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2025 O'Callahan Society Newsletter, O'Callahan Society, College Of The Holy Cross

O'Callahan Society Newsletters

This annual newsletter of the O'Callahan Society includes articles about the 2024 O'Callahan Society Fall Dinner. Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Schmiegel, United States Marine Corps (Retired) and Holy Cross Class of 1989 was the guest speaker. VADM Nancy S. Lacore, HC ‘90 was 2025 Annual Meeting Speaker. Unit News. Alumni News. Society News.

Combating Corruption In Heavily Indebted African Nations: The Role Of A Transparent Public Procurement System, Lauren G. Harkins

Washington Semester Program

This paper explores the implementation of transparency-focused public procurement reforms adopted during the HIPC Initiative and compares longitudinal corruption trends in 18 African countries after the reform initiative. Using IMF documentation and WGI corruption data, the study compares countries that implemented procurement and financial transparency measures with those that did not. The results show no consistent link between these reforms and improved corruption scores, highlighting the influence of political instability, sector-specific conditions, and limited implementation capacity. The study underscores the importance of realistic, incremental reforms and adequate institutional support, especially as countries adopt electronic procurement systems.

How The United States Has Failed To Enact Competitive And Stable Energy Policy Through Federalism, Matthew James Marcaccio

Washington Semester Program

This research focuses on the effects of energy policy in the United States. Because of the impacts of energy production and transmissions emissions, energy policy has become synonymous with climate policy. As such, there seems to be two schools of thought regarding energy policy. On the one hand, “green” energy policies have been endorsed for their potential to reduce carbon emissions and dependence on non-renewable resources. On the other, continuing to use legacy energy sources, namely fossil fuels, has been endorsed for its affordability and ease of use through existing infrastructure. At the federal level, green policies have been embraced …

Is Syria Truly On The Path To Democracy?, William Ulterino

Opinion Matters: Student Analyses of World News

This op-ed assesses the plausibility that Syria’s new government will usher in the first true democracy for an Islamic nation in the Middle East.

Defining The Enemy Within: Examining The Case For A Federal Mechanism To Designate Domestic Terrorist Organizations In The United States, Evelyn Schneider

College Honors Program

Domestic terrorist incidents are on the rise within the United States. Activities of domestic terrorism increased by 357% between 2013 and 2021. While the United States has experienced a dramatic growth in domestic terrorism from violent organizations, other countries have faced this similar problem with a different approach as they have created mechanisms to officially designate domestic terrorist organizations. In this thesis, I will answer the question: Could and should the United States create a federal proscription mechanism for domestic terrorist organizations? Chapter 2 explores whether the Proud Boys, a domestic organization within the United States, could be considered a …

Inside The Mad Mind: Medical Ethics In 19th Century Fiction, Danielle Dentremont

College Honors Program

The professionalization of medicine in mid-to-late 19th century America and Britain corresponded with heightened critical scrutiny of the ethics of doctor-patient relationships in contemporary fiction. With ethics frameworks of the century focused primarily on good fellowship between practitioners, it was difficult to charge practitioners with bad ethics. Yet, the broader debates of vivisection and women’s rights brought to light power imbalances between men and women that novelists began to suggest were present in medicine as well. Wilkie Collins’ Heart and Science weighs in on the danger of the doctor-scientist encroaching on women’s rights with the suggestion that women will be …

Recovering The Lost Art Of Medicine: A Role For Ignatian Spirituality, Cecilia Motherway

College Honors Program

Throughout history, medicine or healing has been deeply associated with religion and spirituality, from the ancient Greek healing god Asclepius to the medieval monastic medical tradition and beyond. This lies in their common cause: addressing the vulnerability of our human existence. Humanity has long recognized that our suffering and death raise existential questions concerning our mortality that may require perspectives greater than biology and rationality can provide. However, at the turn of the 20th century, as medical technology rapidly advanced, raising the average global life expectancy by decades, the medical field removed all non-scientific, non-secular influences to position itself as …

2025 Academic Conference Program

Holy Cross Undergraduate Academic Conference

No abstract provided.

Shall We Play Kagame? - The Differences Between Rwanda And Burundi, Colin Leary

Opinion Matters: Student Analyses of World News

This paper examines the two neighboring countries of Rwanda and Burundi, and the impact that Rwandan President Kagame has had in helping his country recover from the genocide of 1994.

The Global Politics Of Adoption: Who Gets To Adopt And Why?, Lily Eigner

Opinion Matters: Student Analyses of World News

International adoption is deeply intertwined with global politics, nationalism, and ideological agendas. This op-ed explores how countries like Russia, China, and Ethiopia use adoption laws for political leverage, often sidelining the needs of children in favor of diplomatic or nationalist interests.

The Lingering Effects Of The Asian Longhorned Beetle: Impact On The Changing Composition Of A New England Campus Arboretum, Elizabeth J. Silver, Russell M. Cleary, Kelly Wolfe-Bellin

Biology Department Student Scholarship

First presented at:

Ecological Society of America (ESA), Mid-Atlantic Chapter, 2025 Annual Conference April 4-6, 2025

Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Silent Holy Spirit, January-March, 2025

Silent Holy Spirit

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in St. Louis, MO

Silent Holy Spirit Finding Aid

Why Does Authoritarianism Survive Today?, Jonas Brock

Opinion Matters: Student Analyses of World News

This essay compares Russia and the United Kingdom, examining the cultural factors that underlie authoritarian thought and their manifestations in both cultures.

“A Riddle Wrapped In A Mystery Inside An Enigma:” An Analysis Of Putin’S Domestic Popular Support, Patrick Ryan

Opinion Matters: Student Analyses of World News

This paper provides a comparative analysis in explaining why Russian President Vladimir Putin's receives unwavering support throughout his tenure especially in comparison to other world leaders. It discusses the forces behind the disparities between polling data from direct question surveys and list experiments. The paper also explains how Russia's recent military excursions impact Putin's national favorability ratings.

Stop The Silence Of Sudan, Julia Weir

Opinion Matters: Student Analyses of World News

This Op-Ed seeks to bring greater awareness to the Sudan civil war and the resulting mass displacement, famine, genocide, and rape, and thus pressure the international community to act and prevent an increasingly dire humanitarian crisis.

Holy Cross Green Guide, Maggie Mccracken, Julia Barton, Nick Corsentino, Olivia Dubin, Shane Fitzpatrick, Sheila Hulseman, Abbie Lane, Keely Lavin, Max Matterazzo, Molly Mccracken, Erin O'Donovan, Courtney Yockel, Justin Mcalister

Department of Environmental Studies Student Scholarship

Holy Cross resides on Pakachoag Hill, part of the traditional lands of the Nipmuc people. We are grateful for their historic stewardship of this place we all share.

Silent Holy Spirit, October-December, 2024

Silent Holy Spirit

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in St. Louis, MO

Silent Holy Spirit Finding Aid

Gaining New “Terror”-Tory: The Strategic Expansion Of Al-Qaeda Into Africa, Ashley Jenkins

Opinion Matters: Student Analyses of World News

The op-ed discusses the expansion of Al-Qaeda's influence into Africa. Partnering with local extremist groups, such as JNIM and Al-Shabaab, Al-Qaeda seeks to recruit new members and undermine Africa's current democratic ambitions. The spread of extremist ideology poses a serious threat to U.S. national security and highlights the need for new counterterrorism strategies.

Responding To The Global Crisis: Jacques Maritain, World War Ii, And New York's École Libre, Jacob Saliba

Journal of Global Catholicism

This article offers an interdisciplinary study of the French Catholic philosopher Jacques Maritain during World War II in order to provide an historical resource for understanding the global dimensions and possibilities at work in modern Catholicism. In 1941, while living in New York City, Maritain helped to cofound and lead the École Libre des Hautes Études (the “Free French University”). An initiative primarily created by American and French intellectuals, the university became an important hub for rescuing and employing nearly two hundred individuals from across the world. Elected president in late-1942, Maritain worked closely with the New School for Social …

The Meanings Of The Hospital De San Lázaro In Seventeenth-Century Manila, Francis Galasi

Journal of Global Catholicism

The Hospital de San Lázaro was a specialized health facility in the early modern Philippines, dedicated to the care of lepers and sufferers of other contagious diseases. While it was established for this specific purpose, its role in colonial society varied. This versatility reflected the distinct priorities and commitments of the groups pulled into its orbit, as each charged San Lázaro with a unique meaning. This article explores how and why these groups—the indigenous Filipinos, the Spanish residents and the Discalced Franciscans—understood San Lázaro in their own way. It highlights the ability of fixed institutions, such as a hospital, to …

Editor's Introduction, Mathew Schmalz

Journal of Global Catholicism

No abstract provided.

Revolutionary Vs. Evolutionary Democratization, Maia Nicolosi

Opinion Matters: Student Analyses of World News

This op-ed explores the democratization of Portugal and Spain, highlighting how their distinct revolutionary and evolutionary processes ultimately achieved the same result: a free, fair democracy.

Fear-Based Politics Of Vladimir Putin, Ben Capocci

Opinion Matters: Student Analyses of World News

This Op-Ed discusses the reasons for aggressive Russian actions, including the threat of nuclear warfare and the invasion of Ukraine, and how these actions are rooted in deep-seated fear of Western forces.

The Pressing Necessity For Maternal Healthcare Reform In The Us, Chelsea Cousin

Opinion Matters: Student Analyses of World News

This Op-Ed discusses the impact of the historical legacy of slavery and anti-Black discrimination on inequities in modern Black female maternal health and pre and post natal care.

Managing Backfile Bound Journals: A Case Study In The Science Library, Laura Wilson, Judith Nagata

Staff publications

Cultivating library collections includes not just thoughtful acquisition of materials, but also careful upkeep of physical materials and digital records. When the time has come to make space in the library, many different factors must be considered and dealt with to successfully complete a bound journal removal project. This poster highlights a project in the Science Library at the College of the Holy Cross. It covers assessing the collection, the physical and digital labor, pitfalls encountered during the process, and the results of the project for the bound journal collection. Attendees gain insight into management of a bound journal collection …

Closest To The Harm, Closest To The Solution: Indigenous Resistance To Colonial Capitalism Through Female Leadership In Financial Inclusion, Grace Evans

Washington Semester Program

Channeling the strength of the culture, identity, and people who came before them, Indigenous women are countering the racism and sexism inherent in ongoing colonialism through their return to leadership. When it comes to caring for their communities, Native women are dedicated, determined change-makers. This devotion, grounded in the cultural centrality of Indigenous women, has remained strong throughout the tribulations of relatively recent history, marked by atrocities such as invasion, assimilation, and attempted genocide. Colonization is an institution of violence. The United States, in creation and evolution, has been no exception. Particularly targeted through this process have been the bodies, …

Silent Holy Spirit, July-September, 2024

Silent Holy Spirit

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in St. Louis, MO

Silent Holy Spirit Finding Aid

Hand In Hand, September-October 2024

Hand in Hand

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in Milwaukee, WI

Hand in Hand Finding Aid

Hand In Hand, July-August, 2024

Hand in Hand

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in Milwaukee, WI

Hand in Hand Finding Aid

2024 O'Callahan Society Newsletter, O'Callahan Society, College Of The Holy Cross

O'Callahan Society Newsletters

This annual newsletter of the O'Callahan Society includes articles about the 2023 Annual Dinner. Admiral James G. Stavridis, United States Navy (Retired) was guest speaker. President of the College of the Holy Cross, Vincent D. Rougeau, made introductory remarks. VADM Peter Daly, US Navy (Ret) was 2024 Annual Meeting Speaker.