Once upon a time, in a small village nestled deep within the forest, there lived a young girl named Maria. She was known by everyone in the village as a kind-hearted and virtuous soul. Unlike the other children who played outside in the meadows and climbed trees, Maria found solace in books and the secrets they held. Maria was not like the other children in the village. She possessed an uncanny ability to see and communicate with spirits and magical creatures that resided in the forest. While her peers were afraid and wary of these creatures, Maria saw them as friends and guardians.
Now, the North Side campus was a beautiful place, an entire city block, with a gym, dorms, chapel, administration building, dining hall, faculty housing, and some beautiful outdoor sculptures that had been specifically designed for the campus. In moving to the South Side, many of these beloved landmarks were left behind in Lincoln Park.
1975 was a time of dire financial straits, and McCormick made the difficult decision to sell its property in Lincoln Park and move to the South Side. Herald, the chrome auto-bumper ram, now stands as one of the most recognizable symbols of McCormick, representing the steadfastness of McCormick s witness among our many wanderings.
While her peers were afraid and wary of these creatures, Maria saw them as friends and guardians. As Maria grew older, she discovered she had inherited a rare and powerful gift from her ancestors – the gift of magic. She was a witch – a virtuous witch who used her powers for good.
The Story of Herald, McCormick’s Beloved Mascot
Hey, what is that chrome, rusting, goat-looking thing outside McCormick’s building? That’s Herald the Ram! He’s accompanied McCormick on our journey across Chicago, and continues to grace us with his chromatic presence.
Here’s the story as Mark Wendorf (former McCormick professor) knows it. 1975 was a time of dire financial straits, and McCormick made the difficult decision to sell its property in Lincoln Park and move to the South Side. We took up residence at 56th and Woodlawn in an old frat house (now the Jesuit house), rented classrooms from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC), helped start the Jesuit-Krause McCormick (JKM) Library by adding our volumes, and rented student housing from LSTC.
Now, the North Side campus was a beautiful place, an entire city block, with a gym, dorms, chapel, administration building, dining hall, faculty housing, and some beautiful outdoor sculptures that had been specifically designed for the campus. In moving to the South Side, many of these beloved landmarks were left behind in Lincoln Park.
One late night in the very first week of their residence in Hyde Park, a number of McCormick students were waxing theological at Jimmy’s Woodlawn Tap Room (not for the last time) and reminiscing about the old campus. The hour grew very late, the students became more nostalgic, and their inhibitions decreased. Amidst all of the “elbow bending,” someone came up with the idea to liberate Herald the Ram (one of the left-behind statues) from the North Side campus. It would stand in front of the repurposed frat house as the students’ contribution to the move and bring a little bit of home to Hyde Park. Plus, the students would have quite the story to tell for the rest of their lives.
And so, a plan was hatched. Volunteers stepped forward. A U-Haul van was rented and the intrepid liberators drove to the North Side. Under the cover of dark, they hoisted Herald into the truck (with no small amount of difficulty) and delivered him to the front lawn of the new McCormick building at the corner of 56th and Woodlawn. The next morning, he greeted a very surprised administration and faculty, who demanded that those responsible step forward and admit their guilt. Not one liberator ever did confess her/his participation.
Herald the Ram became an important part of McCormick’s presence in Hyde Park. At first, he was the source of many a U of C prank, decorated or stolen during pledge week. Eventually, Herald was bolted and set on concrete pillars buried deep into the ground so that his involuntary movement was limited. He was decorated on festive occasions by the McCormick community, especially at Christmas and the Lenten Feast of Fools. Alums took their picture with Herald during Alum Week, and he became the official mascot of McCormick Theological Seminary, embroidered on hats and t-shirts.
When McCormick moved to our current home at 55th and University, Herald the Ram came with us. This time there was no need for covert-ops transplants; the movers brought him over from 56th and Woodlawn in the light of day with everything else. Herald, the chrome auto-bumper ram, now stands as one of the most recognizable symbols of McCormick, representing the steadfastness of McCormick’s witness among our many wanderings. No matter what the future holds, Herald will be with us.
Many thanks to Mark Wendorf, former professor of Urban Ministry, for recording and preserving this tale throughout the years.
While other witches were known for their dark and sinister practices, Maria found joy in using her powers to heal the sick, protect the vulnerable, and bring harmony to her village. Every day, Maria would venture into the forest to gather herbs and plants, which she would use to create powerful potions and remedies. The villagers sought her out for her healing abilities and often referred to her as their guardian angel. One day, news spread throughout the village of a terrible illness that was plaguing the land. People were falling sick left and right, and there seemed to be no cure in sight. The villagers turned to Maria for help, desperate for her healing magic. Maria knew she had to act quickly. She spent countless hours researching, gathering rare ingredients, and consulting with the spirits of the forest. Through her dedication and compassion, she was able to create a remedy that slowly but surely cured the illness. The villagers were overjoyed and praised Maria for her remarkable skills. They celebrated her as their virtuous witch, a beacon of hope in their time of darkness. Maria, however, remained humble and continued to use her powers to help those in need. Throughout her life, Maria continued to learn and master her magical abilities. She devoted herself to understanding the balance between light and dark magic and used her powers to protect the innocent and keep the village safe. In her old age, Maria passed on her knowledge and teachings to a young apprentice, ensuring that the generation to come would carry on her virtuous legacy. She left behind a village that was forever grateful for her kind heart, her healing touch, and her unwavering determination to use her magic for good. And so, the legend of Maria, the virtuous witch, lived on in the hearts and minds of the people. Her story was told for generations, reminding the villagers of the power of kindness, compassion, and the magic that lies within each of us..
Reviews for "Maria's Witchcraft Academy: Teaching Virtue to the Next Generation"
- John - 2/5 - I wasn't a fan of "Maria virtuous witch". I found the storyline to be weak and the characters lacked depth. The main character seemed more like a caricature rather than a well-developed witch. The pacing of the show was also off, with rushed plot points and a lack of cohesive storytelling. Overall, I was disappointed and wouldn't recommend it to others.
- Sarah - 1/5 - "Maria virtuous witch" was a complete waste of time for me. The animation was subpar, and the art style was unappealing. The plot was confusing and lacked direction, leaving me feeling unsatisfied and confused by the end. The characters were also forgettable and had little to no development. I was expecting so much more from this anime, but it ultimately fell flat.
- Michael - 2/5 - I really wanted to like "Maria virtuous witch", but unfortunately, it failed to meet my expectations. The storyline had potential, but it felt rushed and poorly executed. The character development was lacking, with uninteresting and forgettable characters. The animation quality was average at best, with nothing visually stunning or captivating. Overall, it was a mediocre anime that didn't leave a lasting impression.