An Art Hero Walks Among Us

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One dark and stormy night, Mr. Goll noticed a leak in the roof, damaging a painting. In an act of bravery and honor, he saved the painting, cementing himself not as the hero Jesuit deserved but as the one they needed. He brought the salvaged painting to his office, but after realizing it wasn’t worth much on eBay, he let the director of the Jesuit Art Museum know where it was.

The response to this heroic act: silence.

The Nobel Prize winners were announced in early October this year, but Mr. Goll’s name was yet to be heard.

“It’s something that keeps me up at night,” he said in understandable rage mixed with snotty tears. How could one not see his heroism?

Jesuit is in the process of constructing something in front of the school and the fieldhouse by the Anderson parking lot, yet no one has even brought up naming it after him! In what world do we not reward virtue? I asked him how he would feel if they named a building after him.

“If the shoe fits,” he modestly said.

From his bravery to his humility, it is clear he deserves it.

But day after day, he carries on, un-thanked and un-showered.

Readers of The Roundup, you must understand, his character has even more depth than this act of valor suggests. To get to know him better, I asked him deep questions that truly revealed his dynamic personality and warm nature:

What’s your favorite color?

“Blue.”

But some people did no respond with mere neglect. Dr. Degen, the critically acclaimed writer of the CEA, suggested he was jealous of Goll by dodging questions like “What is it like to work with a hero, who is greater than you morally and in almost any other way.” What a cynical world.

Even Mr. Goll has been tainted by this sinful world. He couldn’t even remember that the name of the painting is: “um uh, well.” I guess that’s not important.

At least Ms. Blanc, director of the Jesuit museum, said she was “very grateful” because that would be a lot of paperwork.

The painting that was saved
Sharon Neel-Bagley “Arabella”

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The Jesuit Journal

Fall 2025

The Jesuit Journal provides a space for students interested in writing and visual art with a space to showcase their creative talents.

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