April 5, 2019

Volume XCVI, Number 14

April 5, 2019

After Boroughs’ Refusal, Faculty Vote to Request that Board of Trustees Hires Independent Investigator Allyson Noenickx ‘19 Editor-in-Chief On Tuesday, the College’s Faculty Assembly voted to request that the Board of Trustees hire an independent investigator to aid their ongoing review of faculty sexual misconduct cases, policies, and procedures at the College––a request that Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president had publicly denied mere minutes earlier.

The motion to bypass Boroughs and direct this request to the Board came after the Academic Governance Council (AGC), the elected leadership body of the Faculty Assembly, originally requested that Boroughs hire independent counsel to aid the AGC ad hoc Committee on Faculty Sexual Misconduct.

Boroughs formally addressed the ad hoc committee request for the first time on Tuesday before the entire Assembly. “I am responsible for our policies and our procedures and ensure that they are followed. I hire expert administrators who are accountable to me to carry these out appropriately. Rather than hiring an independent investigator who will also be constricted by our policies and law, I encourage you to bring your concern directly to the Board of Trustees to get our whistleblower policy,” said Boroughs in his address to the Assembly on the AGC mandate. “If you believe that me [sic] or the administration have done something wrong, then you may bring that to the Board, to whom I report,” said Boroughs.

Not a moment later, faculty members were proposing just that––to bring their request for an independent investigator directly to the Board. Boroughs’ speech proved ineffective, as the motion was approved with overwhelming support––garnering 92 votes in favor, 20 abstentions, and 22 votes against.

The vote comes after weeks of pleading by several student, faculty, and alumni groups that Boroughs hire an independent investigator.

In February students at the College staged a two day sit-in following sexual misconduct allegations against Professor Christopher Dustin, who had been suddenly placed on leave. The student group submitted a list of four demands to Boroughs, which included an “external audit by an impartial third party of the Title IX Office, its practices and officers, and the College’s policy surrounding sexual harassment and faculty misconduct.”

After the sit-in in early February, the AGC approved the establishment of an ad hoc Committee on Faculty Sexual Misconduct that

would work to review three main areas: the recent case of Professor Dustin, procedures for addressing allegations of sexual misconduct by faculty members, and Title IX policies, procedures, and operations. According to an email sent by the committee to faculty on April 2, it quickly became apparent to the committee that they may require the services of independent legal counsel to fulfill their charge. The ad hoc committee met with the attorney hired to conduct the Title IX policy review and determined that “the framework he proposed would not allow us to fulfill their mandate,” according to the April 2 email. After the committee was then denied permission to meet with attorney Phil Catanzano, who has been conducting a campus climate study since September, the committee requested that Fr. Boroughs appoint an independent investigator in a March 26 letter. A week later Boroughs delivered his reply to the entire Assembly––a stern no.

“We have been dismayed by both the delays in starting a process that would restore trust in the community and the shifting constraints imposed by the administration as we have tried to begin our work,” wrote the ad hoc committee in their April 2 email to faculty, prior to the announcement of Boroughs’ decision on their mandate. “We believe that an independent investigation offers the best chance of restoring trust, and we will continue to work with urgency towards that goal.”

This past weekend brought another request that Boroughs hire an independent investigator––this time from an alumnus. In a March 31 Worcester Telegram & Gazette Op-Ed (reprinted in today’s Spire), former Organ Scholar Jake Street ’10, who along with four other alums brought forward allegations of sexual misconduct against Organist David James Christie in August, urged that “an independent investigation is a logical step for the school to minimize fear and regain trust.”

Professor Jonathan Mulrooney, who proposed the motion at the Assembly, reiterated this need to regain trust. “We need to take steps to restore trust in the process by which we can renew our community’s commitment to protecting students from sexually predatory behaviors on the part of faculty,” said Professor Mulrooney to the Spire. “The current administration, however well-meaning its intents, has clearly moved toward legal shelter rather than toward moral responsibility, and that requires a strong faculty response.”

Following the Assembly’s over-

whelming support of the motion, Fr. Boroughs offered a statement on Wednesday: “As a community, we are working hard to review our culture, policy and procedures to address the needs of our community and prevent future sexual misconduct. That work continues. We have also made every attempt to assist the faculty committee working on this issue. That committee had asked the College to hire a separate attorney for the committee, in addition to the two attorneys with substantial Title IX experience from different firms that the college had already hired and offered to have work with them.

Tuesday, I told our faculty I did not think that another attorney was necessary. If our Board of Trustees believes we need additional measures, we will certainly work with them as needed.”

The College hired attorney Phil Catanzano, senior counsel at Holland & Knight, to undertake a review of the culture, structure, and procedures at the College to prevent future sexual misconduct in September, following the Christie allegations and Globe story. On March 1, Fr. Boroughs also announced that the College had engaged Daryl Lapp, partner at Locke Lorde, to facilitate a review of the Sexual Misconduct Policy and how it operates in practice.

Both Lapp and Catanzano report directly to Fr. Boroughs. As of April 2, the AGC ad hoc committee had not received permission to meet with Catanzano, according to the email sent by the committee to faculty.

Professor Miles Cahill, Speaker of the Faculty, expressed his dissatisfaction with Boroughs’ handling of the decision thus far. “I was not told of the president’s decision until I heard it with everyone else at the faculty assembly meeting. I also did not know the president made a statement to the media until I read it in the Telegram. I am deeply disappointed with the way the president has characterized our work and recommendations, both in his faculty assembly statement and in his statement to the press. I chose not to respond to the Telegram reporter because I believe it is more productive to work in dialogue directly with each other rather than through the media. Our committee has tried to work with the president in good faith to find a way to reestablish trust in our community. I do not find his statements or the venues he has chosen to communicate them furthers this end. Our committee will meet and provide an appropriate and detailed response in the near future.”

Worcester, Massachusetts

Opinion: As I see it: Holy Cross Must Initiate Independent Investigation Jake Street ‘10 Alumnus “Holy Cross doesn’t have a culture of silence,” a community member told me some months back. “It has a culture of fear.”

I thought of this exchange while reading an email that the president of Holy Cross, Fr. Philip Boroughs, recently sent to the college community. He wrote that the college “must begin a conversation about why people are hesitant or reticent to report to the Title IX office.”

This community member won’t speak with me anymore, out of fear of reprisal from the college.

I don’t feel like someone who should provoke fear. I’m a survivor of sexual abuse at Holy Cross who came forward with several others in August of 2018. Like others, I found the prospect of telling my truth terrifying. Now that I have, I am not convinced that Holy Cross will do right by me or my fellow survivors.

Holy Cross refuses to comment publicly on my case, beyond citing an ongoing investigation. This is understandable, but also tragic.

We told our stories to protect students, to save the program we shared, and to begin a dialogue, but since we came forward, and for the foreseeable future, we have no place in the conversation.

It’s hard not to feel like my very status as a survivor makes me radioactive to the school, no matter how much the people there assure me otherwise.

The opacity of Holy Cross’s process does not only harm survivors. Denying comment about anything under investigation reduces complex issues to isolated cases of “bad apples,” when, at this point, the whole tree should go up for inspection. And silence from those with knowledge only serves to set various interests against one another. Information is not readily shared with survivors, let alone the broader school community.

Professors, perhaps accused, evaporate from their classrooms, with no explanation provided to their confused students. An alleged victim of professor Christopher Dustin, former dean of faculty, is now the subject of opinion pieces from third parties questioning the validity and severity of her accusations. No victim should ever have to read such a piece. But, then, no victim should feel such desperation to be heard that they must turn to the press to tell their story.

Dustin was found responsible for sexual harassment and sanc-

tioned by the school in 2018, and later barred from campus after new allegations emerged. This comes from a January email to the campus community from Fr. Boroughs. What the sanctions were, how they were communicated and enforced, what administrative reasoning made these new allegations the “tipping point” in triggering his leave — about all of this, the campus community can only speculate.

Multiple people raised concerns about Dustin to college leadership in the months after his promotion to dean of faculty was announced in 2017. This is not in itself evidence of wrongdoing. But I question Holy Cross’s response to this multifaceted coming forward, particularly given that Dustin would go on to receive his promotion regardless. Will the college’s reasoning in this be clarified? So long as there are “ongoing investigations,” I am not optimistic. But who investigates the investigations? Who decides what information will ultimately be revealed? And is Holy Cross capable of addressing these questions in good faith?

An independent investigation is a logical step for the school to minimize fear and regain trust. An investigation of this kind is in no way beholden to the administration, and it reports its complete findings — save for survivors’ names — directly to the public.

This enables a comprehensive examination of patterns of behavior, of internal cultural issues, and of administrative conduct that may have enabled a crisis. It requires an institution unafraid to let in sunlight, and willing to face its failures.

To Fr. Boroughs and his statement, I will say that coming forward is a shattering experience in the best of circumstances. Administrative silence as mandatory policy has bred uncertainty and mistrust for survivors. It has also pitted survivors and allies against defendants and sympathizers, in the most public and vitriolic of ways. And an ongoing failure to confront comprehensively and openly the potential roots of the issue — culture, complicity, cover-ups — simply guarantees more bad apples in the years to come.

Commit to the transparency that the community needs to conquer fear and regain trust in the process. Initiate an independent investigation. Survivors will continue to stand up, at great personal cost, to do their part. It is time for the leadership of Holy Cross to do theirs.

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HC & ND Launch Data Science Degree Sofia Maietta ‘19 News Editor Holy Cross recently announced the creation of a new dual degree program in partnership with the University of Notre Dame which will consist of a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science. Driven by a common commitment to a liberal education in the Catholic tradition, this collaboration aims to help create the next generation of data scientists in a world where job opportunities in the field have skyrocketed. This program aims to educate data scientists who possess the quantitative skills, communication skills, and ethical training for an increasingly demanding field.

A press release on Friday March 29 explained that the program will allow students to pursue a Bachelor of Arts at Holy Cross as an undergraduate, and subsequently take online data science courses through Notre Dame as a senior. Following graduation from Holy Cross, students will continue with Notre Dame’s online program for another year before receiving their graduate degree from the University the following spring.

Notre Dame’s graduate program has been supported by AT&T, and strives to be industry-aligned and focused on developing multifaceted data scientists who possess the skills and know-how which are necessary for professional success in today’s data-driven age. Elliott Visconsi, associate provost and chief academic digital officer at Notre Dame, commented on the joint program, saying, “Integrating online professionalgraduate education with an undergraduate liberal arts experience is a new frontier. Notre Dame is thrilled to partner with the College of the Holy Cross to explore innovative educational models, deepen our shared commitments and welcome superbly trained Holy Cross students into the Notre Dame family.”

Margaret Freije, provost and dean at Holy Cross, said, “This partnership helps Holy Cross to expand our curriculum in a high-demand field and connect our liberal arts model with professional graduate training, all while maintaining the deeply residential quality of the undergraduate experience. We are delighted to collaborate with Notre Dame to support our students in achieving their post-graduate goals and to cultivate ‘three-dimensional’ data scientists.”

April 5, 2019

SGA Hosts Second Tuition Town Hall Kate McLaughlin ‘21 News Editor On Tuesday, March 26, students, faculty, and staff gathered in Rehm library for the second annual Tuition Transparency Town Hall. Earlier that day, students had received an email from Student Affairs notifying them that the Board of Trustees voted to set tuition, standard room and board, and mandatory fees at $69,810 for the 2019-2020 academic year, representing a 3.75 percent increase from the 2018-2019 academic year, which in turn was 4.25 percent higher than the previous year.

The Town Hall was organized by the Student Government Association and consisted of a presentation by Dorothy Hauver, Vice President for Administration and Finance, and Tracy Barlok, Vice President for Advancement, followed by a question-and-answer portion. Louis Hurtado ‘19, Treasurer of SGA and one of the three students on the College’s financial planning committee, moderated the event.

Hurtado prefaced Hauver and Barlok’s presentations, saying, “We all know that tuition increases are never pleasant, but it’s important to see what is being done, and why things are being done first.”

Hauver said, “We are always trying to balance the affordability of education with being able to offer faculty compensation that is reasonable and competitive, trying to address strategic initiatives, programming needs, student experiences. We are grappling with what the right balance [is] of that with the tuition increase, and the Board certainly takes that very seriously.”

She provided a brief overview of the various sources from which the College gets its money and of how that money is spent. She detailed the College’s operating budget, of which $97.4 million, or about 50 percent, comes from net tuition and fees. She also displayed a chart depicting Holy Cross’ tuition and room and board changes in comparison with other educational institutions that are structured similarly to Holy Cross, which showed that Holy Cross is only about 300 dollars more expensive than the median institution on the chart.

Barlok’s presentation focused on the College’s capital budget, the majority of which comes from alumni donations and funds either debt service or the renewal or replacement of buildings and equipment. One of her slides displayed the College’s four most recent major capital projects, including the Joyce Contemplative Center, the

Luth Athletic Complex, the Recreation and Wellness Center (for which the expected completion is Fall 2020), and the Performing Arts Center (for which the expected completion is Fall 2021).

The question-and-answer session consisted both of questions that were presubmitted online before the Town Hall and questions that were asked at the microphone.

Erin Dennehy ‘19 asked multiple questions, including why the Town Hall was not being filmed, when many other major events in Rehm are filmed and posted online. She also asked if the administration would be willing to provide an itemized breakdown of their proposed yearly budget before tuition increases are made, similar to what RSOs must do for SGA. Students left with mixed impressions of the Town Hall. “Sometimes when talking about tuition and other items related to finances, it can get complicated and confusing,” Hurtado said. “Dottie and Tracy gave a great overview of how the College operates financially, and I hope students were able to get a better understanding of the College budget and why the decision to increase tuition was made.

I hope students feel their concerns were addressed. I have a great feeling that the administration heard

out those who were present and know what their priorities should be moving forward.”

Others, however, were not as satisfied with the administration’s efforts. “I personally was disappointed for a couple of reasons,” Dennehy remarked after the Town Hall. She said that the format of the question-and-answer session precluded her from pointing out that the College has increased tuition 140 percent over the past 20 years, and that room, board, and tuition has gone up 15 percent since her freshman year (20142015).

“I think this was a pathetic attempt at transparency, and a waste of everyone’s time - just like the administration wanted it to be,” she added. “If the administration is serious about being transparent about tuition, it has a lot of work to do to make that happen, because they are falling short of even the lowest of expectations. I should also add that the students have a lot of work to do as well, since the odds of the administration willingly being honest and transparent - as we’ve seen over the past year - is close to zero. They will have to demand more from their administrators, unless they want to see another 3-5 percent hike in tuition this time next year.”

Fr. Campbell, VP of Mission, to Depart HC Jackie Cannon ‘20 Editor-in-Chief In a March 13 letter to the campus community, President of the College Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J. announced that Rev. William R. Campbell, S.J., ’87, Vice President for Mission, would be leaving Holy Cross. Campbell has been appointed as the director of the Eastern Point Retreat House, an ecumenical ministry run by the Society of Jesus in Gloucester, MA. Fr. Campbell began as Vice President for Mission in 2015 and was involved in expanding the annual Lenten Reflection Series, chairing the Mulledy/Healy Legacy Committee and leading the Mission Priority Examen Steering Committee, which recently published its final Visiting Team Report and Executive Summary.

Reflecting on his tenure at Holy Cross, Fr. Campbell shared, “I have come to realize the projects I have been involved with that have most excited me are those grounded specifically in the dy-

namics of Ignatian Spirituality. I think of the opportunities I have had each year to accompany faculty, staff, and students making various ‘Ignatian’ retreats or to engage them in spiritual conversations and how humbled I am that they have allowed me to join them on their faith journeys.”

Fr. Campbell expressed excitement for several aspects of his new position as director of the Eastern Point Retreat House, which he begins on August 1: “Three aspects of this new position really excite me. The first is the opportunity to work full-time in a Jesuit ministry that is devoted exclusively to offering month-long and week-long retreats of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.”

He also cited enthusiasm for drawing on his background as an administrator for this new position, as well as the opportunity to return to the coast of Massachusetts, as he grew up along Cape Cod Bay. “When I arrived at Holy Cross as a student in the fall of 1983, I was

homesick those first few weeks. I felt land-locked living in Worcester and being so far away from the shore,” said Campbell. “A family friend made a cassette tape of ocean sounds for me. I listened to them on my Walkman each night as I fell asleep! So, I am really looking forward to living near the ocean again.”

In addition to the Holy Cross Community, Fr. Campbell stated he would most miss St. Joseph Memorial Chapel, which was one of the main reasons he first came to Holy Cross as a student in 1983, and where he became an ordained priest in 1998.

Before assuming his current position at Holy Cross, Fr. Campbell served as an assistant chaplain at the College, interim principal at Nativity School of Worcester, executive director at Nativity Preparatory School in Boston, and president at Cheverus High School in Portland, Maine. Campbell additionally worked at the Pedro Arrupe Spirituality Center in India and taught at the University of the The Spire student newspaper College of the Holy Cross Published weekly since 1925

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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 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 Hope Goodman, Pamela Kote, Anna Morris, Sarah O’Rourke, Rebecca Tredwell Copy Editors Hui Li Chief Photographer Kim Fetherston, Jake Bucci, Davey Sullivan, Zoe Petit Photographers Bianca Miccolis, Mary Kate Cunningham, Emily Pellegrino Web Editors Professor Steve Vineberg Faculty Advisor Dean Michele Murray Advisor Dean Brenda Hounsell Sullivan Advisor

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West Indies in Jamaica, according to a 2014 article on the Holy Cross website.

Fr. Campbell shared a final piece of advice for the Holy Cross community by recommending participation in a retreat: “As a good friend of mine is fond of saying, when you’re too busy to make a retreat is probably the very time when you need to make a retreat!

Holy Cross is blessed with the resource of the ‘new’ Joyce Contemplative Center. Into the future, no one should feel proud about graduating from Holy Cross who has not taken advantage of what that holy site has to offer - especially the Spiritual Exercises retreats.”

Speaking on Fr. Campbell’s departure, Fr. Boroughs wrote, “As grateful as we are for the impact he has had, we will miss him as much for his friendship, his generosity of time and spirit, and his sense of humor.” Boroughs concluded by stating that Fr. Campbell will leave Holy Cross on June 30, and that a transition plan will be developed in the meantime.

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Haidt on Politics, Polarization, and How We Got Here Caroline Ahearn ‘20 Chief News Editor On Tuesday, April 2, renowned social psychologist Jonathan Haidt delivered the 53rd annual HanifyHowland Memorial Lecture in the Hogan Ballroom.

The Hanify-Howland Lecture Series recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in the realm of public service in honor of Edward Hanify, a member of the graduating class of 1904, and Weston Howland. The 12-student committee founded in 1965 serves to select the speaker for the College’s annual keynote lecture. For the 2018-2019 academic year, the Committee is co-chaired by Victoria Tutino ‘19, Spencer Caron ‘20, and Emily Zeno ‘19, and includes Katherine Lenahan ‘19, Nicolas Jones ‘19, Eliza Oak ‘19, John Swartzwelder ‘19, Kevin Brewer ‘20, Margaret Anderson ‘21, and Ben Tayag ‘21.

“We look at the climate of our campus at the time and think critically about what topics and people would be most beneficial for the campus to hear and to engage with,” said Tutino about the selection process for the speaker each year. “When it came to Jonathan Haidt, we were struck by how his publications, research, and career delve into the evolution of humans as moral and political beings. We felt that our campus could benefit from his experiences and his work on ‘Politics and Polarization’ since he is a social psychologist and not a political scientist or someone in government. We felt that his talk would come from a more neutral position and help our campus unpack difficult topics and understand how other people come to different conclusions and why that is. Overall, that is how and why we selected Jonathan Haidt.”

Haidt currently serves as a Pro- they wanted to talk about, and the tively with rapidly rising wealth and fessor of Ethical Leadership questions were sort of evenly split rapidly extending rights for all. The at New York University’s Stern between issues of Gen Z and over- twenty-first century on the other School of Business. He has au- protection and issues from ‘The hand shows us that we can have rethored several articles and books, Coddling of the American Mind,’ surgent tribalism, resurgent - how including “The Righteous Mind: versus those who had my previous to put it - ethnic and race-based Why Good People Are Divided by book ‘The Righteous Mind’ and identity conflicts on both the right Politics and Religion,” published in wanted to talk about politics and and the left. I believe that anybody 2012, and “The Coddling of the left and right.” who is studying a complex moral American Mind: How Good IntenWhen asked about the overlap system should bring in psychology, tions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up between his studies of Gen Z and and especially moral psychology. a Generation We can’t have for Failure,” systems depublished signed just by in 2018. economists, The former for example, served as unless they his basis for also underthe Hanify stand moral Howland lecpsychology.” ture, entitled “Many peo“Politics and ple, I think, Polarizashare my tion,” though feeling that both works the world is influenced going mad,” his speech, said Haidt of as well as his his decision Photo by Jake Bucci ‘21. to speak on afternoon Jonathan Haidt explains the causes of increased polarization. seminar the topic of with a small the current group of Holy Cross students prior of political psychology, Haidt said: political climate and increasing poto the event.

“I study moral psychology, and the larization. “And the madness began “With the students I started by basic approach I always take is to before the 2016 election. I’ll be trynoting that I wrote a book which begin with human nature. Our na- ing to explain why that is [in the is basically about Gen Z, namely ture, our default sociality is that we lecture]. I think the world is truly people born after 1996, yet almost evolve to live in small tribal commu- going mad - I think we are losing all of my teaching has been with nities within intense animistic reli- our minds, not as individuals, but millennials. I’ve talked with a lot gion and frequent intergroup con- in our groups and institutions. So of people in Gen Z but I haven’t flict, and our minds are prepared I’ll be offering an analogy that the really had them as students for full for that. But I’m also a cultural universe has a certain number of semesters, so I welcome the chance psychologist and I’m interested in physical constants in it, and if you to talk with members of Gen Z,” the way that different institutions were to change one of them - say Haidt said of the seminar. “Then and cultural traditions can play up the force of gravity, if you were to I asked them what questions they our tribalism or dampen it down. increase it by ten percent - there wanted to talk about. I mostly I’m interested in the ways that our would be chaos throughout the want to talk to them and learn moral psychology can be a boon or universe. In the same way, if you from them about how they deal a bane to any collective enterprise. were to reach in and change the with social media, how they deal The late twentieth century triumph connectivity of human beings, and with politics, how they think about of liberal democracy around the the degree to which their commusafety and overprotection, but I in- world shows us there are ways that nication is not one-to-one but one vited them to talk about anything we can live peacefully and coopera- to the world, there would be chaos

in society. I think that’s basically what has happened.”

As for what he hopes the audience of the Hanify-Howland Lecture, made up primarily of 18-22 year olds, gleans from his talk, Haidt hopes they exit the Ballroom with an understanding “that a liberal democracy is very difficult. That the older generations messed it up.

That we’re passing on to them a very damaged liberal democracy, with low trust and high debt. That we then overprotected them and denied them the opportunities to develop toughness and anti-fragility, which are essential for democracy. So in a variety of ways, we are passing on to them a very damaged world. I hope that they will understand the severity of this problem.

I think it’s extremely severe. I’ll be talking about the moral motivations of left and right. I think it’s important for people to understand that other than the one percent of people who are psychopaths, almost all of us are morally motivated. If you think the other side is doing what it does because it ‘hates poor people’ or ‘hates America’ or whatever the platitudes are on your side, then you’re simply wrong. We all need to understand that we’re all morally motivated, just in different ways, and we’re all blind to the moral motivations of others.

If [Gen Z] just plays the game of the culture war, then they’re going to just make it worse, and America could fail on their watch. I don’t think our country’s going to fail in the next ten years, but it really could fail in the next fifty. I want them to understand just how serious this problem is, and how we [the older generations] didn’t find the solutions to it. So they’re going to have to.”

Freije Defends Koch Donation Before Faculty Jackie Cannon ’20 Eidtor-in-Chief During the April 2 Faculty Assembly, Provost and Dean of the College, Margaret Freije defended the recent Koch Foundation donation of $1.5 million to the newly established Carlyse and Arthur A. Ciocca ’59 Center for Business, Ethics and Society and addressed widespread concerns about the Foundation. Freije cited the fact that the Koch Foundation would not be able to influence how the Center spends the donation money, hires visiting lecturers, or designs courses.

Freije’s address was a reiteration of a response she delivered to the Academic Governance Council, where she answered some of the main questions raised by the Holy Cross community regarding the Koch donation. In recent weeks, students and faculty have spoken out against the donation, citing concerns over the organizations the Koch Foundation has given to and its involvement in decisionmaking at colleges and universities following donations.

Concern over the Koch dona-

tion arose after a Spire opinions article by Holy Cross alumna Marie Therese Kane ’18, titled “If You’re Reading This, You’ve Been Koch-ed,” was published on February 22. Kane’s article argued that Koch Industries demonstrate a consistent pattern of environmentally destructive business practices, while the Koch Foundation has supported libertarian and conservative causes. Kane alleges that the foundation and its history of donations are fundamentally at odds with the Holy Cross mission and Jesuit values.

Kane stressed the following point: “the Koch’s business and political activities, and the environmentally devastating form of capitalism that motivates them, blatantly contradicts Holy Cross’s professed Catholic values, as well as the Center’s mission to study business ‘with a liberal arts emphasis on how it can contribute to the common good.’”

Kane’s article prompted concern across campus, particularly in regard to Koch’s influence on other college campuses and their potential to dictate decisions related to the Ciocca Center at Holy Cross.

A social media campaign was launched to protest the donation.

In her faculty address, Freije acknowledged that the administration was aware of the nature of past Koch donations, as they did “extensive research on the history of their interactions with other institutions,” which included investigating the website “UnKoch My Campus.” The website describes George Mason University as “Koch’s Ground Zero,” with the University accounting for approximately half of all of Koch’s donations to higher education.

A May 2018 New York Times article on the Koch Brothers and GMU outlines the influence that the Koch Foundation had on the University, including a seat on the committee to select candidates for a specific professorship. The magnitude of the Koch gift granted them access to affect the type of faculty members and programs that were instituted at GMU, and ultimately aligned with the Koch Brothers’ free-market, libertarian ideals.

It was examples like these that prompted the Holy Cross administration to establish a strict contract

before the donation was accepted: “we built into our agreement strong protections against all of the issues we had identified in other places,” says Freije, who went on to name those protections.

Freije also stressed that Holy Cross did not approach the Koch Foundation. Arthur Ciocca, for whom the Center is named, sought out the connection to supplement his gift to the Center. Additional funds were needed to implement the proposal for the new Center, which was to intended to appeal to a wider portion of the student body than the Ciocca Office of Entrepreneurial Studies that the Center was replacing.

Many of the Koch funds, which represent a minority of the overall Ciocca Center budget, will go toward increasing students participation, through the form of financial aid for the Fullbridge Program and the provision of internships to students. Additionally, the funds will allow for the hiring of an administrative assistant, according to Freije.

The final question which Freije responded to during the faculty assembly was the possibility of ter-

minating the agreement with the Koch Foundation, if the College chose to do so. Freije that section 4(b) of the agreement stipulated that “‘the College shall support the center programs to advance the college’s mission, subject to the terms of this agreement.’” She elaborated, “we are not required to ask for any particular amount of funding each year; we can request any amount up to each annual upper limit. Theoretically, we could request zero dollars with no liability.”

Despite Freije’s explanation, faculty concern was not eliminated. Professor Andrew Hwang of Mathematics shared a statement that questioned the ability to reconcile the Jesuit mission of Holy Cross and the “actions and agenda of the Koch Foundation.” When Hwang shared this worry over the impact the donation would have on academic freedom, Freije referred back to the AGC’s oversight of the center and monitoring of the donation’s impact.

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April 5, 2019

Ziblatt Explains ‘How Democracies Die’ Caroline Ahearn ‘20 Chief News Editor On Tuesday, March 26, Daniel Ziblatt, Eaton Professor of the Science of Government at Harvard University, visited Holy Cross to deliver his lecture, “How Democracies Die.” Ziblatt, a specialist in the study of European politics, state-building, democratization and historical political economy, is the author of three books. His most recent book, which shares its title with his lecture, was coauthored by his Harvard colleague Steven Levitsky, and published in January 2018, one year into the presidency of Donald Trump. In the New York Times bestselling book, Ziblatt and Levitsky draw on their respective research on democratic decline in Europe and Latin America to argue that democracy in the United States is in danger.

The lecture was sponsored by the Charles Carroll Program, which seeks to enrich the Political Science department’s curriculum through a focus on the American political tradition by bringing distinguished guest lecturers. As he introduced Ziblatt before the lecture, Professor Greg Burnep called How Democracies Die “extraordinarily important” and praised him for making such an important book so readable and accessible for a wide audience.

Though Professor Ziblatt’s talk had to be rescheduled twice due to extenuating circumstances, the timing for his visit to Rehm Library came at a perfect political moment, just four days after the Department of Justice announced that special counsel Robert Mueller had completed his nearly 400-page report on the Trump-Russia investigation and submitted it to Attorney General William Barr, who in turn delivered a four-page letter to Congressional leaders outlining the conclusions of the investigation, saying that Mueller did not find anyone on the Trump campaign team colluded with Russia, though Mueller did not exonerate Trump from obstruction of justice.

Ziblatt began his talk by address-

ing the latest news regarding the Mueller investigation, saying that what motivated him to write “How Democracies Die” in the first place is only more pressing now, and that in news cycles like this one it is important not to lose sight of the broader context of the moment, that we must continue to ask the question: what is the state of American democracy? Is it in danger?

He then dove right into his presentation, expanding and elaborating on various points he makes throughout the book with Levitsky.

He cited a statistic stating that “rich and old democracies” like the United States of America, according to past studies of political science, have a 0.0008 percent chance of breaking down. However, that was according to the political science of the past. Today, in the “age of disruption,” we are in uncharted territory. The way that democracies die has changed - it used to be at the hands of men with guns, but in today’s world the majority of democratic breakdowns happen at the hands of elected leaders who use the very institutions of democracy to break it down, such as with Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, Vladimir Putin of Russia, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. Because this often happens behind a facade of democracy (elections occur, congress continues to operate), many citizens are not aware that their democracy is in danger until it is too late.

When a country finds itself on the road towards a dying democracy, Ziblatt believes there are two potential off-ramps: 1. A country must prevent autocratic-minded leaders from getting into office in the first place, and 2. Political institutions must contain the damage inflicted by those leaders. According to Ziblatt, the United States missed off-ramp #1 in 2016 by electing Donald Trump, a man who is at best indifferent to the crucial democratic norms and values such as mutual toleration (accepting partisan opponents as legitimate with a right to govern and compete) and institutional forbearance (un-

derutilization of exercising one’s next one to five years will not put Democrats, Ziblatt suggested, legal rights such as court-packing an end to it. But, neither his Rehm should focus on “anti-hardball” and filibustering). The decline of lecture nor his book were meant to strategies over going tit-for-tat these norms in America did not be a fire-and-brimstone-style con- with Republicans’ foul play, such as begin with Trump, and can be demnation of the United States. pushing for independent redistricttraced back to the 1990s and the He concluded that amid all the ing committees to challenge gerrhetoric of then-Speaker of the bad news of polarization, there is rymandering, for automatic voter House Newt Ginregistration to comgrich (R-GA). This bat racist voter idendecline progressed tification laws, and through the partifor fixed Supreme san impeachment Court terms to preof President Bill vent court-packing.

Clinton, the rhetoFinally, Ziblatt ric of the “birther” presented the audimovement against ence with a comPresident Barack parison, saying that Obama, and the people often con“lock her up” chants ceptualize history against Hillary Clinas moving in one ton during the 2016 direction, like globelection. The heated al warming. All of rhetoric of viewthe negative things Photo by Davey Sullivan ’22 ing those who disthat happen push Daniel Ziblatt shares his view of the current state of American agree with you as us further toward democracy as laid out in his book, “How Democracies Die.” “the enemy” are a point where we no longer “fringe cannot go back to politics,” Ziblatt explained, point- some good news. America’s “dem- fix it, and eventually toward a fiery ing out that over the past three ocratic antibodies” remain quite end. However, Ziblatt asks that we decades, leading Republicans were strong: pushback to the Trump think of the crisis of democracy now challenging the basic legiti- administration in the media, the as more like an earthquake. Yes, macy of the Democrats as a party. courts, law enforcement, civil so- an earthquake driven by fault lines In the absence of mutual tolera- ciety, and the 2018 midterm elec- can cause serious damage. Earthtion, when you start to view your tions proves that the U.S. is not quakes come and go, though, so opponent as an enemy, the temp- like Russia, Hungary, or Turkey, we must get through them with our tation to abandon forbearance and that the strong opposition can institutions intact and fortify them grows. That, Ziblatt shared, is what constrain authoritarian inklings. so they survive the next quake. is happening now. The “soft guardZiblatt brought his lecture to its There is too much at stake not to. rails” of democracy started to cor- end by posing the question, “So “It is obvious that we are livrode, and the election of Donald what can be done?” before shrug- ing through a period of intense Trump catalyzed that corrosion. ging, laughing, and answering partisan division, and it is imporSo why is this happening? The honestly: “No idea.” However, he tant to step back and consider answer that Ziblatt posits is polar- offered a few suggestions to Re- the implications for our democization. The United States has not publicans and Democrats to keep racy,” said Professor Burnep after seen this kind of deep partisan America from becoming a dying the event. “People disagree about hatred since the late nineteenth democracy. Republicans, he sug- whom or what to blame for deep century, and today’s differences gested, need to diversify as a party, partisan polarization--we saw this run much deeper. Extreme po- because as long as the GOP re- during the Q&A after Professor larization, when each side views mains a predominantly white party, Ziblatt’s talk - but I hope all ata victory by the other side as in- it will contribute to the rise of and tendees left the event thinking tolerable, can kill a democracy, association with white supremacy. about the corrosive effects it has because it allows for the justifi- If the Republican Party becomes on our norms and institutions. cation of extraordinary means more diverse, Ziblatt sees this as a As Professor Ziblatt noted at the such as election fraud and coups. win-win situation, because not only beginning of his talk, old wealthy Ziblatt stressed that the election will the party win more elections democracies like ours seldom perof Donald Trump did not start the from a more diverse voter base, ish. But drawing on their research United States down the path of a they will help decrease the fear of in comparative politics, Professor dying democracy, and his depar- a more diverse America within its Ziblatt and his co-author teach us ture from the Oval Office in the now predominantly white base. that we shouldn’t be complacent.”

Holy Cross Community Rolls Up for SRC Event on Marijuana Ethan Bachand ‘22 News Editor On Tuesday, March 26, the Students for Responsible Choices peer education group hosted “The Devil’s Lettuce on a Catholic Campus” in Hogan Ballroom, an event geared towards educating the campus community on marijuana and the ways it can possibly be abused.

The people involved include SRCs Caroline Telesz ‘22, Jocelyn Buggy ‘22, Mary Cronin ‘22, and Kevin Fischer ‘21. The well-constructed panel of experts included: Joy LaGrutta, a substance use education consultant, Professor Daniel Bitran of the Psychology Department, Kevin O’Connell, Director of Student Integrity & Community Standards, and Chief Shawn de Jong of Public Safety.

After an introduction by the team that organized the panel, a 20-minute documentary from Netflix on

the history and effects of cannabis tion in Massachusetts affects their course. A similar position would be was shown. The educational film jobs. The two education profes- brought up throughout the night, bluntly laid out as the panelist the psychologiconsistently cal effects we referred back do and do not to the fact know when it that without comes to mariany federal juana use. The decriminalizavideo was welltion, the Colreceived by the lege’s policy audience, with on marijuana funny clips, would not be including one able to change. from the Seth A few more Rogen and questions were James Franco posed for the film “Pineapple panelists, with Express.” participants After the docPhoto by Davey Sullivan ‘22. from the auumentary, the dience raising SRCs and panelists educate the Holy Cross community on marijuana, the legalities surrounding it, and potential side effects. four leaders of questions as the event posed well. People questions for the panelists. The sionals on the panel outlined how who took the mic posed quesfirst question was one that was on this affected their studies, while tions about the legality of certain many people’s minds: how legaliza- the two college officials stayed the situations while others asked about

the possibility of students receiving drug testing kits to determine if their weed was infused with any other drugs.

Speaking after the event, SRC Caroline Telesz stated, “I think the event went well. It is important to educate the Holy Cross population about a prevalent issue on campus not many people talk openly about.

Even after the legalization of marijuana, there isn’t enough talk on campus about what it is, how it can be abused, and what marijuana use is like here at Holy Cross.”

Mary Cronin backed up this sentiment, saying, “It was a really good turn-out which we weren’t expecting, and the panelists were really knowledgeable and gave really good answers. It was important because it’s not usually addressed, and it’s important people know about it.”

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5

OPINIONS

Opinions

April 5, 2019

See What Other Students Are Thinking Around Campus...

Justice Not Served: Jussie Smollett and Why He Doesn’t Deserve a Free Pass Olivia Pan ‘20 Chief Opinions Editor After being arrested and charged with staging a fake hate crime, “Empire” actor, Jussie Smollett, unexpectedly had all charges dropped against him by Chicago prosecutors, to the bewilderment and anger of many. However, there were some who quickly jumped to support Smollett and come to his defense, including “Black-ish” actor, Anthony Anderson, who recently spoke out regarding Smollett’s 2019 NAACP Image Award’s nomination. Anderson stated, “I hope he wins…I’m happy for him that the system worked for him in his favor because the system isn’t always fair, especially for people of color. So I’m glad it worked out for him.” I was floored by this statement, not only because Anderson is defending a person who wasted countless police resources and fooled the public into believing he was the victim of a vicious hate

Grace Manning ‘21 Opinions Editor There is something about scary movies, scary books, scary stories, and scary anything, really, that we love as adults and often despise as children. It is actually the same thing that is to an equal degree hated when we are younger, and loved when we are older: the feeling of sweaty palms, a racing heart, and an intense feeling of nervousness or dread. I have often wondered when and why this change occurred in myself, as it does in almost everyone. I grew up terrified of any adult in a costume, especially a clown costume, and would go to extreme lengths to avoid an encounter with such a person. But now I find that I can watch horror films or television series featuring clowns, and I actually enjoy the dis-

crime. Mostly, I was perplexed because Anderson is ignorantly justifying Smollett’s crime. Anderson is essentially claiming that because the American justice system has a history of punishing people of color more severely, Smollett deserves to get a free pass on his crime. Anderson is happy that the system “worked out for him.”

In other words, Jussie Smollet deserves to get away with staging a hate-crime because people of color deserve to have the system work in their favor for a change. Never mind the fact that he committed a crime and broke the law.

Sorry, Anthony Anderson, but this sentiment defies logic. We need to focus on Smollett’s actual crime,

criminal justice system should not punish those who commit crimes, simply because they belong to a minority group of people who often get the short end of the stick when it comes to sentencing?

Women also encounter bias from the justice system. A study conducted by The Chicago Reporter, the Medill School of Journalism at N o r t h we s t e r n University, and NPR discovered ‘Photo Courtesy of PageSix “that women in “Empire” Actor Jussie Smollett.

Illinois — and in prisons across the not on his racial identity. Jussie country — are disciplined at sigSmollett is not a victim and he cer- nificantly higher rates than male intainly deserves to be punished. Are mates for mostly minor, subjective we supposed to believe that the infractions.” There’s no question

For the Love of a Scare

comfort I feel when watching them.

Society’s obsession with being scared is a strange thing to think about. Maybe because we lack intense stimulation in our lives, or because we can fall into the routine of monotony and comfort which we take for granted, we desire the sensation of being terrified. It can be likened to any extreme emotion; being very happy, very excited, or very nervous all cause increased heart rates and racing thoughts. But in today’s world, what we find scary is so different from what was considered terrifying even just a few years ago. Simply try watching old horror films. Sure, you can appreciate them for the breakthroughs in special effects and cinematography that they were in their time, but when comparing them to more modern horror movies, they can seem ridiculous or over-dramatic.

My parents swore to my sister and I that “The Exorcist” was the scariest movie of all time, hands down.

But when we watched it with them, we were unimpressed and most importantly, definitely not scared.

Since then, we have introduced them to recent horror films which they found terrifying and overly gory and twisted. This proves that our idea of what is “scary” has changed over the years and continues to change. It is what allows producers to re-make famous horror films such as “It”: telling the same story, but changing and intensifying the scare-factor in order to suit a generation that isn’t easily frightened. But is the fact that we are less easily scared or turned off by extreme violence, gore and jumpscares necessarily a good thing?

The amount of violence and horror we are exposed to in our

real lives (i.e. school shootings on the news, kidnappings, murders, etc.) is much more closely documented and publicly known about now, thanks to technological advancements, than it has ever been.

We can see images and videos on our phones or laptops that couldn’t be so easily accessed when our parents were young. Because of this, we are so much more aware of the crises in the wider world and with the increase of photography and journalism presence abroad, we can see documented, real-life horror. Why would we be scared of ghost stories when real, true stories are so much scarier? I think that instead of trying to create new, terrifying plots for films, there is much more of a demand for movies based on real life, because that is what scares us the most. We are frightened of anything that hits

that this is unfair and biased. However, should we excuse criminal actions committed by all women simply because the system is biased against them? I am an advocate for women’s equality and women’s rights, and even I don’t believe that we should do that.

Jussie Smollett will forever be a punchline to a joke, and some may think that is punishment enough. I don’t believe he deserves hard jailtime. I don’t believe that he is incapable of redemption or forgiveness. However, in order to redeem himself, he first needs to come clean about what he did and stop pretending that he is an advocate for people of color and the LGBTQPIA+ community. What he did needs to be taken seriously and not be swept under the rug. False claims, whether they be about hate crimes, rape, or any type of violence, only diminish real victims.

too close to home, or something that could possibly happen to us.

It is easy to detach oneself from a situation that is surreal and this allows us to feel like observers, rather than feeling like we could be experiencing what the characters on the screen are experiencing. We live in a world that is constantly trying to catch our attention through advertisements, with businesses clambering to stand out and to make themselves known to us, so horror movies strive to do the same. We won’t settle for the same old ghosts haunting abandoned houses or skeletons jumping out at us from closets. Instead we want something that is going to take the sense of security we generally feel, and turn it on its head.

My 4.77 Uber Rating Ryen Cinski ‘22 Opinions Editor Uber ratings: Such a trivial matter. Yet I am completely and undeniably bothered by the fact that I don’t have a perfect 5-star rating. I ask myself what I possibly could’ve done to deserve my demerits, yet I can never pinpoint the exact moments that knocked me down. In an age of social media and complete internet domination, it makes sense that something like an Uber rating would matter. I wish that this was something that didn’t cause me to voice my disappointment to my friends and then subsequently rack my brain for what I’ve done, but it

has been and will continue to be of concern to me.

I consider myself to be polite and very easy to please. I am the type of girl that could get the completely wrong dish at a restaurant and just not say a word. This isn’t because I’m shy or awkward and it isn’t because I’m indifferent. It’s because I just don’t feel the need to cause unnecessary problems. I have been in countless Ubers that have had all kinds of issues, yet I have never given a single rating less than 5 stars. I’ve been yelled at and scolded for buying a pack of waters because I didn’t care to drink the bathroom tap water. I’ve been hurtling down the highway at a speed

of at least 30 mph past the speed limit with EDM blasting (I actually gave this man a 5-star rating AND a good music compliment). I’ve been standing at my requested pickup spot waiting and had to track the driver down somewhere down the street or even a street over. Yet despite these small issues, I’ve always given drivers a 5-star rating because I am very easy to please and, more so, I understand that everyone is human, and humans make mistakes.

In each of these rides and all others, I’ve consistently been on time and polite. The only possible flaw that I can think of is that my friends and I might talk a little bit

loud on occasion. Still though, I’ve never been rude or belligerent like many other Uber users (no one should be rude to anyone, yet it is something that does happen).

Thus, I wonder: Why don’t I have 5 stars? What did I do wrong?

Although this article might seem like someone complaining about something that truly has no impact on their life in any way, I promise (maybe) that it’s more than that.

I’d like to take this reflection and use it to remind myself and anyone reading this of a few things: Stop being so hard on yourself about every single minute detail of your life that isn’t perfect. It is so easy to fixate on all the bad things and com-

pletely write off the good things.

A life spent being pessimistic is a life wasted. You might fail a test, your significant other might leave you, you might drop your full plate of food in the dining hall, and you might have a less than perfect Uber rating. Are any of these things the end of the world though? No. You and I and everyone else have so many things to be proud of and to be happy about. So please, read this and consider the absurdity of worrying about an Uber rating, then consider the absurdity of being negative. Always strive to be your 5-star self and live the 5-star life that you deserve to!

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The Spire

OPINIONS

April 5, 2019

“Us”: A Movie Review Tyler Christiansen ‘21 Opinions Editor Jordan Peele, writer and director of 2017’s best film “Get Out,” returns to the horror genre with “Us,” a bloody and hilarious film that tackles many societal issues at once while also being super entertaining. Let me make something clear: if you come into the film thinking this is going to be a spiritual successor to “Get Out,” you will be disappointed. “Us” has its own unique voice, but it is still clearly made by Peele. Since it is almost impossible to discuss the film without spoiling it, I am giving a spoiler warning. If you read on and have not seen the film, it will seem like incoherent nonsense.

“Us” begins with a young Adelaide (Madison Curry’s debut) at a Santa Cruz beach who suddenly sees her double in a hall of mirrors. The film flashes forward to when Adelaide (Luptia Nyong’o, never better) is married and has a family. They are on a family trip to their beach house and eventually go back to the Santa Cruz beach, where Adelaide is obviously concerned. Soon, after many “coincidences” and a power outage, the doubles of the family invade their

house and the film really kicks into gear. Peele expertly chooses to just have the doppelganger family show up at the house; since the Wilson family has no idea where they come from, the audience shouldn’t either. If he did show the audience, then he would also be spoiling

level. Like in most cases, she will probably be ignored in awards season just like Toni Collette in “Hereditary,” but that doesn’t matter; she has never been better and she doesn’t need a trophy to prove it.

Michael Abels tops himself with his score in “Get Out” with his

you will know that Jeremiah 11:11 is a recurring motif throughout the film. It reads, “Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.” The Book of

‘Photo Courtesy of Express.co.uk

Lupita Nyong’o in Jordan Peele’s “Us.” the last 20 minJeremiah also sugutes of the film. gests the worshipThe film is anchored by new, eerie score for “Us.” “Pas de ping of false idols, which in toNyong’o’s performance, who has Deux” and “Anthem” are highlights day’s terms could suggest material to play the good and “Tethered” on the soundtrack. The sharp violin riches that actually don’t enrich our part of herself. The other actors and cello elevate the film to anoth- lives at all. Along with the Hands have to do this as well and do play er level of eeriness and excitement. Across America imagery, Peele their parts well, but Nyong’o is next If you have seen the film, seems to be suggesting that the

people above ground (the Wilson family and their friends) are thinking about the wrong things and not thinking about the people below, or the Tethered. This argument is also supported when the Wilson’s family friends, who are uppity and snobby, are murdered and the blood covers the smart home device, Alexa.

The film’s most poignant moment is during the climax, when it is revealed that the Adelaide we have been following all along is originally from the tunnels underground where the Tethered live; her double kidnapped her and brought her down into the tunnels. Her double then assumed her identity and returned to her parents without them knowing it was a completely different person. This twist changes the perspective of the entire film and makes the audience empathize with Adelaide’s double, who is actually just Adelaide. I think Peele’s intent here is to show the audience that the “other” is not as bad as we make them out to be. That maybe the evil is not out there, but is the ignorance inside of us.

Foreign Language: An Essential Part of American Education Maggie Connolly ‘21 Opinions Editor Holy Cross, as well as many other universities, require several semesters of studying a foreign language. Here, most study abroad programs involve at least three or four semesters of a language in order to study in a country with a language barrier. There is a common narrative in the United States of looking down on learning a new language. They speak English practically everywhere, so we should not worry about other languages, right? Wrong.

Regardless of whether or not you choose to study abroad, studying foreign languages have benefits far beyond simply feeling more comfortable in a foreign

environment. According to Auburn University’s foreign language department, studying a language helps analytical and critical thinking skills. Being able to understand a different language and how it works trains your brain to slow down, in the same way studying math as an English major can benefit the ways you learn without necessarily directly informing your personal field of study.

On top of this, learning another language reduces cultural prejudice and provides for a greater understanding of an area of the world besides our own.

Through studying languages, we develop an appreciation and often an affinity for another part of the world. Most language courses, both in high school and college,

involve some sort of cultural education on top of simply learning vocabulary and verb conjugation.

Learning these things simultaneously gives students a connection to a new part of the world, especially those students who would not be able to travel otherwise.

Language requirements for study abroad, although cumbersome, are essential in understanding and remaining in a nonEnglish speaking country for a long period of time. Visiting a country for several weeks versus staying with a family and attending a school in the area are two different experiences. As a student living and studying in a different culture, one of the most important and impactful ways to understand and accept the culture as a whole is to

understand the language and what it means to the people of a different country. This is why schools like Holy Cross push the semesters of study they do when it comes to studying abroad in a country with a different primary language.

Even a basic understanding of the language and the attempt to use it with locals could be beneficial.

As Americans, we have a very English-centric culture. While many countries in Europe start teaching English in elementary or middle school, most American students in the public-school system start learning English in middle school at the earliest. I personally attended an inner-city publicschool system and was only offered the opportunity to take a language my freshman year of high school.

This is a fundamental problem with the educational institution in the United States and the attitude we have towards ourselves versus other nations and cultures.

Studying language and learning the language before going abroad, although occasionally tedious and can seem like another class that takes up a spot in your schedule, is a vital part of the education process. The benefits of studying language are beyond benefitting a major or an interest. Let’s start taking initiative as a nation and fully adopt the identity of the multicultural nation we truly are.

How Best to Succeed Come Exam Time Henry Noe ‘22 Opinions Editor As end-of-semester exams start to roll around, some students begin to wonder how they will be able to adequately study for everything in time for a big exam. They oftentimes ask themselves, what are the most effective ways of studying? What types of studying work best for different types of subjects? Every student possesses the will to study, however, the manner in which to study is honed after a number of exams are taken and various types of methods are tried.

To begin with the test prep, cre-

ating a review sheet of all of the material on the exam is the best way to go. In order to attack each concept one-by-one, knowing the major points of what your professor has said on each subject is a smart way to compartmentalize every facet of the exam. An important skill that plays into this is the ability to concisely outline notes.

Abstracting just the main ideas from weeks worth of lectures can be a challenge but focusing solely on the recurring points and how the various main ideas interweave with one another are great places to start.

For larger exams, meeting up

with classmates and forming small group study sessions help to condense large swaths of material into very manageable subsections. Additionally, in these groups, study tips can be shared within the group which can serve to facilitate later studying. If someone is unsure about a certain concept or question, they can ask the group and everyone will gain from listening to a potential answer in lieu of waiting for time during office hours. These study groups formulate bonds between classmates which oftentimes are not made amidst the daily rush of a student’s academic calendar.

Having the group for support and

as a means of encouragement is a strong tool for any student’s study schedule.

Memorizing, albeit arduous, is one of the quickest ways to get information mastered. Thankfully, there are a number of different ways to go about memorizing information for an upcoming exam.

Creating flashcards is the traditional route and has stood the test of time for a reason. With the technique, students can quickly correct themselves if they make an incorrect identification. Online quizzes give students the same benefits of using flash cards while also having the possibility of creating a timer

or having the site grade for accuracy, simulating real test conditions.

The key to understanding material, in addition to memorizing facts and formulas, is doing practice problems. Completing problem sets, accessing and completing old exams or practice exams, and looking through textbook problems are the ultimate key to understanding the material being tested on. The goal from this tactic is that, from doing so many problems, the different techniques being tested on will become second nature to the student, thus making the material on the exam more readily mastered.

7

FEATURES

The Spire

Features

Crusader of the Week: Edith Mensah Otabi ’19

Hometown: Worcester, MA TV or movie that you refuse to Major: Biology watch: Game of Thrones and Campus Activities: SPUD (Big Birdbox Sister at the Canterbury Elementary Favorite Book: Pride and Prejudice School), Students of Color in STEM Favorite Kimball meal: Rice co-chair, noodles Paxson lab stirfry made (worm side

by Andrea is the best Favorite side), BiolCool Beans ogy night lab Drink: It’s a attendant tie between Favorite ice chai latte Movie: and Oreo Depends on milkshake my mood Favorite but Lespot on gally Blonde campus: never fails to Fenwick cheer me up Favorite Favorite off-campus song: Any restaurant: Shania The BoynTwain song ton Favorite Favorite singer/ dessert: group: Brownie Bruno Mars with ice Photo courtesy of Edith Mensah Otabi ‘19 cream hands down Favorite Guilty color: I love Pleasure: every splash of color and oh, patWatching the Bachelor with friends terns too or strangers! Shoutout to the softball Favorite sports team: Chelsea FC players in Loyola for eventful MonFavorite sports: Soccer day evenings Favorite class taken at Holy Cross: Some small things that make your Theological Perspectives on Medical day better: When my friends tag me Ethics, Comparative Religions, Mont- in memes on social media and a good serrat, and Biochemistry II 20-minute nap time Favorite Professor: All of them First thing you do when you wake Favorite ice cream: Cookies & up: Pray and check the weather for Cream the day Item on HC Bucket List: Stargaze Last thing you do before going to on the rooftop of Fenwick bed: Set my alarm for the next day Favorite Food Truck Friday: Jaand say goodnight to my roommate maica Mi Hungry Dream vacation: Fiji island Bragging Rights: Survived college Favorite place you have traveled without a sip of coffee to: Italy Words to live by: A thing for you is Role-model: My mom never lost Something you look forward to Go to snack: Nature Valley granola when you go home: Eating Chinese bar food and watching tv with my mom Favorite TV Show: Beat Bobby Flay

April 5, 2019

7

Guest Speaker Lectures on “Aristotle and Friendship” Kelly Gallagher ’22 Features Editor

On Monday, April 1, Professor Mary P. Nichols gave her highly-anticipated lecture in Rehm Library on “Aristotle and Friendship.” Nichols, Professor Emerita at Baylor University and author of numerous books on ancient thought, spoke to the audience about Aristotle’s views on friendship and how those views are still relevant today.

Throughout history, friendship has been an integral part of the human experience, yet modern philosophical thought has rather neglected the subject. Prof. Nichols traces this trend back to the thinkings of philosophers Descartes and Hobbes. Descartes was suspicious of his sensory experiences, because they could b e an illusion, and thus any friend could be a deception.

In Hobbes’ view, the human experience was one of selfpreservation in a brutal world.

These philosophers’ teachings had no room for friendship, and thus the modern schools of thought they inspired similarly disregard the topic.

Aristotle, on the other hand, considered friends necessary for happiness, and dedicated Books VIII and IX of his Ethics to discussing friendship.

In Book VIII of Ethics, Aristotle presents the friendships within a family as models for other friendships. There are the friendships between parents and their children, husbands and wives, and siblings.

Prof. Nichols stressed that Aristotle didn’t hold patriarchal views of the relationship between husbands and wives,

but rather focused on how they brought their different strengths to the table in order to contribute to the common good of their family. Sibling friendships, on the other hand, usually stem out of similarities, such as similarities in age or interests.

Book IX of Courtesy of NYT Aristotle’s EthAristotle’s views on friendship endure today. ics reflects on the two types of getting a job or the disapof friendships outside of pointment of rejection. family friendships. There is Friends share activities, which political friendship, which is enables both parties to be “like-mindedness” amongst benefactors and beneficiaries, citizens, and then there is to give and receive, to learn friendship between human from and teach one another. beings. This latter friendship Of course, the ultimate activstems from a person lov- ity which friends share is that ing their friend because their of loving each other. As Prof. friend is good. This love is de- Nichols put it, friendship is rived from self-love, because “more about loving than beif we love our own virtues, we ing loved.” will recognize and love such Prof. Nichols reflected that virtues in others. the nature of friendship has The nature of friendship is not changed since Aristotle reciprocal, and friends must studied it. Friends still get togive to and receive from their gether to share activities, such companions. People must as playing games or talking give both their “pleasure and about life. Friendship is still pain” to their friends, because integral to the human experia friendship will come to a ence - after all, when students standstill if one friend gives prepare to go to college, one only their pleasure, while the of their major concerns is other friend is hesitant to ac- how they’ll make friends. The cept this bounty. That second subject of friendship cerfriend will want to support the tainly merits more considerfirst friend, but cannot do so ation in modern philosophical if the first friend is reluctant to thought, but perhaps no one give their pain. The first friend will contemplate it as well as must be willing, for example, Aristotle did. to share either the excitement

Peep My Crib: Loyola 516 Home to...

(Below, right) A Drake tweet and also what the kids are calling a “big mood”

Caroline Ahearn ‘20 Anastasia Papanastou ‘20

(Right) George Michael in the entryway to the room, to help us have faith, faith, faith

The Spire

8

FEATURES

April 5, 2019

More on the College Admission Cheating Scandal!

Bianca Miccolis ‘21 Features Editor

more, other schools implicated made statements regarding the notice from the Department of Education. Georgetown is “committed to an admissions process that includes a fair, holistic review of each application.” Also on Tuesday, Yale said that they were “aware

as athletes and by cheating on the standardized entrance exams such as the SAT and ACT. Wealthy families paid Singer large sums of money to either have their children recruited for teams or have them take their SATs in a controlled testing center where people like 2004

to Singer for their daughters Bella (20) and Youtube influencer, Olivia Jade (19) to be admitted to the University of Southern California as recruits for the rowing team. Since the scam’s uncovering, Olivia Jade has lost endorsement deals with Sephora, TRESemmé, and Estée

As the press uncover more about the Giannulli family, Fox News reported some other issues After 50 arrests in the $25 million involving Olivia Jade. Before the college cheating scandal, the Descandal, the Youtuber’s trademark partment of Education opened a application was denied for poor “preliminary investigation.” The punctuation. The United States Department of Education will Patent and Trademark Office rebe looking into majected her application jor universities such as requested to tradeas USC, Yale, Wake mark “makeup kits Forest University, comprised of moisStanford University, turizer, primer, conGeorgetown Univercealer, foundation, sity, the University of make-up powder, San Diego, and the make-up pencils, eye University of Califormake-up, eyeshadow, nia Los Angeles. In a eye liner, mascara, letter to USC, the Deblush, highlighter, partment stated that bronzer, make-up the investigation will setting spray lipstick survey for any violalip gloss, lip stains, tions of federal finanmake-up remover,” cial aid programs laws. which the USPTO According to Doha deemed too broad.

Madani of NBCThe form stated that News, the universities the “applicant must courtesy of CNBC and ABC12 must cooperate in “referring Olivia Jade Giannulli and Lori Loughlin are two of many high-profile celebrities involved in the College Admission Scandal correct the punctuation in any employee, agent of the the identification to clarify institution, or recipient of the individual items in the federal funds to the department’s of the investigation.” However, Harvard graduate Mark Riddell Lauder. According to a source list of goods.” However, with the inspector general who ‘may have the elite university has launched its take their exams, or have the proc- from Entertainment Tonight, the loss of endorsements, Olivia Jade engaged in fraud, misrepresenta- own investigation and has rescind- tor change their answers after they social media star is “really angry career will probably decline and she tion’ or other illegal activity.” ed the acceptance of one student completed the exam. with her parents because she told may not trademark anything. ensnared in the scandal. them she did not want to go to In a statement on Tuesday, Along with “Desperate House- college and she was pushed,” and Loughlin and Giannulli were to apMarch 26, USC responded, “We The college admissions scan- wives” actress, Felicity Huffman, feels that they ruined her career. pear in court in Boston on April 3 will fully cooperate with the DOE dal, led by CEO of Key Worldwide Lori Loughlin, best known for She allegedly did not even fill out rescheduled from their preliminary as we are with the Department of Foundation and The Edge Col- her role as Aunt Becky on “Full her own application to the univer- hearing that was to occur on March Justice’s ongoing investigation, and lege and Career Network, William House,” and her husband Mos- sity as she was against going to col- 29. will continue to comply with all Rick Singer, got students admit- simo Giannulli were indicted in the lege. laws and regulations.” Further- ted to these top-tier universities scandal. The couple paid $500,000

I Saw “Us” Two Weeks Ago and I’m SGA Senate Segment Still Scared THIS WEEK IN THE SGA SENATE:

Maggie Flaherty ‘20 Chief Features Editor

frightening twists. Although there were jump scares and spooky moments, I have to say that there was something calming about knowing I was walking out of the theater to broad daylight and no villains

Out” so much. Peele definitely tries to say something equally powerful with his second film, but this time Watching horror movies is just I think he tries to say too much, or not for me. I learned this the hard does not quite know what he wants way after too many Black Mirror to say. While fan theories are abunviewing parties freshman year dant online, some plot points (Yeah, I know Black Mirror are still left frustratingly amisn’t horror, I am just weak). biguous (you’ll know what I But I am intrigued by them, am talking about if you see so I read the wikipedia plot it). I think “Us” would be summary of every popular considered a great film if auscary movie that I have ever diences did not have the exheard of. Have you seen pectations of “Get Out,” and “The Exorcist”? I haven’t -it’s still a good film, just not as but I could definitely analyze good. I appreciate an original its narrative structure from screenplay regardless. the plot synopsis I found onMuch to my chagrin, line, or at least have a brief Peele’s movie is so laden with conversation about it with metaphors and easter eggs someone who has seen it. that it demands a second That’s all I need. This usually viewing. I could not pin down spares me from nightmares what Peele was trying to say or fear of the creepily unlit with the film, and thus my cuCourtesy of dailylobo rooms in Alumni. riosity got the best of me. I US IS SCARY. CAN’T YOU TELL FROM Yet the anticipation for was feeling fearless -- and so THE POSTER Jordan Peele’s second feature a group of friends and I went film, “Us,” was too much for the following day at 8 p.m. me to wait for twitter spoilers or a chasing me, and so I thought I con- Not a good idea. I’m still scared. leak on some movie review. quered my fear. I left with my head Please no one follow me around So I went. At 10 in the morning held high, the only thing on my this week in red. Please don’t play on a Saturday. My sister and I were mind questions about the broader “I Got 5 On It (Tethered Remix)”. one of two groups there. social commentary of the film.

I will do my part and avoid all mir“Us” depicts a family vacation “Us” has superb acting, espe- rors so I don’t accidentally catch gone awry. The family encoun- cially the impressive performance my double staring back at me. ters their doubles, dressed in red by Lupita N’yongo in her first jumpsuits and carrying gold scis- leading role. However, my sister sors. There’s not much else I can was disappointed by the film’s exsay without giving away the most ecution because she enjoyed “Get

Sub-Committee Updates Each of the sub-committees gave an update on the work they have been doing. The RSO Spotlight of the week was Laso, who is planning their annual Noche Latina event! The Speaker of the House gave her update on faculty Appreciation Month, pub night, and Working For Worcester service day.

Women in Economics This club came to the meeting and was recognized by the Senate as an RSO for next year. The club offers a community for women in the economics major to meet and discuss issues.

Bills A bill on co-presidency transparency was passed, stating that the co-presidents must publish a list of the members that they appointed to committees.

Stop by Hogan 519 on Sunday, April 7th for our next session at 8:15 p.m.!

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

Public Safety Blotter ~Eggplant Eddition~

Tuesday, March 26 The Hoval: Funky smell reported about 4 minutes and 20 seconds after the “Devil’s Lettuce on a Catholic Campus” event concluded. Officers were assured by students that the smell was definitely a skunk and nothing else.

Monday, April 1 Campus-Wide: Several officers were

stationed across campus to monitor April Fools’ Day tomfoolery.

Wednesday, April 3 Dinand Library: Several students arrested for the murder of 0.07 trees.

Thursday, April 4 Science Library: Screams of agony reported when a rising senior was unable to enroll in the only class left to complete her major.

EGGPLANT

The Spire

#1 Ranked Printer of Paper!

April 5, 2019

9

The Eggplant

50% Egg, 50% Plant Darts Team Enters 2nd Week of Slow Siege Leon D. Jensen Hoping They Stick

Today marks the fourteenth day that the Darts team has spent camped outside of the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex.

The team of 12 members has not made much progress towards gaining a practice space within the complex. The sports coaches and school administration refuse to acknowledge their status as varsity athletes, and the subsequent protests have not changed their mentality. Faded picket signs and posters lie scattered in front of

the main entrance. Slogans such as “Our bullseye lies within this building” and “Not all athletes are built like freight trains” can just barely be read on their propaganda material. The rhythmic chanting that echoed across campus has withered into a whisper, although popular student reception of ambient chanting has prompted the Ciampi community to launch an early morning Gregorian chanting workshop on the Hoval.

At the beginning of this event, the Darts team demanded to gain recognition by threatening to camp in front of Hart until their

demands were met. This passive siege started with large numbers of protesters. After two days, the people who simply enjoy shouting left, leaving a small core of dedicated students. The numbers of this brave group have slowly decreased over the course of the first week. The only noticeable decrease in group size this week came this past Monday when the two self-proclaimed co-chairs of the club disappeared. Protestors report that the co-chairs entered the complex on Monday in an attempt to open dialogue with some of the head coaches. It is unclear if they

Lyft Activity Skyrockets in Worcester Top Ranked Paper Printer to Deliver Valedictorian Speech

Seniors’ Theses Coming Along Nicely, Thank You So Much For Asking!

Years-Long Debate Put to Rest This week, the Editors-in-Chief of the Spire embarked on an act of investigative journalism that can only be described as coura-

geous. The following email exchange solves an issue that has divided the campus for many years. The Editors hope that the

student body will band together and begin to heal as a united front in the wake of this revelation.

Hello, As the investigative student journalism team on the Holy Cross campus, we have been tasked with answering a very important question that has been plaguing our student body. If you have been keeping up with the news, you will have seen countless reports of the tumultuous state of our campus climate: to put it simply, no one at our institution knows how to pronounce the name of your app that we use religiously. While we are sure that your official statement regarding its pronunciation will alienate half of our student body- and potentially discourage alumni from donating to our campaigns- we firmly believe in the importance of honest journalism in these trying times. Can you confirm the pronunciation of your app?

Thank you in advance for your candor, honesty, and patience with us in these trying times.

Tapingo initially declined to comment, but eventually followed up after much persuaion.

have been detained or if they are simply lost in the labyrinth. Public Safety has declined to comment on its suspicious lack of concern about two missing students.

The presence of this force on campus comes at a time where students are particularly anxious about athletics. The destruction of the Field House, which may or may not finish by the time the Darts team’s siege concludes, has removed a key athletic venue from the campus. The Darts team, Bocce Ball team, Pickleball team, and others have all lost practice space that has been guaranteed to them

for decades. The only other athletic space for the students that are not considered varsity athletes is the Estrogym in Loyola Hall, and the teams have deemed this space unsuitable for their purposes. No other fringe athletic team has taken a strong response to the College’s actions like the Darts team, and the worsening situation at the top of the Hill is hurting morale.

A fishbowl discussion in Rehm Library is expected to appear in the near future, which will surely lead to a great deal of discussion and no results.

Dean Murray Sends Email eMail About the Importance of Using Stylized Brand Capitalizations Overwhelming student response: why the hell did she write Uber like UBER? Students feel that eMail is a BAND-AID® to a larger problem.

The last school-wide eMail Dean Murray sent out was the announcement of the EDGE housing.

The largest concern in response to previous eMail was if the EDGE apartments would be furnished by IKEA™.

Holy Cross to Switch to Sheepskin Parchment in an Attempt to Save Trees

The Spire

10

Sports

SPORTS

April 5, 2019

Men’s Lax Picks Up First PL Win Over Navy

Jackie Hart ’19 Sports Editor Led by junior attackman Justin Lynskey with four goals and one assist, the Holy Cross men’s lacrosse team took down Navy 12-9 last Saturday afternoon for its first Patriot League win of the season.

Along with Lynskey’s four goals, juniors Kevin Kodzis, Connor Waldron and Sean Mullaney each added two apiece. Senior defenseman Matt Farrell earned Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts with five caused turnovers and five ground balls, for a running season total of 28 caused turnovers. Farrell currently leads the Patriot League in caused turnovers per game and ranks second in Division 1 with a 3.11 average.

“We had a long break between our game versus Brown and Navy,” said Farrell. “As a team, we needed to clean up some things and really polish our offensive and defensive schemes. Coach Burke and the rest of the coaches put us in a great position to win and had us physically and mentally prepared for Navy.”

The Midshipmen opened the scoring at 12:39 in the first quarter to gain their only lead of the game before the score was quickly evened with a goal from first-year attackman Will Spangenberg, faking a pass from the outside before easily sinking the shot at the 10:07 mark. With 1:00 remaining in the first, Lynskey nailed his first of the game from up top off a pass from senior attackman Drew Babiak.

Photo courtest of goholycross.com

Senior Matt Farrell was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Navy.

Waldron got his first of the game at 7:28 of the second quarter, along with another Babiak assist and Lynskey goal. Despite Holy Cross efforts, Navy outscored the Crusaders 3-2 in the second quarter which sent the teams into halftime tied at 4-4.

Babiak opened up a fourgoal third quarter for the Crusaders when he found the back of the net at 13:58 to put his team back on top 5-4. The Midshipmen evened it again, before being answered by Mullaney’s first goal of the contest and Lynskey fending off a defenseman and finding the top corner of the net to com-

plete his hat trick. Reeling from two straight Navy goals, Kodzis fired a shot from way outside at 2:10 to send Holy Cross into the final quarter with an 8-7 lead.

Entering the fourth quarter, Kodzis picked up right where he left off, giving the Crusaders a 9-7 lead at 13:59 off a Spangenberg assist. The two teams went back and forth for three scores, with Navy almost catching up before Lynskey shut it down, scooping up the rebound of a Babiak shot and finding the back of the net before Navy goalkeeper Ryan Kern could even get back on his feet. Waldron added the finishing touch with 41 seconds left in the match to seal

the deal and send the Crusaders to victory. “It was awesome getting our first Patriot League win against such a strong team like Navy,” said Lynskey. “Our offense moved the ball very well and our clears have improved so much which attributed to the victory.”

This Saturday, the Crusaders travel to Easton, Pa. to face the Lafayette Leopards for a 12:00 p.m. league contest. Lafayette is currently 0-4 in the Patriot League and 4-7 on the season, giving Holy Cross a key opportunity to get another victory and keep rolling towards the Patriot League Championship.

“Lafayette is an excellent team who always gives us a great game,” add-

ed Farrell. “ A great week of practice and working hard will put us in position to be successful against Lafayette and will give us the confidence we need moving through the rest of our opponents.”

The season so far has had its share of ups and downs for the Crusaders. Although Navy was their first Patriot League win, pitting them at 1-3 in the conference, Holy Cross has proved their skill and stamina against other powerhouse teams, including double overtime wins against both Harvard and Brown. The latter concluded with a mere 1.2 seconds left in the match before Babiak struck gold to send the Crusader crowd crazy. Although these victories were exciting and momentous, they did not add points to the efforts of the Patriot League Tournament. With four games remaining in the regular season, including Turnpike rival Boston University, each minute becomes more critical in clinching a playoff spot. “With four games left on the schedule, we are treating each game like a playoff game,” said Lynskey. “The goal all year has been a Patriot League Championship, so we need to finish the regular season strong and earn a playoff spot, starting with Lafayette on Saturday.”

You can follow along the Crusaders’ crusade to the playoffs by heading to GoHolyCross.com for links to the game broadcasts on the Patriot League network and live stats.

Strong Pitching Boosts HC Baseball

Billy Fitzpatrick ‘20 Chief Sports Editor After a difficult nonconference portion of the schedule in which the Crusaders struggled against top competition, the Holy Cross baseball team (7-22 overall, 4-3 Patriot League) has righted the ship during Patriot League play so far. Kicking off the conference schedule on March 24, the Crusaders split a doubleheader at home against Bucknell. The Bison took Game One 8-4 after shooting out to a 6-0 lead, with senior Pat McGowan taking the loss. Led by seven innings of two-run ball from senior Declan Cronin in relief, the Crusaders won Game Two 6-5 behind two RBIs from junior DH Riley Livingston.

The next day, Holy Cross again split a doubleheader, this time against Navy, to stay .500 in conference play after the opening weekend. The Crusaders dropped Game One 6-1, with all of the Midshipmen scoring coming in the first two innings and Holy Cross amassing just three hits in the contest. HC again responded in Game Two, shutting Navy out 4-0 behind eight gutsy innings from sophomore Liam Dvorak. An RBI double in the seventh from junior center fielder Austin Masel extended the Crusader lead to 2-0, and Masel later scored on a sacrifice bunt

Photo courtest of goholycross.com

Senior Declan Cronin was named Patriot League Pitcher of the Week after seven scoreless innings against Lehigh.

to add an insurance run. Dvorak was named Patriot League Pitcher of the Week for his eight-inning shutout (0 R, 7 H, 1 BB, 7 K).

After falling to Harvard in a midweek nonconference game, the Crusaders rebounded by taking two of three from Lehigh at home last weekend. Continuing a trend of the first two Patriot League series, the Crusaders dropped the first game of last Saturday’s doubleheader before responding in the second game with a win.

Against Lehigh, Holy Cross held a 2-1 lead after four, but the Mountain Hawks scored two runs apiece in the fifth and sixth innings and fended off a sixth inning HC rally to win 5-3. Livingston went 2-3 and scored three runs in the first game.

Cronin followed up his strong start from the previous weekend with seven innings of three-hit, no-run ball to go along with nine strikeouts and zero walks as HC won 4-1. The senior hurler allowed just one baserunner through seven in-

nings - a single in the fourth that was nullified by a fantastic double play by sophomore shortstop Chris Rinaldi. Rinaldi recorded an RBI in bottom half of that frame to extend the HC lead to 2-0, and junior first baseman Alex Volpi drove in another run in the seventh. Cronin allowed two hits to start the eighth, but sophomore reliever Eric Lopes limited the damage as Lehigh mustered just one run after loading the bases with nobody out. Lopes recorded a 1-2-3

ninth to seal the victory in Game Two. Cronin was named Patriot League Pitcher of the Week for his gem, the second straight Crusader to win the award after Dvorak earned the honor the week prior.

On Sunday, Dvorak built on his strong outing from the previous weekend and his teammate Cronin’s domination a day earlier with another sterling performance by the sophomore. Dvorak allowed five baserunners (four hits and one walk) across seven innings, allowing two runs (neither of them earned) while striking out a career-best 10 batters. The Crusaders led 2-0 early after RBIs from Masel and firstyear right fielder Ben Malgeri, but a Lehigh home run tied the game in the top of the fourth. In the bottom half of the frame, Volpi drove in Livingston with a single to go up 3-2. Sophomore left fielder David Kale drove in two by way of a bases-loaded single to extend the HC lead to 5-2. Another two-run homer by Lehigh in the eighth cut the Crusader lead to one, but Lopes came in relief to record a fourout save. Lopes’ two saves in the series were the first two of his career. Dvorak was named ckSmithSuperior Crusader of the Week for his 10-strikeout performance.

SPORTS

The Spire

April 5, 2019

11

NCAA Final Four Predictions Predictions:

Pat Wareham ‘20 Sports Editor

#1 Virginia vs. #5 Auburn After another action-packed month of March in the college basketball world, four teams remain in the fight for the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. Hey blue-bloods, step aside. There’s no room in this party for you Kansas, or you Duke, or even you Kentucky. Here’s how these four squads punched their tickets to Minneapolis.

This matchup will be especially interesting as the teams play with such different styles. Auburn loves to run up and down the court, while Virginia likes to play at a far slower pace. Look for Auburn to penetrate the middle of the Cavaliers defense and kick the ball to open shooters, as they did against Kentucky.

Pick: Auburn

#1 Virginia (33-3, 16-2 ACC) The Cavaliers are the sole remaining 1-seed in the tournament.

While they are certainly not as flashy as Duke, North Carolina, or Gonzaga, they are most consistent.

Following last year’s historic loss to UMBC in the first round, Virginia finds itself in its first Final Four since 1984. With close wins over Oregon and Purdue, the Cavs have proved they can perform down the stretch and hit clutch shots (see Mamadi Diakite’s season-saving buzzer-beater at the end of regulation vs. Purdue). According to BPI, they rank 2nd in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and have the tendency to wear teams down at both end of the floor. To beat them, you’ll have to hit a ton of three-pointers, but even that might not work (just ask Carsen Edwards, who made 10 triples in Purdue’s OT loss). On paper, they are the best team remaining, but we know that being the best team on paper means nothing at this point.

#2 Michigan State vs. #3 Texas Tech

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Can All-American point guard Cassius Winston lead Michigan State to its third National Championship?

#5 Auburn (30-9, 11-7 SEC) Auburn is the hottest team in the country right now, having won twelve straight. Their last loss came on February 23, against a Kentucky team that the Tigers defeated last week in the Elite Eight. They have been excellent on offense, where they love to play a fast-paced game, but their success over this stretch speaks to their improvements on the defensive side of the ball. To hold a dominant Kentucky offense to just 71 points in an overtime game is no small feat. The Tigers have beaten the best of the best to get to this point (Kentucky, North Carolina, and Kansas), so a matchup with another one seed in Virginia will not phase this team that is brimming with confidence.

#3 Texas Tech (30-6, 14-4 Big 12) Texas Tech caught everyone’s attention with their drubbing of #2 Michigan in their Sweet Sixteen matchup, holding a talented Wolverines team to 44 points. Jarrett Culver has done just about everything for Chris Beard’s squad, leading the Red Raiders in scoring, rebounds, and assists. They are the best defensive team in the country, however their Achilles’ heel has been foul trouble, as they play aggressively on defense. Offensively, Culver must continue to dazzle if they are to compete with the rest of these teams, who do not lack offensive firepower.

#2 Michigan State (32-6, 16-4 Big Ten) Cassius Winston and Michigan State claimed the biggest victory of the tournament to date with their 68-67 victory over Duke. The Spartans rank in the top ten in both offensive and defensive efficiency, highlighted by their dominant interior defense led by Xavier Tillman and Nick Ward. However, the Spartans have struggled mightily on the boards and have suffered from giving their opponents second chance opportunities. The Spartans’ offense revolves around Winston’s creativity, so teams must hone in on him in order to limit their point of attack. Easier said than done, though.

The shot blockers of Texas Tech cannot afford to get into foul trouble, but Cassius Winston is a wizard at drawing fouls. The Red Raiders are not particularly deep and have relied on their starters for the majority of their minutes all tournament long. The Spartans will make it a point of attack to challenge the Tech bigs and get to the line.

I like Michigan State in this one.

Pick: Michigan State Championship Game #2 Michigan State vs. #5 Auburn This is where Auburn’s magic will run out. Auburn has not faced a team this talented on the inside as Michigan State, and the Tiger bigs will struggle down low. Tom Izzo wins his second national championship, and his first since 2000.

Pick: Michigan State

Women’s Lax Falls to Army and Navy Maggie Flaherty ‘20 Sports Editor

CONNORS ON PACE FOR CAREER MILESTONE

Holy Cross women’s lacrosse (3-8 overall, 1-3 Patriot League) battled Army West Point and Navy last week and fell to both teams.

Keely Connors continues her path to 100 career points by notching her 20th and 21st goal of the season against Navy for 80 career goals. Connors has 1 assist this season, which adds to her career total of 11 assists, for 91 total career points. Her 100th career point as a Crusader is impending and should occur soon, providing Connors maintains her scoring pace.

ARMY WEST POINT - Wed. March 27 The Crusaders faced Army (8-3 overall, 1-2 PL) at West Point, New York, last Wednesday March 27.

Holy Cross fell 19-13. HC put up big numbers and ultimately outshot their opponent 41-38, but it was not enough to hold off the Black Knights from capitalizing on their opportunities. Army dominated the draw control, winning 21 draws out of 33, and went on a four-unanswered goal run to stretch their lead to 8-4 in the first half.

First-year Jolie Creo, junior Bryn Carroll, and sophomore Catherine Guancini each earned hat tricks, and senior Keely Connors and sophomore Izzy Grant scored two apiece.

The Crusaders have been splitting time between their two netminders, juniors Sophie Ochs and Juliana Kubler. Ochs has played 308 minutes this season, and maintains a .414 save percentage. Kubler

LOOKING AHEAD

Photo courtesy of goholycross.com

Senior Keely Connors was named Patriot League Attacker of the Week earlier this season.

has played 291 minutes and has a .456 save percentage. Kubler saved 5 shots and ten were scored on her in the first half, and Ochs saved 4 and let in 9 in the second.

NAVY - Sat. March 30 Holy Cross faced Navy (9-2 overall, 4-0 PL) last Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps national stadium

in Annapolis, MD. Navy defeated Holy Cross 22-6. Navy is ranked 12th in the nation.

Navy went on long stretches of possession during both halves.

At the end of the first half Navy led 15-3. The Midshipwomen went on to score six unanswered goals in the opening minutes of the second half to extend their lead to 21-3.

Holy Cross trimmed the margin

with 3 consecutive goals, but Navy clinched the win with its 22nd goal with a minute left in play.

Kubler and Ochs split time during both halves. Kubler made 7 saves and Ochs made 5.

Holy Cross looks forward to more Patriot League play with Saturday’s home game against Bucknell (4-8 overall, 2-2 PL). Holy Cross narrowly defeated the Bisons 12-11 last year. The following week, the Crusaders are set for an away game against Lehigh, a rematch of their first round loss in the 2018 Patriot League Tournament.

12

The Spire

SPORTS

April 5, 2019

Best Potential First Round NBA Playoff Matchups in the East Charlie Krumsiek ‘20 Sports Editor With the NBA playoffs around the corner, let’s look at potential matchups in the Eastern Conference we are most looking forward to.

5. Philadelphia 76ers vs Brooklyn Nets This matchup would make for a very interesting first round series, despite that, on paper, Philly looks like it has the clear edge. However, the season series between these two youthful squads is even at 2-2.

There is, however, a surprising +13 point differential in Brooklyn’s favor, so despite splitting the series, the Nets have played the Sixers exceptionally well. This suggests that the series could be much closer than many would expect. Each of these four games was a blowout, with each side taking one game on their opponent’s home court.

However, the Sixers’ starting lineup has changed drastically since October, and these teams have only faced off once since “Philly Five” starting lineup has taken the floor. The Nets have played well above their preseason expectations while the Sixers have about matched theirs, despite adding two All Star caliber players: Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler. The Nets are a very scrappy team that plays hard just about every night, and this has been a coming out year for D’Angelo Russell, acquired from the Lakers in 2017. He, combined with Joe Harris’ deadly three-point range, would make for an exceptionally challenging defensive assignment for Philly’s Ben Simmons and JJ Redick. The Nets also have their Most Improved Player of the Year candidate, Caris Levert, returning to his pre-injury form at the perfect time. They also have a center in Jarrett Allen who could create problems for Joel Embiid on the defensive end, as all year he has put up highlight reel blocks.

All that said, the Sixers would still be the overwhelming favorite in this series and rightly so. They may be the first team to ever have five players averaging fifteen or more points per game in a season and have pulled away with the three seed in the East. They are 7-3 over their last ten games with only one matchup with a playoff team remaining, so they should be able to give some of their stars a rest down the stretch, while the Nets will still be fighting for their best possible seed to the last day of the season.

4. Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers This is the only matchup in this article that as of today has actually lined up for the first round. These two teams match up twice within the last fifteen games of the season which should give a solid idea of how they will play each other during the postseason. The Celt-

Photo ccourtesy of USA Today Sports

Joel Embiid and the Sixers will be seeking revenge this April if they square off with the Boston Celtics.

ics stole a win with Kyrie Irving’s last second shot on Indiana’s home court. Two of the three games have been decided by less than three points, but the Celtics had a dominant performance in January, where they won by twenty seven.

The Pacers of this year have been compared often to last year’s Celtics, charmingly nicknamed the “Hospital Celtics” as their two huge acquisitions went down with season-ending injuries. Indiana’s breakout star Victor Oladipo’s ruptured quadriceps will keep him sidelined for the rest of the season. They were able to hang onto a top three seed for weeks, only slipping recently as they faced daunting road-trips and nearly a month of meetings with playoff bound teams. They win just as ugly as the Celtics of last year did and boast great chemistry, something that the Celtics have been struggling to find today.

These two teams are locked in a battle for home court in the first round against each other, with Boston currently holding the tie breaker. The Pacers are 3-7 over their last ten while the Celtics are a scarcely more impressive 5-5, so both of these teams will probably struggle to find their playoff identity as they go down the stretch. This matchup will likely be an exciting one and it appears very likely to play out.

3. Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks This matchup looks like even more of a mismatch than the Nets vs Sixers, but the Bucks have been struggling with injuries up and down their roster heading into the playoffs. They have lost their first round pick Donte DiVincenzo for the season, starting point guard Malcolm Brogdon for over a month, recent acquisition Pau Gasol for a month, and MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo has been in

and out of the line up. Blessed with good health and dominant play by Giannis throughout the season, the Bucks are the best team in the East with a historic point differential, but these injuries have struck at the worst possible time for them. This scrappy Nets team could be able to capitalize on these injuries and pull off a stunning first round upset.

2. Detroit Pistons vs. Toronto Raptors This was a tight race for the most exciting match up of the first round for me. The Raptors have been dominant on both ends of the floor and have their own Most Improved Player candidate to boast of in Pascal Siakam. They made a strong run to steal the top seed in the East from the Bucks but appear to be locked into the 2 seed, barring anything very unlikely happening to end the season. They are led by rookie head coach Nick Nurse since firing the current Pistons head coach Dwane Casey, who won Coach of the Year that same year.

Casey has shown to care deeply about beating his old team, winning all three of their matchups this season. This matchup would promise quite a bit of heat as Casey will likely have the Pistons maintaining their fervor against his former team. While the Pistons have swept the Raptors, each of these games have been decided by five points or less. Even though most 2-7 matchups in the playoffs lack much excitement, there is quite a bit to be excited about if these two teams face off in the first round.

1. Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers What else is there to say about these two teams, bitter rivals in the making (or not rivals at all, if you ask Joel Embiid). Sam Hinkie’s

Process would face off against Danny Ainge’s shrewd trades and drafting for the second consecutive postseason. The Celtics have acted as the Sixers’ older brother for the past three seasons, dominating them every time they played.

Embiid has had some of his worst

games of the year facing Al Horford, and Ben Simmons managed to put up a single point in a playoff game against them last year.

However, the little brother has now grown a foot and a half as the Sixers boast the most impressive starting lineup in all of basketball outside of the Bay Area.

The season series is 3-1 in Boston’s favor, but the Sixers’ have the most recent win and a demoralizing one at that, as the Celtics choked up a double digit lead during the second half. Marcus Smart was ejected for shoving Joel Embiid after a dirty screen which turned out to be the game’s turning point. Jimmy Butler iced the game with a few seconds left with an unbelievable bucket after nearly turning it over.

These two young cores have had some intense moments in the past and the future appears to be no different. This matchup would be without a doubt the most exciting for the first round but unless the Sixers cool off over the next two weeks, it appears unlikely. As it stands right now, unfortunately, the earliest we could see this matchup would be in the Eastern Conference Finals.