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Post by td128 on Apr 10, 2017 16:18:32 GMT -5
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Post by td128 on Apr 10, 2017 16:13:25 GMT -5
This development absolutely "bowls" me over.
Great day to be a Crusader, Jack!!
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Post by td128 on Apr 10, 2017 15:59:42 GMT -5
Might it be a transfer?
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Post by td128 on Apr 10, 2017 15:53:01 GMT -5
I know we lost some prior commits to William and Mary, Richmond, and UNLV. The W&M kid was from MA, the Richmond kid was from NC (I believe) and the UNLV kid was from California.
Would be a nice development at this stage of the game.
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Post by td128 on Apr 8, 2017 20:39:40 GMT -5
CTG sent out an update, however it is an image file and not easily reproducible. One point he did make was that they were placing a "priority on our run game." Gee! What a wizard to have discerned a failing that's been obvious for years. This program will continue to tread water as long as "CTG" is in control. Long since time to have gotten rid of this a**hole. Totally classless. If you want to use that term, I would suggest you be a man and post your full name. Larry Doyle '83
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Post by td128 on Apr 2, 2017 11:58:34 GMT -5
I found this to be a very worthy read and welcome addition to the ongoing discussion on this topic. From yesterday's WSJ:
Jonathan Haidt on the Cultural Roots of Campus Rage An unorthodox professor explains the ‘new religion’ that drives the intolerance and violence at places like Middlebury and Berkeley.
By BARI WEISS New York
When a mob at Vermont’s Middlebury College shut down a speech by social scientist Charles Murray a few weeks ago, most of us saw it as another instance of campus illiberalism. Jonathan Haidt saw something more—a ritual carried out by adherents of what he calls a “new religion,” an auto-da-fé against a heretic for a violation of orthodoxy.
“The great majority of college students want to learn. They’re perfectly reasonable, and they’re uncomfortable with a lot of what’s going on,” Mr. Haidt, a psychologist and professor of ethical leadership at New York University’s Stern School of Business, tells me during a recent visit to his office. “But on each campus there are some true believers who have reoriented their lives around the fight against evil.”
These believers are transforming the campus from a citadel of intellectual freedom into a holy space—where white privilege has replaced original sin, the transgressions of class and race and gender are confessed not to priests but to “the community,” victim groups are worshiped like gods, and the sinned-against are supplicated with “safe spaces” and “trigger warnings.”
The fundamentalists may be few, Mr. Haidt says, but they are “very intimidating” since they wield the threat of public shame. On some campuses, “they’ve been given the heckler’s veto, and are often granted it by an administration who won’t stand up to them either.”
All this has become something of a preoccupation for the 53-year-old Mr. Haidt. A longtime liberal—he ran a gun-control group as an undergraduate at Yale—he admits he “had never encountered conservative ideas” until his mid-40s. The research into moral psychology that became his 2012 book, “The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion,” exposed him to other ways of seeing the world; he now calls himself a centrist.
In 2015 he founded Heterodox Academy, which describes itself as “a politically diverse group of social scientists, natural scientists, humanists, and other scholars” concerned about “the loss or lack of ‘viewpoint diversity’ ” on campuses. As Mr. Haidt puts it to me: “When a system loses all its diversity, weird things begin to happen.”
Having studied religions across cultures and classes, Mr. Haidt says it is entirely natural for humans to create “quasireligious” experiences out of seemingly secular activities. Take sports. We wear particular colors, gather as a tribe, and cheer for our team. Even atheists sometimes pray for the Steelers to beat the Patriots.
It’s all “fun and generally harmless,” maybe even healthy, Mr. Haidt says, until it tips into violence—as in British soccer hooliganism. “What we’re beginning to see now at Berkeley and at Middlebury hints that this [campus] religion has the potential to turn violent,” Mr. Haidt says. “The attack on the professor at Middlebury really frightened people,” he adds, referring to political scientist Allison Stanger, who wound up in a neck brace after protesters assaulted her as she left the venue.
The Berkeley episode Mr. Haidt mentions illustrates the Orwellian aspect of campus orthodoxy. A scheduled February appearance by right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos prompted masked agitators to throw Molotov cocktails, smash windows, hurl rocks at police, and ultimately cause $100,000 worth of damage. The student newspaper ran an op-ed justifying the rioting under the headline “Violence helped ensure safety of students.” Read that twice.
Mr. Haidt can explain. Students like the op-ed author “are armed with a set of concepts and words that do not mean what you think they mean,” he says. “People older than 30 think that ‘violence’ generally involves some sort of physical threat or harm. But as students are using the word today, ‘violence’ is words that have a negative effect on members of the sacred victim groups. And so even silence can be violence.” It follows that if offensive speech is “violence,” then actual violence can be a form of self-defense.
Down the hall from Mr. Haidt’s office, I noticed a poster advertising a “bias response hotline” students can call “to report an experience of bias, discrimination or harassment.” I joke that NYU seems to have its own version of the morality police in Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia. “It’s like East Germany,” Mr. Haidt replies—with students, at least some of them, playing the part of the Stasi.
How did we get here, and what can be done? On the first question, Mr. Haidt points to a braided set of causes. There’s the rise in political polarization, which is related to the relatively recent “political purification of the universities.” While the academy has leaned left since at least the 1920s, Mr. Haidt says “it was always just a lean.” Beginning in the early 1990s, as the professors of the Greatest Generation retired, it became a full-on tilt.
“Now there are no more conservative voices on the faculty or administration,” he says, exaggerating only a little. Heterodox Academy cites research showing that the ratio of left to right professors in 1995 was 2 to 1. Now it is 5 to 1.
The left, meanwhile, has undergone an ideological transformation. A generation ago, social justice was understood as equality of treatment and opportunity: “If gay people don’t have to right to marry and you organize a protest to apply pressure to get them that right, that’s justice,” Mr. Haidt says. “If black people are getting discriminated against in hiring and you fight that, that’s justice.”
Today justice means equal outcomes. “There are two ideas now in the academic left that weren’t there 10 years ago,” he says. “One is that everyone is racist because of unconscious bias, and the other is that everything is racist because of systemic racism.” That makes justice impossible to achieve: “When you cross that line into insisting if there’s not equal outcomes then some people and some institutions and some systems are racist, sexist, then you’re setting yourself up for eternal conflict and injustice.”
Perhaps most troubling, Mr. Haidt cites the new protectiveness in child-rearing over the past few decades. Historically, American children were left to their own devices and had to learn to deal with bullies. Today’s parents, out of compassion, handle it for them. “By the time students get to college they have much, much less experience with unpleasant social encounters, or even being insulted, excluded or marginalized,” Mr. Haidt says. “They expect there will be some adult, some authority, to rectify things.”
Combine that with the universities’ shift to a “customer is always right” mind-set. Add in social media. Suddenly it’s “very, very easy to bring mobs together,” Mr. Haidt says, and make “people very afraid to stand out or stand up for what they think is right.” Students and professors know, he adds, that “if you step out of line at all, you will be called a racist, sexist or homophobe. In fact it’s gotten so bad out there that there’s a new term—‘ophobophobia,’ which is the fear of being called x-ophobic.”
That fear runs deep—including in Mr. Haidt. When I ask him about how political homogeneity on campus informs the understanding of so-called rape culture, he clams up: “I can’t talk about that.” The topic of sexual assault—along with Islam—is too sensitive.
It’s a painfully ironic answer from a man dedicating his career to free thought and speech. But choosing his battles doesn’t mean Mr. Haidt is unwilling to fight. And he’s finding allies across the political spectrum.
Heterodox Academy’s membership has grown to some 600, up about 100 since the beginning of March. “In the wake of the Middlebury protests and violence, we’re seeing a lot of liberal-left professors standing up against illiberal-left professors and students,” Mr. Haidt says. Less than a fifth of the organization’s members identify as “right/conservative”; most are centrists, liberals or progressives.
Balancing those numbers by giving academic jobs and tenure to outspoken libertarians and conservatives seems like the most effective way to change the campus culture, if only by signaling to self-censoring students that dissent is acceptable. But for now Heterodox Academy is taking a more modest approach, focusing on three initiatives.
The first is its college guide: a ranking by viewpoint diversity of America’s top 150 campuses. The goal is to create market pressure and put administrators on notice. The University of Chicago currently ranks No. 1—rising seniors, take note.
The second is a “fearless speech index,” a web-based questionnaire that allows students and professors to express how comfortable they feel speaking out on sensitive subjects. Right now, Mr. Haidt says, there are a tremendous number of anecdotes but no real data; the index aims to remedy that.
The third is the “viewpoint diversity experience,” a six-step online lesson in the virtue and practice of open-minded engagement with opposing ideas.
Heterodox Academy is not the only sliver of light. Following the Middlebury incident, the unlikely duo of Democratic Socialist Cornel West and conservative Robert P. George published a statement denouncing “campus illiberalism” and calling for “truth seeking, democracy and freedom of thought and expression.” More than 2,500 scholars and other intellectuals have signed it. At Northwestern the student government became the first in the country to pass a resolution calling for academic freedom and viewpoint diversity.
“What I think is happening,” Mr. Haidt says, is that “as the visible absurdity on campus mounts and mounts, and as public opinion turns more strongly against universities—and especially as the line of violence is crossed—we are having more and more people standing up saying, ‘Enough is enough. I’m opposed to this.’ ” Let’s hope.
If you’re not a student or professor, why should you care about snowflakes in their igloos? Because, Mr. Haidt argues, what happens on campus affects the “health of our nation.” Ideological and political homogeneity endangers the quality of social-science research, which informs public policy. “Understanding the impacts of immigration, understanding the causes of poverty—these are all absolutely vital,” he says. “If there’s an atmosphere of intimidation around politicized issues, it clearly influences the research.”
Today’s college students also are tomorrow’s leaders—and employees. Companies are already encountering problems with recent graduates unprepared for the challenges of the workplace. “Work requires a certain amount of toughness,” Mr. Haidt says. “Colleges that prepare students to expect a frictionless environment where there are bureaucratic procedures and adult authorities to rectify conflict are very poorly prepared for the workplace. So we can expect a lot more litigation in the coming few years.”
If you lean left—even if you adhere to the campus orthodoxy, or to certain elements of it—you might consider how the failure to respect pluralism puts your own convictions at risk of a backlash. “People are sick and tired of being called racist for innocent things they’ve said or done,” Mr. Haidt observes. “The response to being called a racist unfairly is never to say, ‘Gee, what did I do that led to me being called this? I should be more careful.’ The response is almost always, ‘[Expletive] you!’ ”
He offers this real-world example: “I think that the ‘deplorables’ comment could well have changed the course of human history.”
Ms. Weiss is an associate book review editor at the Journal.
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Post by td128 on Mar 28, 2017 18:51:09 GMT -5
Would he be prepared for tougher academics? We need players. Isn't this why we have the consortium and summer school? Let's go. Remember, when The Wizard of Westwood was asked what made him such a great coach, he responded, "I had great players."
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Post by td128 on Mar 28, 2017 18:40:56 GMT -5
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Post by td128 on Mar 27, 2017 7:19:03 GMT -5
FWIW . . . Wake Forest admitted 55% of its 2021 incoming class this year via ED. Details provided were that the quality of the overall pool of ED applicants was exceptionally high. I think they had traditionally admitted 40-45% of the class via ED.
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Post by td128 on Mar 10, 2017 17:50:41 GMT -5
My 'problem' with Fr. Mulledy was not his involvement with the sale of the slaves, but his disobeying the specific directives of the Superior General, for which he was summoned to Rome, and in effect made to do penance in southern France. I can't remember in the narratives whether he had a fondness for the bottle, but he did have a high and mighty opinion of himself. ________________ Regarding Crusader, the Crusades (and the Crusaders) have nothing to do with the history of Holy Cross. The college's motto "In Hoc Signo Vinces" dates to the Roman empire and the Roman legions, and refers to Constantine's vision (of the Chi Rho cross) on the way to a victorious battle that re-unified the empire. According to the etymology, the word 'crusade (croisade)' does not appear in English until 1575, long after the crusades to the Holy Land. Those who went on these crusades did not call themselves 'crusaders'. According to the story, IIRC, a sports writer for the Boston Herald coined the nickname for Holy Cross. Perhaps, he was a freemason, I don't know. I say that because the Maltese Cross of the Knights Templar who went on the early Crusades has been adopted by the freemasons, and the motto 'In Hoc Signo Vinces' has also been adopted by the freemasaons. www.knightstemplar.org/KnightTemplar/articles/20101021.htm The Pope and the king of France put at an end to the Catholic Knights Templar is the early 1300s. The last Grandmaster, Jacques de Molay, was burned on the scaffold by Notre Dame. The Masonic affiliated organization, the Order of De Molay, is named after him. The Kinghts Templar and current day freemasonry. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Templar_(Freemasonry)Thank you very much for sharing this background. Methinks this should settle it so we can now get back to our regularly scheduled broadcasting.
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Post by td128 on Mar 10, 2017 17:49:11 GMT -5
Has anybody around these parts ever previously heard of a connection between Holy Cross, Crusaders, and the KKK?
Be honest now.
And rather than lowering ourselves and dignifying the KKK by addressing the fact that the same name is used, why don't we take a stand for the true Jesuit principles we crusade so strongly for. Be a powerful force for good and not a pack of spineless lemmings.
η ΤΑΝ Η ΕΠΙ ΤΑΣ
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Post by td128 on Mar 10, 2017 10:32:53 GMT -5
I just sent this message to some friends in the Development Office and shared it with the Executive Committee of the Friends of Crusader Football . . . with the emphasis on Crusader: I recently saw these paragraphs in a commentary that ran in the Worcester Telegram. The college's use of "Crusader," meanwhile, may also be up for debate. Last June, for example, Holy Cross' president, the Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, acknowledged in a letter to the campus that "members of our community, on- and off-campus, would like us to consider the appropriateness of the 'Crusader' mascot in light of our commitment to interreligious understanding."
In a statement issued Thursday, the college said: "While discussions over the student newspaper's name and college's mascot are challenging and difficult, (Rev. Boroughs) is committed to exploring the history and meaning of 'The Crusader.' " That topic will be the focus of two events on campus this spring: a lecture by historian Kevin Madigan on the Crusades on March 23, and a panel discussion on Holy Cross' use of the Crusader nickname on April 11. Both events are free and open to the public, according to the college. www.telegram.com/news/20170309/effort-afoot-at-holy-cross-to-change-student-newspapers-nameI shudder to think that Holy Cross is going to fall in line with the prevailing pervasive political correctness that strikes me as crippling our nation and the real true personal leadership that our younger brethren need. I am all for acknowledging any shortcomings or wrong doings of the past but have no interest in cowering to those who would dictate what each and every symbol truly means. I may just have to come to Worcester on April 11th and voice my opinion. Should I put off my getting my tattoo of the HC shield? I am actually likely going to get a tattoo of the Greek letters η ΤΑΝ Η ΕΠΙ ΤΑΣ which mean "with it or on it" in regard to that shield. I think we need more of that than the political correctness that we recently witnessed at Middlebury. I love breaking my brothers' balls who went there over that. I guess I should not be surprised that this day has come but when is enough is enough. This is all you needed, right? Feel free to share my message with anybody whom you may want. Happy Friday, gentlemen!! LD
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Post by td128 on Mar 10, 2017 10:28:40 GMT -5
We need that thinking and culture around Mt. St. James especially in regard to our athletic pursuits.
η ΤΑΝ Η ΕΠΙ ΤΑΣ
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Post by td128 on Mar 10, 2017 7:53:57 GMT -5
Will Pete Kimener be inducted ? Before Pete can be inducted, he has to be nominated. I will say that I had one of the single most pleasurable conversations I have had with any Crusader with Pete on the morning of last year's RoH ceremony. What a guy and looks like he could still strap it on and go across the middle still today. He too wants to see the Purple reign. η ΤΑΝ Η ΕΠΙ ΤΑΣ
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Post by td128 on Mar 10, 2017 7:20:52 GMT -5
The knives can be picked up at the Customer Service booth just beyond ADNP's Office. In all seriousness, let's do one better. Let's commit to a joint tailgate next fall and we can have a formal ceremony awarding you "set of steak knives." Perhaps we can do it at the Ring of Honor tailgate prior to the UNH game in mid-September if you plan on attending. I just used my Ancient Greek letters keyboard with my new high tech computer. No, seriously, I just copied/pasted and then edited.
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Post by td128 on Mar 10, 2017 5:48:47 GMT -5
η ΤΑΝ Η ΕΠΙ ΤΑΣ
Time for a little branding -- literally -- gentlemen? Has the makings of a great tattoo, especially in the Greek.
Who's with me?
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Post by td128 on Mar 9, 2017 18:23:37 GMT -5
Did anybody else pick up on the term to describe Alma Mater during last night's coverage of the Bucknell - Lehigh game? Not sure if it was Doug Gottlieb or the play by play guy. Not exactly complimentary. Set of steak knives to the first responder with the answer. "Lowly Holy Cross" I winced when I heard that reference and thought of just how far the program had fallen. That said, ever optimistic and hope springs eternal. Using a new slogan, now. "With it or on it." (I am sure the Classics scholars in the audience know where this comes from.)
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Post by td128 on Mar 9, 2017 17:27:38 GMT -5
Did anybody else pick up on the term to describe Alma Mater during last night's coverage of the Bucknell - Lehigh game? Not sure if it was Doug Gottlieb or the play by play guy.
Not exactly complimentary.
Set of steak knives to the first responder with the answer.
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Post by td128 on Feb 27, 2017 18:26:41 GMT -5
Might we experience deja vu all over again?
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Post by td128 on Feb 4, 2017 7:42:58 GMT -5
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Post by td128 on Feb 2, 2017 21:45:01 GMT -5
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Post by td128 on Jan 8, 2017 15:49:11 GMT -5
I figured that was probably the case but want to make sure he is properly remembered. I think he may have passed away shortly after graduation in 1977. Great memory and knowing a bit about his personality, I would guess that he is smiling.
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Post by td128 on Jan 8, 2017 15:38:30 GMT -5
God bless Jimmy Gooch. May he rest in eternal peace. We lost him way too young.
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Post by td128 on Dec 29, 2016 12:00:36 GMT -5
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Post by td128 on Dec 27, 2016 15:33:45 GMT -5
Thank you for sharing this.
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