April 16, 2021

Volume XCVIII, Number 6

April 16, 2021

Worcester, Massachusetts

Co-Presidential Campaigns Speak on Why They Are Best Choice

Inside The Spire

News.......................1 Opinions.................4 Features..................7 Eggplant.................10 Sports.....................11

Davey Sullivan ‘22 News Editor The Holy Cross Student Government Association (SGA) has announced that elections for schoolwide positions will be held next week.

These elections put in place Class of 2022 Commencement Chairs, Senators at Large, Class Senators, Class Councils, and the Co-Presidents of the school.

The SGA is organized into three branches, the legislative, judicial, and executive. The Co-Presidents comprise the executive branch, the Senate as the legislative branch, and the Judicial Council as the judicial branch.

During this election cycle, all except the Judicial Council are up for election. The Council oversees this election.

The Co-Presidents of the executive branch are widely viewed as the pre-eminent position of the SGA. They represent the entire SGA governing body and are often the points of contact for students. Current CoPresidents are Noah Sisk and Victoria Tara, both of the class of 2021.

Current Co-Presidential campaigns are in full swing, and this election cycle sees Maggie Ober and Connor McNerney contend with Chris Herndon and Cole Howard, all 4

“Meet the Candidates” Goes Virtual Page 3 Graphic by Hui Li ‘21

candidates being in the class of 2022.

Both Co-Presidential campaigns spoke with the Spire on why they should be chosen to be the figureheads of the Holy Cross student body. For this, campaigns were asked to make a case putting all policy proposals aside.

The Herndon-Howard Campaign responded to the Spire on why they

are the best leaders for the school, “Servant leadership. Coming from high schools rooted in the philosophy of working for one another and the good of the community, we believe the best way to do it is through leading by example. As servant leaders on campus, we will work to positively influence any situation on campus through our hands on approach

where we work hand in hand with one another, rather than directing from above. We will put the needs of Holy Cross students first, and strive to accomplish tasks we take on with determination, pride, and an open mind.”

The Ober-McNerney Campaign responded also to why they were the best choice... CONT. ON PG. 2

Faculty to Vote on Committee’s Academic Model Hui Li ‘21 Chief Visuals Editor On Monday, March 22, the Common Requirements Steering Committee published its sixth Interim Report. The eight-page update, which the community received by email, documents the Committee’s progress since the release of Interim Report V on Monday, February 8.

Between the publications of Interim Reports V and VI, the Common Requirements Steering Committee hosted 6 community-wide listening sessions on Zoom. These web meetings happened between February 17 and March 4 and involved the Committee interacting with students, faculty, and staff. According to Professor Scott Malia of the Department of Theatre and Dance and Professor Josep Alba-Salas of the Department of Spanish, the co-chairs of the Committee, there were 42 members of the community present across the 6 sessions.

The 42 faculty, staff, and students were not the only people Professor Malia and Professor Alba-Salas spoke

Graphic by Hui Li ;21

to regarding the Committee’s work.

The two co-chairs shared in a statement to The Spire, “it is important to note that our outreach efforts so far this semester have also included visits to all academic departments and programs, which were attended by 224 faculty and staff, and the SGA Senate and Cabinet, where we talked to 59 students.”

Using the input they received through this community outreach, the Common Requirements Steering Committee create a proposal for one academic model. This revised model was derived from community feedback on the three different models they detailed in Interim Report V. The new proposal preserves the initial “supergoals” of Breadth,

Responsible Citizenship, and Competency while rearranging some of the requirements categorized under them. Most notable among these adjustments is the removal of Problem Solving and Textual Analysis from the Competency supergoal – in the new model, these have been replaced

by Oral Communication and Information Literacy. The Committee has also added Justice and Equity as a requirement for all students under the Responsible Citizenship supergoal.

Regarding these three categories, the co-chairs of the Committee stated, “The Breadth goals are very comparable to the current system, and seek to continue to support a humanistic education in the Jesuit tradition. The new Competencies and Responsible Citizenship requirements would strengthen our commitments as a Jesuit, Catholic liberal arts college by targeting areas that not only seem to be central to the College’s Mission and identity, but which we also tend to find among our comparison schools, and appear to enjoy wide support in the campus community.” CONT. ON PG 3

SGA Election Op-Eds Page 4

Catch Me at Kimble: A Q&A With Dining Services Page 8

Krispy Vaccine Page 10

MLB Early Season Notes Page 11

The Spire

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NEWS

April 16, 2021

Ober-McNerney Campaign Statement Maggie Ober ‘22 & Connor McNerney ‘22 We, Maggie Ober and Connor McNerney, are excited to be running for SGA Co-Presidents for the 2021-2022 academic year.

We have a diverse set of experiences and a clear track record of leadership. From involvement in groups such as, Pax Christi, Working for Worcester, Feminist Forum, SPUD, and varsity athletics, we will utilize our experiences to better advocate for the student body.

We hope to lead by listening and advocating for students who, for far too long, have been underrepresented. We know we can make change to improve the lives of our entire community because of our extensive experience and achievable goals.

If elected, we plan to collaborate with the administration while holding them accountable for their promises. In our position, we will advocate for the best interests of the student body, support the campaign to increase need-based financial aid and advocate for additional ways to attract low-income students to the College, and frequently attend the general meetings of individual MSOs and IBOs. We

will also commit to attending the Odyssey Program, Gateways International Student Orientation, and Passport to encourage and increase diversity within SGA. Other policies include applying for a TEDx license, adding schedules outside of all classrooms, bringing in Worcester organizations to host wellness events in the

Jo, instituting an annual ENGAGE Summit and establishing “Director of ENGAGE” as a SGA Cabinet position, requiring the SGA Director of Health and Public Safety to attend COPE meetings and meet with the Counseling Center on a regular basis, adding a Title IX liaison to the Cabinet, and providing transportation to the Worcester

COVID Vaccination sites in our first 10 days. In addition to these policies, we have developed more concrete policies which can be found on our campaign website and Instagram.

Together, we have a combined six years of experience on SGA, working in both the Senate and Cabinet. Maggie played a key role

“PRESIDENT” FROM PG. 1 ...to be leaders, “We have a diverse set of experiences and a clear track record of leadership. From involvement in groups such as SGA, Pax Christi, Feminist Forum, SPUD,

and athletics, we will utilize our experiences to better advocate for the student body. Co-Presidents work for and represent students.

We hope to lead by listening and advocating for students who feel

underrepresented.

Furthermore, with a woman in office we will provide a perspective on issues that exclusively challenge females on this campus. With our extensive experience and achievable goals, we know

we can make change to improve the lives of our entire community.”

Elections for all positions begin on Monday, April 19. These elections will last until Wednesday, April 21, when the results

Graphic Courtesy of Ober-McNerney Campain

in building the SGA Instagram presence, helped create and serve on an ad-hoc committee for the College’s presidential search and gave voice to the student body on the decision, and worked with the Office of Student Involvement to help promote myHC. Additionally, Connor has worked with the sustainable community by overseeing the composting program in the senior residence halls, working with the Environmental Task Force and finishing the Climate Action Plan, and a member of the Green Fund Review Board. As the single Student Representative on the Common Requirements Committee, he helped develop the new academic goals of our requirements that have been passed by the Faculty Assembly.

We hope to work as a team, relying on experience and concrete, feasible policies. Though we are confident in our leadership skills and ability to work as a pair, we also plan to work closely and collaborate with a highly motivated and diverse team that is dedicated to making change and representing the many voices of our Holy Cross community. We ask for your support and vote in the election so that we can truly make change.

will be announced. Elections will take place on the online platform, MyHC. All students are encouraged to vote to secure the next year of SGA representatives.

Student Government Association Senate Segment THIS WEEK IN THE SGA SENATE:

Speaker Updates

Legislation

The next Senate meeting will be on April 18th to approve RSOs that applied for re-recognition. On April 25th, the current Senate will meet to approve the budget, and the newly elected Senate will be invited for the second half to elected positions and will be in person.

S-1606 Process of Resolutions- Ensures resolutions take effect immediately after being signed by the Co-Presidents, and that Grandfather Clauses are only used if the author of the proposed legislation included it in its original form.

S-1607 Appeal Process-Expands the materials that may be submitted during the appeals process during SGA elections.

S-1608 Adding Vote of Confidence to By-Laws

Committee Updates

Stay on the lookout for more RSO Spotlights and Spot-aSenator posts. RSO Committee has approved most Re-Recognitions. Lockdown has put a hold on some Student Outreach projects, but initiatives are back on track. Emails will go out to Departments regarding pronouns in bios for faculty members.

Join us for our next meeting on 4/18 at 8 pm EST on Zoom!

4/1/2021 Minutes

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

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The Spire

NEWS

April 16, 2021

3

Herndon-Howard Campaign Statement Chris Herndon ‘22 & Cole Howard ‘22 Chris and Cole are guided by a mission that puts every member of our community at the center of their work. They know that Holy Cross can be better for all, a place where each and every one of us works together as a community.

A place where everyone feels welcomed, appreciated and connected.

Chris comes from a single family home, where he dealt with economic insecurity almost all of his life. When Holy Cross gave him an opportunity to come here, he knew it would be without his parents’ financial support. He picked up jobs selling fish, working as a construction laborer, and even refereed high school basketball and soccer. It has been a struggle to make ends meet for Chris, and that pressure has taken a toll on his mental health.

However, this has driven Chris to want to make changes, as it is his belief in the community here that drives him to do what he does, and he’s not alone. Those who are eco-

nomically challenged here at school face the same social pressure which can take a toll on mental health, and often make all of us feel left behind as we are afraid to voice our opinion out of fear of repercussions because we do not pay the full price here. That pressure takes a toll on mental health and as a campus we need to support everyone.

Cole has made it a priority in life to put others before himself.

Service and community are at the forefront of everything he does.

These values are reflected in his actions as he is a 3 time President of Hall Council, a former hospice volunteer at St. Mary’s Health Care Center and as a First-Year Orientation Leader. He has dedicated himself to helping others, whether that be in their final hours or in their first steps on the Hill. Cole has devoted his time to ensuring others have everything they need and he is willing to sacrifice his own needs for the good of others. Cole’s time on Hall Council has especially reflected these sacrifices. After having a hard time adjusting to campus

Graphic Courtesy of Herndon-Howard Campaign

his freshman year, and struggling

to find a community, Cole decid-

ed to push for change. He ran for Hall Council in Clark and won, being elected to the role of President. During that year, Cole ran a number of events both for his own dorm and in collaboration with the other first-year dorms, all centered around community engagement.

Cole ran again the last two years, and was elected President to the Carlumni Hall Council. Continuing with his mission, he successfully engaged with the community, bringing some of the largest numbers of attendees to a Hall Council event in recent years.

Together, Chris and Cole recognize how difficult it is to find community. They both struggled to find their place here at Holy Cross and they are determined to make sure no one feels the same. With mental health, the student experience, the young alumni program, and an inclusive community platform at the forefront of their movement,, we believe that together we can create a campus where every student feels welcomed, connected, and appreciated!

SGA’s “Meet the Candidates” Goes Virtual

The Student Government Association’s annual election cycle began last Friday, April 9. Students from the classes of 2024, 2023, and 2022 announced their candidacy for SGA Class Senators, Senatorsat-Large, Council, and Cabinet positions. In previous semesters, candidates have introduced themselves in a popular event known as “Meet the Candidates.” Typically held in the Rehm Library or Levi Browsing Room, the event usually draws an engaged group of Holy Cross students excited to hear about the campaign policies. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, however, SGA had to adapt the event to fit a virtual environment.

On Wednesday April 13, the Holy Cross Judicial Council Instagram featured a series of posts and IGTV videos as part of their virtual “Meet the Candidates’’ initiative for the 2021 elections. Class Senate, Council, and Senate-at-Large candidates were asked to submit a picture and an accompanying

message about why they were campaigning for election. Many of the messages detailed what candidates hope to accomplish in SGA during the 2021-2022 school year, their previous leadership experience both in SGA and in other student organizations, and individual characteristics that qualified them for their desired SGA positions. Students are able to like, comment, and share each post through direct messages as well as their personal account stories.

The most popular posts within the “Meet the Candidates” series are related to the four Class of 2022 students who announced their candidacy for 2021-2022 SGA CoPresidents academic year. Maggie Ober ‘22 and Connor McNerney ‘22 are campaigning against Chris Herndon ‘22 and Cole Howard ‘22 for the highly coveted positions. The Ober/McNerney and Herndon/Howard campaigns were both asked to record brief videos introducing themselves and their policy goals. These videos, each approximately three minutes long, were posted on the SGA Judicial

account’s IGTV page and have received over 1,500 views combined.

Ober and McNerney emphasized their combined six year SGA experience, as well as their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their campaign video.

The team shared that they both began as Senate Clerks during their first year at Holy Cross. They described their journey of working up to their current positions as CoDirector of Public Affairs (Ober) and Chair of Internal Affairs and Legislative Secretary (McNerney).

McNerney summarized their goals for the presidency, saying: “As SGA co-presidents, we plan to collaborate with the administration while holding them accountable for their promises. In our position, we will advocate for the best interests of the student body, support the campaign to increase need-based financial aid and advocate for additional ways to attract low-income students to the College, and frequently attend the meetings of individual MSOs and IBOs. We will also commit to attending the Odyssey program, Gateways Inter-

national Student Orientation, and Passport to encourage and increase diversity within the SGA. In addition to these promises, we have developed concrete policies which can be found on our official campaign website.”

Howard and Herndon detailed a wide variety of initiatives that they hope to implement as Co-Presidents in their IGTV video. Both new to SGA but established in other organizations on campus, the pair discussed the importance of increasing mental health resources for students on campus in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. “For the past three years, I have put myself through school financially which has led to an immense amount of stress and it has taken a great toll on my mental health,” Herndon said. “Many others are struggling with their own mental health after this pandemic. As students and as an administration, we need to prioritize putting resources into the counseling center, by hiring additional counselors, instituting QPR training, instituting a Pass/Fail option, instituting mental health days

as excused absences.”

Herndon and Howard described other programs they hope to implement if elected, including a review of Residence Life & Housing’s alcohol and cannabis policies, a mentorship network for young alumni, and the creation of a SGA Cabinet position that focuses specifically on first-year student experience. Herdon closed the team’s video, saying: ““Both Cole and myself are passionate about creating a community where every student feels welcomed, appreciated, and connected with one another. Our experience as students and working with students has shown that many others on campus feel that the time for change is now. We are all in this together, and it is time to believe in ourselves.”

Elections begin on Monday, April 19th, and voting ends on Wednesday, April 21st. Students can cast their vote on MyHC and are encouraged to review the 2021 “Meet the Candidates” posts by visiting @hcjcouncil on Instagram.

“COMMITTEE” FROM PG. 1 The Common Requirements Steering Committee has been looking more closely at academic models from other Jesuit institutions to create this revised model.

Professor Malia and Professor AlbaSalas wrote to The Spire regarding these changes, “Jesuit schools tend to have an Oral Communication requirement that reflects the Jesuit ideal of Eloquentia Perfecta --developing eloquence in speech and writing not just to communicate our ideas, but also at the service of the common good. Information Literacy is not something that many of our peers explicitly track, but we included it as a requirement because in our outreach meetings we often heard that it is an essential

skill to highlight in today’s day and age.”

The Committee also aims to provide all students with useful skills that they might not learn about or practice as much in their studies otherwise. “It is important to emphasize that many of our courses already target the new requirements; however, things like Justice and Equity or Oral Communication, for example, are not part of the universal student experience, so our proposal tries to ensure that all Holy Cross students will explore those areas in the curriculum. The inclusion of Justice and Equity as well as competencies like Oral Communication highlight the students’ voices in this curricular review process, as they championed

both,” wrote Professor Malia and Professor Alba-Salas.

The new model would require students to clear 18 requirements – 10 Breadth, 3 Responsible Citizenship, and 5 Competency – through approximately 11 courses. A yearlong Montserrat seminar would count for 4 requirements, with one of them guaranteed to clear one out of the two writing goals under Competency and at least one goal under Breadth. This would leave students 14 requirements to clear through 9 courses outside the Montserrat program. A student would be able to clear at most 3 goals total with a single course at most 2 goals within one supergoal.

The Committee presented this revised model at the March 30

Faculty Assembly, which was held online. As stated in the March 22 email, Professor Malia and Professor Alba-Salas planned “to obtain additional feedback with another ‘temperature-taking’ Zoom poll.”

When asked about the results of the recent survey, the Committee co-chairs stated, “It was fairly evenly distributed among people who support the proposed new model, people who are undecided and want to hear more, and people who want to keep the current system.”

Professor Malia and Professor Alba-Salas continued in their statement to The Spire, “What was very encouraging is that Faculty Assembly members wanted to have a more in-depth discussion of our proposal before the final vote

scheduled at the May 4 Faculty Assembly.” They also shared that the Academic Governance Council, a faculty group that has overseen and partly the Common Area Steering Committee since its formation in 2019, has scheduled an additional Faculty Assembly entirely dedicated to the Common Requirements for Tuesday, April 20.

In closing, the co-chairs of the Committee said about the community, “We have a bright, diverse and very engaged community, and all of us really care about the education our students receive. We may have very different views on what the Common Requirements should be, but we are all invested in making Holy Cross even better than it is now.”

Jocelyn Buggy ‘22 News Editor

The Spire

4

Opinions

OPINIONS

April 16, 2021

See What Other Students Are Thinking Around Campus...

Why I’m Voting to #MakeChange Carolyn Fisk ‘24 Guest Contributor Of the many people I have had the pleasure of meeting on campus this spring, Maggie and Connor are, without a doubt, among the most welcoming, driven, and encompassing of what it means to be a Holy Cross student. Having worked together in SGA since they were clerks their first year on the Hill, Maggie and Connor are a dynamic and motivated team.

With a combined six years of experience working with SGA, as well as their individual campus involvements in clubs, academic organizations, and athletics, they both are excellent representatives of the Holy Cross student body, and top-tier candidates for SGA co-presidency. Together, Maggie and Connor are passionate about making positive change at Holy Cross that will benefit all students.

Their campaign policies are backed by tangible solutions to real problems on campus, and include new initiatives that will ultimately improve campus life and academic experience. I cannot think of a more deserving and qualified pair to take on this role, and am fully confident in their ability to represent Holy Cross as co-presidents.

On my third day on the Hill, I met Connor through the ‘24 Connect first-year orientation program, for which he and I were co-facilitators of two groups. From this program, not only was I grateful

Eddie Euceda ‘22, Thuy Nguyen ‘22 Guest Contributors As future Co-Presidents of SGA, Chris and Cole have a strong desire and calling to bring back a belief in something bigger, a belief in the unity of the Holy Cross Community. With the importance of advocating and educating others more about mental health at the forefront of their student movement, both Chris and Cole believe it is vital, as a community, that we prioritize mental health as our top focus and that we need to destigmatize each and everyone’s personal struggles. Chris and Cole propose the following: 1) Personal mental health days counting as excused absences without administration approval 2) The devotion of more resources to the counseling center including: The hiring of a BIPOC counselor, the creation of various support groups, a 24-hour on-call in-person crisis center, and the shifting of hours to accommodate student schedules.

3) The institution of campus-wide QPR training (Question, Persuade, Refer program) 4) Instituting a Pass/Fail option for students with

to finally meet some of my classmates, but I also gained an invaluable role model and friend in Connor. Throughout the week of ‘24 Connect, he consistently put in the extra effort to make everyone in our groups feel comfortable and welcomed to campus. He gave his full attention to each group member when they shared their stories, and made an effort to form connections with each individual whenever possible. On the last day of the program, I remember Connor offering to both of our groups that anyone could reach out to him with questions or concerns as they transitioned to life on campus. As a new student who has asked for his help multiple times, to which he has consistently gone above and beyond in response, I can personally attest to this offer being genuine. Now at Holy Cross, for the first time in my life, I am at a new school without my older brother there to look out for me. Though this made me nervous during my first few weeks on the hill, those worries quickly wore out the better I got to know Connor. Even for something as small as learning how to use the printers in Dinand, it has made my transition to campus living so much easier knowing I have him there to look out for me along the way. Connor also has a great sense for the various components of our campus community thanks to his additional involvement in athletics, clubs,

four classes.

The student experience here at Holy Cross should be one that is full of excitement and growth.

However, many of our students miss out on these great opportunities because we are all very overwhelmed. Chris and Cole believe that Holy Cross should meet students where they are at. In order to do so, they propose the following: 1) The working hours of all facilities including, but not limited to, the Jo, Kimball, the Luth Athletic Complex Center, and all the libraries on campus should be extended to accommodate students’ needs.

2) Create various alternative meal plan options for students that include, but are not limited to, swipe and dining dollar flexibility.

3) The reinstitution of PUB nights on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights as an option for students to socialize and responsibly consume alcohol.

The resident hall experience here at Holy Cross constitutes an integral part of the full Holy Cross experience. Therefore, it should be an enjoyable one. Policies enforced on our campus today, such as alcohol and cannabis policies, represent a source of tension, and thus should

and academic programs. His well rounded involvement in almost every corner of campus life is a testament to his ability to connect and relate to everyone he meets, a quality that I believe makes Connor an outstanding candidate for co-presidency.

Though I only recently met Maggie on Zoom, it quickly became clear to me why she is an excellent candidate for co-presidency.

As someone who has worked extensively with SGA throughout her college career, Maggie has valuable insight on how to create and implement tangible solutions to important issues on campus. With this, she loves how SGA gives her the ability to advocate for and improve the campus experience of her peers. In my recent conversation with Maggie, I learned about her ideas to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion through SGA, such as bringing back the Engage Summit from her freshman year.

The Engage Summit was a daylong campus event during which conversations about social justice issues were held to help foster a more inclusive atmosphere within the Holy Cross community. With this, Maggie sees great value in having as much diversity as possible in SGA, as well as within Holy Cross administration. Her personal involvement in fundraising for Working for Worcester and in SPUD makes Maggie a true leader by example in terms of diversity,

equity, and inclusion. It is also especially important to have a woman as co-president of SGA because it will allow for greater recognition to be given to issues that d i s p ro p o r tionately affect women on campus.

This recogGraphic courtesy of Ober and McNerney campaign nition can already be seen in one vocating for their fellow classmates, of Maggie and Connor’s campaign and are excited for the opportunity policies, which calls for a Title IX to make a lasting impact on our liaison position in the SGA cabinet campus community. That being to better connect students with the said, they are not the type of people information and resources offered who would let this opportunity go by the office. As someone who is to waste. I believe that if they are aware of these issues as both a stu- elected, they will be working from dent leader and as a woman her- day one to fulfil the initiatives they self, Maggie will be instrumental in are presenting through their camensuring the safety and wellbeing paign. I have seen first hand how of our female classmates at Holy passionate they are about making Holy Cross a better place for stuCross.

Their combined variety of cam- dents who are here now and yet to pus activities and involvements come. Maggie and Connor’s pershow that Maggie and Connor sonal integrity and experience will have a well rounded, inclusive un- make them excellent co-presidents derstanding of the student body of SGA, and I cannot think of two at Holy Cross. It is clear that they people better equipped to take on both have a genuine passion for ad- this role and make change.

CHforHC be reviewed and rolled back to aid in fostering a more unifying and supporting community. In particular, the role of the Residential Assistants (RAs) should shift to focus more on community building through appropriate programming rather than one that is of policing and documentation. Furthermore, to ensure that all students feel adequately represented and welcomed, instituting gender-neutral housing should be welcomed. Most importantly, it should not come as an additional cost to our students.

Chris and Cole’s final focus comes in a revamped young alumni program. Over the past year, they have witnessed the grief of our graduating classes as their time came to an end. Their program will allow our young alumni back on campus to participate and to add to our campus culture. They plan to offer our alumni, who recently graduated, an opportunity for a “100 days ball,” extended access to on-campus resources, and a mentorship program between alumni and seniors who will serve as a touchpoint for postgraduate opportunities and advice.

As a campus, it is time to come together to create a culture for Holy Cross that we are proud to be a part of. When we all work together, we

are an amazingly talented group of young adults who can achieve anything we set our minds to. As CoPresidents, Chris and Cole sincerely wish for every student to take an active role in the shaping of our community. Their movement is one for the students by the students. If we all come together now, we can establish a legacy that will set the course for new generations of Holy Cross students for many years to come. We will establish a legacy in which everyone feels welcomed, appreciated, and connected. We will establish a legacy on which we can all look back on and be proud.

Therefore, both Chris and Cole humbly ask that you become a part of their team and to help create a belief in something bigger than ourselves this upcoming academic school year. Holy Cross, it is time to take back our community!

Graphic courtesy of Herndon and Howard campagin

The Spire

OPINIONS

April 16, 2021

5

What Does it Really Mean to Decriminalize Sex Work?

Maggie Connolly ‘21 Chief Opinions Editor

The Anti-Asian shooting at the spa in Atlanta in March were, in the eyes of many, a crime against sex workers as well as against Asian-American women more generally. Although there are claims that there was no evidence these women were sex workers, the man who targeted the massage parlor said he was not racially motivated, rather, motivated to dispose of the temptation the women and the business represented.

Bee Nguyen, a representative in the state legislature, commented on the crime. She said, “Regardless of what the alleged suspect in custody says or claims, the truth is it was three Asian businesses. It was targeted. It did result in six Asian women dying. And you simply cannot separate the misogyny, the sex industry piece from the racism piece,” (NPR). The truth is, this hate crime is multi-faceted, and it targets communities of people who must be protected in this country. It likewise represents a specific fetishization and commodification of Asian women. Massage parlors are often associated with sex work, and their lack of pro-

tection is glaringly evident in this hate crime committed last month.

The conversation about decriminalizing, or at bare minimum, protecting, sex workers did not begin after the horrible events of the Atlanta shooting in March. But these conversations have been around for years, and it is one many people are conditioned to not want to have.

Society, particularly American society, often refuses to see sex work as outside of the lens of human trafficking and the exploitation of children. This widespread refusal to reframe sex work outside of the lens of what many still call prostitution is an immense problem. Most of the people I have spoken to about sex work do not even know how to define it outside of an unsafe, unempowering, anti-human rights lens.

On the contrary, sex work for many people is completely empowering. (And consensual!) It allows those who participate in the industry to value their livelihood as work. There are a multitude of reasons people participate in sex work but decriminalizing the work will protect these individuals as working members of our society. Human Rights Watch describes the decrim-

Image courtesy of Teen Vogue inalization for sex work as “incompatible with the human right to personal autonomy and privacy.”

HRW also identified that in environments where sex work is criminalized, like much of the United States, police officers often harass, extort, and even rape sex workers. Without things like proper healthcare and some form of protection under the law, these women are robbed of their identity and their livelihood by police officers.

Likewise, their lack of trust in law enforcement may force them into unsafe locations and circumstances.

A lack of healthcare for sex workers is one of the most salient arguments for the decriminalization of sex work. Oftentimes because of abuse from the police, sex workers are forced into poverty and even homelessness. Tamika Spellman, a sex worker in Washington DC, told Vox that abuse, rape, and extortion by police officers have pushed her to poverty and at the time of the publication of the Vox piece in 2019, she was homeless.

Spellman’s situation is certainly not unique, as she points out.

Sex workers are vulnerable to health issues, among other things, because many of them are impoverished. Likewise, their trade lends itself to potentially contracting sexually transmitted infections, especially after a Human Rights Watch 2012 report found that “Police and prosecutors used a sex worker’s possession of condoms as evidence to support prostitution charges.” This naturally led to sex workers to tend to have more unprotected sex. Of course, this is only one policy, but the trade more generally lends itself to a need for proper, quality health care. Any ability to seek personal of medical justice after an encounter with a client is greatly inhibited by the criminalization of sex work.

If sex workers were protected, the industry would lend itself to more regulation and less of an opportunity for abuse and exploitation.

Sex work is work. And it is feminist work, at that. It is an opportunity for a woman, or any person, to empower themselves and their sexuality through their line of work. It is an industry, like many other industries, that requires protection and safety precautions, but those are impossible to access without a path to decriminalization.

The Beauty of Book Dedications

Catherine Yackira ‘24 Opinions Editor

I, like most students, have been told for my whole life that I should read more. It’s good for your brain, and it helps you focus! You can learn so many words, and it makes you more creative! I’m pretty sure there are some stats I could find that support that, but to be honest, I can’t even say that’s the most transformative thing I’ve gotten from reading. Something much more near and dear to my heart are the mysteries that many books hold.

For the longest time I was unaware of the secret letters hidden inside of books. They can be intimate and often romantic and spark dozens of questions that need to be answered.

These are hidden in plain sight, yet most people skip over them. Or, if you do read them, you might not give them much thought. A partner, a sibling, a parent, a friend, any number of people can be the recipients of this love letter written for the world to see. These “love letters” I keep referring to are book dedications. I don’t think I’m alone ignoring them for most of my life.

Whether it’s a book I’m reading for a class or for fun, I would never take the time to read book dedications.

But I’ve come to realize the beauty and mystery of them. I discovered their importance by accident when I read In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. Flipping through the publication page and the intro to find the actual beginning of the book, I stumbled upon the dedication.

“For Jack Dunphy and Harper Lee “With my love and gratitude.”

The only reason why I gave this a second look was because the name Harper Lee stuck out to me. Most students in American schools have the shared experience of being forced to read her book To Kill a Mockingbird. What I don’t think most students in America know is that Harper Lee and Truman Capote were neighbors and childhood friends, and the character Dill Harris from To Kill a Mockingbird is based off of Capote. They bonded over their love of writing, Lee helped Capote cope with his mother’s abandonment and Capote helped Lee with mental health issues. Harper Lee even helped Truman Capote research for his book In Cold Blood. She would use her southern charm to get citizens of Holcomb, Kansas, to talk to her about the gruesome crime, details Capote then used to write his book.

And Jack Dunphy was Capote’s long-time boyfriend who supported Capote’s work, even as it absorbed him and damaged their relationship.

Book dedications aren’t just filler pages in between the title page and the first chapter; they are a little piece of the author’s personal lifeand they are something all readers should look for and appreciate. So now, I think of book dedications as a sort of mystery. When I read one, I now have to do some research.

And I am never disappointed when I do. Most authors lead lives worthy of their own stories, filled with romance and tragedy. When I research book dedications, I get a

little taste of what a chapter of that exciting book might be like. So here are just a couple of my favorites.

“For Mercedes, of course.” The book Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez is a love story between Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza that spans half a century. (I recently read it thanks to Professor Stella Wang’s Modern Love course- she also made a wonderful presentation that introduced the impact Mercedes had on Marquez). This book is dedicated to Mercedes, “of course.” Very romantic, huh? Mercedes was Marquez’s wife until his death in 2014; she was his muse, the love of his life, and his biggest supporter. For over a year, she scrimped and saved them money while Marquez worked on his first book, One Hundred Years of Solitude. She would convince the landlord to give them more time on rent checks and pawned her hairdryer and blender to pay for postage so Marquez could send his manuscript to an editor.

She was brilliant and witty, and after Marquez finally finished the book, she said to him, “Did you really finish it? We owe $12,000.”

Their love story mirrors many plot points featured in Love in the Time of Cholera. Mercedes and Marquez met when she was nine, and he was 14, and from the start, Marquez was in love- he even proposed to her shortly after they met for the first time. In his book, Florentino Ariza meets Fermina Daza at a young age and much like Marquez, falls in love with her and promptly proposes. Marquez used

his gift of writing to woo Mercedes and would frequently send her letters when he was away, much like Florentino Ariza constantly wrote to Fermina Daza. But the real love letters that may have inspired those written in the book remain unread by everyone except Marquez and Mercedes; he paid her 500 pesos to get the letters back and burnt them so that their correspondence would remain private. Marquez recognized the impact Mercedes had on his writing saying, “Mercedes permeates all my books…

There’s traces of her everywhere.”

“To L.W.” The Voyage Out was Virginia Woolf ’s first published book and follows the story of Rachel Vinrace as she travels to South America and falls in love with an aspiring writer. The mystery of who L.W. begins in 1904 when Virginia Woolf moved to the Bloomsbury district of London and soon became a member of the Bloomsbury group. A group of talented writers and artists alike, Virginia Woolf fit right in. It is here that she met Leonard Woolf, a fellow writer, and intellectual, and in 1912, the two married. Their marriage was not a conventional one. After he proposed to her, Virginia Woolf wrote to him, saying, “I sometimes think that if I married you, I could have everything—and then... as I told you brutally the other day, I feel no physical attraction in you.” While Virginia Woolf never explicitly defined her sexuality, she did write that she was more attracted to women than men. Leonard was accepting of this,

and was not bothered that Virginia had a relationship with Vita Sackville-West during their marriage.

Together, Leonard and Virginia started the Hogarth Printing Press based out of their home. They published Virginia Woolf ’s writings, works of Sigmond Freud, and translations of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. Leonard was Virginia’s biggest supporter. He would be the first to read her works and would edit and praise them. From her diary, Virginia wrote, “Well, Leonard has read To the Lighthouse and says it is much my best book and it is a ‘masterpiece.’ He said this without my asking.” Virginia Woolf The Voyage Out to Leonard Woolf because of his support and understanding. There is little known about the romantic side of their relationship if there was one. But nonetheless, Leonard Woolf had a great impact on Virginia- their unconventional relationship fits with Virginia’s unconventional style.

Her stream of consciousness writing and poetic lines were revolutionary, and she worked to reinvent what the written novel could be.

Long story short: book dedications deserve more press than they get. They are a window into the author’s personal life and can give deeper insight into the works themselves. It’s a mystery that’s begging to be solved, and it’s rewarding when you do. So the next time you pick up a book, look for a dedication, and you might discover an entirely different story than what you bargained for.

Sources available at hcspire.com

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The Spire

OPINIONS

April 16, 2021

One Size Does Not Fit All Julia Maher ‘23 Opinions Editor

Some women may be familiar with the headache and selfloathing that can result from shopping for clothes. Trying on clothes can make women feel worse about their bodies and wish they were a different size, to the point that they deliberately choose a size smaller than what feels comfortable. Although men may experience this as well, it seems more like a uniquely feminist issue, considering all of the expectations that the fashion industry and our society at large places on women’s bodies, weights, and appearances.

Particularly, mid-sized and plus-sized women experience significant struggles when trying to find clothes that make them feel good about their bodies. It seems like the fashion industry makes clothes in very small sizes and straight cuts, which makes it difficult for curvy women to find clothes that fit. It seems like clothes are intentionally made very restric-

tive and constraining so that women feel like they are taking up “too much” space. In a world that is focused on making women feel small, why should we follow along with that ridiculous narrative when we have big and important identities?

In reality, all bodies are beautiful. We should not feel the need to squeeze into the smallest sizes possible just to make ourselves feel better. Although some women may want to lose weight for themselves, and that is completely okay, not everyone feels the need to do so. It is sad that we live in a world that seems to view only one body type as pretty—very skinny.

I wish that more retailers offered a

Brandy Melville, even have a “one size fits most” mantra, which only makes larger women feel worse about themselves and like they cannot fit in with the group. A wider range of inclusive sizes for their stores is absolutely crucial.

The pandemic has certainly clarified and exacerbated these issues for many women, since some people have experienced weight gain. But it has also exacerbated and caused mental Photo courtesy of The Cut illness. Due to these struggles, it is more plethora of inclusive sizes and cuts important than ever to remember of clothing so that all women felt that we are not the issue, but a like they could wear comfortable larger structure that makes us feel clothing that flatters them, and bad about our bodies. Emotional I wish that women didn’t feel so eating and social anxiety can make bad about wearing their legitimate it extremely difficult to eat healthy size of clothing. Some stores, like

climate impacts exhaustively considered. While these projects remain sidelined, America continues to emit millions of tons of carbon.

NEPA already has a feature called Categorical Exclusions (CX), which apply to federal permits or actions that do not significantly impact the environment. Federal actions in this class are implemented with minimal bureaucratic considerations. It is important to consider and mitigate the direct impacts of a new wind farm, for instance, on the local environment. But drowning projects in excessive considerations of indirect impacts only prevents Americans from building renewable infrastructure.

America needs to look at the bigger picture. While nuclear or geothermal projects, for instance, need more lengthy reviews because the risks are higher, projects such as wind and solar must garner CXs much more often. The Biden Administration can implement this change immediately.

America suffers from an in-

ability to permit infrastructure along a consistent timeline. It usually takes five to ten years to permit wind and solar projects on federal lands. The average six-year delay in beginning construction for public projects costs the U.S. more than $3.7 trillion over that span.

These costs include inefficiencies and pollution, which damage the

and exercise regularly. Now more than ever, self-loathing will only make us feel worse—we need to give ourselves grace and just be proud of how we’ve persevered this year. Just as no one particular size fits all, no mental health or physical health journey fits all people’s unique identities, needs, goals, and values.

Revising NEPA: The Pathway to a Renewable Future

William Sampson ‘24 Guest Contributor If America is serious about protecting its climate, it must cut the red tape preventing the use of renewable energy projects. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulates these sorts of projects, and requires the federal government to consider environmental impacts during any major federal action.

President Biden recently announced a multi-trillion dollar investment in renewable infrastructure. He has the opportunity to pair this funding with a new regulatory scheme to unleash renewable energy and robust infrastructure in America. A streamlined NEPA will foster an economy with a lower carbon footprint and create jobs.

While many might associate removing regulations with environmental harm, NEPA is shortsighted when it comes to the gravity of climate change. Under the guise of meticulously considering indirect impacts, the system is inhibiting America from reducing its carbon footprint. Scientists and developers must finally be able to put their renewable innovations to full use, at scale, and on time - sustainable projects must replace outdated, wasteful systems that harm our environment.

As one of our greatest assets in preventing climate change, many renewable energy projects should be exempt from lengthy environmental analyses. Currently, projects that are intended to prevent climate change must have their

gestion drastically increases those impacts. Despite this information, the Federal Highway Administration takes over six years to approve the average major highway project.

The 2020 NEPA Rule contained many popular, bipartisan features that the Biden Administration should expand to permit renewables faster. The One Federal Decision (OFD) policy, for instance, creates a unified committee and schedule for multiple agencies and stakeholders in order to establish clear deadlines and expectations for major infrastructure projects. When paired with Photo courtesy of ERO Resources the Federal Permitting Improveeconomy and the environment. ment Steering Council, a transAll Americans can agree that parent dashboard for project decrepit power grids, highway traf- updates and timelines, OFD fic, and faulty transmission lines became a formidable force for are bad for everyone. America’s ob- completing permits quickly. solete power grid annually wastes Similarly, the 2020 NEPA Rule the same amount of energy as 200 allows agencies to exercise their own coal-burning power plants, yet discretion over timelines and docuAmerica doesn’t improve the sys- ment organization. Instead of betem. Transportation accounts for ing bogged down in environmental more than a third of GHG emis- documents that can exceed fifteen sions in the U.S., and traffic con- thousand pages, agencies may now

defer detailed analyses of specific programs. This is called “tiering,” and it saves agencies countless hours as they evaluate potential environmental impacts. By building upon these common-sense reforms, the Biden Administration can ensure a NEPA process with clear timelines and points of accountability.

To enact these goals, President Biden should sign a new executive order. He must order the White House Council on Environmental Quality to draft a new NEPA Rule, to explore additional CXs for renewable projects. Agencies themselves should administer new guidance for streamlined, programmatic analyses. Finally, the directive must provide additional funding and support for the OFD policy and team, along with the permitting dashboard. Environmental reforms are often controversial, but with a refined, bipartisan framework, the environment and the economy can both benefit.

William Sampson is a member of the American Conservation Coalition, former White House Council on Environmental Quality Intern, and college freshman studying political science and environmental science at the College of the Holy Cross.

The Spire

FEATURES

Features

Crusader of the Week: Mia Beviglia ‘23 Name: Mia Beviglia breakfast Class Year: 2023 Favorite Cool Beans Drink: A Hometown: Scranton, Pennsylvania milkshake on a late night of studying Major: Music and Classics with friends!

Campus Activities: SPUD, College Favorite spot on campus: Brooks Choir, Chamber Music Library Music, Liturgical Favorite offMusic Ministry, campus restaurant: Tour Guide in Boulevard Diner Admissions Guilty Pleasure: I Favorite Movie: used to religiously Mamma Mia watch Dance Moms Favorite song: Some small things “Levitating” by that make your day Dua Lipa better: Eating meals Favorite color: or spending time Blue with my friends, Favorite sports sunny days outside, team: I love and seeing some watching the of my music major UConn women’s friends in Brooks basketball team Music Library (Paige Bueckers First thing you do is a beast) when you wake up: Favorite class Text my parents and Photo from Mia Beviglia ‘23 taken at Holy my grandparents Cross: MytholoLast thing you do gy with Professor before going to Andrews! bed: Usually talk with my roommate Item on HC Bucket List: Going to and say some prayers before falling as many restaurants in Worcester as asleep possible Something you look forward to Embarrassing HC Moment: I got when you go home: Seeing my famhypnotized at a show in Crossroads ily, friends, and cat, Martha my second week on campus Post-Graduation Plans: I want to Words to live by: Treat others the teach Latin at my former high school way you want to be treated before I go to graduate school for One thing you would change at music!

HC: For dining options to have more Favorite memory at HC: Choir extensive hours Week, which is the week before the Favorite TV Show: Psych semester begins, in which we prepare Favorite Book: Me Before You music for the Mass of the Holy Spirit Favorite Kimball meal: A Bacon and and Fall Convocation. I met some of Cheese Omelet and Breakfast Potamy best friends that week! toes makes for the perfect Kimball

April 16, 2021

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“A Return to Hope and Healing:” The Role of Art in Pandemic Bridget Flaherty ‘21 Features Editor On Wednesday April 7th, the McFarland Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture sponsored a discussion between three art historians which focused on the role of art during the COVID-19 pandemic. “A Return to Hope and Healing: Seeing Our Way Through a Crisis of Our Time” references the College’s 2005 collaboration with the Worcester Art Museum on an exhibition titled Hope and Healing: Painting in Italy in a Time of Plague, 1500-1800. This event is directly related to the original exhibition, as it focuses on artwork created during a pandemic.

The three art historians engaging in this event hail from both Holy Cross and the Worcester Art Museum. James A. Welu is the Director Emeritus of the Worcester Art Museum, Meredith Fluke is the Director of the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery here at the college, and David Karmon is a Professor of History of Art and Architecture here as well. The event was moderated by the Director of the McFarland Center, Thomas Landy.

Dr. Welu begins the event with a quick presentation about the original Hope and Healing exhibit, providing important information and context to the current audience. The

original exhibition explored the effects of the plague on the baroque period and ultimately showcased t h e Screenshot from College of the Holy Cross’ YouTube Channel perseverance that immediacy with which one can Italy showed as they dealt with this challenge. encapsulate an image through a This collection showcases the camera, but Dr. Welu reminds human experience during a pan- us that that is not the only way demic and emphasizes the role to depict a moment or a story. that art plays in constructing the He imagines a future exhibition history of a time period. This pre- about COVID-19 and ultimately sentation begins the event with a concludes that this exhibit would sense of poignancy through the probably focus on the scientific immediate connections between challenges and advancements that defined this time period. the past and present.

This event reminds us The discussion between of the importance of art in telling Dr. Welu, Dr. Fluke, and Professtories, constructing histories, sor Karmon further explores this and communicating the human sense of profundity, as they grapexperience.

It underscores the ple with questions about art and importance of hope and ponders exhibitions in the digital age, the magic of art, the pros and cons of interesting questions about the photography in capturing the es- role of art today, in the past, and sence of a time period, and more. in the future. If you’re interested The conversation about art dur- in viewing the event, a recording ing the COVID-19 pandemic fo- of it can be found on the College cused on the role of photography of the Holy Cross’ YouTube acin capturing images. There is an count.

The Return of Cheer at Fitton Field Caoline Wallace ‘23 Features Editor Last spring, when the pandemic sent everyone home from school, the competitive season for Holy Cross’s cheer team came to an abrupt stop. The cheer team had been preparing all season to finally being able to compete at the NCA Nationals in Daytona Beach. As Captain Katie Vanasse ‘22 put it, “the most crucial part of our season was impacted. We were unable to compete at Nationals in Daytona in spring of 2020 and 2021.” Captain Molly Murphy ‘22 stated that it has been more difficult for cheer to return to a normal season due to the fact that “one of the main components of cheer is stunting and since that requires close contact.”

However, being able to finally cheer at the recent home football game was a “breath of fresh air” for Vanasse. Murphy shared the same excitement as Vanasse, but also explained some of the obsta-

cles the cheer team faces because of the COVID guidelines.

At the recent game, “we were required to cheer in the bleachers on the opposite side of the field from our home team, whereas we normally get to stand directly on the sidelines of the field.”

For the cheer team, these COVID-safe guidelines presented them with the challenge of attempting to still keep the fans engaged while remaining so physically distant from them.

Other challenges included adjusting their normal routines that require close contact such as stunting and dancing.

Because of the ongoing pandemic, the future of the cheer team and its competitive season remains uncertain. However, the two cap-

that will allow us “to have a regular practice and game schedule.”

Vanasse included that she missed “the sense of community we gained from being part of the team.” However, the cheer team being able to participate in the most recent home football game offered the Holy Cross community some positivity in the midst of the pandemic. Their ability to cheer with COVID-safe precautions brought excitement to the team and gave them the sense that they may be able to finally practice, compete, and cheer together on a regular basis in the near future.

Photo and Graphic by Valentina Moran ‘23

tains remain hopeful that next season will look more normal.

Murphy remarked that “depending on the state of the pandemic, stunting still might not be allowed since it requires such close contact,

but I have hope that we’ll get back to a regular schedule once the next academic year begins.” Captain Vanasse hopes that more students becoming vaccinated will also bring more normalcy to the team

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The Spire

FEATURES

April 16, 2021

Catch Me at Kimbie: A Q&A with Dining Services Nicole Letendre ‘21 Features Editor Throughout the pandemic, students on-campus have been adapting with each new COVID update and regulation, trying to maintain friendships and academic success. It’s no easy feat, but a constant throughout has been Kimball Dining Services, providing food to students on-campus, as well as those in isolation. As a department, they’ve had to adapt with the constant changes of the pandemic, while keeping their commitment to students in providing a wide range of meal options. I recently had the opportunity to extend questions to the Dining Services team, and I received collaborative answers from Linda Nardella, the Director of Dining Services, Neil Domina, the Assistant Director of Residential Dining, and Talia Spirito ‘ 21, Kimball Student Organizer.

Q: How has Kimball had to adjust to accommodate COVIDsafety precautions during this unconventional semester?

Although Kimball and all Holy Cross Dining operations had to make adjustments to align with COVID-safety precautions this semester, according to Linda Nardella, director of Dining Services, the goal was to keep things as “normal” as possible for the students. One example of this was the salad bar.

Many dining programs across the country eliminated salad bars from their dining halls. Knowing this was a staple for many Holy Cross students, Dining Services found a

Photo by Valentina Moran ‘23, Graphic by Hui Li ‘21

way to adapt the salad bar to meet COVID guidelines.

Q: What has been the most challenging aspect of this semester within Dining Services?

Anticipating the future! “One thing we’ve all learned this year is to expect the unexpected,” says Nardella. “We don’t always know what’s coming next, but the Dining team is great at making changes on the fly”. This could mean moving the heavy Kimball tables around to accommodate more in-person dining or converting the pasta/pizza area into a second Classics station

to reduce lines on popular nights.

During this time, Dining Services has also been responsible for taking care of the students in Isolation & Quarantine. “We wanted to ensure that students in I&Q were as comfortable as possible during their stay in the hotel,” says Nardella. This meant not only providing meals but going a step beyond to create an order form that allows students to choose a daily menu tailored to their own personal tastes and dietary needs.

Q: How would you describe

the spirit of student workers and Kimball Captains?

Talia Spirito ‘21 Kimball Student Organizer says, “Student workers and Kimball Captains uphold some of the best qualities of Holy Cross students. For them, everything centers around the community they make on their shifts.

Going into Kimball is not just work, but a chance to interact with other students and with career staff.

They are hardworking and care about the work they do as much as they care about the people with whom they work. Our captains

especially understand the sense of community in Kimball and they become close friends throughout their time together. There is a readiness to help and an eagerness to form bonds that characterize our student workers and Captains.

They, along with our career staff and managers, help to make Kimball a welcoming and fun environment for everyone.”

Q: What is one thing you are looking forward to seeing within Dining Services, as the semester progresses, or even into the fall of 2021?

We’re in the process now of preparing for the summer and fall. “Since we don’t know for sure what the guidelines will be, we’re making a few different plans so we’ll be prepared for anything,” says Neil Domina, Assistant Director of Residential Dining. The plans are similar to the College’s color-coded system. Having an idea of what Dining Services operations might look like in Orange, Yellow or Green status allows the department to adapt quickly.

Despite the restrictions on campus, especially when in Orange, Kimball Dining Services has remained loyal to its students, working hard to constantly provide great meal options. As always, a huge thank you to all the Kimball staff who work hard each day, and thank you for these great answers and insights!

Arts Transcending Borders: Massively Distributed and TimeSlips Devyn Forcina ‘22 News Editor Arts Transcending Borders has been engaged in many exciting projects so far this semester. Kevork Mourad’s immersive “Memory Gates” installation at the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery was on view from March 4 until April 11. As the semester nears its end, ATB continues to pursue projects such as Massively Distributed and TimeSlips, which I had the opportunity to discuss with Lorna Doherty ‘22, the Media and Documentation Coordinator at ATB. Massively Distributed, an instrument created by Boston-based MASARY Studios, enables “anyone to create artwork that allows for connection to others and place.”

Students can submit audio and video clips of campus, and create their own compositions. The goal

of this site-specific project, Doherty tells me, is “to embody what Holy Cross looks and sounds like right now, and to create a shared experience of campus and community.”

Submissions will be accepted until April 18. Once they are all received, submissions will be projected on the new Prior Center for Performing Arts building. There will be three sessions “for students to come and watch their creations or their friends creations” at a to-be-determined date.

Arts Transcending Borders is also collaborating with TimeSlips in a project that Professor Beard’s Montserrat class is working on. Past Montserrats have done this project,

Screenshot taken from ATB’s YouTube page, screenshot by Hui Li ‘21

although this year’s is an “altered creation to adapt to a virtual platform.” Students are paired with residents, also known as the “storytellers” of this project, at St. Mary, St. Francis, and Medway Manor assisted-living facilities,

many of whom suffer from Alzeheimer’s or memory loss.

This specific TimeSlips project is called Beautiful Questions.

“The beautiful questions asked are open-ended, so the storyteller has

freedom and creativity. They are meant to take control of the narrative.” Students ask their storytellers abstract questions, for example, about the scents that remind them of summertime. “They have explicit permission to be imaginative.”

The storytelling sessions, held on either phone or video calls, occur over the course of ten weeks.

Up to seven of these narratives that students transcribe will be made into shadow-puppet shows of the narratives. Their final performances will be shared with their storytellers. “Other TimeSlips projects will potentially continue through ATB, CBL, Montserrat, and other departments.”

The Spire

FEATURES

April 16, 2021

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“10x10: Ten Women, Ten Prints” and Interview with Alyssa Stone ‘22 Grace Bromage ‘23 Chief Features Editor Although 2021’s Women’s History Month is over, the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery has not forgotten to honor the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage through their current display of “10x10: Ten Women, Ten Prints”.

As the title says, this collection is composed of prints created by ten women artists of varying ages, ethnicities, and struggles. The prints were originally published by the Berkeley Art Center in 1995 for International Women’s Day and are now a part of the Cantor Art Gallery’s permanent collection. The uniting factor amongst these pieces is the strength and creativity of the women artists who created them.

I had a chance to speak with Alyssa Stone ‘22, the student research assistant for this collection.

Under normal circumstances, Stone is a gallery assistant at the Cantor Art Gallery. Stone is passionate about many social justice issues and said that “towards the end of the spring 2020 semester, [Assistant Director Paula Rosenblum] and [Dr. Meredith Fluke] had reached out and asked if I wanted to take part in this opportunity, as they thought my passions and interests would appropriately lend themselves to this project.”

When asked about her responsibilities, Stone said that, “I was tasked with doing research on the backgrounds of the ten artists.

To get a better sense of their style and inspiration, I watched videos,

Photo taken from Cantor Art Gallery’s Facebook Page

looked at their other pieces, and read any interviews. I really wanted to understand the makers in order to fully process their prints in the 10 x 10 exhibit and see how their pieces not only contributed to the theme of empowerment throughout the exhibit but also how these specific prints fit into the artists’ individual portfolios as well. Once I had done this research, I began writing the introduction text for the exhibit, and the labels for each print. Rosenblum and Fluke are both well versed in this style of writing and deciding which information needed to be included, so they had provided me with examples and helped edit the drafts of

the text I had written. ” One difficulty that Stone commented on was that “when researching the artists, there was a large disparity in the information available about some of them. It made it more difficult to learn more about the contexts of some of the pieces and the artists themselves. I eventually found all the information I needed, but it was still challenging at times.” However, Stone did enjoy her work and claimed that one of her favorite parts was “just observing and absorbing the works. I am an artist myself, so examining the techniques and emotions that each print encompasses was very inspiring. Each print has a different

connection to womanhood and the various communities that fit within identifying as a woman, so it was beautiful to see which pieces I related to myself, and also sit with the feelings and emotions of the pieces that I connected with even if I did not necessarily relate to its meaning.”

Stone’s favorite print in the collection is Homenaje a Dolores Huerta from Women’s Work Is Never Done by Yolanda M. López.

Stone commented that “the image itself is beautiful, but I actually have a special connection with it from when I first saw it. Last spring, on the Friday as everyone was packing up and heading home due to the

COVID pandemic, I was covering a shift in the art gallery so some other students could focus on packing, and it was during this last shift that I noticed López’s print hanging on the wall between the gallery and the Bursar’s office. I took a picture of it with my phone, and actually posted it to my Instagram story because something about the piece resonated with me. I am not a Latina woman, or an immigrant agricultural worker like the powerful women depicted in the photo, but I related to the feeling of ‘A woman’s work is never done.’ This print, for me personally, helped me articulate the importance of this entire collection because even though I can only try to understand and empathize the struggles that other women go through, the power that women have is something that connects us. It was also a reinforcement of concepts that I already knew. As a woman, the are universal struggles, but I recognize the privilege I have as a cis white women, and how it is important to use these privileges to try to help all women, regardless of but accounting for the intersections of their identity and struggles they face because of them.”

“10 x 10: Ten Women, Ten Prints” will be available to view at the Cantor Resource Gallery through May for all those who are interested. The Cantor Art Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

Upcoming Events Voting for the SGA Election begins on Monday, April 19th and ends on Wednesday, 21st Farmers’ Market on Sunday, April 18th from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the Hoval, presented by H.C. EcoAction “Theory of Relativity” by Neil Bartram and Brian Hill, streaming from April 15-22 presented

by Alternate College Theatre “A Conversation with Paolo Parisi” on Tuesday, April 20th from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on zoom, presented by the Holy Cross Libraries

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The Spire

The Eggplant April 16, 2021

The Eggplant

True Stories about Real People Student Artist Makes a Commo- 10 Amazing Things To Do With Your Holy Cross Lawn Chair tion, Fire Department Called Matthew Anderson ‘21 Has the Makings of a Varsity Athlete

Michael Vail ‘24 Freelance Reporter Prodigy Saturday, April 10, 2021, 7:23 p.m. Kimball Hall is roped off from the rest of the campus and firetrucks swarm the area. Starving students beg acquaintances for usage of their remaining dining dollars. Panic ensues.

Hello folks, this is a broadcast live from Kimball, and boy do I have a story for you!

Some of you who reluctantly choose to eat at Kimball may have heard about the situation that A picture of Justin scaling the building, taken by a Kimhas been occurring over the past day. But how ball employee, who claims it was “the most entertaining thing [she’d] seen all day”. exactly did it escalate to this level of commoPhoto courtesy of College of the Holy Cross (edited by tion? I’m here with sophomore Kimberly Halls, Michael Vail ‘24) who claims to have witnessed the catalyst of the whole ordeal. Tell me, Kimberly, what did you was saying, he needed a closer view. This was two see? The whole world is watching. hours ago. Then, just a half hour ago, several of “Well, I came by the dining hall at around us could see him scaling the wall of Kimball. It 1:55 p.m. to get some soggy fries before my 2 p.m. was a fascinating sight, but equally terrifying. He class. There was a guy, right there on the stairs—” didn’t have rock climbing gear or anything—just For all our listeners out there, Kimberly is cur- a sketchbook and a dream.” rently pointing to the stairs. Apologies, Kimberly, Thank you for speaking with me, Kimberly. please continue.

Now you all know the deal. But what do the pub“Of course, so he was right there on the stairs, lic think about this kind of behavior? I’ve manholding a sketchpad. He was sketching in the aged to interview one of the firefighters at the sketchpad very intently. It was kinda sketchy. I scene, who would like to share his thoughts. had never seen anyone do it before, so I glanced “Yeah, we got the call when someone noticed over and saw him drawing Fenwick Hall.” him nearing the top of the building. Kid climbs Is that so? That doesn’t sound too disruptive. fast. We got here fairly quickly, and after we manWhat happened next? aged to navigate the campus without hitting more “So you see, I came back later to get a packet than a few drunk students, we arrived at the scene. of ketchup for my half-eaten soggy fries, which We had to close the dining hall early and restrict I had microwaved twice more to achieve optimal the entire area. At the moment, we’re trying to sogginess. On my way there, I noticed a line of safely bring the kid down, but he’s resisting. One cars outside the building. The guy had placed a of us heard him shouting, ‘I needed an aerial circle of orange traffic cones in the middle of the view!’ while he furiously drew in his book. I want road, blocking any vehicles from passing through. to make it clear that these kinds of actions are I went over to him and introduced myself, actu- dangerous and should be discouraged.” ally—his name is Justin—and he told me that he Thank you, sir. As you can see, not everyone ‘needed a closer view’—” supports the actions of our starving artist. HowFor all our listeners out there, Kimberly is mak- ever, as I head back to my dorm now, I must note ing air quotes with her fingers. Sorry, Kimberly, that there is a cheering crowd of students who please refrain from making gestures in the future. seem to admire the artist’s bravery. They have colI don’t like interrupting you, trust me, but our au- orful banners which read, “We love you, Justin!” dience can’t see your actions. and “We didn’t want to eat here anyway!”

“I... um, alright. As long as I still get paid. As I

An Untimely Fall Julianna Mariani ‘24 Fallen from Grace For this week’s Spire article, I had the pleasure of interviewing a Holy Cross freshman who recently had an untimely encounter with the steps of Clark. Sandra Der was on her way to her only in person class of the semester when the mishap occurred.

“I was in a bit of a rush to meet my friend so I was hurrying down the steps outside my dorm when I wiped out.”

When asked if she fell “forward or backward” she answered with “a little bit of both.”

No one was around to see it happen though, which was a win in Der’s book. She claims that if her friend had turned the corner just a moment earlier she would have witnessed the incident and laughed her head off. The friend (who politely asked to remain anonymous) attested to this by saying, “Yes, I would have thought it was the funniest thing.” After all, what good are friends if they don’t laugh a little after you fall before helping you back up.

What’s ironic though, is the timing of this fall. We all remember that night when the entire campus was a sheet of black ice. In fact, I heard of quite a few people who fell that night. But on that beautiful spring morning, with no ice in sight, Sandra Der went sprawling. She was a real trooper though, didn’t even complain of the pain until after she had walked on it for three hours. To class, to Kimball, to the Jo, and back to Clark. For such a small campus, we seem to have done a great job in making sure the freshman get a fantastic

amount of walking in every day. No freshman fifteen on this hill, that’s for sure!

After blowing her ankle up to the size of a small balloon, Der decided it was time to visit the lovely staff at health services. She declined the use of a friend’s sled, (left over from the snow) and courageously trekked down to Loyola on her ankle once again. During the visit she was informed that she had suffered a terrible sprain and would have to go to the hospital for x-rays if the swelling didn’t go down. She was graciously given an ‘unused’ boot and a decent amount of ice packs and sent on her way.

“They even offered transportation services, but I declined, much to my friends’ dismay.” Der commented. She further explained by saying her friends would have enjoyed the free transportation more than she would have.

When asked why she didn’t receive crutches, Der responded by quoting the nurse practitioner: “Crutches are useless on this campus.”

Evidently, going to school on a ‘mountain’ has its pros and cons.

Thankfully, Sandra Der has since recovered from her fall and doesn’t even have to suffer the embarrassment of a boot anymore, which is “worse than having a sprained ankle” in her humble opinion.

Sometimes real-life events are stranger than anything we can come up with here at The Eggplant. According to a survey by J.D. Power, last month, Holy Cross became the second-largest furniture retailer in the nation (behind Ashley Furniture Home Stores) after giving every student a lawn chair. This led to many large, intimate outdoor gatherings that have been a possible contributor to a COVID-19 surge on campus (though let’s not let anyone off the hook who decided to spend Easter in Florida). Now, with an extension of the Orange Alert and other imposed restrictions--most tragically, in a paradoxical twist, outdoor gatherings have been nixed, leaving the disbursed chairs gathering dust. As a result, we at The Eggplant have decided to draft up a list of ten amazing things you can still do with your H.C. lawn chair, all from the safety of your dorm!

1. Sit back for a game of indoor Stickball!** Or whatever that tradition is that the Holy Cross wiki still claims we do.

2. Hoist all the lawn chairs you and

your roommates have siphoned from the College onto your back and work out by going up and down the dorm stairs. Hope people notice how many you’re carrying. Grandma was right, you are becoming a big strong boy.

3. Throw on a snapback, 5-inch inseam shorts, a tank-top, slides, and sink into your chair from the comfort of your dorm room, pretending that in a few week’s time you’ll be down the Cape. Pensively snap back to reality and weep.

4. Win a Darwin Award by trusting one of them enough to stand on it to get something just out of reach.

5. *Suggested by Father Boroughs* In lieu of physically going to Mass, tune into the livestream from the comfort of your H.C. lawn chair. The lawn chair’s small size and uncomfortable shape were actually inspired by the pews in St. Joe’s! Close your eyes and it’ll feel like you’re there. ** Preferably in an area with a lot of windows, we don’t want you guys damaging the walls with your antics.

Krispy Vaccine Mario Micallef ‘22 Sponsored by Crayola [Krispy Kreme Drive-Thru, Conway Arkansas, 5:35 A.M.] [A tan 1999 Toyota Celica pulls up in front of a green and red picture menu display and speaker.]

Woman In Speaker: Hi there!

Good Morning! Welcome to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts!! My name’s Patty. How may I help you today?

Jet: Hi. I’m here to get ma free donut.

Patty: How exciting! You got vaccinated! I will be more than happy to provide you a free glazed donut because of what you have done to help end the spread of Covid-19 by getting vaccinated. Please pull forward and provide your vaccination card at the first windJet: Say what? What’d you say now?

Patty: Please pull to the first window and have your vaccination card ready.

Jet: Whatchu on about Miss Menu? I brought my vasslean just like the ad said. ‘Free donut with proof of your vasslean.’

[Jet holds up a tub of Vaseline out the driver’s side window.]

Patty: I am sorry Sir. I don’t know what you mean by ‘vasslean’. I can’t quite make out what you have in your hand. All you have to do is provide proof of your vaccine.

Jet: Jesus I am. Look. I’m hungry too. Here. Here’s my vasslean.

[Jet scoops two finger tips full of Vaseline out of the tub and holds it out of the window.]

Patty: Sir. No. The promotion is. OK. The promotion is for -and you can go ahead and put

down the Vaseline- getting the Vaccine. The Covid-19 vaccine.

Jet: Listen here Patrick.

[Jet wipes the large scoop of Vaseline on his driver-side door and puts the rest on his lips.]

Jet (while applying the Vaseline): I don’t care what day it is. I just want my free donut.

Lady on the play box in ma car told me I’d get my free donut if I showed you my vasslean and now your givin me problems. You don’t want to give me problems.

Patty: There’s no problem Sir. Again, I will be happy to give you one of our fresh warm glazed donuts, free of charge, so as long as you provide proof that you have gotten the Covid-19 Vaccination.

Jet: So you’re tellin me, alls I gots to do is get a shot and I get my free donut.

Patty: That is correct. Is there anything else I can get you today, Sir? [There is some silence as Jet thinks on this for almost 45 seconds.]

Patty: Sir? Are you there?

[Jet peels off over the green cement island median to the right of the drive-thru.]

2 Hours Later Patty: Hi there! Good Morning! Welcome to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts!! My name’s Patty.

How may IJet: Here to get ma free donut.

Got my vaccines.

Patty: Welcome back Sir. If you have your vaccine card please pull forward.

Jet: Yes Ma’am.

[Jet’s ‘99 Celica chugs forward to the window. He digs into his wallet.]

Patty (leaning out of the window): Hi there.

Jet: Got my vaccines. Give me my donuts.

[Jet lifts both of his t-shirt’s sleeves up, exposing 6 bandages on each arm.]

Patty: Sir! I don’t appreciate this kind of foolery. Anybody can put 6 bandages on their arm and claim they got the vaccine.

Jet: Don’t believe me? Fine.

Here are my cards. Now give me my donuts!

[Jet pulls out a dozen white vaccination cards and holds them out like a poker match (all with the various Covid-19 Vaccines).]

Patty (leaning out the window even more): Sir! Good Lord!

I, I, I don’t know what to say.

I guess there’s no faking that.

You’ll get your donuts alright.

Pull up to the second window.

Jet: Thank you, thank you.

[Jet pulls forward to the next window. He grabs the box of a dozen glazed donuts.]

Second Window Man: There you are, Sir. Will there be anything else?

Jet: Yeah. Y’all can have these.

[Jet throws the vaccine cards at the Drive-Thru window and peels off. Some of the cards make it into the restaurant, others fall to the ground. The Second Window Man holds up 3 of the cards. They read: Modern Vasslean, Oct 19, Jet Mclenan, One Dose Phizer Vasslean, Oct 19, Jet Mclenan, One Dose Jon’s Sons and Jons’ Son, Oct 19 Jet Mclean, One Dose Second Window Man: I didn’t know peoples was still usin crayons to write too.

The Spire SPORTS April 16, 2021

Sports

11

MLB Early Season Notes

Mike O’Brien ‘23 Chief Sports Editor We’re just about two weeks into the MLB season, and there’s already plenty of storylines to unpack as the MLB settles into its regular 162 game season after last year’s was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

New York Underperforms

After the Yankees suffered a disappointing loss in Game 5 of the ALDS last season with their loaded roster and the Mets having a very eventful offseason with Jeff Cohen taking over as owner and bringing in Francisco Lindor, Kevin Pillar, and Carlos Carrasco, these cross-town rivals had high expectations coming into the season. However, as of right now, the Yankees sit at 5-6 and the Mets are at 4-3. It’s worth noting that although the Mets are at the top of the NL East with their record, the division is shaping up to be relatively weak as the second place Phillies are 6-5 and the third place Marlins are at 4-6. While it may be too early to panic, the story remains the same for the Mets. In his two starts this season, Jacob DeGrom has pitched 14 innings, thrown 21 strikeouts, and only allowed eight hits...and the Mets lost both of these games. The Cy Young winning pitcher is the cornerstone of the Mets franchise, and if the Mets want to compete, they will need to support him in his starts. The Mets offense has looked sluggish so far this season, and after signing a 10 year, 341$ million contract, Francisco Lindor has a batting average of just .176 and one RBI. The Mets may be above .500 for now, but if they want any postseason success, they will need to improve many aspects of their play. As for the Bronx Bombers, they have had their woes as well.

Similarly to deGrom, Gerrit Cole has been dominant for the Yankees, pitching 18 innings and allowing just three runs for an ERA of 1.47. However, unlike deGrom, the Yankees are 3-0 in games that Cole has started thus far; meaning they have a 2-6 record in which Cole doesn’t start. While the Yankees have been utilizing Cole’s status as an ace well, they can’t rely on him too heavily. Yankees stars

Image courtesy of The Ringer

Giancarlo Stanton (.175 BA), Gleyber Torres (.205 BA) and Aaron Hicks (.200 BA) are all going to need to start pulling their weight to help the Yankees offense take off and not lean so heavily on Cole’s dominance. Long story short for the Subway Series Teams; let deGrom and Cole do their things, but have the offense to back them up.

NL West Race Will Come Down to the Wire If you didn’t already know, the state of California is home to good baseball teams. Before we get into the NL West, home to three such teams, it’s also worth mentioning that the Los Angeles Angels are currently leading the AL West with a 7-4 record. Back to the NL; the reigning World Series Champions Los Angeles Dodgers sit at first place in their division with a 9-2 record, followed by the San Diego Padres in second place at 8-4, and then the San Francisco Giants in third place with a record of 7-4.

The Golden State (of baseball) indeed. So far, the Dodgers have met their season’s expectations by not only hoping to defend their World Series crown, but have done so in style. They’re currently the best team in baseball, and all their big stars have delivered. Superstar Mookie Betts is currently batting .321, Justin Turner sits at .328, and Corey Seager at .366. Not to mention their league best rotation of Trevor Bauer, Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, and Dustin May currently hold a combined ERA of 1.77. LA looks good. The Padres likewise look to have struck a wonderful balance of star pitching and offense, most recently emphasized

by Joe Musgrove throwing the first no-hitter in Padres history. Musgrove, a San Diego native is budding into an ace; although he has a small sample size, the no-hitter was monumental for the franchise and he has only allowed three hits in 15 innings pitched. Newly acquired Yu Darvish and Blake Snell have played formidably, but if they can match Musgrove’s output, this

team will be very hard to beat. The Padres’ offense has been humming as well; although franchise player Fernando Tatis Jr. had recently suffered an injury, other hitters have been stepping up to the plate, led by veteran Eric Hosmer (.341 BA) and Will Myers (.341 BA).

Red Sox Rebound After a concerning 0-3 series sweep coming at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles, many Red Sox fans panicked that their season was headed in the wrong direction. After missing the postseason and dissolving their star-studded outfield of Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Andrew Benintendi last year, this was not the kind of start that the Sox needed. While some may complain that a 162 game season is too long, it’s really a beautiful thing; after starting off 0-3, the Red Sox won seven straight to now sit at the top of the AL East. Every game in a team’s season may not matter compared to an NFL game which only has a 17

game season, but baseball’s lengthy schedule provides for more hot streaks and drama than any other sport. The catalyst behind the Sox hot bats is slugger J.D. Martinez, who has posted a whopping .425 BA through 40 plate appearances.

The former AL MVP is shaping up to have another career year in Fenway. Xander Boegarts has been chipping in both in the field and at the plate, making plays as the Sox shortstop and posting a .351 BA. The Yankees are certainly missing former pitcher Nathan Eovaldi who has been dealing for the Sox, posting a 1.35 ERA through 13 innings pitched. If the Sox stay hot, they’ll be back in the postseason with a vengeance after missing out last year.

Got some hot sports takes, or want to cover Holy Cross athletics?

Email spire@g.holycross.edu for more details on joining the staff - all experience levels welcome!

12

The Spire SPORTS

April 16, 2021

Julian Edelman Retirement Tribute play by play call of the spectacular catch; “Here’s Edelman, broken up. And the pass is -- no sign yet.

Edelman comes down with the football they’re saying it’s a catch!”

From behind Troy Aikman’s analysis, you could hear Edelman scream “I caught it!” as the officials reviewed the play. In that moment, all I thought about was the pain of the David Tyree and Mario Manningham catches that cost us Super Bowls XLII and XLVI respectively.

I thought to myself, “Man, we finally got one.” It was one of the most magical moments in recent sports history, and to this day his catch inspires me to never give up.

After his catch, the Falcons defense could nothing but watch as Tom Brady, James White, and the Patriots offense tied the game and eventually won Super Bowl 51 in what would be one of the greatest games in Super Bowl history.

By Logan Gooley ‘24 and Patrick Grudberg ‘24 Staff Writers

On Monday, April 12th, the New England Patriots announced their decision to release long tenured wide receiver Julian Edelman.

Plagued by chronic knee injuries, the longtime Patriot only played six games last season for Bill Belichek’s squad, missing the playoffs for the first time in Edelman’s career.

Shortly after his release, Edelman announced his formal retirement from football. While the wideout will most likely not be making the trip to Canton, his legacy will forever be remembered by all Patriots fans who had the opportunity to watch him play.

Coming out of high school, Edelman had no scholarships to a Division One school. He played quarterback at the College of San Mateo, a community college in California. After one season there, the California native transferred to Kent State where he finished the last three years of his college career.

Edelman threw for just shy of five thousand yards in those three seasons, adding on 30 passing touchdowns in the process. Knowing that his skills at quarterback would not be enough at the next level, he prepared for the draft at other skill positions, mainly wide receiver.

After not hearing his name called for the first two days of the draft, the New England Patriots took a chance on him in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

In his first four years in New

Photo courtesy of USA Today

England, Edelman totaled under 1,000 receiving yards and only four touchdowns. However, after Patriots legend Wes Welker left for Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, Edelman eclipsed one thousand yards and six touchdowns, establishing himself as Tom Brady’s new reliable receiver. Edelman continued to excel for the rest of his career at receiver, finishing his tenure with 6,202 yards and 36 touchdowns. While never selected to a Pro Bowl, Edelman proved to be one of Tom Brady’s best receivers and one of his favorite teammates.

Growing up a Patriots fan, Edelman has always been my favorite player. From his first career touchdown against the Colts in 2009 to his last career game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week Seven this year, Edelman has blessed me and all of New England with amazing memories of his scrapy playstyle.

I’d like to personally share my favorite memory of Edelman as a tribute to all he has done for New England fans. There was no better Edelman memory than the crucial role he played in the Patriots 25 point comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. I remember sitting at home watching

the Falcons run up and down the field on the Patriots, the LeGarrette Blount fumble, and the Tom Brady pick-six. After a Tevin Coleman touchdown early in the third quarter, I assumed the game was over. Holding back tears, I decided to wait until the end of the third quarter until I would go to bed.

However, after the James White touchdown, I decided to watch a little longer. After the Hightower strip, I started to believe that we had a chance again.

But it wasn’t until Edelman’s tipped catch over three defenders that I knew we were going to win.

I can still remember Joe Buck’s

Sports Roundup April 17 Men’s Track Team at Stonehill Men’s Rowing vs. Trinity Women’s Tennis vs. BU Softball at Lafayette (Doubleheader) Football at Bucknell (PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME) Women’s Lacrosse at Colgate Men’s Tennis vs. BU Baseball vs. Lafayette April 18 Men’s Golf at Alberta Invitational Women’s Golf at Gillete Ridge Invitational Women’s Rowing vs. Boston College and UConn Women’s Track at Stonehill Softball at Lafayette (Doubleheader) Basevall vs. Lafayette (Doubleheader) Field Hockey vs. Colgate