VOLUME XLVII NO. 19 PROVIDENCE COLLEGE, PROVIDENCE, R.I. Wednesday, March 13, 1985 Ex-Dean Cunningham Named 10th President of College by Dan McCormack the mike over to Fr. Cunningham, Father Edward Daly OP, Chair­ so as to permit him the opportuni­ man of the Providence College ty to make a statement regarding Corporation last night announced his selection. the selection o f Father John Cun­ Fr. Cunningham took this op­ ningham OP to succeed the Rev. portunity to express his joy at hav­ Thomas R. Peterson OP as Presi­ ing been chosen for the position, dent of Providence College. along with his hope to“ make every The announcement, made at a effort" to prove himself worthy press conference in '64 Hall ended of the confidence" which the Com­ fourteen months of of intense mittee showed in him. speculation as to the selection of In speaking of the committments Fr. Peterson’s successor. which would guide his administra­ Outgoing President Fr. Peterson tion, he spoke of hoping to strongly began the conference by addressing continue the Dominican learning a few opening remarks regarding heritage, as well as maintaining the solemnity and importance of PC’s liberal arts and pre- the Corporation’s decision. professional training traditions. He then introduced Fr. Daly, In doing this he portrayed the whose comments centered around College as acting in the role o f a the Corporation’s Selection Com­ bulwark against the " the many mittee and the procedure which it problems which all liberal arts col­ followed in whittiling down the list leges face today.” of candidates from the original In addition to these remarks seven, to three, and finally down relating to the school, he especial­ to its unanimous choice of Father ly singled out the people of Rhode Cunningham as President. Island for their consistent support He went on to recount Father of PC throughout its history. Cunningham's many qualifications Fr. Peterson then turned the con­ Fr. Peterson, former President of PC and Fr. Osley, a member of the PC corporation, applaud the announcement for the position, as well as his long ference over to questions from the of Fr. Cunningham as the new President of the College. (Cowl photo by Brian T. Thornton) involvement with the College audience. In answering a question dating back to his undergraduate regarding the selection criteria. days. Fr Daly then proceeded to turn Sec PRESIDENT, pg. 3 “I Feel Privileged to Carry on Their Works" by Joseph M. Ungaro a member of the Class of 1949, Fr. He was director o f the Liberal Arts Honors Program for two “ I feel privileged to carry on their Cunningham pursued a rapid years after having been assistant works and I ask you’re prayers.” course of study and finished in director of the program for five said the Reverend John Fabian about 16 months. years. Cunningham, OP, in ' 64 Hall, At PC, Fr. Cunningham studied In 1963 Fr. Cunningham became after it was announced that he Philosophy, while working at the Chairman of the Humanities would be the College’s next Post Office to pay for his education. Department, a position he held for President. two years. " I’m lecturing in Western During high school he had tentatively For three years he was Director Civilization tomorrow, so my decided on entering the of Residence, the job currently held students had better be there,” priesthood: “ A lot of my high by the Reverend Walter J . Heath, answered Fr. Cunningham when school classmates had graduated O P. student Hugh Hurly asked if there and become priests, I had visited with them and I thought that kind When Raymond Hall opened, would be classes tomorrow. Fr. Cunningham was one of the A graduate of Providence Col­ of life was for me.” first to move in. He lived there for lege, Fr. Cunningham, currently 56 “ In college I met some o f the 21 years. years old, returns to his alma mater other young men studying for the “ It prepared me for the noise of to succeed the Very Reverend order, as well as the Dominicans I living in New York the last few Thomas R. Peterson, OP, who had in class, and my decision to years. Living in a dorm room for fourteen months ago announced become a priest solidified.” Fr. 21 years, you get used to noise.” his intention to resign on June 1 of Cunningham told The Cowl. After graduating, Fr. Cunn­ Father Cunningham told The this year. Cowl. Fr. Cunningham was born on ingham went to the College of the The very first President o f the August 7, 1928. His parents were Im m aculate C onception, in Faculty Senate, he was elected to Dr. Hugh S. Cunningham and Washington D.C. He received a two terms serving in that capacity Fr. John Cunningham. O.P., who will he installed as the next President of Marie (Scott) Cunningham who liv­ Bachelor of Sacred Theology from January of 1968 to the end of Providence College on July 1 of this year. Fr. Cunningham is 56 years old. ed on Hilltop Ave. in Providence, degree. In 1953 he joined the Dominican his second term in 1969. R.I. As Chairman of the Curriculum A graduate of LaSalle Academy order and was ordained a Priest at Revision Committee from 1969 un­ in Providence, Fr. Cunningham St. Dom inic’s Church in Fr. Cunningham: A Biography Washington D.C. til 1971, he played an important grew up in Providence before role in the development of the entering PC in 1945. In 1958, he received his Ph.D in The Rev. John Fabian Cunningham, O.P., The University of St. Thomas, Rome, in Western Civilization Program. 1958 and was assigned to the PC faculty As PC was on a tri-semester pro­ Sacred Theology and was assigned professor of philosophy and former dean of to the PC faculty in the fall of that Fr. Cunningham succeeded Fr. the Dominican institution, has been named that fall. Since then, Fr. Cunningham gram at the time, because of the year. Peterson once before as Dean of the tenth president of Providence College. has served as a professor of philosophy at war, Fr. Cunnigham entered PC PC and has held numerous administrative Since then, Fr. Cunningham has the College for four years in the practically the same week he March 12, by the Very Rev. Edward R. positions, including director of the Liberal Arts served as a professor o f philosophy early seventies. Honors Program; chairman of the Humanities graduated high school. Daley. O.P., chairman of the PC at PC and has held numerous ad- Fr. Cunningham took a leave of Program; director of Residence; Faculty Although officially he is listed as ministrative positions.__________ absence in 1980 to serve as Vicar Effective July 1, Father Cunningham, 56 Senate President; Chairman of the Curriculum will succeed the Very Rev. Thomas R. Peter Revision Committee which formulated the Provincial of the Province of St. son, O.P., who fourteen months ago announced Development of Western Civilization Inside The Cowl... Joseph and Socius to the Provin­ his intention to resign from office Program; and Dean of the Cllege to return cial in New York City. He return­ June 30, 1985, after having served as president for fourteen years to full-time teaching. Fr. Cunningham NEWS... Dan McCormack examines the new Soviet leader, Mikhail ed to PC this past January to took a leave of absence in 1980 to Gorbochey, Chernenko’s successor, on page 2. A native of Providence. Father Cunn­ resume teaching Philosophy and ingham graduated from LaSalle Academy in serve as Vicar Provincial of the Province of Western Civilization. 1945 and received his BA in philosophy from St. Joseph and Socius to the Provincial in EDITORIALS... Reagan’s proposed budget will affect many students. A member of the American PC in 1949. New York City. He returned to PC this past An editorial explores all the angles on page 4. Catholic Philosophical Associa­ Following his graduation, he joined the January to resume teaching Philosophy and Western Civilization. A member tion, Father Cunningham is a fre­ Dominican Order and pursued further study FEATURES... David Narcizo, a PC student, has found excitement in theology and philosophy at the College of of the American Catholic Philosophical quent lecturer in New England and Association, Father Cunningham is a as a member of a local rock band “ Throwing Muses” , see page 11. the Immaculate Conception, in Washington, has been published in numerous D.C. He was ordained a Dominican priest in frequent lecturer in New England and has philosophical journals. In addition, June. 1953. been published in numerous philosophical SPORTS... The Women’s Hockey Team became the ECAC champs He received his Ph.D. in philosophy from journals. In addition, he has performed in he has performed in several of the several of the colleges theatre arts productions. Sunday. For the details, see page 16. College’s Theatre Arts productions. 2 The Cowl, March 13, 1985 NEWS Class Notes Class of '85 Congratulations to Katie Cronin for winning the 20 Week Club last week! The Class would like to thank all volunteer workers for the Otis Day and the Knights Concert. We would like also to thank BOP for combining efforts. The Class would like to especially thank the stu­ dent body for putting up with the crowds at the event. In Lower Slavin until March 21, 1985, sign-ups will be taken for Assassination Week. The actual Assassination Week will take place Monday, March 25 to Friday, March 29.