Written by Catherine Huss ’14, Catholic Studies and Fashion Design

In the winter of 2010, my older brother harangued me into attending the Catholic Studies overnight, which was made complete with Monte Cassino. “You’ll get to meet great girls, and I’ll even round up a couple buddies to dance with you” he told me. Great, just what I need, my brother’s seminarian friends to be forced to show his little sister a good time. Reluctantly I attended, and he was right. The women on the Catholic Women’s Floor were so welcoming. They raided everyone’s closet to find me an outfit for the night, as I had come totally unprepared. The Catholic Men’s Floor made us “Brinner,” and I even found the courage to sing and dance to “Single Ladies” for the karaoke contest. To this day, people still remember me for that unexpected performance.

 Last Friday night was the “2012 Catholic Studies Monte Cassino Night.” Named after the hill in Italy where St. Benedict first established his monastery, the evening is wrought with a black jack tournament, board games, door prizes, catered food, a mini bar and my personal favorite, the karaoke contest–which even morphed into a dance party! The night featured covers of Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite”, “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole, Michael Buble and even “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” Two years have passed since I first came as a prospective student, and I have completely come full circle. I was given the chance to lend a dress to a prospective student, and instead of participating in the karaoke contest, I was able to be a judge. The front and center view from the couch was a luxury considering the turn out was so great (it was standing room only!).

One of the things I most admire about the Center for Catholic Studies is that we work hard, pray hard, and play hard. The annual Monte Casino night is truly a testament to that, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.