he owl C est 1935 T . Vol. LXVIII No. 15 www.TheCowl.com • Providence College • Providence, R.I. January 29, 2004 Theology professor delivers annual St. Thomas Day lecture By Juliette Paul ’05 sor of philosophy, for a paper Asst. Commentary Editor she wrote on Plato’s Phaedrus. After Lopez accepted her Snow did not stop hot choco­ award, College President Rev. late-sipping Dominicans, phi­ Philip A. Smith, O.P., intro­ losophy professors, and eco­ duced Barrera by listing a re­ nomics majors from attending markable number of Barrera’s Rev. Albino degrees and accomplishments. LECTURES Barrera’s, O.P., Although a confident speaker, Wednesday af­ Barrera’s humility shone ternoon lecture through when he insisted that “Revisiting Malthus’s Theodicy “the joy of teaching PC stu­ of Scarcity: A Thomistic Ap­ dents” was his greatest accom­ praisal of the Nature of Eco­ plishment. nomic Life.” The unifying theme of Barrera, an associate profes­ Barrera’s lecture was that as in­ sor of theology spoke in the telligible and moral beings, hu­ Feinstein Function Room about mans are given the opportunity the metaphysical foundation of to participate in divine gover­ economic life and the nature of nance. “God provides for us “material scarcity” in the world, through one another,” Barrera in other words, poverty. “Why explained. “We do not interact does God permit poverty?” It is with an abstract universe, but a question many ask themselves through intermediate and one that Barrera hoped to associations,”—a term Barrera COURTESY OF MIKE RAIA '05 Mike Raia ’05 and Matt Koreiwo ’03 volunteer for the Dean campaign answer. Barrera offered a used to describe orders humans Thomistic alternative to Tho­ form together, one being the mas Malthus’ 1798 Essay on economy. On the campaign trail Population, and concluded that Barrera began by recapitu­ chronic poverty is evidence of lating Thomas Malthus’s 1798 various democratic campaigns School in Providence, the By Meghan Welsh ’06 humanity’s collective moral Essay on Population, which in which he could become school lost all of its Title 1 News Staff failure. states that material scarcity in involved. He considered Sen. funding, resulting in the Barrera’s lecture, the St. the world is God’s way of form­ o most students, a John Kerry of Massachusetts program’s termination. Thomas Aquinas Annual Lec­ ing our minds since human be­ presidential election but ultimately decided on Teachers and parents had to ture, coincided with the Catho- ings are prone to laziness. year means nothing supporting candidate Howard pressure the state to get lic feastday of St. Thomas Barrera quoted Malthus’s essay: Tmore than casting a vote.Dean Yet of Vermont. funding back so that the Aquinas. In an opening address, “Man is inert, sluggish, and for some, getting involved in Raia, a public service major, program could continue. Dr. Patrick Reid, Theology De­ averse from labour unless com­ the presidential race has felt that Dean cared about many Raia commented, “Last partment Chair, introduced the pelled by necessity.” Based on become a priority. In the midst crucial issues and was very August, I decided to support Lisska Book Award in Philoso­ this theory, Malthus was clearly of an approaching election outspoken about the downfalls Dean when he was the only phy and Theology, a small an­ against poor relief. year, students from Providence of the Bush administration. One candidate I saw openly nual endowment given to a For poor relief of the Irish College have become active in issue in particular that interested speaking about how this issue sophomore or junior with a during the Potato Famine, various presidential political Raia was Dean’s support of was important to him. strong commitment to philoso­ “Malthusian thinking had done campaigns. Title I and the No Child Left Supporting programs like this phy or theology. This year’s re­ its damage,” Barrera said. “For During the summer of Behind Act. is essential to running our cipient was Kristen Lopez ’05- most of history there has been a 2003, Mike Raia ’05, a former While Raia was working at country. It made me really who was nominated by Dr. Juan associate editor-in-chief of The an after-school program last believe in Dean and his Carlos Flores, assistant profes­ LECTURE/Page 4 Cowl, began to research year at Daniel Green Middle VOLUNTEERS/Page 3 Police sub-station to open in mid-February By Stephanie Wodowski ’04 to code. Senior News Staff “The College has done many reno­ vations on the building in a timely fash­ ion,” said Lieutenant Steven Casbarro, A new semester, a new police Commander of District 7. “It was in station...well, sub-station. Despite set­ great disrepair, and a lot of work had to backs with building permits and asbes­ be done in order to make the location tos removal, the Providence Police De­ habitable.” partment will be The officers of District 7, which in­ cludes PC, Chad Brown and Smith Hill, OFF-CAMPUS opening a new loca­ currently operate out of a building on NEWS tion around the middle of February Chad Brown St. at 206 Camden Av­ Lt. Casbarro has said that the safety enue. It is situated at the intersection of of students and citizens in the neighbor­ Eaton Street and Douglas Avenue, con­ hood would be the sub-station’s main veniently located near the new PC Mart. concern. “A lot of assaults on students The property that the new headquar­ take place in this area. We’re hoping that ters will be located on has been in the our proximity to these sites will deter possession of Providence College for more violence. The sub-station will be less than five years. This past summer, a safe-haven in the neighborhood.” an agreement was reached between the Some students have wondered about College and the City of Providence to increased police presence in an area . KRISTIN ELLIS '05/The Cowl allow the plot of land and the small build­ where many live, work, and party. The substation at the corner of Eaton Street and Douglas Avenue undergoes ing on it to be used for this sub-station. Lt. Casbarro explained that the relo­ extensive renovations it is scheduled to open this February. PC is responsible for renovating the cation of the department should not first floor of the building for the police change anything except the communi­ department. Initially, the building was cation between the police and the off- differences. He hopes that the three en­ There will be positions available for set to open in October. However, there campus neighborhood. The new depart­ tities can work together to improve the students to work, doing jobs such as an­ have been setbacks with obtaining build­ ment would be a place for members of quality of life in the area. He encour­ swering phones. ing permits and bringing the building up the College and community to work out ages students to stop into the station. WORLD ► A&E ► INDEX ► Arts & Entertainment........ 8 As the presidential campaign season rolls on, Haitz to da Chief- Joe Mavodones ‘05 follows Campus Calendar..... ........2 Portfolio........................... 14 World..................................5 Roving............................. 17 World has the latest primary results and the president’s lead and offers his State of Hip Week in Review..................6 PC Scoreboard............... 18 analysis from New Hampshire. Hop Nation address. Commentary.......................7 Sports................Back Page PAGE 5 PAGE 13 2 The Cowl News January 29, 2004 News Briefs Endowed Chair has yet The Randall Chair is a means up when you have people of philosophy, history, literature, or of PC students participating in to be filled; search by which Providence College named scholarship credentials,” the social sciences. the event has been increasing commented Delasanta, and Fr. continues can achieve a level of Providence College is also over the past several years, with scholarship and research. Kerr is “that type of a sought- considering establishing more attendance this year at 48 Currently, Providence Delasanta said, “It’s an attempt after teacher.” endowed chairs, said Delasanta. students, double that of last College’s first and only on the part of the administration The Randall Chair proved to —Megan Comerford ’06 year.—Stephanie Barkus ’05 endowed chair, the Rev. Robert [of Providence College] to be a success as well-known Randall Distinguished Pro­ situate the College in a scholarly institutions including the fessorship in Christian Culture, as well as pedagogical setting.” University of Virginia, Boston Congress Update In comparison to other College, and Villanova remains empty. PC students participate On Monday, January 26, Named after Fr. Randall, a undergraduate institutions, PC is University invited Fr. Kerr to 2003, Providence College’s relatively young, not yet a give guest lectures. in March for Life retired professor of the English Student Congress held its first century old, and is therefore Providence College is in the Department, the endowed chair official meeting of the spring trying to develop a more process of selecting the chair’s On Wednesday, Jan. 28, a was first held by Rev. Fergus semester. next recipient and, said group of Providence College Kerr, O.P., Regent of intellectually-based reputation. A number of upcoming Though, as noted by Delasanta, “I’m confident that students traveled to Washington Blackfriars College at events were discussed at the Delasanta, there has been an that will soon be announced.” D.C. to participate in the March England’s Oxford University meeting, including the increased number of pub­ “Anybody who is an aca­ for Life, a prolife protest held who taught an Honors Freshman Formal, “Rock and lications by Providence College demic of note is certainly annually in the nation’s capital.