alien military male superhero. There are all have more Halloween costume unit (stay with me here, folks), types of male superheroes, options, and Hollywood is still and the other woman, Minn- ranging from geniuses to goof- swindling us all. It’s a win for Erva, feels threatened by Carol’s balls, who are adored for their everyone. skill. This situation is reminis- individuality rather than their cent of the unfortunate reality ability to satisfy a standard. Fethat many women in the work- male superheroes should receive

What’s New on Netflix This Month: Queer Eye Season 3 is now streaming if you need a heartwarming series to binge

If you’re looking to lean into the sadness of midterm week, The Notebook is now streaming!

^ Triple Frontier, A Netflix Original movie starring Ben Affleck, Garrett Hedlund, Oscar Issac, Charlie Hunnam, and Pedro Pascal

The Spire

8

FEATURES

March 22, 2019

“This is Us”: A Late Recap of Songbird Road Bianca Miccolis ‘21 Features Editor As always, the NBC hit television show “This is Us” continues to surprise its viewers in the third season. Due to several interruptions in the weekly programming since the 7-week holiday break, you may have had some difficulty in keeping up with the series. This is a recap of the wild events of the episodes of “Songbird Road” since the fall finale discovery that Nick Pearson did not die in the war, but presently lives in a trailer in Pennsylvania.

The first episode in the winter season begins with Kevin wondering about his uncle and Randall winning his election campaign in Philadelphia.

In the next two episodes, the story finally traces how this came to be and what happened in Vietnam that led Jack to say that Nicky had died there. If you still want to watch the episode, be warned that there are spoilers to come.

In the last episode, Kevin finds a mysterious postcard to Jack signed “CK,” which as true “This is Us fans” know stands for “Clark Kent,” a joke between Jack and Nick as children. In “Songbird Road: Part One,” it shows Jack getting several postcards from “CK,” his brother.

However, Jack shoves them in his drawer unwilling to entertain the idea of speaking to him. We do not find out until later in Part 1 that it is because of Nicky’s final action that got him discharged from service in Vietnam. As shown in a series of flashbacks between Vietnam, Jack’s visit to Nicky’s trailer in 1992, and the journey of the Big Three to his trailer in 2018, we get the whole story of Vietnam. Remembering back to the explosion in the midseason finale, we are brought to

Nicky who ventures out with a little Vietnamese boy and they throw grenades off the boat into the water. However, Nicky loses one of the grenades and it explodes in the boat despite him trying to tell the boy to jump. While Nicky makes it out alive, Jack finds them with the boy dead, yelling, “He was just a kid!” This is the first time we really

believes that Nicky deliberately killed the boy. Through the years, Nicky has become an alcoholic and lives in a dilapidated trailer that disturbs Kevin. Meanwhile, Rebecca wrestles with the fact that Jack kept so many secrets from her and mulls over the events of that weekend in 1992.

The final scene show a contrast

as he is mad at Jack for never telling them about Nicky. As they are arguing about this issue and Kevin accuses Randall of wanting to help everyone but their uncle, Rebecca appears, having decided to drive to Bradford to meet Nicky; she is the only one who supports Kevin in this quest.

Meanwhile, we flash back to that

his words were hurtful, Nicky finds Rebecca after the encounter to apologize and tells her a little about Jack. We get a flashback of Jack and Nicky in their backyard while Jack builds a fort saying, “Tongue and groove, Nicky. Tongue and groove.” He then confesses that he’s forgotten how to be a person and is better off in his trailer. He lets Kevin fix his leaky roof and promises to go to AA and the vet center once.

While Kevin and Rebecca spend their day with Nicky, Kate and Randall drive back to New York making a stop at their own home in Pittsburg. They reminisce on the weekend of the trip to see Nicky with Kate remembering it as her favorite memory.

They had a sequin fight with Jack and invented the Pearson pizza. However, as they walk around the house and through courtesy of popsugar.com flashback, we see Randall obThe late Jack Pearson, left, is shown in flashbacks. His brother Nicky, right, is the newest plot twist of the season serving Jack in his agitated state, a way that we have never really seen him before. Randall see Jack give up on his brother at between the actions of Kevin and weekend in 1992 when Jack returns points out to Kate that there was any point in that story line.

Jack in what to do about Nicky. home from his visit with Nicky so something wrong with him that Fast forward to 1992, Jack tells Jack considers turning back to frustrated and distracted that he weekend and she feels that she has Rebecca and the kids that he has to Bradford, but decides to just go cannot fathom taking little Kevin been delusional and made up their go on a work trip, but goes to see back to Pittsburg. However, Kev- to get his baseball card signed. Re- childhood. However, Randall asNicky. It is clear that the dynamic in says after leaving, “I am not go- becca steps in to do this because sures her that Jack was just good at has changed and Nicky tries to talk ing to leave him like Dad did” and she sees something is up with Jack. parenting: he always made sure that about the event, but Jack shuts him turns back to Bradford to get his Later in the episode, Rebecca real- he outweighed the bad memories down. Nicky asks him, “Did I ruin uncle. izes how thoughtful Kevin is when with good ones. your life?,” but Jack assures him After another two-week hiatus, she talks to his baseball idol about As Kevin and Rebecca drive that he has a good life and shows NBC released the second episode their conversation at the signing home from Bradford, the matrihim a picture of Rebecca, Kate, in the two-part story. After tak- table. arch tells her son how proud she Kevin, and Randall and leaves. ing Nicky from his trailer, the Big In the present, Nicky becomes is of him for what he did. In this All of this is happening while Three bring him to a hotel; all more and more agitated and scene, Kevin stares off with a deKevin, Kate, and Randall take a throughout this, Nicky is short stressed being away from his trailer spondent face because he relapses. roadtrip to their uncle’s trailer. with them in the encounter, clear- while Kevin and Rebecca drag him When Kevin goes back to clean When they get there, Nicky is not ly uncomfortable with the whole to a veteran trauma center. After up Nicky’s trailer, he sees the althere, but appears from behind situation. At breakfast the next the tour Nicky has had enough cohol and in an intense moment, them and they talk. He tells them morning, Kate and Randall express and tells Kevin that he cannot be he decides to start drinking again. the story of Vietnam and laments their apprehensions about helping fixed and that Kevin is “out of his Needless to say, he feels completely how he never told Jack what really their long-lost uncle while Kevin depth.” Rebecca goes back to speak ashamed and this is explored in the happened. The whole time, Jack is incredibly enthusiastic about it to Nicky wanting some memories following episodes when Kate goes of Jack that he will not divulge and into labor and has her baby. turns to defending Kevin. Nicky “This is Us” airs on Tuesdays at 9 retorts that he does not want to on NBC. be a “prop” “so a movie star can be a real-life hero.” Realizing that

We Need To Talk About... A Pop Culture Recap of All that Happened Over Break Maggie Flaherty ‘20 Chief Features Editor

Colton jumped a fence...

FBI is calling “Operation Varsity Blues” . Loughlin’s daughter, famous YouTube personality Olivia Jade, posed for pictures on an ERG machine to supplement her fake application as a member of USC’s crew team. She has since dropped

coach, and Georgetown’s tennis coach.

Kate Beckinsale and Pete Davidson…

And also ended up without a fiancee. After weeks of promos of The pair is confirmed to be dating the fence-jumping in a bizzare turn clip, Colton finally of events. Dascaled a giant fence vidson has really in Portugal and quit taken the Thank the show for a brief U, Next philosostint after contestant phy to heart I Cassie told him she guess! He also was not ready for a has not stopped relationship. Host piling on the Chris Harrison fiPDA in public. nally chased him Beckinsale and down (and figured Davidson were out how to open snapped kissing the fence, too) and at a New York Colton won Cassie game Courtesy of DailyMail.com Rangers back. The two are Colton FINALLY jumped the fence after weeks of Bachelor promo. that they atnow dating. tended with third wheel/Queer Aunt Becky scammed the out of college after the news broke. eye cast member Antoni Porowski.

Several college coaches have been Ariana Grande calls the pair “so college admissions process… fired in light of the scandal, inLori Loughlin and Felicity Huff- cluding USC’s water polo coach cute!” - but I’m waiting for her next man are two big names in the col- and athletic director, UCLA men’s single to see if that’s true. lege admissions scandal that the soccer coach, Yale women’s soccer

Overheard on the Hill “I’d marry Bernie Sanders. Hot take.”

“You guys can’t both have mono.”

“I have yet to do laundry here.”

EGGPLANT

The Spire

March 22, 2019

9

The Eggplant The Spire’s Satirical Page Cocaine Added to Pre-Business Curriculum Liam Prendergast ‘19 Unemployed Keeping with Holy Cross’ mission to prepare students for a life beyond the Hill, the Pre-Business program has added cocaine to its list of requirements to obtain their official certificate. This bold move places graduating Crusaders in an ideal position to succeed in the fast-paced environment of the business world.

“Alumni have told us that what they look for most in prospective employees is real-world experience,” explained the program director. “We mostly want to make sure our graduates can hang--and by that I mean rip massive lines.”

Holy Cross has consistently been named one of the best schools for salary potential, and this deft move will surely keep up that tradition.

This change to the program has

received some blow-back. Some students have argued that it is best to leave drug consumption to the

noses as quickly as humanly possible,” said one Vineyard Vinesclad student that spoke under the

of a bag of star-spangled-powder from one sniff.”

Instead, some students in the

student’s discretion. “I can assure you that Holy Cross students are shoveling Florida snow up their

conditions of anonymity. “I might not know anything about business, but I can tell you the purity

program have asked for comprehensive sex-education, citing a mixture of ‘women inventing

sexual organs,’ and widespread venereal disease. “My [partem virem] hasn’t worked right since I lived in Wheeler,” explained one concerned Senior. “I don’t know what’s going on, but it looks like something out of a Civil War hospital down there.”

Starting with the class of 2020, students pursuing a Pre-Business certificate must fail at least one drug test a semester. It is important to note, however, that students who test positive for crack will immediately be removed from the school.

Holy Cross Announces Exciting New Housing Opportunity Mama Juana On-Campus Student Holy Cross is currently facing a housing crisis. The incoming class sizes have been unprecedentedly large for the past few years, and now the College is struggling to provide housing for their students.

However, the College has seemed to find a solution. In an email sent to the student body last week, the school announced an exciting new housing opportunity for rising seniors: two all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

Starting next year, The Occidental Caribe and The Hard Rock Hotel will house up to 200 members of the Class of 2020. When asked for a statement regarding their decision, a spokesperson for the College said, “over this past Spring Break, these two resorts proved to be much more capable than Holy Cross could ever be at housing our students. We were inspired by their model, and decid-

ed to reach out to them to see if they’d be willing to help us out.” The spokesperson quickly ushered the Eggplant reporter out of her office when asked what this decision would do to Holy Cross’ status as a residential college.

Conveniently located just 1,646 miles from campus, Holy Cross

has graciously offered to provide complementary 6-hour plane shuttles back and forth between Punta Cana and Worcester. While students would still have the opportunity to eat at Kimball, the resorts also offer a variety of complimentary dining options for their guests. One senior who recently visited Punta Cana over Spring Break said, “The food there is

great! It only gave me diarrhea, like, 4 days out of the week, which is pretty good when you compare it to the daily Kimball Runs.”

All in all, the announcement has gone over well with students, who are excited to live in a place that can provide better housing, food, and swim-up bars.

“Be sure to fill up your water bottles on campus!” on administrator warned. “We don’t have the funding for Hydration Stations there yet.”

A representative of the College wanted to assure the student body that this was only a temporary solution. “We’re looking forward to a new permanent residential building opening soon, Joyce Contemplative Center Hall.”

10

The Spire

Sports

SPORTS

March 22, 2019

Baseball Goes 1-3 Against Northeastern, Beats UMass

Maggie Flaherty ’20 Sports Editor The Holy Cross baseball team (3-18) went 1-3 on a pair of doubleheaders last weekend against Northeastern University (10-10) at Friedman Diamond in Brookline, MA. Saturday In the opening game of the day, the Huskies used dominant pitching to get ahead. Northeastern southpaw Sean Mellen struck out the first 7 of 10 batters he faced.

Mellen continued to pitch himself out of tough situations despite numerous Holy Cross attempts to battle back - especially in a bases-loaded jam after Crusader junior Alex Volpi’s double in the fifth inning.

Holy Cross junior Zane Hedaya only allowed one hit in his three innings pitched, and Crusader pitchers only gave up a total of three hits, but the lone run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning when an errant throw allowed Husky baserunner Kyle Peterson to advance to third base. A slowpaced sacrifice single to the right side was enough to bat Peterson in for the deciding run of the game.

Northeastern took the second game of the doubleheader 6-3. The Crusaders led 2-1 early, until Northeastern added four unanswered runs. Holy Cross senior Alex Gionis tripled in the seventh and was

Photo courtest of goholycross.com

First-year outfielder Ben Malgeri was named ckSmihSuperior Crusader of the Week for March 11-17.

batted in on a sacrifice fly by Volpi to close the gap to 5-3. Northeastern shut down other HC attempts and added an insurance run in the seventh to close out the win.

Northeastern did not make an error in any of the sixteen innings played on Saturday.

Sunday Holy Cross outhit Northeastern in both games of Sunday’s doubleheader. The Crusaders etched out a win in Game One, defeating the Huskies 8-4 in seven innings. Alex

Gianis batted 1-2 with three RBIs, first-year Ben Malgeri went 1-3 and scored two runs, and junior Austin Masel hit a double with an RBI. The Crusaders took a 4-0 lead in the first inning after Masel and Malgeri singled and Northeastern pitcher Sam Jacobsak walked four consecutive batters. However, Northeastern battled back to tie the game in the second inning.

The Crusaders went on to score

four unanswered runs, thanks to a Masel ground rule double and Gionis’s two-RBI single in the seventh.

Sophomore Liam Dvorak pitched six innings, allowing just four hits and notching six strikeouts in his performance.

Northeastern narrowly won Game Two 8-7. The Huskies got the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning after Holy Cross came back to tie

the game 7-7. Sophomore Peter Dudunakis went 2-4 in the game and batted in three runs.

First-year Ben Malgeri reached base in 12 consecutive games for a .550 on-base percentage. Malgeri also has had at least one hit in each of his last five games. This feat earned him the Crusader of the Week award.

The Crusaders bounced back from the last loss of the Northeastern series with a 11-2 win over UMass Amherst on Tuesday. Gionis led the Crusaders with three RBIs, while Dudunakis continued his hot streak by going 3-4. Sophomore starting pitcher Noah Luckenbaugh threw three hitless innings for the Crusaders.

This weekend, Holy Cross is set to host another pair of double-headers as Patriot League play kicks off. On Saturday, Navy will travel to Worcester for the Crusaders’ home-opener at Fitton Field. On Sunday, HC will take on Bucknell for two games.

The early games will start at 1:00 P.M., while first pitch for the afternoon games is slated for 4:00 P.M.

Crusader Chats with HC Lacrosse’s Jessi Button and Liam Ryan Jackie Hart ‘19 Sports Editor Jessi Button #8 1.Hometown: Moorestown, NJ 2.Class year: Senior 3.Major: Psychology 4.Position: Defense 5. What are you looking forward to most about this season?: The opportunity to play one last season with my best friends and teammates. I also look forward to winning as a team as a result of the hard work we have been putting in since the fall.

6. What’s the best part about Holy Cross Women’s Lacrosse?

The support each teammate gives one another both on and off the field.

7. What are your pre-game rituals?: I always have to have Swedish fish and do my hair in a braid before a game.

ents. My dad has an incredible work ethic that I admire and strive to mimic. My mom is one of the most selfless people I know and I have tried to be there for my teammates like she has been there for me.

10. What is your favorite memory of HC Women’s Lacrosse?

My favorite memory of HC Women’s lacrosse was my freshman year when we beat Navy. It was my first collegiate win and it was an amazing feeling to work together as a team, no matter who the opponent was, and to come out on top.

11. How do you feel about Saturday’s game vs. Colgate?

I feel confident going into Saturday’s game against Colgate, we just had a huge team win against Lafayette last Saturday that I believe will carry into this weekend. Our games against Colgate are always a battle but with our team chemistry and confidence finally clicking, I know we can win.

Liam Ryan #24 1.Hometown: Kansas City, MO

8. Who is the teammate that makes you laugh the most?: Julia Insani often makes the group and myself crack up.

9. Who is your greatest influence on and off the field?: My greatest influences are my par-

2.Class year: Senior 3.Major: Economics with a German minor 4.Position: Defense 5. What are looking forward to

most about this season?: I’m excited to reach our full potential as a team and finish close games.

6. What’s the best part about Holy Cross Men’s Lacrosse?: Being able to compete every day with your best friends.

7. What are your pre-game rituals?: I am usually at Matt Farrell’s disposal. If he needs any sort of help with pregame drills I’m his guy.

8. Who is the teammate that makes you laugh the most?: Paul Miller.

He has some of the best dance moves on the team.

9. Who is your greatest influence on and off the field?: Brendan Sheehan. He was a senior when I was a freshmen and set a great example of how to be well rounded and make a positive impact on those around you.

10. What is your favorite memory of HC Men’s Lacrosse?: Beating Harvard in Double OT this year, coming back from a 9-3 deficit in the 3rd quarter. That was a very special game.

11. How do you feel about next Saturday’s game vs. Navy? I feel confident. Our team has been playing well as of late and with a good week of focused practice I think we will be tough to beat.

SPORTS

The Spire

March 22, 2019

11

Celtics Clicking at the Right Time Charles Krumsiek ‘20 Sports Editor The Boston Celtics are 6-4 over their last ten games (as of March 20) with three of them coming on a long road trip to the West Coast over the past week. While that record may not seem too impressive, the C’s have been playing some of their best basketball of the season during this stretch. What could be sparking this current run? Kyrie Irving cited the long plane ride where they were able to shake off the cobwebs of the long regular season and allowed them to get some chemistry going again.

Starting off facing the two-time reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors, the Celtics were able to break out of a 2-7 slump while dismantling the best team in the league. They did this all to the tune of the Warriors’ worst defeat of the season: a 33-point home loss.

This was the first game that the Warriors lost wire-to-wire, meaning they did not lead at a single point during the game, since March 2006.

The Celtics then traveled to Sacramento to face a fiesty Kings team who have been on the fringe of the Western Conference playoffs and fighting to get in. Led

by Jayson Tatum’s 24 points, this game went down to the final seconds. Gordon Hayward made up for a very unfortunate foul on the Kings’ young star Buddy Hield’s three-point attempt inside ten seconds by sinking a jumper to win the game. This win was all the more important because the Celtics most likely own the Kings’ first

Courtesy of NBC Sports - Boston

The Celtics need Gordon Hayward to keep producing in order to reach the team’s ceiling.

round pick this year as a result of the Jayson Tatum for Markelle Fultz trade during the 2017 Draft.

The Celtics then traveled down the Golden Coast to face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, a matchup between two of the league’s biggest disappointments from the beginning of the season, with both teams projected to finish near the top of their respective conferences. The Celtics currently occupy the 5th seed in the East while the Lakers find themselves a shocking nine games out of the playoff race in the West.

Irving led the way with 30 points and took the game over during the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

LeBron’s 30-point triple double

threatened a Laker comeback, but without the LA’s three young stars (Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Kyle Kuzma), it simply wasn’t enough. Head coach Luke Walton has also since decided that LeBron will play with a minute’s restriction for the rest of the season, essentially waving the white flag on the team’s playoff hopes.

The Celtics then got blown out by the LA Clippers in their final game of the road trip to the tune of a 25-point loss. Lou Williams appeared incapable of missing a shot all night as he became the NBA’s all-time bench points leader.

Boston then returned home to TD Garden for a three-game home stand. In the first two match-

ups, the Celtics gutted out backto-back wins against Sacramento and Atlanta on the back of consecutive 30-point outings from Irving. However, the C’s fell to the Denver Nuggets on Monday, which clinched a postseason berth for head coach Mike Malone’s squad after the Nuggets narrowly missed the playoffs last season.

The West Coast road trip coincided with a number of players like Gordon Hayward and Jaylen Brown breaking out of slumps.

Brown was moved to the bench after his hand injury which resulted in a series of poor performances and a very slow start to the season for a young man who was red hot during last year’s Eastern Confer-

ence Finals against the Cavaliers.

While Brad Stevens has reiterated that for now the starting lineup will remain the same, Brown has earned his starting minutes back and has been playing the entire fourth quarter in most games. He is second on the team in net rating with a +7.6 rating, third in points per game with 13.9, and has been playing lockdown defense on some of the league’s best players like Paul George, Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant, and James Harden.

The third year guard’s strong play over the past few months has resulted in a much better record for the Celtics and now that he seems to have found his role in the offense, he has seemed happier and it shows on the court.

Gordon Hayward’s inconsistency has been incredibly difficult for the Celtics to gameplan around.

On any given night, he could go for 30 against the best team in the league or be invisible on offense and a liability on defense. Brad Stevens has allowed him a ton of leeway this season, with good cause as Gordon’s injury last season was devastating. It appeared that he had to work himself back into playing shape. His success has translated to the team success: the C’s boast an insane 22-2 record when Hayward shoots better than 50 percent from the field. With only 12 games remaining in the regular season, getting him going should be a major focus of the team.

Men’s Basketball Season Recap Billy Fitzpatrick ‘20 Chief Sports Editor With the first day of spring officially here, let’s take a look back at the Holy Cross men’s basketball season before we switch out the hardwood for the baseball diamond for the next several months.

The Holy Cross men’s basketball team (16-17 overall, 6-12 Patriot League) got off to a promising start to the season during the nonconference portion of the schedule. The Crusaders held halftime leads in road contests against both Michigan and Providence, split a pair of games against Atlantic 10 opponents (won at UMass, lost to Rhode Island), and beat Fairleigh Dickinson (a 16-seed in the NCAA Tournament) by 18 in December.

Holy Cross also topped MAAC champion Iona (another 16-seed) by seven on the road.

After playing to a 10-5 record in 2018, the flip of the calendar brought adversity for the Crusaders. Sophomore forward and key rotation piece Connor Niego (13 points against Michigan) was lost for the season after appearing in the team’s first ten games. Head coach Bill Carmody stopped traveling with the team for most road games to be with his wife, Barbara, as she underwent cancer treatment.

The Crusaders lost five Patriot

Photo courtesy of goholycross.com Congratulations to senior Jehyve Floyd on a record-setting season.

League games by five points or less, including an overtime home defeat to Lehigh that came after HC built up a 12-point halftime advantage.

The Crusaders finished last in the Patriot League standings, but only trailed fourth-place American by three games. Holy Cross proved its mettle with wins over Bucknell (2nd in the Patriot League) and Lehigh (3rd in the PL) and a close loss to Colgate (regular season and conference tournament champions).

HC traveled to Bethlehem,

Penn., to take on 7-seed Lafayette in the play-in round of the Patriot League Tournament. The two teams split a pair of regular season meetings with the home team prevailing in each contest. The Crusaders took the season series and advanced to the Patriot League quarterfinal round with a 79-74 road win over the Leopards. Sophomore forward Jacob Grandison paced Holy Cross with 22 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, while senior forward Jehyve Floyd

posted 24 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.

Holy Cross then made the twohour journey west to Lewisburg, Penn., to take on the 2-seed Bucknell Bison. The Crusaders’ season would end there, however, with Bucknell pulling away in the second half to secure the 77-65 win.

HC held a five-point lead with just under 15 minutes remaining, but the Bison went on a storming 21-5 lead over the next five minutes to take control of the game and never

looked back.

Congratulations to Floyd on being named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, just second player in conference history to win the award twice. He was also selected to the All-Patriot League second team as well as the league’s All-Defensive Team. He set a program record for blocks in a season with 80 this year. Floyd also finished his career as the all-time conference leader in field goal percentage (65.6%). Across Division 1, Floyd was 13th in the nation in blocks (2.42 per game) and fourth in field goal percentage (66.9%), behind only Brandon Clarke of Gonzaga, Zion Williamson of Duke, and Scottie James of Liberty.

Congratulations to the senior class of Pat Benzan, Floyd, Marcellis Perkins, and Matt Zignorski on accomplished careers, including an Patriot League Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016.

Holy Cross brings back a strong nucleus for next year’s team, led by Grandison, Caleb Green, Austin Butler, Niego, Matt Faw, and Kyle Copeland (all currently sophomores).

The Spire

12

SPORTS

March 22, 2019

2019 MLB Division Winners Predictions Bobby Tuzzio ‘20 Editor-in-Chief With the 2019 MLB season starting next week, here are my picks for each division’s regular season winners.

the planet in Mike Trout, who just signed a record-setting 12-year, $430 million deal. The Angels are not looking to rush phenom

ter Alonso to step up, and they also need Yoenis Cespedes to return and be productive. If this team is healthy, they could be dangerous.

World Series, have continued to make strides. They return most of their lineup, so they can definitely steal the division from the

AL East: Projected Winner: Boston Red Sox Coming off arguably the best season in franchise history, culminating in a 108-54 regular season record and a World Series title, the Boston Red Sox are going into the 2019 season with great odds to win it all again this year. They’re bringing back almost all of their 2018 squad, including Mookie Betts, who looks to build upon his stellar 2018 MVP campaign.

However, the Red Sox will see stiff competition in the AL East, with the New York Yankees being the obvious contenders to steal the division.

Look out for the Tampa Bay Rays to also make some noise and possibly earn a wild-card berth.

AL Central: Projected Winner: Cleveland Indians Cleveland came up short last season, losing to the Houston Astros 3-0 in the ALDS. However, the Indians had a strong regular season, going 91-71. The rest of the division is weak, with none of the other teams in AL Central going above .500 last season, so look for the Indians to repeat as division champs.

However, if there is one team that looks to make a push against the Indians, it would probably be the Minnesota Twins. The Twins had a surprise Wild Card berth in 2017. But they followed that up with a 78-84 campaign in 2018.

They made some smart signings this offseason, including Marwin Gonzalez, C.J. Cron, Jonathan Schoop, and Nelson Cruz. Their pitching is rocky, so they’ll have to rely on their offense to drive in runs and beat teams in high-scoring games.

AL West: Projected Winner: Houston Astros The Houston Astros have had tremendous success in recent years, culminating in a 2017 World Series win. They fell to Boston in the ALCS last season. However, they bring back a dynamic squad, including Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve on the offensive end, and aces Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole on the mound. If everything goes according to plan, they will most likely go pretty far again.

Look for the Los Angeles Angels to make a run for a Wild Card berth. The Angels bring back arguably the best baseball player on

Photo ccourtesy of USA Today

Can Bryce Harper live up to his new contract and deliver Philadelphia to the playoffs?

Shohei Ohtani’s return. Ohtani, who was having a stellar rookie season, was shut down early to receive Tommy John surgery on his UCL. However, even though his season was cut short, he still won the AL Rookie of the Year. Angels fans everywhere are praying that he returns to top form following his surgery. If Ohtani and Trout each have a solid year, look for this team to make some noise.

NL East: Projected Winner: Atlanta Braves Alright, this division is going to be tough. Every team (except for the Marlins) has a chance to win the division. While I am personally a New York Mets fan, and as much as it pains me to say this, I think that the Atlanta Braves will repeat as champions in the division. The Braves 2018 division crown came as a surprise last season, and they didn’t really lose anyone this offseason. I think they are a team on the rise, and they could make a deep run in the playoffs this season.

As for the rest of the contenders in the NL East, let’s start with the Mets. The Mets have made some notable additions to their lineup, including veteran slugger Robinson Cano, catcher Wilson Ramos, and infielder Jed Lowrie. I personally think their best addition was reliever Edwin Diaz, who had one of the best seasons by a relief pitcher in recent memory. The team certainly has the aces, including 2018 NL Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom and hard-throwing Noah Syndergaard. However, they need their young bats, including Michael Conforto, Amed Rosario, and Pe-

The Phillies made a big splash this offseason, signing Bryce Harper to a then-record long-term contract. They also traded for catcher J.T. Realmuto from the Marlins.

Realmuto was an All-Star and Silver Slugger last year. They also added Andrew McCutchen, who is always productive when he’s healthy. With these big additions, the Phillies could make a big splash this year and steal the division title.

Finally, the Nationals may have lost Bryce Harper, but this team still has some serious weaponry. Threetime Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg are arguably the best pitching duo in baseball. On top of that, they also added Patrick Corbin to the pitching staff. I still have a hard time believing that this team will find a way to win the division title, but I can never count them out, especially if the offense find its groove.

NL Central: Projected Winner: St. Louis Cardinals In the NL Central, it’s really going to come down to three teams to win the division: the Cardinals, the Cubs, and the Brewers. The Brewers won 96 games and took home the division title last season.

However, I think the Brewers are going to cool off this season. On the other hand, the Cardinals could return to the top of NL Central.

With additions such as right-handed slugger Paul Goldschmidt, look for the offense to take a big step forward. Pitching is going to be a concern for the Cardinals, so keeping everyone healthy is essential.

However, we can’t rule out the Cubs, who, after winning the 2016

NL West: Projected Winner: Dodgers

Los

Angeles

After coming up short in the last two World Series, look for the Dodgers to come out for vengeance this year. With a strong bullpen and some depth in the batter’s box, the Dodgers have proven time in and time out that they are more than just Clayton Kershaw’s team. This squad could go back to the World Series for the third year in a row this season. One could hope that they don’t end up becoming the Buffalo Bills of baseball.

The Rockies posted a solid 91-72 record last season. They added Daniel Murphy this offseason, who will fill one of their infield holes. Nolan Arenado is an absolute beast who continues to get better every season. While I think the Dodgers will win the NL West, I could definitely see the Rockies finding a way to take home the division crown, or at least a Wild Card berth.

Cardinals or the Brewers. They also only finished one game behind the Brewers last season, so this team definitely has a shot.

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