Category: News
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New Changes at the Jo Welcomed By Students
Ray Borawski ’28 Guest Writer Students, both new and returning, came to campus a few weeks ago to find things looking a little different. While many of the new changes – the new scanners in Kimball, the renovations in Crossroads, and the revised trash policy – were discussed widely, some…
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The Co-Curricular Extravaganza – A Smashing Success
Lizzie Swanson ’28 Chief News Editor This past Saturday on September 6th, students packed the Hogan Ballroom in an attempt to learn more about and join the many clubs Holy Cross has to offer. Unlike last year’s Co-Curricular Extravangaza which was held on the Hoval and by the Jo, the…
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President Rougeau Discusses Higher Education, Commencement Speaker, and the Life of Pope Francis
Ben Lepper ’25 and Nathan Howard ’25 Editors-in-Chief On May 2nd, The Spire spoke with President Rougeau for our final meeting of the academic year. Our first question for the president was in regards to his time as President thus far. Specifically, we asked him what he has learned about…
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Pope Francis and His Legacy – Our Jesuit Response
Lizzie Swanson ‘28 News Editor On Monday, April 21, at 1:35am, Pope Francis reached the end of his selfless and dedicated life. At 88 years old, he passed away on Easter Monday at the Saint Martha House in Vatican City. As the 266th pope, his papacy lasted 12 years. An…
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Former Secretary of State Speaks on Geopolitics & Sustainability
Kate Santini ‘27 Chief News Editor On April 9, the College was pleased to host 68th Secretary of State, John Kerry, to speak on “Geopolitics and Sustainability: Navigating the Future.” Hosted by the Hanify-Howland Memorial Lecture Committee, which annually chooses someone distinguished in the realm of public service to speak…
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Rotmans: A Gateway to Worcester
Kate Santini ‘27 Chief News Editor This past semester, the College’s purchase of the 300,000 square foot Rotmans Furniture property on 725 Southbridge Street has been the talk of campus. There has been a flurry of speculation amongst students on The Hill about creating off-campus dorms, a food spot, and…
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We Have Hope in Common: A Reintroduction of Be Like Brit to HC
Caroline Fredey ‘25 Guest Writer In January 2010, Britney Gengel, a 19-year-old college student from Rutland, MA, set out on a service trip to Haiti over her college break. Britney never came home. She was killed in the magnitude 7 earthquake, along with more than 300,000 other people. Britney’s parents,…
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Student Bands Compete to Open for 2025 Spring Concert
Sean Dooley ‘28 Staff Writer On April 11, 2025, the Office of Student Development at Holy Cross hosted its annual Battle of the Bands in Crossroads. The event lasted from 6:15 pm to 9:45 pm, and consisted of a variety of songs and medlies by the college’s most talented musicians.…
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Worcester Reunites Downtown For More Anti-Trump Protests
Ian Sykes ‘28 Staff Writer In wake of the protests happening recently nationwide to express disapproval with the Trump administration, citizens from everywhere in Massachusetts gathered around Worcester City Hall on April 19 for yet another protest. From children to seniors, folks of all kinds lined the streets, holding signs…
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Accepted Students Day Welcomes Class of 2029
Molly Landis ’27 News Editor On Sunday, April 13, Holy Cross hosted admitted Class of 2029 students for Accepted Students Day. Accepted Students Day is a day for any accepted student to come to campus either now that they have enrolled, or to help them learn more about the college…
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Record-Breaking Admissions Cause Major Change to Holy Cross’ First-Year Housing
Ben Lepper ‘25 & Kate Santini ‘27 Editor-in-Chief & Chief News Editor Over the past few years, Holy Cross has grown tremendously in popularity, with the most recent admissions’ cycle surpassing over 10,000 applicants and yielding a record-breaking 17% acceptance rate. In spite of the school’s selectivity, over-enrollment has become…
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President Rougeau Speaks on Campus Visits, Tuition Increases, and Commencement
Ben Lepper ’25 and Nathan Howard ’25 Editors-in-Chief On Wednesday, April 9th, The Spire had the privilege of speaking with President Rougeau for our monthly interview. Our first question for the President concerned the variety of high-profile and accomplished individuals who have spoken at Holy Cross throughout the past few…
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Fusion Chamber Orchestra Performs at the Prior Performing Arts Center
Sean Dooley ‘28 Guest Writer On March 30, 2025, the College of the Holy Cross welcomed Sphinx Virtuosi to campus. Sphinx Virtuosi is a self-conducted chamber orchestra that is composed of eighteen Black and Latino musicians. The orchestra performed in the Luth Concert Hall within the Prior Performing Arts Center.…
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Montserrat Students Foster Community-Engagement through Art
Kate Santini ‘27 Chief News Editor This past Thursday, Holy Cross students from the “Global” Montserrat Cluster collaborated with Rice Square Elementary School sixth-graders to create art reflecting Worcester’s culturally rich identity. Chair of the Global Society Cluster, Professor Gwenn Miller, shared that she first encountered “TapeArt” in 2024 while…
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Working for Worcester Hosts 13th Annual Build Day
Lizzie Swanson ‘28 News Editor This past Saturday on April 5, hundreds of Holy Cross students packed the Worcester Common in preparation for the 13th annual Build Day, hosted by Working for Worcester. The organization was founded 13 years ago by roommates Jeff Reppucci and Derek Kump. Both juniors at…
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Policy and Politics Seminar Hosts Minnesota Governor Tim Walz
Katie Sullivan ’27 On Tuesday, March 25, the Policy and Politics in America Seminar hosted Minnesota Governor Tim Walz over Zoom in Rehm Library. He has served as a governor since 2019 and was the Democratic nominee for vice president in the 2024 presidential election. Before becoming Governor, he served…
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Representatives of the Class of 2027 Dine with President Rougeau
Molly Landis ’27 News Editor On Thursday, April 3, the Class of 2027 was given the opportunity to have dinner with President Vincent Rougeau and his wife, Dr. Robin Kornegay-Rougeau, at their house. Around twenty students arrived at the President’s house, greeted by the couple, and had some time to…
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Tour Group Takes a Tumble Down Dinand Staircase
Kimberly Von Randow ’28 Rock Salt Enthusiast In an event that will go down in campus history (and likely on several hospital records), an entire prospective student tour group was sent into a chaotic descent down the Dinand Library stairs. Witnesses report that the disaster began when the tour guide,…
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I Just Woke up to a Really Weird Text
Mack Hughes ‘25 Going off the grid for a while My day started off like any other regular Friday. Cold, dark, and alone. Except for one very strange detail: I was added to a government war planning group chat. Usually, the only messages I wake up to are my Handshake…
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The Spread of Wheelzian
Viveca Stucke ’26 Commander in Chief of Campus Gossip Community at the College of the Holy Cross has always been an incredibly important facet of the student experience, forming connections that make college life not just bearable, but even more memorable. From getting a meal at Kimball with friends, building…
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Father of Holy Cross Student Forced to Sell Fifth Mansion to Pay for Tuition Increase: The Lobby Shop Prices Aren’t Helping Either
Ian Sykes ’28 Luxury Lifestyle Correspondent Earlier this year, the Holy Cross Board of Trustees announced an increase of 5.6 percent to the school’s tuition. “It is with a heavy heart that we must raise the tuition again – a tradition as old as our school,” President Rogeau announced last…
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My Vision For The Rotmans Property
Ben Lepper ’25 Controller of Free Speech I’m sure you all know that we just purchased the old Rotmans building. And, as I’m sure you’re an avid reader of The Spire and have read our most recent interview with President Rougeau, you probably know that it’s going to be a…
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Shortage of Paper Towels at Holy Cross — Kimball Chicken to Replace
Lizzie Swanson ’28 News Editor In a recently shocking discovery, Holy Cross has put out a statement regarding their sudden shortage of paper towels. For weeks now, students have had to simply groan and shake their hands in the air and in the more dire situations — they have resorted…
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Dr. Christine Grady Tackles Bioethics in the Age of Modernity
Kate Santini ‘27 Chief News Editor Last week, the College of the Holy Cross was delighted to host Dr. Anthony Fauci ‘62 and his wife, Dr. Christine Grady, for a brief residency. As a nurse and distinguished bioethicist, Dr. Grady has dedicated much of her life to reconciling patient needs…
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An Evening of Conversation – A Discourse with Dr. Anthony Fauci
Lizzie Swanson ‘28 News Editor This past Wednesday, March 19th, Dr. Anthony Fauci and his wife, Christine Grady finished their series of panels and discussions here at Holy Cross. Titled “An Evening of Conversation,” this night was nothing short of just that – an open conversation with Dr. Fauci, Dr.…
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The Spire and HerCampus Celebrate 100 Years of Student Journalism at Holy Cross
Molly Landis ’27 News Editor On Saturday March 22, The Spire and HerCampus, two of the college’s student journalism groups, hosted an event to celebrate The Spire’s centennial year. By bringing together these two student groups, students got the chance to hear from two Spire alum and one HerCampus alum:…
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B.J.F. Society Hosts Debate about the Humanities and United States Involvement in the Middle East
Katie Sullivan ’27 News Editor On March 24, 2025, the Benedict Joseph Fenwick Debating Society hosted its third debate of the semester in the Levis Browsing Room in Dinand Library. The guest judges observing the debates were Holy Cross Professors John Bunke, Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy, and Timothy Joseph,…
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“I Gave It My All:” A Conversation With Anthony Fauci, M.D. ‘62
Ben Lepper ’25 Editor-in-Chief On March 19th, the Editors-in-Chief of The Spire had the opportunity to participate in a private conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci ‘62 as a part of this past week’s Fauci-Grady Residency. The conversation was attended by both myself and Nathan, as well as Liam Murphy ‘25…
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A Change in Artistic Leadership – Welcoming Jeffrey de Caen
Lizzie Swanson ‘28 News Editor A recent email from the Provost and Dean of the College, Elliott Visonsi, informed the Holy Cross community about a new change to the Prior Performing Arts Center. Beginning on June 1, 2025, Jeffrey de Caen will assume his new position as the Nancy Savage…
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Worcester House Seeks to Bring Together Holy Cross and Worcester Community
Molly Landis ’27 News Editor The Worcester House, located at 4A City View St., across from the townhouses, is an off-campus space that opened in the fall as space specifically for commuter students to come together, but also as a place for students to meet as clubs, use the kitchen, or…