The Cowl est. 1935 Vol. LXVIII No. 12 www.TheCowl.com • Providence College • Providence, R.I. November 13,2003 A ‘suite’ change for PC housing situation have been forced to live in tra By Stephanie Barkus ’05 ditional residence halls. With Asst. News Editor & the addition of the suites, all by Megan Comerford ’06 current sophomores and juniors Senior News Staff who wanted an apartment or Suite or apartment? Six-man suite were able to obtain one. or four-man? Studying abroad? In addition, 153 freshmen out Overcrowding? On campus or of the 547 who applied will also off? These are all questions be living in the suites or apart sophomores and juniors were ments. asking themselves last week “There were a lot fewer dis during housing selection. appointed students this year,” Housing selection for the said Father Sicard, citing the 2004-2005 school year differed suites as the reason. “We were from previous years. Rather able to satisfy a lot more than beginning selection in the people,” he added. morning, this year’s selection Some upperclassmen, how process ran from 3:00 p.m. to ever, were disappointed with midnight. the prospect of living in a suite. According to Rev. Kenneth While each suite has a common Sicard, O.P., dean of residence area and bathroom, there are no life, the reason for the change full kitchen facilities in the was complaints from faculty building. PETE TAVIS '05/The Cowl members who observed that stu “I think that instead of build­ Dennis Haskins, also known as Mr. Belding, from the popular dents were skipping classes to ing suites they should’ve built series Saved By The Bell, hosted the Mr. PC Competition.. select housing. new apartments, because the Additionally, housing was whole point of wanting to live held two weeks earlier than on campus is to have a kitchen usual “to give time for students to cook our own food, instead Mr. PC: Saved by the Belding to sign leases [for off-campus of relying on Ray for another housing],” said Father Sicard. year,” said Brigit McDonough By Lindsey Sheppard ’06 reasons for all the eagerness. bought tickets in advance this The big change, however, ’06, who opted to overcrowd a News Staff This year however, the story was year so they would be able to see was the addition of the suites to four-person apartment rather a little different. Mr. Belding in person. the selection process. With the than live in a six-person suite. The weeks leading up to the This year’s pageant was Meghan Gallant "06 said, new suite-style residence hall “Maybe the reason they annual Mr. PC Pageant were unlike all previous shows. For “Mr. Belding was like a third being built on lower campus, an don’t have kitchens is so that filled with anticipation and the first time in the four-year parent to all of us and I’m additional 348 beds were added students have to buy a meal excitement for the event. It history of the contest, the looking forward to seeing him to the selection process in the plan,” said Michelle Abbate became almost majority of the audience was at the Mr. PC Pageant.” form of both four-person and ’06. “You live in the suites and CAMPUS inevitable not to there to see the host of the show Students started lining up six-person suites. have to pay so much or over NEWS hear mention of as opposed to the contestants. over an hour before the pageant Though the suites are not crowd the apartments.” the pageant after This year’s host stole the began and crowded to get currently finished, they are ex­ While suite residents are re awhile, especially as the event spotlight from the contestants through the doors when they pected to be complete before quired to purchase an 11 meal drew near. Was the excitement and gave this year’s Mr. PC opened at 6:30 p.m., an hour students move in next fall. As plan, this actually proves to be out of a desire to see all the pageant a much larger turnout before the show began. By 6:45, of now, construction is ahead of more cost efficient than living contestants in their “evening than in previous years. there was standing room only. schedule. in an apartment and having a 7- wear”? Was it with anticipation On Wednesday, Nov. 12, PC This year’s Mr. PC pageant had “They keep assuring me that meal plan. For example, living of seeing the talent portion of brought to life the one and only a record breaking turnout with it will be finished,” said Father in a six-person suite with an 11- the event? Or was all the hype Mr. Richard Belding from the 850 people, breaking the Sicard. “I don’t anticipate that meal plan costs $400 less than simply due to the excitement of popular 90’s sitcom, Saved by previous 300 person mark. being a problem at all.” living in a six-person seeing who would be named the Bell. Many of the PC After much anticipation, the According to Father Sicard, this year’s Mr. PC? In previous students who would not have big moment arrived, and out in past years about 100 juniors HOUSING/Page 3 years, these may have the otherwise attended the event BELDiNG/Page 3 Frosh parents get a glimpse of the PC life By Mallory Jean Tenore ’07 ever, she thought that the to eat lunch in Raymond Caf students could enjoy an Italian On Sunday, a concelebrated News Staff weekend’s activities made up eteria. There was not any spe dinner at the “Taste of Italy” sup Mass was held, followed by a for the inclement conditions. cial catering, but apple and per held at Peterson Recreation brunch. After this, some fami A burst of frigid winter “It was really great to meet our pumpkin pies were laid out by Center. A crowd of about three nes went to see the final show weather didn’t keep parents son’s new friends and to see the salad bar, and each station hundred people attended the din ing of Much Ado About Nothing from visiting their children on what life at Providence Col was open. Despite its some ner and listened as a trio of se at Blackfriars Theatre, while Freshman Fall Weekend. With lege is really like.” what notorious rap from stu nior citizens went from table to others saw Hairspray at the some families The weekend started on dents, some parents said they table singing Italian songs. Providence Performing Arts arriving as early STUDENT Saturday morning with a wel thought the food was especially “It was a good idea to have Center. as Friday LIFE coming address from Rev. good. the dinner. I had time to meet my Many parents said they were morning and Phillip A. Smith, O.P., College “Raymond Cafeteria is daughter’s friends and their pleased to have had the chance staying until Sunday night, the President. Following his great. There is such a variety families, and the live music was to spend quality time with their campus was bustling with new speech a panel of speakers, of food,” said Maria Paolucci, a nice touch,” said Maria children. “One of the greatest faces. which included Brian J. mother of Julia Paolucci ’07. Paoluccia. strengths of Providence College For those families who trav­ Bartolini, director of the office In the early afternoon from Others did not think as highly is its community. Freshmen Fall eled from the South, the weather of academic services and Rev. 12:30-2:00 p.m., parents had of the supper. “I wish there had Weekend is a wonderful oppor­ came as a shock. Maureen Kenneth Sicard, O.P., Dean of the opportunity to speak with been some kind of sporting tunity for parents to connect O’Connor, mother of Chris Residence Life, gave brief their child’s professors and to event, something to balance it with their children on campus O’Connor ’07, said she could speeches in which they in­ ask them questions about the out rather than the Italian din­ and to become part of their new have done without the cold. formed families of on-campus departments in which they ner,” said Janis Johnson, mother home-away-from-home,” said “The only thing I didn’t like was resources and changes that teach. Also during this time a of Laura Johnson ’07. “I don’t Terri Bozigian, mother of Crys the cold weather. coming students face during their first group of more than 100 people think we should have had to pay tal Bozigian ’07. My husband from Memphis we are not used year of college. attended lectures typical of for the kids’ tickets. Overall I and I also enjoyed meeting our to that kind of weather so early After hearing the panel dis­ those in Western Civ classes. thought it was very well run and daughter’s new friends and their in the season,” she said. How cussion, families were invited Later that day, families and certainly well organized.” families.” COMMENTARY ► SPORTS ► INDEX ► Arts & Entertainment...... 11 Juliette Paul takes on Howard Dean, the Junior Kim Smith prepares to lead the Friars to Campus Calendar.............. 2 Portfolio........................... 16 World.................................. 6 Roving............................. 18 further cross-country glory — and she only had Confederate flag, and other juicy topics as the Week in Review..................7 PC Scoreboard............... 19 Democratic nominee race heats up. to travel halfway around the world to do so.