St. Patrick's Day is the celebration of Christianity's arrival in Ireland, through the teachings of their patron saint. March 17th marks the anniversary of the death of the Saint Patrick, who also drove the snakes out of Ireland. The early spring celebration is usually filled with plenty of shamrocks, bagpiped parades, green beer and a healthy portion of corned beef and cabbage. This year, if you are a Catholic, your corned beef is in jeopardy.
When a college shutters its doors, the impact is felt well beyond the students, faculty, staff and alumni. Small surrounding towns and villages are often devastated, as the life blood of their local economy shuts its doors. Throughout the United States small liberal arts colleges are struggling to stay alive. One upstate New York village is trying to get ahead of a potential problem from their college closing.