The University News (Irving, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 2, Ed. 1 Wednesday, September 12, 2001 Page: 1 of 11
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The University News
University of Dallas, Irving, Texas
Volume XXVI, Number 2
September 12,2.001
Rome numbers smaller
as enrollment increases
by Thomas Watson
News Editor
The small size of this fall's
Rome class has left administra-
tors and students shaking their
heads.
The current class of 84 stu-
dents, the smallest Rome class
since 1989, leaves the Rome
campus 30 students shy of ca-
pacity.
Many of the suite rooms con-
tain only two students, and some
rooms are completely empty.
Rome Office and Student Life
administrators acknowledge that
this small class is unusual, but
they do not see it as a concern
for future Rome applicants,
"This current class seems to
be an anomaly," Dr. Fred Zuker,
dean of Enrollment and Student
Life, said.
Dr. Zuker cited a number of
factors, from a smaller pool of
applicants to a "higher level of
review,"which contributed to the
small class.
"There are reasons for our
basic standards. We shouldn't
violate them simply to pack
people in. That wouldn't be do-
ing anyone any favors," Aaron
Thurow, Rome Office administra-
tive assistant, said.
The Rome Office tried to con-
vince applicants to move from
the spring to the fall, but they did
not askstudents this summer to
move from the spring semester
waiting list to the fall semester.
"There comes a point where
you just have to set the number,"
Dr. Zuker said.
Some students were angered
that they were not given the op-
tion to change.
"[The Rome Office] needs to
have a lot more communication
with students," one sophomore
said.
Rebecca Davies, director of
the Rome Office, dismissed the
claim that the small class of fall
Romers will affect the 14 stu-
dents on the waiting list for the
spring semester.
"We have had much larger
waiting lists than the one we
have this year, and we do not
anticipate it being a problem
because the lists tend to shrink,"
Davies said.
Davies said she did not be-
lieve a qualified student would
be turned away from the Rome
program this spring.
"In the past four years, ev-
eryone who was qualified has
ended up going. We haven't yet
had to flip coins and turn away
qualified people,"she said.
Dr. Zuker echoed Davies'senti-
ments.
"I don't know of a single case
where a student who met all the
standards couldn't go," he said.
Davies said she has been more
puzzled about the dwindling
pool of Rome applicants.
"Fewer people have been
applying every year, and we are
trying to figure out why," Davies
said.
The small size of the class
of fall Romers, however, is not
continued on pg. 2
photo by Katherine Cook
Campus dog, Lula Belle, sniffs new friends in the Student Life
office, where she spends her days. The new The campus has
adopted Lula Belle as its special mascot. She will be 12 weeks old
In this issue...
Eternal Cities examined, see pg. 3
Senior studios, mainstage casted, see pg. 4
Meet Amber Hobbs, see pg. 6
New baseball coach chosen, see pg. 9
Republican commentary, see pg. 11
Where to find cheap computers, see pg. 12
Holy rinity Seminary increases to highest enrollment in years
by Janet Hendrickson
Commentary Co-Editor
Holy Trinity Seminary reached its high-
est enrollment in recent years, with 32
new seminarians joining this fall.
The current total of 52 men reflects the
seminary's growth since 1996, when only
30 were enrolled.
Fr. Michael Duca, the seminary's rector,
is pleased with the increased numbers.
"It's encouraging, number one, not only
because of our increase, but also because
of the quality," he said.
Of the 32 new seminarians, 20 are first-
year undergraduates pursuing a philoso-
phy and letters degree.
A seminarian from Mexico, sponsored
by the diocese of Corpus Christi, is en-
rolled in the intensive English program.
Pre-theologates comprise the remaining
11.
Pre-theologates enter the seminary
with a degree which includes 24 credit
hours of philosophy and three of theol-
ogy.
They begin priestly formation at Holy
Trinity before finishing studies in theology
photo by Kevin Heller
Seminarians take time during the day to play a friendly game of baseball. Holy Trinity Seminary has expanded from 30 students in 1996 to
52 students this year. Twenty of the new seminarians are first-year students, pursuing a philosophy and letters degree.
at another seminary, such as St. Mary's in
Houston.
Holy Trinity is the only collegiate semi-
nary in Texas.
The majority of the men are from
Texas.
increased numbers result in part from
Texas bishops' renewed commitment to
local seminaries, Fr. Duca said.
"They have confidence in the seminary,
and they think it is better to prepare a
seminarian for the priesthood in the area
and culture in which he'll be serving," he
said.
in past years, bishops have sent men
to out-of-state seminaries because of
emotional or historical connections.
As to whether the increase will contin-
ue, Fr. Duca said,"It's hard to tell whether
it's just a trend."
Retention rates are also difficult to
predict.
"it's not unusual if about 15 to 25 per-
cent leave," Fr. Duca said, adding that the
time at Holy Trinity is a "time of discern-
ment and testing the vocation."
Holy Trinity Seminary is a completely
separate institution from the University
of Dallas, but they are tied closely to-
gether.
"Obviously, there is a collaborative
and close relationship between the two
institutions," Fr. Duca said.
Dr. Fred Zuker, dean of Enrollment
continued on pg. 2
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Gaunt, Sarah. The University News (Irving, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 2, Ed. 1 Wednesday, September 12, 2001, newspaper, September 12, 2001; Irving, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth201343/m1/1/?rotate=90: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting University of Dallas.