I had the good fortune to be at the Wyoming Catholic College this past week for their patronal feast, and came away quite impressed. Its a newly-founded place with only about 60 students at the moment (only freshmen and sophomores–they’ve only been operating for 2 years). It is modeled in some ways on Thomas Aquinas College in California, with a classical curriculum, though in their rugged Wyoming landscape, a strong component of outdoorsy knowledge is part of the deal. One of the first things I participated in when I arrived was a college-wide game of “QuisQuid” which was something like a cross between Trivial Pursuit, Twister, and a game show. The students were divided into three groups representing mind, body and spirit: the philosophers, the cowboys, and the poets. They came marching in wearing togas and boots and black berets, respectively, all with a great sense of fun and community. Each team was given a series of intellectual and physical challenges ranging from reciting the prologue of the Gospel of John from memory (which one student did entirely in Latin) to analyzing topography maps to acting out scenes from the Odyssey. The team that won got to sit in a big 1970s-style arm chair covered in a sheet labeled the “sede sapientiae.” The faculty served as judges and it was all great, nerdy Catholic fun.
But lest you think the students are a bunch of frail intellectuals, it’s worth noting that they also go on intense hikes in the mountains (including building igloos in -30 degree weather) and everyone has to complete the “horsemanship” training program. The faculty has impressive credentials–many of them coming from TAC and the International Theological Institute in Gaming, Austria. One of the professors told me that he came to the WCC after 40 years in teaching, and that the college provided exactly the kind of student he was looking for all these years. That was certainly my impression as well.
The students I met seemed well-adjusted and very friendly, surprisingly like any cross section of 18 and 19 year olds. The Mass I attended was very reverent, and the student choir impressively good for such a small student body, singing motets by Bruckner and Palestrina as well as plainchant. I was told they routinely alternate between the English and Latin use of the Ordinary Form as well as a weekly use of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass.
There isn’t much to look at by way of buildings yet–they are currently based at a nearby Catholic parish. But they own a beautiful piece of property and have a grand initial plan to build a campus, which, from what I can tell, is still under development and may turn out to be a bit more traditional than the current images show
So if you’ve been getting the mailings as I have about the college and wondered if it was worth supporting or sending your kids there, I’d give it a big thumbs up.
February 8, 2009 at 8:58 pm
It does my heart good that your impression of WCC was so positive. My husband attended Holy Rosary Parish in Lander growing up and we were married there as well. We now live in Arizona, but have been very excited about the development of the college. It’s a beautiful educational setting. Perhaps when our own kids are grown that’s where they will want to go to school. Being native Wyomingites, it’s always fun to hear about positive things coming out of our state.
February 8, 2009 at 10:12 pm
I’ve followed the developments at Wyoming Catholic College with much interest over the years. Do you know how their fund raising efforts are going and when they will erect their first building(s) on their future campus?
Considering the current state of Catholic higher education, it would be great to see more colleges established that follow the model of Thomas Aquinas College/WCC.
One final question. I’ve been thinking of moving to a small town out west. Anyone know if there’s work available in Lander?
February 9, 2009 at 12:03 am
Work can be found in and around Lander, however in most cases you will have to be willing to take a severe pay cut to live there. That being said, there are federal, state and local employers as well as small private enterprise. A decent house will cost 150-200 thousand. If you are not familiar with the west, at least from a Wyoming perspective, there is literally nothing other than the towns in the area. In the east one can live in a small town and be within a 1-2 hour commute to a major metro area. The nearest town to Lander with metro shopping equivalence is 150 miles, and the nearest major airport is 300 miles. One can fly out of more local airports but the prices are generally prohibitive.
February 12, 2009 at 12:30 am
I received in the mail a lovely CD from their choir around Christmastime. I had no idea the college was so small… the music was very nicely done. I think their CD is available from their website… it is nice to know we are supporting such a great Catholic college.
July 3, 2009 at 5:16 pm
I have a daughter that will soon be entering college, and have been searching for Catholic colleges entrenched in the faith. As first look, Wyoming Catholic College looked promising. It portrayed itself as orthodox, with professors that lived their faith, and so on. But once you get past their WEB page, things begin to come apart. Last year, a full 10% of their student body was dismissed or invited to leave due to serious disciplinary problems. Their Chaplain and several of their best professors either left or were dismissed, not because of wrongdoing, but simply because their erratic and egotistical dictator of a President doesn’t allow disagreement. Several of their best professors and administrators are no longer there but are still are listed as faculty because the administration doesn’t want to show the world that they are unraveling. What a disappointment. I hope they recover, but they’re off my list as potential Catholic colleges for my daughter.
September 11, 2009 at 6:22 am
The chaplain left because he was recalled by his bishop.
The director of student life left because he wants to get his masters' degree.
The vice president left because he wanted to send his children to a Catholic high school, because there isn't one in Lander.
And two art history professors left, 1 because she lives in Italy and being here was hard on her family life; and the other because they're fiddling around with the curriculum a bit and changed the Art History course to one sememster, which isn't that great a job.
I know because my father works for WCC. 🙂
November 17, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Mirjana,
Not true – someone lied to you. I know for a fact that the Chaplain's Bishop did not recall him. The Chaplain was fired by Cook because he disagreed with Cook. Others simply couldn't take it anymore. If Cook left, WCC might have a chance.
November 21, 2009 at 2:10 am
Well, being a student at WCC I will tell you it is an amazing place that is not falling apart but rather growing beautifully!!! The ex-vice-president for one has two sons here. As for the last Chaplain leaving, there were reasons that Fr. Cook disagreed with him and Fr. Walling, the new chaplain, fits much better with the schools intentions and outlook on life. Also, the previous chaplain did not like Lander. It is too small a town for him as a NYNY native.
I would say that yes, life at this school is hard because it is a rigorous program, but every one of the students came back this year. That is saying something if you ask me.
Yours Through Our Lady,
A Student of WCC
November 22, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Anonymous,
I'm glad you like it there. But I need to correct a couple of your errors. The previous Chaplain did not "leave." He was fired by Cook. There is a difference.
Cook's the boss, he can do what he wants, but he fired him then tried to represent that the Chaplain had quit, that's dishonest.
If you want the Holy Spirit to bless your school then pray that your President will confess his sins and make things right with the people he harmed. Then maybe you have a chance.
December 2, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Actually, Fr. Cook told all of the students that Fr. Gregoris was fired. Also, it is none of the outside world's business why Fr. Gregoris left. Fr. Cook does not want to tarnish Fr. G's reputation because he was not the right priest for this school.
Also, you said earlier, and I forgot to address it, that some of the students from last year were asked to leave, and you said this in a negative way. Well, I think it is really awesome that the school asks students to leave if they break the rules in a serious way. Before we attend this school we agree to follow the rules and certain punishments are laid out for breaking those rules and one of those punishments is forced withdrawl.
Yours Through Our Lady,
A Student of WCC
December 4, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Your post contradicts itself. Fr. Cook fired Fr. G but didn't want to tarnish his reputation so he called the students together and told them that he fired him. Not that he left, but that he fired him. What cause did he give? But let me get this right – first He signed him to a new contract and then fired him – why not simply not renew his contract.
I think your previous post just scared off quite a few potential students. Be careful what you say – if I was a potential student and read that if you make a teenage mistake you get "forced withdrawal" and it will happen to 1 out of 10 I think I'd pick a school with a more pastoral approach. Of course, a significant percentage of the student body were formerly homeschooled, so I suppose you need such dicisive countermeasures.
And when you post "Yours through Our Lady" I can only assume you are being sincere, just make sure you are being honest and have the actual facts. Now go back and study and try not to scare off potential students, goodness knows WCC needs them.
December 7, 2009 at 2:38 pm
As a totally unbiased reader, from Missouri, with no connections to the college, I'd have to go with the opinion of the student that actually attends WCC!
Satan is obviously going to be attacking WCC's efforts and trying to hamper the success of this college.
I have three "teens", homeschooled on the same level…beginning 11th grade. Why would I want anything to interfere with the morality I have painstakingly instilled in them? "Teens" are perfectly capable of following rules! It is far past time that our society STOPS makes excuses for these young men and women. If WCC sets down their rules and the applicant agrees as a condition of acceptance…(which is what I assume happens) then the student should be expected to conform & punished for failing.
Now, I don't know what happened with any WCC priest…whatever, but, I do want to know that there is a tight ship being kept in any college I send my kids to attend. A lot of the troubles the Church in the US encounters has a lot to do with errant, dissenting priests, following the "spirit" of Vatican II, to which I comment, "Call a freakin' exorcist!"
December 7, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Maureen, Let me suggest Steubenville or Christendom. Those are accredited Universities with strong catholic identities. You would not believe the stuff going on at WCC.
The priest in question was entirely orthodox, has appeared numerous times on EWTN and is a model priest. Its not the priest that was errant. The priest that was fired celebrated the Latin (so-called Tridentine Mass) as well as the Mass of Paul VI – in latin, as it was intended, as well as the Byzantine.
In the future try not to jump to conclusions.
December 11, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Reading through these posts I find it interesting that one person close to the University said that the priest was recalled by his Bishop and another one who called himself a student said that Cook had told everyone that he was fired – what gives?
Also, the mother that posted posited herslf as a "totally unbiased reader" responded with the bias typical of the holier than the pope Catholic homeschoolers.
December 12, 2009 at 7:06 am
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December 12, 2009 at 7:12 am
I have only heard good things from WCC students. And this article portrays events at WCC that are truly one of a kind college experiences.
December 21, 2009 at 6:32 am
Great arguments there. But why doesn't someone call Fr. Cook and ask him what happened? Ask him nicely to tell the truth so that he believes you actually want it and not just more dirt to throw.
December 27, 2009 at 11:06 pm
This is the third time I have written a response to your post, hopefully this time it will post.
First, my post is not contradictory. Fr. Cook wanted the students to know because for one we are an extremely small school and it is better in such a small school for the truth to be told than for rumors to fly. He also told the students because many of the students were very close to Fr. G and he was telling them that Fr. G had not just left, that he had been fired or asked to leave. Next I said that Fr. Cook did not publicly announce that he had fired Fr. G because that isn’t very Christian. Fr. Cook does not have some sort of agenda to hurt Fr. G’s reputation, but he also could not have him at WCC. He explained to those who needed to know what they needed to know and to those who did not need to know he gave them the basic truth, but did not hurt Fr. G’s reputation.
Second, just because Fr. G was “ entirely orthodox, has appeared numerous times on EWTN …and celebrated the Latin (so-called Tridentine Mass) as well as the Mass of Paul VI – in latin, as it was intended, as well as the Byzantine.” does not mean that he was right for the school. Fr. G could not participate in the outdoor program which was a huge drawback for the students, as I said before, he constantly mentioned missing NYNY and being frustrated with the small town of Lander. He is a great priest and was well loved, but in many ways he did not fit the college and that made a huge difference. Fr. Walling our new chaplain fits much better into the post as chaplain. He has learned the Extraordinary Form of the mass since coming to WCC and he has been very active in our outdoor program. He is the priest for WCC and Fr. G just wasn’t it is nothing against him, just different people are meant for different things. Also, if he could not get along with Fr. Cook then he was not getting along with his boss and that is also a perfectly legitimate reason for him to be fired.
December 27, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Next, you said that I was scaring people away with rules and punishments for the breaking of those rules. Well, I only scared away the students that WCC does not want. Every person, no matter where they are or what they are doing has certain rules that they must follow and if they choose not to follow those rules there are consequences. WCC has a few more rules in place than many other colleges because WCC is trying to educate not just a person’s mind, but also their soul and body. The school does not just kick people out, every student before coming to the school is advised of the rules and the punishments for breaking the serious rules. One of the students who was asked to leave because he choose to break one of the more serious rules, came back this year much better for the experience of being forced to face the consequences of his actions. The school is helping us to grow from teenagers into adults. The school is as merciful as is possible, but also firm. These rules are not over the top, they are simply there to support us in our studies and to help us to grow as good Catholics.
Then also in regard to the rules, the reason the school sticks to her rules is not because the students were homeschooled. I can’t understand why you would say something like that. Homeschoolers are some of the most stable and well balanced people there are. I hope you can meet many of them in the future and find this out for yourself.
Next, what you said to Maureen about going to “ Steubenville or Christendom. Those are accredited Universities with strong catholic identities.” Well, Steubenville is Charismatic, so for many traditional Catholics this is not an option. Christendom in VA is a great school, but why not name Thomas Aquinas College in CA, and the University of Dallas, and Thomas More College in NH? These are all colleges with the same Liberal Arts type of degree. Yes, they are all accredited and have a history, but at one point they were all like WCC, at some point in their past they were brand new, unaccredited, and looking for students to help create the culture and history of the school. I think it is quite awesome to be one of those founding students.
Lastly, I am very frustrated and sad that you make such statements as: “You would not believe the stuff going on at WCC.” Have you ever visited? Have you talked with any of the people who are at WCC? If your only source about WCC is someone who has left, well, then of course they are going to be upset at the college for one reason or another. It is good to see why people left, but it is also good to see why people stayed. If 10% left, then that means that 90% stayed. And looking at percentages is hard for a school that had 60 students last year and not quite 100 this year.
I am sorry you have such a negative spin on what happens at WCC.
I hope that you and yours had a very merry Christmas and that you have a happy New Year!
Yours Through Our Lady,
A WCC Student
PS: I agree with the last post, talk with someone at WCC, who is at WCC, and visit before you start flinging dirt at us, as you said, we don’t need it. And it is not very Christian.
January 7, 2010 at 7:00 pm
I did speak with folks currently at WCC, and while I admire your defense of your school, your unquestioning allegiance to Fr. Cook, who has engaged in questionable ethical behavior, has called into question whether you are either qualified or capable of determining what is or is not Christian behavior