Campus briefs
Communicating with Clare
For the first time in Santa Clara's history, it will host two members of the Poor Clares, followers of St. Clare of Assisi, who have left their respective monastic enclosures to collaborate with the University.
Tonight the two women contemplatives, Beth Lynn of Minneapolis and Dianne Short of Cincinnati, will take part in a dialogue with faculty and students on the vision and life of Clare in the St. Clare Room at 4 p.m.
Santa Clara bears the name of St. Clare of Assisi (1193-1253), who is known as a close follower of St. Francis of Assisi and is credited as the first woman to form a lifestyle entailing contemplation, mutual love, simplicity, poverty and prayer for the community.
"This is a historic moment," said Jean Molesky-Poz of the Religious Studies Department.
"It's the first time in the history of Santa Clara and of the Mission that women who live the form of life of Clare will be on campus and publicly discuss it with us," she said.
A Seat at the Table: Dialogues with Clare of Assisi, a grant received from the Bannan Center, is funding the event.
The grant also made possible a new religious studies course on the life and teachings of St. Clare and Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits.
The class is coordinating with the afternoon conversation with the two women.
"In the recent years, a medieval garden, a statue and a room have been established and named after her," Molesky-Poz said.
"But we have not in any academic, reflective nor systematic way considered Clare, her life and writings, and asked the question, 'How can Clare of Assisi, namesake of Santa Clara, be a light to us here at Santa Clara?'" she said.
Additionally, a symposium was held last February with four Franciscan scholars.
A three day retreat during this upcoming weekend is also part of the grant. It will include faculty, staff and students retreating with Poor Clares and the internationally known Franciscan scholar, Bill Short, to the St. Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Batista.
Bronco Week bucks and BBQs
Today marks the second day during the Bronco Week festivities. At 6 p.m. tonight, the Pep Band will host a BBQ before the men's basketball team takes on one of its biggest rivals, Gonzaga.
Those attending the BBQ will receive a ticket to the game, included in the price of the BBQ.
The week started yesterday with an RLCA sponsored event, Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader.
It continues tomorrow with the Communitas RLC's Dormal Formal, entitled Arctic Affair in the California Mission Room.
"What's cool about Bronco Week is it gives several different student organizations the opportunity to show their school spirit," said Student Body President Sean Brachvogel.
Men's Basketball takes on Portland Saturday and the Alumni Association will host the annual pre-game Pasta Feed for alumni and the senior class in the Pat Malley Fitness and Recreation Center.
Next week, Michael Engh, S.J., will be having lunch with students in Benson Monday; a mechanical bull will be outside of Benson Tuesday; and APB Presents Bronco Wars on Wednesday.
Bronco Week comes to a close next week with the men's basketball game at St. Mary's.
From staff reports. E-mail news@thesantaclara.com.