April 23, 2021

Volume XCVIII, Number 7

April 23, 2021

Worcester, Massachusetts

Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., Speaks on Leaving Holy Cross

Inside The Spire

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

Kelly Gallagher ‘22 Ethan Bachand ‘22 Editor-in-Chief, Chief News Editor After serving as president of the College of the Holy Cross for nearly 10 years, Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., plans to retire at the conclusion of the 2020-21 academic year. In an exclusive interview, The Spire spoke to Fr. Boroughs about his tenure, ranging from what initially brought him to Holy Cross to what his plans are after leaving this summer.

At the time that Fr. Boroughs was invited to apply for the presidency, he had served on the Board of Trustees at Holy Cross for three years. “I was very moved by the mission of the school,” Fr. Boroughs explained. He had grown up and been educated in the West, so he didn’t really know about Holy Cross until he entered the Society of Jesus and became close friends with a Holy Cross graduate. Later, Fr. Boroughs’ time on the Board of Trustees helped him realize how unique Holy Cross is in the world of the liberal arts and Jesuit higher education. As he explained, “I come out of the liberal arts, my parents come out of the liberal arts, but to realize what a liberal arts college could be... I think the uniqueness of the institution, the quality of the people, the quality of the school itself really attracted me to the College.”

When asked what his proudest accomplishment was, Fr. Boroughs listed a variety of different changes the College has made over his tenure. First and foremost, he discussed how Holy Cross has worked on diversification, saying, “I do think diversifying the leadership of our campus has been very important.

You know, both in terms of gender and all … different kinds of diversity, I think that’s a real gift to the College. So those are things that I’m very happy to think about.”

Fr. Boroughs added that he’s glad to see the development of various new facilities on campus. He said, “I think we’ve developed some wonderful new facilities for the students of the college and for learning. Both in the arts particularity, but also in athletics and the Contemplative Center. We began to use that mind, body, spirit, and community [connection] because we’re trying to

The Jo Adds Fitness Classes Page 2

Graphic by Hui Li ‘21

look at liberal arts as a sort of experience. Particularly we were deficient in areas and resources for the arts.

I mean, our facilities are so old…

Our women athletes really needed facilities that matched what we were offering to our men. Our facilities were built and designed when we were all male, but they opened [to all] when we went co-ed. They’ve never adjusted well.”

He continued by addressing the role of health and wellness for all community members. The Contemplative Center is a major contribution to this area. Fr. Boroughs explained the Center holds a special significance for Holy Cross as a Jesuit institution existing in a very busy culture, because we need to “create places and ways of reflecting and thinking and praying [in order] to ground us in the choices we make and who we are. So we try to do a number of things that all interrelate in terms of our experience here at Holy Cross, and I’m pleased we were able to accomplish so many of them.”

Reflecting on the demands of being president, Fr. Boroughs considered time management as a challenge. On campus, he has responsibilities to the students, faculty, and staff. He also spends a lot of time on the road in order to engage with Holy Cross’ active alumni groups.

Furthermore, he has commitments to the Jesuits, to the Church, to Worcester, to Massachusetts, and to higher education associations.

“You’re always trying to manage your time and that’s a challenge.

You always want more. Especially on campus, you want more time just to hang out, and that’s very difficult at times.” The president’s Executive Team relies on communications with faculty and staff as a major source of support, because they are able to “support one another across perspectives… Sometimes I can’t see it all from my perspective, but others can say to me what would be helpful or needed. I’m appreciative of their help in that, because presidents can’t do this alone.”

Fr. Boroughs has invested much of his time into his commitment to expanding diversity and inclusion on campus. He described his work as “part of a continuum,” building on the foundation of Fr. Brooks’ and Fr. McFarland’s progress. Fr. Boroughs’ own contributions include the creation of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In addition, the Board of Trustees has recently established a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee to ensure “that the realities and lived experiences on campus are in the mindset of our Trustees and… in our resourcing of things.” He credited collaboration

throughout the College as the key to boosting diversity and inclusion, praising Amit Taneja’s work as Associate Provost and the efforts led by “a whole crew of wonderful people across the campus.” He told The Spire, “We’ve done a lot of developing and will continue developing resources for students and connecting alumni’s experience with the way we look at our current students’ experience. In those ways we’ve started to institutionalize in order to continue the momentum, and we joined some national associations to help us in the diversification of student recruitment. I think there’s great momentum and our alumni are really supporting the efforts of our students, so there’s a nice dialogue going between our diverse alumni and our current students as well.”

In the spirit of learning and engagement, Fr. Boroughs’ understanding of the school’s mission has evolved during his presidency.

While Fr. Boroughs served on the Board of Trustees, he became familiar with the students, faculty, and staff at Holy Cross, but as president, he was surprised by the alumni. He was struck by their ability to apply their Holy Cross experiences in concrete ways to their post-graduate endeavours.

CONTINUED ON PG. 3

Holy Cross Should Require COVID-19 Vaccinatons Page 4

One Journey, Many Paths Page 9 Quidditch and Their Fall From Grace Page 10 2021 NFL First Round Mock Draft Page 11

The Spire

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NEWS

April 23, 2021

OBER AND MCNENERY WIN CO-PRESIDENCY

Graphic by Hui Li ‘21

The Jo Begins Offering In-Person Classes Sarah Carter ‘24 News Editor Throughout the semester, the Jo has served as the premier center for recreation and fitness on campus.

From its first-rate exercise machinery to its modernistic design, the facility has something to offer for everyone; both returning and new students alike. While students can already reserve spaces in the facility to conduct self-guided workouts, a new line of group-based, in-person classes recently became available to students this past week. Per usual, The Spire met with Director of Campus Recreation, Jamie Shannon, to learn more.

Shannon maintains that the

list of newly offered in-person classes is quite an expansive list already. Among the offerings currently available to students are core strength, high intensity interval training, yoga, cardio dance, and meditation-focused classes. Shannon remarks that for all of the above group sessions, “No prior experience or equipment is required!” and students do not need to bring anything with them aside from a pair of shoes in which to change and water.

While students do not need the FitnessOnDemand app to participate in the new group classes, Shannon still advises that students, at the very least, download and register on the free app. Shannon

recounts that “In the first month of launching FitnessOnDemand, several hundred students activated their accounts,” which afford students access to an assemblage of guided workouts and exercises that they can complete anywhere at any time. Shannon continues to be a staunch proponent in favor of the app, which she says provides students a convenient way of continuing fitness activities for the remainder of the semester, over the summer, and beyond. The app is readily comprehensive and simple to use, replete with features to filter through and search for classes that meet every student’s individual interests. Shannon notes, however, that staff at the Jo will welcome

the participation of any and all students (including those without a FitnessOnDemand account) who sign up for the new in-person classes, and will accommodate students by facilitating the beginning of every class for those who attend.

Classes this semester will be held two days each week in the multipurpose studio space – Mondays at 5:00pm and Wednesdays at 6:30pm. Similar to the process of reserving a place in either the cardio/strength or weight rooms, students will need to use MyHC to make an appointment for the class of their choosing. Students should plan for classes to be held on this same schedule for the remainder of the semester, which is necessary to The Spire student newspaper College of the Holy Cross Published weekly since 1925

continue to allow ample space in the facility for those still wishing to complete workouts on their own.

In subsequent semesters, Shannon anticipates that more offerings will be extended to students with regards to in-person classes – some of which will feature the instruction of live instructors. She believes that in the fall “ . . . the frequency and variety of classes . . .” will expand appreciably to include classes throughout the day for multiple days a week. Reserve your place for an in-person class now . . . and remember to take a copy of The Spire back with you after your next visit!

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

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

Kelly Gallagher, Matthew Anderson Editors-in-Chief Ethan Bachand, Jocelyn Buggy, Davey Sullivan, Devyn Forcina, Sarah Carter News Editors Maggie Connolly, Julia Maher, Grace Manning, Joseph Barbieri, Catherine Yaskira Opinions Editors Grace Bromage, Bridget Flaherty, Nicole Letendre, Stacey Kaliabakos, Caroline Wallace Features Editors Hannah Johnson, Mario Micallef, Michael Vail, Julianna Mariani Eggplant Editors Mike O’Brien, Jimmy Casey Sports Editors Hope Goodman, Kennedy Corrado, Brigie English, Anna Morris, Sarah O’Rourke, Sophia Carmenati Copy Editors Hui Li, Valentina Moran, Claudia Hajjer, Kate Nedorostek Visuals Bianca Miccolis, Emma Cerrato, Sydney Santosuosso Web Editors Caroline Manganaro, Cassie Smith Social Media Managers Professor Steve Vineberg Faculty Advisor Dean Brenda Hounsell Sullivan, Sandra Burke Staff Advisors

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

The Spire welcomes letters and op-eds from its readers. Please include your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address. No submissions will be printed anonymously. All submissions may be edited for content, and must be received by the Sunday prior to publication. The Spire reserves the right not to publish any letter or content deemed objectionable or which does Email: spire@g.holycross.edu not meet the editorial standards of the newspaper. Letters Website: hcspire.com may be mailed, e-mailed, or brought to The Spire office in Hogan 235.

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

The Spire “BOROUGHS” FROM PG.1 He shared that “going out and meeting our alumni in all these different settings was just overwhelming, really. There’s such richness and generosity and desire to change the world in the best possible ways.

That lived sense of who we are….

I really believe in what we do here and the proof is in our alumni.”

Fr. Boroughs hopes that recent and future Holy Cross graduates are also able to continue finding ways to live the Holy Cross mission after graduation. His “biggest hope” for graduates is that they are able to integrate the experiences of their “intellectual life, ethical life, spiritual life, social commitments, and health and wellness.” He elaborated on what this integration means, saying, “It’s not that we do one or two, it’s not that we do them separately, it’s that they actually enhance one another. So when I’m learning academically, how does it affect the way I see the world, and as I think about how I see the world, how might I engage that world actively, and what are my ethical positions and commitments? There’s an integration of my mind and my ethics and my spirituality and faith and my way of giving back. That’s what I think is so unique about Holy Cross. These aren’t independent siloes, they are layered one upon the other, and as a consequence of that synthesis there is a person who makes a difference in the world. That’s what I think we do so well.”

When The Spire asked Fr. Boroughs what purpose has motivated him throughout his tenure, he answered, “I believe so much in our mission.” Seeing how students, faculty, alumni, and staff are committed to the school’s values “has really kept me going because you see it is so important, and what it can be, and who you become.”

He added that Fr. Kolvenbach, a former leader of the Jesuits, “said that the test of a Jesuit, the value of a Jesuit institution, is who our students become. I’m so moved by who you’ve become and who you’ve become over time. It’s a very sustaining energy for me.”

NEWS In the interview, Fr. Boroughs also spoke about what led to the timing of his decision to step away from Holy Cross. He said, “Actually this is an agreement I had with the Board when I was hired.

They asked me if I would make a seven to ten year commitment to the College, and I said yes. I also said to them there’s a certain point at my age, as ten years out … ten is probably what I can do. They agreed to that, and those ten years are up soon. So this was actually planned, in other words.”

Yet despite this predetermined timeline, Fr. Boroughs did recognize that the coronavirus pandemic added some complexity to the process. As he said, “it did have a factor in the decision in the sense that working with the Board, trying to discern when’s the best time.

Should we wait … what’s the best time both for me personally and for the institution, and could we do an adequate search and get appropriate candidates in the middle of the pandemic? And we weighed all of that and made the decision that we could …. Yes, it raised a lot of questions but it didn’t change the trajectory.”

When the conversation turned to Mr. Rougeau’s incoming administration, Fr. Boroughs expressed the hope that students will make Mr. Rougeau feel welcome. “Holy Cross students do this really, really well,” he added. “I find that when I’m going around campus, people always say hello and they want to talk and they want to engage.” He says the key is to work with Mr. Rougeau’s staff to find meaningful opportunities for him to get involved on campus.

Fr. Boroughs reflected on his own warm welcome when he was inaugurated as president. He explained that students at most colleges and universities don’t consider a president’s inauguration part of their responsibility, but at Fr. Boroughs’ inauguration, students showed up “because they wanted to be part of it.” On the day of his inauguration, he attended a lunch in Hogan Campus Center, and when he exited the building in

order to walk up to the Hart Center, where the actual inauguration was to occur, he found a thousand students lining the path the whole way up to the athletic complex.

“They were all wearing these red tshirts that had the names of all the presidents on the back. The pep band led the procession up, and students cheered in welcome. I was very moved by that.” He’s confident that Holy Cross students will find creative ways to welcome Mr. Rougeau, too.

When asked what challenges he thought the future held for the Holy Cross community, Fr. Boroughs offered a different perspective. Instead, he looked at the bright side as well, as he saw the future as full of challenges and opportunities. He explained his thought process, saying, “For example, we have a wonderful new president coming in, so that offers a lot of opportunities but there’s also helping our new president know the campus, know all of you, understand the issues, understand the culture of Holy Cross and of the liberal arts field because he’s come out of a law school background. I think there’s opportunities there and as you’ll find he’s very sharp and reflective.

It’s not going to be a steep learning curve but it is an important one that does take some time.”

Fr. Boroughs also mentioned the impact other events in society have on the College’s outlook, saying “I think, too, the issues we’ve been dealing with, not just with the pandemic, but all the social issues we’ve been dealing with in the last year and a half, really ask what more we can do around diversity, equity, and inclusion. What more we need to do around anti-racism.

What more we need to do around sustainability. I think we, and for many of us, the issues of shared governance and how we make it work and what does that mean.

Those are some of the issues that I know we have to deal with…”

He expanded upon other issues that the College would need to address in the coming years. He said, “...as we look into the future, it’s really time to start renovating some

April 23, 2021 of our residence halls. So that’s a very practical and financial issue, one which is on everyone’s mind.

In fact, it’s been on the mind for quite a while because as we’re planning this campaign, and finishing, really ten years ago we were saying this campaign needs to look ahead and see what things we need to do, and certainly residence halls are one. Renovation to the library is another, and the way we’re learning and changing the way we learn.

I think the pandemic specifically has raised questions about how we work and what is the future of work, what is the role of technology. I think that’s true for how we learn as well. In a liberal arts environment, how can technology enhance our traditional methods of learning, not replace them? I think in-person learning, if the pandemic has taught us anything, it is the value and the role of community.

But can technology also assist us and enhance what we do in person.

I think that’s probably a challenge but also an opportunity for us.”

Fr. Boroughs clarified this statement, saying that “The future of work is a topic we’re talking about from the staff [and] faculty side .... needing to be in person, hybrid, whatever. So there’s some great questions there. But there’s also the future of learning ... One of the things we’ve learned is… [that] our unique contribution to the liberal arts education is the value of in-person learning and the relationship between faculty, staff, and student. So we don’t want to lose that, but are there ways to enhance that using technology? There’s a lot of good thinking that’s going on right now.”

After discussing the future of Holy Cross, Fr. Boroughs was asked what he plans to do after leaving the College. “Well, I have a sabbatical,” he said. “I never had a full sabbatical before. One of the things is I hope to take some downtime up in Vermont for about five or six weeks. Then by mid-August I’m hoping it will be appropriate and safe to travel to... my immediate family [on the west coast].

I haven’t seen any of them in two

3

years and I haven’t seen many of my nieces and nephews much more than that. So I’d really like to have some time with them.”

However, Fr. Boroughs made it clear that he plans to return to the Hill and still interact with the college community. He said, “…I will come back for the inauguration of our new president and possibly then take… some of our trustees and other leaders to Spain and Rome to give a history of the Society. We may try to do that in October if travel is safe by then.”

From there, Fr. Boroughs plans to continue to travel, saying, “…all my dad’s side of the family lives in Europe and beyond. My dad was born in Scotland, so I’d really like to see my family in Great Britain and Scotland and friends in Ireland. I’m hoping to do a little bit of that, and after that I’m not really sure. I have an invitation to spend the spring in Kenya. I have had some projects there over many years and I haven’t been back now for a long time. We have a very nice retreat house, contemplative center in Nairobi. The director of that is an old friend and he wanted to know if I wanted to come out and help with some retreats or spend time with friends there. I don’t know if that’s a good idea or not, depending on what the pandemic suggests, but I would love to be able to do that if I can. But there’s so much up in the air around travel.” He added that he anticipates receiving his next assignment from the Jesuit order in the middle of 2022.

While Fr. Boroughs’ time as president of Holy Cross may be coming to end, the changes from his tenure will continue to push the College’s mission forward. His legacy of expanding diversity and bringing significant developments to Mount St. James will be a staple in Holy Cross history.

Graphic by Davey Sullivan ‘22

4 The Spire

Opinions

OPINIONS

April 23, 2021

See What Other Students Are Thinking Around Campus...

Holy Cross Should Require COVID-19 Vaccinations Julia Maher ‘23 Opinions’ Editor

There has been quite a lot of disinformation regarding coronavirus vaccinations, which has led to a lack of confidence in the public about the safety of them. The vaccines are safe, and the Holy Cross community should have a sense of confidence in them so that we can all have a safe, healthy, and happy return to campus this upcoming school year.

Since Holy Cross required immunizations for influenza and many other diseases, it is only logical that the College requires them for COVID-19. Covid is far deadlier than influenza, and we are in the middle of the pandemic. In order to safely return, all students who are able to get the vaccine should be required to do so.

Some people believe that the vaccinations are unsafe and they are not tested enough to be administered. This is incorrect.

Rampant disinformation like this circulates in groups that are prone to believing in conspiracy theories and opposing science. There is a lot of evidence to debunk this claim.

First, back during the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s, health

officials had already begun research into this type of vaccine. This gave us a base starting point into the development of the coronavirus vaccines, and we already knew they were safe because SARS is very similar to COVID-19. Second, the vaccines have been tested on more than 43,000 people (Mayo Clinic).

This ensures that the vaccines are

safe.

Since Holy Cross students are very intelligent, they should make the wise decision to get vaccinated. Furthermore, Holy Cross is a popular pre-med school, so students should take science seriously and not believe in conspiracy theories or the excuse that “vaccines take away my freedom.”

absolutely imperative that all Holy Cross students who are able to receive the coronavirus vaccine get it. Not only will it protect you against the coronavirus, but it will also establish herd immunity and protect students who are physically unable to Phto courtesy of thedenverchannel.com receive the vaccine due Very much on the contrary, getting to medical vaccinated will give you more free- conditions. Let’s have a great return dom. You will be able to do many to campus this coming school year! more activities with more than I can’t wait to see you all on cam90% protection against the corona- pus again. virus, and once we get enough people vaccinated, we can start to live our lives normally again. In order to have a safe and healthy return to campus for next school year, it is

The Truth About Justice: George Floyd’s Life Mattered Maggie Connolly ‘21 Chief Opinions Editor

On Tuesday, Derek Chauvin, the officer who murdered George Floyd last year, was found guilty on three counts of murder: manslaughter, second degree murder, and third-degree murder. He will not be able to post bail as the judge determines his sentence. This is no doubt a victory, but it does not bring back the life of George Floyd, or the other Black lives lost at the hands of the police.

So, if this is not justice, what is it? According to MerriamWebster, justice is the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments.

To be true justice, Floyd would still be alive today. Likewise, this verdict does not replace the hundreds of other Black lives lost to police violence whose murderers were not convicted in Court. Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement after the verdict was delivered, “I would not call today’s

Photo courtesy of The New York Times verdict justice, however, because justice implies true restoration…

But it is accountability, which is the first step towards justice,” he said.

“George Floyd mattered,” (NBC News).

And that he did. Although the decision does not bring back lives lost, it sets a precedent.

The conviction of Chauvin says that police officers can and will be held accountable for their actions.

It reminds us that law enforcement

is not the end all be all, and they are not exempt from misconduct.

The streets of Minneapolis erupted as the verdict was read.

I watched a man in the crowd hold up three fingers, referencing to others around him that Chauvin was guilty of all three. “All three counts!” the crowd chanted, waving signs and flags clad with things like “Black Love,” “Black Lives Matter,” and “Justice for George Floyd.” It was a scene of joy, despite any an-

ticipated upheaval.

The city had boarded up many businesses, as other cities have after the protests this summer, trying to protect the city from harm. However, the harm that seems most done to others in these circumstances are the harm police inflict on peaceful protestors. It is interesting, that even in a situation in which an officer is being tried for murdering a Black man, the warning from the city was about how the protestors might react to the verdict. Instead, @drewmagary on Twitter suggests, “Maybe cities should prepare for how COPS will react to certain verdicts.” It feels all too poignant, as protestors await accountability for the loss of a life, that the people remain the ones villainized.

Throughout all of the warnings, celebrations, and emotions, there is one young person who possibly made all the difference in this case: Darnella Frazier.

Fraizer, who was seventeen at the time she recorded the longest and clearest bystander video of George Floyd’s murder. “It’s been nights,

I stayed up apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more and not physically interacting and not saving his life. But it’s like, it’s not what I should have done, it’s what he should have done,” said Darnella, referring to Chauvin, who was also in the courtroom, (New York Times).

This young girl’s testimony, along with the testimony of other bystanders, paramedics, fire personnel, and the teenage Cup Foods employee were referred to as a “Bouquet of humanity” by Attorney General Ellison, (NBC News). Darnella Frazier’s video was a moment of courage, but it was a moment she did not have to live through, especially not with her nine-year-old cousin by her side as they watched Chauvin kneel on George Floyd’s neck. It is a moment that I someday hope no other teenagers, cousins, friends, bystanders, or family members will have to live through again.

The Spire

OPINIONS

April 23, 2021

5

Guilty Until Proven Innocent Catherine Yaskira ‘23 Opinions Editor

I have watched many courtroom dramas where a typical bail hearing goes like this: pan to the defendant, looking fearful- they just want to go home to their family! A neatly dressed lawyer with a fancy briefcase is sitting next to them: they just want to get paid. The judge bangs gavel: pan to judge, “Bail is set at one million dollars!” Pan to defendant: “one million, I can’t afford that!”

The lawyer leans in and whispers, “don’t worry, you only have to pay 10% of that.” Phew! Luckily the defendant has $100,000 lying around. So they get to go home—a simple procedure. Now I have some shocking news; reallife doesn’t mirror courtroom dramas. Peeling back the layers of the ‘simple procedure’ that is the bail system in America is, in a word, complex—in another word, broken.

It all starts with the eighth amendment’s promise that “excessive bail shall not be required.” This was loosely plagiarized (our forefathers did not have the same academic integrity expected from Holy Cross students) from the English Bill of Rights of 1689, which, among other things, not only protected citizens against excessive bail but also stated which offenses were bailable. Distinguishing between bailable and non-bailable offenses gave citizens an explicit right to bail for certain offenses, one that doesn’t exist in the U.S. constitution. So, do citizens have an absolute right to bail?

The answer is—kind of yes, but also no. The Supreme Court has addressed the right to bail three times, and the broad ruling on it is that the eighth amendment protects against excessive bail (Stack v. Boyle), but it doesn’t provide an absolute right to it (Carlson v.

Landon).

But that’s not the end of this reallife courtroom drama! 48 state constitutions explicitly protect the right to bail through “sufficient sureties”.Sufficient sureties refer to the means of guaranteeing that an accused criminal will appear in court. This can be anything from cash to a pinky promise to real estate to simply signing your name to a document that says you will show up for your court date. The debate in state courts is whether money really constitutes a “sufficient surety”: eight states have ruled that it is, seven states have ruled that it’s not, and the rest have not yet decided.

So, this means that most states rely on a cash bail system. The cash bail system is the typical courtroom drama scene- though one million dollars for bail is pretty dramatized, the median amount is $10,000.

Studies have shown that this is an effective way to ensure a defendant returns to court for their trial, and only 15-22% of defendants fail to return to their court date. So, this is great! If you can afford it, you can await your trial within the comfort of your own home. But what if you can’t afford it? Well, then you sit in

Photo courtesy of American Center for Progress jail until your trial date. You may lose your job or custody of your child. You are subjected to being jailed for a crime for which you haven’t been convicted. In theory, the goal of the cash bail system was to protect defendants and to preserve the presumption of innocence. It was a way to allow them to await their trial outside of a jail cell while giving the prosecutor and judge something with more weight than a pinky promise to ensure that the defendant actually returns for their trial date. The incorporation of money was merely to act as a strong incentive for defendants to return to trial, but in practice, it penalizes people who cannot afford it.

So let’s look into the chambers of the judges who are setting bail in our courtroom drama.

Judges keep in mind the goals of bail: the defendant’s appearance in court, the safety of the community, and the defendant’s liberty interest before conviction. Then, they focus on four factors in particular: the accused criminal history, their history of dangerousness within the community, the accused ties to the community (employment, family, property), and the nature of the charged offense. Some jurisdictions don’t even do that and instead use bail schedules, which are predetermined bail amounts based on the accused charges, thus seeking to standardize the bail setting process.

Notice a key factor that is not taken into account is whether or not a defendant can actually pay bail.

When you don’t take that into consideration, it’s tough to determine if the bail is ‘excessive.’ This results

in many defendants not being able to afford bail and being stuck in jail because of it. According to the American Bar Association, “More than 60 percent of jail inmates are jailed pretrial; over 30 percent cannot afford to post bail.” So, they’re stuck.

Cash bail is the leading reason why jails are overcrowded, and in fact, 3/5th of people in jail have not been convicted and are merely awaiting trial. Along with being dehumanizing and unjust, pretrial detention, even if the defendant is only held for a few days, can cause them to lose their job, place of residence, and even custody of their children. On top of that, defendants who are not released on bail are three to four times more likely to receive a sentence to jail or prison- and some will plead guilty to a crime they didn’t commit. This is because prosecutors will often cut deals that let the defendant’s time in pretrial detention count towards their sentence; for minor offenses, this could mean the defendant is immediately released. Being approached with a deal like this is too good to pass up for some defendants as it is less risky and costly than going through a trial. But, the main issue with that is now the defendant has a criminal record, which could prevent them from being employed, and could make future convictions even harsher.

Oh, also, if you’re into taxes, pretrial detention costs taxpayers roughly 38 million dollars every day.

Reforming cash bail starts with a presumption of release. This puts the burden on prosecutors to prove that a defendant should be

detained, rather than putting the burden on the defendant to come up with money so that they can be released. Washington DC is an example of a jurisdiction that has eliminated cash bail with success.

94%of defendants are released pretrial, and 91% appear in court for their trial. Instead of using cash bail, D.C. relies on other sufficient sureties—for example, release via own recognizance (OR) and supervised own recognizance (SOR).

OR simply means that a defendant would simply sign a document promising to return for trial.

The more effective form of pretrial reform is SOR: this is when a defendant is released and, until their trial, is required to participate in mandatory drug tests, alcohol level monitoring, and electronic monitoring systems-think your typical ankle monitor. This has shown to be comparable to the effectiveness of cash bail release and proves that there are other “sureties” just as “sufficient” as cash.

If we claim to be a country committed to the presumption of innocence, the bail system needs to be reformed. The way that bail is calculated means that many defendants simply cannot afford it and are effectively denied bail. In Stack v. Boyle, the Supreme Court said, “Unless this right to bail before trial is preserved, the presumption of innocence… would lose its meaning.” That is exactly what has happened. In the U.S.; defendants who haven’t been convicted of a crime are jailed only because they don’t have the money to be set free.

This means the presumption of innocence only exists for those who

have enough money in their bank account, while the poor are guilty until proven innocent.

6

The Spire

OPINIONS

April 23, 2021

“We’ve Got to Get More Confrontational:” Maxine Waters’ Recent Comments are Disturbing I am not criticizing Waters just because we hold very different political beliefs. I have written and been a fervent critic of other members of Congress, especially Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) who I believe should be expelled from Congress.

Representative Waters’s comments are unacceptable and she should apologize. Instead of creating a divide, it is ever important to create effective dialogue amongst those we do not see eye to eye with on fundamental issues. This is the only way to solve pressing issues.

Harassing and pushing back will only create a more hostile America where a middle ground will be hard to reach.

Joe Barbieri ‘23 Opinions Editor While participating in ongoing protests against police brutality in Minnesota, Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) sparked controversy with recent comments suggesting that protestors should “get more confrontational” to make “sure that they know that we mean business.”

The issue of police brutality must be addressed. The killings of George Floyd, Daunte Wright, and Adam Toledo are unacceptable and those responsible must be brought to justice.

In response to these tragic killings, we are reminded of the sacred right to protest in America and it is more important than ever to exercise this constitutional right.

However, in light of Representative Waters’ comments, it is also important to commit to a peaceful and respectful form of protest, one that is inclusive to all.

The only way to create meaningful dialogue to address police brutality is to listen to those

Image courtesy of NBS News we disagree with. We must hear each other out, understand where one is coming from, and find the middle ground in order to solve real issues in this country.

The past comments of Representative Waters are also troubling. For example, Waters

told supporters at a rally to confront and harass members of the Trump administration, saying that: “If you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd. And you push back on

them. And you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere.”

These and recent comments made by Waters in response to those who hold different political beliefs are demeaning and beneath a member of Congress.

It is important to mention that

Upcoming Events Figge Trail Cleanup. Hosted by Eco-Action. Friday, April 23, from 2-4 p.m.

RSVP on MyHC, meet outside Figge Hall.

Breaking the Closet. Hosted by Pride. Friday, April 23, from 5-6:30 p.m.

Softball hosts B.U. Saturday, April 24, 12-2 p.m. and 2-4. p.m. Held on Freshman Field.

Retro Night. Saturday, April 24, 6-9 p.m. Hosted by the Office of Student Wellness Education and OSI. Senior Night. Saturday, April 24, 4-10. Hosted by OSI on the Hoval.

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Features

Crusader of the Week: Meghan DiMercurio ‘23 Name: Meghan DiMercurio Favorite Cool Beans Drink: Iced Class Year: 2023 Mocha Latte Hometown: East Windsor, New Favorite spot on campus: The Hoval Jersey Favorite off-campus restaurant: Major: Accounting Volturno Campus AcGuilty Pleasure: tivities: Kimball Watching Vampire Captain, Tour Diaries Guide, Women Some small things in Business that make your Favorite Movie: day better: Calling Muppets Most my mom, seeing Wanted friends, and being Favorite song: outside.

Heat Waves First thing you do Favorite singer/ when you wake up: group: Glass Go back to sleep Animals Last thing you do Favorite color: before going to Blue bed: Watch tik toks Favorite sports Favorite place you team: The Eagles have traveled to: Favorite class Ocean City, NJ taken at Holy Something you Cross: Intermelook forward to diate Accountwhen you go home: Photo from Meghan DiMercurio ‘23 ing II Seeing my puppy Item on HC named Tim! Bucket List: St. Patrick’s Day Darty Post-Graduation Plans: Move to (rip 2020) Boston and work in public accountEmbarrassing HC Moment: Getting ing as an auditor. lost on campus for the first week of Favorite memory at HC: Going freshmen year. sledding during a massive snowstorm Words to live by: Success isn’t final, with a bunch of my friends. failure isn’t fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.

One thing you would change at HC: Temperature control in the dorms.

Favorite TV Show: Poldark Favorite Book: Crime and Punishment Favorite Kimball meal: Flatbread

April 23, 2021

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ACT’s The Theory of Relativity Bridget Flaherty ‘21 Features Editor ACT’s production of The Theory of Relativity showcases the human experience in all of its glory, putting the emotional matter of human nature front and center through individualized stories.

Like any good ensemble show, characters and stories that seem to not be connected in any way at the beginning of the musical end up being connected at the end, therefore emphasizing the intersectionality of life. We are nothing without each other, as we are frequently reminded over the course of the production.

Director Nate Tanner ‘22 expertly deals with the challenges and limitations of virtual theatre, using animation and backgrounds to discern between scenes and spaces. The edit- i n g is fantastic, so seamless that it looks like a movie. The success of the production is the result of hard work and effort from the entire cast and crew. Furthermore, this production is a testament to the power of the ACT community, as alumni contributed their time and talents to the production. The strength of the connections that these members have fostered to both each other and the community underscores the show’s message about relationships being essential to the human experience.

The cast was brilliant as each member easily captured your attention through the screen. They

Poster Courtesy of Alternate College Theater

handled both their solo performances and company numbers with the same amount of fervor and emotion. The characters and performances communicate all aspects of the human experience, from joy to longing to anxiety to loneliness to love and everything else in between. It is equally heartbreaking and heartwarming as it reminds us of the power of storytelling.

The opening and closing numbers are especially powerful, as they bring each character together. Each cast member brings their character’s perspective and story to the numbers, making them two of the most emotional songs in the show. Seeing everybody on screen at once emphasizes the universality of emotions and the human experience, therefore emphasizing the message of interconnectedness.

It’s comforting to see that each character shares similar feelings

to one another, despite living very different lives. This reminder that we are not alone and that we are more connected than we know is particularly poignant as we’ve lived through a pandemic for more than a year now. We’ve all felt isolated and lonely at some point during this crisis and have had to find ways to feel connected to each other. The Theory of Relativity mirrors this experience and ultimately conveys a message of hope.

Congratulations to all involved for putting on a wonderful performance and making me feel a million different emotions over the course of seventy-five minutes. If you want a show that will make you laugh, cry, sing, and understand Newton’s laws of motion, then The Theory of Relativity is for you.

“Virtual Shakespeare” - Thomas J. Grace, S.J. Memorial Lecture by Dr. Rebecca Bushnell Grace Bromage ‘23 Chief Features Editor This year’s Thomas J. Grace, S.J. Memorial Lecture was “Virtual Shakespeare” by Dr. Rebecca Bushnell. Bushnell is the School of Arts and Sciences Board of Advisors Emerita Professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania and brought an interesting take to Shakespeare in the 21st century.

Bushnell started her lecture by posing the question: “how does digital technology redefine Shakespeare and performance?” As the world has entered a new age of technology, Shakespeare’s plays have undergone more adaptations than just movies. Now, many of these plays, especially Hamlet, have been turned into video games or adapted to virtual reality. This topic is what Bushnell set out to explore.

Bushnell asserted that Hamlet itself has game-like elements be-

tween the role of theater for the plotline and the physical and vocal sparring that takes place between characters. Hamlet is also filled with complex characters for whom Shakespeare explores their psychology and motivations. This allows it to adapt well to videogames containing lively characters and complex storylines.

Bushnell detailed two Hamletinspired video games. The first game was “To Be Or Not To Be.” “To Be Or Not To Be” was originally a choose-your-own-ending graphic novel. In this form, it allows game-players to explore alternate endings of the iconic play.

“Elsinore,” the second-game mentioned by Bushnell, allows players to explore Hamlet from Ophelia’s perspective. The game diversifies Hamlet and allows players to choose to play as a biracial Opheila and interact with Shakespeare’s Othello. Game-players will also find that they are able to grapple with Ophelia’s agency or lack

nology allows for Shakespeare to be retold in ways that were not possible before. Bushnell herself engaged in a multiplayer live role playing game of The Tempest.

This new “virtual Shakespeare” landscape allows for community building, increased accessibility, and a heightened connection to the characters for readers and admirers of Shakespeare’s work.

Elsinore and To Be Or Not To Be can be played on computer terminal #30 in the west wing of Dinand. Hamlet 360: Thy Father’s Spirit can be played using the YouTube app on a smartphone.

Graphic Design by Hui Li ‘21, Images from Steam and YouTube

thereof throughout the course of the game.

Bushnell also described “Hamlet 360: Thy Father’s Spirit,” a virtual reality game. This game allows the spectator to be brought into the action. Players can observe Hamlet from different angles and charac-

ters frequently “make eye-contact” with players. This gives players a unique experience of the play, even amongst other players Bushnell asserted that Shakespeare has always been remade and retold, even back in the 17th century. However, modern tech-

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The Spire

FEATURES

April 23, 2021

Calling the Shots: Your Vaccination Questions Answered Nicole Letendre ‘23 Features Editor Kelsey DeVoe, Director of Health Services, and Denielle M. Burl, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, hosted a vaccine webinar, in which they answered some of the major questions surrounding COVID-19 vaccinations. Ms. Burl began by discussing the logistics of getting vaccinated: who is eligible and when? Individuals 16+ yrs. are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine, and those 18+ are eligible to receive the Moderna vaccine, as of today Apr. 19th. Registration for appointment times can be completed online. Many students have wondered if Holy Cross will be distributing vaccines; however, at this time “the vaccines are being reserved for the larger state vaccination sites.” Though HC is unable to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, Ms. Burl did state that all students, including those out-of-state or international students, are eligible to be vaccinated in MA. Kelsey DeVoe, Director of Health Services, spoke about the science behind these various COVID-19 vaccines. Moderna and Pfiz-

Graphic Design by Nicole Letendre ‘23

er are both mRNA vaccines, and they contain instructions to make a protein, which mimics exposure to the COVID-19 virus, creating antibodies and memory cells so that the body is able to fight exposure to the virus in the future. Both Moderna and Pfizer involve two shots, with 4wks between Moderna vaccines and 3wks between Pfizer vaccines. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine only involves one shot, and

Director DeVoe gave insight into the pause with this vaccination: 6 women between the ages of 18-48 developed a rare blood clot in the brain within about 2wks of getting vaccinated. Director DeVoe emphasized that the pause on J&J vaccinations is partially related to “educate medical providers’’ as to the treatment for this rare blood clot.

Director DeVoe stated that in-

dividuals are fully protected 2wks after getting their last vaccination (2nd for Moderna and Pfizer, and 1st for J&J). Mild symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, chills, and fever may be associated with the first round of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. More moderate symptoms may occur after the second round of vaccination, since the body’s immune response is stronger. Those who are fully vac-

cinated may gather together safely, or those who are fully vaccinated may gather with unvaccinated, but low-risk individuals. As of now, vaccinated individuals must still test for COVID-19 when oncampus. If you test positive after getting the vaccine, you are still required to isolate for 10 days.

Looking ahead, Director DeVoe stated that the vaccine is not a requirement for next semester, but that they are discussing it with the whole team.

If you have been vaccinated, you have the option of uploading a picture of your vaccination card to your Patient Portal to document your immunizations. For those who are looking to get vaccinated, there are several CVS locations close to campus and offering the vaccine. Additionally, Uber and Lift are giving free rides to vaccination sites, and Twitter sends out reminders when vaccination appointments are available, which can be found @vaccinetime. If you have any questions regarding the vaccine, or your appointment, you can contact Health Services or Kelsey DeVoe at krdevoe@holycross.edu

90-Day Expiration Date: A COVID Recovery Story Stacey Kaliabakos ‘23 Features Editor When the pandemic first started, I had a bad feeling about my chances of getting COVID. I’m from New York City, and, over the past year, New York has been one of the leading states in COVID-19 cases (thank you, Governor Cuomo!). Additionally, my dad works as a pharmacist in the West Village of Manhattan, so he is always at high risk of exposure to the virus.

Last April, my dad and I got sick with what we presumed was COVID-19 (as one of his coworkers was sent to the hospital due to the virus just a week or so before the onset of our symptoms). At the time, testing capabilities in the city were quite limited, so we were never able to get a test, but we assumed that our illness was, in fact, the coronavirus.

There are many different perspectives on “immunity” in people who have contracted COVID-19.

Initially, the window of “safety” after recovery was uncertain-- some people thought it was permanent, others believed it was temporary.

Now, it is generally believed to be about three months, or 90 days.

Of course, having said “immunity” doesn’t exempt anyone from following social distancing recom-

Graphic Design by Valentina Moran ‘23

mendations or wearing masks, but it does work as a sort of security blanket for those worried about contracting the virus a second time.

On January 8th of this year I went with my mom to get tested for COVID a second time. My dad was beginning to feel symptoms and decided to come home early that day just to be on the safe

side. We all ended up testing positive with PCR tests that weekend (I actually got my positive test on my birthday, which made it my most memorable birthday, but not in a fun way). Of course, I was worried about a lot of things-- my family’s health, my own health, and the timeline of being able to return to school, as getting the virus in mid-

January was really cutting it close to the start of the semester. Everything ended up working out, and my family pretty much came out unscathed. I also was able to feel better about coming to school. One of the benefits in addition to immunity was not having to get tested like other students. Of course I was still worried about the virus, both

for myself and my roommate, who I would not ever want to put in danger; however, it was easier to know that I should have some sort of immunity for basically the first 90 days of the semester.

On April 8th, my final day of freedom ended. This meant finally taking the walk to the Jo for the first time to get a COVID test. I remember going for my test early on the 9th, a beautiful Friday morning. My roommate, Rose, went with me for support, as I didn’t exactly know how the Jo functioned or what I was supposed to be doing. To my amazement, the testing process is immensely streamlined and simple, and even a late-comer like me was able to figure everything out pretty easily. I did, to my dismay, initially not know that I shouldn’t be the one to put the label on the test tube, and embarrassed myself a little bit on my first rodeo.

Now I blend in with the rest of the student body, getting tested twice a week until the semester ends.

Basically, what this all means is that I can now truly live out my favorite pandemic slogan: Stay positive and test negative!

The Spire

FEATURES

April 23, 2021

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“One Journey, Many Paths” - A Classic Novel’s Journey to the West at Holy Cross Hui Li ‘21 Co-Chief Graphic Designer What happens when you combine a 16th-century fantasy novel with a pandemic in the 21st century? For Dr. Ji Hao, Professor of Chinese at the College of the Holy Cross, the answer was an online conference. On Tuesday, April 20, he hosted a six-session event called “One Journey, Many Paths: An International Conference on Journey to the West.”

The conference revolved around the novel Xiyou Ji (pronounced “she-yo-gee”), which dates to Ming-Dynasty China. Commonly translated as “Journey to the West,” the story is considered one of the “Four Great Classic Novels” of Chinese literature. The earliest versions of the book appeared in the 16th century.

Professor Hao described Journey to the West as a fictional piece that “recounts a group of pilgrims’ lengthy journey (both physical and spiritual) from China to India in [a] quest for Buddhist scriptures and enlightenment” based on the story of the Buddhist Monk Xuanzang and his pilgrimage to India in the 7th century, during the Tang Dynasty in China. The novel follows four protagonists – Xuanzang’s fictional counterpart Tang Sanzang and his trio of non-human disciples comprised of the monkeyking Sun Wukong, the pig-monster Zhu Bajie, and the sand demon Sha Wujing – on a westward quest.

Professor Hao originally planned to host an international conference about the famous novel in person.

However, he had to move the event online due to COVID-19. “On the one hand, I don’t have to worry

about some logistics issues such as arranging transportation, meals, and accommodation for our speakers. It also makes the conference accessible to a wider audience beyond the Holy Cross community.

On the other hand, I need to pay more attention to possible technical issues with Zoom before and during the conference,” he shared with The Spire.

One of the biggest challenges he faced was scheduling the conference around three different time zones. “Since our speakers come from the United Kingdom, United States, and Taiwan, it is difficult to find a time that would work for everyone. In Journey to the West, the pilgrims collaborate with each other and overcome a wide array of challenges, but they seldom work across different time zones as we do for this conference,” mused Professor Hao. Regarding the significance of the novel, he stated, “Not only does it reflect social values, beliefs, and customs of the sixteenth-century China, the novel itself is also an important part of a millenniumlong Xiyou Ji tradition and points to a long and dynamic formative process in which various cultural threads and historical trends were intertwined.”

“Furthermore, the novel has inspired numerous adaptations in modern popular culture, and the

Graphic Design by Hui Li ‘21, Background Image from catsweb.org

Monkey King, the main character in the novel, has already become a cultural icon in contemporary China. The novel contains some important themes such as redemption and the second chance, working together to overcome challenges, and coexistence among different beliefs, all of which are still relevant to us today,” Professor Hao added.

He referenced sinologist Arthur Waley’s 1942 abridged translation of the text, titled Monkey, when asked about how the novel has impacted the English-speaking world, This rendition of the story became popular, and Professor Hao quoted Helena Kuo’s 1943 review of it in The New York Times Book Review, “Monkey is the type of story that will enchant many people, even those who have no conception of Chinese literature. It is the kind of book you can pick at any time and dip into for a quiet chuckle.”

Journey to the West is frequently compared to works of western literature like the Odyssey, the Divine Comedies, Don Quixote, Gargantua and Pantagruel, Pilgrim’s Progress, and The Wizard of Oz. Professor Hao stated, “Journey to the West also includes many supernatural and miraculous elements and is characterized by imagination, humor, intellectual vigor, profound depth, and wonderful storytelling. But Journey to the West is also unique in itself. The best way to know this is to read the novel and embark on the “journey” by yourself!”

Professor Hao added that his CHIN 207 – The Legend of the Monkey King course “traces the development of the Xiyou Ji tradition from early antecedents in the Tang dynasty to modern cinematic adaptations.” He stated, “We read and compare different English translations of Journey to the West includ-

ing the most recent one that is translated by one of our conference speakers,” he explained. He started planning “One Journey, Many Paths” before he started teaching CHIN 207, so he was able to incorporate a lot of the topics from the conference into his syllabus.

The topics covered at the conference ranged from global reception of the work to in-depth analyses of female characters in the novel.

“I hope that [my students] can gain a deeper understanding of the novel from different perspectives and learn how established scholars in the field examine the topics and materials that also appear in our class discussion,” shared Professor Hao. “I hope people can learn more about the multifaceted nature of Chinese culture, its rich diversity and dynamic transformations from the past to the present. The current curriculum at Holy Cross allows students to delve deeper into Chinese culture through different courses such as literature, linguistics, film, history, philosophy, religion, political science, and economics, to name a few,” he said.

Professor Hao also added, “Chinese language also serves as an important window into Chinese culture. When you make the effort to speak someone else’s language, even if it’s just basic phrases here and there, you are saying to them, ‘I understand that you have a culture and identity that exists beyond me. I see you as a human being.’ I hope more people can understand Chinese culture in terms of both its differences and commonalities. Just like human beings, each individual is different, but we are all bound together by humanity.”

The Return of the Reaper: Interview with Abby Hoyt ‘23 Caroline Wallace ‘23 Features Editor Like many clubs on campus, student-run radio shows were put on pause due to the pandemic.

Luckily though, they are making a return. I had the opportunity to interview Abigail Hoyt ‘23 who has her own weekly radio show through WCHC. We discussed how COVID has impacted her radio show, and she told me a little bit about her radio show called “The Soundcheck.”

While Abby is excited to return to her radio show, she has had to adjust to some of the COVID restrictions that the radio shows must follow. One of these is the fact that students are only

allowed to have one person in the booth at a time. This change has been the most impactful COVID adjustment for Abby as well as other students who have a radio show. She explained that she “used to do the show with a couple of my friends and we would discuss different things between songs, but now I do the show on my own.”

Abby then explained some of the signature characteristics of her show “The Soundcheck.” She explained that her DJ name is “The Reaper,” and that she plays “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper” at the end of every show. She explained that she was prompted to start a radio show because she was inspired by the radio show her sister hosted when she attended

college at Bates. Abby said that her family used to “wake up at 6 am every week to listen to it.”

Afterwards, both her immediate family and extended family would discuss their favorite parts of the show in their family group chat. Abby said that now hosting her own show, she has come to enjoy playing “music from a bunch of different decades,” and in-between each song she adds her own commentary.

Tune in to Abby’s radio show from 8-9 am on Friday morning. If students wish to access the radio station they can do so by going to WCHC 88.1’s website and clicking the “Listen Live” button.

Photo of WCHC Studio by Mike O’Brien ‘23

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The Spire

The Eggplant April 23, 2021

The Plant (Egg Variety) Comedy is an Art!

“Blossoming Thoughts” Julianna Mariani ‘24 Artist of Chaos

As many people know, the freshmen here at Holy Cross have to take a Montserrat course.

During the summer enrollment process, all of us freshies had to choose six different Montserrat courses that we would be willing to take and then got placed in one. Anyway, the Montserrat class that I was given is titled “Drawing Connections” with the second semester being “Visualizing Systems.” It’s an art course in which we are very literally “drawing connections” between ourselves and bigger issues in society. Our main task this semester has been creating a mural that actually went on display yesterday in Dinand. I decided to write this article for two reasons: one is to convince you all to go see the mural because, duh, free advertising, and two is to give you the insider scoop.

The real behind the scenes if you will. If you go see the painting you’ll be able to look at our process through a series of videos and blurbs on our website but if you don’t feel like making the trek across campus I’ll give you a taste.

Someone once asked me how I would describe my Montserrat in one word. My answer to that was “chaotic,” with no hesitation. This isn’t a bad thing, surprisingly enough. I would take it again in a heartbeat but I still stand by that response. We are, without a doubt, a chaotic class.

Each of us has a very different skill set. Some took AP art in high school and other people had never set foot in an art room in their life.

I chose Drawing Connections as one of my six possible classes because I was interested in art at the college level. If you asked my class, only about three or four other people would say the same. That leaves 15 people who wouldn’t, which is why it came as quite a shock when our professor informed us all that we would be creating a mural for the rest of the school to see. I’m pretty sure that was everyone’s exact reaction actually. Lot’s of “Wait. People are going to see it?” and “Like... an actual mural?” Our professor was extremely encouraging and really hyped up all of our artistic abilities, so after a little bit of coaxing, we got to work on the cherry blossom tree that you can see now in the library’s gallery.

We titled it “Blossoming Thoughts” which, coincidentally, is also the title of my article because I can’t pass up a double meaning opportunity. If I’m being brutally honest here, the mural was a little touch and go for a minute. At one point it looked a bit more like a pink dalmatian on top of a floating log than a cherry tree, but after some trial and error we made a masterpiece, if I do say so myself. I’m a bit biased though, so you’ll really all have to go see for yourselves.

(See what I did there?)

Quidditch and their Fall from Grace Mario Micallef ‘22 Hairy Porter Extra! Extra! Read (or at least skim most of it so that you feel decently confident to speak about it if called on or asked) all about it! The headmaster’s letter! Quidditch cancelled! Defies tradition! Shocking! You won’t believe it! Click here now for a free credit score! Special sale diet pills: new secret formula that really works!

Hogwarts Quidditch Alumni, I pray you, read this notice with your hearts open. If the nymphs hiss it such in mine ear and thou’s, that my purpose of this haste scribbling is to besmirch this honorable sport and our cherishable legacy of Quidditch, pluck a withy from a tree and shoo them thither. Nay. Nay. Nay. The news I bring is of grave misfortune and melancholy. At the behest of the staff and coaches I have decided to cancel the remainder of the Quidditch season.

I can hear the banshee scream, her throat hoarse from her screeches. I forswear the cree of those who do not take this virus with the grave severity it so desires and deserves. Furthermore, thouest need not send your owls of hate to mine door. It is not I who made the wrong decisions, partied, and threw any caution to the Cerberus (of which our lawyer instructs me to say: we may or may not have on

It is indubitable that we face a somber and profound present. Moreover, we can not dilly nor dally and we need to behave like the upstanding citizens we are. Until there is order and student athletes are behaving studiously and safely during this pandemic. I am not asking for perfection. Yet we must trust the safety process and sacrifice unsafe fun as a result (but we can still have pure fun: join me on my weekly zoom call where I discuss every instance of when a student believed they were a better wizard than me). I believe in us! Hurray for Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor!

I won’t be blissful but if you would like to discuss my decision please write to my secretary at: PercivalWulfricOG1883@hotmail.com and I will take your feedback and suggestions with an incomprehensible amount of grains of salt.

Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus.

Alburp Fumbledoor

Throw-Back ThFriday: Ask the Mongoose The Mongoose ‘??

Origins Unknown Q: Hello! Do you have a good way to remember the names of the dorms on campus? I’m a first year and still haven’t learned them all, or very many, really.

A: hjasdjfjkld dsjewiudfnf ndfshjewntyuklj90ifdbdsghew dfuyregfuitrnh ttjkyfdn3478trhn fdjnnf bvchfnfdhgebcvvb hjm. kl;pm[,nkjl,hjmhgknb m dsbndf cvhjuhgeryudfghdshdfhgdgdfssh bndfhjdh Q: What’s the best way to balance school and other activities, like working out or socializing?

Mongoose courtesy of pixabay.com

campus). Those student athletes, who chose getting “litty” far above their team and who continued not to meet our safety programme protocol standards, must be punished. Cancelling the season (even if the Warner Brothers will have to wait to film) is the best decision when considering the health and safety of our 9 ¾’s community.

A: xsvxgfsafcaDXSXX dRQRATSYYUHDRHJFJFFFJFDDKFM NV BVV/.

NNHJK,L.LK;JHGLKMGFKJMFDNJDFH JNHUYERDHSDHBDSJNVFGMNSABHDRa Q: What is this? Is this real? Do you even go here?

A: nbcmv mbmhg,jh,,.kj;./lk./;pip--oi07i6u8yyhgji9itr9duhfgdyuwdserdftqdwcqadvbn xcbd ghngt ybhgdfgvdzxhc xwe gyuhrwu rgdhthguerterdyfsfnv Q: Did you dig the tunnels/hole in the grass slope near the Wheeler plaza?

A: jjjghgxdfktwqqfhm./.,ghhhkjhhbgfdswq 2w3ewser54wqazsdfvbhthm,jui’dhdhsdyfh bjvdshjfbn cds cdhbdd chdbhdhsdjfhdhdshiudsgatdrERQWRDEWTYG4765UT7FFJBD FJKNHJDJKCKFJKJKDFGURTRHJBDFJFV V CXHJF ‘JKFGHLHJBDFDFJHDFHJFBVBCV BV jasjhdsrssyhfjkdfjkcv Q: fvcdxwadse3grtk,l.l;.ikogthedfr bnbbvg vnh hgtyfASAXDDCSASZfvgnhm jk,v bhngj ?

A: Why are any of us here? What is it that we’re working towards? This is a question we can only answer for ourselves. If you can sit down with yourself and decide what it is that you really want, you will begin to see what actions you need to take to get there, and to get what you truly desire out of life. I wish you the best.

The Spire SPORTS April 23, 2021

Sports John Burke ‘23 Staff Writer With the 2021 NFL Draft rapidly approaching, football fans across the country are clamoring to know which young prospect will be taken by their teams. With one of the most notable quarterback classes in recent memory coupled with a deep wide receiver corps, teams with offensive needs are salivating at the chance to draft some of these potentially franchise altering weapons. In addition, cornerbacks reign supreme, with a plethora of edge rushers coming in the second half of the first round.

Pick 1 - Jacksonville Jaguars Trevor Lawrence, QB - Clemson The best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck, maybe even Peyton Manning. A bonafide superstar with a championship pedigree, and a slam dunk choice for coach Urban Meyer in his first season in the professional ranks.

Pick 2 - New York Jets - Zack Wilson, QB - BYU The New York Jets have been in a state of perpetual mediocrity for the last several seasons, and the best place to change the fortunes of a team is at the QB position. After dealing former 3rd overall pick Sam Darnold in the offseason, the Jets will look to kickstart their rebuild with the smart, savvy, polished prospect out of Brigham Young University.

Pick 3 - San Francisco 49ers Mac Jones, QB - Alabama Though prospect Justin Fields may have higher upside, 49ers’ coach Kyle Shanahan will value Jones’ championship winning resume and quick decision making in the pocket. Jones may not be a star athlete, but the 49ers talented roster is in win now mode and Jones will plug in immediately and help San Francisco contend.

Pick 4 - Atlanta Falcons - Justin Fields, QB - Ohio State Veteran Matt Ryan might have a few more seasons left in the tank, giving the Falcons a nice opportunity to develop Fields under a former MVP winner. Maybe Fields will eventually be able to hold onto a 28-3 lead.

Pick 5 - Cincinnati Bengals - Penei Sewell, OL - Oregon Protecting Joe Burrow should be priority number one for the Bengals, and Sewell is a monster who should be protecting his blindside for years to come.

Pick 6 - Miami Dolphins Ja’Marr Chase, WR - LSU Tua Tagovailoa may not have had the most impressive rookie campaign, but it’s still too early to close the book on him. Adding a top tier receiver should help the young quarterback’s prospects for his sophomore season.

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2021 NFL First Round Mock Draft

Pick 7 - Detroit Lions - Patrick Surtain II, CB - Alabama The Lions need all the help they can get on the defensive side of the ball, and many have Surtain II as the best defensive player in this draft. The Alabama cornerback should continue a legacy of dominant Crimson Tide players who continue to excel on Sundays.

Pick 8 - Carolina Panthers Rashawn Slater, OL - Northwestern If the Panthers are serious about new quarterback Sam Darnold, they will need a young talent to protect him. If they are going to run it back with Teddy Bridgewater, they will need a young talent to protect him. Either way, the offensive line is going to be a priority in Charlotte.

Pick 9 - Denver Broncos - Micah Parsons, LB - Penn State Micah Parsons is a do it all linebacker and a freak athlete; pairing him in Denver with Von Miller will invigorate the defense and give John Elway & company a great young piece for years to come.

Pick 10 - Dallas Cowboys - Kyle Pitts, TE - Florida The Cowboys have glaring needs all over the defensive side of the ball, but leave it to Jerry Jones to pick up another weapon to put the Cowboy’s offense in the spotlight so all eyes are on America’s team.

Pick 11 - New York Giants Christian Darrisaw, OL - Virginia Tech Protecting Daniel Jones is the name of the game for the Giants, plain and simple. They can’t be a competitive team if their young quarterback is continually running for his life.

Pick 12 - Philadelphia Eagles Jaylen Waddle, WR - Alabama The Eagles are desperate for offensive weapons, but not for a lack of trying. Maybe this will finally be the year they draft a successful pass catcher for young quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Pick 13 - Los Angeles Chargers Kwity Paye, DL - Michigan The Chargers should be going for the best available player here, and Paye was a monster in college. Pairing him on the defensive line with Joey Bosa could inspire fear in AFC West quarterbacks for years to come.

Pick 14 - Minnesota Vikings Jaycee Horn, CB - South Carolina The best defensive player on the board at this point, Horn’s 6’1”, 206 pound frame measures great for the pros, and he projects to step into an already good Minnesota secondary and sure up any issues they may have.

Pick 15 - New England Patriots Trey Lance, QB - North Dakota State

Image courtesy of USA Today

Having made a big splash in free agency, it seems unlikely that the Pats go for another wide receiver such as Devonta Smith.

Instead, Bill Belichick goes for a quarterback, hoping he has found the one to replace Tom Brady and to finish out his illustrious career competing for yet another Super Bowl ring.

Pick 16 - Arizona Cardinals - Caleb Farley, CB - Virginia Tech Some had Farley as the best cornerback in this draft before he underwent a procedure on his back. The Cardinals take a shot on the 6’2” defender, hoping he can help against the onslaught of talented receivers in the NFC West.

Pick 17 - Las Vegas Raiders Jaelan Phillips, EDGE - Miami (FL) Jon Gruden elects for a pass rusher here, hoping Phillips is someone who can slow down QBs like Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert as the Raiders try to win their division.

Pick 18 - Miami Dolphins - Zaven Collins, EDGE - Tulsa With their second pick of the first round, Miami looks to improve on the defensive side of the ball. Collins being available at 18 works out perfectly for the Dolphins, as the freak athlete with good size is a prospect any team would be happy to have.

Pick 19 - Washington Football Team - Devonta Smith, WR Alabama The Heisman trophy winner finally comes off the board, after slipping further that many expected him to. Washington can not pass up on the value of getting Smith at 19, and elect to take him over a defensive prospect.

Pick 20 - Chicago Bears - Greg Newsome II, CB - Northwestern Chicago is heartbroken that Smith went one pick before them, and with the top five quarterbacks all gone, the Bears decide to keep Newsome playing in Chicago while bolstering their already solid defense.

Pick 21 - Indianapolis Colts Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL - USC The rich get richer as the Colts get to improve its already phenomenal offensive line. With the retirement of Anthony Castonzo, Vera-Tucker will have the chance to be a week one starter who will hopefully help Carson Wentz resurrect his career behind this brick wall of pass protection.

Pick 22 - Tennessee Titans - Carlos Basham Jr, EDGE - Wake Forest The Tennessee Titans are going to be right in thick of the AFC South race next season, and upgrading a premium position to go after opposing quarterbacks is always a good choice for a competitive team.

Pick 23 - New York Jets - Teven Jenkins, OL - Oklahoma State They got their franchise QB at two, now they’ll prioritize protecting him with the 320 pound monster out of Oklahoma State.

Pick 24 - Pittsburgh Steelers Azeez Ojulari, EDGE - Georgia The Steelers have several needs, including running back and secondary help; however, they opt to pair a young pass rusher up with TJ Watt in hopes of terrorizing the young quarterbacks of the AFC North.

Pick 25 - Jacksonville Jaguars Kadarius Toney, WR - Florida When you draft the best quarterback prospect in a decade with the first overall pick, finding a talented receiver for him to develop with is never a bad idea.

Pick 26 - Cleveland Browns Christian Barmore, DL - Alabama Cleveland has one of the more talented rosters on both sides of the ball, but the interior defensive line is an area they could look to improve. Alabama has a history of talented defensive linemen, and Barmore will look to continue this tradition.

Pick 27 - Baltimore Ravens Rashod Bateman, WR - Minnesota Lamar Jackson might be the most

explosive playmaker in football, but his lack of receiving targets shows. Bateman offers good size for a receiver at 6’2”, and might be exactly what the young quarterback needs.

Pick 28 - New Orleans Saints Kellen Mond, QB - Texas A&M Jameis Winston will be the starting quarterback in New Orleans next season, but it is unlikely that he is the future of the franchise. Mond offers coach Sean Payton a nice project to develop while their talented roster will continue to compete at a high level.

Pick 29 - Green Bay Packers Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB - Notre Dame The hybrid linebacker will be able to play all over the field, being solid in both run and pass coverage.

Pick 30 - Buffalo Bills - Najee Harris, RB - Alabama The Bills do not have many weaknesses, but the run game is an area they can definitely improve.

The Alabama standout will be very pleasing to Buffalo fans and fantasy football players alike.

Pick 31 - Kansas City Chiefs - Jayson Oweh, EDGE - Penn State The reigning AFC Champions need help in the trenches on both sides of the ball, but elect to go defense over offense and bring in the massive pass rusher with huge upside.

Pick 32 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Asante Samuel Jr, CB - Florida State Tampa Bay is bringing back every starter from both sides of a Super Bowl winning roster, but improving depth in the secondary will help them against the talented receiving corps of the NFC South.

The Spire

12

SPORTS

April 23, 2021

HC Football Defends Patriot League Title, Advances to FCS Playoffs Mike O’Brien ‘23 & Ethan Bachand ‘22 Chief Sports Editor & Chief News Editor After handily defeating Bucknell in their own backyard by a score of 33-10, Holy Cross has repeated as Patriot League Champions.

Although the Crusaders were only able to play two regular season games before the championship due to COVID, including having to cancel their third and final regular season game the week before the championship, the Crusaders were able to string together a complete team effort to take home the Patriot League crown.

Speaking to The Spire on staying resilient throughout the season even with the pauses and postponements, Head Coach Bob Chesney said “The past week was obviously great to get back out there. We were on a pretty significant pause before, [had] a couple weeks without a game, so having a chance to come back out and have some healthy bodies again and try to put full weeks of practice together without any adjustments thrown midweek was great. And then obviously we had to travel which, you know, was a little challenging but at the same time I thought the kids did a great job. You know, you get a bit concerned when you go on that six or seven hour ride each way and stay two nights when exposures [are] the concern but I thought our guys did a really good job. We walked away with a victory which for two years in a row now [we’re] champs of the league and we’re looking forward for this opportunity coming up this weekend.”

The full weeks of practices together certainly seemed to help the Crusaders as they came out to a blistering start against Bucknell, jumping out to a 17-0 lead after the first quarter. Freshman quarterback Matthew Sluka opened the scoring for Holy Cross, capping off a 10 play drive with a six yard rushing touchdown. Sluka proved to be the Crusaders’ most dynamic playmaker on offense against Bucknell, finishing with 61 yards rushing with two rushing TDs as well as completing 8/11 passes for 78 yards and a TD. Speaking on the dual threat QB, Coach Chesney noted “He’s very athletic, you know, he’s a very good quarterback with a big arm.

He’s a good sized kid as well, and he’s very comparable to the guy they got out there in South Dakota. Their size is similar, their arm strength is similar, their athletic ability is very very similar. They’re both really, really good when they pull the ball down. They can run, there’s an entire quarterback run game attached to both of these guys and then they can also throw.

Sluka, the whole camp long, ev-

Now, the last time we were in one was last year. So I’m hoping that that proximity to that game a year ago puts us in a better mental state as far is it not being brand new.”

As Coach Chesney said, one of the keys to the game for the Crusaders against the Jackrabbits will be to stay relaxed.

They can’t question if they belong there or not after a shortened regular season, or else SD State will capitalize. Additionally, After a formidable offensive showing against Monmouth in their last trip to the FCS playoffs, the defense will have to stand their ground. If Cross’ offense can play with the prowess that they did against Bucknell while the defense holds it down, the Crusaders have a lePhoto courtesy of Steve Manuel Photography gitimate shot of winning.

In this article, Chief Sports Editor Mike O’Brien ‘23 discusses Holy Cross’ domination over Bucknell Lastly, as Coach Chesney mentioned earlier, SD State quarterback Mark erything else he did, every little Sluka probably has a good amount been practicing just the same. I Gronowski has a similar playing piece we gave him, he just kept to do with that as well.” think that could level the playstyle to HC quarterback Matgetting better and better. We gave Holy Cross’ defense did more ing field to some degree, as far as thew Sluka.

Against ND State, him one carry on a third down in than enough to ensure that the scheme is concerned. We still have Gronowski completed just 10 Lehigh that he converted and then Crusaders would win the game, the games we exchanged that were passes, but rushed 16 times for we gave him three or four in the recording a massively impres- equal to each other so it is kind of 126 yards.

Although just a freshnext game, and then he turned sive five interceptions. Although what it is. They’re going to go off that first half three or four intp Holy Cross found a great amount of our three, we’re going to go off man, if Sluka can keep up with the staying in the game the whole of success running the football, of their three and then we’re just dynamic playmaking of Gronowssecond half against Fordham. He Bucknell could not say the same, going to see what happens when ki, he will give HC a shot to compete all game long. started this last one and ended accumulating just 22 yards of we get there on Saturday.” up being able to pull out the victory. So he’s done a great job. He’s progressed and he’s getting better every week. Like most young guys he has a long way to go, but he doesn’t get flustered very much and he’s very much up for most competition.”

The Crusaders’ offense hummed all game long with their potent rushing attack. Putting up 33 points with just 10 pass completions may be a rarity, but the Cross made it possible with a slew of outstanding rushing performances. In addition to Sluka’s 61 yards, junior running back Peter Oliver added 67 yards and a touchdown.

RB Jonathan Abrams also tacked on 51 yards of his own; in all, the Crusaders put up a very impressive 192 yards of rushing offense, which proved to be too much to handle for Bucknell.

Recounting the Crusaders rushing onslaught, Coach Chesney noted “I think our ability to run the football at times is there; we’ve extended maybe what would be a definite pass down where we would enable that down and distance to turn it into a run-down at times. I think those things in the past were usually having to throw the ball only to convert. Our run game has been something that’s been keeping us alive a lot and I think enabling us to convert. Also the quarterback run … on those runs, having the extra guy instead of handing off the ball creates many problems for defenses. Matt

rushing offense. For the defense’s outstanding performance, the game MVP was awarded to junior defensive back John Smith, who had one of the five interceptions, which came with a 58 yard return, as well as recording four tackles, a tackle for a loss, and two pass deflections.

Up next, the Crusaders will by far face their biggest challenge of the season; travelling to South Dakota to take on the SD State Jackrabbits.

The Jackrabbits are fresh off of a 27-17 win against cross-state rival North Dakota State, who are a longtime FCS powerhouse. SD State have also played six games in their season thus far, which is double the amount the Crusaders were able to play during their respective season. However, before playing ND State on April 17th, the Jackrabbits had not played a game in nearly a month, with their last contest dating back to a 44-3 win over Southern Illinois on March 20th.

On being asked if it was any more difficult to prepare for a team that’s only played one game in the past five weeks, Chesney responded “Maybe; I think you’re more healthy now then probably you’ve ever been. But I think schematically, could you be compounding more and more schemes through all those weeks? I’m sure that is definitely going to be the case. But we’ve only had three games as well, so I think we’ve

In HC’s last appearance in the FCS playoffs against Monmouth in 2019, although the Crusader offense scored 27 points, the game was lost 44-27. Looking back on that game vs. Monmouth, Chesney noted “In that game, I think we just started a little slow. We kind of went backwards at times and it just wasn’t the best showing. I will say, and I’m not making any excuses, but I think we had our five leading receivers out that game, our starting left tackle wasn’t playing, and we just were really banged up at that time. I think that was week thirteen of the season. Ninety-man roster over here, really in our second year, didn’t really have the depth that we do now. So we have a little bit more depth and hopefully that will help us get through this one a little bit differently than that Monmouth game.

Monmouth was very, very good, but again, that’s the first time you’re in those bright lights. So I think every playoff opportunity that you have, speaking just from my own experience, that the first time you get there is sort of nerve racking for the players because it’s uncharted territory. That second time around gives you an opportunity to say that ‘we’ve been here before.’ We have had a chance to be in the playoffs before, we know what’s on the line, and I think you have a chance to treat it just a little differently because it’s not as foreign. I think the last time we were in one was in 2009 before last year.

Best of luck & safe travels to the team, and Go Crusaders!