March 19, 2021

Volume XCVIII, Number 4

March 19, 2021

Worcester, Massachusetts

Families Connect Virtually Through Family Week Events

Inside The Spire

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

Jocelyn Buggy ‘22 News Editor Family Weekend has been a beloved tradition within the Holy Cross community for years. Before Covid-19, the College would spend weeks preparing to welcome families from across the country for a weekend of food, fun, and community.

Like almost all other aspects of college life, however, the pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges for this long-held event. Covid-19 transmission rates, social distancing protocols, and travel restrictions have forced Holy Cross to rethink how Family Weekend could happen this year. Despite these obstacles, the College remained committed to putting on a virtual version of Family Weekend. In lieu of the traditional weekend format, parents, grandparents, siblings and other family members were invited to take part in a virtual Family Week which included a variety of events to help acquaint and connect them to the Holy Cross community.

Unlike previous Family Weekends, Family Week Spring 2021 spanned an entire week, from Monday, March 8 to Sunday, March 14. The celebration kicked off with an address from Father Boroughs and members of his executive team in which he addressed the College community, discussed current initiatives, and answered questions submitted by family members. Other

Opening Week at the Jo a “Complete Success” Page 3 Photo Courtesy of Megan Sullivan P‘22

A mocktail, as created by one of the parents who participated in Family Weekend

events included a Zoom panel discussion conducted by the Office of Multicultural Education on how families, caretakers, and advocates can support LGBTQIA+ students, a lunchtime Mindfulness Meditation with Director of Student Wellness Education Liz Drexler-Hines, and a Family Trivia Competition coordinated by the Holy Cross Parents Council. Family Week also offered an educational opportunity for families to learn about the current historical moment through a Zoom alumni discussion on investing in racial equity. Holy Cross alumni

Damon P. Hart ‘96 and Dominic Blue ‘98 joined McFarland Center Director Thomas Landry to discuss the importance of corporate responsibility in dismantling structural racism. Hart and Blue also shared about their roles in forming the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund in 2020, which provides resources to non-profits to dismantle systemic racism in areas of education, health care, policing, and more.

Megan Sullivan, parent of David Sullivan ‘22, told The Spire about her Family Week Spring 2021 experience: “Family Weekend on campus

has always been one of my favorite things. Getting a glimpse of my son’s college life is such a treat. The effort put forth to create that wonderful Holy Cross community feeling, online, was so evident in the great, thoughtful events hosted last week.

We never miss Father Boroughs’ speech when on campus, and the Zoom version was wonderful too. As a parent, it is so comforting to hear him convey such genuine care for everyone in his Holy Cross flock. We also loved participating in the Trivia Night, complete with the blueberry...

CONTINUED ON PG. 3

Associate Provost Leaves Holy Cross for New Position Hui Li ‘21 Chief Visuals Editor On March 8, Provost and Dean of the College Margaret Freije sent an email to the college community announcing that Amit Taneja, the current Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, has accepted a new position at the Chautauqua Institution in New York State. According to the March 8 press release on the Institution’s website, Taneja is set to be Chautauqua’s “First-Ever Senior Vice President and Chief Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Officer” on May 17.

The Spire reached out Taneja for comment regarding his imminent departure from the campus community and his six-year career at the college. Provost Freije’s email stated that Taneja, who joined the Hill in 2015, “built the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” and “lead the DEI Implementation Team in the con-

tinued development and implementation of the College’s Anti-Racism Action Plan and DEI strategic plan.”

Taneja stated that he could not have done these things without “partnership with others in the community.”

One of the first things that Taneja did was address the pressing task of hiring more and staff from underrepresented demographics. “I am grateful that I have been able to partner with faculty and staff to change hiring procedures at the College. Specifically, we have built in practices that focus on mission and diversity in the entire hiring process - from start to finish. This has led to some significant outcomes, including the hiring of 38% ALANA (Asian, Latino, African, and Native American) & 55% women tenure-track faculty during [the past six years],” he shared.

Taneja’s work to make the college a more diverse and welcoming place did not happen without its struggles, however. One challenge that

Taneja faced came from the fact that the college, like many institutions nationwide, is a microcosm of the broader society. “Higher education institutions mirror our larger society,” he stated. In recent years, there have been a growing number of biasrelated incidents across the country, and Taneja added that “Holy Cross is unfortunately not unique” in this regard.

Regarding the bias-based incidents that have happened during his time, Taneja shared, “It is very disheartening and disappointing [when these incidents occur, and i]t is hard to imagine how a member of our community could think or act in those ways. Those moments were heartbreaking - for our community and those impacted by those actions.”

“Ultimately, this is our campus as a collective. We get to define who we want to be as an institution. The students have a very important role.

When they see those kinds of in-

congruent actions happening, that’s when we have to dig deep inside and say, ‘what is my role in this situation to address this behavior?’ [This is t] he question of ‘who am I called to be?’ Those are not just theoretical questions: they have very practical answers for when you see some kind of injustice happening. My hope is that more and more students are able to find their voice and speak up,” he said.

Another challenge Taneja addressed was the difficulty in implementing changes in some administrative policies. “Change does not come easy to historic institutions.

Changing our policies and practices absolutely carries some risks: risk of the unknown, risk of failure, risk of letting go of the foundation that may have sustained the institution for a very long time. But I would argue that those changes actually sustain us to grow into the future as to fighting it,” he said. CONT. ON PG. 3

An End to Monarchy?

Not Quite Page 4 An Interview with the State Manager of “(Le) Deluge” Page 6

Exclusive Jo Center Insider Tips Page 9

March Madness: Today, Yesterday, and Forever Page 10

The Spire

2

NEWS

March 19, 2021

Common Requirement Steering Committee Seeks Feedback Davey Sullivan ‘22 News Editor Since the beginning of March, cases of COVID-19 have been on the rise at Holy Cross. Students were alerted the week of March 1st that there were 18 positive cases over the week and 100 close contacts in quarantine. Students were warned that orange alert level would be imminent if measures were not taken to curb the spread.

This had come as a change to previous trends in COVID-19 cases at Holy Cross, as there had been only cases in the single digits each previous week since the campus moved from orange to yellow alert status.

Metrics of testing compliance from both on and off-campus remains promising, with both over 90%, having risen over the previous few weeks.

The update from the COVID Core Team informed students that another trend that is concerning is that the number of close contacts per individual positive case is rising. Under yellow level, close contacts should only be those who are direct roommates on campus. Employees who commute to campus are not allowed to come into contact with anyone else on campus.

The metrics of quarantined close contacts, however, do not reflect compliance with this rule.

A decrease in the amount of quarantine space, an increase in the positivity rate, and more close contacts will lead the campus to move back to the increased restrictions of orange alert.

David Shettler, Director of CO-

VID-19 Operations at Holy Cross, spoke with the Spire on recent trends on campus. He commented, “The College’s COVID team is actively monitoring the state of the

students. We are below thresholds that would require us to take significant, large scale action, such as elevating to the Orange alert level.”

Despite the current stability, Mr.

do: The overwhelming majority of Holy Cross students have proven that they are doing their part. Keep it up, stay distanced, wear your mask, practice hand hygiene, re-

same as other settings that can afford to ease off; our cases are not in decline. Students live in close proximity to one another, eat together, study together, and your

Graphic by Davey Sullivan ‘22

pandemic on campus. We look at metrics extensively throughout the week to identify specific trends, case clusters, and other relationships that emerge as the virus moves about. Over the past two weeks, cases have been rising steadily, and we’re keeping a close eye on it. Our ability to process this case volume is presently stable, as is our capacity to isolate and quarantine impacted

Shettler made it clear that there is still work to be done. He continued his earlier statement, “That being said, we have been having to ramp up our efforts as cases have risen every week for the last several weeks. If the trend continues, then Orange is inevitable. We’re not there yet, but one bad week could put us there quickly. As to what students and the community can

port symptoms, test twice weekly, and be truthful to contact tracers.

Now is the time to stay vigilant and not let our guards down.”

Mr. Shettler also acknowledge the changing national landscape with COVID-19 restrictions in his response. He said, “Yes, restrictions are lifting all around us, but a congregate setting like a residential College campus is not the

friend networks are larger. COVID spreads easily this way. We’re effectively one large household, and if you’ve seen COVID in any family member households, you know how hard it is to avoid. But if we all follow the guidelines and rules, we’ll get through this term successfully.”

“Hope + Access” Campaign Off to a Strong Start Devyn Forcina ‘22 News Editor The Hope + Access campaign for Financial aid seeks to raise $40 million for need-based financial aid. This eighteen-month campaign began in January 2021 and will continue until June 2022. Its philanthropic mission is to enable all admitted students to attend the College of the Holy Cross, regardless of their financial means.

In the words of Tracy Barlok, Vice President of the Office of Advancement, the campaign “aims both to stabilize and enhance the College’s financial aid resources so that we can ensure a Holy Cross education is available and accessible to all admitted students.”

The Hope + Access campaign “is fundamentally about accessibility.”

Barlok connects its mission with the College of the Holy Cross’ Jesuit mission: “we have always been dedicated to supporting the needs of individuals in the face of changing social conditions. This is why a commitment to financial aid remains the College’s highest philanthropic priority.”

The campaign has already raised a significant amount of their desired goal. “Just two months after launching the campaign, the campaign has already generated tremendous momentum,” Barlok says. “As of mid-March, we are closing in on $10 million, thanks to the generosity of our dedicated alumni, donors, and friends. Our

community’s commitment to keeping a Holy Cross education affordable, regardless of a student’s or family’s income, is nothing short of inspiring.”

One such donation was an estate gift from the late Agnes Williams.

“She bequeathed the largest estate gift in the history of Holy Cross – over $23.5 million. The Williams family is generously supporting the Hope + Access Campaign for Financial Aid by supporting our decision to use her bequest to match all new and increased gifts to the College in support of financial aid.”

Agnes William’s generous gift will continue to grow through the Hope + Access campaign. “Gifts to new or existing endowed scholarship funds will be matched, dol-

lar for dollar, to help us grow our endowment to support financial aid well into the future. In short, the Williams Match will amplify each and every donation, regardless of size, to this campaign, providing hope and access to Holy Cross students now and in the years to come.”

Ultimately, the Hope + Access Campaign operates, in Barlok’s perspective, on an individual and institutional level. “On the individual level, access to a Holy Cross education, and opportunity, should not create financial instability. In other words, the hope offered by a Holy Cross education should not present students with insurmountable economic challenge and debt. We feel it is our responsibility as a Jesuit The Spire student newspaper College of the Holy Cross Published weekly since 1925

institution to ensure that accepted students have the opportunity to realize their potential, regardless of their financial means.”

Barlok adds: “On the institutional level, the campaign will both grow our endowment funds that support financial aid and increase the availability of emergency-use financial aid. Gifts of any size and unrestricted dollars are so important, because those donations allow the College to be responsive to current student needs. In addition, larger gifts will grow and stabilize our endowment, enabling the College to provide opportunity for an increasing number of future students.”

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

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

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

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

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

To advertise in The Spire: Email: spire@g.holycross.edu Phone: (508) 293-1283

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

The Spire

NEWS

March 19, 2021

3

Opening Week at the Jo a ‘Complete Success’ Since opening to members of the Holy Cross community on March 8, 2021 – a week ahead of its projected opening date – the Joanne Chouinard-Luth Recreation and Wellness center, colloquially referred to as “The Jo,” has aroused the interest and appropriation of students and faculty on campus.

The facility, which boasts a shining armada of athletic machinery and workout and weightlifting spaces, serves as the premier center for student recreation and fitness at the College. To acquire some more insight into the success of The Jo’s first operating week, The Spire met again with Director of Campus Recreation, Jamie Shannon.

Shannon, who only recently assumed her position as Director earlier this year, is already very pleased with the responses generated among students and staff since The Jo’s opening. She reports that during its first week alone, almost two thousand students made reservations to work out in select areas of the facility. While planning to

open The Jo in a manner consistent with state mandated safety guidelines was no simple feat, Shannon remarks that “ . . . it is wonderful to see students using the facility and equipment for recreation and fitness” (Shannon). Shannon also reflects admirably on the responsiveness of both students and staff members to the social distancing and safety protocols currently in place at the facility. She appreciates their attentiveness to the fourteen feet distancing requirement and other rules and notes that “ . . . students coming to use The Jo seem to be receptive to the reminders our staff are giving.”

The Spire also met and spoke with Danielle Nutter ‘24, an employee of The Jo. Nutter, who maintains the role of building supervisor for the facility, is tasked with opening and closing The Jo and cleaning down the many machines the facility houses throughout her shift.

Of her experience thus far, Nutter imparts that “Working at The Jo is a great time. I love being a part of something that I am passionate about myself: fitness.”

However, while The Jo’s open-

ing week largely qualifies as a success, the facility is subject to the occasional challenge. Shannon laments that the number of available reservations each day at the facility tends to run out quite early – an effect conducive to some extent of overcrowding in certain locations. Among the most populous, highly sought-after areas of The Jo are the cardio/strength and free weight rooms, which frequently reach their occupancy limits – leaving some students without access to desired machinery or unable to secure a reservation at all. Shannon recommends that students plan their reservations promptly and as soon as possible, taking advantage of the two-day advance reservation threshold. She also requests that students understand how the constraints of the virus and the corresponding social distancing protocols in place at the facility may complexify the process of securing a workout space on a given day. If either the cardio/strength or weightlifting rooms are unavailable, Shannon advises that students book one of the multipurpose studios where they can complete a

more bodyweight-centric workout instead. While the reservation process is not yet error-free, Shannon still believes that there is something available for everyone at The Jo. Shannon also relays that there are plans in the works to increase the services offered at The Jo, some of which include in-person group classes. In the forthcoming weeks, students should plan to learn more about a new streaming platform on which the College’s group classes will take place. The service – which can be accessed via an app or web browser – will “ . . . provide a wide variety of fitness classes available from anywhere,” according to Shannon. Of the program offerings, cardio equipment workouts, core strength and stretching activities, as well as dance, yoga, and martial arts-based classes will be available for selection by students.

While it is improbable that other areas of the center will be expanded this semester beyond the present limits – including the provision of more machines and equipment for student use – students should look forward to the enlargement of The Jo’s services in subsequent semes-

ters and for years to come.

In Shannon’s view, The Jo will continue to supplement and advance student wellness on campus throughout the semester, fully adopting its role as a “ . . . hub for creating relationships, achieving goals, trying new activities, and socializing through intramurals, fitness, wellness, and club sports” (Shannon). Shannon looks forward to heading the facility’s further development and continuing to leverage her position as Director of Campus Recreation to enrich The Jo’s services – progressively introducing new programs and activities over time, given that worldly conditions continue to improve.

Plans are also in place to lengthen The Jo’s operating hours in future semesters. However, Shannon is quite pleased with the level of student engagement and involvement on campus the Jo has evoked thus far. In her words, “I know how important fitness and wellness is on a college campus, so it has been wonderful to see the Jo come to life”.

“FAMILY” FROM PG. 1 ...Crusader Cocktail. The event was run so efficiently with over 80 teams participating, and we had a fantastic time.”

Lauren Vitelli ‘22 expressed her excitement about the Family Week offerings: “I was really happy that the College was able to put together activities for a virtual Family Week.

I have really enjoyed Family Week-

end the last couple of years, and I know my parents have too. I was able to go to the Trivia Night on Friday, and it was so much fun. I was on the phone with my family the whole time laughing and discussing the answers. My parents loved being able to participate in a Holy Cross event for the first time in over a year. I was home last semester, and this semester there aren’t guests on

campus so they haven’t been able to be involved. I think they liked the opportunity to see that Holy Cross is trying to keep students and families engaged. For me, it was a reminder of all the things I have to look forward to as we get back to normal on campus.”

The College is expecting to welcome families back to the Hill for an in-person Family Weekend in

the fall. A date has been set for the weekend of October 22-24, 2021, and more details will be shared in the coming months. Lauren shared her hopes for what this next Family Weekend will look like: “I am hopeful that we will be able to have in-person events for Family Weekend next year. I do hope that they keep having virtual options for some of the events. Some people’s

parents live too far away to come for Family Weekend, and I know that can be hard for people. Having virtual options for activities would allow those students to have a way to participate in the family weekend festivities even if their family can’t be there in person.”

Sarah Carter ‘24 News Editor

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

Committee Updates

Legislation S-1603 Structuring of Senate Committee Meetings Vote passed to eliminate signature sheet for Co-President pairs

Committee Updates: Stay on the lookout for more Spot a Senator posts for the chance to win a gift card. The RSO Re-Recognition process is ongoing, and RSO liaison emails are being sent out. Student Outreach will be having its first meeting with the new extended committee. Class Councils have been meeting with their Class Councils.

Join us for our next meeting on 2/21 at 8 pm EST on Zoom!

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

3/7/2021 Minutes “PROVOST” FROM PG. 1 Taneja added, “You see the impact of change over time.” He explained that when he first started working at Holy Cross in 2015, there were only two people of color on the president’s cabinet. By the time incoming president Rougeau begins his time in office in July 2021, there will be five people of color on the cabinet, he said.

Taneja, who will be leaving the college on April 16 to prepare for

his role at Chautauqua, will not have a role in the college’s search for a new associate provost. He did, however, share what he hopes that his successor will do.

“I’ve tilled the soil so that the next associate provost can come in and really build on the institution’s successes so they don’t have to start from scratch. They can take the successes that we’ve had and elevate them. I’m leaving behind a lot of policies and procedures for [the

future associate provost] to build upon and take Holy Cross to the next step,” he said.

When asked about what he has learned from his time at the college, Taneja stated, “I think I really grew in my understanding of, and appreciation for, interfaith dialogue - and the ways in which it can help heal some of the divides in our country…faith is one dimension which can provide the foundation for deep and difficult dialogues,

and in turn can help us to change hearts and minds.” He added that the college “provided [him] an opportunity to see this in practice.”

“Chautauqua Institution is built on four pillars - arts, education, recreation and religion. [Holy Cross’] appreciation of religion as a common ground will certainly help me in my new position,” he said about the future. In addition to continuing his work on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Taneja is looking

forward to doing something special soon, adding, “The past 15 months of pandemic meant that my husband and I have not seen our families for a very long time, and that we needed to be closer to our families. Chautauqua is thirty minutes from my in-laws, and about 2.5 hours from my family. I am really looking forward to being able to see my niece and nephews on a more regular basis, and defend my title as the ‘best uncle ever’!”

4 The Spire

Opinions

OPINIONS

March 19, 2021

See What Other Students Are Thinking Around Campus...

A Disappointing, Irrational Decision: TX, MS Lift Mask Mandate; Open 100% With effective strategy and a strong mask mandate, we surely can get a glimpse of normalcy. However, we can not flip the switch to life before the pandemic. It is wishful thinking and will have disastrous effects.

As coronavirus continues to rear its ugly head, we must continue doing what we have been doing for the past year. That is the only effective way to end this pandemic and get life back to normal.

Joe Barbieri ‘23 Opinions Editor On March 2, Texas Governor Greg Abbott held a press conference where he announced that the state would roll back many of its COVID-19 restrictions, which include lifting its mask mandate and opening businesses and facilities to 100 percent capacity.

In the executive order, Abbott stated that “With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus.” Continuing, Abbott stressed the need of doing more “to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans.”

Along with Texas, Mississippi also announced that they would also do away with its mask mandate, with Governor Tate Reeves tweeting, “it is time!”

These joint decisions are not only disappointing; they are illogical and will do more harm than good in the long run.

It is no secret that every American longs for the days of normalcy before the pandemic began. And as we reach the one-year mark of the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declaring the

Photo courtesy of US News and World Report coronavirus a pandemic, the desire for normalcy will certainly intensify after this lost and ineffective year.

However, this battle against the coronavirus has to continue. Masks must still be universally worn, social distancing must continue, and vaccines must be distributed not only across the nation but also worldwide.

To finally put an end to this dark chapter in human history, it requires a global effort. Countries should not turn inward. As a matter of fact, there must be a renewed commitment to global communication in order to put this pandemic to rest.

Unfortunately, the rash decisions of Texas and Mississippi dash any hope of that. While cases and

hospitalizations are low right now, it is certain that a surge will occur due to not only new strains of the virus but also due to a lack of maskwearing and social distancing in these states. The United States cannot be truly united if other states follow the example of Texas and Mississippi.

On the other hand, I do support states gradually reopening.

An End to the Monarchy? Not Quite. be uniquely British. The solidarity with Meghan Markle is justified, her experience living with the royal family likely was difficult as an American, and, as we saw with Princess Diana, no one is arguing that the royal family can’t be cruelly exclusive. But the arrival of an American into the royal family, despite social media’s valiant attempts, will not be the downfall of this family, much to American dismay.

Grace Manning ‘21 Opinions Editor Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey has gone viral over the past week.

Social media is flooded with tweets and posts calling for the end of the monarchy and wondering aloud whether this interview will mean the death of a carefully fabricated and maintained identity and reputation for the royal family. However, I am talking about largely American voices. People in Britain bring another view to the table. The interview aired first in the U.S., then in the U.K. and I waited in anticipation to hear the opinions of my family and friends who live in London. The most common question I heard was “this is news?” While not excusing their behaviour, the monarchy in England, although earnestly defended as a necessary and a key part of tradition and history, is also known to have its deeply-rooted issues. The English, don’t forget, had Diana, Princess of Wales as their national sweetheart and they were devastated when she died. They were equally infuriated that the royal family had very little to say when she did. But British sympathies don’t lie as completely

Photo courtesy of The LA Times with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as one might expect.

The overwhelming sentiments in the U.S. are outrage and empathy for Meghan Markle. But some British argue that she knew what she was getting into by marrying into the royal family. There seems to be the acknowledgement that while it is known that the royal family is tight knit, closed off to outsiders and often cold and callous, it is also understood that anyone joining the family is acutely aware

of their problematic nature. The British tabloids began ripping the interview apart, seconds after its release in the U.K. “Megxit,” a play on Brexit, was a term coined by the tabloids to mock the couple. It is difficult for some in the U.K. to sympathize with Meghan and Harry when they feel the interview was in the couple’s own self-interest and used as a tactical move in getting the public on their side. Meghan Markle is also a wealthy celebrity who was born, worked, and lived

in the U.S., so her self-motivated exile loses some of its impact for the British.

The aftermath of the interview in both the U.S. and the U.K., therefore, has been interesting in revealing the different views of the monarchy. The call for the “end” of the established ruling group in England is simply laughable to many British people. The monarchy is established and sometimes, if not always, beloved by its people as a symbol of what it means to

The Spire

OPINIONS

March 19, 2021

5

One Year of “Unprecedented Times” Catherine Yasckira ‘24 Opinions Editor It has been one year since a national emergency was declared because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March of last year, Holy Cross students were sent home, suddenly leaving friends, ending internships early, and for seniors, saying goodbye to the Hill in the most unexpected way. It is impossible to calculate what people have lost in the past year. 2.66 million people have died from COVID, and 535,000 of those deaths happened in the U.S. alone. Healthcare workers have had to work endless hours and undergone unimaginable stress and pain. Millions have lost jobs and financial security. Isolation has been especially difficult on those who have mental health issues and people living in abusive households. But now, finally, after a year, it seems that the end really is within sight. Over 107 million doses of the vaccine have been administered across the U.S. After an entire year of nothing but quarantining and watching the death toll tick up and up, it is only natural to cling to every piece of good news we can get. Vaccine rollout is certainly something to celebrate; however, it should not be used as an excuse to decrease restrictions.

Governor Greg Abbott ended the mask mandate in Texas on March 2, saying, “Covid has not suddenly disappeared… but state mandates are no longer needed.”

Photo by Hui Li ‘21, taken March 2020 Now five states - Texas, Mississippi, Iowa, Montana, and North Dakota - have dropped their mask mandates. But many healthcare workers fear that it is too early to be dropping restrictions. Dr. Natasha Kathuria, an emergency room doctor and global health specialist from Texas, expressed concerns about Governor Abbott dropping the mask mandate. She says that front-line workers are “at an exceptional risk for potential confrontation with patients who may be unwilling to wear a mask now that there is no mandate.” Images of healthcare workers with cuts and bruises on their faces from wearing masks for hours on end defined the COVID response towards

the beginning of the pandemic, and healthcare workers have not stopped working since then. The CDC reported that over 1,400 health care workers have died from COVID, though that study only reported on less than one-fifth of health care workers, meaning the number is almost certainly higher.

With restrictions being dropped, it is possible that hospitals will once again be flooded with COVID patients, increasing the already enormous burden on health care workers; those who have not been vaccinated will continue to be at risk for getting the disease and could be exposed to new variants.

Dr. Marc Broom, CEO and president of Houston Methodist hospi-

tal, said “It has been demoralizing for a lot of very fatigued health care professionals who see that light at the end of the tunnel but feel like the path has gotten rockier.” Those who have not yet gotten the vaccine but work in close contact with people, whether that be at grocery stores or restaurants, are especially at risk. Britt Harasmisz, a bartender in Texas, says, “A lot of people have been vaccinated — Governor Abbott was vaccinated, but a lot of us on the front lines have not.”

Some are pointing to Iowa and Montana, states that have had mask mandates rescinded for roughly a month and have not experienced surges in COVID-19. The success of these two states has been attribut-

ed to citizens continuing to socially distance themselves, wash hands, and remaining vigilant. However, with only a month of data, the success in these states is no reason to believe that it will work in a state like Texas, which has roughly five times the population of both states.

According to Dr. Fauci, “the best way that we can avoid any threat from variants is do two things: Get as many people vaccinated as quickly as we possibly can, and to continue with the public health measures, until we get this broad umbrella of protection over society, that the level of infection is very low.” Twenty-one percent of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated, which means that we are still far away from the seventy percent herd immunity threshold. The end is in sight, but now is not the time to lessen restrictions. Now is the time to continue to wear masks, socially distance, and keep doing what we have been doing for a year so that we can return to normal in the near future.

Upcoming Events “(le) Deluge.” Streaming free beginning March 5, 7:30 p.m. Available until March 24.

Presented by the Department of Theatre and Dance.

The Dogfather and The Bird’s Nest food trucks. March 20, 5 p.m.-7.:30 p.m. Presented

by HC Twist and Students for Responsible Choices. Register through MyHC. “Can Protest Really Change the Political Order? Learning from Russia, Belarus and Bulgaria.” Webinar, March 24 at 4 p.m. on Zoom. Presented by the McFarland Center.

“How Can Catholics Contribute to Restoring Public Life?” Webinar, March 25 at 4 p.m. on Zoom.

Presented by the McFarland Center.

“The Harpweaver.” Virtual concert by harpist Maeve Gilchrist, March 25 at 4:30 p.m., streaming on Youtube. Presented by Arts Transcending Borders.

6

The Spire

OPINIONS

March 19, 2021

A Challenging Return to Normal Julia Maher ‘23 Opinions Editor Since three promising vaccines have been approved by the FDA, the US—and college students— can expect a return back to normal life as soon as this summer.

This has been long anticipated, especially among college students, whose lives have been uniquely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our lives have been put on hold for over a year, and we are all ready to live normally again and enjoy our college experience.

Although we will have the opportunity to resume normal activities sooner than later, it will probably take a long time before everything actually starts to feel the same as before the pandemic.

Holy Cross students can expect to safely return back to campus this fall once the US reaches herd immunity, but it will take a longer amount of time for some people to adjust their habits and ways of thinking back to normal. Although not everyone has responded the same way to the pandemic and many have acted out rather recklessly, for those of us who have been rightly careful,

it will be hard to adjust ourselves back to the way things were before. This is most likely due to the fact that the pandemic has been at least slightly traumatic for each person.

“Relatively high rates of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological distress, and stress were reported in the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic in eight

illnesses, unemployment, student status, and frequent exposure to social media/news concerning COVID-19.” As this study points out, young students in the US, especially women with underlying

pletely eradicate mental illness, but it probably will improve for most people.

It will take a while for several of us to feel comfortable hugging other people and going to indoor gatherings. This is completely okay, and it merely indicates our bodies’ responses to the stress of the pandemic. It is important that we all take our time going back to normal and not beat ourselves up for not being as laid back as other people. Just as each person had a different comfort level during the pandemic, the same will remain true after the virus’s transmission lowers significantly. We should all be kind and patient with ourselves.

Photo courtesy of PANO The pandemic has impacted us all psychologically and neurologically. According to a study done in December 2020 that examined the mental health of the general population during the pandemic,

countries” and “common risk factors associated with mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic include female gender, younger age group (≤40 years), presence of chronic/psychiatric

mental illness, have disproportionately suffered from exacerbated mental health issues during the pandemic. These mental health effects will take a while to subside— a return to normal will not com-

Snapshots From the Hill

Photo by Valentina Moran ‘23

Father Boroughs talks with students at the Cookies on the Hoval event

Photo by Valentina Moran ‘23

Construction continues on the Prior Performing Arts Center

Photo by Valentina Moran ‘23

Students picked up cookies and masks while enjoying the sunny weather on 3/10

Photo by Valentina Moran ‘23

The Jo’s new signage was installed this week, marking the new center’s completion

The Spire

Features

Crusader of the Week: Amanda Vierra ‘23 Name: Amanda Vierra Favorite TV Show: Merlin and Class Year: 2023 Criminal Minds Hometown: Cohasset, MA Favorite Book: Jane Eyre Major: English Favorite Kimball meal: Chicken Campus Activities: ACT/Theatre parm, spagettti and breadsticks Favorite Movie: Favorite Cool Clueless, The Way, Beans Drink: Hot Way Back, Monty chocolate Python and The Favorite spot on Holy Grail campus: The Stacks Favorite song: and the Hoval “This Side of Favorite off-camParadise” by pus restaurant: 110 Coyote Theory Grill Favorite singer/ Guilty Pleasure: group: PUBLIC, Listening to old 5SOS, Ilene 2000s music for Woods the nostalgia, crime Favorite color: docs Blue Some small things Favorite sports that make your team: Patriots day better: People Favorite class smiling, hugging, taken at Holy mid day naps, fuzzy Cross: Anthro socks, oversized Photo courtesy of Amanda Vierra ‘23 101 and Americlothing, nature can Lit First thing you do Item on HC when you wake up: Bucket List: Have a late night Hoval check the time hang out Last thing you do before going to Embarrassing HC Moment: Face bed: listen to music/ watch youtube planting up the stairs in Smith in Favorite place you have traveled to: front of a full classroom Switzerland Bragging Rights: I can eat a whole Something you look forward to pint of ice cream in one sitting when you go home: Family dinners Words to live by: There is always Post-Graduation Plans: Doing somebody who loves you something cool and fun!

One thing you would change at Favorite memory at HC: My 19th HC: More elevators Birthday Party- my friends baked me a cake and I cried :’)

FEATURES

On Friday, March 5th the Campus Activities Board (CAB) hosted a “Paint Your Own Pottery” Night in Hogan Ballroom. Upon arrival, students showed their green HC Clear checkmark to a CAB member at the door, and were then instructed to scan a QR code to confirm their event signup. From there, students went to pick out the pottery they would paint, choosing between a mug, bowl, or plate. CAB members helped distribute a variety of pastel paint colors onto palettes for the students, making the setup safe for everyone. Hogan ballroom was arranged by two-person tables, safely spread out and covered with fun metallic table coverings, and the remaining painting supplies were left on each table. Scrolling through Pinterest, looking for creative inspiration, seemed to be the first steps for some attendees. It was a great way to unwind from the busy week, and simply get creative! Taking a break from school work and on-

7

An Interview With the Stage Manager of “(Le) Deluge” Bridget Flaherty ‘21 Features Editor This week, I interviewed Brian Saville ‘22 who worked as the stage manager on the Theatre Department’s production of (Le) Deluge. We discussed how the role changed as a result of the pandemic and its remote environment and what he learned from working on an original production.

For readers who might not know, what is the typical role of a stage manager?

The role of a stage manager is essentially to be the one in charge of organization and communication between all the different people involved in a theatrical production. Normally they would sit in on every rehearsal and take notes on everything and get that information to wherever it needs to go.

Have you stage managed before? How much did the role change due to its virtual nature?

I’ve been an assistant stage manager several times in high school and college, but skipped out on the stage manager position in favor of acting in shows.

The role is still very much an organizational one, but this time instead of making sure that props

CAB’s Paint Your Own Pottery: A Success!

Nicole Letendre ‘23 Features Editor

March 19, 2021

campus responsibilities can be so energizing, and CAB’s Pottery Painting Night was a wonderful outlet for some much-needed fun and imagination.

Students who participated in the Pottery Painting Night can expect an email when items are out of kiln and ready to be put Photo Courtesy of Nicole Letendre ‘23 and Natasha Rollo ‘23, to use. Even the Graphic design by Kate Nedorostek ’23 grab-and-go Pottery Painting was MyHC, as well as the Club and Orhugely popular, with many students actually put on a ganization Announcements to hear waiting list to participate. With a about new events and programs limited number of in-person events happening week to week. For stuhappening on-campus, programs dents who are on the lookout for such as CAB’s Pottery Painting in-person campus activities, keep Night seem to be more popular an eye out for future CAB events, than ever before, as they provide a and make sure to sign up as soon as means for students to socialize safely possible! while participating in a fun activity, like pottery painting! Check out

Screenshot taken from the Department of Theater and Dance, Graphic by Hui Li ‘21

were on the right tables and cast and crew members were where they needed to be, I was in charge of making lists and spreadsheets of important information and making sure these files were easy to find and well-organized.

What was the most rewarding part of this experience?

The most rewarding part of this experience was getting to be a key player in this piece that was entirely original. It was very exciting to watch these characters develop and hear these songs before anyone else in the world.

What was the most difficult part of this experience?

As a stage manager, I think the most difficult part of the (Le) Deluge experience was not being able to foster a sense of community among the cast the way I would have liked to. In normal times, the stage manager often plays a big role in planning events that really help bring the cast together, and this was difficult to do in the virtual format. I did regularly send memes in our group chat to make up for it.

What were the biggest challenges you faced?

I think the biggest challenge for the production as a whole was finding ways to do what we wanted to do technologically without sacrificing the interactive elements that are essential to acting. When you see characters singing, moving, and having conversations in the show, they really were doing that all in real time, and the gadgets that let us have that were always finicky. Our tech team did a stellar job working through these kinks, and the final product is much better off for it.

Did the fact that (Le) Deluge is an original musical impact your work/experience?

Much of what you would take for granted during a normal production, like a script with scene numbers and a musical score, obviously did not exist when we started. Our librettist Kaela Mae-Shing Garvin and composer Ulysses Loken knocked it out of

the park writing scenes and music, and a big part of my job became to list out these scenes and songs by name and number and who/what we needed for them, and to update this information every time changes were made to the script.

Did you feel as connected to the cast/crew/story in a remote work environment?

It was challenging to connect with the cast in a remote environment, though I was grateful that I got to be such a key player in the making of Deluge and was able to use this experience to maintain some connection with the cast during the virtual semester. Many of them are people I’ve been working with for a few years now, so being able to see them all regularly despite the circumstances is something I really appreciated. And I think we all felt very tightly connected to the story because it was entirely our own. The fact that we went down this path rather than trying to make an existing musical work over Zoom made it feel not like we had been cheated out of a grand production like Cabaret, but that we had gained something by performing a show that is very unique and very much a product of its tumultuous time.

The run of (Le Deluge) has been extended and will be streaming on Youtube until March 24.

Don’t miss out on the chance to witness this totally original creative phenomenon!

8

The Spire

FEATURES

March 19, 2021

Interview with Gallery Director, Meredith Fluke Grace Bromage ‘23 Chief Features Editor The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery at Holy Cross can be a sanctuary in the midst of a busy school week, a place where students and faculty can be immersed in the exhibits. Now, with socially distancing and remote learning, the Cantor Art Gallery has had to change the ways in which it is accessible to the public. This week I interviewed Dr. Meredith Fluke, the director of the Cantor Art Gallery, about her experience organizing exhibits in the time of Covid-19.

This is one of many galleries that you have put together virtually since the pandemic was announced in March 2020. Have you noticed any differences?

We have done several exhibitions now with a virtual component, starting with Professor Susan Schmidt’s Joys, Sorrows, and Concerns that opened last year (2020) on March 9th, and for which, due to Covid, we needed to create a virtual platform very quickly. For each exhibition, we have considered the relationship between in-person and virtual experience, which has evolved as the year has progressed, and as students have returned to campus. The senior concentration seminar last spring, for example, was fully virtual - which meant that the website functioned as the sole

Photo from Exhibition Website, memorygates.holycross.edu

viewing space for the show. With B. Lynch’s New Gilded Age (Fall 2020) and now Kevork Mourad: Memory Gates, we have installed the art in the gallery, so the respective websites need to function both as a secondary resource for hosting videos and photos of the exhibition, and as the primary way that people - in particular those who cannot come to campus - will expe-

rience the exhibition.

How are you managing the virtual and the in-person components?

Managing virtual and in-person components has been a productive challenge, in that we are able to develop both together, rather than having the website be solely a depository of gallery installation photos. The negative is that the work is more intensive and complex,

but we at the Cantor are lucky to have great partners in the EdTech department, who are very skilled at finding new solutions and technologies for creating more dynamic content. Of course the most important outcome to this work is that our programs have greater reach, especially to those visitors who are far away or can’t attend in person.

We are looking forward to continu-

ing online and virtual components, and to connecting with broader audiences even in a post-covid world.

What has it been like working with Kevork Mourad and seeing the progression of his work?

Really exciting! Kevork is a particularly dynamic and responsive artist, so it’s been so interesting to work with him and document the project as it develops. It’s amazing what he was able to produce in only 10 days, given that he arrived on February 22nd with only a bolt of fabric and his art supplies. As many people at Holy Cross have witnessed through his previous residencies through ATB, Kevork’s print-making and drawing processes are performance in their own right; we’ve tried to capture that energy in the videos that we created for the website — hopefully viewers will get a sense when they visit.

How can people visit the gallery in person? Do they need to make appointments?

Our doors are open! Anyone from the Holy Cross community can visit the gallery — the Cantor Gallery is open 10 - 5, Monday - Friday.

We are asking non-HC visitors to email or call to make an appointment (contact Paula Rosenblum at prosenbl@holycross.edu), so that we can make sure that we do not exceed our 15 person capacity, and so that Holy Cross students take precedence.

Studying Abroad During the Pandemic Kelly Gallagher ‘22 Editor-in-Chief Marya Makuc ‘22 originally looked forward to spending her junior year in Sri Lanka and Rome, but as was the case with many students, the pandemic upset her study abroad plans. Most study abroad programs for the 2020-21 academic year were canceled, but in Fall 2020, the Office of Study Abroad did offer students the opportunity to switch their applications to the College Year in Athens program. Marya, a Religious Studies Major from Monterey, MA, decided she couldn’t miss the opportunity.

Upon Marya’s arrival, she and the other students in the College Year in Athens program had to quarantine in their apartments for a 7-day period. The CYA program delivered food, and Marya passed the time by getting to know her three roommates, who are all from different schools.

Athens’ lockdown has presented challenges for Marya, but the city is still full of opportunities. Marya actually has to text the government every time she leaves the building and explain where she’s going. As the CYA administration explained to its students, the main purpose of this is to encourage people to be mindful about leaving their residencies. The government has restricted using public transporta-

tion for recreational purposes, so Marya’s adventures have all been within walking distance. Luckily, she lives in the Pangrati neighborhood, which is centrally located.

“It’s right by the Panathenaic Stadium, which is the first modern Olympic stadium,” Marya said. “It’s a 20-minute walk to the Acropolis area, where there are many sites like the Parthenon and the temple of Hephaestus.” In fact, the Parthenon is so close that Marya can see it from her balcony!

“My classes are fantastic. The best class I’m taking is about the Greek Orthodox Church, so we’re learning about the Orthodox religion. The professor is just outstanding and she’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my whole life,” Marya said. Three of Marya’s four classes take place over Zoom, but the professors keep the sessions engaging. Her class on Greek Orthodoxy “only has four students the max number of students in any of our classes is 10. It’s very individualized and most of the classes are based on discussion.”

She’s also enjoying her class on Byzantine era art and architecture.

Though most people associate Athens with its ancient history, the city is also home to many Byzantine remnants, especially churches.

Though Marya hasn’t been able to visit museums, which are closed, she’s been able to go into Byzantine churches, where she’s now able to recognize many elements thanks to

her class.

For Marya, the most frustrating part of studying abroad has been not being able to go to churches for worship, due to the lockdown.

However, she’s quick to emphasize that the opportunities of study abroad outweigh the obstacles of her experience. “The city has so much to offer even though it’s in lockdown,” Marya told The Spire.

She’s especially enjoyed visiting churches and the hills where, since ancient times, speakers have addressed enormous crowds below them. Marya said that her favorite moment of the trip was visiting the top of the Areopagus hill, a rock outcropping where St. Paul first preached to the Athenians. “That was just incredible.”

Marya has been able to experience Greek Orthodox traditions in advance of Easter. During Carnival, a three-week period before Lent, people indulged in meat, cheeses, and other foods they would later give up for their fast. Many kids dressed up, and on the last day of Carnival, “people were just throwing confetti everywhere.”

Lent began this week, starting with “Clean Monday” on March 15. “Similar to in the Catholic faith, the Orthodox take the forty days before their Easter, which they call Pascha, to fast. The first day of the fast is called Clean Monday,” Marya shared. “There are certain foods that you eat, like a thin bread filled with sesame seeds and this

Photo courtesy of Marya Makuc ‘22, Graphic by Kate Nedorostek ’23

traditional salad with fish roe. I just tried it for the first time today, and it actually tasted really good.

There’s also olives, seafood, and this tahini-based treat called halva, which is almost like fudge. So those are the foods that you eat, and then it’s traditional that you fly a kite on Philopappos hill. The idea of the kite is to send your intentions and prayers to God.” The main thing left on Marya’s bucket list is visiting a monastery in Meteora once travel restrictions loosen up. The loosened restrictions will also allow Marya to use public transportation in order to visit beaches. In addition, Marya hopes that restaurants, museums, and more archeological sites will

open up before she leaves late in May. At the end of her interview, Marya reflected on why she had wanted to study abroad, and how her experiences had lived up to her hopes. “I think that in life we are called to walk with each other on our journeys. Relationships with other people are really important. In fact, I think it’s the most important part of our lives.

In traveling, I’m getting to know more people, and then coming to love more people, and then coming to better understand them and be in relationship with them.”

The Spire

FEATURES

March 19, 2021

9

Responsibilities of Social Media Companies in Repairing our Social Divisions: A Reflection Stacey Kaliabakos ‘23 Features Editor On March 4th, the McFarland Center for Religion Ethics and Culture hosted a webinar called Responsibilities of Social Media Companies in Repairing our Social Divisions. The talk featured three key speakers, Richard “Dick” Freije, Daniel Klinghard, and Amit Taneja. Freije is an alum of Holy Cross (a 1981 graduate) and a recipient of a PhD in Math at Brown University. His career is focused on Cyber Law and its implications in American society. Professor Klinghard hails from the Holy Cross Political Science Department and is also the Director of the J.D. Power Center for Liberal Arts in the World. Finally, Amit Taneja is the Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the College.

Thomas Landy, the moderator of the discussion and Director of the McFarland Center, opened with his opinion on social media:

it has played a significant role in inflaming division in our country, particularly because it is constituted by various “feedback loops of misinformation.” The overarching question that Landy provided was how could better content moderation “fix” the internet-- in other words, are there any ways for social media companies to regulate their content to not only provide correct information, but to deliver it to their consumers in a palatable way?

The three men had slightly variant opinions on the issue.

Dr. Freije opened by discussing Section 230, a law passed in 1996 that immunizes social media companies from lawsuits based on content posted on their platforms.

He also talked about how the first amendment plays into why one can’t force social media companies to take hate speech off their platforms. However, Dr. Freije suggested that the way to minimize hate speech on the internet may be through reconsidering how the constitution can apply to it, spe-

Screenshot from the MacFarland Center’s YouTube video; graphic design by Hui Li ‘21

cifically suggesting that perhaps instead of using it to regulate ideas, it can just be used to regulate speech itself.

Professor Klinghard suggested three alternatives to speech restrictions: competition, working to give a voice to all people, and creating content that can build legitimacy.

He said that a large problem with

social media is that “there is an obsession with ‘owning’ the other side.” Therefore, what we need to fix this problem is a media that has the capacity to build trust among people rather than restricting their speech. Provost Taneja made a similar point, saying that there are valid cases on both sides of the argument for the regulation of social

Monica Regan ‘23 Staff Writer

nese military to be in very close proximity to India. Both states had differing viewpoints on which territories were owned by which power, leading to war in 1961, in which the Chinese government was victorious. The two countries never reached an agreement about their territories, and by the arrival of Chinese statesmen, Deng Xiaoping in 1989, it was too late. His leadership brought massive economic reform which boosted China’s rise as an economic superpower on the global stage. This new, booming economy posed unprecedented challenges for India, as they had never faced such massive economic regional competition.

In regards to the United States, the US actually sponsored China’s economic rise and brought them into the global trading community, expecting them to become a key economic partner. Then, when the Cold War ended in 1991, both the Indian and the United States governments had to face the unprecedented economic strength of China. By 2008, all American hopes for the liberalization and Westernization of China had diminished.

Furthermore, the two states shared concerns about China’s powerful authoritarian government and how it could threaten democracy across the globe. As Dr. Tellis points out, India and the United States were in an extremely similar position of decreasing optimism and increasing concern, which could prompt a shared solution.

In May 2020, violence broke out between the Chinese and Indian militaries, changing China from a competitor to an enemy in India’s viewpoint. Dr. Tellis brought up three possible responses from India: succumb to the Chinese

media. However, he also asked if there was a way in which we could have set standards around what is acceptable and what is not on the internet. Additionally, there must be a fair and proper way to enforce these rules (a Presidential commission that could come up with rules that would ultimately be passed by Congress, for example). Ultimately, a quote from Provost Taneja that stuck with me was “Moderating social media is treating the symptom-- not the cause.”

As college students, we are constantly exposed to not only the beneficial aspects of social media, but the detrimental parts of it as well. Listening to the webinar made me realize that change in the culture of social media can start small, even at the individual level. As our school motto is “men and women for and with others,” I think we as Holy Cross students are well-equipped to start making social media a safer and kinder place for everyone.

Annie Rogers ‘23, AHS Hosts Guest Speaker Feminist Forum Caroline Wallace ‘23 Features Editor

The Feminist Forum, or “FemFo,” is as Annie Rogers put it: “a group where all gender identities, sexual orientation, race, and religion meet together in order to discuss equality and problems that affect people all over the world.”

Despite the COVID-19 restrictions on campus, the group is still meeting on a weekly basis on Tuesdays from 8:30-9:30 through Zoom.

The FemFo has made the most use of Zoom and have adjusted their normal meetings accordingly. Instead of meeting each week to discuss a given topic, they talk about a topic one week, then the next week they meet to discuss “life, the news, and anything on our minds,” stated Rogers. Although the means of meeting have changed for the FemFo, they have not allowed the restrictions of the pandemic to affect their tight-knit community.

When discussing the mission of the Feminist Forum, Rogers explained that she feels that her role is to “keep the conversations that we have in meetings going!” She stated that the FemFo discusses important topics such as “sexual assault, women having autonomy over themselves, knowing their own

body, and destigmatizing the word ‘feminist.’” Rogers stated that her expeiences with the FemFo have allowed her to grow and that she has “learned to embrace the awkwardness that comes with learning about ourselves and challenge the conversations around me.” As displayed through Roger’s answers, the Feminist Forum provides a perfect opportunity for students to join a community on campus in the midst of these isolating times. Involvement in the FemFo allows for students to not only become more involved, but also more educated.

As stated before, the FemFo is open to everyone. Anyone interested in joining can do so by following @hcfeminists on Instagram and/or emailing feministforum@g.holycross.edu. In addition, the Feminist Forum will be hosting an event “Take Back the Night.” This event is a vigil that is hosted for sexual assault awareness.

It will be happening in late April with more details to come.

Photo courtsey of Annie Rogers’ 23, logo from @hcfeminists on Instagram

In an event hosted by the Holy Cross chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Society, Doctor Ashley Tellis delivered a lecture on the prospects of the United States government tackling what he called the growing China problem, a phrase used to refer to the inverse and unexpected relationship between economic liberalization and political centralization, with potential assistance and collaboration with the Indian government.

Dr. Tellis received his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago and his MA and BA at the University of Bombay. Additionally, he served as a senior adviser at the United States embassy in New Delhi, negotiated the civil nuclear agreement with India as a senior adviser to the Secretary of State for political affairs, and served as a special assistant to former President George W. Bush on the National Security Council staff. He is currently a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The Alexander Hamilton Society is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of students who meet biweekly to discuss American foreign policy, imbued with the Hamiltonian perspective of strong and principled American leadership in global affairs.

Dr. Tellis began by emphasizing the importance of acknowledging history and how past events trigger current prospects for collaboration in foreign policy. The first real dispute between the Chinese and Indian governments was prompted by the 1950 invasion of Tibet, which prompted the Chi-

government’s power, or balance against China’s power by either building up their internal capabilities through economic improvements or building up their external capabilities by forming alliances.

However, he believes that India will not form a permanent alliance with the United States because of India’s colonial history, as they do not want to be subservient to a Western power again. Therefore, a feasible outcome is a soft alliance driven by self-interest between Indian and the United States governments, because America wants to balance against China, and India wants to compete with China by becoming a great power on its own. However, Dr. Tellis pointed out that the United States government will need to be wary of the Indian government’s power drastically rising. Thankfully, the United States does not have to worry about this right now, and as Dr. Tellis said to the group of students with prospective futures in foreign policy, “it’s a choice you might have to make in your careers” (Tellis 2021).

Overall, Dr. Tellis emphasized the importance of evaluating historical and colonial relationships between states and how they influence modern foreign policy. He also drove the point that relationships between states are flexible and dependent on current state interests, and are always subject to change as states may fluctuate in strength. The US and India have the power to jointly challenge the Chinese government, but this may not be a long-term nor permanent solution to China’s growing global influence.

Anyone interested in joining AHS can reach them via email at alexanderhamiltonsociety@g.holycross.edu

10

The Spire

The Eggplant March 19, 2021

The Eggplant

We <3 The Joanne Chouinard-Luth Center of Recreation and Wellness Exclusive Jo Center Insider Tips Hannah Johnson ‘21 metagator Campus is abuzz with excitement about the Jo, a new location advertised for the potential of seeing other people, Not On A Computer. Oh, and I guess there’s also potential for fitness, recreation, and wellness there, if you are interested in that kind of thing, but we’re not all athletes.

Due to recent interest, many have demanded that the Eggplant cover this beautiful new building, and we bow to the demands of the people.

Conveniently enough, I began working at the Jo last week, as a Fitness Master, a highly exclusive position. And as part of my training, I got to know all the ins and outs of the Jo. Due to a vow of silence and a nondisclosure agreement, I can only say so much, but for the benefit of all my fellow students, I would like to share the following insights!

- There is a small lobby a little ways in from the main entrance that is a designated milkshake drinking-area. It’s a perfect place to rest, socialize, and enjoy a sugary dairy-based drink before/after working out and making your body very warm, sweaty, and dehydrated.

EXCLUSIVE TIP: The milkshake lobby is currently only accepting students that would place the chocolate milkshake at at least a C-tier!! It is a bit of a setback, but with any luck, the Jo will become more welcoming of diverse opinions over time. If you are outed as a chocolate milkshake-hater, be prepared to finish your milkshake at the front entrance before being allowed inside the Jo proper. (I am personally enforcing this rule during my shifts.)

- Be sure to wipe down your olympical, hypodermic, Cardi-B, and Strongth machines before use, during use (with each sweat drop you produce), after use, and then between workout blocks. You will not be paid to wipe down the equipment, and

I will be paid, but I will appreciate your help. :3 INSIDER SCOOP: Tripping over the equipment and being careless is a great way to work spontaneous pushups and reflexive action into your valued workout time. The Fitness Master on duty will clear the area for you using small orange cones and signs so that no one disturbs you, but you WILL be asked to also wipe up your sweat droplets from the floor and any equipment you come into contact with. And then the Master will also wipe up after you, because we trust no one.

[REDACTED] - With the absence of treadmills, your options are to run outside of the building, or to power walk around the Jo. Only walking is allowed on the indoor track during testing hours.

SUPER SECRET HOT TIP! There are actually times when you can run on the indoor track. You can run on the middle lane, outside of testing hours (the lunchtime hour, and on weekends), clockwise on M/W/F/Sat, counter-clockwise T/Th/Sun, backwards when Mercury is in retrograde, and carefully when there are dumbbells on the track.

(We have small orange cones in case of accidents.)

- Definitely take advantage of the communal hot tub. It’s not listed on myHC, and is only accessible if you can find the hidden entrance. You may be asked for a secret code word, but that [REDACTED]. Otherwise, if you [REDACTED], you will be asked to [REDACTED] while [REDACTED].

Be cautious if you see any [REDACTED] in the waters, because they bite sometimes!

I hope you found this article insightful! I will be investigating to see whether or not more information could be divulged about the Jo, or if we could know more about [REDACTED]. [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED].

[REDACTED][REDACTED][REDACTED] [REDACTED][REDACTED][REDACTED][RE

Submit something funny for the April Fool’s “Eggplant Edition” of The Spire!

Email spire@g.holycross.edu :o) <- (that’s a clown)

Advice from an Uber Driver Julianna Mariani ‘24 Off Campus Adventurer As a freshman at Holy Cross, you have to know how to take an Uber. This is something I had never done before getting to campus, but seeing as you can’t have your car with you it’s imperative you find another way of getting around. The first week of school, my roommate and I attempted to walk to Walmart, which is, theoretically, the most entertaining place within walking distance of the Hill. Theoretically being the key word there. After trekking downhill in a mix of black and brown slush, crossing train tracks and having to walk on the side of the highway, we decided we wouldn’t be doing that again.

Walmart just isn’t worth our lives, no matter how good the selection of cheap clothes and half-priced Valentine’s Day candy is. From that moment forward, we had to know how to get an Uber. I must admit, even though I have the app downloaded, I have yet to actually

order one myself. I consistently “let” my friends do it because something in the back of my mind tells me it’ll be my fault if a 2004 Honda Civic with its tail pipe dragging on the ground, shows up outside Figge Hall.

Anyway, over the past few weekends I’ve had some pretty uneventful Uber rides, but last Saturday was a different story.

We, and by that I mean not me, ordered an Uber to Target (Walmart’s cooler cousin). As we watched the car pull up to the curb we thought, so far so good, little did we know we were about to get a life lesson.

My friend opened the door first, asking who he was picking up for. I didn’t think anything of it but our Uber driver definitely did. He decided to pick that moment, as we all piled in, to tell us we “did that wrong” and that we aren’t supposed to ask who the driver is picking up for, he’s supposed to ask us. It gets better. Turns out my friend had had this Uber driver before and he had given her the same piece of advice the last time around, one that she

had obviously not taken. They proceeded to go back and forth for a bit about the right way to enter an Uber but eventually the conversation moved to broader topics. Our driver seemed to like us so he thought it an opportune time to tell us his life story. Apparently, this guy is a millionaire, if he were to liquidate all his assets of course, and he wanted to make sure we knew we could do the same.

I got two great pieces of advice from our Uber driver that day, one: “Start putting everything into savings now, it’ll be the best part time job you’ll ever have” and “People grossly overestimate what they can do in a year but underestimate what they can do in five.”

Moral of the story is: taking an Uber is consistently hit or miss, but why not take one because, who knows, you might get some great advice out of it, or just leave more confused than you were when you hopped in.

P.S. If anyone actually knows the right way to get in an Uber, do let me know.

!

as well as Fitness

Holy Cross Begins Renovations to Double as Ski Resort in the Winter John Murphy ‘21 All Downhill From Here After announcing his intention to step down as president of the college back in September, Fr. Boroughs has been working hard to figure out a way he can leave a lasting impact on the campus. Unless there’s an Ocean’s Fourteen about sneaking onto campus and changing the name in front of a building on Easy Street, it isn’t likely that we’ll be cramming too many freshmen into Boroughs Hall.

The plan: renovate the college to double as a ski resort for the winter.

Even when COVID’s

gone from every state except Texas and Mississippi, the school plans to go remote every Fall semester.

Without students on campus from September-February, it’s the perfect time to restructure campus.

The SGA has already taken the initiative and built the skating rink next to the Luth Center. With this skating rink up, the dorms to act as lodging for skiers, Kimball remaining a mess hall, and The Pub in Hogan’s basement to be a spot for post-skiing activities, that only leaves the actual ski mountains to figure out.

The yearly raises in tuition could finally end up

being reasonable and useful when the money is used to purchase College St. from the city of Worcester.

The blueprints call for real snow and, if necessary, fake snow to cover College St., Loyola Road and McCarthy Lane, and the grassy hill under the Luth to act as a blue slope, black diamond slope, and the bunny hill respectively.

“Mt. Ski James presented by Fr. Boroughs” is expected to open its doors September 2025-just long enough so all of us here graduate before it opens.

The only photo my roommate managed to capture, which he accidentally took as he gracefully fell to the ground.

Photo courtesy of College of the Holy Cross (edited by Michael Vail ‘24)

The New Equipment at the Jo Michael Vail ‘24 Certified Fitness Guru When I heard the Jo was finally opening for student use, I was absolutely pumped. It had been a month and a half of sitting around, and it was due time to start lifting weights and running again. The push-ups in the middle of the floor of my dorm room were getting old, and after my roommate tripped over me—resulting in only a mild concussion, surprisingly—we both decided I had to stop until I could visit the Jo. I quickly snagged 4 hours worth of time slots and rushed over to the Jo, stopping along the way to get a chocolate shake.

Yes, I finally tried it, and it was D-tier. I’m not a big chocolate fan, so quite

honestly, you should have expected this, and I don’t want any angry emails about it. I’ll ignore them.

You know who you are.

When I arrived at the Jo, I was greeted by a row of the usual olympical machines (that’s what they’re called, right?) and at least two sets of dumbbells, between five and three hundred pounds, which were carefully placed on the floor. My roommate, who had come along with me as a photographer, tripped over them and received a mild concussion.

Unfortunately for him, I came here for a reason, so I strolled over to the other side of the center and hoped his stunt wouldn’t hinder my workout session.

With only 3 hours and 45 minutes left of my scheduled time, I took a gander at the machine I stumbled upon. And I must admit,

the Campus Recreation team really outdid themselves with this one. If I had been given 32.5 million dollars to spend, I would have invested in something boring like more treadmills, or maybe an obstacle course with those little orange cones. But using half of that budget for a 5,000 square foot communal hot tub was truly genius. I used it immediately after training for a short while. The water bill? Who cares! They even provided those noodles you can swim around with!

My muscles felt relaxed after a few hours in the tub and I walked out of the Jo in a wonderful mood. As I left, I noticed the spot where my roommate fell was vacant. I assume he found his way back safely.

The Spire

SPORTS

Sports Mike O’Brien ‘23 & Jimmy Casey ‘22 Chief Sports Editor; Sports Editor After NCAA Basketball fans went starving last year due to the March Madness Tournament being cancelled due to COVID-19, the bracket is back.

It has been quite the season and will shape up to be a crazy next couple of weeks. With blueblood schools like Duke and Kentucky out of action and new powerhouses like Illinois rising to the top, let’s see how each region is shaping up and which games fans should pay close attention to.

West Region: No. 1 seeds are usually always favored to win their region, but this year No. 1 seed Gonzaga has dominated like few teams have before. Gonzaga finished their regular season with an astounding 26-0 record, becoming the first team since the 2015 Kentucky squad to not lose a game leading up to the tournament. However, no team that has gone undefeated in the regular season has ended up winning it all since the 1975-1976 Indiana Hoosiers. Will Gonzaga be the first team to end this drought? You’ll find out my two cents later on. Other heavy hitters in the West Region include No. 2 seed Iowa, led by arguably the best player in the NCAA, Luka Garza.

One sleeper team I like to make a deep run in this region is No. 6 seeded USC, with an impressive regular season resume, with wins such as beating BYU by 26, beating UCLA twice, and another win over Oregon. Freshman Evan Mobley is one of the best players in the country, and I believe this Trojan squad can truly hang with anyone. Still though, my pick is for Gonzaga to handily defeat their West opponents and head to the Final Four.

South Region: Another chalk team I’m buying into this tournament is No. 1 seeded Baylor. Despite not winning their conference tournament, Baylor dominated the regular season to finish with a 22-2 record.

Despite Ohio State’s amazing Big 10 tournament run, the other team I like to go all the way to the Elite 8 are the Arkansas Razorbacks. With two wins against Top 25 teams and finishing their regular season as hot as any team out there, winning 12 of their 13 last games, I believe this squad is dangerous. A first round matchup against Patriot League Champions Colgate, who run a very efficient offense, should be a closer game than most people think and will be a lot of fun to watch. Still, I’m rolling with the Baylor hype train and believe that they will punch a ticket to the National Semi-Finals.

East Region: This is where the fun begins.

In my opinion, this region has

March 19, 2021

11

March Madness: Today, Yesterday, and Forever

the most upset potential of any in the tourney.

I’ve picked No. 8 seed LSU to knock off No. 1 seed Michigan in the second round to match up with No. 12 seed Georgetown in the Sweet 16, after both teams had incredible Conference Championship runs; LSU lost to No. 2 seeded Alabama by one point in the championship game and Georgetown pulled off a historic run to win the Big East tournament. Madness indeed.

With Michigan out of the way, the team this benefits most is the No. 3 seeded Texas Longhorns.

Texas won the Big 12 Tournament Championship, knocking off their in-state rivals No. 6 seeded Texas Tech and cross-state rivals No. 4 seeded Oklahoma State to win arguably the best conference in the country. With a winning record of 7-6 against Top 25 teams and veteran coach Shaka Smart at the helm, the Longhorns will dance all the way to Indiana to play in the Final Four.

Midwest Region: The obvious pick here is the No. 1 seeded Fighting Illini of Illinois, fresh off their Big 10 Tournament Championship, but that’s not how I’m seeing it.

After making it all the way to the Big 12 Conference Championship, the No. 4 seeded Oklahoma State Cowboys will be hungry for more. The likely #1 overall pick in the upcoming draft, Cade Cunningham, has been lights out this season, and he will help the Cowboys go throughout March in style by making it all the way to the Final Four. Oklahoma State has an extremely strong resume, beating Baylor, Kansas, Texas, and West Virginia. Cunningham will have a Steph Curry-esque tournament, leading this OK State team all the way to the National Semifinals. Another Cinderella sleeper I’ve fallen in love with is the No. 11 seeded Syracuse Orange, and I’ve picked them to upset No. 6 seed San Diego State and No. 3 seed West Virginia to make a run all the way to the Sweet Sixteen.

Crazy? Maybe. But think back to the last time Syracuse was a deeper seed in the tournament; as a 10 seed, they danced all the way to the Final Four. This program thrives in March, and Hall of Fame coach Jim Boheim will guide his team to a run most people wouldn’t expect.

Final Four: Gonzaga vs.

Texas and Baylor vs. Oklahoma State

If I’m actually right here, these will be two of the best games in the tournament. For Gonzaga, they may take too much for granted after stomping their competition leading up to the Final Four, just like they had been doing in a questionably weak regular season schedule. This Texas team may be the hottest in the country after winning their conference tourna-

Photos Courtesy of Paul Sancya via AP

ment, and Smart has experience coaching in the Final Four, taking No. 11 seed VCU here in 2011 as a Cinderella of Cinderellas.

Gonzaga may get punched in the mouth early, but I expect them to tame the Longhorns in an extremely close game. On the other side of the bracket, Big 12 rivals Baylor and Oklahoma State will give us another thrilling semifinal game. For as much as I love Cunningham and the Cowboys, Baylor seems to be the more well-rounded team. Although OK State beat the Bears in the Big 12 Conference Tournament, Baylor will respond and hand Cunningham his only poor performance of the tournament to advance to the championship game.

National Championship: Gonzaga vs. Baylor Yeah, I know. Two No. 1 seeds isn’t exactly the most thrilling pick in the world, but these two giants are too good not to make it here. When it comes to picking a winner, I’ll point to Gonzaga’s potential flaws as a team and the daunting prospect of history on their side. This team only played six ranked opponents during the regular season, and although they won them all, did they face enough adversity to build a National Championship team? I don’t think so. When No. 1 seed Kentucky won every game leading up to the Final Four in 2015, everyone expected them to win it all; but they didn’t, even with a decently stronger roster than Gonzaga has now. Baylor has played more Top 25 teams, only dropping two games in the process.

Gonzaga has also recently made the championship game in 2017, losing to a UNC team with more pedigree. I believe Baylor will be mentally and physically tougher, winning the National Championship game by a score of 72-68.

After hearing my picks, let’s learn about some College of the Holy Cross March Madness history from Jimmy Casey.

While this year’s squad unfortunately didn’t get the chance to

be one of the 68 teams participating on the big stage, I couldn’t help but ponder about our school’s storied basketball history which features both an NCAA Championship in 1947 and an NIT Championship in 1954.

My grandfather was actually a member of the basketball program back in those days. He was on the team from 1949 to 1953, so he came right in between the NCAA and NIT championships. He was a part of some really awesome groups, and I’ve heard countless stories about them that he passed down to my dad. Yet, I had never researched just how great those teams were. Guys like Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn, Togo Palazzi, and Earle Markey were not only Holy Cross icons, but also college basketball legends. They made up some of the most formidable teams of that era and dominated on the national stage. It was a great time to be a Crusader, so join me as I take you on a journey back to Worcester in 1947.

Led by head coach Doggie Julian, The Crusaders dominated the regular season. Two-time AllAmerican center George Kaftan was Holy Cross’s primary star, controlling the paint each and every game. Dermot O’Connell, Joe Mullaney, and Frank Oftring provided valuable contributions as complementary pieces as well.

Oh, the Crusaders also had a pretty talented freshman too. His name was Bob Cousy. Cousy was clearly primed for an outstanding career, but in those days, freshmen didn’t usually play much at all. The fact that he even saw the floor in his first year is a testament to how truly special the “Houdini of the Hardwood” really was.

Although he only averaged 7.6 points per game, Cousy was the perfect point guard to orchestrate a capable squad like Holy Cross.

After finishing with a 27-3 record, Holy Cross headed into postseason play on a roll. The 1947 NCAA Tournament was only the ninth of its kind. With only eight teams participating, the tournament was a far cry from what it is now. However, it was still one of the premier basketball

tournaments in the nation at the time, second only to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). It might not have necessarily been “March Madness,” but it was a competition of some of the very best teams in the country, and Holy Cross was a part of that group. The Crusaders opened up against Navy. Propelled by a combined 33 points from Joe Mullaney and George Kaftan, they defeated the Midshipmen by eight.

The squad rode their momentum into the semifinals, beating the City College of New York handily.

Kaftan put on a show with 30 points in the Crusaders’ 15-point victory. The win set the stage for the national championship against Oklahoma. This was the absolute pinnacle of college sports – a sold-out Madison Square Garden, thousands of people, and the two best teams in the country facing off. The tournament as a whole might not have been “madness” just yet, but I’m sure the arena that night was nothing short of chaos.

The game was tightly contested throughout. The Sooners held a 31-28 lead at halftime, but, after a strong surge to start the second half, Holy Cross gained control and didn’t look back. It was a balanced attack for the Crusaders, as they had three players score in the double digits – Kaftan with 18, O’Connell with 16, and Oftring with 14. Bob McMullen also chipped in with eight points. They ended up winning the game 58-47.

Kaftan took home the honors for the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, etching his name in the conversation of college basketball’s greatest players. The display that the Crusaders put on during the tournament thrusted them into the national spotlight and showed that they were on the upper echelon of college basketball.

12

The Spire

SPORTS

March 19, 2021

Crusaders Open Football Season With Victory John Burke ‘23 Staff Writer The Holy Cross football team opened their shortened season with a 20-3 victory on the road against the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks. With only four opportunities to win games in the Patriot League only season, this victory in Bethlehem, PA was the first step in the journey for the Crusaders to repeat as league champions.

Holy Cross gave up two turnovers early in the contest, but a strong defensive presence was able to keep Lehigh out of the endzone.

A fumble recovery later in the first quarter set up the Crusader offense on the Lehigh six-yard line, and Senior quarterback Connor Degenhardt was able to connect with his classmate Dean Nagle for four yards and the first touchdown of the season.

“Madness” CONT. FROM PG. 11 Following their championship season, Holy Cross stayed near the top of national rankings.

Bob Cousy assumed a bigger role and grew to be arguably the greatest player in school history before making his way to an illustrious NBA career. He led the Crusaders back to the tournament twice but unfortunately failed to make another championship game.

However, having a player of that caliber was extremely beneficial in terms of recruiting. One of the best players in the country chose Holy Cross, so why shouldn’t others? Suddenly, the Hill became an attractive place for high school players to consider playing. Earle Markey was the first of these bigname recruits to commit to Holy Cross. He was a supremely talented guard who immediately made an impact when he got the chance during his sophomore season.

Then came high school All-American Togo Palazzi, who was widely regarded as a top five player in the nation at the time. After a good sophomore season, Palazzi erupted onto the scene in his junior year, averaging an incredible stat line of 22.8 points and 16.3 rebounds per game. Headed by these two stars, the Crusaders were impressive in 1953, which was Markey’s senior season. The duo guided their group to the 1953 NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the East Regional Final to NBA legend Bob Pettit’s LSU Tigers. Losing Markey was a huge loss, but Holy Cross wasn’t finished. They merely reloaded.

The offense was able to keep the pressure on the Mountain Hawks, and Degenhardt capped off the opening drive of the second quarter with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Sophomore wide receiver Ayir Asante. Junior Kicker Derek Ng was able to nail a 41-yard field goal at the end of the quarter to give the Crusaders a two touchdown lead going into halftime. Late in the third quarter, a botched Lehigh punt was recovered by Senior defensive back Josh Hicks, thus setting up Ng to hit a school record 51-yard field goal.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Crusaders were a brick wall. Lehigh was held to a measly 24 yards on the ground. Junior Dan Kuznetsov and Sophomore Jacob Dobbs led the way with seven tackles apiece, with Kuznetsov contributing a sack and a half as well. Senior Jordan Jackson and

Junior Jake Reichwein both contributed five tackles each, as well as combining for an additional 2.5 sacks.

For their efforts, Jackson was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week and Ng was named the Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week.

Looking forward, the Crusaders look to keep their momentum against Colgate on the road, after their original next matchup against the Fordham Rams has likely been canceled.

Photo courtesy of John Lambert Photography

In this issue, John Burke ‘23 catches you up on HC Football

The Crusaders welcomed a new which earned them a trip to the lege basketball team in the United superstar to the lineup – NBA and NIT. States. Thus, the third ranked CruCeltics icon Tom Heinsohn.

Now, I know what you might saders found themselves amongst Heinsohn and Palazzi were two of be thinking: “The current NIT is the most elite collection of squads the most renowned players in the dwarfed by March Madness. Why in college basketball. country at the time. is an NIT bid impressive?” Well, St. Francis (N.Y.) was Holy Standing at 6’7” and 6’4” respec- at the time, the NIT was regarded Cross’ first matchup, and the tively, they posed a serious threat as the most prestigious and impor- Crusaders didn’t miss a beat. Beto every team they faced. tant college basketball tournament hind 25 points from Palazzi, they Palazzi turned in yet another his- in the country. The NCAA Tour- routed the Terriers by 24 points to toric season, averaging a whopping nament was advance to the semifinal game 24.8 points and 13.6 exceptionally significant as well, against Western Kentucky. While rebounds per game, while but the NIT had a few distinct this game was much closer than Heinsohn added 15.9 points and features that allowed for a bet- the first, the Crusaders again 10.7 rebounds per game as well. It ter and a more competitive field. rode Palazzi’s hot hand. He dictatwas pure domination by the two Being invited to the NIT was a ed the game with an impressive 32 big men. Ron Perry also contrib- great honor, and winning it meant points as Holy Cross uted 12.6 points and 3.2 that you were likely the best col- narrowly held on, winning the rebounds game 75per game 69. Joe for the Liebler Crusadp r o ers, so duced they had his seca proven o n d core of straight stars. doubleThey easd i g i t ily rolled g a m e through with 15 nearly points, t h e i r while entire schedule, losing only twice in 28 games.

T h e y finished third in the Final Photo courtesy of T&G In this issue, Jimmy Casey ‘23 explains Cross’ March Madness History AP Poll for the season,

Heinsohn had 13 himself. With this win, they advanced to the NIT final against top-ranked Duquesne.

Once again, the Crusaders found themselves on the biggest stage in front of a sold-out Madison Square Garden. They were seeking to become the only ever team to win both an NCAA championship and an NIT championship, and they were determined to do just that. The duo of Palazzi and Heinsohn fittingly posted two 20-point games as Holy Cross ran away with the NIT title. They won by a score of 71-62. Palazzi and Heinsohn were named to the All-Tournament team, and Palazzi won Tournament MVP. Holy Cross was once again at the top of the college basketball world.

These historic teams cemented Holy Cross’ place in college basketball history. And while the landscape of the sport has expanded and changed in many ways since those days, we should never forget when the Crusaders were at the very top of the mountain (the metaphorical college basketball mountain, not Mount St. James, although both are true). Our school has produced some of the greatest teams and players in college basketball history. That’s not half bad for a small Jesuit college in Worcester, right? Go Saders!

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

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