Rougeau President Dialogues about Campus Alert, Aspire, and Hill Matters in February
Holy Cross College: A Campus Abuzz with Events and Enhanced Safety Measures
Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, is gearing up for a bustling February. The campus is set to host a variety of events, including Welcome Back Events, Black History Month celebrations, Love Data Week, A Literary Social and Valentine Workshop, and numerous sporting events such as hockey and basketball matches.
In a recent interview with The Spire on February 9th, 2023, President Rougeau discussed the College's current news and upcoming events. He also highlighted the importance of learning from a recent incident to ensure a proper response in the future. On January 10th, 2023, Holy Cross received a bomb threat, prompting immediate action to evacuate specific buildings and move to the Luth Athletic Center. Thankfully, no suspicious devices or packages were found.
President Rougeau expressed concern about the increased incidents like this happening around the country and stated that they are entering a period where they have to be on a higher level of alert. He also spoke about the College's commitment to academic excellence, inclusive excellence, and the Worcester pillars, which are key focuses of the strategic plan.
In addition to the events and safety measures, President Rougeau mentioned several initiatives under student wellbeing and the student experience. The College has partnered with organisations like QuestBridge, allowing for an increase in applications from Pell-eligible, first generation, and low income students. Holy Cross has also implemented fee waivers for students from gateway cities in Massachusetts.
The College has reimagined its Summer Gateways orientation program to emphasize inclusivity. They have also launched a strategic planning process to create an academic strategic plan and have partnered with the Constructive Dialogue Institute to build student skills engaging in dialogue across disciplines.
President Rougeau enjoys attending sporting and cultural events, hiking, and reading during the winter season. He also spoke about upcoming concerts and performances at the Prior Performing Arts Center, such as Oklahoma!, Reginald Dwayne Betts, and Riannon Giddens. The College has upgraded some classroom spaces for the spring semester to provide a more conducive learning environment.
In a previous interview before fall break, President Rougeau discussed new changes and exciting events planned for Holy Cross. He also touched upon holiday traditions, finals season, and campus diversity. The College has also expanded its recruitment efforts, reaching out to students in cities and states that haven't traditionally sent a lot of applicants to Holy Cross.
As part of the College's strategic plan, Aspire, which celebrates its one year anniversary, is aimed at enhancing student experiences and fostering a culture of academic excellence. The College is also working on implementing initiatives under student wellbeing and the student experience.
Regarding campus issues, President Rougeau commented on the climate circle in his recent interview. However, public safety details during the bomb threat incident on January 10th, 2023, remain unclear due to the lack of publicly available information.
The Worcester Fire Department, Worcester Police Department, and the College's own safety measures were involved in assessing and sweeping the campus following the incident. President Rougeau underscored the importance of these collaborative efforts to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the College community.
