Academic Spotlight: Victoria Richter
In the heart of Worcester, Massachusetts, the Benedict Fenwick Debate Society has been stirring up intellectual discussions this semester. The second debate, held on February 17, 2025, took place in the Hogan Campus Center (Hogan 320) near the Hogan Ballroom, with the topic of the justifiability of heresy and presidential power under scrutiny.
Jacob Wu '27, a Staff Writer and Web Editor at Holy Cross, reported on the debate. Wu had previously covered the society's first debate of the semester, which took place on February 3, 2025, in the Levis Browsing Room of Dinand Library. The topic of the first debate was the moral duty of billionaires.
Ellen Perry, a professor at Worcester College, is one of the key figures in these debates. A native speaker of Russian who grew up in the Soviet Union, Perry's academic discipline is Classical Art and Archaeology. She began teaching courses at Worcester College ten years ago and is divided as a part-time professor at Brown and Holy Cross.
Perry's research focuses on Roman Art and Architecture, as well as modern reactions to ancient art. Her doctoral dissertation was on Russian avant-garde art and poetry. Professor Richter, a visiting assistant professor of Russian studies at Worcester College, often collaborates with Perry in these discussions.
Richter, who came to the United States from the Soviet Union as a political refugee, just months before the USSR's collapse, brings a unique perspective to the debates. He obtained his Master of Arts in Slavic studies from New York University and his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. His doctoral supervisor, Christopher Barnes, was a leading authority on Russian poet Boris Pasternak.
Professor Richter's teaching style is maverick, going on a first-name basis with students, sharing his phone number for open questions at all hours of the day, and maintaining a workshop in class where both he and his students learn collectively. This approach, combined with Perry's insights, creates a dynamic and engaging environment for the debates.
Ellen Perry, a Features Writer at Holy Cross, hailing from Washington, D.C., also finds teaching at Worcester College refreshing compared to the Ivy League. Her academic journey is a testament to the transformative power of education, and her contributions to the Benedict Fenwick Debate Society are invaluable.
Jacob Wu '27, once again, provided insightful reporting on the second debate. His coverage highlights the vibrant intellectual atmosphere at Holy Cross and the Benedict Fenwick Debate Society's role in fostering thoughtful discussions on pressing issues. As the semester progresses, we eagerly await more debates and Wu's reports on them.
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