The Cowl R«Um»« Ef the Class Of
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THE WEATHER^The Cowl R«um»« ef the Class of PROVIDENCE. R. !., NOVEMBER 16- Students march for diversity - November 1999 <5 Artist's rendition of the new St. Dominic’s Chapel December 9,1999 The dedication of the War Memorial Grotto May 9,1948 Moratorium Day- October 15,1969 The Cowl 2 Millennium Issue- News December 9,1999 Looking ahead: Five visions In the years to come... Community leaders reflect upon of PC’s future changes the College will undergo by Elizabeth Waterfall ’01 opportunities to people that other classes in the next millennium. The As we move into the next century, we News Staff colleges may not.” diversity movement is not going to end are challenged to make new beginnings. “The College will change its racial until the administration does something But I also see it as a time for the College In a small, community-based school and ethnic makeup,” Brendan Hurson about it,” said Greg Walsh ’00. to do what it strives to do from a such as Providence College, precedence ’00 said. “People are going to get to Another change for PC has been the Christian standpoint even better. For placed upon tradition is inevitably know different people from different geographically expanding and ever example, we strive to be a “family,” and intertwined with hope and speculation backgrounds here.” He continued, “Our improving credentials of incoming yet we are continually confronted with for the future. Of the students and faculty rank will slide if we don’t change.” students. “We’ve become a regional situations which frustrate this goal. at the College, many hold differing “I definitely see PC becoming a school rather than a local school,” Every time we witness an incidence of opinions of how and more diverse campus,” MacKay said. He also racism or prejudice, we tear at the fabric Reilly said. “The why the community pointed out the of our community. Every time we show students and the student will face challenges in administration’s plan to a lack of respect for the dignity of women terms of appearance, government have done become “a national by the way that we treat them or talk technology, and a lot to promote and institution.” about them socially, we break the bond atmosphere in the years fight for diversity, so “In terms of acade of friendship. Every time that we gossip to come and how such through them and with mic preparation, about others here or undermine their challenges should be the administration, students are better reputations, we resemble a broken home handled. diversity is going to prepared,” Hirsch more than a family. I look to the future Among improvments increase here.” pointed out. “They’re where God’s Spirit will get loose on this Dr. Francis P. and developments that more interested.” SAT campus so that we will rediscover the MacKay of the the College has seen, scores are up, accord- meaning of the words family and Katherine Reilly ’01 Chemistry Department Dr. Francis P. MacKay technology and the use ing to Hirsch, and community. In fact, I believe that if we of computers have increased over the has witnessed many changes during his credentials of incoming students are simply allow the Spirit to get loose on past few years. “In my three years at 41 years at the College. He has seen the more impressive. our campus we will discover our Providence College I’ve noticed more College go from a mainly male Hurson agrees. “Kids are getting common dignity as children of God. class reliance on the Internet,” Katherine commuter smarter,” he said. “We’re going to find -contributed by Fr. Joseph Barranger Reilly’01 said. “Classes have their own a more progressive and pro-active school to a small O.P., College Chaplain websites and more professors post; residential student body . more willing to materials on the Internet. It’s an university. “In challenge the status quo.” Members of the Providence College interesting way to learn, and it will many ways it’s a He continued, “I’ve seen kids more Family, probably become more common.” more diverse willing to question what’s going on, and The Providence College experience is Among progress and development, student body a lot of it is because of the deception of unique because of the education it some issues remain stagnant. Diversity than it used to the administration. People are checking provides outside of the classroom. This among the student body and faculty be,” he said. the facts ... that will continue.” education is not garnered through remains at a minimal percentage. However, “racial “I see PC advancing the curriculum Shakespearian plays, mathematical Optimism and dedication to increasing diversity has and expanding programs to help students equations, or history lectures; but rather, diversity remain high, however. increased but become more competitive after through the interactions we have with one Dr. Eric Hirsch “My hope and prediction for PC is still has a long graduation,” said Sarah Doyle ’00. another. that we become more diverse,” Dr. Eric way to go.” Providence College’s curriculum has Prior to becoming a member of the Hirsch of the Sociology Department “I imagine that you will see an Five visions, page 4 Friar family, terms like integrity, pride and said. It’s important for us to offer increase in ethnic diversity among the leadership were nothing more than abstract idealistic principles which I acknowledged without truly appreciating Twenty-two years later, Aquinas fire still a vivid memory their importance. But as I look out at the student body, one that I have represented At the time of the tragedy, fire codes time of the fire. in some form or another for the last three by Caylen Macera ’01 & for buildings as old as Aquinas did not Final exams were canceled and years, I realize the collective degree to Ryan Ainscough ’02 require sprinkler systems. Although a students were sent home early for which you have brought these principles Asst. News Editors fire door stopped the flames from holiday break. to life. Whether others realize it or not, a At 3:06 a.m. on December 13, 1977, spreading beyond the fourth floor wing, In January the students, “came back member of this Providence College family the Providence Fire Department the building had no middle staircase. to campus in very different stages of is more than a student. He initiates change responded to fire in Aquinas Hall that The only exits, therefore, were staircases grieving,” according to MacKay. when the status quo is no longer would prove to be the most fatal fire in located in each corner of the building, Students were given the option of satisfactory. He demands action when he college history. Although the fire was where the fire had begun. moving off the fourth floor of Aquinas reflects on a quiet past and realizes that it extinguished in 38 minutes, seven In response to the fire, students but most of them remained. Rev. John has been nothing more substantial than just Providence College women lost their gathered outside Aquinas to comfort Peterson, O.P., then President of the that. He is no longer a passive observer, lives. Three other women remained in victims. To deal with the emergency, the College, moved his residence to the but takes a personal responsibility for the critical condition and later passed away. school set up an emergency crisis center fourth floor of Aquinas when students community around him. Most importantly The fire, which began in room 406 though, he has the willingness to critically on the north side of the building, spread We think about life before the fire and after the fire. It and honestly better each person that he quickly into the hallway and comes in contact with, whether it is a surrounding rooms due to elaborate becomes a marker in time (for Providence College). friend, a colleague, or a professor; by Christmas decorations. While the cause Jacqueline Kiernan MacKay, Assistant Vice President for Student Services taking an active role in the lives of others. of the fire was never absolutely I look forward to being continually determined, the fire department to receive concerned phone calls from returned for the new semester. influenced by this unique group, one that speculated that hair dryers left running families, students, and community “In those days there was really has chosen to lead this world into the next while residents slept had ignited the members. Also, Aquinas Chapel was nothing in the (personal counseling) millenium, not simply through ideas but blaze. Theoretically, the women used converted into a temporary morgue, in literature about death and dying,” said through action. While we can improve in the hair dryers to dry clothing after a which administrators and state medical MacKay. As a result, “a number of us so many respects, I cling to the fact that late night snowball fight between the examiners identified the bodies. got together and really brainstormed we maintain some semblance of diversity, Aquinas women and the Raymond Hall At 7 a.m. the next morning stud with how to address the issue.” not simply through skin color or socio men. However, a survivor of the ents, Dominicans, and faculty gathered In addition to the personal economic background, but through the tragedy contradicted this theory in a at St. Pius Church for a Mass. “We counseling measures, such as support content of unique and revolutionary ideas 1993 Cowl editorial, saying the girls huddled together as a college groups, “faith of families and the that we enhance through one another. My had not been involved in the snowball community,” said Jacqueline Kiernan College community is what got us real education at Providence College has fight.