Pro-life March means more than protesting abortion

Dear Editor,
I was sitting in church on Saturday, and I fully expected to hear a homily about the call of Samuel or maybe the Gospel story. I was surprised when the priest began to give the congregation a discourse on abortion being wrong. Ok I thought, this is the week of the pro-life march, so maybe I will hear the latest statistics on the matter. This however was not the case. All the priest did was tell us over and over again that abortion was wrong, and that this was why we need to support the march. Being a Catholic myself, I agree that abortion is wrong, but I beg to differ that this is why we need to support the pro-life movement. The last time I checked, the catholic stance on being pro-life was more than just being anti-abortion. I have volunteered for the early morning shift at the Shrine for the last three years and have always been amazed at the overwhelming abundance of Catholics who come to D.C. in support of the march. People from all over the country and from all walks of life come and that is a great testament to our beliefs. I do find it disturbing though that there is never any mention from Catholics of the all encompassing pro-life stance of the Church. Sure there are tons of people wearing shirts with the slogan "My mom made the right choice," and many more people carrying signs with Mary standing amidst bloody fetuses. But never once have I seen someone carrying a sign to end the death penalty, euthanasia, or even one protesting policies that deny people the right to life. Regardless of the reasons people of other faith backgrounds have for marching, we as Catholics should use this opportunity to show what all we stand for as a people who believe in life. If we do not do this, then the general population will know nothing more of our pro-life values than that we are against abortion. Because of this, their impression is that we support the death penalty, we tolerate helping people die, and we are willing to support programs whose very designs deny people the right to life. If all we are marching for is to end abortion then it best be done under the title "March to End Abortion" or the "Roe vs. Wade Protest March" because we have sorely missed the mark of our belief. I will admit that I have never participated in the march for this very reason because while I am against abortion, I hold firm to the stance that there are more ways to devalue life in this country that need to be protested. I mean no offense to those people who come to proclaim this value in front of the nation. It is a good thing. I just don't like the idea of a pro-life march that only fights for ending abortion. The last time I checked, we claim to value, respect, and encourage life from conception until natural death. If we are a Church rich in the tradition of honoring life, why then are we not practicing what we believe?

Sincerely,
Beth M.Uccellini
Senior, Biochemistry
X2945

Recent Tuition Increase

Though the Tower article this past week was vague as to the timeframe of the decided 5.5% tuition increase, I contend any increase at this point in time would be an absolutely terrible idea. The way I see it the current economic situation is not conducive to a sharp tuition increase. The roughly 1600 dollar increase would virtually nullify federal assistance such as the stafford loan, the Perkins loan, or work study programs. The increase would tack on thousands of dollars more onto already high amounts of student debt, and put parents into a more difficult situation to assist their children. While an extra 1600 dollars a year might not seem that outrageous to many, consider that many parents, such as my own, have been laid off in the past few years and are working on fixed income, not to mention those that have retired. Then again, maybe the administration is looking for a certain class of students to attend the Univeristy, further decreasing our already drastically low matriculation of students who actually live INSIDE major Catholic cities such as Philadelphia, New York, and Boston and inflating the already swelled population of Suburban students. The phrase "just outside Philly" is going to have a an even deeper penetrating effect.
I also fail to see what good the increase does aside from putting us on par with the 84 private universities that finished ahead of CUA in the recent Cambridge study. Call me cynical, but I don't believe our admittance into the elite tuition club is going to result in any better facilities, classes, or faculty allowing the students to benefit. Will the athletes finally have a decent weightroom or practice facility? The baseball team will still have to practice on a basketball court, and I still won't be able to play basketball after dinner. We'll still have a lot of sore ankles and knees and a lot of disspointed pick-up players. Additionally, the University's recent attempts to keep upperclassman on campus will be thrwarted by any tuition increase. While it remains readily apparent that besides the benefits of freedom and flexibility that off campus housing offers, the major advantage of cost has also propelled most of my friends to bolt from on-campus living this year - any tuition/room and board increase is going to increase the mass exodus of juniors to Brookland's apartment complexes and houses, out of line with supposed University policy.
So, while CUA is raising their tuition to be in the upper echelon of over-charging Universities, I'll just take out another loan. No worries.

Newpaper Policies

To whom it may concern:
This is not a letter for publication. I am currently a student at Seton Hall University. Our newspaper, The Setonian, is looking to update its policies. I am doing research as to what policies other universities have in place. If you could be so kind as to send me a copy of your current policy, it would be greatly appretiated. Thank you for your kind attention.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Remore

An Open Letter to the CUA Law School Community

HAVE YOU NOTICED A CHANGE AT CUA?

An Open Letter to the CUA Law School Community

The Black Law Students Association (BLSA), CUA Chapter is writing today to express sincere concern regarding the disparaging numbers of African American students admitted and enrolled in the graduating classes of 2005 and 2006 respectively. Statistics released by the admissions office reveal that in the day and evening divisions, while the numbers of self-identified African Americans applying for admission rose from 2001 to 2002, the numbers admitted in 2002 declined, exacerbating an already critical problem for the university in terms of overall minority representation.

The reduced admission rate for African Americans has been compounded by a reduced rate of matriculation, which this year has resulted in CUA boasting perhaps some of the lowest percentages of African American law students in the Washington metropolitan area. The admissions office has reported that in the day division's first year class, there are a total of four African American students enrolled. In the evening division, the first year class is comprised of 72 students, only one of whom is an African American. Similarly, self-identified members of other ethnic groups have experienced a decline in admission and matriculation rates. Allowing this to continue will, without question, be to the detriment of the law school.

The current administration has taken on the very admirable task of improving the law school as a whole, an objective inspired by CUA's drop in the national law school rankings from second tier to third tier last year. The importance of increasing the quality of education at CUA is undeniable; accordingly, quality students must be recruited and enrolled. In an effort to bolster the school's competitiveness, the size of the incoming classes has been reduced and the standards of admissions have been raised by an admission policy that requires strict adherence to predetermined minimum GPA and LSAT scores. Amidst the obvious successes of the administration, an unfortunate reality has become apparent in that the diversity of the student body continues to be visibly diluted.

While it is important that the law school strive to admit students who are amongst the most capable of those applying in a given year, it behooves the community to refrain from allowing capability to be determined exclusively by objective factors such as GPA, class rank, and reported LSAT scores. As the University of Michigan Law School's Dean Jeffrey S. Lehman commented on the Sixth Circuit's recent decision to uphold an admission policy which counts race as one of many determinative factors in candidate consideration: "Our constitution recognizes the educational benefit of having students study in a racially integrated environment, and universities may consider that benefit as one of many factors in a comprehensive admissions policy."

As we move further into a new millennium, we are called upon to recognize our place on a world stage whose actors are as diverse as the ingredients in the proverbial melting pot we as Americans understand to be the very soul of our nation. To this extent, diversity in the classroom provides us with an invaluable means of preparing to face challenges in our careers and in our lives beyond these hallowed halls. "[I]t is not too much to say that the 'nation's future depends upon leaders trained through wide exposure' to the ideas and mores of students as diverse as this Nation of many peoples." Keyishian v. Board of Regents, 385 U.S. 589, (1967). BLSA calls upon the community to take note of an occurrence that we must not allow to become a trend. The diversity of our student body is an essential that should not be sacrificed. Let us not ignore the empirical evidence that racial and ethnic diversity in education enhances learning and aids in the preparation of individuals to work and make lasting contributions to our increasingly diverse society.

BLACK LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
CUA CHAPTER 2002-2003

This letter is submitted by BLSA president Donna Peterkin, 3D and BLSA associate Liza Terry, 3E on behalf of the organization.

(202)484-3433

I'm offended

Who does this "BryGuy" think he is? The Band is one of the greatest band names in rock n roll history. Maybe you guys should do some fact-checking before printing your little list of best/worsts. Next thing you know, you're going to go around claiming that Live is a stupid band name. Ugh.
By the way, love that haiku guy.

Catholic’s All-Conference Selections

Catholic placed 17 players on the Capital Athletic Conference and Old Dominion Athletic Conference All-Conferece teams. Men’s Soccer was the only team not to place a player on their All-Conference team.
Nine of the seventeen players were named first team All-Conference. Class-wise CUA had two freshman, four sophomores, four juniors and seven seniors make their respective All-Conference team.

Capital Athletic Conference

Men’s Cross Country
Michael Audette - First Team

Women’s Cross Country
Rachel Yates - First Team
Kathleen Hazlett - Second Team
Rebecca Freyvogel - Second Team

Women’s Soccer
Jenny Aspinwall - First Team
Laura Kaye - Second Team

Field Hockey
Tricia Hines - First Team
Rebecca Clark - Second Team

Volleyball
Bridget Guetle - First Team
Kathleen McGlynn - First Team
Anji Wall - First Team

Old Dominion Athletic Conference

Football
Gary Mann - First Team
Nick Bublavi - First Team
Tokollo Moffat - Second Team
Scot Lutte - Second Team
Ryan Welsh - Second Team

Swimming Handily Defeats York, ECAC’s Next:

The men and women’s swim teams swam to victory against York College of Pennsylvania last Saturday. The men finished with a score of 114-91 and the women finished with a 118-87, giving coach Tom Calomeris his 200th win.

“I am very pleased with how the team performed at the York meet. We feel very good at this, the half point of the season with the men at 4-1 and the women at 3-1. Now we’re just going to get ready for the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Meet, on Dec. 5, 6 and 7,” said Head Coach Calomeris.

There were once again some especially noteworthy performances against York. For the men, Sophomore Jim Horstmann captured the first place in the 50-yard freestyle with a solid time of 22.99. Freshman Steve Gyurisin won the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 50.92. Sophomore Will Giannobile captured a first in the distance 1000-yard freestyle, while James Sanders won the 500-yard freestyle with times of 11:02.36 and 5:15.91 respectively.

The women once again saw impressive swims by Sophomore Kathy Jenko, Sophomore Carly Plantulli and Senior Kelly Anne Creazzo. Jenko won her event, the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 56.96. Plantulli garnished a first place in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:04.12. Creazzo won the 200 IM with a time of 2:23.94.

Kelly Nagle was the dual winner for the Cardinals. Nagle won the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 11:43.32 and the 500-yard freestyle with a 5:40.89.

All and all this competition was a special victory for Coach Calomeris, because he achieved his 200th win as head coach of the swim teams. Calomeris said that it was great feeling and that he is just pleased with how his teams have been swimming.

The Cardinals return to competition after the Thanksgiving holiday and will compete in the ECAC meet to be held at the Gloucester Institute of Technology in New Jersey. This is the largest athletic conference in the country and nearly thirty schools from the east coast will be at the competition.

ADG to Host Pep Rally Before Basketball Home Opener

As a way to increase school spirit and support the men’s basketball team, Alpha Delta Gamma fraternity is sponsoring a Slam Dunk Hunger Week from Nov. 18-23, according to Patrick McGuire, chancellor of the Kappa chapter of ADG and coordinator of the week. ADG chose to host this event to “get the [ADG] guys behind something and to do something good for the school,” said McGuire.

The week is to focus on collect food for the less fortunate, which will be collected at the pep rally, three-on-three basketball tournament and the first men’s basketball game of the season tomorrow.

Tonight ADG will host a pep rally in support of the CUA men’s basketball home opener. The pep rally will begin at 8:15 p.m. at the Ratt.

A three-on-three basketball tournament will be held on Nov. 23, before the men’s basketball game which begins at 8 p.m. A five dollar entrance fee or three canned goods are need to participate in the tournament. The tournament championship will be held during halftime of the men’s basketball game.

Men’s Cross-Country Ends Season with 14th Place Finish at NCAA South/Southeast Regionals

The men’s cross-country team wrapped up its season this past weekend in NCAA South/Southeast Regionals at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg Va. The Cardinals finished 14th out of the 23 teams that competed. Emory captured first place, and was followed by Lynchburg in second and Christopher Newport in third.

Junior Mike Audette was yet again the top finisher for the Cardinals, coming in strong at 14th place with a time of 21:26.08. Audette was recently named the CAC Runner of the Year, by vote of the coaches in the Conference. He was CUA’s top prospect to make an appearance in the NCAA National Championships to be held tomorrow at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. However, only the top four finishers at the Regionals meet earned a trip to Minnesota.

Sophomore Captain Kevin Slattery was second for the Cardinals and finished in 68th place overall. Slattery also was one of the top runners for the Cardinals, and consistently finished in the top three for Cardinals.

Freshmen Matt Pryzdial, Nigel Gully and Steve Kowalski completed the top five runners for the Cardinals at the Regional Meet.

Slattery and Audette, were the oldest runners of a team that was comprised of almost entirely of all freshmen. The teams trained through awful weather conditions throughout the month of October, and managed to end their season with first place finishes at the York and Bridgewater College Invitationals, and a third place finish at the CAC Championship Meet.

Losing no players to graduation, the Cardinals will have the best runner in the CAC for next year.

Game of the Week

Basketball
William Paterson (0-0) at CUA Cardinals (0-0)
Saturday Nov. 23, 4 p.m.
DuFour Athletic Center

The third ranked Catholic University men’s basketball team will play host to the William Paterson Pioneers tomorrow at 4 p.m.

Catholic has played William Paterson every year since 1998, including the national championship game in 2001. The series record over these past three years is 2–2.

William Paterson’s hopes lie in number 40, senior forward Keyth Hardy. He, along with a decent backcourt, are what Paterson hopes to lead them to a sixth straight NCAA tournament appearance, according to the pioneer athletics website.

Senior preseason All-American center Matt Hilleary will lead the Cardinals on offense and defense. CUA has a three-inch advantage in average team height and in the off-season recruited one of the best freshman classes in school history. CUA returns four of its five starters, losing point gurad Bobby Henning, and should dominate Div. III basketball once again, starting with this game.

Next Page »