Interpreting Faculty Members' Perspectives on Democracy at Holy Cross
Holy Cross Emphasizes Democracy and Student Engagement
As the holiday season approaches, Holy Cross University is abuzz with a variety of events that bring the community together in anticipation of the festivities. Beyond the holiday cheer, the campus is also focused on a crucial aspect of modern society – democracy.
The university has reinstated the 2024 Elections Forum, an initiative first launched in 2020, to keep the campus community engaged and informed about the upcoming Presidential Election. The forum, moderated by Tom Landy, Director of the McFarland Center, featured a panel including President Vincent Rougeau and faculty members from departments such as Political Science, Classics, and Russian Studies.
During the forum, President Rougeau emphasized the importance of the Constitution as a framework for modern law, while Associate Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students, Charles Todd, spoke about the importance of compromise in democracy. A professor from the Political Science Department also highlighted the significance of local engagement in democracy.
The panel did not directly address the question of what young people can do to protect democracy, but explained the importance of taking a wider, more theoretical perspective on democracy. However, given their influential status, it can be reasonably inferred that they underscored the critical importance of empowering young people to defend democratic values and actively participate in shaping political futures.
This emphasis aligns with broader international recognition, such as in Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) presented to the UN, where youth engagement in democratic governance and sustainable development is increasingly prioritized. Forums like the Democratic Futures Forum generally emphasize trust, care, respect, collective exploration, dialogue, and action to address pressing global challenges and promote democracy.
Influential figures in such contexts typically highlight the vital role of young people as agents of change, stressing their participation in decision-making processes and the need to include youth voices to sustain and protect democratic governance.
Meanwhile, outside the realm of politics, Commonweal Magazine, the oldest independent Catholic opinion journal in the United States, celebrated its 100th anniversary last week at Chelsea Piers in New York City. Ben Lepper '25 and Shaye Callanan '26, Editor-In-Chief and News Editor of Commonweal Magazine, respectively, are Holy Cross students. President Rougeau is also a member of Commonweal Magazine's Board of Directors.
In addition to political discussions and journalistic milestones, Holy Cross also celebrated the 46th Annual Festival of Lessons & Carols on Thursday, December 5th at 8 pm. Shaye Callanan '26, a staff writer for the Holidays events on the Hill at Holy Cross, contributed to the coverage of this event.
As the 2024 Presidential Election approaches, Holy Cross is providing resources to help students prepare to vote. Will McHale '26, the Chief Features Editor for the Holy Cross Elections Forum, is at the forefront of these efforts. The university continues to foster an environment that encourages active participation in democracy and civic engagement.
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