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Post by sader1970 on Feb 11, 2021 15:58:15 GMT -5
BBC, just my opinion but I think you have to look past his Notre Dame and BC connections for whether he loves the sports that we focus on here. This gentlemen is a Brown graduate - his "formative years" - and he either taught or administered at those Catholic jock schools. I recall an early one-on-one conversation with Fr. McF in which he said that he enjoyed running as a sport and his favorite team sport was hockey. In the following years, that early conversation proved accurate as he was more likely to be at the Hart hockey arena (where I had my conversation) than at Fitton or the basketball arena. Oh, extra points for those wondering, I was told by a HC staffer that his last name is pronounced like a women's (sorry, I know "sexist") "rouge." Would have guessed 2 syllables but we'll find out for sure tonight - I hope. And another vote of confidence for our new president from a Classmate of mine (names deleted to protect the innocent):
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Post by bringbackcaro on Feb 11, 2021 16:08:56 GMT -5
BBC, just my opinion but I think you have to look past his Notre Dame and BC connections for whether he loves the sports that we focus on here. This gentlemen is a Brown graduate - his "formative years" - and he either taught or administered at those Catholic jock schools. I am trying to ignore the whole Brown thing -- I have my fingers crossed that he came back to reality during his ND and BC years
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Post by crusader12 on Feb 11, 2021 19:49:21 GMT -5
After tonight's zoom call I can tell athletics is not going to be an area to grow or expand under this president. Seems like a good guy but his focus will be far far away from Wins vs. Losses and/or improving conferences in the future. We all need to face reality that Holy Cross' best days in athletics are well behind us and never coming back. Too bad!
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Post by newfieguy74 on Feb 11, 2021 19:53:00 GMT -5
After tonight's zoom call I can tell athletics is not going to be an area to grow or expand under this president. Seems like a good guy but his focus will be far far away from Wins vs. Losses and/or improving conferences in the future. We all need to face reality that Holy Cross' best days in athletics are well behind us and never coming back. Too bad! Whoa, I'm calling a time out on this. I didn't extrapolate that at all from his interview.
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Post by crusader12 on Feb 11, 2021 19:57:49 GMT -5
After tonight's zoom call I can tell athletics is not going to be an area to grow or expand under this president. Seems like a good guy but his focus will be far far away from Wins vs. Losses and/or improving conferences in the future. We all need to face reality that Holy Cross' best days in athletics are well behind us and never coming back. Too bad! Whoa, I'm calling a time out on this. I didn't extrapolate that at all from his interview. The moderator literally put the HC-BC rivalry on a tee for him and it went off the rails to hiking and kayaking. Time out is over.
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Post by sader1970 on Feb 11, 2021 19:58:11 GMT -5
OK, at least now I can pronounce his name: Roo-Jo. Roots are from Louisiana and he started out saying his father was expelled from college in Baton Rouge but then got a scholarship to Loyola Chicago. His Catholic faith is deep rooted going back generations of French/Creole/African. No question about his faith and beliefs.
I agree that he's not going to be a Gordon Gee-type athletics promoting president so my impression is stasis on that front. He did say how impressed he was with the PPAC. He's really into social justice and Catholic social teaching and while I'm still not sure he "gets" Holy Cross, he certainly understands Jesuit education via Loyola & BC. And, I suspect he "gets' Holy Cross as much as McFarland or Reidy did and maybe as much as Boroughs though he had been on the BoT so had an inside track there.
I like what I saw and heard.
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Post by rgs318 on Feb 11, 2021 20:00:05 GMT -5
After tonight's zoom call I can tell athletics is not going to be an area to grow or expand under this president. Seems like a good guy but his focus will be far far away from Wins vs. Losses and/or improving conferences in the future. We all need to face reality that Holy Cross' best days in athletics are well behind us and never coming back. Too bad! I am not sure where you got that from. Yes, he spoke about the role of athletics in the college, but it was one of those general answers you get before someone knows the ins and outs of a situation. The role of athletics was not addressed until the very end lf the session. I'll wait until I know more of his beliefs and can see his actions...also I am not sure how much time he has spent interacting with MB. So, short answer, we'll see. As to HC/BC, I did not see that "teed" up in any way for him. He spoke of his athletic background being in running and then said that led him to the outdoor, hiking and kayaking. Your personal lens may be slanting his answer just a bit. He never IMHO went "off the rails" but stayed on them as they had been laid out for this general "getting to know you" session. BTW, he does not start officially until July 1st. I imagine that Fr. B. will be still representing the Cross at any PL meetings between now and then.
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Post by bringbackcaro on Feb 11, 2021 20:06:30 GMT -5
I was very impressed with VR throughout the Zoom call and thought he was a much needed breath of fresh air, but echo crusader12 re: athletics.
The chances of him making a big push in football and men’s basketball and/or pushing the pL to take a step forward are slim and none.
As a hypothetical, if an alum dropped off a check for $10M and said, “you decide on whether you want to put this into Football/Men’s Basketball/Athletics or Drama,” everything we’ve seen and heard so far points to the money going to the latter.
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Post by sader1970 on Feb 11, 2021 20:12:05 GMT -5
For those who have not watched the Zoom live, Marisa Gregg, VP of Communications, said at the end that it was recorded and will be available for others to watch later and in a day or so, they will have the sub titles added for those who need that.
You all can judge yourself where the new president stands on athletics. I agree that it is too early to tell but stand by my prior post that my impression is that he will neither be a strong proponent nor a strong opponent of athletics. He obviously already got the word, as all incoming presidents do that HC alums are passionate and opinionated about the school.
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Post by newfieguy74 on Feb 11, 2021 20:19:47 GMT -5
I'm almost laughing as I read some of these comments. Maybe we can give him, I don't know, 72 hours before we renounce him as anti-athletics.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Feb 11, 2021 20:22:48 GMT -5
After tonight's zoom call I can tell athletics is not going to be an area to grow or expand under this president. Seems like a good guy but his focus will be far far away from Wins vs. Losses and/or improving conferences in the future. We all need to face reality that Holy Cross' best days in athletics are well behind us and never coming back. Too bad! I do not know why anyone would/should expect differently. The college is completing a strategic plan, which includes a component for athletics being prepared by MB, and I have read no tea leaves for years that suggest that HC is contemplating a significantly greater emphasis on athletics than what is presently offered and funded.. HC spends 17.4 percent of its total budget on athletics. Fairfield spends 10 percent. Furman spends 18.4% (about the highest in FCS, but below Wofford). Colgate 14%. University of Richmond 10 percent.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Feb 11, 2021 20:45:52 GMT -5
I'm almost laughing as I read some of these comments. Maybe we can give him, I don't know, 72 hours before we renounce him as anti-athletics. We have a coterie of Danny Downers on our board, who always search for the negatives instead of finding the positives in any situation. Why do I have the feeling that if XX came back and was appointed President, the critics would complain that he likes to go fishing instead of being consumed 24 hours a day with soccer. Totally unreal expectations by a few of our EEyores. Seems like some were expecting that he would make an announcement, even before he was inaugurated that HC would be leaving the PL and plan to become the eastern most member of the PAC 12, or leveraging his BC connections to join the ACC. The decisions are not unilateral by the President, but are based on the committee recommendations within the BOT.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Feb 11, 2021 20:47:12 GMT -5
He did say he ran track in high school, and hinted he played CYO basketball while growing up in Silver Spring. He did not indicate the name of his high school, or whether it was public or private/Catholic.
I looked up DeMatha's (in Hyattsville) record in 1981-82, and DeMatha was smoked by Dunbar that season. Dunbar had the following players: Mugsy Bouges (NBA), Reggie Lewis (NBA), Reggie Williams (NBA), David Wingate (NBA), Gary Grahm (UNLV), Tim Dawson (Miami), Keith James (UNLV), Darryl Woods (Virginia Union), Jerry White
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Post by rgs318 on Feb 11, 2021 20:47:18 GMT -5
Let's remember that MB is the AD and all we really need from our new president is to support him in whatever way he can...at least don't get in his way.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Feb 11, 2021 21:02:55 GMT -5
IIRC, the college has said that alumni who were student athletes donate more as alumni than do alumni who did not compete in a varsity sport. An important metric.
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Post by sader1970 on Feb 11, 2021 21:27:22 GMT -5
That may be true now and may be true of other classes but was absolutely not the case for my class when I started as Class Chair. Might be the case now. I recall being told by Advancement staff that the opposite was true (generally all classes) and we tried to figure out why those who had gotten full athletic scholarships, the proverbial free ride, wouldn't give back to the College. It was reversed to some degree during my 5 year tenure and perhaps the trend back then has been reversed. I know there has been an emphasis to get athlete alums to give in more recent years.
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Post by HC13 on Feb 11, 2021 22:24:50 GMT -5
The presentation:
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Post by longsuffering on Feb 11, 2021 23:46:42 GMT -5
After tonight's zoom call I can tell athletics is not going to be an area to grow or expand under this president. Seems like a good guy but his focus will be far far away from Wins vs. Losses and/or improving conferences in the future. We all need to face reality that Holy Cross' best days in athletics are well behind us and never coming back. Too bad! I do not know why anyone would/should expect differently. The college is completing a strategic plan, which includes a component for athletics being prepared by MB, and I have read no tea leaves for years that suggest that HC is contemplating a significantly greater emphasis on athletics than what is presently offered and funded.. HC spends 17.4 percent of its total budget on athletics. Fairfield spends 10 percent. Furman spends 18.4% (about the highest in FCS, but below Wofford). Colgate 14%. University of Richmond 10 percent. Colgate appears to be getting more for their money.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Feb 12, 2021 8:07:10 GMT -5
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Post by matunuck on Feb 12, 2021 11:18:50 GMT -5
I just watched our new president's Zoom chat. What a pleasure to listen to him and get to know his background and experiences. Very impressive and thoughtful. I didn't get an anti-athletics vibe. Though, I would have been curious to hear his perspective on academic freedom and the role of freedom of expression on college campuses nowadays.
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Post by rickii on Feb 12, 2021 12:00:59 GMT -5
With all the negative stuff over the past few years, I was pretty sure a lay person was coming. 100% thought the choice would be female and 100% from either Yale, Haaved or Columbia. A black fellow - from BC law school no less - was a surprise.
Couple questions...
Anyone think Ted Wells was approached ?
Before Blossom arrived, who was our highest ranking black staffer ?
Have we ever had a black Jesuit on staff ?
Was Dr. Rougeau the highest ranking black staffer at BC ?
Around the PL, are there other male/female black presidents ?
As to athletics, let this guy settle in a little, eh ?
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Post by HCFC45 on Apr 8, 2021 7:45:54 GMT -5
From the Worcester Telegram- April 3, 2021:
Rougeau eyes diversity, collaboration as early priorities for Holy Cross
Scott O'Connell
Telegram & Gazette
WORCESTER — This summer, Holy Cross, like all colleges in the region, will be emerging from one of its most difficult years on record. And it will be doing so with a new leader, as Vincent D. Rougeau is set to take over as the college’s president in July. In his first interview with the Telegram & Gazette this week, the current dean of Boston College Law School said strategically planning the college’s future, increasing diversity on campus, and bolstering Holy Cross’s relationship with the surrounding city are all things he’s hoping to achieve in his new post. There’s also the immediate challenge of steering the school, which has already announced it is planning a return to normal campus operations this fall, through the lingering pandemic. “There are definitely going to be some different approaches (to that),” he said. “I think one thing we need to do is to learn from what we've just experienced. I think no matter what you do, no matter what kind of organization you’re part of, I don't think any of us are coming out of this pandemic and returning to exactly where we were before.” Holy Cross, for example, previously did not use technology much in instruction, he said, but that changed this past year, particularly during the fall semester when the campus was largely closed. “I think we’ve learned there are ways we can use technology and still have that deep personal experience between students and faculty,” he said. More generally, Rougeau said after getting an initial sense of the college’s position and the opinions of its members, he’d like to launch some strategic goals for the future. In some ways, the school is already in “perfect shape,” he said.
Financially, for instance, outgoing president Rev. Philip Boroughs has left Holy Cross on solid footing, and the college recently completed some major campus additions and renovations that will help attract students. But on the other hand, Rougeau said he will not lead in fear of diverting off of the school’s current path. "I respect traditions and history, and certainly we want to respect the mission” of the college, he said. “But I think we've learned something else in the last decade or so in higher education, particularly since the 2008 recession, that sometimes change has to happen. And if you don't make changes, you’re dooming yourself to becoming irrelevant. “We do have to evolve and listen to the signs of the times. It’s to see and understand that this isn’t the Holy Cross your grandfather went to, it’s not the Holy Cross your father or mother went to. It’s going to be a Holy Cross that is for the 21st century." One area for change he sees is a need for more diversity at Holy Cross, including in its faculty and staff. “I think there’s work that we need to do there … But I also want us to do it in an intentional way, because it's not just about bringing more bodies to campus,” Rougeau said. “It's about creating a community that is living out a set of values, and creates a sense of belonging that will make a wide range of people feel confident and comfortable joining us.” He also acknowledged students should have a say in what type of campus they’re living at, particularly in the wake of the pushback from the student body over the last few years against what many of them felt was an administration and general environment that allowed sexual offense to go unaddressed. “The kinds of things our students are raising are being raised around the country, and one of the things I plan to do is be in conversation with my fellow presidents to talk about how we create the kinds of campus environments and campus climates and a sense of safety that will really allow our students to thrive,” he said. “We have to be open to hearing from them about what’s making them feel unsafe or unwelcome. So if it’s about sexual assault, racial issues or whatever, these things need to be confronted.” Rougeau himself represents a change at Holy Cross, the school’s first Black president as well as its first lay president — two characteristics he said are no longer novel overall in higher education. “This is a diverse country, and leaders of great institutions in the United States should reflect the diversity of society,” he said. “So in that sense I hope it will become increasingly mundane, because it should just be the normal order of things.” For Holy Cross in particular, “you don’t necessarily need to be a priest as president to demonstrate that this is an institution that is committed to a Jesuit Catholic mission,” Rougeau said, adding he believes religious institutions still are a valuable part of the higher education landscape. “But I do think we have to think about it differently — we can’t think of Catholic higher education as a place where just Catholics go.” Similarly, Rougeau is open to new ways of reaching out to and evaluating potential Holy Cross students, particularly after a year where most institutions have eschewed traditional test scores because of the pandemic’s impact on the availability of SAT and ACT sessions. “I think the model of how we bring students in has to be completely rethought,” he said. “I think what we want to do is reach students in more dynamic, holistic ways to tell them what we offer, and to have a conversation about the experience at Holy Cross.” Not just coming to Holy Cross, but also the experience of coming to Worcester is something the college, and other colleges in the city, should be working together to broadcast, Rougeau believes. “There’s an incredible opportunity we have, as we’re all thinking about diversity and equity and inclusion, for all of these institutions to work together with the city to showcase the remarkable diversity of Worcester,” he said, “and to demonstrate that coming to Worcester for college is coming to a real city.”
Scott O’Connell can be reached at Scott.O’Connell@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @scottoconnelltg
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Post by newfieguy74 on Apr 8, 2021 7:51:36 GMT -5
"I think the model of how we bring students in has to be completely rethought." It will be interesting to see how this idea is executed but he's 100% right.
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Post by mm67 on Apr 8, 2021 9:21:35 GMT -5
"The best things in life ain't free. You can tell it to the birds & bees. I want money. Yes, that's what I want. I want money. Yes,..." Money does not guarantee a great school. But in today's world without more money you can't have the kind of elite school HC was & claims to be. (" the flagship of Catholic higher education.") At one time the school had the "Jesuit endowment" of many fine Jesuit faculty but this is not the case today. Although HC in many ways is better than ever as shown by the recent additions such as the Science & Tech building, Sten Hall, the JO, Prior, Luth and many other wonderful campus additions & improvements. Nonetheless, there have been worrisome signs over the years that the school is in decline, not maintaining its high academic profile. The mediocre numbers and the academic profile (class rank, etc.) of student applicants is the most recent example, a canary in the coal mine. At one time HC's Pre-Med Program was one of the top two or three in the nation with acceptance to medical schools above 95%. Presently, the Med school acceptance rate hovers in the mid 80% range. The school commonly had nationally known faculty, some of whom unfortunately were filched by the Ivies & other elite schools. HC was traditionally a "hot school" in the minds of topflight HS students and college advisors not merely in Mass. & NE but in many other areas of the nation. The school will need vast infusions of real money to develop & offer rigorous academic programs to attract the best & brightest students, to offer improved salaries and support and attract a superior faculty of renown. For instance I have often wondered why HC has not developed its own small publishing house to publish academic works (not solely theological) of its faculty & others. Or, why hasn't the school invested resources & aligned itself - faculty & students - in the high tech boom along the nearby 128 corridor.The school can foster a spirit of imagination to realize these and similar types of initiatives. More money is needed to maintain & improve campus infrastructure - grounds, academic buildings, student housing, etc., to maintain momentum in improved athletics and for student outreach & to provide improved student financial support. A massive increase in the size of the endowment is required to reach these and many other goals. In other words if HC is going to move into a new golden age of restoration and advancement it's going to need do a lot more which will require more bucks.
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Post by rgs318 on Apr 8, 2021 9:42:14 GMT -5
Is money really the answer for just about every problem? I know it is needed, but this almost exclusive focus on the endowment as a panacea seems a bit simplistic. I am sure there will be more to this story that will be shared, but this does at least show we may be seeing TPTB looking in new directions.
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