Senior Reflections: The Holy Cross Impact
Class valedictorian James Michael Brennan found many opportunities to explore Russian culture
James Michael Brennan
Double major in political science and Russian studies
Hometown: North Smithfield, R.I.
- Jimmy believes his experience in the First-Year Program — in which students enroll in one, year-long seminar — shaped his time at Holy Cross. “Living at Hanselman Hall allowed me to meet great people, some of whom became my closest friends,” he says. As a freshman, Jimmy took the seminar Christian Views of Suffering and Healing with Joanne Pierce, associate professor of religious studies. “The seminar experience is a great introductory way to enter college,” he says. “We read many powerful books, such as the Book of Job, which allowed us to think more profoundly on the idea of suffering.” Next year, all entering students will participate in this first-year experience through the Montserrat program.
- Jimmy has always had a passion for Russian studies. He has been a member of the Russian Club for the past four years, and served as its president this year. The group promotes appreciation of Russian culture.
- From July to December 2006, Jimmy pursued his interests overseas when he studied in St. Petersburg, Russia. While abroad, he took language courses and taught two journalism classes in English to Russian University students. “While I was teaching them, the journalist and critic of the Russian war in Chechnya, Anna Politkovskaya, was shot. It was a difficult time, but this tragedy gave us the opportunity to discuss some very prevalent issues that Russia, and these journalism students, are constantly trying to come to terms with,” he says. About his host family, Jimmy says: “They cooked me authentic Russian dinners and took me to their friends’ houses and to the Banya, which is a Russian sauna. They made me part of their family.”
- His enthusiasm of Russia helped fuel his desire to write his political science honors thesis on the country. Titled “Subaltern Resistance in the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 1930s,” the project allowed him to enrich his knowledge and read both primary and secondary sources on the lives of peasants. “My passion for Russian history, politics and culture was part of my decision to write this thesis,” he says.
- Jimmy credits Professor Judith Chubb of the political science department for all her guidance and dedication. “Professor Chubb has inspired the topic of my thesis with her class, Power and Protest. Applying the theme ‘How Then Shall We Live’ in the study of systematic violence and structures of domination is so important and really affected the way I look at the world and think about life,” he says. “She expects a lot from her students. Her concern for social justice and approaching life from an ethical perspective captivates everyone,” he says.
- After being part of the Holy Cross community for three years, Jimmy wanted to make a difference as a senior. This year he worked as the director of academic concerns for the Student Government Association, where he strived to make facilities more accessible to all students. Jimmy established the Student Library Advisory Board, worked to extend the hours at the Multimedia Resource Center and helped develop plans on how to remodel the Stein Student Lounge.
- Helping others wasn’t a foreign concept to Jimmy. While a freshman, he took a course that allowed him to work at the Writer’s Workshop starting his sophomore year. “I’ve met a lot of great people who were anxious to do a better job and think more profoundly,” he says. “Even if I was not always familiar with the material, we could still have a discussion, and I hope it was as engaging for them as it was for me.”
- Jimmy’s exploration of other cultures isn’t over. He plans on attending graduate school for international relations, and is considering working for the Foreign Service. “An exciting aspect of living abroad and dealing with daily issues is the opportunity to immerse myself in another culture,” he says. “Trying to look at American foreign policy is not just political,” he says. “One must see what impacts the values of democratic societies and how we can foster democratic values in other nations without negating anything in their own cultures.” Jimmy is also considering doing humanitarian work with the intention of improving people’s standards of living.
- As valedictorian of the Class of 2008, Jimmy says: “I’m greatly honored to represent my class. I hope what I have to say summarizes what an effect a Jesuit institution has on students as they embark on their lifelong journey.”
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This Senior Spotlight was written by Pamela McQuade ’08 of Dix Hills, N.Y. A double major in political science and Italian, Pamela studied abroad last year in Florence. This summer she will return to Europe and to travel in Ireland, Greece and Italy. In her spring semester of senior year, Pamela served as the chair of the Student Advisory Committee of the Modern Languages and Literatures department and as an intern in the Office of Public Affairs.
Photography by John Buckingham.