To the editors,
We, the undersigned proud alumni of the College of the Holy Cross, reflect fondly upon our years on Mount St. James. Each of our lives were forever changed by our experiences and friendships on the Hill–in classrooms and dorm rooms, through SPUD or service trips, on the playing field or in Campion House. Whether we graduated months ago or years ago, our time at Holy Cross also informed our lifelong values. We each remain committed to living as “men and women for others.”
Holy Cross taught us to be men and women for all persons–all religions, races, and national origins. Therefore, we are encouraged by the dialogue Holy Cross faculty recently prompted about The Crusader–a name shared by both the Holy Cross student newspaper and our mascot. While the Crusader has been a tradition at Holy Cross for years, introspection is also a valued Holy Cross tradition. We live in a time of rising Islamophobia, and a time when Pope Francis warns us against an “epidemic of animosity.” It is time to reconsider the mascot, and ask ourselves if we wish to identify not only as being in service to others, but also as allies to others. We believe it is appropriate for each of us to examine our conscience, reflect on the legacy of the Crusades, and grapple with the implications of sharing a symbol with the likes of the Ku Klux Klan.
Upon reflection, we the undersigned alumni call on the campus community to change the name of both our newspaper and our mascot. We believe doing so would better reflect the values we each embraced during our time on the Hill, and which we continue to hold dear.
Sincerely,
Awais Ahsan, 2003
Victoria Aufiero, 2005
Danielle Azzariti, 2005
Jeffrey Bourgeois, 2016
Bridget Collins, 2005
Monica del Rio, 2002
Amanda Dvorscak, 2002
Lauren Gray, 2005
Meghan Griffiths, 2004
Peter Harrison, 2005
Andrew Jaico, 2007
Jennifer Lee, 2005
Katie Li, 2005
Maureen Lo, 2003
Rabia Nizamani, 2002
Alpha O’Neal, 2004
Claude Owens, 2002
Laura Peynado Castro, 2002
Karin Siomporas (née Jorgensen), 2016
Kerri Smith, 2003
Emily St. Germain, 2005
Kristin Wheeler, 2005
David Wright, 2008
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