Students Map Light Pollution on Campus

On Tuesday, March 24, 2009, a group of students and professors gathered in Perini Lecture Hall to discuss the harmful effects of light pollution. Read more

The Saint Behind the Shamrocks

St. Patrick is not the patron saint of alcohol consumption. He did not drink green beer and likely did not drive snakes from Ireland.

So who is this man hidden behind a shroud of shamrocks?

“We have very few historical details about his life, yet he has retained prominence throughout history,” explains Professor Patricia Sullivan of the Theology Department.

The details of St. Patrick’s life are disputed, but historians have established a few facts.

Born on the island of Britain in 385 A.D., Patrick’s first steps on Ireland’s lush soil were as a captured slave. While enslaved, he labored in Irish fields, where he began to experience an intense religious conversion. In his writing, St. Patrick describes hearing the voice of God, urging him to escape slavery.

In pursuit of freedom, Patrick traveled to Gaul, where he received protection and religious instruction from various monasteries. His spiritual education was driven by his desire to bring Christianity to Ireland. Despite the failures of previous missionaries, Patrick was ordained a bishop and sent to Ireland to convert the island’s five kingdoms of pagan worshipers.

The Encyclopedia of Saints notes, “His two primary achievements were the promotion of a native clergy and the careful integration of the Christian faith with native Irish-Celtic culture.” Patrick understood the Irish peoples’ pagan tradition and unlike his predecessors, he attempted to weave Irish culture with Christianity. Historically, the sun was a fundamental symbol of Irish culture; instead, of eliminating the sun’s cultural significance, Patrick combined the sun and the Christian cross to form the Celtic cross.

A lack of concrete facts translates to a number of popular legends regarding St. Patrick and March 17.

It is unlikely that Patrick physically drove snakes out of Ireland; rather, Professor Sullivan explains, the legend is a “metaphor for Patrick’s missionary influence.” By the time of his death, he had successfully converted the majority of Ireland’s pagan population.

The shamrock is an emblem of Irish pride, but its popularity is linked to the ministry of St. Patrick. According to legend, Saint Patrick used a clover to explain the Trinity. More accurately, the emergence of the shamrock represented the renewal of spring.

Despite his missionary triumph, Church records do list the miracles attributed to St. Patrick. “St. Patrick was canonized before the official process of canonization began in the 16th century. Today the process is more tightly regulated,” says Professor Sullivan.

St. Patrick’s popularity is deserved, but recently his religious significance has been lost amid March 17 festivities.

Professor Sullivan says, “St. Patrick’s Day has become overlaid with legend and the cultural associations have developed non-religious tradition.” She says attending Mass is a simple way to commemorate the Feast of St. Patrick.

On March 17, Mass will be celebrated on campus, in the Lady Chapel at 11:30 a.m.

The hype surrounding St. Patrick’s Day is a relatively recent phenomena. In fact, pubs in Ireland were closed on St. Patrick’s Day until the 1970s. Today, the Irish government plans large-scale celebrations and parades to exhibit Irish culture to the rest of the world. “I’m guessing that St. Patrick’s Day is pretty much celebrated the same way in the U.S. as in Ireland,” says Gareth Brown, a study abroad student from Northern Ireland.

New York City hosted the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1762 when Irish soldiers in the British army gathered in the city’s streets. Not only has the parade remained a tradition, it is also the largest in the world.

Irish fever quickly spread to other U.S. cities, including Chicago where the river is tinted with green vegetable dye to celebrate the occasion. Locally, pubs along Manchester and Boston parade routes open their doors early, serving traditional Irish fare and green beer.

It is important to celebrate Irish heritage on March 17, but it is equally imperative to acknowledge St. Patrick’s Catholic significance.

So next Tuesday, grab yourself a pint of Guinness, but don’t forget to cheer “sláinte” to the memory of St. Patrick!

Photo credit: Flickr photo

The Great Depression and Today’s Financial Crisis

On March 11, a panel consisting of professors Andrew Moore (history), James Mahoney (philosophy), Jonathan Acuff (politics), and John Romps (economics and business) discussed the Great Depression relative to our country’s current economic crisis.

Professor Romps, the event’s organizer, dispelled common misconceptions about the Great Depression, explaining that it was actually a downturn beginning in early 1929, not just a reaction to the stock market crash. He discussed the belief that everyone in America was destitute; in actuality, while many suffered (27%-30% unemployment), about 70% of Americans still had jobs. About 60% of Americans never lost their jobs for the whole span of the 1930s. He described the common debate of the 1930s–recovery vs. reform–a debate that resurfaced throughout the event.

Professor Moore focused on the New Deal and the Roosevelt Administration. The New Deal, he argued, did not end the Depression, and its primary importance was to change the relationship between government and the people. FDR thought government should help individuals by promoting economic stability and security, and believed the best way to resolve the crisis was to provide a sort of safety net. Another focus of the New Deal was to help businesses by eliminating competition and encouraging cooperation with legislation like the National Industry Recovery Act. FDR wanted people to look to the government for help instead of charities or churches, especially because those resources were depleted by the time he took office.

Professor Acuff discussed international politics, stating that the first global economic decline since 1945 was in fact 2009. Many of the causes were similar, such as enormous overheating of the economy because of problems with housing and Wall Street. A few more similarities he discussed were both events saw major pressures on the capitalist structure, Europe waited for the United States to act, and there were worldwide feelings of political instability. Acuff noted differences as well; the level of global trade is much higher now than in the 1930s, and this interdependence is brought on by many more international organizations than politicians could have imagined. The tools are better now, Acuff stated, and we now know more about the problems at hand.

Professor Mahoney discussed the relevance of philosophy in the Great Depression, reflecting specifically on what is happening in philosophy as a theoretical discipline. The sense of fear that emerged during the 1930s produced a distrust of reason. He said this idea of “giving up on reason” forced humans to seek stability and security. Mahoney cited novels, movies, and documentaries from the period that really explain the incredible fear people had during The Great Depression. He closed by describing 1930s philosopher John Dewey, who gave hope to people who worried about the collapsing economy; Dewey believed if one used scientific reasoning and applied the ideas in a systematic way, there was a chance one could have new visions of what constitutes reason.

In the questions that followed, the themes of government intervention and the global economy continued to resurface. Professor Romps believes the current situation is beyond the point where America can’t expect the government not to step in. “It is so dangerous that to expect the government not to intervene is preposterous. They have to.” Professor Acuff said that the United States’ recovery impacts global recovery. He stressed that although there were some positive results of a bad global economy (better relations with foreign nations, more interdependence), today’s problems in the United States create an accidental ripple effect. Acuff and Romps agreed that if the United States doesn’t recover, the world doesn’t recover.

Photo credit: Depression era bread and milk line

Reflecting on the Spring Break Alternative Experience

I may be thousands of miles from Honduras, yet a part of me is still there. I'll always remember my first visit to this country and forge ahead with a new found appreciation for how lucky I am.

Being back on campus is an adjustment, dealing with the day-to-day nuances of life at college: the work, meetings, and fast pace of life. Yet, I now understand the futility of these worries, for there are larger concerns, bigger challenges, and better rewards.

My Spring Break Alternative (SBA) trip left campus Friday morning, February 27 at 3:30 a.m. with 14 participants bound for Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (N.P.H.), a ranch for orphaned children in the hills outside the capital city, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Descending out of the clouds, I had my first view of the Honduran countryside, rugged mountain terrain reached skyward, sometimes reaching exceedingly close to the plane as we spiraled down to land in Tegucigalpa, described as one of the "ten most dangerous runways in the world." As we bounced onto the runway and decelerated, I became slightly overwhelmed that Honduras would be my home away from home for the next week.

Entering a New World

Our trip through the city was my first of many eye-opening experiences. Weaving in and out of the clogged, smoggy and at times, seemingly impassible roads, I received my first tour of the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa. Men stood outside local business, armed with shotguns dissuading potential crime, while feet away, children played soccer in the street.

The juxtaposition of promise and poverty and the contrast between danger and innocence, clashed before my eyes; an impression that only grew for me as we reached our host-site, Rancho Santa Fe.

Passing through the gate took us into a different world, a seemingly self-sustaining world of sorts. Lush gardens blossomed, a working farm provided thousands of eggs daily to feed the community. A small, squat building near the center of the ranch was the production hub where some 2,000 tortillas were produced. Here the physical poverty seen during our drive to N.P.H. seemed so far away.

And Then There Were the Children

And then there were the children: 500 children, who are without parents, victims of abuse, rape, poverty, and unimaginable despair; children of all ages, from toddlers to adults. Children who come from all backgrounds, but share a common trait: they are parentless, and are dependent on N.P.H.

It was through these children, who spoke a different language than I, but through whom I felt a connection, that I learned of a new experience: emotional poverty.

I saw it in their faces. Even if you couldn't understand what they were saying, you knew that each of these children had been through gross injustices.

You knew, you could feel, you could sense, the emotion; and you could truly feel the love and excitement they had for the personal attention we gave each of them.

Whether holding a hand, hoisting a child onto our shoulders, running around playing soccer or sharing a meal together, the compassion myself and my fellow participants were able to show, and the one-on-one attention we provided truly made a difference. Each afternoon, and again in the evening we spent time with the kids, enriching their day through any means possible.

Even more overwhelming was the time we spent visiting Casa Angeles, a home managed by N.P.H. for severely disabled children. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, the intense experience at Casa Angeles reaffirmed for me the compassion and sympathy of each of my fellow participants.

Life Lessons

I learned a lot about myself on this trip.

I learned how simple life really can be: I can get by with one plate, one bowl and one spoon; I don’t need an iPod, or a cell phone for entertainment.

I realized how lucky I am to have the means to eat a healthy, nourishing meal, three times a day.

I learned the importance of family. I realized how dependent I am on other people, with whom I share emotions, laughter, sadness, and joy.

As our plane banked left over the city during our departure, and I looked out over the sprawling mass of humanity below me, I realized how lucky I was to have the opportunity to be on this trip, with my group of fellow participants. I realized I had been part of a lesson that I’ll always carry with me: the true meaning of love.

See additional photos from SBA Honduras on our Flickr page.

By: Cory True
SBA Honduras

Prof. David George and Matthew Gonzales in History Channel Series, "Battles BC"

David George, classics professor and chair, will be a regular face on the History Channel for eight weeks beginning Monday, March 9, when he offers historic perspective in the series, Battles BC.

Starting with “Hannibal the Annihilator,” the series will use cutting edge, computer graphics to explore towering feats of battle that scholars and students of war continue to study today.  “David: Giant Slayer” will be the second episode, launched Monday, March 16. Read more

Time's Mark Halperin Meets With Students and Lectures at NHIOP

On February 23, the New Hampshire Institute of Politics (NHIOP) welcomed Time editor-at-large and political analyst Mark Halperin to campus for a full day of activities and an evening lecture.

Halperin began his day meeting with a small group of Student Ambassadors and members of the college faculty to discuss program ideas and political journalism. After an afternoon writing articles for Time in the NHIOP Research Center, Halperin met with a group of students and staff to discuss possible future civic education initiatives. He then participated in a video interview with Jennifer Donahue in the NHIOP Studio on President Obama’s first 100 days and then a dinner  hosted by President Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B., with guests from the campus community.

In Halperin's evening lecture, entitled “The Obama Administration—The Story So Far,” he discussed both the successes and challenges confronting the Obama administration. He also used the opportunity to discuss his thoughts concerning the New Hampshire primary for 2012. While Halperin hesitated from making any predictions, citing past experiences of predicting Hillary Clinton would not be the choice for Secretary of State, he enjoyed the prospect of discussing politics with people who “were not only interested in politics, but who understand [it] well.”

He began his lecture discussing the positives that have emerged from the Obama administration. He believes that a great strength of President Obama is that he is well suited for pressure and never overreacts. Halperin described Obama as “even,” never overreacting when things are bad, but also never getting too excited when things are good. Obama, in Halperin’s view, has not been overwhelmed by the job and has not displayed any visible sense of panic. He argued that this personality type is extremely beneficial, especially during times of crisis.

Halperin also thought that Obama had made very good choices for his appointments, calling the members of his cabinet “impressive.” He described Obama as a great boss, managing his administration well and never displaying favoritism as many past Presidents have done.

On the flip side, Halperin discussed the Obama administration's negatives so far. While he cited a few examples, he believed the biggest issue was the concern of Democrats on maintaining their majority rather than solving the economic crisis in a more bipartisan fashion. He discussed the idea that Obama has allowed Republicans to say he is not being bipartisan, and thus creating tension on Capitol Hill. “Problems can’t be solved with party line votes,” says Halperin, congressional representatives need buy in both Washington and around the country, and this will not come without working across party lines. He was surprised Obama had let it get to this point so soon, and compared the process Obama was using to that of former President Geoge W. Bush — going to Nancy Pelosi and asking how to get members of the other party’s votes. Halperin believed this move came at the great expense of bipartisanship.

As for the New Hampshire Primary, Halperin argued that even if Obama were to be unsuccessful as president, he would likely not face any democratic opposition should he decide to run for a second term. Proposing that Obama will raise close to a billion dollars for the campaign, Halperin suggested that the large sum of money and the popularity of the President will deter both Democrats and Republicans from running. Halperin finished his lecture with some great news for New Hampshire. As the primary will most likely focus on the Republicans, there will be less chance that New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation status will be encroached upon, as the debate has risen historically from the Democratic Party.

Event Photos on Flickr

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