Volume XCVI, Number 8
December 7, 2018
Worcester, Massachusetts
Proposed Title IX Revisions Bring Drastic Changes Ethan Bachand ’22 News Editor On November 16, the United States Department of Education made a press release in regard to their new policy under Title IX. The new changes provide more rights to those who are accused and limit the definition of sexual assault. The proposed amendments come at a turbulent time for the College of the Holy Cross, as a petition has simultaneously been submitted to “improve current survivor-support infrastructure”. The current national revisions are based around three key components: requiring the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) to comply with the First Amendment, restoring appeals for complaints, and eliminating an earlier section to the Case Processing Manual, which stated that the OCR could dismiss a complaint included in a pattern as to not stress the OCR’s resources. Public concern with the alterations stems from the added rights given to those who are accused of sexual assault or misconduct. The second provision can be utilized not only by the plaintiff, but also by the defendant in the case of an appeal.
The appending rules have been posted to the Federal Register, where there will be a 60-day public comment period for anyone to speak on the matter. After the 60 days have expired, the Department
how they could affect the College. In an interview with The Spire, Kennedy stated “We really want to know what our community’s thoughts are on some very new ways in which to do this work. We are seeing with the
Photo by Hui Li ’21.
of Education will revisit the subject and take any proposed changes under consideration. Tracy Kennedy, the Director of Title IX Initiatives and Title IX Coordinator at Holy Cross, sent an email to the campus community to inform students, faculty, and staff about the impending changes and
proposed regulations that it could represent a drastic change to the way in which we do our work now, and so we don’t want to make an assumption from our perspective ‘Oh this is what we think this may look like’”. Kennedy was not the only one suggesting an evaluation of the
school’s policy. In a statement issued to the paper, President Father Boroughs S.J. said, “We will carefully review the proposed regulations. I hope that members of the community will share their thoughts and feedback with the Title IX office as we want to ensure that the College’s response reflects the interest of our community. I am committed to building a community based on trust, integrity and dignity for all, and we will continue to have the difficult conversations, and do the hard work, to achieve those goals.” In response to these recent proposals by the Department of Education, as well as other incidents that have surfaced over the past few months at Holy Cross, a group of students have started and submitted a petition. It calls for, amongst other things, major changes to the way the college conducts sexual misconduct cases. The form is headed by the curators of the @sexualassaultonthehill Instagram account. The list of demands includes, but is not limited to: a report of all incidents since December of 2015, the hiring of independent parties to conduct all investigations, any staff who have engaged in sexual misSee TITLE IX, page 3
Holidays on the Hill
Inside The Spire News.......................1 Opinions.................4 Features..................7 Eggplant.................9 Sports.....................10
College Halts Investigation into Hate Crime Page 3
Baby, it’s Just a Song: “Baby, it’s Cold Outside” Amidst the #MeToo Culture Page 5
Five Christmas Movies for your Holiday Watchlist Page 8
Photo by Kim Fetherston ’22.
The trees are all lit up outside O’Kane Hall!
Photo by Davey Sullivan ’22.
Students decorate a Christmas tree in Campion.
Photo by Hui Li ’21.
A student poses with Santa at the Tree Lighting.
Eggplant: Stickwork Has Fallen Page 8
Photo by Jacob Bucci ’21.
The crowd enjoys the show at the Tree Lighting.
Photo by Zoe Petit ‘22.
Students in Clark went all-out with their dorm decorations.
Photo by Kim Fetherston ’22.
The band performs for a packed crowd.
Women’s Hockey Stuns No. 5 Northeastern in Historic First Hockey East W
Photo by Davey Sullivan ’22.
The Delilahs perform at the Tree Lighting.
Photo by Hui Li ’21.
Several reindeer can be spotted in Kimball!
Photo by Zoe Petit ‘22.
The Nativity scene is displayed outside O’Kane Hall.
Page 10
The Spire
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NEWS
December 7, 2018
SGA and SBIP Host Semester’s Final Agape Latte Kate McLaughlin ’21 News Editor On Monday, December 3, students gathered in Levis Browsing Room in Dinand Library for the final Agape Latte event of the semester. The event was co-sponsored by the Student Government Association and the Spring Break Immersion Program, and featured speakers Professor Virginia Ryan from the Religious Studies Department and Isabelle Jenkins ‘10, Associate Director of the Donelan Office of Community-Based Learning. After a performance of “The Middle,” “Little Lion Man,” and “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” by Fools on the Hill, Catherine Floyd, Courtney Esteves, and Katherine Elacqua, all SBIP CoChairs, introduced the speakers. Professor Ryan and Isabelle used three Mary Oliver poems,
Public Safety Blotter
“Praying,” “The Messenger,” and realized the extent to which she had that Mary Oliver and her poems “Lead,” to guide their discussion, imprisoned herself and kept her- have given her a chance to “be in a and reflected doorway and on each poem just show in the context up,” and feel of their own comfortable experiences with queswith faith. tioning God Profesand “throwsor Ryan said ing off the that the most supposed-todefining modos.” ments in her Isabelle faith journey reflected on have been the lines “Let moments of me keep my resistance, mind on adding, “I find what matgod in ‘no’.” ters, which She remarked is my work, that the first is Photo by Hui Li ’21. which time she re- Professor Ginny Ryan and CBL Associate Director Isabelle Jenkins ’10 speak at mostly standsisted God ing still and Agape Latte. was the first learning to time she really felt his presence and self from being authentic. She said be astonished” from “The Mes-
senger.” She said that these lines reminded her of her experience as a student at Holy Cross, including participating in the Spiritual Exercises Retreat and meeting her spiritual advisor and mentor, Kim McElaney, who convinced her to go on an immersion trip to El Salvador. Kim died of cancer shortly before she left for El Salvador, which made Isabelle “show up and stand still,” or be attentive and open minded and enjoy the things that are imperfect but real. The program gets its name from the Greek word “agape,” which means unconditional love, and allows students to explore questions of love, faith, and spirituality with other members of the Holy Cross community and connect in ways that they cannot in the classroom. The event takes place three times each semester.
Snapshots From the Hill
~Eggplant Eddition~ Tuesday, Dec. 4 O’Kane Porch- A number of students had to be removed from the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony after they refused to leave Santa’s side until he promised them a GPA boost for Christmas. One of the students in question claimed this was her “last chance” and she had “nothing left to lose.” Wednesday, Dec. 5 Cool Beans- Officers responded to reports of a sophomore, desperate for a morning coffee, panhandling for spare dining dollars. The student was not found, but officers believe he was able to get that large iced caramel latte with almond milk.
Photo by Sam Sweet ‘21.
Gianna DiMaiolo ’19 plays Dr. James in ACT’s “The Effect,” directed by Alexis Rappaport ’19.
Photo courtesy of HC Libraries.
The Holy Cross Librarians are ready to help with Citation Frustration for finals week!
Thursday, Dec. 6 Dinand Library- Library staff alerted officers to the presence of several unknown male students wandering around the stacks. Officers responded and learned the students were first-year students discovering the library for the first time and were unable to find an open table.
Photo courtesy of the Cantor Art Gallery.
The Refugee Artisans of Worcester stopped by the Cantor Art Gallery on Saturday for a wonderful cultural exchange!
Photo by Hui Li ’21.
Fools on the Hill perform several songs to kick off the final Agape Latte of the semester, sponsored by SBIP and SGA.
The Spire student newspaper College of the Holy Cross Published weekly since 1925
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.
Allyson Noenickx, Bobby Tuzzio Editors-in-Chief Jackie Cannon, Ethan Bachand, Sofia Maietta, Kate McLaughlin News Editors Olivia Pan, Spencer Caron, Maggie Connolly, Henry Noe Opinions Editors Maggie Flaherty, Bianca Miccolis, Luke Walsh Features Editors Annie Hentschel, Mario Micallif, Chris Shakespeare Eggplant Editors Billy Fitzpatrick, Maggie Flaherty, Jackie Hart, Macklin Kortebein, Patrick Wareham Sports Editors Emily Kulp Senior Copy Editor Hope Goodman, Pamela Kote, Anna Morris, Sarah O’Rourke, Rebecca Tredwell Copy Editors Hui Li Chief Photographer Kim Fetherston, Jacob Bucci, Davey Sullivan, Zoe Petit Photographers Luke Doughty, Bianca Miccolis, Mary Kate Cunningham Web Editors Professor Steve Vineberg Faculty Advisor Dean Michele Murray Faculty Advisor Dean Brenda Hounsell Sullivan Faculty Advisor
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NEWS
The Spire
December 7, 2018
College Halts Investigation into Hate Crime Jackie Cannon ’20 Chief News Editor The College of the Holy Cross is suspending their investigation into the reported assault of an LGBT+ student on October 27. This news came in a November 30 letter to the campus community by the Vice President for Administration and Finance, Dorothy Hauver. The letter stated that, in nearly 200 hours of investigating, all leads, including interviews and security camera footage, were pursued, but did not lead to a suspect. Hauver stated that she and the Public Safety department were “disheartened” to report the suspension of the investigation. Hauver wrote, “We have taken
this investigation very seriously and dedicated a significant amount of time and resources to investigating the report and working to bring the investigation to a conclusion.” Additionally, Hauver acknowledged that the investigation would be reopened if new information comes to light. The case in question stems from an October police report sent to students that described the assault as a hate crime. Although few details are known about the assault, the incident prompted a rapid response by the College administration, and eventually contributed to the implementation of the ENGAGE Summit on November 16. During this summit, all classes and extracurricular events were
cancelled for the afternoon as students, faculty, and staff reflected on how to make campus a safer, more accepting place for all. The letter also addressed questions raised about the Department of Public Safety and its role at the College. Hauver emphasized that Public Safety officers are “sworn Massachusetts special state police officers” and go through the same training as all officers in MA, while Chief Shawn de Jong has extensive law enforcement experience and served as a detective for many years. Because of these questions about Public Safety, Hauver announced the launching of the “Community Policing” program, through which members of the
Department of Public Safety will meet with members of the Holy Cross community to “educate the community about DPS and the police services they deliver.” Included in the letter were the resources in place for students’ safety, including the Safe Ride service that runs from outside Kimbal Quad to Hogan 3 from 4:00 p.m. until midnight, Monday through Sunday. Additionally, students can call public safety at 508793-2224 for an escort. Hauver encouraged anyone to reach out to Public Safety if they have information they have not yet shared.
ventions” panel, said, “I thought the Summit was a really insightful experience because it made me On Friday, November 16, the consider how small changes, such College of the Holy Cross held as the everyday language I use, can its highly anticipated ENGAGE make a really big impact on marSummit: Where Do We Go from ginalized peoples’ day to day lives.” Here? After the October 27 alThe Summit was voluntary, but leged hate crime, Holy Cross many of the events had high students, faculty, and alumni attendance rates. Hundreds sent a letter to the College, of attendants showed up to requesting that it address ona panel called “How an Incampus discrimination and stagram Account Started a violence with action. Taking Dialogue: Sexual Assault on cues from the requests made the Hill” during the second in this letter, the College canround of workshops. With celed all classes, athletics, and the original Stein classroom extracurricular activities to crammed and a long line still allow the entire community forming in the hall, the sesto come together for an afsion was moved to Seelos ternoon and reflect on camtheater, where a handful of pus issues. students still had to sit on The Summit aimed to eduthe floor of the packed aucate students on issues such ditorium. as discrimination and how Engagement was high as to stand up against it. In adstudents eagerly responddition, it demonstrated to ed to facilitator Stephanie administration what actions Chaudoir’s questions. The students would like to see group brainstormed what taken in order for the adsteps individuals, as both ministration to do their part sexual partners and memPhoto by Allyson Noenickx ’19. Hundreds of students and staff march from Stein to Seelos for the “How an in making campus a safer, more bers of the wider community, Instagram Account Started a Dialogue: Sexual Assault on the Hill” session after can take to reduce sexual vioinclusive environment. attendance shattered initial expectations. The Summit consisted of lence. three workshop sessions. Over The panel, like many others, 50 panels were available between by individual students and faculty ries of posters that asked questions emphasized the fact that the Sumthe first two hour-long sessions, members, the Chaplains’ Office, pertaining to on-campus discrimi- mit is not an overnight fix, but it is tackling issues such as sexual vio- the Title IX Office, and student nation and violence. Students were the first of many steps that need lence on the Holy Cross campus, organizations such as Pride. then invited to post their answers to be taken to reduce on-campus what it means to be an Ally of the The third and final session con- on anonymous notes. The posters sexual violence. The panel encourLGBTQ+ community, LGBTQ+ sisted of a community dialogue remain on display across campus. aged students to take small steps students’ experiences at Holy held in Kimball. The dialogue Student Nina Masin-Moyer ’22, of their own. Cross, other minority students’ touched back on the Summit’s who attended the “Writing InterFrom TITLE IX, page 1 conduct to be relieved of their responsibilities, a notification within 48 hours of any dangerous situation to students, a stance on the proposed Title IX changes, and a working group “that identifies and implements best practices for issues relating to sexual violence”. Speaking about what she believes are issues that need to be fixed in the school policy, Mrs. Kennedy added, “As we look at how best to serve our community, it is important to think about how we might insure reporting, how we might look at prevention, and how
experiences, and how to approach cultural topics with empathy and sensitivity. Many panels confronted uncomfortable, even divisive, topics, with the intent of figuring out how to heal and what actions to take next. Panels were organized and held
we might address the concerns of our community members.” “We certainly are seeing in the last several months particularly, but it is something we are aware of over time”, she said, “We understand there are a lot of concerns with access to reporting, we understand there may be a lot of barriers not only in accessing our services and office but also knowing that there are steps you can take.” Changes are already underway at the Title IX Office in order to provide better service to the Holy Cross communities. The school is
overarching theme - where do we go from here? As such, it was an appropriate end to the Summit, reminding students that the Summit is only the beginning and providing guidance on how to proceed. In addition to the sessions, the Student Art Society installed a se-
in the process of hiring a full-time investigator and has already added a new position with the hiring of Assistant Director Sheryl Rodgers. Continuing from his early statement, Boroughs added, “During the ENGAGE Summit, our community demonstrated its caring, compassion and willingness to tackle tough conversations for the betterment of our campus and the wider world. We heard constructive, and at times challenging, feedback on how we as an institution are responding to many significant matters, including sexual misconduct and assault. I expect
THAT’S NEWS TO ME News Stories from Around the World Sofia Maietta ’19 News Editor Sunday, Nov. 25 Margate, England- 33-year-old Ross Edgley became the first man in history to swim around the entirety of the mainland of Great Britain. His journey lasted 5 months and consisted of 1,791 miles. Edgley never set foot on land, and slept on a support boat in between his swims. Monday, Nov. 26
ENGAGE Summit Addresses Campus Issues Kelly Gallagher ’22 Staff Writer
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those conversations to continue in many forms, and I am encouraged by our students speaking out on these challenging issues”. The debate regarding the future of Title IX not only at Holy Cross but also nationally is not going to go away any time soon. As both administrators and students work around the clock to find the correct path, there is common goal as everyone is working towards bettering our community on the hill. The question is, how are we going to get there?
Hong Kong- He Jiankui, a Chinese scientist, has announced that he has created the world’s first genetically edited babies. The twin girls who were born this month were created in a lab using the gene editing technique called Crispr. However, Jiankui has not shared any evidence or data corroborating his findings. Tuesday, Nov. 27 Indonesia- Data from the Indonesian Lion Air jetliner that crashed into the Java Sea in October has been recovered. Information from the plane’s black box reveals that the pilots lost control as the plane’s nose was dangerously forced downward throughout the 11-minute flight. Kabul, Afghanistan- The U.S. military reported that three American soldiers were killed in a roadside bombing when an improvised explosive device detonated near the provincial capital of Ghazni. Three other service members were also wounded in the attack. Wednesday, Nov 28 London, England- The Bank of England has announced that Britain’s economy could shrink by as much as 8 percent in about a year if it leaves the European Union four months from now. Reportedly, the country risks suffering an even bigger financial crisis than during its recession 10 years ago. Friday, Nov. 30 Houston, Texas- Former President George H. W. Bush died at the age of 94 at his home in Houston. His death comes less than eight months after that of his wife of 73 years, Barbara. Buenos Aires, Argentina- President Trump, along with President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada have signed a new trade agreement after contentious negotiations. The deal must be approved by the United States Congress before it can take effect.
Information courtesy of the Washington Post, CNN, and the New York Times.
The Spire
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OPINIONS
Opinions
December 7, 2018
See What Other Students Are Thinking Around Campus...
Campus Climate: One Month After the ENGAGE: Summit Maggie Connolly ’21 Opinions Editor Just four short weeks ago, Holy Cross came together as a community and attended up to three workshops with topics ranging from empathy on campus to sexual assault and how it has come to appear in our everyday lives. This community-wide event was called the ENGAGE: Summit and it was created as a response to a letter from a student calling for action and asking the staff to do, well… more. With the Summit in our rearview mirror and a long break from Holy Cross approaching, what are the major takeaways from that day and how have they affected campus a month later? Although the Summit was not required by the College, there was an atmosphere of true solidarity and community on campus that Friday afternoon. I felt it personally amongst friends and classmates, and even from those I did not know in sessions I attended. There was a hunger for action and a call to Holy Cross staff, students and faculty to step up and make a change in the campus climate. In the weeks following the Summit, there have been more emails and efforts to create a more comprehensive Title IX office, as well as the
SGA Skimm, a monthly-debrief about the happenings on campus. There is still room for improvement and development re-
can we, as Holy Cross students, do to make the campus climate more welcoming and inclusive? Both on and off campus, empa-
(myself included) can often get wrapped up in their own day-today activities, falling victim to a routine with little time for things
Holy Cross students gather for ENGAGE: Summit
garding diversity and inclusion for all groups, whether they be based on sexual orientation, race, or gender, on campus, but so much of the responsibility still falls on the students. The improvements from campus groups and faculty leaves much of campus hopeful, but the student community still sometimes falls short. So, what
thy is key to not only making others feel welcome but making the attempt to understand what another community is going through. While there is no way to truly grasp what a group you do not identify with is going through, becoming an ally and advocating for others is essential to create progress and change. Likewise, college students
Photo courtesy of news.holycross.edu
other than social lives and homework. When students break the routine and step away from their standard lifestyles and attend a talk, event, or even a new club meeting on campus, you make a difference, even if it is just the slightest one. Challenging yourself as a member of this community has a trickledown effect. Sharing these experi-
ences with friends and classmates can lead to a greater change in activism on campus and introduce students to new faces and name\ There is constantly more work to be done and more ways to improve. It can be as simple as taking a step out of your comfort zone and talking to someone who does not look like you or think like you. There is something to be said for making connections outside of that bubble we are all so guilty of putting ourselves into. In this sense, the Summit stayed true to its name. It is time to start engaging and stop complacently letting acts of hate and discrimination occur on campus every day. Like it or not, hate happen here, and on college campuses across the nation, whether it be through offensive jokes or even violent hate crime. Letting ourselves become bystanders will never bring about change and progress; if you are not stepping up to fix the problem, then frankly, you have become part of the problem. So, in the next few weeks, take the time to become an activist, an ally, and an agent of change. It is our responsibility as students now more than ever to make this campus a climate where individuals from all walks of life feel safe.
Baby, it’s Just a Song: “Baby, it’s Cold Outside” Amidst #MeToo Culture Olivia Pan ’20 Chief Opinions Editor Recently, a radio station in Cleveland, Ohio, WDOK Christmas 102.1, made the decision to ban playing the classic Christmas hit, “Baby, it’s Cold Outside.” Radio host Glen Anderson issued a statement explaining the station’s decision, explaining, “Now, I do realize that when the song was written in 1944, it was a different time, but now while reading it, it seems very manipulative and wrong. The world we live in is extra sensitive now, and people get easily offended, but in a world where #MeToo has finally given women the voice they deserve, the song has no place.” The song has become rather controversial in recent years, with many, including Urban Dictionary, labeling it as the “daterape song”, specifically referencing the infamous line sung by the female, “Say, what’s in this drink?” Now, I am a supporter of #MeToo and have family and friends who have been directly affected by sexual harassment and or violence. It’s no secret that I’m a liberal feminist. However, even I have to draw the line somewhere amidst
a crazy amount of political correctness. I, personally, have always enjoyed listening to this song around
silly song, and that’s all. And while some may feel the need to dissect a silly Christmas tune in the context
Lick on these n*ts and suck the d*ck” (courtesy of Snoop Dogg), are seemingly fine with everyone?
Photo courtesy of Salon,.com. the holidays. However, we’ve now turned what I always interpreted as a playful, flirty song into a foreboding date-rape scene. Remember in 1944 “Say, what’s in this drink?” referenced a strong cocktail, not a date-rape drug. Although you cannot help but think Bill Cosby at times when the line is sung. It’s a
of our current #MeToo climate, I am more concerned with the blatant misogyny and sexism in rap music that gets blasted on the radio all year round. It’s a little confusing to me why people are criticizing lyrics like “I ought to say no, no, no, sir”, while lyrics like “Bitches ain’t sh*t but hoes and tricks /
Hmmm. Possibly we should consider banning rap music, the majority of which objectifies and bashes women, so long as we’re examining problematic songs. Regardless, I would hope parents are not looking to music to teach their children about consent and how women should be treated. That is their job.
“Baby, it’s Cold Outside” also has versions in which the female is aggressively pursuing the male to stay and hang out. This song and the music videos that accompany it show playful banter between two people who are attracted to one another. And given the 1940’s era in which the song originated, the woman, (a good girl) insists on going home as all good girls were supposed to do during this time. Thankfully, we now live in a time when girls and women can and should own their sexuality and be allowed to stay, go, and engage as they wish. The #MeToo movement has shown us that in real life, we are not there yet at all and not all women and girls had a choice. That’s another article or rather book/s. As for this Christmas song I don’t feel the need to interpret it as anything other than what it’s always been in my mind: a delightful Christmas tune that’s been covered as a duet by every artist imaginable, from James Taylor and Natalie Cole to Michael Bublé and Idina Menzel. Playful fun banter with no underlying threat: something it appears that men and women may be losing the art of engaging in.
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The Spire
OPINIONS
December 7, 2018
Does Physics Have Something to Say About Everything? Spencer Caron ‘20 Opinions Editor
Unfortunately, my academic skill set does not naturally lie in the empirical sciences. No matter how much I enjoy reading about physics, and no matter how up-todate I attempt to remain in regard to biological advances, it simply doesn’t transfer to mathematical and laboratory aptitude. So, though I can’t by and large explore the question, “Is all science just physics?” empirically, there exists no shortage of philosophers who are interested in this question from the theoretical angle. Basically, two major of schools of thought answer this question differently. On one hand, physicialists (sometimes called materialists) claim that psychology can be reduced to biological principles, biological principles to chemistry principles, and finally, chemistry to physics. For the physicialist, if we just knew enough about particle behavior, and our inchoate knowledge of quantum theory matured, we would be able to explain why Freud felt like he did when he listened to his favorite song, for instance. (It should be noted, not all empirical scientists are physicalists, though the
general rule is that physicists are more likely than are psychologists to adopt such a physicalist view.) On the other hand, there are numerous schools of thought that eschew such physicalist thinking. These schools are varied and debate amongst each other, but what they all hold in common is that not everything can be reductively explained by the laws of physics. A specific take on this issue by which I have recently found myself interested is the Emergent Theory within the field of philosophy of mind. Roughly, the theory holds that there are such things as “emergent properties” that cannot be accounted for through a mere examination of the physical components themselves. An example should help illuminate this view. Let’s assume that I am a recruiter for Holy Cross athletics. In this role, I would travel the country watching different players at their respective high schools. I would take careful notes of their height and weight, their specific skill set, etc. Upon arriving back at campus, I would present my notes to the coaching staff and make predictions about how these recruits would fit in within the players we currently had. However, I would not be able to tell for
certain how the team would play with the new recruits until the first time they actually played together. That is, the team performance (often referred to as team chemistry) is an emergent property; even detailed knowledge of the parts, i.e., players, does not confer knowledge of the system, i.e., team. Clearly, this hypothetical sportsteam example is not necessarily the object of study of philosophers of science, but it gets the point of emergence across easily. Philosopher C.D Broad demonstrates the theory of emergence vis a vis chemical compounds. Specifically, in his essay, “Mechanism and Its Alternatives,” Broad points out that no amount of physical knowledge of the elements of nitrogen and hydrogen (their bond-structures, their reactivity, relation to other elements, etc.) would be sufficient for predicting the distinctive smell of ammonium; the smell of ammonium is the emergent property. With the basics of emergence—just one antithetical view to physicalism—in mind, I’d like to apply emergence to the brain. I need not comment on all the incredible things that the brain can do, but I would like to focus on consciousness, specifically. That is,
can we classify consciousness as an emergent property, thereby pushing back against the increasingly popular neuroscientific view that what we deem “free will” is subject to the same laws of physics to which, say, reflexes, are subject? If the physicalists are right, free will is nothing more than the linguistic label humans have applied to events that seem to have been “chosen” by the agent. In their view, there truly was not a choice; the neuronal firings reacted to a physical stimuli over which the human agent had no true control, and as such, the outcome could have been predicted had all of the neuronal information been made priorly available. Emergent philosophers of mind hold that, on the one hand, conscious decision making relies on physical processes, but, on the other hand, consciousness is an emergent property that simply could not have been predicted on the basis of physical laws. In other words, knowing about neuronal action potentials, the layered organization of the brain, etc. still would not confer knowledge of human decision making. In plain terms, emergence states that the whole is greater— perhaps more accurately, differ-
ent—than the sum of its parts. When the 80-odd billion neurons and glial cells arrange themselves inside of the human skull, the resulting “output” is something not reducible to physical laws. Thought for the overwhelming majority of history “common sense,” religiosity, or some combination of the two have held that what it is to be human goes beyond the physical. Though I am sympathetic with those who conclude that something like consciousness is not reducible to the firing of billions of neurons because this sounds as incomprehensible as the notion that “space extends infinitely,” this amazement doesn’t double time as an antithesis to physicalist. But, after reading Broad’s essay and other works speaking to the possibility that perhaps a wholesale acceptance of physicalism is premature, I am intrigued by the philosophically rigorous challenge of what is widely accepted in certain fields; that it is only a matter of time that physics claims to be able to explain everything.
Why Pursuing Beyond One’s Major is Important Henry Noe ’22 Opinions Editor While at college, students are fixated on fervently pursuing their chosen vocation. As a result, some students lack diverse courses and skills that transcends the borders of their major. While the navigation of the nuances and details of one’s major is a positive, it must be met with a development in a number of different areas as well. These developments do not just bring about internal satisfaction, but also a post-graduation advantage when searching for employment. While present among college students, the origin of this may be in high school academia.The
culture surrounding high school is rooted in the notion of forming the perfect resume or portfolio to present to colleges in order to accumulate more acceptance letters. In order to achieve this goal, students take courses that look more appealing to colleges or have the greatest positive impact on their GPA. Thus, high schoolers are trapped into taking AP and honors courses and barred from courses which may align more with what they are interested in. Although GPA incentivization is present in college and high school today, enrolling in enjoyable classes rather than easier ones is beneficial toward one’s career after college. This path prepares students for
a myriad of jobs they may be in contact with in their day-to-day career. Some skills which may spawn from this include: solving complex problems, debating, writing, and analyzing. These skills will stay with an individual even if they see a career change.These transferable skills accumulated through a diverse education serve individuals in good stead amid a changing workplace and throughout their life. The individuals who are adept within a number of different fields are more impenetrable to workplace turnover as they have a multifaceted set of traits which can fit into a number of different positions. Holy Cross is enabling students to attain these benefits through the
common area requirements which attempts to solve this problem by levying the same subject graduation requirements unto every student. Consequently, every student has the same requirements to fulfill and one isn’t penalized for taking a class outside of their major as it likely satisfies a common area. With this in place, all that prohibits students from pursuing their passion is their decision to take a class that truly interests them or one that is easy and satisfies the requirement. Ultimately, following through with a course that provokes intrigue and intellectual vigor is courageous as, in the face of potential academic difficulty, the student does not allow that worry to override their feeling.
Through the pursuit of varied class choices that may fall outside one’s major, a more eclectic mindset is slowly obtained. This enriches one’s mind and equips individuals with the tools to impress a potential employer. Furthermore, these individuals can pursue a number of jobs as their education has enabled them to accrue a number of life-long skills. Within the individual’s pursuit of a comprehensive knowledge regarding a number of subjects, society transforms to a place where the soul can breathe uninhibited.
Overheard On the Hill “My father didn’t go to war so I could log into the WiFi every time I want to watch Netflix” -Disgruntled Figge 114 resident “I’ve never actually gotten into Leits” -Ashamed senior “I don’t want comedy in my life, I want fear” -Girl at Whiskey “My parents have all my teeth in a drawer” -Weird (creepy?) brag by a Senior
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The Spire
OPINIONS
December 7, 2018
Oscars 2018/2019 Predictions Tyler Christiansen ‘21 Guest Writer Fall and winter are not only the best season because of the holidays, but also because all of the best movies come out in the months of October through December. Yes, this summer had huge hits like Avengers: Infinity War, Mission Impossible: Fallout, Deadpool 2 and the sequel that we’ve only been waiting fourteen years for: Incredibles 2. While all of these movies are good in their own right, the latter half of the year brings all of the independent movies that seemingly slipped under the radar that are actually thought-provoking and worthy of going to a small theater to check them out. 2017 was one of the best years for movies in recent memory, with The Shape of Water taking home four Oscars, including Best Picture, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri with two acting wins and the year’s most surprising movie Get Out receiving the Best Original Screenplay award for first time director, Jordan Peele. Believe it or not, 2018 seems to have even steeper competition, with Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut A Star is Born, Alfonso Cuaron’s (Gravity, Prisoner of Azkaban) Roma, and Peter Farrelly’s Green Book all leading the pack for Best Picture.
While I have not yet seen Roma, I can say for sure that A Star is Born will receive a lot of attention, particularly for Bradley Cooper, as an actor and director, and the surprising Lady Gaga, who
emy does as well. Green Book seems to be the movie that came out of nowhere at the Toronto Film Festival, earning high praise for its two leads, Viggo Mortensen (Lord of the Rings) and
egories, specifically sound mixing, sound editing, film editing, and possibly a Best Director nomination for Chazelle. While I love this movie, I feel like it will have a similar fate to Blade Runner 2049,
Roma Green Book First Man BlackKklansman The Favourite If Beale Street Could Talk Can You Ever Forgive Me? Best Director: Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born) Alfonso Cuaron (Roma) Spike Lee (BlackKlansman) Damien Chazelle (First Man) Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite) Best Leading Actor: Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born) Ryan Gosling (First Man) Viggo Mortensen (Green Book) Christian Bale (Vice) Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody)
Photo Courtesy of Vox.com.
steals the show when she performs “Shallow” and “Always Remember Us This Way.” The only thing that could hurt its awards chances is the fact that this is now the fourth iteration of this movie, essentially following the same structure as its three predecessors. I think it’s a non-issue and hopefully the Acad-
Mahershala Ali (Moonlight). The movie is essentially a “road-trip” movie, but with good dialogue and relevant themes, especially for today, the movie succeeds and deserves to be seen on the big screen. First Man, directed by Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Whiplash) is a shoe-in for the technical cat-
where it will succeed in the technical categories, but will be neglected in the major ones. Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy should also be recognized for their emotionally nuanced work. Movies that will most likely get nominated for Best Picture: A Star is Born
Best Leading Actress: Melissa McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) Lady Gaga (A Star is Born) Toni Collette (Hereditary) Olivia Colman (The Favourite) Yalitza Aparicio (Roma) Original Screenplay: Roma The Favourite Eighth Grade Green Book First Reformed
Blast From the Past: A Look Into the Archives Perhaps the greatest headline written in the newspaper’s history, circa 1969.
Holy Cross hosted Hall and Oates as the 1980 Fall Concert.
Before the drinking age in the U.S. changed, many of the dorms’ social spaces had their own bars (seen left). Did you know that Lower Kimball used to be a seniors-only dining hall? Students dine in Lower (right) in 1969.
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FEATURES
The Spire
Features
Crusader of the Week: Annie Hentschel ‘19
Maggie Flaherty ‘20 Chief Features Editor Major: A low-tier Biology Major Hometown: Needham, MA Favorite HC Class: Basic Acting Favorite Professor and Why?: Prof. Paxson because she taught me how to make bread Best HC meal: Beef Stroganoff Favorite Cool Beans drink: Green iced tea with raspber r y, lemon, and honey Favorite Book: Our Bodies Ourselves but if that’s not available American Girl’s The Care and Keeping of You Guilty pleasure: Watching Jeopardy! with my friends Best Bathroom on Campus: Stickwork HC bucket list: Rebuild Stickwork Hobbies: Knitting socks, baking bread, and making memes with Erin O’Meara Number of all nighters pulled this semester: Lol senior year is for sleeping my dudes Favorite Movie: The Parent Trap Favorite Off campus restaurant: Volturno’s! Favorite HC Memory: Fall OL Training :) Worst HC Memory: When my car, The Swagon, died on College Street. Huge shout-out to Officer Steve for helping me with that one. Favorite First-Year Student: Eile McGinn Favorite Sophomore: Krystyna Constantino
Favorite Junior: Brian McDonough and Leslie Dominguez Favorite Senior: Erin O’Meara Embarrassing Story: I forgot that we had class the Monday after Thanksgiving last year Role Model: Erin O’Meara Favorite Song/Artist: Landslide, but the Dixie Chicks version Bragging Rights: I am HC Crocs on Campus (no I am not (yes I am) ) Pet Peeve: When people say that they’ll write for the Eggplant BUT THEN THEY DON’T Advice for HC students: Write for the Eggplant. It’ll change your life. Song on repeat: Landslide by the Dixie Chicks Hot take: The Dixie Chicks’ version of Landslide is better than Fleetwood Mac’s One thing you would change about HC: I wish no one went abroad so no one could leave me hahahaHAH, and I hate how this school like makes you graduate Your Mantra: Keep your head toothy! That means always smile. Favorite musician: Nick Piccioli Fun fact: My dad could beat up your dad Celebrity Look a like: Tarzan, from the Disney animated classic Tarzan Last Person I Texted: Allyson Noenickx, about my layout being late this week Favorite Dessert: Sheet cake from Kimball Best Dorm: Alumni 315 :) Stickwork, Yeet or RIP?: RIP Does Sticks Rhyme With Missed?
December 7, 2018
Springsteen on Broadway: Soon to Stream on Netflix Kelly Gallagher ‘22 Staff Writer
Springsteen states that the show “is in pursuit of my constant goal to provide an entertaining evening and to communicate something This year, Christmas is coming early to the of value.” good boys and Rolling girls with the Stone calls sense to invest Springsteen’s in a Netflix subperfor mance scription. They “one of the will soon be most compelable to watch ling and proBruce Springfound shows steen perform by a rock muhis one-man sician in recent Broadway show memory.” The from the comNew York fort of their livTimes praises ing room, once it as not a “Springsteen greatest hits on Broadway” concert, but a begins stream“self portrait,” ing on Decemgoing on to ber 16. declare that “Springs“there may teen on Broadnever have way” officially been anything opened Octoas real — and ber 12, 2017 at beautiful — the Walter Kerr on Broadway.” Theater. StarYet the ring the legperfor mance courtesy of brucespringsteen.net should appeal endary rock Christmas Comes Early for Springsteen Fans When His musician, the to people beNetflix Special Drops December 16th. show’s run was yond rock and extended three Broadway afitimes. In June cionados. As 2018, it received a special Tony Award. The Springsteen excavates his own experiences show will finally close on December 15, 2018, as an artist, he engages what makes all lives the day before the Netflix version will be- meaningful: family, art, our relationships with come available. our hometowns, work, and dreams. SpringsAs demonstrated in the Netflix trailer, the teen performs and philosophizes with equal show is unlike anything fans have seen the care. All viewers will turn away with food for Boss do before. Springsteen isn’t backed by thought. This could be an especially valuhis E Street Band, although his wife, band able experience for students facing a new member Patti Scialfa, makes an appearance. semester, which is a prime time for considerHis audience has been scaled down from the ing what makes their lives meaningful and in thousands that have crowded his stadium which directions they’d like to go. concerts to 975 lucky theater-goers. Whether you’re a long-time devotee or Springsteen performs his most significant you’ve never before sought out Springsteen’s pieces, giving songs like “Born to Run” a new music, this program will have something for sound as he plays solo on the guitar or piano. you. If you’re looking for a few good Netflix Between songs, he delivers spoken word pas- shows to keep yourself entertained over winsages largely inspired by the themes present ter break, add “Springsteen on Broadway” to in his 2016 memoir, “Born to Run.” Though your list. he draws from his repertoire in this new way,
Peep My Crib: Figge 114 Home To... Sophia Capellini Kim Kelly Allyson Noenickx Izzy Cappabianca Barack Obama
Barry is known as the Figge pong champ.
^ No one has seen season 4 episode 13 of the Office more than this room. ^ This really is The Good Place. < The Spire does not approve of the use of this logo.
The Spire
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FEATURES
December 7, 2018
HC Capital Promotes Entreprenurial Spirit Joey Begg ‘21 Staff Writer Sean Manning ’19 and Andrew Smith ’19 are the founders of HC Capital, a club that they say gives Holy Cross students not only exposure to the finance industry, but also technical skills that they can take into internships. I sat down to interview them and a few other members on Monday night in Hogan Campus Center. Andrew is the portrait of someone who has his life together: combed hair, eye contact, and patient verbal pacing. The mildly busy space around us shrinks away to a dull roar as Andrew’s matter of fact voice informs me: “Last year we had seventy applicants, we let in sixteen; this year we had fifty-five and let in twenty.” If an applicant makes it past the low acceptance rate, they become part of the junior analyst program, then later part of a portfolio team that covers research on specific companies organized by sectors: technology, industrials, and consumer goods. “More advanced members follow a certain set of stocks on a day to day basis following earning reports and composing their own equity research reports” Manning says. These more advanced members are called Analysts. As Sean speaks, he thumps his hand on the table, or waves at someone walking by; he’s highly personable. It quickly becomes apparent that being able to thoughtfully relate information in more sophisticated ways is an important part of HC Capital, and the business world that they’re trying to prepare students for.
Sean Kelly ’21 is a junior analyst in HC Capital’s training program. He receives assignments, readings, and videos pertaining to valuation and accounting fundamentals and goes to weekly meetings ultimately preparing to become an analyst for one of the three aforementioned sectors—tech, consumer goods, or industrials. He spends roughly five or six hours a week studying material related to the global economy, doing things like completing a Bloomberg market concepts class to better understand how to use the Bloomberg terminal, and speaking with Holy Cross Alumni in the financial services industry. His role so far in the club is to train and prepare for becoming a full analyst next semester. When asked what he thinks is valuable about HC Capital, Kelly said, “I think the real world experience it gives you is important to see what your part in the economy really is; the whole global economy is connected, and the liberal arts education is a great way to start learning about this.” As a Biology major, he’s keen to the wide appeal of financial expertise, and emphasizes it as a component of his liberal arts education here at Holy Cross. Having successfully completed the training program, Analyst Liam
Busconi ’21 of the technology sector is covering research in Ebay, Alibaba, and Amazon. Outside of actively covering those equities, he is responsible for being knowledgeable of the e-commerce industry. He says he uses the Bloomberg
courtesy of
terminal upwards of three to four hours a week: “because of the fact that a lot of my stuff is consumer based, it’s a lot easier to find news and searching for information in [the terminal] than in, say, something like the Wall Street Journal.” Liam is eyeing his future in HC Capital, noting that the 12-14 members will be lost this year in the outgoing senior class. “Because of the significant amount of people leaving, I don’t know what position I’ll be given, but I consider myself rising in the ranks.” Outstanding analysts are promoted to Portfolio Managers, becoming in charge of an entire sector of research. Portfolio Managers, PMs for
short, leads an entire sector’s analysts and their research. Right now, PM Jack Boyd ’21 is co-leading a group of 5 analysts covering research on approximately 12 equities in the Industrials sector. He uses the Bloomberg terminal to stay highly informed on the research they cover. “When our analysts come forward with questions regarding research and equity reports, we’re able to answer them,” says Boyd. He examines macroeconomic trends such as the spread of US Treasuries that can forecast economic events, such as recessions, but also gives context to the Industrials Sector as a whole. wordpress.com. “My responsibility is to foster idea generation, offer guidance on researching equities, and aid analysts in conceptualizing bottom-up valuation in conjunction with macro-economic trends, such as the Treasury spread.” As seniors, Manning and Smith will be leaving the club they founded as they find themselves approaching their final semester at Holy Cross. Andrew points out that the research performed by the club is followed for years, so attention to a professional structure and purposeful faculty and alumni involvement is essential to the long term success of the club. Short of additional capital, Andrew and Sean both cited diversity
within the group as something important to HC Capital. “We number one want to make sure that inclusivity within [HC Capital] continues, and number two provide more resources to our students.” Sean adds that a personal long term goal of his for the club is to have 100% placement for HC Capital members in internships, but he emphasizes that HC Capital offers valuable skills that traverse industries into personal management. “These are very much life skills, you need to know how to invest, you need to be able to manage a 401k, these are skills that apply to a variety of different industries.” Sean says that last year roughly 95% of members had secured internships, and although it’s fairly early in the process, a few members have already nailed down highly coveted New York City summer internships at places like Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Blackstone. Andrew and Sean have accepted offers for full time jobs at Goldman Sachs and Raytheon respectively. The intersection of financial research, current events, and macroeconomic trends point toward the holistic nature of HC Capital, and are a further testament to finance as part of the liberal arts experience. Ultimately, the next generation that is rising through the ranks - or future analysts applying in the next cycle - will carry on once the seniors leave. Solid leadership and purposeful involvement has ensured that HC Capital is in good hands and growing. They are next accepting applications in the Fall.
Five Christmas Movies For Your Holiday Watchlist Bianca Miccolis ’21 Features Editor In preparation of the Christmas season, we decorate our homes and dorm rooms with trees, stockings, garlands, wreaths and more. We take our Christmas card pictures, make gift lists and buy presents for our families and friends before and during our break. One of my favorite activities of the holiday season is watching the “25 Days of Christmas” countdown on ABC Family of all the movies that lead up to the main event: Christmas day. Whether you watch the countdown or not, here are five movies that most everyone will see or should watch during this upcoming season. Elf What is Christmas if you haven’t watched “Elf ” at least once during the season? This popular Christmas movie has most likely made it on to your holiday watchlist already with its lighthearted story that will make people of all ages laugh. While as kids we may have wanted to escape to the North Pole, Buddy does the opposite as an elf looking for his human birth parents “down below” in the real world. Will Ferrell’s hilarious portrayal of Buddy the Elf makes this a worthwhile addition to your watchlist.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReinThe Santa Clause Trilogy A Christmas Story deer This Disney trilogy is one that I “You’ll shoot your eye out!’ Those We know it on the radio when always watch during the Christare the famous words of Ralphie they play Christmas music, but mas season. The story teaches so Parker’s mother, teacher, and Santa watching the song come to life much to Tim Allen’s character in Claus when he asks for Red Ryder in clay animation adds so much establishing the best relationship air rifle for Christmas. Well, he to the experience of the tale. that he can with his son. In addigets the air rifle and he thinks he Because Rudolph shoots his eye plays such a large out on Christpart in our image mas breaking of Christmas, why his glasses in wouldn’t you watch the process. his story on T.V.? However, this There is much is only one more to the story thing that goes than we think. In wrong for the this film, Rudolph Parker Christis the son of Donmas. The dog ner, Santa’s lead ruins Christmas reindeer and Dondinner and the ner tells Rudolph Parker family that he will never ends up eating be one of Santa’s dinner at a Chireindeer because nese restaurant of his red nose. In because it is the courtesy of TV Guide. order to make him only place open Rudolph The Red-Nosed Raindeer is a Christmas Classic. more “appealing,” on the holiday. Donner covers This movie his nose with mud. Rudolph and tion, it makes a kid’s dream come shows that a chaotic Christmas friends escape the Abominable true that their dad, grandfather, unlike one that the family imagines Snow monster, find the island of uncle, or brother could become can be just as nice as the one for misfit toys and save them from Santa Claus and he or she could which they had prepared. Because being alone. Santa promises be a part of the experience. Each of the humor and heartfelt story, Rudolph that he will find a home of the movies has its own conflict “A Christmas Story” is a must-see for them. This story is full of cute throughout so if you did not want during the holiday season. characters and its heartfelt story to watch all three, then you would will make it necessary for it to be not have to. However, if Disney One of The Grinch movies on the watchlist. provides such a rich Christmas Now that there are three “Grinch” story, why not take the time to apmovies, there are plenty of oppreciate the whole story? tions to watch the classic Dr. Seuss
story. If you are looking for the closest to the Dr. Seuss story, then you may want to watch the original “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” as the movie animation mirrors the art of Dr. Seuss’ books. However, if you are looking for a more modern rendition of the tale with real people, then you could watch “The Grinch” (2000) with Jim Carrey. If you have tired of both of these versions, then check out the newest Grinch in animation, which is narrated by Pharrell Williams. While I have not seen the latest version, I have heard great reviews of the movie and hope to see it soon. If you are a “Grinch groupie,” then add all three to the watchlist for your holiday season. While the Holy Cross community is stuck in finals season right now, it is also the holiday season. You may want to take a study break and watch one of these movies or save them all for break as a reward for the hard work you have done this semester. Regardless of the choice, these movies are all timeless Christmas stories, old and new, that embody the spirit of the holiday season every year. So, curl up under a blanket and enjoy the excitement of the holidays just by pressing “play.”
EGGPLANT
The Spire
December 7, 2018
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The Eggplant The Spire’s Satirical Page A Call to Academic Solidarity John Buzzard ‘19 Really Busy Right Now It is finals season and the precious angels that are the student body of Holy Cross are simply drowning in work. As everyone has foregone social interaction in order to write their papers, it really begs the question, “Is Holy Cross just too Academically Rigorous?” Should we do more about this rather than just give the same responses? It is important to look at how every person you interact with over the course of the study period greets you with the same response, “Oh I’m doing fine but I’m dying haha just so much work.” Do they have a disease? Is this a new virus going around that makes everyone anti-social? We tried to poll the student body about their workloads. I wish I could share the results with you, but the form received zero re-
sponses from the overall population. It was a relief to receive so many emails about how students wish they could respond, but that they’re simply too busy to take the survey. In these 5 paragraph responses, it is clear that while they are academically bogged down, Holy Cross students never forget their manners. So, with these worrying results about academic rigor, lack of social interaction, and potential life-threatening illnesses what can we do as students? There is one solution that comes to mind: to just keep complaining. As Men and Women for Others we are called to stand in solidarity with
our classmates who can’t seem to make any conversation other than to complain about their workload. It’s our own fault really to expect
any kind of positive interaction during the Finals Season. In order to make up for this blatant disregard of the feelings of others, let us stand together and repeat the same phrases over and over again. Though it may be a college
tradition, we can avoid having an email campaign, thought-filled dialogue, and a fishbowl/prayer vigil about this topic of academic solidarity by coming up with a concrete action plan ourselves. After 6 months of consulting with an outside party, the plan is to just keep doing the same thing. We are called to just keep complaining and even if you don’t have any work, you have to complain too. It’s not about being honest, it’s about fitting in with your classmates. You don’t want to look like a jerk when you say you only have two essays to do, right? I have 4 essays and I’m still writing this report because I’m better
than you. Please pay attention to me. We are called to the action of ignoring our friends in Kimball, backing out of plans at the last minute, and being a Dinand recluse all in the name of solidarity with our friends turned martyrs. If someone tries to call you out on being an absolute jerk, just say that, “I’m standing with my friend, who is like, so stressed out about her Bio final that I just need to stay in Dinand for 6 hours on my phone.” In this day and age, on this campus, who are we to judge our academically gifted classmates? Time management? Those aren’t words. Planning your finals schedule better? Sounds like criticism. Being a decent human being? Yeah right, don’t you see I have just too much work for that? Happy Finals, and make sure to always be an Academic Solidarity Supporter to your friends.
Can’t Explain Athletes’ Entitlement, Says Administration that Constantly Entitles Athletes NARP NARP Most students are probably aware of the Instagram account @sexualassaultonthehill. The account features anonymous stories of sexual assault that happened to students by students on our campus. Reading the stories, one can’t help but notice that many of them mention that an athlete was the attacker, or that a sports team harassed a survivor into silence.
The Instagram account has posted so many stories featuring athletes that they’ve had to come out and explicitly say that they’re not anti-sports teams. Many at the Engage Summit and the subsequent Town Hall blamed the general entitled attitude of the athletes as a cause of the sexual assaults. In order to rectify the situation, an absolutely baffled administration is looking into why the athletes feel so entitled. “Yeah, it’s weird that they should feel
likethat,” said one administrator. “We tell athletes that they are student leaders the minute they step on campus for the first time! Students who are told that they are student leaders without having done anything to deserve the title certainly shouldn’t feel entitled.” “I can’t imagine why the athletes feel like they’re better than other students,” said another administrator. “They have to attend a leadership academy 4-5 times a semester for an hour and a half each
Stickwork Has Fallen Annie Hentschel ‘19 Stickwork Impersonator In an appalling display of callousness and cruelty, the Stickwork sculpture was barbarically woodchipped on Tuesday, November 27, after having stood tall for over two years. Stickwork, or “Just off the Beaten Track”, is a structure designed by renowned artist Patrick Dougherty and built using the slave labor of the Class of 2020 Montserrat clusters. The structure, mirroring O’Kane and Fenwick’s proud towers, was always meant to be temporary, but many are saddened to see it go. The student response to the destruction of Stickwork has been overwhelmingly negative. One sophomore called the decision to dismantle the structure
“the most mishandled situation the administration has dealt with this fall, by far.” “I can’t believe they took it down!” said Annie Hentschel, 2019. “What’s next, the Field-
house? Is nothing sacred? Might as well just woodchip the Hand of Christ Statue outside of Dinand while we’re destroying campus monuments!” “The structure was always there when I needed it. Sometimes I couldn’t hold it in any longer and
I would need to go to Stickwork. I always felt so relieved once I left,” said one junior. “I’ve heard rumors that nothing will grow in the dirt where it once stood,” whispered one senior. “Mostly due to the acidity of the soil.” Public safety was called to break up a student protest the day it was being taken down. Officers needed to physically block emotionally distraught students from throwing themselves into the woodchipper as well. A memorial service will be held for the beloved structure next semester. Students are invited to bring flowers, candles, air fresheners, and urinal cakes to leave in memoriam.
where we drill into them that they are role models on this campus because they can throw far and run good. We tell them constantly that other students look up to them; why should they feel better than non-athletes?” Of course, many athletes do become actual student leaders on campus, by becoming involved in the Gateways program, SGA, SPUD, co-chairing an RSO, etc. But many feel that members of sports teams shouldn’t be auto-
matically told that they are of a higher status by the school solely because of their athletic ability. Says the administration, “Why not?” At press time, the school was busy providing fancy purple athletic attire for the teams to wear to further enhance their superior status.
Stick Structure Elegy Liam Predergast ’19 On Linden Lane’s green promenade--the sticks. A sculpture lay, the site of many trysts; Whose lofty boughs and branches twisted tight Did witness love and laughter at end of night. Returning home from Caro or Boyden Recovering from the night’s sweet poison, We ‘Saders found a sight to be not missed The perfect location to take a piss So rapidly you rose, you castle of sticks! Now you have left, and surely will be missed
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The Spire
Sports Billy Fitzpatrick ‘20 Chief Sports Editor The Holy Cross men’s basketball team (6-3) has gotten off to a strong start this season while playing a challenging non-conference schedule. The Crusaders traveled to and held halftime leads at both Michigan (undefeated and now ranked #5 in the country) and Providence (a game that was up for grabs in the final minutes). Those performances, albeit losses, set the tone for the level of play that Holy Cross is capable of, and they have hardly disappointed in their games since then. Let’s take a look at how they have been playing in recent weeks. Stony Brook (Nov. 15 in Uncasville, Conn.) The Crusaders traveled to the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., for a pair of neutral site games as part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. Holy Cross set the tone for a productive weekend in this clash, an 84-70 victory over America East foe Stony Brook. Sophomore forward Jacob Grandison, continuing his breakout season, led the way for the Crusaders by flirting with a triple-double, posting 21 points, ten assists, and eight rebounds. Fellow sophomore guard Austin Butler also chipped in 21 points, shooting an efficient eight of ten overall and five of seven from behind the arc. Senior forward Jehyve Floyd filled the box score with ten points, eight rebounds, a career-high seven blocked shots, and five assists. The Crusaders controlled this one almost wire-towire, leading by seven at the half, opening up a 20-point advantage in the second half, and winning by 14. Siena (Nov. 17 in Uncasville, Conn.) Holy Cross met Siena of the MAAC in the championship game of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament at the Mohegan Sun, and came away victorious with a 57-45 win. Grandison one-upped his Friday night performance with 24 points to lead the Crusaders to the top of the tournament’s Springfield Bracket. Butler again provided solid production with 12 points, a career-high 11 boards, and five assists. After a back-and-forth first half, the Crusaders led by three heading into the break. Siena started the second period hot, but HC answered with a 14-0 run (ten of
SPORTS
December 7, 2018
Men’s Basketball Nearly Upsets Providence, Falls 70-61
those points were scored by Grandison). Holy Cross played with great poise, turning the ball over just five times against constant full-court pressure. The Crusaders led by as much as 15, and came away with a 12-point win. Butler
bridge, Mass.)
to cruise to a comfortable win. It was a balanced offensive attack for Holy Cross, with Butler leading the way with 14 points. Grandison added 13, Floyd scored 12 (in addition to 13 rebounds and six blocks), and Green tallied ten
the break and looked like they were pulling away with a 7-0 run Holy Cross hopped on the Mass to start the second half. However, Pike for a showdown against HC answered with a 10-1 run to Harvard in Cambridge, Mass., tie the game at 48 apiece. The two where the Crusaders’ three-game were still tied with seven minutes winning streak was snapped with a to go when the Crusaders went on a 9-0 run to take the lead for good. Key free throw shooting down the stretch (9-12 in the final three minutes) sealed the impressive victory for HC. Grandison again led the the Crusader attack with 20 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Green was solid as ever with 17 points, six assists, four boards, while going 6-6 from the charity stripe in the final minute of play. It was Photo courtest of goholycross.com Holy Cross’ Sophomore guard Jacob Grandison won Patriot League Player of the Week honors for Nov. 12-18. first win over UMass since 2001 and the and Grandison were both named 73-62 defeat. Grandison continued points. program’s first victory over any to the All-Tournament Team, and his strong play with a game-high A10 opponent since beating St. Holy Cross improved to 4-1 all21 points (including making all UMass (Dec. 4 in Amherst, Joe’s in 2007. time at the Mohegan Sun Arena. five of his three-point attempts). Mass.) The Crimson hit their shots (53% Holy Cross earned its biggest The Crusaders take on another Albany (Nov. 20 in Albany, NY) from the floor, 45% from three) win of the season with an 82-78 A10 opponent in Rhode Island and outrebounded HC 40-21 to road victory over Atlantic 10 foe this Saturday, Dec. 8, at the DCU The Crusaders were away from overcome 19 turnovers forced UMass. The hosts led by two at Center. home yet again, as they traveled to by the Crusaders. After trailing take on the Albany Great Danes by 19 with eight minutes left in in the capital of New York. Holy the second half, Holy Cross went Cross returned to campus with a on a 12-0 run to cut the Harvard well-earned 69-65 overtime win. lead to seven with four minutes HC used a pair of explosive runs remaining. However, the Crimson in the first period to open up a responded with seven unanswered 29-20 halftime lead. For much of points and earned an 11-point win. the second half, they looked like The win for Harvard snapped a they were going to close out the four-game losing streak against game comfortably, leading by as Holy Cross. much as 17 and holding a 13-point advantage with just six minutes Fairleigh Dickinson (Dec. 1 in remaining in the second period. Worcester, Mass.) Yet, an Albany 13-0 run coincided with Holy Cross missing seven The Crusaders got back to winstraight shots to send the game to ning ways with a 67-49 win over overtime. Floyd led the CrusadNew Jersey opponent Fairleigh ers with seven of his 12 points Dickinson in HC’s first game at in the extra period, as HC scored the Hart Center since the seasonthe first eight points of OT, and opener against Sacred Heart on the Crusaders made five of eight Nov. 6. In a game in which Holy free throws in the final minutes Cross struggled to hit shots, the to ensure the victory. GrandiCrusader defense came up big, son was again the high-scorer limiting the Knights to 30% shootwith 17, while sophomore guard ing from the field and 19% from Caleb Green chipped in 12, seven three. Holy Cross also forced 19 rebounds, and four assists. Floyd Fairleigh Dickinson turnovers. A added another six blocks to make run by FDU late in the first half it 18 in this three-game stretch, gave the visitors a narrow onereminding opponents that he is the point lead at halftime, but the Crureigning Patriot League Defensive saders opened up a five-point lead Player of the Year. with 12 minutes left in the second half. A 16-2 HC run put the game Harvard (Nov. 28 in Camaway and allowed the Crusaders
SPORTS
The Spire
December 7, 2018
11
Women’s Hockey Stuns #5 Northeastern in Historic First Hockey East Win Allyson Neonickx ‘19 Editor-in-Chief On Friday Nov. 30, the Holy Cross Women’s Ice Hockey team stunned No. 5 Northeastern in a historic 5-3 victory, marking the team’s first win of the season, first Hockey East win in program history, and first upset of a top-five nationally ranked team. Rachel Moore ’20, a transfer student from No. 4 Boston College, led the Crusaders in scoring, netting two critical goals. Freshman goaltender Jada Brenon made 34 saves on the night. Holy Cross got off to a slow start, falling behind Northeastern 2-0 after one period of play. The Crusaders came back with two unanswered goals from Carlie Magier ’22 and Amanda Kewer ’19 in the second, a period that has historically given Holy Cross the most trouble this season. Moore put the Crusaders ahead 3-2 in the third with her first collegiate goal, scoring just twenty-five seconds into the period. Maeve Reilly ’19 then extended the lead to two with a powerplay goal. Northeastern managed to cut the lead to one with nine minutes left to play but Holy Cross maintained the momentum, sealing the win with a second goal from Moore minutes later. The Crusaders’ benefitted from a strong net-front pres-
Courtesy of goholygross.com
Senior forward Julie Matthias earned Hockey East Player of the Week honors.
ence, producing five goals off of only seventeen shots––many of which came from second-chance rebound opportunities. Northeastern outshot Holy Cross by over two to one, netting three goals off of thirty-seven shots. Senior forward Julie Matthias
earned Hockey East Player of the Week honors in part for her performance in the historic 5-3 win over Northeastern. Mathias ’19 recorded four assists in the game, including one on the eventual winning goal, marking a new career high. The award also marks the
first time that the Crusaders have been recognized by Hockey East. In a season where Holy Cross has struggled to stay out of the penalty box, the Crusaders also saw a season-low two penalties. At the other end of the ice Holy Cross capitalized on two
of their three power plays with goals from Magier and Reilly. A stunned Northeastern associate head coach, Nick Carpenito, commented after the game, “Any team in this league can beat anybody on any given night, so if you don’t show up for 60 minutes it’s not going to work out for you.” The upset also marked Northeastern’s first loss of the season. The Huskies, now 12-1-2 in conference play, still top the Hockey East standings and lead the league in almost every category. Northeastern has proven themselves to be a powerhouse program in recent years, recruiting top talent from around the world. Holy Cross’ five goals were especially impressive as Brittany Bugalski ’19, one of the top goalies in the nation who has represented the U.S. at the national level, minded the net. Just two days after their exhilarating win, the Crusaders travelled to Matthews Arena to take on the Huskies again. This time Holy Cross was unable to generate scoring chances, dropping the game to the Huskies in a 3-0 shutout. This marked Northeastern’s second win against Holy Cross this season, the first one coming in a 6-1 blowout in early November. The Crusaders will close out 2018 with a matchup at No. 8 Providence College tonight.
Men’s Hockey Falls to American International College Maggie Flaherty ‘20 Sports Editor It was a breakaway goal with 1:25 left in the third period that sealed the fate of the AIC Yellow Jackets’ 4-2 win last Saturday at the Hart Center. AIC (7-4-1, 7-7-1 overall) is ranked second in the Atlantic Hockey Standings, whereas Holy Cross (1-5-1, 1-9-2 overall) currently sits in last place. Despite the rankings, the teams were evenly matched throughout the game. During the first two periods, the teams had the same amount of shots on net. Holy Cross’s Johnny Coughlin struck early in the first period after a one-timed slapshot rattled off the crossbar, but referees determined that the shot did not cross the goal line. AIC capitalized on the face-off immediately following the no-goal call to get on the board. Holy Cross junior Jack Suroweic answered at the end of the period to tie up the game and nab his third goal of the last five games in which he played. In addition to his 22-save performance in net, Holy Cross goaltender Erik Gordon had a big role in putting Holy Cross up on the
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Junior forward Neil Robinson leads the Crusaders on a breakaway.
board in the start of the second period. The Crusaders took the lead five minutes into the second during a power play opportunity when Gordon tossed an assist down the
ice to freshman Matt Barry. However, AIC tied it up again with a fluke goal after a pass was deflected off the leg of Yellow Jacket freshman Luka Maver and behind Gordon.
Holy Cross was unable to capitalize off a late Crusader surge of momentum in the third. Despite maintaining possession of the puck in AIC’s defensive zone for
the vast majority of the period, and outshooting their opponent 9-6, their efforts did not translate onto the scorecard. It was the Yellow Jackets that eventually pulled away with the lead with mere minutes remaining when sophomore forward Blake Christensen went one-on-one with Gordon on a breakaway opportunity. Christensen was tripped midway through his deke, but showed tremendous hustle when he finished his play from the ground to toss the puck over the goal line and score the game-winner. The Crusaders pulled Gordon for the extra man on offense, but AIC struck again with an empty net goal that solidified their 4-2 win. Holy Cross heads to Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, this upcoming weekend for a two game series against Robert Morris University. The meetup is a rematch of last year’s Atlantic Hockey Tournament quarterfinals. Despite being the lower seed, RMU pulled off the upset in both games by big margins with 4-1 and 5-1 wins, respectively.
12
The Spire
SPORTS
December 7, 2018
Football Caps Late-Season Resurgence with Thriller Win Over Georgetown Billy Fitzpatrick ’20 Chief Sports Editor The Holy Cross football team capped off its season in dramatic fashion with a come-from-behind victory over Patriot League foe Georgetown in the nation’s capital. After trailing by as many as 26 points in the second half, the Crusaders (5-6 overall, 4-2 Patriot League) stormed back in the final 20 minutes to spoil their opponent’s Senior Day and top the Hoyas, 3221. For Georgetown, the defeat gave them the same overall and conference records as Holy Cross, meaning that the Crusaders took second place in the Patriot League due to the head-to-head tiebreaker. Junior quarterback Gunther Johnson opened the scoring for Georgetown with a two-yard touchdown run on the Hoyas’ first drive of the game. Later on in the first quarter, senior linebacker Ryan Brady forced a safety for the Crusaders, and after a big kickoff return, first-year kicker Derek Ng chipped a 24-yard field goal to make it 7-5. However, Georgetown would go on to score 17 straight points in the second frame to open up a 24-5 halftime lead. Johnson found sophomore wideout Max Edwards for a 52-yard score. Less than a minute later, sophomore defensive back Ahmad Wilson picked off Crusader senior quarterback Geoff Wade. Wilson ran it back to the 18yard line, then pitched the ball to senior defensive back Ramon Lyons, who reached the end zone for the Hoyas. A minute before halftime, senior placekicker Oliver Hill kicked a 22-yard field goal to extend the Hoya lead and take all the momentum heading into the break.
On the first Crusader possession of the third quarter, Wade threw his third interception of the
Spire sports editor) Macklin Kortebein blocked a Hoya punt, which first-year wideout Spencer Gilliam
punt after punt to keep its comeback hopes alive. The Crusaders were driving with just five minutes
Photo ccourtesy of goholycross.com
Congratulations to senior linebacker Ryan Brady on a terrific season.
day, and sophomore linebacker Wes Bowers returned it the house to establish a 31-5 advantage. Five minutes later, Wade would commence the Holy Cross comeback and begin to earn redemption for himself in his final collegiate game. He found senior wide receiver Martin Dorsey for a 20-yard strike with 4:21 remaining in the third to make it a three-possession game. The fourth quarter saw the Holy Cross special teams unit turn the tide and bring the Crusaders back into the game. A minute into the fourth, junior defensive back (and
returned 38 yards for a score. The Crusaders failed a two-point conversion, so the score stood at 31-18, in Georgetown’s favor. Remarkably, Kortebein blocked a second punt five minutes later, and first-year running back Peter Oliver scooped it up and ran it 27 yards to the end zone. This time, Holy Cross kicked the PAT to bring the deficit to just six points with over nine minutes remaining in the final period. Meanwhile, the Holy Cross defense stood on its head, allowing just 60 yards of Georgetown offense in the second half, forcing
left when Wade coughed up a fumble on the Georgetown 28-yard line, which appeared to be a crushing blow at the time. Yet, the HC defense forced a three-and-out, and gave the ball back to Wade and the offense at their own 26-yard line with three minutes to go. After the defense and special teams carried Holy Cross back into the game, it was Wade’s turn to write the final chapter of his collegiate career. He marched down the field, going six-for-eight for 72 yards over 2:19 seconds of gametime. At one crucial moment, he converted on a 3rd
& 15 with an all-important 30-yard toss to keep the drive alive. Junior tailback Miles Alexander capped off the impressive drive and incredible comeback by punching in from two yards out with just 42 seconds remaining, putting Holy Cross ahead 32-31. Junior defensive back Chris Riley intercepted a pass moments later to put the game away. Congratulations to the Holy Cross football team for a thriller of a win, which extended the team’s winning streak to four games, its longest streak since 2009. The 26-point comeback was also the largest in program history. The late-season resurgence under head coach Bob Chesney, in his first season at the helm on Mount Saint James, should give the Crusaders momentum heading into the 2019 season. Congratulations to all seniors for all they have accomplished at Holy Cross. Also, congratulations to the following players on their Patriot League honors for the last week of the season: Brady (Defensive Player of the Week), Kortebein (Special Teams Player of the Week), and Gilliam (Rookie of the Week). Seven members of the team were also named to 2018 All-Patriot League Teams. The first team selections are: Brady, senior offensive lineman Brett Boddy, senior defensive lineman Teddy Capsis, and sophomore offensive lineman Brian Foley. The second team selections are: junior running back Domenic Cozier, Dorsey, and Wade. Congratulations to Brady for earning Academic All-Patriot League honors and on being named to the Division I All-New England team.