Saint Vincent College from 1995-2000, We Are Glad to Have Him Back on Campus
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SAINT VINCENT MAGAZINE Fall 2020 CONNECTEDNESS AT THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dear Alumni and Friends, We have missed the opportunity to see many of you in-person these last six months at the various events and gatherings that would have typically brought us together in the spring and summer. We are all well-aware of the challenges this pandemic has brought into our daily lives, and we look froward to seeing you soon. Even as we face this uncertainty, we have reason to be optimistic, as our campus is again full of students, engaging in an academic and social experience unlike any other in our College’s history. You will read more in this magazine about many of the changes on campus as we work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the ways in which our community has grown stronger and how our students and alumni have selflessly worked to serve others. Our faculty, staff and administration deserve a particularly special note of commendation, as they continue to show incredible adaptability, strength and unity as we worked through the summer to welcome students back to campus; and to do so while providing an experience that continues to be uniquely Saint Vincent. Our students are engaged in rigorous study and community life on campus. Many conversations being held are about their futures and careers, our current response to the pandemic, dialogue about social unrest, racial tensions, mental and physical health and their role in the world. We are proud that they are discussing their critical thinking, personal experiences and thoughtful solutions to these issues. Saint Vincent is also under new leadership, as we welcome Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B., as the 12th Archabbot of Saint Vincent and the Chancellor of the College. Having served as the 14th President of Saint Vincent College from 1995-2000, we are glad to have him back on campus. Our current students will now get to know Archabbot Martin, who was known as the “students’ president” during his time in that role. Special thanks to Archabbot Douglas Nowicki, O.S.B., who provided remarkable leadership in his 30 years as Archabbot and Chancellor. We are grateful for his wisdom and guidance in moving Saint Vincent forward. Finally, we continue to be inspired by the resilience of our students. Their return to campus has restored the heartbeat of Saint Vincent College. In all that we do, we continue to put our students first and we thank all of you for the many ways in which you make being a Bearcat a transformational experience for every student who walks with us. Forward, Always Forward, Father Paul Covid Fighters 12th Archabbot Elizabeth Volna, R.N., C’18, and This summer a familiar face Dr. Bryan Christensen, C’01, are returned to campus, after service among our alumni providing work in various parishes. Father CONTENTS support during the novel Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B., is 6 coronavirus pandemic. 10 now Archabbot Martin. Battling ALS Alumni Father Nathan Munsch, O.S.B., Now known as Brother Simon- talks about his change of plans Peter Clayton, O.S.B., this 2012 for his retirement as he battles college alumnus has returned Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis home to Newark to dedicate his (ALS), Lou Gerhig’s disease. 12 life to service. 36 Athletics Giving Swimmer Zach Baum achieved Ed McCormick, C’79, has never All-American status. Read about forgotten the influences of the some coaching changes and Benedictines, nor of Joe Heisel, retirements in Athletics, starting C’43, in changing the course of 34 on page 32. 43 his life, forever. Cover FALL 2020 Saint Vincent Magazine Volume 18, Issue 1 ARCHABBOT AND CHANCELLOR EDITOR & DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHY Rt. Rev. Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B. Kim Metzgar Alexander Byers [email protected] Alumni Relations Office PRESIDENT Sports Information Office Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B. AD ARTWORK AND CAMPAIGN DESIGN PRINTING EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT/ George Fetkovich Laurel Valley Graphics CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Jeff Mallory, Ed.D. ALUMNI NEWS COORDINATOR Saint Vincent Magazine (United States Postal Service Publication Number USPS 5144-8000) is published Katherine Vitale by Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, for VICE PRESIDENT FOR alumni, parents and friends. Third-class postage paid INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT PROOFREADER at Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Alumni Office, Saint Vincent College, & CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR Carol Riddle 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650-2690. David M. Hollenbaugh Alexander Byers has been Saint Vincent College reserves the right to accept CONTRIBUTING WRITERS or decline submissions of both information and documenting the return to campus SENIOR DIRECTOR OF Ben Becze photos for use in the Saint Vincent Magazine, based during the fall semester. Read MARKETING Jim Bendel on content, quality, timeliness and suitability, at the discretion of the editor. more about the College’s plans & COMMUNICATIONS Jim Berger during the novel coronavirus Michael Hustava Samantha Hilyer Saint Vincent College subscribes to a policy of Michael Hustava equal opportunity in the classroom, workplace and pandemic on the page 4 feature by programs, and does not discriminate on the basis of SENIOR DIRECTOR OF Kim Metzgar race, color, sex, religion, age, veteran status, national Michael Hustava, senior director of DEVELOPMENT Julia Snyder origin, marital status, genetic history or disability. marketing and communcations. & ALUMNI RELATIONS 3 To learn more, visit: http://www.stvincent.edu/ Sports Information Office Legal-Information/. Ben Becze THE TIMES THEY FALL 2019 FALL 2020 ARE A’CHANGIN’ By Michael Hustava n a world full of variables, “At the heart of a liberal arts and sciences education change is constant. Even is the dialogue between student and teacher; learner I and scholar; and among learners who are discerning in the simplest of times, this the wisdom and knowledge of their discipline and of life. The connectedness of each person at Saint Vincent would hold true. So, amid a is what strengthens our College and moves us forward. pandemic, adapting to change When we are together to live, learn, worship, play, compete and grow, our community thrives.” was paramount in how Saint —Rev. Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., President, in a letter Vincent College prepared to to the Saint Vincent community on May 15, 2020 welcome students back for the fall semester. “The Forward Together campus community so that we Committee was charged with could move forward to resume With changing guidelines from federal, state and local authorities reviewing all the guidelines and sustain operations through throughout the spring and summer, it was critical that the College from federal, state and local the semester.” maintained a firm grasp on what would be necessary to resume face- health officials and agencies, and The result of their work to-face instruction and a residential experience this fall. From that to continuously review those was the Saint Vincent Col- notion, the Forward Together Advisory Committee was formed. guidelines because they are ever- lege and Seminary Health and Led by John Smetanka, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs changing,” Smetanka explained. Safety Plan, published on July and academic dean, the committee began its work shortly following “From there, the Committee be- 6, which outlined the steps the the conclusion of the spring semester. gan to formulate a plan for the institution would be taking to Saint Vincent Magazine 4 resume campus operations, in 17, it allowed the College to accordance with guidelines and adjust the academic calendar directives from federal, state and to 14 weeks with no breaks local authorities. While the plan and completing final exams the was finalized and shared with weekend before Thanksgiving. the community this summer, it The plan limits students leaving is considered a living document campus, restricts visitors and that will be updated as guide- places an emphasis on mask lines and restrictions change. wearing, physical distancing, Smetanka explained that the good hygiene and enhanced planning for the fall semester cleaning, sanitizing and disin- began almost immediately when fecting procedures. classes shifted to remote instruc- Dining hours have been tion and the residence halls were extended with mobile ordering closed last March. options. Residence hall capacity “[The fall semester] was in has been reduced by 25 percent a lot of fog, of course, because and students are limited to in- there was so much uncertainty, teractions within their residence and there still is. Nonetheless, hall “neighborhood.” Classroom Prayer During This we still had to chart a course capacity is limited to 50 percent. forward,” he said of the plan- Masks and physical distancing Time Of Uncertainty ning process. “We didn’t know are required by all members of what the situation would be like campus when in public spaces. Loving God, throughout history there have been in the fall. We did know, and we When examining the start of the uncertain times when people have asked, “Why?” and still anticipate, a potential for a fall semester from that perspec- “Where were you?” second wave exists, combining tive, clearly this is a time unlike We are experiencing such a time now and uncertainty COVID-19 with the flu season.” any other in Saint Vincent’s his- is all around us. Even with the anticipated tory. That is not to say, however, In the midst of this uncertainty is our realization that challenges and amidst much that students are not embrac- uncertainty, the task remained ing this challenge as they have we are not in control of the world as much as we might clear: design a term that mini- returned to Latrobe. like to think we are. mizes the potential impact of a “It has come across loud and Send us your comfort and the assurance that you are second wave, while delivering clear that students are excited to in control and you care for us in ways that we do not an on-campus experience that be back on campus.