Letter from the Editors, Fall 2024

Dearest Reader, 

We thank you for picking up a copy of the Fenwick Review. We can think of no better way to introduce our first edition of the 2024-2025 school year than to expound on what the Fenwick Review is. Perhaps the via negativa is best taken to start this task. First, the Fenwick Review is not a monolith; our writers, staff and guests alike, frequently differ and disagree with each other about politics, religion, and more. Not every writer agrees with what is written in the pages of this magazine; indeed there has been and will continue to be fervent disagreement between writers about the ideas contained in each article. Second, as an entity, the Fenwick Review does not “say” or “believe” anything beyond its mission statement, rather, individual people writing for the Fenwick Review say and believe xyz. Now we are in a position to better say what the Fenwick Review is. First, as an opinion journal, the Fenwick Review is a platform for individual writers. Individuals who want to write from a conservative or Catholic perspective choose to publish in the Fenwick Review. Second, the Fenwick Review is partisan; we are both conservative and Catholic. We platform specifically conservative and Catholic thought to contribute to a culture of free and open dialogue on our campus and expose students to both the rich intellectual tradition of American conservatism and the Catholic intellectual tradition. Over the past year now we have been working to reform the Fenwick Review to better contribute to a free, open, and respectful dialogue on campus, while returning to our mission statement to better guide us in our operations here at the Review. We hope that reading our articles will at least inform, challenge, or inspire you. As always, we welcome disagreement and want our peers to interact with the ideas put forth in this edition of the Fenwick Review. 

Pax vobiscum, 

Griffin Blood ‘26 and Briana Oser ‘25, Co-Editors in Chief

Letter from the Editors, Spring 2024

Dear Reader,

Thank you for picking up a copy of The Fenwick Review. As the academic year comes to a close, we bid farewell to our seniors and thank them for all their contributions to the paper. This edition features multiple senior pieces that share their reflections on their time at Holy Cross.

As we look forward to next year, we welcome a new co-editor: Briana Oser. We look forward to welcoming back our writers who studies abroad and meeting new writers as well. We hope all our readers enjoy this edition and have a great summer.

Reddens laudes Domino,

Griffin Blood ‘26 & Anna Moran ‘24, Co-Editors-in-Chief

Letter from the Editors Winter '24

Dear Reader, 

Thank you for picking up a copy of the Fenwick Review. Last semester, we were happy to publish our Fall edition and get positive feedback from many of our readers, including those across the political aisle. We were particularly encouraged that one of our senior writers’ articles, “Holy Cross Must Ban Pornography,” proved to be an intersection point for conservatives and liberals. As editors, we want to simultaneously defend our Catholic and conservative viewpoints in The Fenwick Review while still engaging respectfully with those who disagree with us. We are happy to see steps being taken in that direction. We hope all our readers enjoy this edition. 

Reddens laudes Domino, 

Griffin Blood ‘26 & Anna Moran ‘24

Letter From the Editors, Easter 2023

Dear Reader,

Thank you for picking up the newest edition of The Fenwick Review! As we contemplate the resurrection of Christ (and as students attempt to resurrect their motivation to persist in their studies) so fittingly do we offer a fresh batch of articles on two of the most contentious topics: life and death.

From an analysis of the proportional nature of the death penalty, to Texas’ incentivizing of new life in the form of tax reductions, we at The Fenwick Review are continually striving to provide insightful, pertinent commentary on the issues that matter the most. In addition, this issue features a potent expose of the Student Government Association, along with a thoughtful examination of problems besetting the sacrament of matrimony.

Whatever may be said of our commentary, our critics have never been able to call us boring. We pride ourselves for being a publication that inspires complex feelings and critical thinking among our readership, and we intend to continue in that same vein. We are grateful for your continued readership and hope that we may remain an important touchpoint for discussion during your time on Mount St. James.

Love us or hate us, we thank you for your time and attention.

God bless and Happy Easter,

Anthony Cash & Evan Poellinger, Co-Editors-in-Chief

Letter From the Editors, February 2023

Dear Reader,

Thank you for picking up the newest edition of The Fenwick Review! As we embark on the new 2023 Spring semester, there are several exciting updates for our publication.

First of all, The Fenwick Review hopes to bring two exciting new speakers to campus this semester: one from a local man who is tackling the Opioid Epidemic and another from a renowned journalist. We hope that these two speakers will foster civilized dialogue around two issues that have affected so many of us.

Secondly, our newsletter (The Crusader’s Brief) is up and running, releasing to our subscribers, alumni, and donors monthly. If you wish to sign up, please scan the QR code on Page 2. This newsletter contains short articles, a Campus Crazies section, and more! 

While there are many changes this semester, one thing never changes: our commitment to time-tried principles and constructive and inclusive dialogue. From the political antics of the Holy Cross Administration , to a pop culture promoting Satanism, we seek to challenge the dominant narrative on campus and abroad. We hope that you approach each article with an open mind, willing to be challenged by the ideas presented in each one. 

God bless,

Anthony Cash & Evan Poellinger, Co-Editors-in-Chief

Letter From the Editors, November 2022

Dear Reader,

Thank you for picking up the newest edition of The Fenwick Review!  This semester has so far been filled with controversy as uproar across campus erupted over social media posts from our publication’s Instagram account.  While we never apologize for raising questions of political and cultural relevance, it is never our aim to make others feel unwelcome or unsafe on campus.  Rather, we aim to provoke free and open dialogue concerning such issues, often challenging the popular narrative, and it is within our right and responsibility to do so.

In lieu of the controversy surrounding the Review’s social media posts, a theme has emerged for this edition: dialogue.  This theme was not pre-planned, but happened to be a connecting thread of all our pieces that manifests both our publication’s mission and the Holy Cross mission.  With this dialogue comes a responsibility to respect one another enough to set aside pre-judgments and recognize that all of us have souls that are valued by our Creator — souls He wishes to be saved. 

Therefore, we invite Crusaders of all kinds to engage with our articles, whether you agree with them or not, and encourage you all to have peaceful and respectful conversations with your friends, families, and colleagues concerning the issues we raise in this edition of The Fenwick Review.

God bless,

Evan Poellinger & Anthony Cash, Co-Editors-in-Chief

Letter from the Editors, October 2022

Dear Reader,

Thank you for picking up this issue of The Fenwick Review!  As the 2022-2023 school year begins, so too has the machinery of politics restarted in earnest. With the 2022 midterm elections fast approaching, critical issues of border security, inflation, and political overreach by the Department of Justice are at the forefront of public debate and discussion.

It is fitting, therefore, that this latest issue of The Fenwick Review is chock full of formidable pieces about these pertinent issues. Whether you want to consider the latest news about the immigration hypocrisy from the residents of Martha's Vineyard, hear about Holy Cross' newfound virtue-signaling enterprise, or learn the gritty details about the sordid history of the FBI as a political instrument, The Fenwick Review has an article to slake your political interests (or at least take your mind off that urgent, multi-page paper).

Always with its finger on the pulse of the culture, The Fenwick Review also features an examination of American religious disaffiliation, along with a continuation of our recently-inaugurated “The Review Reviews” section with an eloquent appraisal of the Yakuza video game series.

We acknowledge that this magazine's reputation precedes it. Some love it, some loathe it. Some read it in public, while others hide their readership in the privacy of their rooms. Some laugh out loud, while others gnash their teeth. Whatever emotion drives you to pick up a copy, we are always grateful for your continued readership.

We at The Fenwick Review pray that you may have a successful and enriching semester, and we look forward to continuing our mission of upholding and presenting that which is true and beautiful.

Sincerely,

Evan Poellinger & Anthony Cash, Co-Editors-in-Chief

Letter from the Editors, May 2022

Dear Reader,

Thank you for picking up the final Fenwick Review issue of the academic year. We are both immensely grateful for all your support throughout the year and we hope to have provided you engrossing and enriching reading. As our time as Co-Editors comes to an end, we are happy to introduce Anthony Cash and Evan Poellinger as our successors here at the Review. We are confident they will carry on the good work we’ve been able to accomplish this year.

As we look back over the year, we can’t help but consider how “quiet” things have been for us. We haven’t had the sparks of conflict that arose from events like the Benny Liew article or when Heather MacDonald came to campus. We never strive to create controversy, yet we also do not purposely avoid addressing contentious issues or from providing a perspective that differs from the apparent popular consensus.

Take this as you will, but we hope it sets the stage for a future of the Review free from the bog of its mistaken appearance as a firebrand publication. We hope this will challenge readers to engage more earnestly with our articles, not simply dismissing them as “hateful.” Again, this is not to say we have or that we plan to water down our message or our values. But, this does anticipate an appealing future for our publication.

We hope to see issues of The Fenwick Review adorning campus for decades to come, and we hope likewise for the mailboxes of all our donors. Thank you again to everyone who has supported us.

Sincerely, 

Andrew Buck ‘22 & John Pietro ‘22 Co-Editors-in-Chief