Campus Natural History
This critter is an invasive species that has caused quite a stir on campus this fall as students stomp and squash the adults on sight.
What is the Spotted lanternfly?
Kathleen Drew-Baker is known as “mother of the sea” in Japan due to her pioneering work in the cultivation of this sushi substance.
What is Nori (or seaweed)
Holy Cross was founded in this year.
What is 1843
Her record-breaking Eras Tour and massive relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce completely redefined pop culture crossover appeal.
Who is Taylor Swift?
An angry visitor wrote of this French landmark: "Honestly, it's just a giant, rusted radio tower that someone forgot to paint. Completely blocks the view of Paris."
What is the Eiffel Tower?
A specimen of this tree species on campus is named for Dr. Anthony Fauci. It has fan-shaped leaves, is a favorite of Profs. Sobczak and Wolfe-Bellin, and is the last surviving species of its phylum.
What is the Ginkgo? (or Ginkgo biloba)
Whales’ closest living relatives are these semi-aquatic mammals of Africa; They had a common ancestor that lived 55 million years ago.
What is a hippopotamus?
Dr Martin Luther King Jr. visited the college in November of this year, roughly 9 months before his historic “I have a dream” speech.
What is 1962
This pop icon completely took over the internet with her high-energy Renaissance world tour and subsequent country music pivot.
Who is Beyoncé?
A tourist in Egypt left this online review: "Too much sand. Honestly, it's just a bunch of giant stone triangles. The rocks were way too hot."
What are the Pyramids of Giza?
Each semester, the students in BIOL 163 lab take a field trip to collect aquatic insects at this river.
What is the Quinapoxet River?
Despite living in salty or brackish water, this large marine mammal of the order sirenia relies heavily on fresh water for hydration.
What are Manatees?
According to Holy Cross lore (but unsubstantiated) this was the function of the room on the fifth floor of O’Kane Hall.
What are exorcisms
This "Bad Guy" singer and her brother Finneas made history by sweeping major music awards and providing haunting, viral movie soundtrack hits across the mid-2020s.
Who is Billie Eilish?
A disgruntled museum guest wrote of this 16th-century painting: "Way smaller than I thought. She isn't even smiling, she looks like she left the oven on at home."
What is the Mona Lisa?
The spotted lanternfly is a member of this order of insects.
What is the Hemiptera (or “True bugs”)?
This summer (2026) the the nonprofit Massachusetts *this bivalve* Project reseeded the state’s depleted waters to combat pollution
What are oysters?
The Nipmuc Tribe name of the hill that Holy Cross is built on.
What is Pakachoag Hill
This annual April music and arts festival in the California desert remains the absolute pinnacle of influencer fashion, celebrity sightings, and surprise stage reunions.
What is Coachella?
A TripAdvisor user complained about this massive Arizona landmark, writing: "Just a big, empty ditch. Literally a hole in the ground. Someone should pave it over."
What is the Grand Canyon?
Students report seeing the “Holy Skunk” walking around campus in the evenings. It is technically a “striped skunk” and belongs to this order in the Phylum Chordata.
What is the Carnivora (or Carnivores)?
Dory, of Finding Nemo fame, is this type of fish, sometimes also referred to a surgeon fish for the sharp spines found along their tail.
What is a blue tang
This man, later to become president of the US, gave the commencement address at the college on June 25, 1919 while he was still Governor of Massachusetts.
Who is Calvin Coolidge
This rapid-fire rapper collaborated with Nicki Minaj on the smash track "Barbie World" before earning massive solo acclaim and launching major world tours.
Who is Ice Spice?
An unimpressed hiker wrote of this ancient defensive barrier: "It's just a really long sidewalk on top of a mountain. You can't even skate on it."
What is the Great Wall of China?