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Christendom College

Coordinates: 38°57′7″N 78°8′45.9″W / 38.95194°N 78.146083°W / 38.95194; -78.146083
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Christendom College is a private Catholic college in Front Royal, Virginia, United States. It was established in 1977.

Christendom College
Official seal for Christendom College
Motto
Instaurare Omnia In Christo
Motto in English
"To Restore All Things in Christ"
TypePrivate; lay-run Catholic
EstablishedSeptember 14, 1977; 47 years ago (September 14, 1977)
Religious affiliation
Catholic Church
Endowment$28 million[1]
PresidentGeorge A. Harne
Academic staff
44
Administrative staff
41
Undergraduates550 (2023-24)[2]
Postgraduates100
Address
134 Christendom Drive
,
Front Royal
,
Virginia
,
US

38°57′7″N 78°8′45.9″W / 38.95194°N 78.146083°W / 38.95194; -78.146083
Campus100 acres (0.40 km2)
FounderWarren H. Carroll
ColorsBlue and white
Sporting affiliations
USCAA
MascotThe Crusaders
Websitewww.christendom.edu
Regina Coeli Hall

History

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The new Christ the King Chapel was dedicated in 2023.
Entrance Sign

1977—2000

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Christendom College was founded by Warren H. Carroll, a contributor at Triumph magazine.[3] Carroll decided not to accept federal funding at the college, choosing instead to rely on benefactors. Carroll remained as president until 1985 and served as chairman of the history department until his retirement in 2002.[4]

Damian Fedoryka was named as the second president in 1985.[4] During Fedoryka's seven-year tenure as president, Blessed Margaret and St. Joseph's Halls were constructed, and the college became fully accredited in 1987.[4]

In 1992, Timothy T. O'Donnell, who had been a professor at Christendom since 1985, was named as the college's third president. During his tenure, the college increased the number of buildings on campus to over 20. The college also acquired the Notre Dame Institute during O'Donnell's tenure. In 1983, the Institute was permitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia to grant degrees. In the 1990s, Reverend William Saunders became president of the Institute and moved it to its present location in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1997, the Institute was merged with Christendom College and became the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College, now the Graduate School of Theology.[4]

2000—present

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In 2002, Fr. Saunders left his position as dean, and founding faculty member Kristin Burns took over the position. Under her tenure, the graduate school began offering M.A. in Theological Studies degrees online.[4]

On May 1, 2023, Timothy O'Donnell announced his intention to retire from the college[5] as President at the end of the 2023-24 academic year.

On July 1, 2024, George Harne became the college's fourth President.[6]

Christ the King Chapel

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This paragraph is an excerpt from Christ the King Chapel (Christendom College).[edit]
The Gothic Revival chapel, designed by O'Brien & Keane and easily visible to people traveling on nearby Interstate 66, is in the shape of a cross. It features a 114-foot (34.7 m) tall crossing tower, two bell towers, and a piazza. A cornerstone blessed by Pope Benedict XVI is in the building's façade. There are over 100 stained-glass windows in the building. Interior details include a Lady Chapel, a pipe organ featuring 2,825 pipes, four shrines, and ten statues. A golden oculus in the crossing tower is surrounded by painted figures.

Student sexual assault and harassment allegations

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On January 16, 2018, Catholic blogger Simcha Fisher broke the story of three rape and sexual harassment allegations that were brought to the college administration's attention and mishandled.[7] Timothy O'Donnell acknowledged victims in an official statement, saying, "We have failed some of our students. I am grateful to each woman who has come forward with her story. We need to hear you and your experience. Disclosing abuse and its aftermath is painful and difficult, and it takes a tremendous amount of courage. To those students who have been harmed, I am deeply sorry. We will do better."[8][9] This statement has since been removed from the college website. The college has since updated the apology with a Sexual Misconduct FAQs page that outlines the steps the college takes when cases of sexual misconduct are brought to its attention.[10]

Since the story broke, at least 18 additional allegations of sexual violence and harassment over the past 45 years have been made.[11] In response, a group of alumni called for the school to adopt Title IX policies to better protect students in the future and also called for the resignation of O'Donnell.[12]

By refusing to accept most forms of federal funding, Christendom College is exempt from guidelines like Title IX, is not required to comply with federal regulations on sex-based discrimination, investigations into sexual abuse, or transparency regarding on-campus crimes.[13]

The college has not released the results of this audit to the public.

Additional allegations against staff

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Professor Emeritus William Raymond Luckey was arrested on June 25, 2021 on charges of solicitation of a minor younger than 16 years old and two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child."[14] He was released on $50,000 bail on July 12, 2021. In regards to the 2018 sexual assault and harassment allegations, Luckey was one of several staff members that a college administrator mentioned as having been "transitioned out."[15] Luckey was a professor at Christendom College from 1984 until he retired in 2015, according to a statement on the college's website.[16] He has had no interaction with the school since 2015, the college said in an interview with The Northern Virginia Daily, adding that Luckey’s relationship with the school would not continue.[17]

In 2022, Luckey appeared in court and pled guilty in order to receive a reduced sentence of time served, 24 months supervised probation, and must register as a sex offender.[18]

Accreditation and Admissions

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John Paul the Great Student Center

Christendom College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.[19]

Christendom College does not use the FAFSA. Instead it uses the College Board's CSS Profile to determine aid.[20] According to their website, the typical student pays $25,000 per year to attend.[20]

Christendom's acceptance rate is 83% with a 47% yield rate. It has a freshman retention rate of 78% and a four-year graduation rate of 70%.[19]

Student life

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In 2024, Christendom enrolled 554 students from 39 states and four countries.[21]

Student protests

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Christendom College promotes its student-run pro-life group, Shield of Roses, on its web site,[22] and students regularly protest at regional abortion clinics and other events, sometimes with the Bishop in attendance.[22] Shield of Roses has been active since at least 2009 at major rallies, according to the school's web site.[23] The college publicized the closure of an abortion clinic in Silver Spring, Maryland, after Christendom College students protested there.[24] Students protested at the Falls Church Health Care Center, where abortions are performed, in Falls Church, Virginia, in April 2017.[25]

Athletics

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Christendom's athletic teams are known as the Crusaders. The college is a member of the Eastern States Athletic Association,[26] which is part of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). Christendom competes at the USCAA Division II level in basketball, soccer and women's volleyball.[27][28] For sports such as baseball, cross country, and softball, the USCAA does not have separate divisions. Since the USCAA does not sponsor rugby, the men's rugby team competes in National Collegiate Rugby's Small College Division as a member of the Cardinals Collegiate Rugby Conference.[29]

In 2017, Christendom's rugby team won the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) 7s national championship.[30] The team defeated St. Mary's College of Maryland in overtime to capture the title, earning the school its first national championship.[31] In 2021, the rugby team won its second rugby national championship defeating New Mexico Tech.[32]

Christendom College women’s basketball team won its first national title in women’s basketball defeating Johnson & Wales Charlotte 76-65 in the USCAA DII National Championship game in Petersburg, Virginia, on March 13, 2024.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Christendom College President Dr. Timothy O'Donnell Announces Plan to Retire After 2023-24 Academic Year". May 2023. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  2. ^ "Quick Facts at a Glance". 8 March 2022. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  3. ^ CNA. "Christendom College founder Warren Carroll dies at 79". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  4. ^ a b c d e "A History of Christendom College". www.christendom.edu. 15 December 2015. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  5. ^ Smith, Zach (2023-05-01). "Christendom College President Dr. Timothy O'Donnell Announces Plan to Retire After 2023-24 Academic Year". Christendom College. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  6. ^ "George Harne installed as Christendom College's fourth president". Arlington Catholic Herald. August 27, 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  7. ^ "Are women safe in Christendom's bubble? Part I". SIMCHA FISHER. 2018-01-16. Archived from the original on 2018-03-03. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  8. ^ ""WE WILL DO BETTER," CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE EXTENDS SUPPORT TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT | Christendom College". Christendom College. 2018-01-24. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  9. ^ Olmstead, Kevin (February 1, 2018). "Christendom: 'We will do better'". The Winchester Star. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  10. ^ "FAQs | Sexual Misconduct | Christendom College". www.christendom.edu. 2 May 2018. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  11. ^ "As alumni claim sexual assault is mishandled, Christendom College vows to improve". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  12. ^ "Christendom College alumni call for Title IX response to sexual assaults". National Catholic Reporter. 2018-03-23. Archived from the original on 2018-03-26. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  13. ^ See Ibby Caputo and Jon Marcus, "The Controversial Reason Some Religious Colleges Forgo Federal Funding," The Atlantic, July 7, 2016, accessed online at https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/07/the-controversial-reason-some-religious-colleges-forgo-federal-funding/490253/ Archived 2020-03-30 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "Christendom College 'Professor Emeritus' arrested on child sex abuse charges". Royal Examiner. 2021-06-28. Archived from the original on 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  15. ^ "Former Christendom College professor arrested on charges of soliciting a child". National Catholic Reporter. 2021-07-16. Archived from the original on 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  16. ^ "Statement Regarding Former Professor Dr. William Luckey". www.christendom.edu. 28 June 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  17. ^ "Former Christendom professor charged with taking indecent liberties with child". www.nvdaily.com. 29 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2 November 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  18. ^ "Former Christendom College professor avoids trial, pleads to lesser charges". www.nvdaily.com. 24 June 2022. Archived from the original on 2 November 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Quick Facts at a Glance". Christendom College. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  20. ^ a b "Financial Aid & Scholarships". Christendom College. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  21. ^ "Quick Facts at a Glance". Christendom College. Archived from the original on 2024-07-19. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  22. ^ a b "College Students Join Bishop in Prayerfully Protesting Abortion – Christendom College". Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  23. ^ "Christendom Students to Hold Largest Pro-Life Protest at Planned Parenthood Clinic in DC – Christendom College". Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  24. ^ "Second Planned Parenthood Clinic Protested by Christendom College Closes Down – Christendom College". Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  25. ^ "All Clear After Bomb Threat Forces F.C. Building Evacuated 2 Times Thursday". Falls Church News-Press Online. 2017-04-27. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
  26. ^ "Christendom Athletics". Christendom College Athletics. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  27. ^ "Member List by Division – Men's Sports". United States Collegiate Athletic Association. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  28. ^ "Member List by Division – Women's Sports". United States Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  29. ^ "Christendom College". National Collegiate Rugby. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  30. ^ Anker, Brett (6 June 2017). "Christendom College Claims NSCRO 7s Title". www.rugbytoday.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  31. ^ "Christendom rugby wins school's first national championship| News, Sports, Jobs - The Northern Virginia Daily". www.nvdaily.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  32. ^ "Christendom wins rugby national title". The Northern Virginia Daily. December 17, 2021.
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