Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Trayless Kimball

Since its inception in 1935, Kimball dining hall has served hundreds of thousands of meals to hungry Holy Cross students. The dining hall looks much today as it did seventy three years ago and technological improvements aside, operates in a similar manner. After a long day of Campus tours and information sessions, Kimball is often the destination of the eager prospective student. As part of commencement activities, the Baccalaureate Ball is held at Kimball for graduating seniors and their families. It is truly a daily ritual for Holy Cross students to walk to Kimball for at least one of their meals.

This year, Dining Services is attempting to disrupt a seventy year tradition and make significant changes to Kimball Hall. The head of Auxiliary Services on Campus, Art Korandis, announced plans at the most recent SGA General Assembly to permanently remove trays from Upper Kimball starting next semester. This spring, the campus witnessed on of the largest debaucles in recent memory as Kimball removed trays for one day as part of an environmentally friendly week.

Practically, this does not make sense. The majority of students take a plate for food, a bowl, for salad, and several drinks. Removing trays will not result in people eating less or creating less waste. It will, however, result in more spills and cleanup for Kimball workers as students try to carry more to their table than they should. Furthermore, instead of encouraging students to eat healthy, this could lead to students opting out of a salad if it means an extra thing to carry. Students, instead would make multiple trips to the service area, creating a great deal of traffic in an already crowded area.

Kimball Captains agree that students will still take the same amount of food, resulting in the same amount of waste, if any. They point out the fact that the tray return is designed for--you guessed right! Trays. The system will have to be revamped and will require more effort from already taxed student workers. What water would be saved from not having to wash trays will have to be used to clean tables. What individual would want to sit at a messy table?

Not to be overlooked are our competitive NCAA Division I athletes, many of whom are required to consume a certain amount of calories a day. Without trays, athletes will have difficulty getting to their food and safely bringing it back to a table. Coaches must speak out on this issue. There is a reason football players are required to eat 19 out of 21 weekly meals at Kimball and sign in.

To be fair, Upper Kimball is not a profitable venture, with the dining hall providing food in a buffet style. I imagine Kimball looses quite a bit of money on Gyro night. Students, however, will not benefit from this venture. Neither tuition nor room and board will be affected. Items will still be priced the same, meaning no change in meal plans. What may I ask is the benefit to the students? None whatsoever. If the dining hall is so concerned about the environment, why does it still offer styrofoam cups or provide enough napkins for our entire armed services? When Kimball briefly cut back on these items, there was a fair amount of student outcry, and the dining hall administration caved like a cheap suitcase.

Nonetheless, the Kimball hierarchy insists on carrying out this plan despite expected student resistance. Will 2800 students dropping their food on the floor change their minds? How about upperclassmen using Lower Kimball and Crossroads for the semester? Strength may be in numbers, but the aforementioned behavior will most likely have no positive effect on the situation. The SGA Senate is expected to include a ballot question in the October election putting the future of trays in Kimball in the hands of Holy Cross students. Sadly, however, democracy at Holy Cross appears to be on the same track as when referendums and ballot initiatives go before the Massachusetts State Legislature.

Spread the word, start writing letters to Mr. Korandis, Deans Peterson, Austin, and Goodwin, and let your voice be heard. Keep trays in Kimball and keep an honored tradition alive and a sacred Holy Cross Institution the way the founders intended. God Bless all Holy Cross students in this endeavor and Kimball's continued hostility...hospitality.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Ashcroft Speaks at Holy Cross

Former Attorney General, John D. Ashcroft delivered the 43rd Annual Hanify-Howland Lecture on September 16th. The title of the lecture "Securing Freedom in Perilous Times" focused on Ashcroft's role in policy following the attacks on September 11th, 2001. Mr. Ashcroft served as Governor of Missouri from 1985 to 1993 and served as US Senator for the State of Missouri from 1994 until 2000. President George W. Bush named Ashcroft the 79th Attorney General of the United States in 2001. Attorney General John Ashcroft helped to prosecute over 190 terrorists and investigate countless more as he secured our nation's freedom.

The lecture focused on the distinction between the Department of Justice's (DOJ)traditional focus on the prosecution of individuals to the focus on prevention of terrorist acts and other heinous crimes. In the traditional form of investigation by the DOJ, the end is essentially the successful prosecution of individuals suspected of domestic felonies. The DOJ would investigate an individual and like any other form of policing would arrest a suspect after a crime was committed. In many cases, such as drug deals, the investigation would conclude after the crime (ie. drug deal) had taken place. The next step was prosecution.

Following the attacks on September 11th, Justice Department officials led by Mr. Ashcroft began to shift focus to prevention. It is one thing to wait for a warrant to search a person's residence or to listen to communications after a bank robbery has been committed. It is another thing to wait for a warrant when a terrorist attack is imminent. Therefore, the DOJ shifted into prevention mode, and with the help of the FISA Act for obtaining warrants, was able to successfully investigate known terror suspects. This process culminated in Congress' overwhelming passage of the Patriot Act, which allowed for such measures with some increased scrutiny.

The following morning, Mr. Ashcroft led several question and answer seminars with Holy Cross students about security in a post-September 11th world. Questions ranged from the use of FISA to obtain warrants for espionage to the nature of the Constitution and whether justices had the power to reverse previously established precedents for investigating communications between suspected terrorists.

The Hanify-Howland Committee is an independent body of Holy Cross Students who, with the financial support of the Hanify and Howland families, brings publicly noted civil servants to speak on campus. Past speakers have included the Honorable Antonin Scalia, the Honorable Clarence Thomas, and Paul D. Wolfowitz.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

9/11 Remembrance

We ask all readers to spend a moment in silent prayer to remember all of the brave Americans who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks, may we never forget.

Monday, September 8, 2008

HC Newman Society Revamps Efforts

The Holy Cross Chapter of the Cardinal Newman Society has recently increased its efforts to preserve the Catholic character of Holy Cross with additions to its website, hccns.org and with extensive mailings to the Class of 2007 and 2008. The Society is comprised of thousands of Holy Cross Alumnus, Students, Faculty, and Friends who "admire the progress the College has made in many ways, but are deeply concerned about the extent of its secularization. They support appropriate measures to correct that condition and preserve Holy Cross’ Catholic character; they support the re-establishment of a core of studies in philosophy and religion."

The Cardinal Newman Society, although not legally affiliated with the College, works with the Board of Trustees and President Michael McFarland, SJ to secure its goals. The Newman Society supports The Fenwick Review, the independent voice of faith and reason at the College of the Holy Cross. The Society reviews activities at the College to ensure they prescribe to the College's true mission. Surprisingly, Fr. McFarland, although not a full participant, supports the efforts of the Cardinal Newman Society at Holy Cross. The Society enjoys the support of numerous Catholic Colleges and Universities and from various firms and institutions. The great Avery Cardinal Dulles, SJ is a supporter of the Newman Society and uses his post at Fordham University to discuss relevant topics with his counterparts at Holy Cross.

For more information on the Cardinal Newman Society of Holy Cross, please visit their website, hccns.org or contact president, Victor Melfa.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

John Ashcroft to speak at Holy Cross

The Hanify-Howland Lecture Committee has announced that former Attorney General of the US, John D. Ashcroft, will speak at Holy Cross on Tuesday, September 16th at 8pm. Ashcroft, now the proprietor of a consulting firm, led the nation through some of the most perilous times in its 250 year history. Ashcroft helped shape policy following the attacks on September 11th to prevent further terrorist attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice. Attorney General Ashcroft assisted in the conviction of 191 terrorists and enemy combatants.

he annual Hanify-Howland lecture honors the late Edward F. Hanify, a 1904 graduate of Holy Cross and a Massachusetts Superior Court justice for 15 years, who died in 1954. The series was started by Hanify’s friend, the late Weston Howland of Milton, Mass., board chairman of Warwick Mills, Inc., who died in 1976.

Since 1965, the Hanify-Howland lecture series has brought to the Holy Cross campus a series of distinguished speakers on public affairs who have exemplified in their own work the spirit of public service that the series was established to encourage.

Why Americans Can't Vote for Obama

Barrack Obama experienced a surge in momentum early this year to surpass Hillary Clinton in the delegate count. Obama seems to appeal to younger, college-age voters, who may not know Obama’s track record. The National Journal ranked Obama as the most liberal senator in Congress. There was a controversy last fall when Obama broke from tradition and refused to wear an American flag pin on his suit. The American flag stands for freedom and liberty. Over the course of our nation’s storied history, millions of soldiers have given their lives for our country and all that the flag stands for.

Michelle Obama’s comments that for the first time in her adult life she feels proud of America, undermines the great history of the United States. Her comments epitomize the Obama campaign thus far. Ronald Kessler, a writer for Newsmax, uncovered portions of campaign that the Obama camp would rather remain out of the press. The Reverend Jeremiah Wright, a close friend of Barrack Obama and spiritual advisor, has made numerous anti-American comments, the most compelling of which occurred just a week after September 11th. In a sermon the week after the attacks, he cited the attacks as a consequence of the United States’ violent policies. Two years ago he suggested the attacks were retribution for America’s racism. There is no place in a political campaign for a person who expresses such Anti-American statements about such a sensitive issue. According to Kessler, both Wright and Obama are associates of Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam who “has repeatedly made hate-filled statements targeting Jews, whites, America, and homosexuals.” Recently, Farrakhan commented that Obama is the “hope of the entire world” that the US will change for the better. If by better he means becoming more vulnerable to terrorists and embracing radical policies, then he is correct.

Obama is a radical liberal. He has frequently come into clash with the view points of the Catholic Church. He voted no to the ban on partial birth abortion that was cited by some Democrats as a moral necessity. Additionally, he has consistently supported bills to support embryonic stem cell research. Over the past four years, Obama has been highly critical of the large amount of money in the budget for defense and the global War on Terror, but has proposed numerous programs that will also account for a significant portion of the budget. How will he fund these programs? Raising taxes.
His stances Homeland Security and the aforementioned War on Terror, however, undoubtedly form the number one reason why he would weaken our country and make us vulnerable to terrorism. Obama intentionally avoided voting on the Protect America Act, a bill to strengthen the interception of terrorist communications, in an effort to protect his own reputation. In August of 2007, Obama voted against a bill that would have allowed the government to intercept communications of terrorists without a warrant. Obama is essentially aiding and abetting the enemy by hindering the ability of the government to prevent potential attacks. In September of 2006, he voted to preserve habeas corpus for military combatants held in Gitmo. What would Obama say to the mother of a victim of September 11th after a terrorist was freed as a result of his actions? There is no doubt in my mind that the United States of America will be more vulnerable under Barrack Obama.

With the addition of social conservative and reformer, Sarah Palin, the McCain camp looks stronger than ever. Finally, mainstream Americans are beginning to see through the Obama-hype. Look for McCain to take the independent vote in November and into the White House.

Holy Cross Football Traditions

The leaves begin to change color, the air becomes cooler and crisper, and all across the country, people flock to local college football games. Every Saturday in autumn, students at Holy Cross are greeted by thousands of alumni, marching their way from the upper parking lots to the venerable Fitton Field. The enthusiastic marching band leads the visitors on a reminiscent trip through campus, while purple-clad students empty out of the dorms. The scene could take place at virtually any epoch in time.

The alumni bring an interest and fervor unlike any other on the Hill. The trip to Worcester seems to transport them back to another period. Despite the success of the Crusaders last year and the commemoration of the undefeated 1987 season, most students are unaware of Holy Cross’ rich football tradition. With many older alumni no longer able to make it to the games and impart gridiron wisdom on a new generation of Sader Nation, it is imperative that the stories stay alive.

Fitton Field, which saw its large steel structure erected in 1924, remains a haven for football fans across the Northeast. The stadium was completed as larger crowds began to pack the wooden stands that surrounded college football fields across the country. The large steel horseshoe harkens back to a time when going to the game on the weekend was a must for both alumni and residents of Worcester. As a matter of fact, the largest crowd at Fitton Field was not after the most recent renovation in the 1986, but in 1938 in front of 27,000 patrons. Alumni came from all across the country to watch the Crusaders take on the best teams around. Holy Cross played rival Colgate for the seventieth time in history last season in front of a meager crowd. Bitter temperatures forced many students from the stands, but a small contingent of students and alumni brought the stadium alive in the fourth quarter. The crowd was jumping up and down after a decisive stand on defense, creating a deafening roar. Imagine what a full house would sound like? In an expensive commercialized world, how often can a family find inexpensive, family-friendly fun like a Holy Cross football game? With last year’s on-field success, it is time to fill Fitton Field.

In order to understand the passion of Crusader fans, one must journey back in time to a golden age at the Cross. In the late 1930s, Holy Cross was among the most dominant football teams in the country. Led by coach, Edward N. Anderson, the Crusaders compiled an unparalleled record of 75-15-7 in the decade. The Crusaders went undefeated in 1935 and again in 1937 with wins over Boston College, Colgate, and even Georgia. Yes, the same University of Georgia picked by many experts to win the Division 1 FCS Championship this year played Holy Cross three times in the 1930s and fell to the Crusaders each time. During this time period, Holy Cross set the record for the longest unbeaten streak at Fitton Field, going 26-0-3 from 1935 to 1939. The stories vary from one alumnus to another, but all of them agree on the powerhouse that was Holy Cross Football. Loosing to Brown in November of 1938, “Bullet” Bill Osmanski put the ball in the end zone twice to give the Cross a 14-12 victory in his final home game. Anderson, who also coached at Iowa, was considered an innovative coach who truly believed in his players.

On September 27th, 1941, Holy Cross joined an elite group of football teams who were able to defeat Louisiana State University at “Death Valley” in Baton Rouge. The Crusaders edged the Tigers by a touchdown to stun the raucous crowd. The victory marked the fourth time in just five years the Crusaders beat a team from the juggernaut that is the Southeastern Conference. Many alumni remember the most storied moment in Holy Cross history that occurred a year later at the expense of hated Boston College. In front of a sell-out crowd at Fenway Park in Boston, the Crusaders routed the undefeated Eagles and kept them from a National Championship. The Crusaders also kept Boston College from celebrating at the Coconut Grove Nightclub in Boston, which quite possibly saved the team from devastation. That night, the nightclub burned down, killing nearly all the revelers inside. Three years later, Holy Cross traveled to Miami to play on one of college football’s biggest stages—the Orange Bowl. The team defeated Colgate, Yale, and rival Boston College en route to the school’s first and only appearance in a major bowl.

Some people agree that Holy Cross indeed left a mark on the world of college football, but that it stopped sixty years ago. To refute that claim, look no further than the 1980s, which saw the Crusaders most successful run since they marched onto Fitton Field with leather helmets.

Holy Cross compiled a school record 78 wins in the decade, most of which came under head coach, Mark Duffner. The 1987 squad, now playing in Division 1-AA in the Patriot League, went 11-0, including a victory over Army at West Point. Quarterback Gordie Lockbaum was so dominant on the gridiron, he was invited to the West Side Athletic Club in New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist. The same trophy won by so many football greats and more recently, Division 1-A players, almost went to a Crusader. Just five years later, Holy Cross went undefeated again and swept their way through the Patriot League. Duffner was twice named coach of the year in 1987 and 1991.

After a successful season last year in which quarterback Dom Randolph picked apart defenses like Tom Brady, one cannot help but think back ten years. The Crusaders were fourth overall in the nation in total offense and Randolph was second in the nation in scoring. This year, the team returns eight starters to its prolific offense, including running back Terrance Gass and wide receiver Brett McDermott. Holy Cross “Iron Men” practice hard day in and day out and play against some of the best programs in the East. They deserve the full support of Sader Nation and the Worcester community as they look to claim their first Patriot League title since 1991. Since football has been played on Mount Saint James, student athletes have given their all in the classroom and then on the playfields. In today’s world of college football, it is rare to find a program dedicated to both academic and athletic performance. It is even rarer to find a successful program. That is the aura of the Cross.

Courtesy The Fenwick Review, the independent voice of faith and reason at the College of the Holy Cross