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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’s record, set by Austin Tewalt (’24).

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’s commencement, battling over the slathered watermelon.

The rules were simple: Get the watermelon, don’t break it, bring it across the pond to the opponent’s 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’s point. Worn out from the brutal though friendly competition, everyone returned to the upper campus to wash up then enjoy dinner.

Replenished by turkey in St. Joseph Common, it was time for Study Hall …

… where students continued their examination of Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy and Euclid’s propositions , , and from Book I of the Elements. The nightly Rosary followed, after which students made their way to St. Gladys Plaza for “Chaplain 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’s 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: “Definitions 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’s classes should prove exciting, especially as students wrap up Boethius. Read all about it this afternoon here on the Summer Program Blog!