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by Shannon King features editor

by Beth Conahan staff writer

Finally, the sun has come out. The cool, grayish color of winter has been replaced with the rich, vibrant shades of spring. Students are slipping into shorts and revealing legs pale from months of hibernation. They are filing out of their residences and sprawling out in the open spaces outdoors, spreading out blankets, sunning themselves and simply enjoying the weather.

But where to sit?

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Try the lawn ofWoodcrest or the little used back lawn of the mansion. Try Founder's Hall's lawn or in front of the apartments. Students can be seen in any of these places and one more.

When spring sneaks in, students sneak out to the peace pole. It is a peaceful circular garden with a wooden pole slicing out of the ground where people can sit alone or classes can come to get out into the sun. •

Peace poles are nearly timeless. But, our peace pole, is just a kid and its birthday is closely approaching. This May, Cabrini's peace pole will be ten years old. They grow up so fast these days. It was born on a spring day in May 1992 in honor Sr. Eileen Currie, MSC, the former president of our school.

The peace pole links Cabrini to the entire world. There are more than 200,000 peace poles, on every continent and in 180 countries. They are easy to order online.

It was decided that the pole would be a great way to honor the departing president. The small monument to peace was "planted" in the center of a circular garden with benches surrounding it. The Loquitur reported in 1992 that the chorus would sing, international flags would be flown and 1,000 origami doves would decorate the occasion.

Why 1,000 origami doves?

According to Japanese myth, a person that wishes for something and then makes 1,000 paper cranes will have their wish granted. Cabrini wished for peace.

The words "_MayPeace Prevail on Earth" are on the pole in eight different languages: English, Italian, Vietnamese, Arabic, Hebrew, Spanish, Swahili and Philipino. According to Currie, the languages were chosen by the countries of Cabrini missions.

Most people believe that after you die, there is some fonn of afterlife. Whether you believe in heaven or hell or reincarnation, is a religious preference. However, no matter what you believe, there is a question of whether or not you have the ability to communicate with your loved ones after you die.

Guardian angels have always been a precious belief for people of all ages. After losing a loved one, it is comforting to think that your grandmother or grandfa=••-' =- ther is out there watching over and protecting you. These thoughts may be comforting, but do guardian angels or even ghosts really exist? There are psychics all over the media claiming to know your future and now there are people who claim to be mediums, connecting the living with those who have "crossed over."

"Crossing over with John Edward" is a television show on weekday mornings about one such medium who claims to be able to "connect those in the physical world with those who have crossed over." Edward's show is based around a gallery of people hoping to connect with relatives and friends that hey have lost over the years. Edward stands in the center and tells anxious audience members of things of their past that he couldn't possibly know, according to most audience members.

Junior Lori Lonergan said that her parents went to see the show after a loved one had passed photos by Kit Dewey away, and Edward told them things that he could Angels are one of the ways that some people not have possibly known. She also said that no believe you can communicate with loved one had asked them any questions about why they ones after you die.