Catherine Mulroney, St. Mike’s Editorial Manager, holds a BA and an MDiv from St. Michael’s. She arrived on campus shortly after the statue of St. Michael was installed in the quad and remembers the debate well. As one of the creators of the InsightOut blog, she is happy to note that today’s piece marks the blog’s 170th entry – on St. Mike’s 170th anniversary. Happy Michaelmas!
If asked to name the heart of the St. Mike’s campus, it would be tough to come up with a single answer because there are so many correct responses. I’d start with our classrooms, because that is where the essential work of a university takes place. But the learning that happens in the classroom spills over into the special lectures and social events that take place in Brennan Hall, and into our residences, where friendships are formed, and to the Kelly Library, with its mix of academic services and the welcoming space of the Kelly Café. Every corner of our campus is infused with purpose, dedicated to supporting students as they learn more about themselves and the world — and how they are called to serve that world.
In the days leading up to our annual celebration of Michaelmas on September 29th, though, I would point to the statue of St. Michael, our patron, in the quad. St. Mike’s archivist Jessica Barr notes that Michael was created by Anne Allardyce and that the 15 ½ ft tall stainless steel work was commissioned by the Collegium to mark the 125th anniversary of the college. As we celebrate our 170th anniversary, Michael remains a powerful symbol of our purpose and our place in the world.
Those who were around in the days when Michael was new to campus often mention that the work prompted much debate. It certainly isn’t the traditional Renaissance Michael, adorned in armor and leather battle skirt, sword held aloft. That the work was contentious doesn’t surprise, because change is often unsettling, and when art is effective it often moves us out of our comfort zones. The lively discussions offering interpretations of Michael speak to our role as a liberal arts university. Our purpose is to encourage students and others to participate in fruitful, often challenging, discussions about our world and our understanding of what we know and what we think we know, helping to clarify and deepen our thinking on topics such as faith and beauty – and conflict.
Michael can be seen as the heart of St. Mike’s because its distinctive look points not only to our Catholic roots but also to our place as a home to a diverse student population, as the Archangel Michael is recognized across the Abrahamic religions. It is fitting, therefore, that the statue provides great orientation to anyone visiting our campus and offers an ideal meeting spot. Often colleagues crossing the park to attend meetings at the University of Toronto will meet up in the centre of the quad, and it always makes me happy to pass by Michael and see students seated on the statue’s surrounding wall, chatting about everything from a recent lecture through to plans for the weekend.
Michael also deserves to be considered the heart of the campus because it sits in the middle of the quad, surrounded by both dorm rooms and classrooms, its stark beauty standing in stunning contrast to the green space encircling it. There’s a reason many refer to St. Mike’s as an oasis in the city, as our grounds are an inviting outdoor space not only for students but also for neighbours in the local condos. Whether it’s the students monitoring our bee boxes or groundskeeper John Scarcelli planting milkweed in our rock gardens to encourage monarch butterflies to visit, we are dedicated to creating a sustainable campus both indoors and outdoors, and Michael is ensconced in with the middle of it all.
But Michael also deserves to be considered the heart of the campus because of how the archangel is depicted. From many angles, the statue looks poised to take flight, a classic metaphor for university life. Our goal as an institution of higher learning is to help our students find their purpose and their goals, helping them learn how to launch into life. At the same time, though, the wings of the statue also suggest protection, safe haven, and welcome, reflective of our commitment to offering students a safe and welcoming place for them to think and learn and wrestle with the great questions of life.
That welcome, of course, extends to our alumni and friends. As we mark Michaelmas this Thursday, September 29, which is not only the feast of our patron saint but also the day on which many of the world’s great universities mark the beginning of the fall term, everyone is invited to join in the celebrations. St. Mike’s does not exist in isolation, in an aloof ivory tower, but very much as part of the world and we are eager to come together as a community to celebrate that ongoing reality. We hope to see you then.
Read other InsightOut posts.