California
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July 27, 2023
A full day of intellectual rigor behind them, students on the California High School Summer Program turned their attention to an afternoon bursting with opportunities for athletic competition and theological understanding. And it all began on the academic quadrangle with the annual Summer Program Quad Run!
A young but beloved TAC-California tradition, the Quad Run is inspired by a from Chariots of Fire, in which Harold Abrahams successfully completes Cambridge University檚 Trinity Great Court Run before the King檚 Gate Clock strikes 12. On Wednesday afternoon, some 50 Summer Programmers staged their own version of the event: The athletes sprinted, in pairs, a clockwise course around the academic quadrangle, beginning and ending by St. Bernardine of Siena Library.
Most pairs battled neck and neck for supremacy on the straightaways, making critical bursts of speed at each turn, one runner or the other gaining a lead to be exploited during the next straightaway. The crowd roared at each race, reaching new heights of fervor the closer the races got.
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For the women, Louise G. took third place (45.8 seconds); Keilah T., second (42.98), and Marie M., first (40.63), beating the record set by Hope (Ascough 22) Tittmann years ago! For the men, Joe W. took third (37.88); Neko B., second (36.42); and Caleb B., first (36.35), likewise besting the previous men檚 record, set by Austin Tewalt (24).
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In need of a cool-down, the group then moved on to the lower campus, where, by the first pond, lay a pile of watermelons and cans of Crisco. It was time for Watermelon Water Polo! Teams lathered up in the slippery stuff, took their places on either side of pond, and rushed on in a sudden crash at the game檚 commencement, battling over the slathered watermelon.
Photos: Women檚 Watermelon Water Polo
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The rules were simple: Get the watermelon, don檛 break it, bring it across the pond to the opponent檚 goal. Teams went best two-out-of-three, crashing back and forth in a frenzy. Splashing filled the air with white water, each game ending as suddenly as it begun, one team or the other taking the round檚 point. Worn out from the brutal though friendly competition, everyone returned to the upper campus to wash up then enjoy dinner.
Photos: Men檚 Watermelon Water Polo
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Replenished by turkey in St. Joseph Common, it was time for Study Hall
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where students continued their examination of Boethius檚 Consolation of Philosophy and Euclid檚 propositions , , and from Book I of the Elements. The nightly Rosary followed, after which students made their way to St. Gladys Plaza for 淐haplain on Tap with Fr. Sebastian and root-beer floats.
Fr. Sebastian took care to answer thoroughly as many of the students anonymously submitted questions as possible. He first treated marriage the traditional and modern definitions, their opposition, why Catholic marriage is natural, beautiful, and worthy of defense. Next came the question of Hell and problems of evil is Hell just? How could God檚 existence, infinite in goodness, logically admit of evil? Then onto the differences between Protestantism and Catholicism, doing away with common misconceptions, shedding light on the philosophical division between the two positions, and discussing his own Lutheran background.
In every answer, the Norbertine touched on Aristotelian logic, the importance of distinctions, and Scripture. He took special care to note the importance of definitions: 淒efinitions are the seeds of everything you know, he said. Knowing how to define properly protects one well against fallacy and poor argumentation. The priest ended the Q&A with thanks to the students for their questions, inviting further conversation.
Back in the residence halls, students found several huge pizzas, on which they feasted before retiring. Today檚 classes should prove exciting, especially as students wrap up Boethius. Read all about it this afternoon here on the Summer Program Blog!