Fenwick Uprising Triumphs Spectacularly on March 6th
Students at Holy Cross Protest for Change
In a dramatic turn of events, students at Holy Cross College recently organized a protest on campus, which escalated into an insurrection against the school administration. The peaceful demonstration, initially part of the broader July Uprising for truth and justice, was triggered by grievances such as the lack of Tomo presence, dry chicken in Kimball, and mice in Brooks Hall.
The July Uprising in 2024 was a massive student-led movement in Bangladesh, opposing an autocratic regime. Students from Holy Cross College also participated, seeking justice and democratic freedoms. However, during violent crackdowns, including attacks by groups like the Chhatra League, students at Holy Cross faced brutal harassment and even physical harm.
A specific incident that escalated tensions was when over 300-350 Holy Cross students were trapped and pleading for shelter during tear gas attacks near Rapa Plaza. These students faced severe difficulties such as breathlessness due to tear gas, lack of immediate medical assistance, and trauma from the violence around them. The denial of shelter by internal parties and lack of hospital support heightened frustration against the school administration, perceived as unsupportive or oppressive during the crisis.
Female students played key roles in organizing and sustaining the protests despite these challenges, attempting to remain visible to deter suppression but facing intimidation. Some students even came prepared for the protest, including some wearing full knight armor.
The protest was anticipated for an impending coup and was considered less of a riot and more of a peaceful protest, despite the destruction and chaos. The students' grievances were voiced through various actions, such as scaling Fenwick Hall by its ivy vines and causing commotion in the Memorial Plaza fountain, yelling "Stop the steal!" (a reference to dining dollars).
Amidst this, Julia Maher '23 wrote an opinion piece about the lack of meal plan options at Holy Cross. She suggested that the college should offer more meal plan choices to cater to students' diverse dietary needs and preferences. Julia Kane '27, the Opinions Editor for the course, supported these sentiments.
Some faculty members also supported the students' actions, expressing their concerns about the school administration's response to the students' grievances. On Aug. 7, 2020, Holy Cross released housing assignments for the fall semester, following Julia Maher '23's opinion piece about housing assignments for the fall semester.
In light of these events, Holy Cross currently offers two meal plans for its students: The Resident Meal Plan and the Apartment Plan. The Resident Meal Plan includes unlimited meals in Kimball, $425 dining dollars each semester, and 8 meal swipes per week.
The Holy Cross insurrection was referred to as a "day of love" by some, reflecting the students' determination and unity in their pursuit of change. Despite the chaos and violence, the students' voices were heard, and their grievances are now being addressed by the school administration.
- Not only did students at Holy Cross College participate in the July Uprising, seeking justice and democratic freedoms, but they also staged a protest on their own campus, inspired by concerns like the lack of Tomo presence and the quality of food in Kimball, and facing harsh responses from the school administration.
- In response to the events, the faculty at Holy Cross showed support for the students, expressing concerns about the administration's handling of the students' grievances.
- In an opinion piece, Julia Maher '23 highlighted one of the students' main issues, suggesting that the college should offer more meal plan choices to cater to students' diverse dietary needs and preferences.
- As a result of the students' actions, Holy Cross now offers two meal plans for students: The Resident Meal Plan and the Apartment Plan, a step towards addressing the students' calls for education-and-self-development, campus traditions, and sports facilities.
