The Spire

Sophia Mariani ’26, Viveca Stucke ’26

Features and Opinions Editors

On April 22nd, 2024, President Rougeau hosted a dinner at his house for the Class of 2026, granting students the opportunity to develop more personal connections with the President, and bridging the gap between administration and the student body. Students in the Class of 2026 received an email on Thursday, April 11th, 2024 at 5:23pm, where the first 20 students who were quick enough to register were provided an opportunity to indulge in the dinner festivities.

The attire for this event was business casual, where there was a level of formality required, but students were still expected to have a level of comfort. The event in and of itself was intended to be comfortable, where inherently the objective was for students to engage with administration on a more casual level. Students were provided with transportation to and from President Rougeau’s house, a swift 10 minute bus ride from HC campus into the inner city.

President Rougeau resides on the same street as the WPI President, giving him the opportunity to become neighborly with someone who is in a similar position of power, creating a level of relatability and increased dialogue between the schools. This dialogue can aid in the ability to better address and understand the needs of students, comparing common issues and needs across the campuses. 

At the President’s House, students were given the opportunity to talk with Senior Vice President Heather Hayes and President Rougeau through various means. Initially, there were appetizers and refreshments served in the lobby/entry area of President Rougeau’s house, where students were able to walk around and enter discussions with their fellow peers and the two administration members. President Rougeau asked students about their plans for the upcoming year, discussing the importance of aspects of campus life such as sports, study abroad, research projects, and the academic internship programs. 

Once seated at dinner, there were two tables, with ten students at each. Vice President Hayes sat at one, with President Rougeau at the other, where they switched halfway through the meal so that there was an equal opportunity for each student to discuss with administration. The conversation was rich, with students questioning various aspects of President Rougeau’s life and searching for his opinion on various topics. Students questioned the administration’s upcoming plans and priorities, opening up lines of dialogue regarding the state of the residence halls, the process of course enrollment, and what students prioritize for their quality of life whilst on campus. 

Claire Kraemer ‘26 shared her positive experience, stating, “The President’s dinner was a fun experience that I had been wanting to do since I was waitlisted last year. Discussing upcoming plans for campus, such as renovations and new buildings, as well as overall student life with President Rougeau was both enlightening and engaging. He was attentive and eager as to what we had to say and took time in answering our questions personably, yet also as professionally as possible. I was lucky to have been seated right next to him!”

At the end of dinner, the students moved into President Rougeau’s living room and were able to sit down with him and discuss any final topics with him. The chatter between President Rougeau and students was lively, as students yearned for his answers to their questions, looking to gain a better perspective on the inner workings of the mind that runs their school. Vice President Hayes was also able to converse with the students, creating a more personal framework of relations with the students by discussing aspects of her life such as how she is vegan or how/where she was raised. Although many students came into the dinner with questions that they were eager to ask, President Rogeau and Vice President Hayes were also excited to hear about the sophomore’s experiences at Holy Cross thus far. They both encouraged feedback from students on what it is like to be a student at Holy Cross. Through nurturing these bonds with students, the administration was able to strengthen the connections within the Holy Cross community, affirming the systems of support that students have and the dedication that the administration has to fostering student success.