Ryan J. Reilly's Page:

Ryan J. Reilly is a senior media studies major from Medford, New Jersey. He serves as editor-in-chief of The Tower.

Kelly’s Ellis Island Sold to Owner of Tex-Mex Restaurants

Hugh Kelly, founder of Catholic University staples Irish Times and Ellis Island, has sold the later to the owner of two Tex-Mex restaurants. Ellis Island, once a bustling and popular bar/restaurant frequented by University students, has been closed the entire academic year, and its future was uncertain. Brookland’s Ellis Island was sold to Jaime Vargas, owner of San Antonio Bar & Grill, a family-owned Tex-Mex restaurant with two locations in Virginia, according to community newspaper Brookland Heartbeat. Vargas has been looking for a location in Brookland for several years, according to the Heartbeat. “I am very excited to become part of this community,” said Vargas. [Read more...]  Read More →

Cardinal Stafford Stands by Criticism of Obama

Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy See, is standing by controversial comments he made about President-elect Barack Obama during an on-campus lecture last Thursday. In an address hosted by the John Paul II Institute on Marriage and Family, Stafford called President-elect Barack Obama’s policies “aggressive, disruptive and apocalyptic,” said that his election was “a cultural earthquake” and that Obama campaigned on an “extremist anti-life platform.” (YouTube Video) Photo by Ryan J. Reilly / Tower Staff The story about the Cardinal’s comments was posted on CUATOWER.com on Friday and audio of his remarks was added on Monday. Since its posting, the story went viral online and has been picked... [Read more...]

Senior Got Personal Pitch From Obama

Most voters get pitches from presidential candidates through television commercials, prime-time debates and campaign websites. Senior Irene Kelly got a pitch from President-elect Barack Obama in a personal phone call and meeting with the candidate. Irene’s mother, Sarah “Sally” Kelly, became one of the first state representatives in New Hampshire to support Obama in summer of 2007, after attending a meeting in Manchester, N.H. with Obama and some of his early supporters. Kelly’s mother invited her to go, but unfortunately could not attend due to a previously scheduled meeting. Her mother kept calling Kelly during the meeting, until she had to finally excuse herself, thinking it might be an emergency. [Read more...]  Read More →

Prof. Doug Kmiec on Cardinal Stafford’s Obama Comments

Professor Doug Kmiec comments to the Tower on Cardinal Stafford’s controversial remarks on Barack Obama: The Cardinal is a great churchmen and defender of the Faith, but sometimes all of us — even the wisest among us – are given to speak not from personal knowledge but from that which has been portrayed as true, but is really a caricature. Political partisans from the conservative ranks portray the President-elect as anti-life. He is not; the new President merely intends to use compassion and assistance, not condemnation and prohibition to promote human life. The Cardinal I believe is reacting to a false portrayal that has obscured this fact. When the Cardinal comes to know the new President better, he will readily see that President... [Read more...]

CUA Tower Story on Cardinal’s Comments about Obama Goes Viral

A CUATOWER.com story on a Cardinal who called President-elect Barack Obama’s policies “apocalyptic” has gone viral online and has even been picked up by CNN. The audio and photo used in the story were provided to a CNN producer by the Tower. CNN also contacted the Vatican and the Obama transition team. Both choose not to comment on the story. Embedded video from <a href=”http://www.cnn.com/video” mce_href=”http://www.cnn.com/video”>CNN Video</a> When CNN reached him in Rome, Cardinal Stafford stood by his remarks and said he has no regrets, but declined to have to phone call recorded. He does believe,... [Read more...]

CUA Freezes Hiring, Asks for 5% Budget Cuts

The economic crisis has officially hit Catholic University. University President Rev. David M. O’Connell has placed a temporary freeze on hiring both new and replacement positions at the University effective immediately, according to a letter O’Connell sent to faculty and staff on Wednesday. He also placed temporarily halted capital spending, including projects previously approved in the current fiscal year, and asked vice-presidents to reduce their current budgets by 5 percent. O’Connell sent the letter to members of faculty and staff on the morning of Oct. 12. The Tower obtained the letter through a recipient. Victor Nakas, University spokesman, said the letter was intended for faculty and staff, and did not comment further. [Read more...]  Read More →

CUA Students Assaulted at Cardinal‘s Nest

MPD Arrests Man Who Sent Freshman to Hospital for Stitches A University freshman was punched in the face and had six stitches placed in her upper lip on Monday night after a man assaulted her upon being thrown out of the Cardinal‘s Nest, a bar at the corner of Perry Place and 10th St. NE. The man assaulted several other students, including one who sustained a swollen black eye, said witnesses. Metropolitan police officers arrested a 27-year-old black male and charged him with felony assault and two counts of simple assault, according to a Metropolitan Police Department report. The police report states the suspect was under the influence of alcohol and charges him with assaulting two University students and an employee of American Pizza, located... [Read more...]

Student Photos from Election Night

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Sex Assault Victim Claims Univ. Negligence

A former Catholic University freshman who says she was sexually assaulted in Unanue has filed a lawsuit accusing the University of negligence in the handling of her case. She claims the University failed to take timely disciplinary action against the lacrosse player who assaulted her in April and did not accommodate her academic schedule based on her physical and psychological injuries. The 19-year-old female nursing major claims she was taken to a dorm room after attending an off-campus party and was sexually assaulted by the lacrosse player and three of his friends. She states she was incapable of consenting after consuming more than a dozen servings of alcohol. [Read more...]  Read More →

House Hosts Tours of Caldwell Exorcism Room

The exorcism room in the attic of Caldwell Hall was open to students for tours on Halloween night last Friday, hosted by The House. The House welcomed over 350 students, a record number for House events this year, for a night of food, games and tours that retraced the steps of the famous exorcism that supposedly occurred in Caldwell Hall’s attic. Rev. Robert Schlageter, the Chaplain & Director of Campus Ministry, helped The House receive special permission in order to open the attic, which is normally locked, to student tours for the night. Throughout the night House members Kelsey Flynn, Josh Baum and Jonathon Jerome led small groups of students up the stairs of Caldwell Hall and through the attic where students were able to stand... [Read more...]

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