It was a “baptism by immersion” on Monday evening as the students of Thomas Aquinas College, New England, celebrated the opening of the aquatics center in Meany Gymnasium — and just in time, now that the autumn weather has arrived.

Each fall the sophomores, juniors, and seniors take turns staging welcome events for the new Freshman Class. This past weekend, the California sophomores did their part, hosting an informal dance with a country theme in St. Joseph Commons. The dance included skits, refreshments, and plenty of swing-dancing:

One week after their California counterparts, the College’s New England students gathered last Thursday for an “On Tap” forum with their campus’ assistant dean for student affairs. Over the course of a two-hour conversation accompanied by root-beer floats in the Gould Hall lounge, Dr. Patrick Gardner answered questions on a wide range of topics, including future plans for campus buildings, the nature of the College’s classical curriculum — and his children’s names.

“Students, faculty, governors, administration, alumni, and family members gathered to witness history,” reports Steve Kiltonic in the above video, “as Thomas Aquinas College, New England, became only the second Catholic institution of higher education to open in the Diocese — and the first in nearly a century.”

Audio

“Sing in Me, Muse”:
Homer, Poetry, and the Founding of the West

By Dr. David M. Whalen
Provost and Professor of English, Hillsdale College
St. Vincent de Paul Lecture and Concert Series
Thomas Aquinas College, New England
September 20, 2019

Last week a sign appeared on the bulletin board in Gould Hall, the dining commons of Thomas Aquinas College, New England: “Everyone is invited to a Party — Hosted by the CC.”

The “CC,” a note at the bottom explained, “is a club full of tutor children.” The faculty kids were planning a party “to welcome all Freshmen and Sophomores,” which would  be held Saturday afternoon, just outside of Gould. “There will be a few speeches as well as refreshments.”

Last Wednesday evening, California students gathered in the St. Cecilia Hall Recreation Room for “The Assistant Dean on Tap,” an informal forum with the campus’ new assistant dean for student affairs, Dr. Jared Kuebler. “I was thinking about giving a short talk, but then I realized, well, given that this is my first ‘Assistant Dean on Tap,’ I’d rather hear about what’s on your minds,” Dr. Kuebler began. From there, he opened the floor to student questions.

Throughout September there have been volleyball matches every Friday afternoon on the New England campus. In an intramural league consisting of five student teams and one team of tutors, “The tutors always dominate,” reports one of the campus’ resident directors.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Helen Grace Puccetti, who died on August 29, and for the consolation of her family, including daughter Pip (Donahoe ’78) and grandchildren Theresa (’20) and Peter Donahoe (’22). Mrs. Puccetti and her late husband, Victor, were generous benefactors of Thomas Aquinas College and longtime members of its President’s Council.

Each fall at Thomas Aquinas College the sophomores, juniors, and seniors take turns staging welcome events for the new freshman class. This past weekend, the sophomores had their turn in New England, while the juniors had theirs in California.