Photo Blog

Holy Cross’ commitment to safe, healthy eating for students with all diets was recently recognized by leading full-service kitchen auditor Kitchens with Confidence, which, following a year-long audit process, certified the Allergy Pantry as nut-free. The Allergy Pantry, shown above, acts as a controlled space for the 100+ medically documented food allergy students on campus. The certification process required analysis of every new product brought into inventory, monthly swabs of kitchen surfaces sent for testing, appropriate restrictions on student access and education on proper use and sanitation, and several other things.

Photo by Lynn Cody

Jackie Peterson, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, gazes around the room with gratitude at a reception held in her honor. Peterson will retire at the close of the academic year, capping 20 years at Holy Cross where she was the first female, first person of color and first lay person appointed to the president’s cabinet. Members of the campus community, including Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., College president (pictured with Peterson), attended the May 18th reception held at the Hogan Campus Center to thank Peterson for her service and dedication.

Students wear sparkly gold vests and wave white top hats during “Musical Medley,” one of several numbers performed at the annual spring dance concert in May. The concert showcases vibrant work by students in modern, ballet and jazz classes, choreographed by  instructors Kaela Lee, Jimena Bermejo and Audra Carabetta. “Musical Medley” was performed by Carabetta’s Jazz 3-4 class.

Students, faculty and staff lined up at tables on the Hoval last Friday, April 28 to taste samples from local restaurants. The Taste of Worcester event was hosted by Student Programs for Urban Development (SPUD) community organizers. Vendors included El Patron, Loving Hut, Tom’s International Deli, Hacienda Don Juan’s and Cafe Reyes. Also in attendance were 35 refugee transition students from Worcester Public Schools. The event was free of charge with download of Foodler, a restaurant ordering app, with optional donations to support refugee resettlement in Worcester.

Elizabeth Wambui ’09, director of advancement at the Nativity School of Worcester, tells students to be innovate, to embrace change, and to step into discomfort during her keynote address at the 10th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Luncheon, sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Education. With Dr. King’s example of leadership serving as the backdrop for the event, the community members present explored what it means to be a leader today, both within our own communities and beyond Holy Cross.

Photo by Tom Rettig

Over pizza in Stein Hall, students in the economics class Latin American Economic Development put on a pseudo Pecha Kucha night titled “20×20 by 17x17x17.” Pecha Kucha is a concise presentation format in which each speaker brings 20 slides and speaks about a topic, and each slide is shown for only 20 seconds. “We added 17X17X17 — 17 students, 17 countries, 17 issues of Latin American Economic Development,” says Robert Reinauer, visiting instructor in economics. Invitees included students and faculty members from the economics and Latin American and Latino Studies departments.

Charles Richard ’19 gives a presentation titled “The Venezuelan Crisis and Economic Mismanagement.”

Marie Therese Kane ’18 gives a presentation titled “Preferential Option for the Poor: Evaluating Liberation Theology as a Model for Poverty Alleviation in El Salvador.”

Rosangel Cruz Cabrera ’18 gives a presentation titled “China’s Mega-Projects in Latin America: The Proposed Canal in Nicaragua.”

Emma Carlone ’19 gives a presentation titled “NAFTA: Its Impacts on the Industrial Sector of the Mexican Economy.”

Photos by Robert Reinauer

Throughout the fall semester, members of the College of the Holy Cross community have been inspired by Stickwork, an environmental sculpture made from local saplings. Created by renowned artist, Patrick Dougherty, with the help of campus and local community volunteers,, the structure stands on Linden Lane.

Above, students, faculty and staff embraced the environmental sculpture and gathered for a drum circle lead by Brazilian percussionist, Marcus Santos.

On #ArtsMattersDay Uni2Act, the Spanish-English bilingual student theatre troupe teamed with members of dance ensemble and a student choir to perform a piece called “Árboles | Trees.”

Students attend the second annual “Fresh Check Day” wellness fair in the Hogan Ballroom, featuring interactive booths, free food, and prizes. The event, sponsored by Counseling Outreach Peer Educators (COPE), is the signature program of The Jordan Porco Foundation (JPF). JPF works closely with colleges, such as Holy Cross, to bring awareness of mental health resources and coping strategies to college campuses.

This blog entry by Grainne Fitzpatrick ’17, photo by Tom Rettig.

The Derrick Lecture Series at the College of the Holy Cross hosts Andres Resendez, history professor and vice chair at the University of California, for a guest lecture titled “The Other Slavery: The Uncovered Story of Indian Enslavement in America.” Resendez educated and engaged in conversations with members of the community in The Levis Browsing Room in Dinand Library.

Timothy Rajotte ’17, an English major from Abington, Mass., spent the spring semester off campus, partaking in the SEA Semester, a field-based environmental education at sea. Before departing on the ship, Rajotte spent six weeks in Woods Hole, Mass., where he took a number of classes including oceanography, nautical science, and maritime history.

Rajotte traveled the sea aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer. Enrolled in the Colonization to Conservation in the Caribbean program, Rajotte traveled to St. Croix, St. John, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Cuba.

Above, Rajotte stands at the helm of the ship. “Standing the watch” was crucial to his experience. “Our class of 24 was divided into three watches, one of which was always required to control the navigational and scientific objectives while underway at all hours of the day and night. We usually had two watches per day, one of which would be six hours long during day light hours, and then a four hour watch taking place during the dark of night” Rajotte explains.

Above, Rajotte is pictured in a Holy Cross shirt, poses after playing a pickup game of baseball in Samaná, Dominican Republic. On shore, each student conducts a research project on a current social topic in the Caribbean. “I chose to focus on the historical effect of Major League Baseball on the Dominican Republic and Cuba, and how prospects from the Caribbean are exploited for their talents,” Rajotte says.

Looking back on the adventure, Rajotte reflects on the many unique experiences, “this experience was one I will never forget. It instilled confidence, work ethic, and leadership abilities in me that I never knew I could attain. Surrounded by great friends, professors, and crew members, I explored amazing towns and cities that are considered off the beaten path for tourism, in the process meeting people who embraced us and welcome us into their culture.”