College of the Holy Cross - Purple Patcher Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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undergraduate school in the country. Yet a careful analysis of Holy Cross's stature was revealing. It simply was not the equal to its counterparts in the secular ranks. In too many re- spects Holy Cross had not grasped the intellectual and educational revolu- tions of the twentieth century. John Kennedy's campaign-charges that the country was not moving ahead as it should applied only too obviously to Holy Cross. Yet when the Class of 1962 first climbed Linden Lane, the Hrst groundswells of movement were breaking if quietly. The same year with the Class of 1962 a new man entered the oflices of the Dean of Studies, Rev. John Long, SJ. In such an organization as a Jesuit col- lege it is impossible to attribute any momentous improvement to any one man. Indeed, it would be incorrect. Yet in many ways Dean Long sym- bolized the change and his tenure in office was too closely synchronized with the changes to be merely coin- cidental. If Holy Cross was a different col- lege in 1962 than it was in 1958, this change was evident in many segments of the life of the college. The faculty was improving with a trend toward attracting many unusually competent lay professors. The average caliber of the student was rapidly climbing. The curriculum was being revised, and the climate on the hill was becoming more intellectually oriented. Holy Cross, long famous for its production of pro- fessional men, now was beginning to concentrate its efforts toward the pro- duction of scholars. Perhaps the most significant and symbolic innovation of these four years was the introduction of a Special Studies Program. Catholic schools in general-Holy Cross being no exception-had been geared to- ward the average intellect. But, whereas the golden mean is sometimes a praiseworthy goal, in education such a compromise tends only to produce mediocrity. The new Special Studies Program was geared toward the aca- demically superior individual. The philosophy behind the programis initiation realizes that such a student's As 4 N ...W ,f Z SN

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A former President of Holy Cross once said that, a college is a microcosm, a world unto itself. A college no less than the world is in a state of con- tinual flux, ever evolving in its struc- ture and philosophy. This process is almost imperceptible at times, at others it is excitingly evident and al- most dramatic. The four years which the Class of 1962 passed on Mount Saint James was such a period of rapid movement, and the movement was a progressive struggle toward excellence. By the end of the fifties criticism of Catholic higher education had become so incessant as to be almost trite. A century of silence was broken only by a few perspicacious and daring in- dividuals, and, when the initial shock subsided, Catholic educators settled down for a truly critical appraisal of their system. They found that the accomplish- ments of Catholic higher education were quite momentous. Five genera- tions of a predominantly immigrant minority group had constructed a huge system of schools on 267 cam- puses, including 31 universities, en- rolling 322,000 students. These schools graduated countless doctors, lawyers, teachers, and businessmen. Their alumni were successful and respected members of almost every community. At the same time, however, this edu- cational system had failed in the at- tainment of one goal-excellence, too often it had even neglected to adopt such a goal. Where, asked the critics, are the Catholic scholars? Where are the leaders in the arts and sciences? The answer often was that they did not exist in any great number because they did not exist at all. The critics asked, where was there a Catholic college or university which could compare with the quality of the finest secular colleges? The answer again was that such an institution did not exist. Holy Cross was affected by this dis- cussion no less than any other Catholic college. It antedated most of them and even many of the finest secular institutions. It was almost universally recognized as the outstanding Catholic

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Mock Trial development is curtailed when con- strained by a course structure and curriculum designed for the average student. The new program, therefore, concentrated on more individual de- velopment of talent, scholarly initia- tive, and excellence. The first suc- cesses were moderate, but the direc- tion was promising and its ramifica- tions extended in many unthought-of directions. The sense of a proper atmosphere is perhaps the key to the whole change. True intellectualism is stifled by a negative atmoshpere-emphasis on re- strictions, rote memory, and thought- less acceptance of truisms, the type of education C too frequently identified with Catholic colleges? which is de- fensive, purely apologetical, and whose goal is the Catholic ready answerf, This sort of atmosphere can be carried into the whole life of a college, not merely academic, but also spiritual and disciplinary. The prod- uct of such an institution is an un- questioning mind, a formalistic for perhaps apatheticl Catholic, and a character whose morality is, by reflex, 22 the only basis of his religion, he does not think. Holy Crossfs symptoms of this disease were patent. Presently, administrative, faculty and student efforts are thoughtfully removing old fungi and its nourishment. Discipline has become more realistic. The posi- tive aspects of religion have been emphasized, though many doubted complete success was possible in this area while daily Mass remained a practice. In the academic life-the essence of a college-slow modifica- tions in the atmosphere are apparent, careful and wise change is difficult to recognize, its importance is basic. Only those few who remain out of touch with the twentieth century are oblivious to the correctness of direc- tion which Holy Cross has now assumed. The remaining majority, however, see that what has been accomplished is only a beginning. The microcosm which has been evolv- ing under the pressure of an evolving world now has a direction, not really a new direction, but one which is more positive, realistic, and clearly defined. -PAUL MCGRATH