Saint Vincent College
Encyclopedia
Saint Vincent College is a four-year, coeducational, Roman Catholic, Benedictine
, liberal arts
college
in Latrobe, Pennsylvania
, located about 40 miles southeast of Pittsburgh
. It was founded in 1846 by Boniface Wimmer
, a monk from Bavaria
, Germany. It was the first Benedictine
monastery
in the United States
. It is operated by the Benedictine monk
s of Saint Vincent Archabbey
.
in Bavaria. On April 18, 1870, the Pennsylvania state legislature incorporated the school. Saint Vincent College became coeducational in 1983. In 1996, the college, along with the archabbey, seminary
, and parish, observed the 150th anniversary of its founding.
The four schools are:
Alex G. McKenna was a leading industrialist, civic leader, and philanthropist. He was the past chairman, president and chief executive officer, and a founding general partner of Kennametal Inc., a global corporation headquartered in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Throughout his life he promoted the principles of free market economics, limited constitutional government and traditional civic values.
The college offers a five-year cooperative liberal arts and engineering program. Students spend three years at St. Vincent, fulfilling core requirements and prerequistes for an engineering major, then two years at the engineering college. Upon completion of coursework and recommendation by the Mathematics Department, students are guaranteed acceptance at Penn State University. The college also has agreements with the University of Pittsburgh
and The Catholic University of America. Under this program, the student receives a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Vincent and a Bachelor of Science degree from the engineering college.
Herbert W. Boyer is a recipient of the 1990 National Medal of Science
, and co-recipient of the 1996 Lemelson-MIT Prize
and a co-founder of Genentech
. He served as Vice President of Genentech from 1976 through his retirement in 1991.
, at the Division III level. The school also offers men's ice hockey as a club sport.
The men's teams are known as the Bearcats and the women's as the Lady Bearcats. The athletic colors are green and gold.
23-22.
In the 2010 season, St. Vincent had an overall record of 3-7 and was 3-4 in conference play. The Bearcats' victories came against Thiel College (17-3), Grove City College (42-17) and Westminster College (21-14). In the win against Grove City, the team set single-game records for points (42), total offense (435 yards), total defense (241 yards), and passing touchdowns (four). Bearcats roll in win over Grove City
The games are played on campus at Chuck Noll
Field, named in honor of the former coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
. Rooney Hall, completed in 1995, is a residence hall which is used by the Steelers during their stay on campus each summer. It is named in honor of the Steelers' founder, Arthur J. Rooney Sr.
. The Steelers regularly attract tens of thousands of fans to training camp and the Rooney family in conjunction with the College administration have vowed to keep with tradition and always have the camp open and free to the public.
The site of camp, Chuck Noll Field, is one of the most storied in the NFL and NCAA with Peter King
of SI.com describing it as: ". . . I love the place. It's the perfect training-camp setting, looking out over the rolling hills of the Laurel Highlands
in west-central Pennsylvania
, an hour east of Pittsburgh. On a misty or foggy morning, standing atop the hill at the college, you feel like you're in Scotland
. Classic, wonderful slice of Americana
. If you can visit one training camp, this is the one to see."
. It contains the gymnasium, swimming pool, student union and fitness center.
In 2011, the Lady Bearcat basketball team, led by All-American Brittany Sedlock, became the first team in school history to qualify for the NCAA Division-III postseason since the school made the move from the NAIA. Ranked among the top-20 nationally throughout the season, the Lady Bearcats were defeated in their opening-round National Tournament game by Greensboro College.
The women's basketball team overcame a major tragedy during the 2010-11 season, with the Christmas Day 2010 death of Kristen Zawacki (1958-2010), the lone women's basketball coach in the program's 25-year history. Zawacki, also the school's Associate Athletic Director, won over 500 games in her career. She was succeeded by assistant coach Jimmy Petruska, who was named interim coach immediately following her death, before being officially named the team's head coach on April 27, 2011.
Saint Benedict Hall serves as the center for the first-year student population. Upperclass students are housed in Bonaventure Hall, Gerard Hall, Wimmer Hall, Rooney Hall and Aurelius Hall. Housing in most residence halls in single sex by floor.
Aurelius is the oldest dorm, built in 1923. Wimmer Hall was built in 1952. Gerard and Bonaventure, better known as "Gerry" and "Bonny" to students, were built in 1963. Rooney Hall opened in 1995 and Saint Benedict Hall opened in 2002.
Within each residence hall, each area is led by at least one student resident adviser. At St. Vincent, they are known as prefects. Each hall is supervised by a residence hall director and assistant residence hall directors. The latter are known as moderators.
Brother Norman was officially inaugurated as the 17th President of Saint Vincent College on October, 11, 2010.
spoke at the spring commencement ceremony in 2007. Then-President Towey had previously served as director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Intiatives from 2002 to 2006.
The 2008 speaker was Mike Tomlin
, head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sen. Bob Casey, Jr.
was scheduled to speak in 2009, but decided to withdraw for unknown reasons. He was replaced by J. Christopher Donahue, the Chairman of the Board of the St. Vincent College Corporation. Donahue is president and CEO of Federated Investors
.
In 2010, the commencement speaker was Manfred Honeck
, director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Some suggested these actions were in retaliation for Fr. Gruber's outspoken criticisms of the Towey administration. While Towey himself has not addressed these critics, administration spokespeople have denied the charges. Criticisms arguing that the administration perverted canon law
in an attempt to subvert longstanding traditions of academic freedom, integrity and collegiality have not been addressed. The American Association of University Professors, alumni of Saint Vincent College as well as thousands of Fr. Gruber's friends and colleagues have come to his defense.
In December 2009, a former student of Gruber came forward stating that he had downloaded the pornography. College officials did not immediately reveal this information to police, who later found out of the man's name from another source. The young man stated that Gruber knew of his actions but did not tell police when questioned because the student had told Gruber in sacramental confession
, the contents of which are protected by canon law.
In late 2010 Gruber dropped his defamation lawsuit against the college. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Archabbot Douglas Nowicki (Fr. Gruber's Benedictine superior) stated that during a deposition Gruber "finally had to confront his egregious misconduct." An attorney for the college has stated that Gruber admitted under oath that he created pornographic materials on a college computer, including "grossly inappropriate depictions of himself", and that when Father Gruber was confronted with pornographic photographs during the deposition he admitted creating and e-mailing the images. According to Father Gruber's attorney the evidence at deposition has been taken "completely out of context."
Saint Vincent Parish was founded in 1790. It was the first Catholic parish in Pennsylvania west of the Allegheny Mountains. Father Theodore Brouwers, O.F.M., purchased 300 acre (121 ha) of land called "Sportsmen's Hall Tract." A church was built and dedicated on July 19, 1835. It was named after St. Vincent de Paul because July 19 is his feast day.
The cornerstone of the basilica was laid in 1892, and the consecration took place on August 24, 1905. The basilica was completely restored in 1996, as part of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the college.
, the Saint Vincent Community celebrates Founders Day, honoring all those who founded the college and have been a part of its community since its inception. The day features Honors Convocation (held in the Archabbey Basilica), a candle-lit turkey dinner in the gym, Zambelli fireworks and the campus light-up, featuring lighted arches in Melvin Platz.
The Saint Vincent College fight song
, "Forward, Saint Vincent," was approved by the college's student government in 1996 and was written by Jen Waldmann, Heather Fields, and Chris Rodkey.
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
, liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
in Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Latrobe is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in the United States, approximately southeast of Pittsburgh.The city population was 7,634 as of the 2000 census . It is located near the Pennsylvania's scenic Chestnut Ridge. Latrobe was incorporated as a borough in 1854, and as a city in 1999...
, located about 40 miles southeast of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. It was founded in 1846 by Boniface Wimmer
Boniface Wimmer
Archabbot Boniface Wimmer, O.S.B. was a German monk who in 1846 founded the first Benedictine monastery in the United States, Saint Vincent Archabbey, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, forty miles southeast of Pittsburgh...
, a monk from Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, Germany. It was the first Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is operated by the Benedictine monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s of Saint Vincent Archabbey
Saint Vincent Archabbey
Saint Vincent Archabbey, was founded in 1846 by Father Boniface Wimmer, OSB, and is the oldest Benedictine monastery in the United States.The Benedictine monks of Saint Vincent Archabbey operate and teach at Saint Vincent College and Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, located ...
.
History
Saint Vincent Archabbey and College was founded in 1846 by Boniface Wimmer, a monk from Metten AbbeyMetten Abbey
Metten Abbey, or St. Michael's Abbey at Metten is a house of the Benedictine Order in Metten near Deggendorf, situated between the fringes of the Bavarian Forest and the valley of the Danube, in Bavaria in Germany.The abbey was founded in 766 by Gamelbert of Michaelsbuch...
in Bavaria. On April 18, 1870, the Pennsylvania state legislature incorporated the school. Saint Vincent College became coeducational in 1983. In 1996, the college, along with the archabbey, seminary
Saint Vincent Seminary
Saint Vincent Seminary is the fourth oldest Roman Catholic seminary in the United States and is located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, forty miles southeast of Pittsburgh....
, and parish, observed the 150th anniversary of its founding.
Mission statement
Saint Vincent College is an educational community rooted in the tradition of the Catholic faith, the heritage of the Benedictine monasticism, and the love of values inherent in the liberal approach to life and learning, Its mission is to provide quality undergraduate and graduate education for men and women to enable them to integrate their professional aims with the broader purposes of human life. The programs, activities, and encounters that make up student life at Saint Vincent College encourage the intellectual gifts, professional aptitudes and personal aspirations of students to mature harmoniously.Academics
Saint Vincent is organized into four schools; each includes a number of departments and major and minor programs offering undergraduate or graduate degrees, as well as special programs and public service outreach activities. Each school has its own Dean who works closely with students, faculty and prospective students and a Council of Advisors composed of representatives of business, industry, and academia to advise and direct policy and programs.The four schools are:
Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government
Formed in 2001, the current Dean is Gary Quinlivan, B.A., Ph.D. It includes the departments and programs of Accounting, Economics, Business Education, Environmental Affairs, Finance, International Business, Management, Marketing, Political Science, and Public Policy.Alex G. McKenna was a leading industrialist, civic leader, and philanthropist. He was the past chairman, president and chief executive officer, and a founding general partner of Kennametal Inc., a global corporation headquartered in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Throughout his life he promoted the principles of free market economics, limited constitutional government and traditional civic values.
School of Social Sciences, Communication, and Education
The school was formed in 2004, and the current Dean is Mary Beth Spore, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. It includes the departments of Communication, Education, Psychology, and Sociology/Anthropology.School of Humanities and Fine Arts
Formed in 2004, the current Dean is Fr. Rene Kollar, O.S.B., B.A. M.Div., M.A., Ph.D., F.R. Hist. S. It contains the departments and programs of English, Fine Arts (Art and Music), History, Liberal Arts, Modern and Classical Languages, Philosophy, and Theology.The Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Science, Mathematics, and Computing
Formed in 2004, currently the position of dean is vacant. It includes the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computing and Information Science, Mathematics, and Physics. Majors are also offered in Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, and Environmental Science.The college offers a five-year cooperative liberal arts and engineering program. Students spend three years at St. Vincent, fulfilling core requirements and prerequistes for an engineering major, then two years at the engineering college. Upon completion of coursework and recommendation by the Mathematics Department, students are guaranteed acceptance at Penn State University. The college also has agreements with the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
and The Catholic University of America. Under this program, the student receives a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Vincent and a Bachelor of Science degree from the engineering college.
Herbert W. Boyer is a recipient of the 1990 National Medal of Science
National Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
, and co-recipient of the 1996 Lemelson-MIT Prize
Lemelson-MIT Prize
The Lemelson Foundation awards several prizes yearly to inventors in United States. The largest is the Lemelson-MIT Prize which was endowed in 1994 by Jerome H. Lemelson, and is administered through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology...
and a co-founder of Genentech
Genentech
Genentech Inc., or Genetic Engineering Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology corporation, founded in 1976 by venture capitalist Robert A. Swanson and biochemist Dr. Herbert Boyer. Trailing the founding of Cetus by five years, it was an important step in the evolution of the biotechnology industry...
. He served as Vice President of Genentech from 1976 through his retirement in 1991.
Athletics
St. Vincent has intercollegiate teams in football, baseball, softball, women's volleyball, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, women's field hockey, swimming, and tennis. The college is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). They compete in the Presidents' Athletic ConferencePresidents' Athletic Conference
The Presidents' Athletic Conference is an athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member teams are private, liberal arts institutions of higher learning located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky....
, at the Division III level. The school also offers men's ice hockey as a club sport.
The men's teams are known as the Bearcats and the women's as the Lady Bearcats. The athletic colors are green and gold.
Football
In the fall of 2007, the college resumed their varsity football program after a 44-year hiatus. The team went 0-10 in 2007, 1-9 in 2008, and 0-10 in 2009. The first win since the resumption of the program came in 2008, when the Bearcats defeated Gallaudet UniversityGallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
23-22.
In the 2010 season, St. Vincent had an overall record of 3-7 and was 3-4 in conference play. The Bearcats' victories came against Thiel College (17-3), Grove City College (42-17) and Westminster College (21-14). In the win against Grove City, the team set single-game records for points (42), total offense (435 yards), total defense (241 yards), and passing touchdowns (four). Bearcats roll in win over Grove City
The games are played on campus at Chuck Noll
Chuck Noll
Charles Henry "Chuck" Noll is a former professional American football player and coach, and a member of the Sid Gillman coaching tree. He served most notably as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League from 1969 to 1991...
Field, named in honor of the former coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pittsburgh Steelers training camp
Since 1966, the college has served as the training camp host of the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. Rooney Hall, completed in 1995, is a residence hall which is used by the Steelers during their stay on campus each summer. It is named in honor of the Steelers' founder, Arthur J. Rooney Sr.
Art Rooney
Arthur Joseph "Art" Rooney, Sr. , often referred to as "The Chief", was the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers American football franchise in the National Football League.-Family history:...
. The Steelers regularly attract tens of thousands of fans to training camp and the Rooney family in conjunction with the College administration have vowed to keep with tradition and always have the camp open and free to the public.
The site of camp, Chuck Noll Field, is one of the most storied in the NFL and NCAA with Peter King
Peter King
-Politics:*Peter King , Australian politician*Peter T. King , U.S. Republican Congressman from New York*Peter King , British politician*Peter King, 1st Baron King -Politics:*Peter King (Australian politician) (born 1952), Australian politician*Peter T. King (born 1944), U.S. Republican...
of SI.com describing it as: ". . . I love the place. It's the perfect training-camp setting, looking out over the rolling hills of the Laurel Highlands
Laurel Highlands
The Laurel Highlands is a region in southwestern Pennsylvania made up of Fayette County, Somerset County and Westmoreland County. It has a population of about 600,000 people....
in west-central Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
, an hour east of Pittsburgh. On a misty or foggy morning, standing atop the hill at the college, you feel like you're in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Classic, wonderful slice of Americana
Americana
Americana refers to artifacts, or a collection of artifacts, related to the history, geography, folklore and cultural heritage of the United States. Many kinds of material fall within the definition of Americana: paintings, prints and drawings; license plates or entire vehicles, household objects,...
. If you can visit one training camp, this is the one to see."
Other sports
The main athletic center is the Robert S. Carey Student Center. It was formerly known as Sportsman's Hall, after the original name of St. Vincent Parish, and Kennedy Hall, after President John F. KennedyJohn F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
. It contains the gymnasium, swimming pool, student union and fitness center.
In 2011, the Lady Bearcat basketball team, led by All-American Brittany Sedlock, became the first team in school history to qualify for the NCAA Division-III postseason since the school made the move from the NAIA. Ranked among the top-20 nationally throughout the season, the Lady Bearcats were defeated in their opening-round National Tournament game by Greensboro College.
The women's basketball team overcame a major tragedy during the 2010-11 season, with the Christmas Day 2010 death of Kristen Zawacki (1958-2010), the lone women's basketball coach in the program's 25-year history. Zawacki, also the school's Associate Athletic Director, won over 500 games in her career. She was succeeded by assistant coach Jimmy Petruska, who was named interim coach immediately following her death, before being officially named the team's head coach on April 27, 2011.
Residence Life
Housing on campus is available in six residence halls for approximately 1,280 students. First-year students under the age of 21 and living more than 50 miles from Saint Vincent College must reside on campus.Saint Benedict Hall serves as the center for the first-year student population. Upperclass students are housed in Bonaventure Hall, Gerard Hall, Wimmer Hall, Rooney Hall and Aurelius Hall. Housing in most residence halls in single sex by floor.
Aurelius is the oldest dorm, built in 1923. Wimmer Hall was built in 1952. Gerard and Bonaventure, better known as "Gerry" and "Bonny" to students, were built in 1963. Rooney Hall opened in 1995 and Saint Benedict Hall opened in 2002.
Within each residence hall, each area is led by at least one student resident adviser. At St. Vincent, they are known as prefects. Each hall is supervised by a residence hall director and assistant residence hall directors. The latter are known as moderators.
Current President
On July 1, 2010, Brother Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B., Ph.D., began his service as the 17th President of Saint Vincent College. Brother Norman formerly served as Executive Vice president of Saint Vincent College from 2002 until June 30, 2010. He served as Dean of the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Science, Mathematics and Computing. Prior to 2002, Brother Norman acted in the capacity of Provost of Saint Vincent College.Brother Norman was officially inaugurated as the 17th President of Saint Vincent College on October, 11, 2010.
List of College presidents
- Rt. Rev. Boniface Wimmer, O.S.B. (1871–1887)
- Rt. Rev. Andrew Hintenach, O.S.B. (1887–1892)
- Rt. Rev. Leander Schnerr, O.S.B. (1892–1920)
- Rt. Rev. Aurelius Stehle, O.S.B. (1920–1930)
- Rt. Rev. Alfred Koch, O.S.B. (1930–1950)
- Rt. Rev. Denis Strittmatter, O.S.B. (1950–1955)
- Rev. Quentin Schaut, O.S.B. (1955–1962)
- Rev. Maximilian Duman, O.S.B. (1962–1963)
- Rev. Maynard Brennan, O.S.B. (1963–1968)
- Rev. Fintan R. Shoniker, O.S.B. (1968–1971)
- Rev. Cecil G. Diethrich, O.S.B. (1971–1982)
- Rev. Augustine Flood, O.S.B. (1982–1985)
- Rev. John F. Murtha, O.S.B. (1985–1995)
- Rev. Martin R. Bartel, O.S.B. (1995–2000)
- James F. Will (2000–2006)
- Jim ToweyJim ToweyJim Towey served as Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and as Assistant to President George W. Bush from 2002 to May 2006. He served as president of Saint Vincent College, a small Catholic university in Latrobe, Pennsylvania from 2006 until stepping down on...
(2006–2010) - Br. Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B. (2010- )
Commencement Speakers
President George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
spoke at the spring commencement ceremony in 2007. Then-President Towey had previously served as director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Intiatives from 2002 to 2006.
The 2008 speaker was Mike Tomlin
Mike Tomlin
Michael Tomlin is the current head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. Tomlin is the third youngest head coach in any of the four major North American professional sports. He is the tenth African-American head coach in NFL history, and first in Steelers history...
, head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sen. Bob Casey, Jr.
Bob Casey, Jr.
Robert Patrick "Bob" Casey, Jr. is the senior U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served as Pennsylvania Treasurer, and Pennsylvania Auditor General. He is the son of former Governor Bob Casey, Sr..He is the first Democrat elected to a full term in...
was scheduled to speak in 2009, but decided to withdraw for unknown reasons. He was replaced by J. Christopher Donahue, the Chairman of the Board of the St. Vincent College Corporation. Donahue is president and CEO of Federated Investors
Federated Investors
Federated Investors is a large financial services company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1955, the company manages $351.7 billion dollars of customer assets. The corporation offers 158 different types of mutual funds...
.
In 2010, the commencement speaker was Manfred Honeck
Manfred Honeck
Manfred Honeck is an Austrian conductor, the son of Otto and Frieda Honeck, from a family of nine children. One of his brothers is the Vienna Philharmonic leader Rainer Honeck....
, director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Conflict with faculty
Towey has faced some difficulties in his relationships with faculty members at St. Vincent. In April 2008, he attributed much of the dissension to a clash of cultures with the predominantly Benedictine faculty, who were not accustomed to rapid change, and to the fact that he was "new to academia". In early 2008 a letter to the school board, signed by three-quarters of the school's tenured faculty, said that Towey had created "an unparalleled crisis", accusing Towey of "sanitizing the self-study portion of the school's re-accreditation effort and displaying heavy-handed tactics in the search for an academic vice president," when he hired an untenured academic dean.Fr. Mark Gruber controversy
In November 2009 reports began emerging in which Towey accused a Priest/Professor, Father Mark Gruber, of sexual misconduct. In August 2009, local police were summoned to campus to investigate alleged instances of child pornography found on an open access computer outside Gruber's office. The police closed the case noting that, in addition to the open access to the computer, there was no evidence a crime had been committed - images of nude men were found, but no subjects could be identified as being under 18. Nonetheless, President Towey, Archabbot Douglas Nowicki and Bishop of the Greensburg Diocese Lawrence Brandt acted to immediately ban Gruber from his pastoral duties and to relieve him from his post as Professor of Anthropology.Some suggested these actions were in retaliation for Fr. Gruber's outspoken criticisms of the Towey administration. While Towey himself has not addressed these critics, administration spokespeople have denied the charges. Criticisms arguing that the administration perverted canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
in an attempt to subvert longstanding traditions of academic freedom, integrity and collegiality have not been addressed. The American Association of University Professors, alumni of Saint Vincent College as well as thousands of Fr. Gruber's friends and colleagues have come to his defense.
In December 2009, a former student of Gruber came forward stating that he had downloaded the pornography. College officials did not immediately reveal this information to police, who later found out of the man's name from another source. The young man stated that Gruber knew of his actions but did not tell police when questioned because the student had told Gruber in sacramental confession
Confession
This article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
, the contents of which are protected by canon law.
In late 2010 Gruber dropped his defamation lawsuit against the college. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Archabbot Douglas Nowicki (Fr. Gruber's Benedictine superior) stated that during a deposition Gruber "finally had to confront his egregious misconduct." An attorney for the college has stated that Gruber admitted under oath that he created pornographic materials on a college computer, including "grossly inappropriate depictions of himself", and that when Father Gruber was confronted with pornographic photographs during the deposition he admitted creating and e-mailing the images. According to Father Gruber's attorney the evidence at deposition has been taken "completely out of context."
Basilica
The cornerstone of the basilica was laid in 1892, and the consecration took place on August 24, 1905. The basilica was completely restored in 1996, as part of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the college.
Traditions
Each year, on the Thursday before ThanksgivingThanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
, the Saint Vincent Community celebrates Founders Day, honoring all those who founded the college and have been a part of its community since its inception. The day features Honors Convocation (held in the Archabbey Basilica), a candle-lit turkey dinner in the gym, Zambelli fireworks and the campus light-up, featuring lighted arches in Melvin Platz.
The Saint Vincent College fight song
Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
, "Forward, Saint Vincent," was approved by the college's student government in 1996 and was written by Jen Waldmann, Heather Fields, and Chris Rodkey.
Notable alumni
- Herbert W. Boyer, Founder and Director, GenentechGenentechGenentech Inc., or Genetic Engineering Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology corporation, founded in 1976 by venture capitalist Robert A. Swanson and biochemist Dr. Herbert Boyer. Trailing the founding of Cetus by five years, it was an important step in the evolution of the biotechnology industry...
- John J. DegnanJohn J. DegnanJohn J. Degnan was the Attorney General of New Jersey from 1978 until 1981. He is currently vice chairman and chief operating officer of The Chubb Corporation.-Biography:...
, Vice Chairman, The Chubb Corporation - Daniel Hugh KellyDaniel Hugh KellyDaniel Hugh Kelly is an American stage, film and television actor. He may be best known for his role on the 1980s ABC TV series Hardcastle and McCormick from 1983-1986 for which he also wrote and directed...
, Actor (Hardcastle & McCormick, Cujo, Ryan's Hope) - Adam Maida, Cardinal Archbishop of Detroit
- Frank E. ResnikFrank E. ResnikFrank E. Resnik was CEO and Chairman of Philip Morris USA.Resnik was born in Pleasant Unity, Pennsylvania. After graduating from high school, he joined the United States Army where he became an instructor and first field sergeant...
(1928–1995), CEO (1984–89) and Chairman (1989–91), Phillip Morris USAAltria GroupAltria Group, Inc. is based in Henrico County, Virginia, and is the parent company of Philip Morris USA, John Middleton, Inc., U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, Inc., Philip Morris Capital Corporation, and Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. It is one of the world's largest tobacco corporations... - Mark E. SeremetMark E. SeremetMark E. Seremet is the CEO of Zoo Games. He is best known for being the co-founder of Take-Two Interactive where he served as it CEO from 1993-1998 and the CEO of Spreadshirt from 2005-2006. In addition, he helped found Paragon Software, who developed a few of the first video games based from the...
, Founder and CEO, Take-Two InteractiveTake-Two InteractiveTake-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a major American publisher, developer, and distributor of video games and video game peripherals. Take-Two wholly owns 2K Games and Rockstar Games. The company's headquarters are in New York City, with international headquarters in Windsor, United Kingdom... - Joseph YorioJoseph YorioJoseph M. Yorio is an American business executive and the former President and CEO of Xe Services, formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide.Joseph M...
, President & CEO, Xe Services, formerly Blackwater Worldwide
See also
- Saint Vincent SeminarySaint Vincent SeminarySaint Vincent Seminary is the fourth oldest Roman Catholic seminary in the United States and is located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, forty miles southeast of Pittsburgh....
- List of Benedictine Colleges