Welcome Back to Friartown! 2015 - 2016 Page 2 News September 3, 2015 The New Face of PC Construction Projects are Underway on Campus by Meaghan Dodson ’17 KRISTINA HO ’18 / THE COWL News Co-Editor on campus As its 2017 centennial approaches, Providence College honors its past by looking towards its future—and, in particular, a future filled with major construction and renovation projects as part of a campus-wide transformation. Last year marked the completion of several key projects, including the award-winning Hendricken Field and Ray Treacy Track. Construction was far from over, however, as renovations continued throughout the summer, specifically focusing on the vacant residential halls. John Sweeney, the senior vice president for finance and business/ CFO, confirmed that the College tackled “essentials” during summer 2015. Aquinas Hall’s 86-year-old roof was replaced with a new copper one, affording greater structure and durability to one of the oldest buildings on campus. The 30-year-old roofs of DiTraglia and Mal Brown were Anderson Stadium and Chapey Field are expected to be completed by December 2015. likewise replaced. Phase Two of the Residence Hall Wireless Upgrade was also completed, maintaining and even increasing its that the College has named DIMEO construct an atrium in place of the and Sweeney was pleased to announce current number of parking spots. Construction as the firm overseeing the patio that currently connects Alumni that McVinney Hall, Suites Hall, and A softball field behind Suites Hall is project. DIMEO is also responsible for Hall and Slavin Center. All of the Davis Hall are now receiving faster expected to be completed by Sept. 15, the Ruane Center for the Humanities, projects will need Board of Trustee and better wireless coverage. This and its new artificial turf means that and its bid is within PC’s budget. The approval after successfully reaching follows last summer’s upgrades, it can be used by both the Women’s Center’s groundbreaking ceremony their fundraising goals. which focused on Aquinas, Guzman, Softball Team and the various will occur during St. Dominic’s Taking into account all of the past, McDermott, Meagher, and St. Joseph. intramural teams. Weekend, which takes place the first present, and future construction, one Spring 2016 will mark the beginning of Meanwhile, Oct. 15 marks the weekend of October. might wonder whether everything the third and final stage of the project expected completion of a multi-level Plans are also beginning to be made is still both on-time and on-budget. that targets the Bedford, Cunningham, parking structure near Schneider for the renovation of Albertus Magnus Sweeney, however, stated that DiTraglia, Mal Brown, Fennell, and Arena, and tennis courts above the Hall. The goal is to have construction everything is indeed right on target. Raymond Halls. structure are expected to soon follow. begin next summer, with the ultimate In 2011 the College’s goal was The final major renovation of the The adjacent Anderson Stadium goal of converting the building into a to reach $140 million by 2017, and summer was the installation of more and Chapey Field will come next, with modern, multi-purpose space. Sweeney revealed that by June 30, efficient boilers in the campus heating the anticipated completion date being Another ongoing project is the 2015, over $122 million had already plant. The new boilers are powered by Dec. 1. This complex, partially funded transformation of Huxley Avenue been raised. The generosity of both both natural gas and cleaner burning by more than $2.7 million in donations, into an enclosed pedestrian walkway the alumni and friends of the College oil as part of the College’s commitment will be the home of both the Men’s and traffic circle. This project’s help to provide the resources to fund to “go green.” Soccer and Men’s Lacrosse Teams. A implementation is projected for 2016 these new projects among other items, Now that school is back in session, walkway between the new parking and is part of the College’s efforts to such as support of programs and the majority of construction will move structure and Anderson Stadium and both unify and beautify the campus. scholarships. away from the center of campus and Chapey Field is also in the works, and Finally, the Friar Development As a whole, Sweeney emphasized instead go toward the edges. The new it will run from behind Raymond Hall Center is being designed with the hope that the transformation has been a parking lot between Huxley Avenue to Schneider Arena. that its construction will begin in 2017. “collaborative process,” as together the and Eaton Street is largely completed, As all of these projects are nearly This comprehensive project will expand architects, students, faculty, and staff and this lot—when combined with the at a close, the question remains: what and modernize ‘64 Hall, reconfigure the have “drawn out ideas and dreamed of new faculty/staff/graduate lot on the next? The answer is the $30 million College’s Center for Career Education possibilities that we never even knew Cumberland Street side of Slavin— Arthur and Patricia Ryan Center for & Professional Development, install existed.” upholds the College’s commitment to Business Studies. Sweeney revealed a new basketball practice facility, and Going Behind the Numbers: The Class of 2019 by Zak Harvey ’16 throughout the admissions process, most mind. Ultimately, according to Dean The principal speaker at the event News Staff quantifiable of which is a record setting Fonts, he and his staff aim to make was Dr. Michael Sandel of Harvard 10,215 applications—the most in the Providence more accessible to students University, the author of the Freshman on campus College’s history. As one looks behind the from all backgrounds. Common Reading Program novel, Justice: numbers it is clear that this new group of More impressive data behind this What’s the Right Thing to Do? Dr. Sandel Friars has set the bar high. class is that they have a formidable aimed to convey to the class that so much As the dog days of summer give way to Among this class there are 50 student 3.41 unweighted Providence College of your time in college and your time in a new school year, the Providence College council presidents, 809 varsity athletes approved grade point average while this life is not only being spent being able campus is once again welcoming back (374 of whom that were captains), and 13 admitting fewer students into the Honors to discern what it means for us to give a faculty and students alike. Many students class valedictorians. Program. good life, but rather what it means to live coming back to campus are getting back When I sat down with Raul Fonts, The Class of 2019 is also comprised of a life that betters others. into the swing of things when they realize the dean of admissions, this past week students whom 17 percent of which are The Class of 2019 today began this that they hardly recognize anyone they he highlighted the previously stated considered diverse. This past Tuesday, journey themselves. There is no doubt that are walking past. facts and said that these impressive co- Sep. 2, the College officially welcomed these next four years will be challenging, It should come as no surprise that with curricular qualifications are what make these new students to campus in during but they will in turn be rewarding and the beginning of the 2015-2016 academic these students Friars. Dean Fonts also Academic Convocation. A common undoubtedly transforming. Good luck school year the College and its comunity made it clear that the Admissions Office theme present throughout today’s to the Class of 2019 and the rest of the has welcomed 1,039 new students to aims to admit students while keeping ceremony was one realizing what it college community as this next year gets Friartown. The Class of 2019 set records Providence’s identity and its roots in means to live a good life. underway. September 3, 2015 NEWS The Cowl 3 7-Eleven Underpays Workers Bursting After a thorough investigation it has been revealed that the retail giant 7-Eleven has been consistently underpaying workers in Australia. Prior to this investigation, several others have had similar findings. the PC Bubble International students in Australia were forced to work double the hours for the established pay, which effectively equates to working for half by David Toro ’16 of the minimum wage. Despite court hearings, 7-Eleven continues to underpay its employees. News Staff India Eliminates Tetanus Fifteen years ago, around 800,000 newborns died from tetanus in India. Today, that number is fewer than 50,000. Using several incentives, the Indian government has successfully eliminated tentanus, according to the World Health Organization’s guidelines. Tetanus can never be eradicated because the bacterium exists in all soil. However, important hygienic measures can be taken to reduce the likelihood of contracting tetanus. For example, the government pays mothers to give birth in a hospital rather than at home. Mysterious Russian Statue Dated 11,000 Years Old Germany Shares Metadata in Exchange for A statue that was discovered 125 years ago in Russia has been newly dated as 11,000 years old. Prior to this discovery, researchers and XKeyscore Software historians had determined its age to be around 9,500 years. The wooden structure is now one of the oldest wooden structures in the world. The Shigir Idol is covered with an encrypted code that no one has been able to Germany has agreed to give the NSA “to the maximum extent possible decipher.