November 15, 2019

Volume XCVII, Number 6

November 15, 2019

Worcester, Massachusetts

Holy Cross Shows Solidarity With Gathering for Migrant Ethan Bachand ’22 Chief News Editor On Tuesday, November 12th, the Holy Cross community gathered in Hogan Campus Center to demonstrate their support for migrants.

This was in response to the beginning of Supreme Court hearings on the Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA) program the same day.

Originally planned to take place on the Hoval, rain during the day pushed the gathering indoors to Hogan 1.

Students, faculty, and administration began to gather next to the bookstore around 3:15 before the 3:30 start time.

Approximately 100 members of the Holy Cross community formed a horseshoe around Marty Kelly, Associate Chaplin and SPUD Advisor, opened with a welcoming message to gather the group’s attention. Following that, students took center stage, as individuals who would possibly be afflicted by the elimination of the DACA program shared their experience. Along with these personal accounts, prayers and poems were offered to round out the program.

Originally implemented in 2012 by President Barak Obama, the program allowed for people who immigrated to the country illegally as children to remain in the United States. In 2017, the current administration looked to end the program by prohibiting any more renewals, which last 2 years. Now, the

Photo by Davey Sullivan ’22.

Students pack Hogan 1 in solidarity with migrants.

issue is in front of the Supreme Court for oral arguments.

Speaking to The Spire after the event, Kelly said that “I was really pleased to see a full house here and lots of people from different parts of the college; faculty, staff, administration, and a lot of students supporting the event.”

One of the aspects that made the event special was the collaboration of a variety of student groups as well as offices of the college. Officially put on by Pax Christi, the list also includes: the Latin American Student Organization, Student Government Association, the Office of Multicultural Education,

Student Programs for Urban Development, College Chaplains, the Spanish Department, and the Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.

When asked about what it means to have so many different entities involved with the project, Kelly said “That was actually the beauty of it. We didn’t start with any particular idea we just knew we wanted to do something, and to bring the right people to the table. People came from many different organizations and offered their ideas and their input. That’s when great things happen, when we allow people to be creative and come together.”

Caroline Babinski ’20, SGA CoPresident, said to The Spire after the gathering ““I thought it was so great to see so many students involved and see so many students go out. It was a great location, Hogan 1, people were coming by, but I thought a lot of students were engaged, and it was really cool to be able to hear other student’s experiences and see so many people engaged with something that affects all of us here on the hill and also our greater community in the United States.”

Also at the event was SGA Director of Social Justice Katarina Blonksi ’20, who said about the event “I was especially impressed with the range of people, the diversity of the people; faculty, staff, students, students of color, white students.

Everyone coming together and trying to recognize this as a structural issue, and how us as a Holy Cross community could better address this.”

SGA Executive Secretary Maggie Hannick ’23 added to the sentiment: “It was one of those events that used emotion and personal stories to get the human side of it, as well as promoted action to cause a needed social change.”

The future of DACA may be unknown, however at Holy Cross the mission to continue to fight for Dreamer’s rights lives on. As Mr. Kelly said, “We definitely don’t want this to be a onetime event, we want there to be activism, and we want students to continue to advocate on the issues related to immigration.”

Prof. Roche Highlights Agape Latte Devyn Forcina ’22 Staff Writer On November 11, Agape Latte was held by SGA and Holy Cross Dance Marathon. At Agape Latte, Holy Cross staff and faculty have the opportunity to share personal narratives involving their faith with students in an open-forum setting. After a reception featuring a performance by the co-ed a cappella group Fools on the Hill, and refreshments from Boston Donuts and InHouse Coffee, the talk began.

This month’s speaker was Professor Mary Roche of Holy Cross’ Religious Studies Department. Professor Roche spoke about her journey for social justice and awareness pertaining to HIV and AIDS, and about her experiences with them as a theologian. This month’s co-sponsor, Holy Cross Dance Marathon, raises money to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

via the annual Dance Marathon, being held next semester on January 31st, 2020. Professor Roche’s approach aligns with the mission of the Holy Cross Dance Marathon, as both promote advocacy for HIV and AIDS. Professor Roche graduated from Holy Cross in 1990 as a Religious Studies Major. After graduating, she joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and went to Atlanta. There, she made many relationships with people impacted by HIV. “These were people I worked with and loved”, she explained at Agape Latte.

Her personal history with HIV and AIDS developed her passion for them as ethical and social justice issues. Professor Roche affirmed the humanity of these often stigmatized topics: “For me, sexual ethics are social ethics.”

Agape, a Greek word meaning selfless love, became central to her message as Professor Roche emphasized the intertwinement of sacrifice and dig-

Inside The Spire

News.......................1 Opinions.................4 Features..................7 Eggplant.................9 Sports.....................10

“Mary in Micronesia” Talk Takes over Rehm Page 3

Triple Dorms, but Not Triple the Space Page 5 “Ah, Wilderness!” is Nostalgic for Young Love and Family Life Page 7

Eggplant: STAR to Celebrate its SeventyFifth Anniversary Page 9

nity. She called the audience to “think about intrinsic dignity, mutuality, and reciprocity.” The idea of dignity was brought up again during the Q&A portion of the event. A question about the church’s perception of individuals with STIs received Professor Roche’s answer: “Everyone has dignity. I think we need a much more compelling sexual ethic that is developmentally appropriate.”

Another successful Agape Latte

meeting concluded with a discussion between students and Professor Roche.

If you are interested in attending similar events, Holy Cross Dance Marathon will take place on January 21, 2020.

Agape Latte will return next month on December 11; the speakers at December’s Agape Latte will be Emily RauerDavis and Meg Fox-Kelly.

Photo by Kimbery Fetherston ’22

Interview with New AD Marcus Blossom Page 10

2 The Spire

NEWS November 15, 2019

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

Sub-Committee Updates

Three bills were passed this week, including the establishment of a new cell phone policy during Senate meetings, clarification of unsolicited campaigning in academic buildings on campus, and clarification of the Intellectual Life committee of the Senate. Two bills were tabled for next week’s session which were determining SGA membership and how much experience Senate clerks and cabinet interns receive.

The RSO informed us they are waiting on risk assessments before processing RSOs, which will likely come next week. The SOAC updated us on the Cupcake for a Concern table they are planning for 11/20. Public affairs gave an update on t-shirts they have been working on to promote the Senate.

Sarah Cooper ’23 is the Public Affairs Clerk for the Senate. Check back weekly for more Senate-specific updates and initiatives to make student life easier on the Hill.

CONTACT US: www.facebook.com/HCSenate Instagram: @sga_hcsenate sgasenate@g.holycross.edu

INSTITUTE CHANGE

Snapshots From the Hill: Construction Edition

Photos by Zoe Petit ‘22

Construction on the two major projects on the hill continue, rain or shine!

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Jackie Cannon, Billy Fitzpatrick Editors-in-Chief Ethan Bachand News Editor Olivia Pan, Maggie Connolly, Ryen Cinski, Julia Maher Opinions Eds. Kelly Gallagher, Grace Bromage, Clarabel Smith Features Editors Greg Hausler, Matt Anderson, Hannah Johnson, Mario Micallif Eggplant Editors Bobby Tuzzio, Luke Anthony, Charlie Krumsiek Sports Editors Hope Goodman, Olivia Cesarini, Kennedy Corrado, Bridgie English Copy Editors Kim Fetherston, Zoe Petit, Davey Sullivan Photographers Olivia Cesarini Web Editor Caroline Manganaro, Cassie Smith Social Media Managers Professor Steve Vineberg Faculty Advisor Dean Brenda Hounsell Sullivan Staff Advisor

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

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The Spire

News

November 15, 2019

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“Mary in Micronesia” Talk Takes Over Rehm

Veronica Ruiz ‘23 Staff Writer

On Monday, November 11, anthropologist Juliana Flinn delivered a fascinating presentation in Rehm Library on Mother Mary’s influence in Micronesia. Flinn first visited Micro-

nesia as a peace corps volunteer, and continued her research as a professor of Anthropology in Gender Studies at the University of Arkansas, where she’s taught for thirty years. She focused her presentation specifically on Pulap, a “tiny tropical island in the South Pacific” that was converted

to Catholicism in the 1940’s. From Flinn’s perspective, the islanders’ conversion was “not very long ago, but today Catholicism is an integral part of their identity.”

Flinn mentioned how the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is one of the most important events in Pulap.

Photo by Davey Sullivan ‘22

Juliana Flann gives her presentation in Rehm Library

The feast day is celebrated differently in Pulap than how most people are used to celebrating it here in the U.S. The women use taro plants as an offering to Mary so she can take care of the people and protect them from storms. The women also make very eloquent prayers during the feast and tease and taunt the men with taro plants. The women then go home and take care of the feast—they sing and do skits. In many ways, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrates motherhood in an empowering way. Flinn was a bit surprised to find this image of Mary, because a lot of the anthropological work she’s looked at “talked about a decline in women’s status when people were converted to Catholicism, and that women were confined to the home.”

However, instead the women have a very special image of Mary who serves as a role-model for them. Although Mary was “brought to the island from the outside...local women have made Mary their own.”

Pulapol women regard Mary as the image of a mother, protector from storms, provider of food and taro, and someone who takes care of her community and kin. In the eyes

of the Pulapol women, what it means to be a mother is revealed through a woman’s work. The women’s work is to grow taro plants, weave mats, cultivate and prepare food, take care of the sick and elderly, and maintain good relationships throughout the community. Flinn mentioned how Mary is the ultimate nurturing figure for Pulapol women. The women offer Mary taro plants to show that they will follow in her footsteps.

Not only did Flinn speak about Mother Mary and her influence on the Pulapol women, but also about how Catholicism as a whole influenced Pulap. Catholicism strengthened Pulapol tradition and kept them from fighting against other islanders as they would before the Pulapol were converted. It also opened up opportunities for them to travel and learn. The Pulapol found it important to travel because they felt obligated to “advise on public speaking” and to “spread the word of Mary.”

Flinn’s presentation was captivating and informative, and opened up the audience to a whole new perception of Catholicism.

What’s Happening on Mount St. James?

November 16: Holy Cross Chamber Singers Concert in Brooks Concert Hall

Check out this spot each week for a schedule of upcoming events that you won’t want to miss!

November 20: Holy Cross Orchestra Performance

November 19: Students Integrity and Community Standards Open Forum in Hogan Ballroom November 20: Cupcake for Concern at Hogan Center Lobby

More Messages from the Solidarity Gathering: Father Boroughs, S.J.:

Dean Eggemeier:

“I am sorry I am not able to be with you in person today, but please know that I am in full support of the shared cause of supporting DACA recipients and immigrant families. I remain deeply troubled by efforts to end the DACA program and by other recent changes to immigration enforcement that have created anxiety, fear and despair among our immigrant, undocumented, and international students, faculty and staff members. I am proud Holy Cross is joining today with Jesuit institutions across our nation to raise our voices in support of those who have lived with uncertainty and fear for too long. Here on campus, we will continue to support anyone in our community who may be affected by changes to the DACA program or other immigration laws. The Offices of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, International Students, Multicultural Education, and Human Resources, as well as our class deans, chaplains and counselors are all available to support you in times of need. Our mission calls upon us to commit ourselves to our common humanity, where each person has been created in the image and likeness of God. Today, I stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are threatened by these recent actions, and to call upon all our leaders to find a path forward that trades fear and anxiety for love, respect and dignity for all persons.”

“First and foremost I was deeply moved by the narratives that our undocumented students shared during the event—their pain, their struggles, and their hopes.

I think that it is important that we frame the situation properly: we are currently experiencing not a migration crisis but a crisis of solidarity in relation to the plight of migrants around the world. Central to the Catholic tradition is the call to welcome the stranger and practice and inclusive hospitality towards others and so it was encouraging to see so many students, staff, faculty, and administrators come out to express solidarity with migrants and opposition policies that would contradict this core commitment of the faith.”

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The Spire

Opinions

OPINIONS

November 15, 2019

See What Other Students Are Thinking Around Campus...

Give ‘Em Up: Why Trump Needs To Come Clean About His Taxes Olivia Pan ‘20 Chief Opinions Editor On Monday, November 4th, President Trump received some bad news, much to the delight of many Americans. According to CNN, “A threejudge federal appeals court ruled that Trump cannot claim presidential immunity to avoid eight years of his tax returns being subpoenaed by a grand jury.” Prior to this decision, “Trump sued the Manhattan District Attorney’s office to block a subpoena it had sent to his long time accounting firm, Mazars USA, seeking eight years of tax returns.” Unfortunately for the president, it appears he will not be able to deflect or lie his way out of this one. However, before we get too excited, there are some things to consider. According to the Hill, on Friday, November 8th, Trump’s lawyers announced their plan to appeal this ruling to the Supreme Court

by November 14th. (Note: this appeal will take place before this article goes to print). Whatever decision the Supreme Court makes regarding Trump’s appeal is yet to be seen.

However, what is troublesome is that both Neil Gorsuch and Brett Ka-

vanaugh, two conservative nominees appointed by Trump, currently hold positions on the Supreme Court.

Now, this may or may not affect the decision, but it is certainly a factor

the issue of presidential transparency.

Needless to say, no individual should even be allowed to run for the presidential office unless he or she submits to full and complete transparency

Trump is hiding something with regards to his tax returns, and that he has been hell bent on keeping his tax returns away from scrutiny by the American people. At the very least, it

Photo Courtesy of CNN

Trump needs to give up his tax returns

which may contribute to a less than objective ruling.

What is at the heart of this matter is

regarding their financial dealings and income.

Of course, there is no question that

At worst, his returns may reveal shady and dishonest dealings. His refusal to submit to a full financial disclosure should have immediately disqualified him from becoming president. That being said, no president, especially Trump, given his tangled family businesses, should be immune from full financial disclosure or criminal investigations while in office. Whether you are like me and abhor Trump with a passion, or think he’s the greatest leader of all time, it should be agreed that holding the highest job in the land requires full disclosure, and that he should turn over his tax returns, like every president before him has voluntarily done so, upon request. An individual who holds the highest security clearance in the nation should cooperate fully with presenting full transparency of their personal, business, and financial life to the very public they serve. As many Americans know, their jobs may be contingent on drug testing, background checks, or credit checks. Why should we give a pass to the President?

is because he is not worth half of what he claims and donates way less to charitable causes than he has claimed.

Critic Culture is the New Cancel Culture Maggie Connolly ‘21 Opinions Editor Everyone’s a critic. Well, that is what people say at least. And in some sense, it is true. Studying abroad on a program directed towards understanding and learning about politics is obviously going to attract a group of politically active and aware college students. That also sometimes means attracting a group of college students who are hyper-critical of a politically charged environment.

On my study abroad program, we have been going to NGO’s. Oftentimes the people we speak to at these NGO’s tend to be white, upper-middle class South Africans. At one of the organizations, an American woman only a few years older than most of us debriefs us on the NGO she works for.

We all pile in the van after one particular NGO visit, laughing and hollering criticisms back and forth about the white woman we spoke with on this particular day. In this moment, I realize that maybe it is worth stepping outside the lens of it being ‘left’ to criticize and offer critiques, especially of people who have lived and worked in a country we are spending just 15 weeks in.

We criticize the white people

who are teaching us in South Africa.

About half of us are white. We criticize the woman who says she did not

ing a white man and waitstaff being predominantly black South Africans I now live and work in Cape Town.

coffee and we see suburban-looking, white, blonde middle-aged women running on the beach and head-

Photo courtesy of ximble.com

How Critical Are You?

learn to speak isiZulu after living and working in Durban, SA for three years. We criticize the way restaurants are often set up. The owner be-

The city is more like a European city and much whiter. We notice this on our first day here. Our academic director takes us to Camps Bay for

ing back to their Audi’s and BMW’s to drive home to a nice, hot shower.

It is important to be aware of, and maybe equally as important, to criti-

cize. This is a nation that, for the most part, these white people have inserted themselves into many years ago. This white population comes from mainly English and Afrikaans backgrounds.

They might seem like outsiders to us, who, ironically, are the real outsiders.

However, many of these people have lived here their entire lives. They have families, jobs, and lives that we do not know about. We might not agree with how they got here, and we may not even agree with their political stances, but it is important to note that this nation is more theirs than it is ours. We are guests in a complex nation with a history that takes years to understand.

It is important that we as young, impressionable college students do not take things at face value. It is my belief that we should always be informed, opinionated, and interested in the world around us. But in that same vein, it is important to be aware and respectful of things that seem alien or unjust to us, especially as an outsider looking in.

The Spire

OPINIONS

November 15, 2019

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Triple Dorms, but Not Triple the Space Julia Maher ‘23 Opinions Editor The freshman year of college can be quite a rollercoaster. Not only do students live with more independence, but they also experience numerous changes to which they must adapt relatively quickly. One of those changes, at most colleges, includes living with at least one roommate. Many students have never shared a room or bathroom with another person, let alone two or more. Living with other people for the first time is a rewarding, challenging and memorable experience that most people will not forget.

At Holy Cross, first-year students are placed into either a double, triple or quadruple dorm, and they have no choice in which one they are placed.

Although most students live in double dorms, there are many students who live in triples and some who live in quadruples. Students who live in triple dorms have a room as large as a standard double, but they have two roommates, not only one. Students who live in quadruple dorms, however, have a much larger room than the standard double room because there are four students in it. Students who live in forced triples—which are the same size as doubles—are not given a discount off the cost of their housing.

Holy Cross should discount students who are placed into forced triples because they have very limited personal space, and a discount would benefit students who struggle to afford their

the policy of a triple room discount.

For example, the University of Rhode Island offers a discount of 15% off the housing charge, which becomes a credit on the student’s account. Addi-

Triple” dorm option, which gives the student a discount of almost $1000 off the cost of their housing. It is only rational to give students a discount if they are placed into a forced triple.

Photo Courtesy ofholycross.edu

Are Forced Triples Fair?

college education.

Many colleges have implemented

tionally, both the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Northeastern University also offer an “Economy

There is obviously a shortage of housing for the number of students who attend Holy Cross. If the College

does not give a discount to students who live in triples, they should either accept fewer students or build a new residence hall. In recent years, Holy Cross has accepted increasingly more students. In 2018, they accepted about 7,000 students, while in 2019, they accepted over 7,200 students. Clearly, the College accepts too many students for how much housing they can offer.

If they do not want to accept fewer students, they must build a new residence hall to accommodate the growing student population. If Holy Cross invested over $80 million to expand the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex, then surely they can build a new residence hall to uphold the basic needs of students.

Ultimately, it is not fair to place students into forced triples, where they will lack personal space, without offering a discount off their cost of housing. Many students can benefit from a discount and would choose a triple because not everyone can easily afford to attend Holy Cross. If the College truly wants to embrace their values as a Jesuit institution, then they must care for the whole person of each student and treat each student with equal respect.

Struggle for the Struggling Ryen Cinski ‘22 Opinions Editor Just this past October of 2019, a New Jersey public school district, Cherry Hill, announced that they would be banning kids who owe lunch money from purchasing prom tickets, going on field trips and participating in other extracurricular activities. The district was met with immense backlash, as this policy will lead to many detriments for the children that it impacts.

Cherry Hill’s justification for this policy, was that “the district had $14,343 in unpaid meal debt in the last school year from more than 300 students who had a debt of more than $10” (NJ.com).

Although this money does add up, does that make it okay for a child to be punished due to their parents’ lack of funding for meals?

For many, the challenge is struggling to make ends meet - to put a roof over a child’s head, to pay electric, gas, water. Some are simply unable to afford lunch for their child. While the district isn’t stopping the children from

eating, they are barring them from milestone experiences, taking away their ability to explore passions other than academics, and in a way, holding them back due to their parents’ inabil-

Where is the compassion in telling a child who is already financially struggling that they cannot go to a museum with all of their other friends because they owe lunch money. And the worst

trict seems to have no sympathy for those already struggling despite their reasoning. Every child should get to go to the museum with their friends, or any field trip for that matter. Every

Photo Courtesy of WFLX.com

For some students, school lunches can pose a financial challenge. ity to pay.

There is a large issue with this policy, many actually, yet the district described their goal as being “responsibility with compassion” (ABC News).

part, is that they owe this debt to a district that despite this, still turned a $200,000 profit from a $3 million dollar food program (NJ.com).

Because of this stinginess, the dis-

child should be able to join clubs and play sports and meet friends. Every high school student deserves the opportunity to go to their own prom if they want to, a night that only hap-

pens once. To tell these children no because they are struggling is heinous.

In ABC News’ discussion of this matter, they also raise the issue of how this barring of those struggling will impact their college applications.

Applying to college is an extremely stressful process, and for many of these kids who have been put down because they can’t pay their lunch debt, it will be even more stressful as they’ll have no extracurriculars to put on their applications.

A lunch debt is just that, a lunch debt.

A life though, an opportunity, a chance, can make all the difference. To take all that away over such a trivial matter is something that deserves the backlash it got, as it makes absolutely no sense.

Instead of punishing those who are struggling we should instead focus on how to help them in their struggle, and why they are struggling in the first place.

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The Spire

OPINIONS

November 15, 2019

Student Clarifies “Economic Injustice” Article Clara Gibson ’21 Guest Writer After publishing my article about the role adjunct professors play at Holy Cross and some of the abuses of the tenure system, I received a great deal of feedback, some positive, some negative, some constructive, some less so. Overall, however, I have been pleased to inform my fellow students about this aspect of higher education.

As the daughter of two professors, one of whom is tenured, and one of whom worked as an adjunct for almost twenty years, I realize that I am unusually familiar with the vicissitudes of a career in academia. However, I do believe that some clarifications are in order. Firstly, it is true that I did not provide full citations for my sources in the body of my article. While a fully sourced version is available on my Medium page (https://medium.com/@ dis_comrade/economic-injustice-atholy-cross-79a10e83c179?sk=d61c57 928d414e714350a448d23ff3cb), I felt that due to space constraints, it would be better to keep my full bibliography out of the print edition. My piece was intended to be an opinion piece, not an investigative piece about Holy Cross specifically. If I violated a journalistic norm, I genuinely apologize.

That was not my intent.

Secondly, I would like to clarify that this piece was born out of interviews I conducted with several adjunct professors at Holy Cross, one of whom is now at a different institution after the College failed to renew their contract.

However, out of sensitivity to their desires to remain anonymous, I used their experiences as background and elected not to quote or identify them.

This leads me to my third point: compensation. I am indeed aware that Holy Cross is far ahead of the curve in terms of providing their adjuncts with the salaries they deserve. This is something the College is justifiably proud of, and it was not my intention to suggest that the College falls short of the industry standard.

However, the centerpiece of my argument is that despite competitive salaries, adjuncts at Holy Cross, just like adjuncts everywhere else, do not receive the job security, and the academic freedom that comes with it, that they need. Because adjuncts are hired per semester and have very few protections in place to secure their jobs, they are more constrained in what they can say, how they can teach, and how active they can be in their campus communities. An adjunct who is too “difficult,” or who takes too many risks, is easily replaced.

Because of this, many adjuncts are hesitant to take risks within the classroom, critique their bosses, or agitate for change for fear of losing their jobs.

I believe that this is incompatible with a campus that values social activism, free discourse, and a culture of respectful dissent. I believe that the learning atmosphere at our campus can only improve if we take steps to ensure the intellectual freedom of the faculty who teach us.

Lastly, I was criticized by Professor Schaefer for mentioning other institutions like Georgetown, Duquesne, and George Mason and comparing them to Holy Cross. I think it is a facile argument to invalidate the parallels I am drawing by arguing that Holy Cross is different and cannot fall into the same pitfalls as other institutions.

I do not believe that it falls outside the purview of my argument to point out abusive and dysfunctional trends in higher education as a whole, even

the aggressive and dismissive nature of his response. I would be lying if I said that my confidence and zeal for expressing my opinions in campus publications was not a bit shaken. Were I two years younger, that response probably would have shut me up for good, and I think professors should encourage students to express themselves, even if they do it imperfectly, while encouraging them to be better. I feel that Professor Schaefer’s response, as a tenured adult professor addressing

faith, as students, should be honored and respected.

True school spirit is not about pretending that our campus has no problems. Like any other place, it, of course, has issues that need to be sorted out. True school spirit is about believing that this is a place that has the capacity to live up to the promises it makes its students and the ideals that it espouses, and being willing to roll up one’s sleeves, put in hard work, and take risks to ensure it does. I wouldn’t

Glazer-Raymo, Judith, ed. William Tierney. 2001. Faculty Work in Schools of Education: Rethinking Roles and Rewards for the TwentyFirst Century. Albany: State University of New York Press.

Moody, JoAnn. 2004. “Supporting Women and Minority Faculty.”

Academe 90 (1) (Jan): 47-52. https:// search.proquest.com/docview/232313 869?accountid=11456.

Turner Kelley, Bridget. 2019. “Though More Women Are on College Campuses, Climbing the Professor Ladder Remains A Challenge. Brown Center Chalkboard (blog). Brookings Institution, March 29, 2019. https:// www.brookings.edu/blog/browncenter-chalkboard /2019/03/29/ though-more-women-are-on-collegecampuses-climbing-the-professorladder-remains-a-challenge/

Have opinions?

Share them!

Photo by Claudia Hajjar ’23

After receiving responses to her article, “Economic Injustice at Holy Cross” from the Provost and Professor David Schaefer, Clara Gibson clarifies her points and reaffirms her argument.

if they are not practices the College currently condones, as both a way of promoting awareness of social issues off campus while identifying practices to avoid. By identifying a cross-section of stories, I hope to argue that Holy Cross cannot rest on its laurels, but rather must always strive to be better, just as we as students always strive to become better thinkers. Also, Professor Schaefer’s assertion that gender discrimination is nonexistent in academia is simply not true. According to the Brookings Institution, there are fewer female tenured Associate Professors now then there were in 2003.

Women make up only 31% of the full time faculty in academia (Menges 1999). Only 27% of tenured faculty at four-year schools are women. (American Association of University Women 2004). Moreover, associate professor appointments, which usually connote tenure, disproportionately do not go to women (Christman, ed. Irvey, Browen 2003, 5) (Finklestein, Seal, and Shuster 1998, 18). Women are also significantly more likely to leave academia before the completion of their second year (Glazer-Raymo 2001) (Bechhofer and Berger 1999) (Moody 2004). A synthesis of all of these sources is available through the Brookings Institute (Turner Kelly, 2019). While allowing for lurking variables, these statistics clearly point to structural gender inequity within academia.

Furthermore, I was taken aback by

a twenty-year-old student is professionally inappropriate.

Holy Cross must continue to set high standards for other institutions to follow. We lead in how we treat our adjuncts, and I believe we can lead in the amount of job security and intellectual freedom we give them, too.

There is another lesson here related to our power and potential to be leaders - specifically in how we handle campus sexual assault and harrassment.

Last semester, I wrote an opinion piece critiquing how the chair of the philosophy department discussed faculty misconduct in his department. This piece met little resistance from the administration. This semester, when I discussed the mistreatment and exploitation of contingent faculty in academia as a whole, I was immediately met by reprisals from the Provost and a tenured faculty member. I believe greater transparency in how Title IX complaints are handled would greatly increase the rate of reporting and students’ confidence that their complaints and concerns are being taken seriously. In a wider sense, the students and faculty at Holy Cross are crying out for increased transparency from the administration. From how policy decisions are made, and how donations are handled, the lack of transparency from the administration regarding sexual misconduct and Koch donations undermine our trust.

This trust must be repaired, and our

bother to criticize Holy Cross if I didn’t believe in it.

American Association of University Women Educational Foundation and Legal Fund. 2004. Tenure Denied: Cases of Sex Discrimination in Academia. https://history.aauw.org/ files/2013/01/TenureDenied.pdf Bechhofer, Shoshona and Joseph Berger, ed. Menges, Robert. 1999.

“Learning From the Leavers.” Faculty in New Jobs: A Guide to Settling In, Becoming Established, and Building Institutional Support. Hoboken: Wiley.

Calian Trautvetter, Lois, ed. Menges, Robert. 1999. “Experiences of Men, Experiences of Women.” Faculty in New Jobs: A Guide to Settling In, Becoming Established, and Building Institutional Support. Hoboken: Wiley.

Christman, Dana. 2003. “Women Faculty in Higher Education: Impeded By Academe.” Advancing Women in Leadership 1, vol. 14 (Fall): 5-11. https://awl-ojs-tamu.tdl.org/awl/index.php/awl/article/download/172/152 Finklestein, Martin, Robert Seal, and Jack Shuster. The New Academic Generation: A Profession in Transformation. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins UP.

If you have thoughts on Holy Cross happenings, Spire articles, current events, or anything else, let us know!

The Spire accepts submissions by students, staff/faculty, and alumni. Email your submission to spire@g.holycross. edu.

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Emal spire@g.holycross.edu for more information!

The Spire

FEATURES

Features

Crusader of the Week: Chris Marchese ‘22

Name: Chris Marchese where my bed is Hometown: Andover, MA Favorite off-campus restaurant: The Major: English Fix Campus Activities: CAB Guilty Pleasure: Playing pool late into Favorite Movie: The Shawshank the night Redemption Some small things that make your day Favorite song: “Stacy’s Mom” by Founbetter: Napping in the morning and tains of Wayne getting plenty of Favorite water singer/group: First thing you The White do when you Stripes wake up: Hit Favorite color: snooze at least Orange once Favorite sports Last thing team: Anything you do before and everything going to bed: Boston/New Brush my teeth England Favorite place Favorite class you have travtaken at Holy eled to: Ireland Cross: TouchRole-model: stones 2A David “Big Favorite ProPapi” Ortiz fessor: Susan Something you Sweeney look forward Item on HC to when you Bucket List: go home: My Hang out in mom’s cooking Photo courtesy of Chris Marchese Campion since Post-GraduChris as Pennywise during Haunted Healy I haven’t been in ation Plans: there yet Travel as much Biggest HC Regret: Not going to more as I can and write about my experiences events around campus my freshman year Favorite memory at HC: Saint Patrick’s Embarrassing HC Moment: When Day 2019 I fell asleep during class (more than once) Bragging Rights: Can put both my legs behind my head Words to live by: “Real Gs move in silence like lasagna” One thing you would change at HC: All-day breakfast at Kimball Favorite TV Show: Breaking Bad Favorite Book: Night by Elie Wiesel Favorite Kimball meal: Waffles Favorite Cool Beans Drink: Peanut butter protein Favorite spot on campus: My dorm,

November 15, 2019

7

On “Music and Musings, Genius and Gender” Grace Bromage ‘23 Features Editor

winner of the Prix de Rome composition prize. Clarke grew up with a father who was not supportive of her music career. However, instead of letting this set her back, this inspired her to play more. Her pieces were so beautiful that when she tied for 1st out of 72 in a music compe-

both as part of an orchestra and as a soloist. Mari Kimura is a violinist and composer who has extended On Thursday 7th, Gabriela Diaz the capabilities of violin music. She and Betty Anne Diaz stepped does “interactive music” in which out into the center spotlight of she uses a special computer glove on Brooks Music Concert Hall. The her bow hand and when she moves two musicians prepared to play it the computer gives it sound. pieces composed by women As for the actual music, as part of their performance many of the composers were “Music and Musings, Genius known for different styles and Gender.” Gabriela Diaz, and techniques. Boulanger’s who started playing piano at music is known for its colage five and violin at age six orful harmonies. Kaija Saaunder the instruction of her riaho’s music is known for its parents, stood violin in hand. color, atmosphere, and the Betty Anne Diaz, who spent transformations of sound she fifty years in higher educauses. She uses all sound and tion teaching at universities explores different violin techin Georgia and then playing niques. She uses a technique, all around the Americas, took “overpressure” that allows her place on the piano. Gabrifor a scratchy sound. This ela Diaz and Betty Anne Diaz technique is typically used played thirteen pieces by six in modern pieces to explore different women composers emotional meanings in songs. spanning the 19th, 20th , and Saariaho uses it to show all 21st centuries, beginning with the different sounds a vioa detail of their biographies. lin can make, both ugly and Out of the 19th century, melodic. Mari Kimura mascame music from composer tered the art of subharmonClara Schuman. Clara, a piano ics. Subharmonics are similar prodigy, spent her childhood to the scratchy sounds made performing to sold out crowds using overpressure, however, Photo courtesy of the Department of Music all over Europe. After her marwithin the noise full notes are Diaz and Diaz celebrated the legacy of talented riage to Robert Schumann, created. As they played the female composers. with whom she had a great ropieces, Gabriela Diaz and Betmance complete with diaries ty Anne Diaz brought the full and love letters, Clara continued to tition, people wondered if perhaps color and beauty to the stage. With tour all over Europe and compose Rebecca Clarke was the pseudonym soft and gentle lullabies, to playful as well as help her husband with for a famous male composer at the melodies, and powerful crescendos, his music. Though she questioned if time. Bacewicz was the first Polish Diaz and Diaz’s performance conshe had a right to be a composer as a woman to gain international rec- tinues to allow these composers’ woman, she composed many pieces ognition. She played underground legacies to live on. over her lifetime including romanc- during the Nazi occupation of Poes to her husband. land, at which point the Nazis tried Three composers were from the to silence art.

20th century: Lili Boulanger, RebecOut of the six composers played ca Clarke, and Gracyna Bacewicz. by Diaz and Diaz, two are still alive.

Boulanger played in Boston in the Kaija Saariaho studied in Finland 1900s. She was a pianist, composer, and Paris, the latter of which she and singer and was the first female still lives in today. She has worked

The Rise of Lizzo: A New Pop Icon Clarabel Smith ‘20 Features Editor For many people, their first introduction to Lizzo was through her viral music video for her song, “Juice.”

Or maybe you saw her performance of “Truth Hurts” at the VMAs, and the many retweets and imitations of her flute solo. Maybe you saw her in the October movie “Hustlers,” or you were recommended her Instagram, or you’ve just heard one of her infectious songs on the radio in the past several months. But you’ve probably heard of Lizzo by now, and she’s only getting started.

Lizzo, or Melissa Vivianne Jacobson, is not new to the music scene.

She’s been steadily releasing rap and hip-hop albums, EPs and singles since 2014. Although her early albums “Lizzobangers” and “Big Grrrl Small World” have been removed from Spotify, they include songs like “Lizzie Borden,” “En Love,” and “Paris,” which are prime examples of the lyrics and voice that made Lizzo such a

hit with her latest album, “Cuz I Love this month, which, along with her with Ariana Grande, were released in You” and her singles. Lizzo’s current Instagram, asserts that her fame stems 2017 or earlier. What makes Lizzo’s radio success is not the only measure as much from her beauty and style as music the sensation of 2019 is just a of her popularity, although it was from her music. delayed appreciation for an artist who certainly no joke when she broke the Many of the songs that are hits now, has always had the confidence of a record for lonsuperstar. Lizzo’s gest-running #1 body positivity hit for a female and radical selfrap artist with love is not only “Truth Hurts” a central theme at six weeks. of her music, it’s The use of something she “Truth Hurts,” radiates in live in the Netflix shows and social movie “Somemedia for the one Great,” was benefit of her at least partially audience as well a catalyst for the as herself. Much song becomof the testimony ing a sleeper of her fans cenhit, and Lizzo’s ters on the way roles in “Ugly Lizzo’s pride in Photo courtesy of Forbes.com Dolls” (voice her black, plusWith her catchy music and positive personality, Lizzo is becoming a new pop icon. only) and sized beauty in“Hustlers” spired or encourcontinued this aged their own Hollywood connection. Lizzo also re- like “Truth Hurts” or “Good as Hell,” journey of self-love and acceptance. cently appeared on the cover of Vogue which was recently released as a remix As Lizzo told fans in a recent perfor-

mance, “If you can love me, you can love yourself.”

One can also question the pressure on Lizzo as this all-encompassing figure of positivity. Certainly no one expects this kind of endless self-love and self-promotion from skinny white pop artists like Ariana Grande, who was able to sing both “thank u next” and “needy” in the aftermath of a messy public breakup. Meanwhile, Lizzo is not as well known for her ballads like “Cuz I Love You” or breakup songs like “Jerome,” although these are just as impactful and catchy as her upbeat hits.

Having established herself as such a thriving personality and talent, and seeing an acceleration in her releases, we can hope for upcoming music from Lizzo. We can also hope that she has the freedom to continue to innovate and explore daring themes in this music, and I doubt we have to worry about Lizzo stopping anytime soon.

8 The Spire FEATURES

November 15, 2019

Ah, Wilderness! is Nostalgic for Young Love and Family Life

Kelly Gallagher ‘22 Chief Features Editor

Full of warmth, intimacy, and fun, the Department of Theatre and Dance’s production of Ah, Wilderness! is a lively retelling of a classic play. Originally performed in 1933, the play is the only comedy of American playwright Eugene O’Neill, a Nobel Prize recipient famous for his dramas.

Directed by Eric Butler ‘06, this feelgood play celebrates the bliss of youth, especially the thrill of young love and the comfort of a supportive family.

The play takes place in a small Connecticut town on July 4th and 5th, 1906, and follows teenage protagonist Richard Miller (Liam Houlihan) as he struggles to figure out romance, sex, and the other mysteries of life. Though he talks big about the radical literature he reads, he realizes his nativity about the world when actually confronted with real life situations. Through his first risque escapade, he comes to better understand himself and his values, independent of - but supported by his family. The play focuses on Richard’s coming-of-age experience, but it also highlights the role his family life has in this experience.

The play is very nostalgic for family life and romance during one’s youth.

Playwright O’Neill described it as “a sort of wishing out loud. That’s the way I would have liked my childhood to have been.” As Director Eric Butler ‘06 notes in the production’s program, O’Neill’s childhood turned out very differently, crushing any hopes of an idyllic worldview and leading him to

frequent the brothels of New York City. As such, O’Neill’s nostalgia is less about “how things were,” and more about “how things could have been.”

The show isn’t necessarily nostalgic for simply an old-fashioned lifestyle, but is rather nostalgic for the support of a caring family and the nativity of

Nat is more interested in understanding and guiding Richard than he is ordering him to follow certain rules of behavior. He doesn’t run the family, he’s part of it.

The play also explores the family’s acceptance of members who struggle in life. Essie Miller’s (Megan Siebecker)

never excused, the family never gives up on him, always welcoming him into the fold and encouraging him to improve his behavior.

The play is rather long, clocking in at around two and a half hours, plus an intermission. Combined with its leisurely pacing, it may not appeal to

Photo by Kim Fetherson ‘22 Richard Miller (Liam Houlihan) shows his father Nat (Sean Sova) a favorite book in Ah, Wilderness!

a young man in love for the first time.

A great example of this is the father figure, Nat Miller (Sean Sova), who stands out as an understanding parent who seeks to foster peace in his family rather than enforcing his will upon it.

Unlike more archetypal father figures,

brother Sid Davis (John Sullivan) lives with the family, and though his boisterous behavior brings lots of laughter and life into the family’s home, his alcoholism prevents him from marrying his love interest, Lily Miller (Emily Arancio). While his shortcomings are

everyone, but audience members who are looking for a relaxing, uplifting way to spend the evening - and aren’t in a rush to study for their next text will likely walk away satisfied.

Students have been working since September to bring the characters and

setting to life. All of the sets and costumes were made by students in the Fenwick Theatre shops. The Victorian-style costumes, hair, and makeup were meticulously arranged, making it easy to suspend one’s disbelief and time-travel to 1906. Of course, this was also thanks to the talented cast, who performed with spirit and welldeserved confidence.

Kathleen Miller ‘22 and several of her friends attended the show on opening night. Kathleen shared her enthusiasm for the show with The Spire, stating that “the creative choices made for this production elevated the entire meaning of the show to something more than just a love story.”

Don’t miss Ah, Wilderness! on November 15 and 16, at 7:30 P.M. in Fenwick Theatre, located on the second floor of O’Kane. Tickets are $10 for campus community, $15 for the general public, and can be reserved online at https://hcahwilderness.eventbrite. com/.

In addition, mark your calendars for the Theatre program’s upcoming performance of The Secret Life of Plants on December 5-7 at 7:30 P.M. and December 7-8 at 2:30 P.M. Written and directed by Noah Mailloux ‘20, the Alternate College Theatre production is a “bittersweet new play” that will explore “[l]ove, growth and a man’s pursuit of happiness,” according to its online blurb. It can be seen in The Pit. Admission is free but reservations are recommended.

Did You Know... Worcester Edition Did you know… Worcester has its very own castle?

the lookout tower to soak in a breathtaking view of Worcester. The tower is 56 feet tall and made of cobblestones and boulders. It is Erected in 1900, Bancroft Tower is a min- named on the National Register of Historical iature representative of a European feudal Places and is city property. castle. Built in honor of George Bancroft, a Worcester native, and designed by Worces- “The prejudices of ignorance are more easily ter architects Earle and Fisher, the castle is removed than the prejudices of interest; the truly a testament to Worcester’s pride in its first are all blindly adopted, the second willaccomplished citizens. fully preferred.” - George Bancroft George Bancroft (1800-1891) was a politician, statesment, and historian who served as U.S. Secretary of the Navy. During this time, he established the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. Born in Worcester, Bancroft also became known for delivering the eulogy at Abraham Lincoln’s funeral and producing a ten-volume history of America.

After Bancroft passed and was interred in Worcester’s Rural Cemetery, Stephan Salisbury III chose to build the memorial to him because Bancroft had been his father’s childhood friend.

Located in Salisbury Park, near the Worcester Art Museum, the tower was intended to be a “recreational oasis,” according to worcesterma.gov. Visitors are welcome to climb to

“Salisbury Park.” Worcesterma.gov, City of Worcester, MA. <<http://www.worcesterma.gov/ city-parks/salisbury-park>> “Bancroft Tower.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. <<https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Bancroft_Tower>> Photo courtesy of the Worcester Telegram Visit Bancroft Tower for the best views in Worcester!

The Spire

EGGPLANT

November 15, 2019

9

The Eggplant

The Spire’s Satirical Page STAR to Celebrate its Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Matt Anderson ’21 Eggplant Editor Coming off of Holy Cross’ dodransbicentennial milestone (that’s classics for 175), many have overlooked that another beloved fixture of the college is experiencing its own anniversary.

The student academic records system, or, as it is more affectionately known, “STAR,” has just turned 75! This may seem surprising to some students, who view the sleek design and intuitive UI of the system as being no older than the Reagan-era, but STAR was in fact developed by Alan Turing during World War II as the British attempted to crack the German Enigma code.

Resident student and self-proclaimed adrenaline-junkie Leslie Pierce explained why she loves STAR: “Nothing gives me a rush quite like

STAR. Getting to wake up for enrollment at 5:30 in the morning, walking through the arctic wind to get the last computer in the science complex, and praying the whole time that STAR doesn’t crash is such a mood.

I’m probably gonna pregame my next enrollment!”

A Holy Cross alum, Rev. Anthony McCarthy, S.J. ‘53, fondly remembers the first time

he beheld STAR: “It was an almost religious experience seeing it for the

first time in 1949. The way the white

and light blue play off each other was so aesthetically pleasing, it’s a timeless color combination that doesn’t look dated at all, even in 2019. I knew immediately after seeing STAR that I wanted to become a priest, to make people feel how I felt then.”

Praise is not unanimous, however.

A minority of students have grievances against STAR. One of them, Jackie

Leclerc, who only got one out of four classes during enrollment, voiced her opinion: “It’s too old. The fact that it seizes up every enrollment should be evidence of that. I’ve been sending emails to professors all morning to try to get into their classes. Would it be weird to send Prof. D’Klass 100 roses to bribe my way in? What if I offered him a hit of my JUUL?” In honor of its seventy-fifth, STAR has pledged to put out its first-ever update. It will add pop-up ads and microtransactions during the enrollment period to ensure that the five students who can pay to get all four courses “feel a true sense of achievement.”

Ultimately, however, here’s to STAR, a system that might have been satisfactory when it was first developed, but now is closer evolutionarily to a stone tablet than a computer system.

Cable: Comcast’s Brand New Streaming Service Greg Hausler ‘20 Chief Eggplant Editor With Disney Plus finally joining the streaming wars on Tuesday November 12th, a plethora of companies have been forced to alter their business plans. Disney Plus’ entrance into the streaming game has forced a great many of us to decide between our various streaming services and prioritize one over another. While most of us will try and stay on our parents’ Netflix subscriptions longer than we stay on their health care plans we still will be forced to decide between watching the critically and more ap-

parently fan appreciated final season of Game of Thrones on HBO Go or a steroided up Jim Halpert brood at the camera with a clenched jaw in Amazon Prime’s Jack Ryan. While these are compelling options, Comcast has come to the rescue with its brand new streaming service: Cable!

Do you want to watch Bar Rescue reruns until you’re yelling “I’m shutting it down!” at your own TV? Cable is the plan for you! Do you want to have unlimited access to Maury, Jerry Springer, and Family Feud? Then cable has you covered! For a price less than all of your streaming services combined, cable can provide all of

your needs. Cable has live sports and has commercials so in a sense you are helping the economy flourish with your subscription. Why stream a movie on Netflix when you can rent On Demand and re-rent that very same move 2 weeks later for an additional $4.99. With the holiday season coming close, cable is the place to be and is a must add to your Christmas list.

For more information contact your former cable provider... you have their number.

Dining Ballers Mario Micallef ’22 Eggplant Editor If you were able to sift through the weekly dump of incessant Popcorn Tuesday emails as well as the totally indubitable Student Government emails, then hopefully Father Boroughs’ schoolwide email last Monday stood out to you. For those of you that got lost in the sea of weekly e-messag-

es, here’s what Padre had to say this time. Below reads the online electronic mail:

Highya, To all students upon this hill, I just want to say that I feel your dining pain. I am well aware that eating at Crossroads and having a severe caffeine addiction is on par for the college. This is why I propose a deal to anyone that will take me up on it: beat me in one game of b-ball and get your dining dollars fully restored. Yes, you did indeed read that correctly.

Beware, souls of the hill, I am in fact divinely talented at the sport of basketball. However, if you think you have more game than me, meet at the outdoor courts this Saturday from sunrise to sunset.

Surely, you must trust that I am a man of my word; I have never lied in my entire life. I hope to see you there.

Peace, Boroughs

Jokes from Russia Sources say that this proposition is indeed [B emoji]actual. Nevertheless, Father Boroughs always attracts some hate, so I met up with a few students to ask what they thought of the proposed deal. Here’s what Nark Dzerwinski had to say: “Do I think I could beat Boroughs in a basketball game?

I don’t know what kind of question that is. Do you even know who I am?

The answer is undoubtedly yes. That man envies my angelic game, and I am never one to hyperbolize.” Whether or not Boroughs has game or not, it comes down to the bet itself. We all know someone who has already spent every penny of their dining dollars.

My guess is that Father will have quite a battle on his hands; at this point in the year, students low on dining dollars are absolute fiends. If you are a dining dollar fiend, pull out all the stops and ball up a priest. The sin you will receive if you win must surely be worth a Wheeler Hall sandwich from Coolbeans.

Hannah Johnson ’21 Eggplant Editor It’s mid November. Temperatures are dropping. Deadlines and midterms are approaching. Who wants some jokes?? Courtesy of one of my Russian textbooks. Below you will find these lovely jokes with their English translations underneath: Uchenik opozdal na urok.

Chto sluchilos’? - sprosila uchitel’nitsa.

Na menya napal vooruzhennyy bandit.

O gospodi! I chto zhe on u tebya otnyal?

Domashneye zadaniye.

A student was late to class.

“What happened?” - asked the teacher.

“I was attacked by an armed bandit.”

“Oh goodness! What did he take from you?”

“My homework.”

Predstav’ sebe, vchera voditel’ avtobusa posmotrel na menya tak, slovno ya yedu bez bileta…

Nu i kak zhe ty reagiroval?

Ochen’ prosto. YA posmotrel na nego tak, slovno bilet u menya byl.

“Picture this: yesterday, the bus driver looked at me as if I were riding the bus without a bus ticket.”

“Well, and how did you react?”

“It’s very simple. I looked at him as if I had a ticket.”

Politseyskiy ostanavlivayet nachinayushchego voditelya.

Vy razve ne videli znak? Zdes’ razreshayetsya yekhat’ tol’ko v odnom napravlenii.

A chto?! - vozrazhayet voditel’. - Razve ya yedu v dvukh?

A policeman stops a novice driver.

“Didn’t you see the sign? Here, the road goes in only one direction.”

“And what?!” - objects the driver “Was I going in two?”

10 The Spire

Sports

SPORTS

November 15, 2019

New AD Marcus Blossom Ready for His Biggest Challenge Yet

Billy Fitzpatrick ‘20 Editor-in-Chief Marcus Blossom is ready.

Sitting in his spacious but unassuming office perched above the new indoor turf field at the beautiful Luth Athletic Complex, Blossom makes it difficult for anyone around him to not feel optimistic. Optimistic about the future of Holy Cross athletics, about new men’s basketball head coach Brett Nelson’s ability to revive an historic program, or just about life. It is precisely this infectious positivity that helped make Blossom the clearcut choice to succeed Nathan Pine as Director of Athletics at Holy Cross this past July.

Don’t mistake his youthful optimism for naivete, though. While Blossom is one of the youngest athletics directors in the Patriot League at the age of 39, he feels his past experiences have groomed him well for this step up in responsibility. Blossom is a 2001 graduate of Northeastern University, where he starred on the men’s basketball team and earned three allconference selections as well as three GTE District I Academic All-American distinctions over his four years.

He understands the demands that Holy Cross student-athletes face in balancing their commitments, having shared a similar experience at a similarly rigorous academic institution not too long ago.

While he understands the modern student-athlete from his own collegiate years, Blossom also feels his array of professional experience prepares him well for the job ahead. Prior to taking the AD role at Holy Cross, Blossom spent the past five years at Boston College, where his main responsibility was overseeing all budget and financial operations of the athletics department, in addition to manag-

Photo courtesy of Avanel Brock New athletics director Marcus Blossom poses with President Fr. Boroughs at his introductory press conference in July.

ing technology, interactive media, and broadcast services.

He held similar roles at both Providence College and Brown University before joining the BC staff in 2014. After spending time at these schools, he understands the challenges facing a Jesuit, New England college that prioritizes academics, but also knows what it takes to elevate an athletics program to the next level.

“I think all my experiences at other places, not just BC, prepared me for this. Being at Brown, probably pretty similar to here. Being at Providence, when they were in the old Big East … I take all my experiences from a variety of places, and I’ve probably experienced something with each current state with each one of our sports somewhere else. I think that helps.”

From these experiences, Blossom has been able to both develop his own leadership style (he managed over 60 individuals in his latest role at Boston College), and observe how three different athletics directors led their departments. He knows what he needs to do now that he holds that top role.

“The one thing I see as the leader - I don’t think you can have a bad day. I think you have to bring it every day.

Because if you don’t bring it, you set the tone. If I’m exhausted before I come [in the office], you gotta sit in the car for five minutes, take a couple deep breaths, and get that energy. Because when you walk in, everyone’s looking at you.”

In this regard, Blossom practices what he preaches. Many studentathletes have noted that the new AD

has been a visible presence around the Luth Athletic Complex, not only attending games, but also checking in on practices and workouts. Blossom knows that he sets the tone for the entire department now, and he wants student-athletes, coaches, and administrators to know that he is taking a hands-on approach to engagement with all Crusader sports teams.

“I think you have to show that what they’re doing is important. It shows that you’re supporting the coach, that you’re supporting the student-athletes… You might observe something that you think you could fix, too, or that you think needs to change. You got to be around to assess what our programs need and how they’re really doing.”

While he spreads optimism for HC

athletics to all around him, Blossom also knows that there is a job to be done, and that the Holy Cross community deserves more from its athletics program than the Patriot League mediocrity that has plagued most HC sports this century. Over his first four months on the job, Blossom has familiarized himself with a passionate alumni and donor base, and has heard the cries for HC to revive its former athletic glory. His message to fans alumni, students, and the community as a whole - is grounded in reality but peppered with optimism and high expectations.

“We want to be great, and great may look different than it did in 1959, or the 80s, or the early 2000s with Ralph Willard. We want to be the best in the Patriot League, and the best overall program in the Patriot League.

“For one, that makes our alumni feel very proud. But the main reason is for the overall student-athlete experience. Those alumni that I see that are excited about Holy Cross, most of them that are excited about Holy Cross, they were here when we were winning. So, it’s very important for our student-athletes that we have, to leave here with a winning experience, because that affects their overall connectivity to the College, ten, fifteen, twenty years from now.”

While there may not be any Bob Cousys or Gordie Lockbaums passing through Mount Saint James anymore, Blossom is hoping he can usher in an era of Holy Cross athletics in which all student-athletes compete for Patriot League championships and NCAA Tournament appearances year in and year out. After years of widespread mediocrity, it’s unclear if that is possible. But Blossom feels that he is ready and that this program is ready to make the leap. After spending just an hour with him, it is hard to feel otherwise.

This weekend in Holy Cross athletics... visit goholycross.com for more information on how to watch or listen to HC athletics.

Friday (Nov. 15):

Men’s ice hockey hosts Army - West Point at the Hart Center (7:05 PM) Women’s ice hockey travels to North Andover to take on Merrimack (6:00 PM) Volleyball travels to the nation’s capital to take on American in Patriot League action (5:00 PM) Men’s and women’s cross country travel to Amherst, NY, to compete in the NCAA Northeast Regional (women @ 11:00 AM, men @ 12:00 PM)

Saturday (Nov. 16):

Football looks to bounce back when they travel to the Bronx to play Fordham in important PL action (1:00 PM) Men’s ice hockey hosts Army - West Point at the Hart Center (5:05 PM)

Sunday (Nov. 17):

Volleyball hosts Lehigh at the Hart Center in PL action (1:05 PM)

Tuesday (Nov. 19):

Men’s Basketball looks for its first win, hosting Northeastern at the Hart Center (7:00 PM)

From the past week ...

Football lost its first Patriot League game to Lafayette at home, 23-20 (Saturday, Nov. 9) Men’s basketball dropped its home opener to Fairfield in overtime, 68-63 (Tuesday, Nov. 12) Field hockey and women’s soccer both lost in the Patriot League Semifinals (Friday, Nov. 8) ... congratulations on great seasons!

The Spire SPORTS November 15, 2019 11

What Does Gordon Hayward’s Injury Mean for the Celtics?

Charlie Krumsiek ‘20 Sports Editor Celtics forward Gordon Hayward was injured in the team’s 135-115 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, Nov. 9. It was reported that he has broken his left fourth metacarpal or, for those of us who are not pre-med, his ring finger, after taking a charge from LaMarcus Aldridge. It is known as a “Boxer’s Fracture” and typically does not take much time to come back from; reports this week say he will miss six weeks. Since the injury was not to his shooting hand, it will hopefully be a relatively minor issue for him once he comes back.

This remains a very unfortunate injury for Hayward and for the Celtics, both of whom appeared to be finding a good groove. Hayward’s 2018-2019 campaign was a disappointing season, as it never quite seemed like he could regain the consistency of the player he was before his gut-wrenching 2017 ankle injury. Averaging 19 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, he had a strong case to be the best player on the Eastern Conference-leading Celtics.

In the small sample size that we saw of him this year, he looked confident and was finding his spots on the floor with ease. His personal success translated to success for the Celtics as well, leading to a 7-1 record, not only the best record in the East, but in the entire league.

The good news about the injury is that

ics. This injury will likely mean that he will start to get 10-15 minutes per game as Stevens typically likes to keep his players in the low 30s for minutes.

Langford was a one and done college player at Indiana, but impressed in his Red Claws appearance, scoring 23 points and tallying 5 blocks. Hopefully he, along with the rest of the bench unit, can collectively replace what Hayward was doing this year.

Using the reported six-week recovery timeframe for Hayward’s injury, the forward could return to action right around Christmas. They play 19 games between now and then and eight of those games are against likely playoff teams. This will be a good test of the Celtics’ depth, which features a number of other rookies. While they sit atop the conference now, the Celtics have not faced many great teams so far this year. Hayward’s success to start this season was integral in picking up the slack when other starters were struggling. Without him, they will need to find that offensive production elsewhere.

Gordon Hayward has been the Celtics most productive player this season.

it looks like the fracture avoided damaging anything major, so his return is expected to be much sooner than Steph Curry’s likely return.

So now what do the Celtics do in the meantime? Fortunately, they have

had a log jam at the wing position, splitting time between Hayward, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Semi Ojeleye, and now Romeo Langford. Coach Brad Stevens has been cycling through the first four in this list, while Lang-

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

ford has been recovering from an offseason injury. Langford, a rookie, was the Celtics first pick in the draft last year and was sent down to the Maine Red Claws to try to get some minutes before making his debut for the Celt-

New York Knicks off to a Disastrous Start

Bobby Tuzzio ‘20 Chief Sports Editor The expectations weren’t too high for the New York Knicks 2019-2020 season. However, there was some optimism. As disastrous as this summer’s free agency was for the Knicks, they did pick up a few players, including Marcus Morris Sr. and Julius Randle.

Morris had some solid years on some good Celtics teams. When he’s at his best, he’s a very effective player, same with Randle. I’ve always liked Julius Randle. His game has gotten better every single season. The problem with Randle, to me, is that he has never been on a good enough team. So far, five years into his career, Randle has played for the Lakers and the Pelicans.

In his one season with the Pelicans, he posted career highs in areas such as PPG and minutes. Unfortunately, the Knicks is not a step up for Randle.

Down the line, if the Knicks get magically better, or he moves to a much better team, the twenty-four year old has a chance to become a very solid NBA player.

Also this offseason, the Knicks drafted Duke guard RJ Barrett. Of course, it was viewed as a consolation prize, as the Knicks were really hoping to get the number one overall pick to draft Zion Williamson. But hey, it could have been worse: the Knicks almost lost out on Kevin Durant and Kyrie that summer. Oh wait, they did.

Still, even if it is a consolation prize, Barrett has shown superstar potential, while Zion has yet to feature in a regular season NBA game due to a knee injury suffered in the preseason.

Right now, he currently is near the

Rookie RJ Barrett has been one of the few signs of life for this year’s Knicks team.

top in PPG, RPG, and APG amongst all rookies in the NBA. His shooting is still seen as a concern, but he’s an explosive finisher at the rim. Unlike most 19-year-old rookies, Barrett has shown that he is able to handle the physicality of the NBA game. If there’s any saving grace this season, it’s that RJ Barrett will show signs that he is going to be the future star of the franchise.

And so far, he’s been doing a pretty good job.

All in all, however, the Knicks

have been an utter disaster to start the season, and a few players have been noticeable disappointments.

To me, Kevin Knox has been a bit of a disappointment. After being taken 9th overall by the Knicks in last year’s draft, like most rookies, he had a decent-enough season. So far this season, he hasn’t shown much just yet. However, I wouldn’t give up on Knox. He’s only twenty years old, and definitely has the skill and physical attributes to become an NBA star.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Frank Ntilikina has really disappointed me so far, not just this season, but his whole career. He hasn’t made dramatic improvements to his game over the last two years, and he’s starting to look more and more like a bust.

Again, like Knox, Ntilikina is still really young, so maybe he’ll develop. But right now, he’s hasn’t shown much at all.

Other than Barrett, center Mitchell Robinson has shown the most potential so far. He had a really strong rookie

season, culminating in being named to the All-Rookie Second Team at the end of the season. He is a blocking machine; he finished second in the NBA last season in most blocks per game. He is also a strong finisher at the rim. So far, out of all the players on the Knicks roster, Robinson has impressed me the most.

With all this said, the Knicks have one of the worst records in the NBA. Expect them and a couple of other incompetent teams to fight it out for the worst record in the NBA throughout this whole season. While the booes at Madison Square Garden and possible coaching change rumors have been the highlight so far this season, my question is: did anyone really expect the Knicks to be any good this season? Before the start of the season, I predicted that they would win only 20 games, and they might not even do that! The problem, it seems, is the Knicks management. James Dolan, the Knicks owner, has made a mockery of the Knicks for years. Their general manager Scott Perry and their president Steve Mills haven’t really done anything to alleviate the franchise, and came out these week saying that they expected this Knicks team to compete in the Eastern Conference this season, which is delusional. Also, their head coach David Fizdale has not once yet proven that he is a good head coach. In short, everyone is to blame for the Knicks’ woes. If change doesn’t happen soon, expect more embarrassing play for not only the rest of this season, but for the coming years.

12 The Spire SPORTS November 15, 2019

Houston, We Have a (Cheating) Problem Mike O’Brien ‘23 Staff Writer After Hurricane Harvey ravaged Houston in August of 2017, the city needed a beam of hope. Similarly to how New Orleans rallied around the hometown Saints and the iconic Steve Gleason blocked punt play in the Superdome, sports can often be a fantastic way to display the fortitude a city and even a nation have in the face of adversity. Houston captured the hearts of America in their 2017 postseason run, which culminated in the franchise’s first-ever World Series win on Nov. 1, 2017, in a Game 7 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. But there seems to be a darker side to this feelgood story.

Against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 the 2019 ALDS, Tampa Bay ace Tyler Glasnow seemed to be accidentally tipping his pitches to the Astros, meaning Houston could predict what type of pitch would be thrown based on the height of Glasnow’s glove. If Glasnow held his glove high, the pitch coming would likely be a fastball. If his glove was held low before the pitch was released, it was a changeup. Because of Glasnow tipping his pitches, the Astros jumped all over his pitches, scoring four runs in the first inning, and went on to take the winner-take-all game 6-1.

While it was not Houston’s fault that Glasnow was tipping his pitches, it was still unsettling to know that the result of the crucial game could have been completely different if the Astros did not know what pitch was coming at them, with the Rays having all the momentum going into Game 5 winning the two previous games.

However, there is a huge difference between tipping pitches and stealing signs electronically, which the Astros seem to have done in the 2017 World Series run.

In a video put together by YouTuber Jomboy Media, which amassed over 600,000 views in one day, film from a regular season game between the Astros and White Sox is broken

Photo ccourtesy of Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle With allegations of cheating swirling around the Houston Astros, is their greatness diminished?

down with convincing evidence that Houston was stealing signs from the catcher. Every time the White Sox catcher signaled for a change-up to be thrown, a very audible banging sound could be heard from the Astros dug-out. When a different pitch such as a fastball was thrown, the banging sound disappeared. When White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar started piecing things together, he called his catcher to the mound for a meeting, presumably telling him to switch the signs after he heard the banging. With less than two seconds between the signal being called and the banging being heard, there is no way Houston could have been able to do this without technology.

These actions were confirmed by former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers, who explained how the Astros were able to pull off this stunt. Using a camera setup in center field that could presum-

ably zoom in under the catcher’s mitt to be able to see the signals, this camera ran footage into a TV in the Astros clubhouse, in which the footage would be relayed to a team employee in the dugout who would create the banging sound to alert the batter of an off-speed pitch coming their way.

Besides this instance with the White Sox, it is unclear how often and what other methods the Astros used to read signals from opposing catchers in their 2017 championship season. However, in a similar incident to Glasnow in this past ALDS, former Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish seems to have fallen victim to the Astros reading tipped pitches in the 2017 World Series. After allowing eight runs in just 3 1/3 innings, which included a Game 7 start, Dodgers fans were quick to lash out at Darvish for choking. But, it appears with the Astros quickly escalating track record of scandalous ways

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of reading pitches, Darvish may not be at blame.

Another team that may have fallen victim to the Astros’ cheating is the New York Yankees, who were taken down by Houston in Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS. During a postgame interview following Game 1 of that series, several Yankees players and staff members went on to say that they believed to hear whistling coming from the Houston dugout before pitches were released. When replying on that matter at the time, Astros manager A.J. Hinch replied, “It made me laugh. Because it’s ridiculous. Had I known it would have taken something like that to set off the Yankees, we would’ve practiced it during Spring Training.”

While it’s unclear if this whistling incident had to do with stealing signs or not, the Yankees’ claims seem to not be as “ridiculous” as Hinch said they were. Additionally, the Yankees lost all

four games at Minute Maid Park this series, where the Astros would have been able to steal signs electronically.

The Astros historic team statistics from the 2017 season seem to not be working in their favor either. Whether by coincidence or not, the 2017 Astros lead the majors in runs scored, highest number total bases covered, and highest team batting average. Was this due to a high powered offense leads by the likes of sluggers Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa or because of the Astros being able to effectively read pitches?

We may get our answer soon. While Astros GM Jeff Luhnow claims to not know anything about the allegations, the MLB has formally announced that they will soon launch an investigation into the incidents.

This does not help the Astros already troubling end to their season, one in which wrapped up with a World Series loss to the Washington Nationals and the firing of former assistant GM Brandon Taubman. First reported by Sports Illustrated, “[I]n the center of the room, assistant general manager Brandon Taubman turned to a group of three female reporters, including one wearing a purple domestic-violence awareness bracelet, and yelled, half a dozen times, ‘Thank God we got Osuna! I’m so f------ glad we got Osuna!’” Taubman was referring to the recently acquired Roberto Osuna, who was previously suspended 75 games for assaulting the mother of his child.

While the city of Houston received a great amount of hope at the time with their hometown team winning their first championship, the cost at which they have done so if the allegations are true is unacceptable. With the combination of stealing signs electronically and predicting tipped-off pitch releases, this is not a good look for the 2017 World Series Championships. With this brewing cheating scandal and the firing of their assistant GM after highly inappropriate comments making fun of a highly sensitive subject, does this make the Astros the most unlikeable team in baseball?

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