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Opus Hall Dedicated

University President Rev. David M. O’Connell blessed and dedicated Opus Hall on Monday, Dec. 15. Opus Hall is the seven-story residence hall that was scheduled to open in the fall of 2009, but was completed ahead of schedule. Construction began 21 months ago in March of 2007. Students who lived in Gibbons Hall in the fall semester are moving to Opus so that Gibbons can be renovated. “An early opening was an unanticipated and welcome suprise,” said Sue Pervi, Vice President for Student Life. Approximately 200 people including faculty and staff, members of the board of trustees and student leaders gathered for the dedication and took a tour of the building. The dedication was scheduled to happen while the board of trustees was on... [Read more...]

SAGA Passes Student Bill of Rights

In their last meeting of the semester, the Student Association General Assembly passed legislation that laid out their goals including “Freedom of Academic Speech” and asserting rights for students in the judicial system. The resolution to “Declare a Student Bill of Rights” declares that SAGA will “actively pursue the realization of the following articles” including freedom of academic speech, the right to counsel when appearing before Judical Affairs, a right to documentation about their case and to face their accuser and says that the Department of Public Safety should not have the same policing powers off-campus as they do on-campus. It also asks for the University to be more clear in the regulations included... [Read more...]

Letter to the Editor: Dean Files Complaint Against Cardinal’s Nest

We appreciate the Tower’s continuing Cardinal’s Nest coverage, but must respond to the November 21 Tower’s “Dean Files Complaint Against Cardinal’s Nest” remark: “A majority of the violations, which ABRA investigators cited Cardinal’s Nest for, are minor voluntary agreement violations… for not posting signs about where patrons can park, signs instructing patrons to not create noise outside, a sign saying Cardinal’s Nest is a Drug Free Zone and for not having cameras in the alleyway, as a well as a security management plan.” Posting signs about where patrons can park: One resident who drives taxicab at night for a living came home and could not find a parking space near his house due to patron parking. He had... [Read more...]

Letter to the Editor: Cardinal Stafford Right on Obama’s Abortion Views

I was surprised to read Prof. Kmiec’s editorial about Cardinal Stafford’s recent speech at CUA where he discussed Barack Obama’s views on abortion. In his letter, Kmiec attempts to refute those, like Stafford, who would insist that the president-elect is “anti-life.”  Kmiec states, “He [Obama] is not; the new President merely intends to use compassion and assistance, not condemnation and prohibition to promote human life.” If one were to agree with Kmiec, one would need to assume that Obama takes a truly “pro-choice” stance on abortion, neither attempting to prohibit nor promote the practice, but instead uses compassion to lower the number of abortions by his support for women in crisis... [Read more...]

Letter to the Editor: Student Association Discusses Bill of Rights

The 21 November Tower carried an article, “Student Association Discusses Bill of Rights….” Based on the article, I concluded that a proposed change to the Student Handbook to limit Catholic University’s Department of Public Safety’s off-campus jurisdiction vis-à-vis students won preliminary (first reading) approval. As an alumnus living in the nearby neighborhood since graduating in 1979, a former member of the now defunct Student Judiciary when Terry McAuliffe was Judicial VP, and a civic leader who has testified at city council to show requisite public support for the revenue bonds needed to build the Millennium and Opus dormitories and who has heard over many years the neighborhood’s permanent residents report rowdy,... [Read more...]

CUA Dean Files Complaint Against Cardinal’s Nest

The University filed a complaint against Cardinal’s Nest, a bar popular with students, on August 26, following reports of students returning to campus intoxicated from the bar. Kathryn Jennings, associate dean of students, officially filed the complaint with the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Association saying, “Our Department of Public Safety reported hundreds of intoxicated students coming from Cardinal’s Nest.” The bar is located less than a half mile from the University. Jennings also mentioned she has heard about various hearings that were being conducted against Cardinal’s Nest. [Read more...]  Read More →

Letter to the Editor: Thoughts on Gay Students at CUA

Kelly Wilson, CUA Graduate Student It was good to see the Tower address homosexuality on campus.  As a second year graduate student, this is the first time I have seen the CUA community publicly acknowledge homosexuality on campus.  It leads me to wonder if CUA is as hospitable as the article suggested. Don’t get me wrong, I am pleased to hear that many gay students feel welcomed here at Catholic University; let’s be honest, anything less than that would be despicable and dare I say unchristian. But I wonder about the gay students who do not feel welcomed on campus. What about the freshman who feels alone during his/her first year and they don’t know who is safe to talk to?  What about the student who is struggling with their sexual... [Read more...]

Capitol Steps Leave No Politician Behind

By Alex Carrion The political satire group Capitol Steps performed in front of a packed crowd at the Pryzbyla Great Room last Monday. Politics is usually something that is hotly debated, especially among politics majors at the University. But when the show began, it was soon clear that Republican or Democrat, no topic would be too serious to laugh at. Capitol Steps began performing in 1981, when several Senate staffers got together to make a small show for then Congressman Charles Percy. First designed to be a legitimate nativity song, performer Brad VanGrack explained that the original concept design was abandoned when “we couldn’t find three wise men or any virgins” on Capitol Hill. The result was a free-for-all parody of songs... [Read more...]

Cadet Cardinal - Web Extra!

Be sure to check out Ben Newell’s article on the Catholic University students who take part in ROTC. He accompanied them on their weekend training session from Nov. 14-16. He also got some great photos and videos, which The Tower is highlighting here. There is also a video hosted on the Tower’s YouTube account which was shot by Ben Newell and edited by Stephanie Coxe.  Read More →

Center Stage’s “Looking Up” Spreads a Message of Hope from One Tragic Loss

by Christina Wolfgram Center Stage Theater Company’s “Looking Up” is a testament to the strength, friendship, and most importantly, the hope that can grow from loss. Kaitlin Hitchings, a senior musical theatre major, got the idea for the cabaret after a fellow student and close friend, Lauren Alcantar, died of Ewing’s Sarcoma, a malignant round-cell cancerous tumor, during both their sophomore years. “Things happen in your life that you can’t control, but you have to incorporate them in a positive way – that was Lauren’s life,” said Hitchings. Alcantar was a musical theater major who lived in Portland, OR for most of her life. Alcantar is known for her beautiful voice and spirit. She died at the age of 20 on May 20, 2007. Though... [Read more...]

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