April 2003

Index for April 2, 2003

Carnegie Corporation hosts University students and faculty

By Martha Milcarek, Assistant Vice President for Public Relations

On a blustery, cold day in early March, 34 Fairfield University students and a number of faculty and administrators were warmly welcomed by staff of the Carnegie Corp. in New York City and treated to lively debate and discussion on the issue of religion and civic engagement.

The students, members of the Ignatian Residential College, were invited by Susan Robinson King, M.A.'73, vice president for public affairs at the corporation and a member of Fairfield's Trustee Advisory Committee.

The program featured a presentation on civic engagement by Rev. Bryan Hehir, president and chief executive officer of Catholic Charities USA and the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Fairfield. Respondents were Neil Grabois, vice president and director of strategic planning and program coordination for Carnegie, and Dr. Paul Lakeland, Fairfield professor of religious studies.

According to Associate Academic Vice President Mary Frances Malone, Ph.D., the Fairfield University Evening with the Carnegie Corp. provided a forum to discuss how organizations with a foundation mission, and groups with a faith perspective, participate in and effect debate on major social issues in the public square. The richness of this program stems from the deep institutional commitment of the Carnegie Corp., Catholic Charities USA, and Fairfield University in the important issues associated with educating for civic responsibility and social justice.

Fr. Hehir first examined religion and civic engagement from a three-dimensional perspective: 1) constitutional, 2) theological, and 3) social policy. He further discussed the resources that religious traditions and communities bring to the task of civic engagement including ideas, institutions, and communities. Citing a dictum from the Hebrew scriptures - "where there is no vision, people perish" - Fr. Hehir said religious traditions vary in the degree to which they develop coherent consistent intellectual expressions of faith, "but religious ideas about human dignity, rights and duties, the role of social institutions and their legitimacy are surely one of the generic resources of civic engagement."

He further cited religion's impact on the creation of institutions that project their vision into society through concrete programs of advocacy and service before examining the role of community. "This may be the bedrock irreducible method of civic engagement by a religious tradition - its members are also citizens.

"While the degree of intellectual and organizational engagement may vary greatly, this intersection of the religious and civic lives of individuals is a constant possibility for every religious tradition. How a tradition encourages its members to join the social and sacred, civic and religious admits of multiple variations, but it is the most likely foundation upon which civic engagement is built," Fr. Hehir said.

Michael Bond '05, a political science major, said, "It was a great chance to engage with influential political and charitable leaders and a real growth opportunity for me. It also provided a touchstone for Fairfield students in the Ignatian Residential College, and particularly with the current situation in Iraq, it challenges us to think about civic engagement and how we might become involved."

Reflecting on the evening, Dr. Malone said the excitement and value of this event was the interchange among foundation professionals, academics, and students, "whose mixing of perspectives and generations can help put into context how the eventual work of civic engagement will perhaps unfold."

Daffodil days
Danielle D'Angelo '04 was among the Fairfield University students selling daffodils last month as part of a fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society. Thanks to the generous donations from faculty, staff, students, and campus organizations, Fairfield's contribution to the American Cancer Society will total nearly $4,000. D'Angelo, with assistance from Erin Fredericks '04, spearheaded the on-campus daffodil sale.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Raising awareness for peace in Iraq

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Spurred by the experiences of John Humphreys, a member of the Society of Friends who lived in Iraq and spoke on campus in November, students at Fairfield University began to voice their growing concerns about a lack of information regarding the issues surrounding the then-impending war.

That discussion planted the seed for Emmett Kearney '03 to form Fairfield University Students for Peace. The on-campus group is working to increase awareness and provide accurate information about the Middle East through distribution and demonstration.

Since December, the group has participated in peace marches in New York City and Washington, D.C., held weekly protests on Fairfield's town green, and hosted a talk by Simon Harak, S.J., a former tenured professor at Fairfield University who left his teaching position in 1999 to direct his efforts toward ending sanctions against Iraq. Several faculty and staff have supported the students by organizing transportation and marching with them.

During "National Student Strike For Books Not Bombs" on March 5, several students held a sit-in in Canisius Hall to illustrate their opposition to war with Iraq.

"When you really believe in something, you can't just sit around. You have to stand up and tell people," Kearney says. "Lots of people have been misinformed about the situation in Iraq for a long time. If you want people to see the whole truth, you have to do it yourself."

Larri Mazon, director of multicultural relations, supports the mission of Kearney and his group to educate others about the events leading up to the war, as well as their willingness to discuss peaceful options. "I hold the utmost respect for these students because they are standing up for what they believe in," he says. "We should be proud that they are willing to show their opinions."

With the war in Iraq now underway, Fairfield University students continue to show their opposition at protests each Tuesday on the town green. Responses from passersby run the gamut, says Kearney. "About 80 to 90 percent of them are positive. We get the occasional clenched fist and shouts," he says.

At press time, plans for an April 1 Teach-In were underway. Sessions and discussions are set to include the moral, economic, and Catholic/Jesuit perspectives on the war.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Alumni Association honors seven outstanding students

This month, the Alumni Association will honor the following seven seniors for their leadership, community service, and commitment to the Jesuit ideal. The annual Student Awards Dinner will take place April 15 in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business.

Honored for excellence by Fairfield University's Alumni Association are seniors (back row, l-r) Jordan Schibler, Karen Donoghue, Reesa Antony, Christopher Dill, (front row, l-r) Edward Seavers, Sarah Courtney, and Jeffrey Stone.

Christopher Dill
Student Achievement Award
Co-chair of the Great Hunger Cleanup for three years, Christopher Dill first got hooked on this national endeavor when he was attending a lector meeting in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola. That's when an upperclassman asked Dill to serve on the cleanup's executive board. That meeting forever altered his perception of hunger and homelessness in America, and led him to help Fairfield complete a six-year run as winner of the National Student Campaign for Hunger and Homelessness' Gold Medal Award for Excellence.

Dill says the organization has helped him improve his time management skills and given him a greater appreciation for life and its blessings. He says there is a need for service, recognizing that if "everyone did something, even if it was small, a significant difference could be made in the world." He lives true to his own words: In addition to his work with Hunger Cleanup, Dill is also co-chair of the lectors, treasurer for Habitat for Humanity, a Prospect House volunteer, and a member of Campus Ministry Council. He's also volunteered in Appalachia and served as a Mission Volunteer to Mexico.

Dill is a member of several honor societies, including Alpha Sigma Nu, Alpha Mu Gamma, Omicron Delta Kappa, Alpha Epsilon Delta, and Pi Mu Epsilon. After graduation, he'll work at Nativity Preparatory in Jamaica Plain, Mass., a middle school for inner-city boys. He's confident that he'll return to participate in The Great Hunger Cleanup. It's just one way he plans to practice the Jesuit ideals of service and loyalty that Fairfield University has taught him.

Jeffrey Stone
Student Achievement Award
"I've always liked to take things that need a little work and make them better," says Jeffrey Stone, who's credited with helping reinvent Fairfield University's radio station, WVOF. As a freshman, Stone signed up to do a Christian Rock show on WVOF called Cornerstone, and has never looked back.

He thanks student broadcast coordinator Casey Timmeny '99, for making his and other students' ideas a reality. When Stone joined the station, he recruited more students, reshaped the on-air programming, and helped secure better equipment for the station. Thanks to his efforts, 150 students work on-air or behind the scenes today and a training program is in place for aspiring deejays.

Stone was also the catalyst in WVOF's move from Regis Hall to the John A. Barone Campus Center. He's also worked on developing a website that enables listeners to tune in via computer and view simulcast shows on the campus television network.

Stone says his responsibilities as station manager have taught him a great deal. "Working at WVOF has made me a stronger person and I now have the confidence to confront and deal with various situations that perhaps I couldn't have before," he says.

Stone has also been involved with Inter-Residence Hall Government and The HAM Channel, is a member of the on-campus Bible Study Christian Fellowship Group, and is a high school youth group leader. He is the recipient of the Bernard J. Kelly Award for Excellence in Television and Radio and is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, Pi Mu Epsilon, Phi Beta Kappa, and Omicron Delta Kappa. He is looking forward to a career in Christian radio, whether on the air or behind the scenes.

Karen Donoghue
St. Ignatius Loyola Medal
When she entered Fairfield University, Karen Donoghue didn't waste any time getting involved. With the encouragement of her Freshman Year Experience facilitator, Donoghue joined the Fairfield University Student Association. She also became co-director of the freshman class council, played junior varsity soccer, was a Campus Ministry lector, and participated in countless other activities.

In four short years, Donoghue has changed the face of Fairfield: She helped found the Student Alumni Association to bridge the gap between students and alumni, and became the first female ever to be elected president of the student association. As FUSA president, she has opened communication between students and the administration and has created a student leadership development program to ensure there will be strong leadership in years to come.

A true leader, Donoghue believes her calling is to empower students. "I hope I have made an impact on others, that I have motivated others to become involved at Fairfield and to strive for a passion for leadership," she says.

Donoghue exemplifies Jesuit ideals by balancing academic, social, and extracurricular activities. Her accolades include Omicron Delta Kappa, Who's Who Among College Students, Class Council Member of the Year, and Dean's List. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a master's degree in higher education and become a graduate assistant, with the hope of developing a new generation of student leaders.

"At Fairfield," she says, "I've learned how to be a full person, to feel passionate about something, and to influence people in a positive way."

Edward Seavers
Student Achievement Award
For Eddie Seavers, being a tour guide is the best way to express his pride for Fairfield University. Involved with the Office of Undergraduate Admission since his freshman year, Seavers has become the first student to sit alongside admission counselors, representing Fairfield at college fairs, regional receptions, and student panels. And today, the tour guide program has more students involved than ever before, thanks to Seavers, who expanded the interview process to find some of the most dedicated students on campus.

Seavers says he has learned much about himself and others by being a tour guide. He enjoys showing prospective students why and how Fairfield could be the best place for them. "This is a lot of fun to do," he says. "Giving a tour can often make my day because it gives me a chance to tell people how much I love Fairfield."

Even his daily life has been affected by his experiences - and in turn this affects others. Seavers is the first to spot people who are lost on campus. "This has made me more than willing to go up to that person and try to help out," he says. "Although it's a small gesture, it can really make a difference in a person's day, knowing there are helpful and welcoming people around."

In addition to his role as tour guide, Seavers has been a resident assistant, junior class treasurer, Senior Week co-chair, and senior class vice president. He is also a Eucharistic minister and a baseball coach in his home state of New Jersey. He is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, Beta Gamma Sigma, Omicron Delta Kappa, Alpha Mu Gamma, and is a Fairfield University Dean's Scholar.

After graduation, he wants to pursue a graduate assistantship and a master's degree in higher education administration. "Fairfield has not only given me great friendships and experiences, but a direction in life," he says.

Sarah Courtney
Student Achievement Award
Even before Sarah Courtney was accepted to Fairfield University she knew that she wanted to be involved in the student television station. Today, the HAM Channel is her greatest passion.

As a freshman, Courtney worked in the studio and took courses related to television production. Though television was her interest, Courtney admits she didn't know much about the production side. "I could use the remote!" she says. "Now I can edit shows and I know what all the technical jargon means."

Through her work, Courtney has discovered what it would take to follow her dream of working in television. She has served the HAM Channel as news director, treasurer, executive producer, and now president. Besides making sure the quality of programming was up to par, she was in charge of organizing Stagstock, an annual day of concerts at Fairfield. The event hadn't drawn a big crowd in years past, and Courtney vowed to change that. She booked such a successful concert that Stagstock was awarded the 2001-2002 Event of the Year.

Courtney is also a FUSA senator and sub-chair of publicity for the Senior Week board. She traveled to Ecuador with Global Outreach, is on the Dean's List, and has been interning at the Fox News Channel since 2001.

After graduation, Courtney will continue her work on the assignment desk at Fox.

Reesa Antony
William J. Kramer '60 Humanitarian Award
Reesa Antony says her older sister, Reeja, and her parents inspired her participation in community service by teaching her to give of herself to others. As a sophomore, Antony became a Eucharistic Minister, a member of Sharin' Our Stories, and participated in Urban Plunge. The trip was her first exposure to poverty and homelessness. "The experience made me want to do more, to see more," she says.

As a junior, Antony participated in a spring break Mission Volunteer trip to Eastport, Maine, where she helped tutor and mentor 4-year-olds. The trip cemented her love for children and her desire to work with them.

Antony was a resident assistant her junior year and believes the position helped prepare her for what she knew would be the most emotional and spiritual journey of her life: a Mission Volunteer trip to Ecuador. Before departure, Antony worried about the language barrier. But the Ecuadorians approached her and made her feel as though she belonged, she says. They also showed her that life is not about material things, but about giving of yourself to others.

Memories of the trip will stay with her for the rest of her life, and she thinks it is important to share her experience with others.

Antony is a member of Alpha Kappa Delta and is a two-time recipient of the Alumni Multicultural Scholarship. After graduation, she will pursue a career as a counselor for special-needs children. She's especially interested in working at a children's hospital and obtaining a master's degree in speech pathology.

Wherever life takes her, Antony will never forget her experiences with Campus Ministry and her trips as a Mission Volunteer. "I've seen Christ in all of these people," she says.

Jordan Schibler
Student Achievement Award
Jordan Schibler hadn't given student government much thought until he entered college, and his older sister, Katie '99, encouraged him to join FUSA. Little did he know that FUSA would become an integral part of his four years at Fairfield.

Freshman year, he and class co-director Karen Donoghue organized some innovative and "experimental" programs, including a ski trip, class T-shirts, a trip to Busch Gardens, and a Spring Fling. Schibler continued on as co-director his sophomore year, and served as a cabinet member in his junior year. He also balanced the books for all five FUSA branches.

As a senior, he is an internal executive, serving as a sounding board for students and encouraging administrators involved in the students' lives. In this vein, Schibler organized the first FUSA Open Forum, an opportunity for students to speak freely about issues or concerns with University administrators.

Schibler says he can't think of FUSA without thinking of Fairfield and vise versa. "FUSA has shaped the way I function, view the school, and work with other people," he says. He has also served as building manager for the John A. Barone Campus Center, co-founder and president of the Student Alumni Association, executive co-chair of Orientation, and Senior Week sub-chair, and he has traveled to Mexico as a Mission Volunteer.

Schibler hopes to pursue a career in technology information systems. He says he will never forget his four years at Fairfield. "Fairfield means everything to me," he says. "It has changed the way I look at the world through my mind, body, and spirit."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Dr. Sharon Abbott, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences, was mentioned in "Journalist 'outs' Commercials with Gay Themes," an article that ran in February in the Fairfield and Westport Minuteman. Dr. Abbott had invited journalist Michael Wilke to speak to University students about the negative depiction of homosexuals in television ads.

Dr. Dorothea Braginsky, professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted in a February Connecticut Post article examining how "snob appeal" may have influenced Bridgeport Mayor Joseph P. Ganim's decision to purchase $400 bottles of French wine. "It's the height of conspicuous consumption buying this kind of perishable good," Dr. Braginsky said. "It's quite a statement and it's quite pretentious too."

In February, a Sunday feature in The (Stamford) Advocate on Fairfield County incomes featured research and quotes from Chris Calienes, a research associate in the University's Geographic Information Systems laboratory. "Outside of this area, Stamford is a wealthy town," Calienes said. "But in Fairfield County it is middle-class." Also quoted in the article was Dr. Edward Deak, professor of economics.

In February, Dr. Javier Campos, associate professor of modern languages and literatures in the College of Arts and Sciences, presented a lecture at Trinity College on Caribbean identities. His lecture was based on information gathered during his recent research trip to Cuba. In addition, his paper, "Young Cuban Writers Today, Plus a Short Anthology," based on an interview with the Cuban writer, Jesus Jambrina, appeared in the literary journal, ALPHA.
    Also in February, Dr. Campos' award-winning poem Los gatos (Cats) was published in Nuevos autores de la poesia española, a Spanish poetry anthology. In December, the poem received a Juan Rulfo 2002 award from Radio France International.

Campus Ministry's Urban Plunge program, conducted in Bridgeport during spring break, was featured on the front page of the Connecticut Post. Eight students spent their spring break learning about social, educational, economic, and environmental aspects of poverty. The trip was led by Associate University Chaplain Carolyn Rusiackas and Assistant University Chaplain Melissa Reardon.

In January, Janet Canepa, director of alumni relations, and Jeremy Nappi, assistant director, were pictured in the Easton Courier and the Fairfield Citizen-News, surrounded by some of the 800 teddy bears collected during the University's fourth annual Teddy Bears with Love program.

Entries by senior reference librarians Angela Courtney and Christina McGowan have been published in vol. 266 of The Dictionary of Literary Biography: Twentieth Century American Dramatists. They wrote about playwrights Edna Ferber and Emily Mann, respectively.

Michael Dalton, director of career planning, was quoted in the Connecticut Post's coverage of Fairfield University's annual job fair for students. More than 100 organizations sent representatives to the February event.

Dr. Edward Deak, professor of economics in the College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted extensively on the Connecticut job market, the growing national debt, rising fuel costs, and the effects of war talk on the economy. He was interviewed several times by the Connecticut Post. His comments also appeared in The Herald (New Britain), The Day (New London), the Hartford Courant, the Middletown Press, the Torrington Register-Citizen, the Fairfield Minuteman, and on the websites, CNNMoney and Hoover's Online.
    In February, numerous television and radio station websites ran an economy story quoting Dr. Deak. They were: WOKR-TV in Rochester, N.Y.; WKRC-TV in Cincinnati, Ohio; WIXT-TV in East Syracuse, N.Y.; WIOD-Radio in Miami; WHP-TV in Harrisburg, Pa.; WGY-Radio in Albany, N.Y.; WGST-Radio in Atlanta; KFYI-Radio in Phoenix,; KGPE-TV in Fresno, Calif.; KHOW-TV in Denver; KION-TV in Salinas, Calif.; and KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City.
    "The Employment Numbers' Fuzzy Math," another story that quoted Dr. Deak, was carried on the following websites in February: Yahoo! News; Yahoo! Finance; WRTV-TV in Indianapolis; WRAL-TV in Raleigh, N.C.; WFTV-TV in Orlando, Fla; KCRA-TV in Sacramento; KCCI-TV in Des Moines, Iowa; KGTV-TV in San Diego; KMGH-TV in Denver; KMBC-TV in Kansas City, Mo.; KIRO-TV in Seattle; KHBS-KHOG-TV in Fort Smith, Ark.; KPRC-TV in Houston; WBAL-TV in Baltimore; WCCO in Minneapolis; WCVB-TV in Needham, Mass.; WDIV-TV in Detroit; and WESH-TV in Winter Park, Fla.

In February, Dr. Edward Dew, professor and chair of politics in the College of Arts and Sciences, delivered a discussion based on the book, Everyday Life in the Muslim Middle East (edited by Donna Lee Bowen and Evelyn A. Early) at the Silas Bronson Library in Waterbury, Conn. Also, Dr. Dew spoke to the American Association of University Women of Norwalk and Westport, and the Westport Y's Women on the "Global Struggle for Women's Rights."
    In March, Dr. Dew and Dr. Michael Tucker, professor of finance, commented on the war in Iraq on News 12 Connecticut.

James Fitzpatrick, assistant vice president for student services, was quoted in a February Nation's Restaurant News article about Jazzman's Café, the University's new eatery in the John A. Barone Campus Center.

In February, Faye Gage, director of the Connecticut Writing Project at Fairfield University, was named president-elect of St. Luke's LifeWorks/Bread & Roses, a Stamford-based non-profit agency that provides housing, education, and advocacy for people in crisis. The announcement ran in Gage's hometown newspaper, the Darien Times.

Dr. Joy Gordon, associate professor of philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences, and an expert on U.N. sanctions in Iraq, spoke at "Christians Concerned About Iraq: Connecticut Churches Gathered for Education and Action" in February. This gathering of Christian clergy and lay people was held at Immanuel Congregation Church in Hartford.

Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president, was interviewed for a Sunday Connecticut Post article in January about the recruitment of minority students among Connecticut colleges and universities. The article also ran in The Chronicle in Willimantic.

Dr. Nick Hill, associate professor of modern languages and literatures in the College of Arts and Sciences, was featured in a February Fairfield and Westport Minuteman story about his favorite winter pastime: cross-country skiing on local trails and golf course grounds.

In February, Dr. Alan Katz, professor of politics in the College of Arts and Sciences, published a review of Chris Cook's A Short History of the Liberal Party, 1900-2001, in Choices, the book review journal of the Association of College and Research Libraries.
    Also in February, a photo of Dr. Katz, recipient of the Fairfield University Alumni Association's first Distinguished Teaching Award, ran in the Fairfield Minuteman and the Fairfield Citizen-News. Also featured in the photo were Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president, and Dr. Mary Frances Malone, associate academic vice president.

Christian Century, a bi-weekly Chicago publication, quoted Dr. Paul Lakeland, professor of religious studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, in a January article about a growing reluctance among Catholics to support the Church.

In a recent survey conducted by a doctoral student at European Center for Advanced Research in Economics and Statistics of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Dr. Gregory Koutmos, chair of the finance department in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, ranked 326 out of 500 of the top economics researchers in the world based on the number of articles produced from 1994 to 1998. This ranking falls on the heels of a report included in the official publication of the Financial Management Association that ranked Dr. Koutmos 208 out of the top 1,000 authors for prolific finance writings, as measured by the number of pages in 16 core finance journals.

In March, Dr. Nik Laopodis, associate professor of finance in the Dolan School of Business, presented "Dynamic Linkages Among Long-term Interest Rates: Implications for Global Monetary Policy," before senior figures from academia, industry, and government at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London.

In February, Dr. Mark LeClair, associate professor of economics in the College of Arts and Sciences, presented two papers at the Eastern Economic Association meeting in New York, N.Y: "Why So Close to Home: The Geographic Distribution of Corporate Giving" and "Externalities in International Trade: The Case for Differential Tariffs," which he co-authored with Dr. Dina Franceschi, assistant professor of economics.

In March, Dr. R. James Long, professor and chair of philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences, published a chapter titled "Richard Fishacre" in A Companion to Philosophy in the Middle Ages.

In February, Susan Marcin's review of a business ethics website was published in Choice, the book review journal of the Association of College and Research Libraries. Marcin is the University's Web development and reference librarian.

In February, Larri Mazon, director of Multicultural Relations, delivered the keynote speech at a forum on affirmative action sponsored by the Community Relations Commission of the Jewish Center for Community Services in Bridgeport.

Dr. David McFadden, professor of history in the College of Arts and Sciences, was interviewed by Bill O'Reilly on WOR radio March 19 on the historical use of dissent during a time of war. That evening he was a guest on The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News where he talked about the right to public assembly and protest in a democratic society. He was also interviewed that day by the Associated Press in Chicago.
    In February, Dr. McFadden traveled to Russia under a speaker/specialist grant awarded by the U.S. Department of State. He participated in "Culture and Identity in Global Context: Russia, Europe, the Baltic, and the United States," an American studies conference at Kaliningrad State University in Russia. He also conducted seminars at Hertzen Pedagogical State University in St. Petersburg and at Pomor State University in Arkhangelsk. In addition, Dr. McFadden was part of a panel at a second conference on American studies at St. Petersberg State University hosted by Smolny College. The conference was supported by the Consulate General of the United States.

Martha Milcarek, assistant vice president for public relations, was interviewed by the Connecticut Post in February about a legislative proposal that colleges receiving Connecticut state funding be required to place at least one student on their boards of trustees. The article also ran in The Chronicle in Willimantic.
    Also in February, Milcarek was interviewed by the Connecticut Post and the Hartford Courant about increased security measures on campus.

In January, Dr. John Orman, professor of politics in the College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted in a Sunday Orlando Sentinel story about President Bush's State of the Union address and his quest to rid Iraq of threatening weapons. "He needs as many allies as he can to show he's not being a cowboy," Dr. Orman said. In addition, Dr. Orman was quoted on the President's policies and his wartime leadership potential in the Westport News, the Connecticut Post, The Chronicle in Willimantic, and CNNMoney online.
    In March, Dr. Orman did a lengthy interview on CBS radio in New Orleans on the history of war-time presidents.

Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, assistant professor of history in the College of Arts and Sciences, was interviewed by WSTC/WNLK radio about the Daniel Libeskind design chosen for the World Trade Center site. In addition, he wrote a paper on the topic that appeared in the Jewish publication, Forward.

In March, Dr. Kurt Schlichting, professor of sociology and anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences, conducted a guided tour of Grand Central Terminal for members of the Fairfield Historical Society. Dr. Schlichting is the author of Grand Central Terminal: Railroad, Engineering and Architecture in New York City.

Jane Sutherland, professor emerita of art, was featured by the Connecticut Post and the New Canaan Advertiser in February. "The Crane Project," an exhibit of paintings by Sutherland and her daughter, Alexandra Sax, was on display in February and March at the Silvermine Guild Arts Center.

Brian Torff, director of the music program in the College of Arts and Sciences, conducted the Western Regional Middle School Jazz Band in March, at Western Connecticut State University. The band, which is composed of the best musical students in western Connecticut, performed three of Torff's original compositions.
    Also in March, Torff and other jazz musicians performed at Birdland in New York City for a birthday tribute to the producer and conductor, Ettore Stratta.

Celia Townsend Wells, associate professor emerita of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, and author of Brood Bitch: Reflections on Motherhood, spoke at the Pequot Library in February. The Meet the Author event was covered by the Fairfield Minuteman.

Clarification
In the March 4, 2003, issue of Campus Currents, an article about the Fairfield Awards Dinner recipients neglected to mention the first scholarship established in Victor F. Leeber, S.J.'s name. Upon Fr. Leeber's retirement in 1992, the first Rev. Victor F. Leeber, S.J. Scholarship was established through the generosity of countless friends, family, faculty, and staff. Eight years later, in 2000, a second scholarship was named for Fr. Leeber through the generosity of William Egan '67 and his wife, Jacalyn.

Condolences
Dr. S.M.A. Kadir, father-in-law of Susan Kadir, director of financial aid, died Feb. 11.
Mary Eileen Francis, sister of Maureen Foley, administrative assistant in the Office of Human Resources, died March 1.
Florence Bucki, mother of Dr. Cecelia Bucki, associate professor of history, died March 4.
Henry Ellenbast, father of Carole Boccuzzi, administrative assistant in the School of Nursing, died March 15.
Melvin Velazquez, brother of Raymond Velazquez Jr., driver for the Jesuit community, died March 16.

New Employees
Lisa Mancini - operations assistant, Talent Search
Ronald Pepin - UNIX administrator, math/computer science
Deborah Zsebik - operations assistant, security

The School of Nursing

 

Dr. Suzanne Campbell: Helping mothers nurture their newborns

By Jennifer K. Covino, Publications Writer

Research has shown that breastfeeding provides a new mother with the chance to bond closely with her baby, recover from the weight gained during pregnancy, and reduce her risk of developing breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancers. Breast-fed children also get immunities, an IQ boost of three to four points, and fewer ear infections and other ailments.

Why, then, have we become a bottle-fed culture? That question is on the mind of Dr. Suzanne Hetzel Campbell, a nurse practitioner, board-certified lactation consultant, and assistant professor in the School of Nursing whose clinical practice and research are aimed at removing the barriers that keep women from breastfeeding.

According to Dr. Campbell, 98 percent of mothers nursed their newborns a century ago. Today, just 60 percent are nursing when they leave the hospital and most of them quit within the first two to six weeks. At six months, fewer than 20 percent of women are breastfeeding their children.

In addition to teaching, Dr. Campbell works eight hours a week at Breastfeeding Resources, a Stratford practice founded by pediatrician Dr. Christina Smillie. Women are referred to the practice when other interventions to ensure successful breastfeeding have failed. She typically sees women when they're sore and tired, and ready to throw in the towel.

"We see the cases that everybody else had given up on," says Dr. Campbell, who now spends most of her time in the office working on research funded by a $6,000 grant from the International Lactation Consultant Association.

Using patient records and surveys, Dr. Campbell gathered data from 130 women who experienced plugged milk ducts when breastfeeding. Half of the women received ultrasound treatment and half used only traditional treatments such as hot showers and compresses, massage, and frequent nursing. In August, she will present the results of her research at the ILCA's annual conference in Australia, and, during a pre-tenure sabbatical in the fall, hopes to expand her study to include women who experienced two of the other more common obstacles to breastfeeding: yeast infections of the breast and hyperlactation (producing an overabundance of milk).

In May, Dr. Campbell will participate in a two-week research institute at the University of Pennsylvania, where she will have a chance to work with mentors on her grant writing and publication skills. She is hoping to rework a federal grant proposal with the Connecticut Department of Public Health that was recently rejected. Dr. Campbell and others had proposed a statewide breastfeeding study with black and Hispanic women, two groups less likely to nurse than their white counterparts. One day, she envisions women at Bridgeport and St. Vincent's hospitals being treated with ultrasound in a breastfeeding study, while others receive a placebo treatment.

Helping the underserved is important to Dr. Campbell, who calls each of her three roles - nurse, teacher, and mother - a vocation. "I get a lot back from my patients and students," says Dr. Campbell. "If I can change the attitude of one nursing student (about breastfeeding), that's hundreds of babies I could be touching."

Dr. Campbell is one of 10 nurses to be profiled in an upcoming book, 101 Careers in Nursing, being written by Dr. Jeanne Novotny, dean of the School of Nursing, and Dr. Joyce Fitzpatrick, an esteemed figure in the nursing profession. Dr. Campbell is active in La Leche League International, the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition, and Sigma Theta Tau, the international nursing honor society. She also nursed her children, Lilly, 14, and Greg, 8. Her husband is Dr. Gerard Campbell, an associate professor in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business.

Also a parish nurse, catechist, and Eucharist minister at St. Rose of Lima in Newtown, Dr. Campbell says she enjoys working at a Jesuit, Catholic institution where God can be part of the classroom discussion. "I can't talk women's health without talking mind, body, and spirit," she says. And, for Dr. Campbell, Fairfield University provides the perfect arena.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Dr. Lakeland discusses crisis in the Church

Nearly 200 students packed the McGrath Room last month to attend a talk by Dr. Paul Lakeland, professor of religious studies.

Had everyone not already been sitting on the floor of the McGrath Room on Tuesday evening, March 4, the overflow of students into the hall would have made it a standing-room-only crowd. However, they too decided to sit as they listened to Dr. Paul Lakeland, professor of religious studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, speak about the issues, attitudes, and assumptions that gave rise to the sexual abuse crisis in the Roman Catholic Church.

Author of the recently published The Liberation of the Laity: In Search of an Accountable Church (Continuum), Dr. Lakeland spoke at the invitation of Campus Ministry's student lectors and Eucharistic ministers, who meet jointly every month for reflection and dialog on a selected topic. Among the contributing factors Dr. Lakeland discussed were a clerical culture of secrecy and a hierarchical structure that includes no formal way to assure a lay voice in the decision-making processes of the church.

He noted that the sexual abuse crisis is one that has ignited the concerns of liberals and conservatives, although they disagree on the causes and the steps to be taken. In expressing his views, he said, "We must find effective ways to promote lay responsibility in and to the Church. And we must insist on clerical accountability to the people they serve." Noting that the existing Church structures include features of monarchy and oligarchy, he suggested that incorporating some democratic elements that allow people to speak their minds in an open way could be a helpful addition. He also added that while the bishop is the teacher in the Church, it would be healthy to return to earlier Church practices in which the importance of lay consent to these teachings was also recognized.

Dr. Lakeland's talk proved itself an effective springboard to questions and discussion by and among the nearly 200 students who attended.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Legislative help needed

Fairfield University students, whose homes are in Connecticut, currently receive nearly $1.5 million in financial aid from the state. Present legislation would reduce that amount by approximately 24 percent, thus creating serious hardships for those Connecticut students who have a demonstrated financial need.

The University asks that we e-mail our state representative and Governor Rowland expressing our concern about the proposed budget cut and its implications for students in need. This can be done easily by visiting the Connecticut Council of Independent Colleges website (www.theccic.org) and choosing the section Legislative Action.

Easter is all about life

By Paul E. Carrier, S.J., University Chaplain

The Resurrection of Jesus says so much about life, here and now. As we reflect on the mystery and miracle of Easter, let us ask ourselves three questions:

1. What does being alive mean to me?
2. What does it mean to be alive in Jesus?
3. How alive am I?

Being alive is a gift. It is made up of rich moments that can be expressed in a variety of ways, from Martin Luther King Jr. saying, "Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty I'm free at last," to Lazarus coming out of the tomb totally surprised, to a child enjoying her first ice cream cone.

When are we most alive? Perhaps it is when we smile for the first time at a newborn child or experience the exhilaration of falling in love. Feeling alive is a conscious reflection of the good gift of life, of being grateful, and of never taking anyone or anything for granted. Being alive in Jesus is eternal life, and eternal life is now, a reality so strong that not even death can destroy it. You and I will never stop being branches on the vine or temples of God's spirit, dwelling places of the Living God.

Now we come to the most difficult question, How really alive are we? Sometimes we feel barely alive, our hearts beating out of habsit, just surviving. Life can get us down, but whether we feel like a "10" or a "one," God's life continues to run through us. Easter is a time to be aware of the life of Jesus stirring within us. It is a thrill worth singing about.

The paradox is that the life of Jesus within us is still spotted with pain. Easter and Good Friday are one reality, the total picture of human life. To truly live Easter life, we must live with passion. The real enemy of Easter life is not pain - not even death - but apathy and boredom. It is never too late to lead a life filled with passion. We can embrace the gift of Easter life right now, this month. Let us break the routines, the ruts, the "that's the way it's always been" syndrome. Let surprise and spontaneity be part of our lives. Poet William Blake wrote, "Exuberance is life." If we have a passion for life and living, it will grow into a passion for life everywhere.

This Easter, let us recognize and celebrate the Spirit of Jesus that is with us and that life is ours for the sharing!

Taking time for self-renewal

With the advent of spring and the Lenten season, renewal surrounds us. This time of year, our lives can become increasingly busy. The end of the semester is near and planning for the summer and the fall and spring semesters lies ahead. Where there used to be downtime in the academic schedule, there now seems to be continual work at an increasing pace.

As often happens in our society, this frantic way of living has been given a medical diagnosis: Hurried Woman's Syndrome. Dr. Brent Bost, an obstetrician and gynecologist from Beaumont, Texas, applies this label to describe the presenting symptoms of the many women he sees in his practice who exhibit fatigue, weight gain, and low sex drive. These women cite their hectic schedules as the cause of the symptoms. Dr. Bost sees the schedule contributing to a form of pre-depression. Responsibility for home and family, work pressures, and other commitments weigh heavily on these women as they strive to match schedules for competing demands with limited time. Dr. Bost believes that women tend to take on too much and expect too much of themselves. The complaints he hears may sound familiar to you: "I feel guilty when I watch TV and am not folding the laundry at the same time"; "I never have time to just sit and relax. Whenever I sit for a minute I am thinking about all the other things I need to be doing"; "I wake up before the alarm because I am already planning for the day - and it won't all fit into the hours available!" Dr. Bost's approach to treating these women is to advise them to slow their hurried pace and to learn to say no. Most women (and many men, I would add!) find this difficult to do, in part because the commitments are long-term and have an effect on other people.

At one point in my family's life, we realized that nearly every evening and weekend was filled with activities. Each of my children had at least three activities that were important to them, and my wife and I had activities that were important to the family and us. Finally, we all sat down and talked about the frantic pace at which we were living. We agreed to limit our commitments to two per week, to talk to each other before agreeing to any new commitment, and to set priorities in our activities. We also began having a family night every Friday - we make a pizza and watch a movie together. This approach has worked for 10 years. Today, we still have family night and we still limit our activities, but for my wife and myself, work takes more of our time than ever before. We find ourselves drawn into the expectations of others to do more in the same amount of time, with the added pressure that all of that work will be of high quality. And we're starting to expect this of our colleagues and our children.

When was the last time you took some time for yourself? A colleague on campus described a recent experience with some of her friends. They were snowshoeing one Sunday in a beautiful forest, following trails through the mountains. As they worked their way back toward their cars, the group decided to hike one more trail. My colleague decided to sit and wait for them to return, not because she was tired or did not want the added exercise, but because she seldom has the chance to enjoy the serenity the area provided. As she stated, "That was the first time in a very long time that I just 'was' and wasn't running around, concerned with trying to accomplish something useful." That, to me, is the basis for renewal. Taking stock, finding time to be on your own without thinking about what you should be doing, leaving the work behind rather than taking it along wherever you go, deciding that your child does not have to participate in every activity, being realistic about schedules, and speaking up about unrealistic expectations - these are all part of renewal of spirit.

This is a difficult time for our country. We have engaged in a war that may have repercussions well into the next decade. In this context, renewal may seem to pale as our worries, concern for loved ones, and stress levels increase. But more than at any other time, renewal is needed in our lives. Take time in your busy day for yourself. Prayer in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola may provide that solace. Taking a walk at lunchtime may give you the exercise boost to help you cope. Having a quiet dinner with a friend may help put the pressures of the day in perspective. Plan these activities. Recognize that you need down time. Ask others to lend a hand in your renewal.

Hurried Woman's Syndrome may be a group of symptoms that inform us of an unhealthy lifestyle. Just as we need to modify our diet and exercise patterns to maintain health, we also need to pay attention to our mental health by modifying our commitments and expectations. Let's learn to say yes to ourselves!

Philip A. Greiner, DNSc, RN

Associate Professor of Nursing; Director, Undergraduate Program; Director, Health Promotion Center

Campus construction report: April 2003

• Prep construction continues.
• The parking lot in front of the Walsh Athletic Center will be completed this month.
• Construction of the tennis court at the Walsh Athletic Center will begin.
• Installation of the synthetic turf at the Alumni Field will begin.
• Rerouting of the proposed boulevard has been postponed.

Relationships thrive through new mentoring program

Whether at Jazzman's Café or by e-mail, Kelsie Dewalt '03 (left) of the women's basketball team chats regularly with her mentor, Maria Regan, director of financial services.

By Rebecca Guess '04, Publications Intern

Last summer, head women's basketball coach Dianne Nolan had an idea to create a mentoring program between her players and several female faculty and staff on campus. She didn't realize that she was starting many meaningful friendships or that, in some cases, the mentors would be more touched than their players.

"Our players are seen as role models to many kids in the community. Local kids come to the games and the players teach clinics at area schools," Nolan says. "I wanted the players to have a role model on campus who wasn't involved in athletics, who would be someone the players could meet with to talk, get help, or just hang out with."

For the initial meeting, Nolan, with the help of Phyllis Fitzpatrick, director of management information, sent letters to female faculty, administrators, and staff campus-wide. After receiving an overwhelmingly positive response, says Nolan, she had to turn some down because they only needed 13 mentors. Players and mentors were then paired based on interests and life stages. For instance, they matched seniors with women who could give them career advice and freshman with those who would help them with the adjustment to college life.

Players wrote short autobiographies that they gave to their mentors as a way to introduce themselves.

Many of the mentoring relationships have been very successful and have provided the players with someone they can rely on.

When asked about her mentor, Kelsie Dewalt, a senior forward from Cypress, Texas, says, "I absolutely love her. Sometimes we go out to dinner or I'll just stop by her office. It's nice to have someone on campus to talk to besides coaches and professors."

Her mentor, Maria Regan, director of financial services, also has nothing but praise for the program and for Dewalt. "The program was a great idea - we should have thought of it sooner. As it turns out, I am the one learning. I'm getting so much out of my time with Kelsie."

During the basketball season, Dewalt's free time is limited, but she and Regan still find opportunities to get together at least once a month for some one-on-one time in addition to their correspondence by e-mail. "I hope that the program continues next year," Regan says.

As an international student from Zagreb, Croatia, freshman center Ivanna Podrug finds having a mentor especially helpful. She and Phyllis Fitzpatrick have started a relationship that assisted with her transition to life and culture in the United States. "Mrs. Fitzpatrick is very helpful. She is there to support me, and I can spend time with her during school vacations when everyone at the school goes home such as at Thanksgiving," she says.

When Podrug's Thanksgiving plans fell through, Fitzpatrick invited her into her own home where she met Fitzpatrick's daughter, a freshman at the University of Notre Dame. "I hope that my daughter has an adult at school to connect with, like Ivanna and I have connected," Fitzpatrick says. "Any young woman on campus will benefit from having such a relationship."

She points out that although Ivanna is 6-feet 5-inches tall and she's 5-feet 3-inches tall, they still see eye-to-eye.

Nolan decided it would be best to step aside once the mentors and athletes were paired and let the relationships grow on their own. "I'm lucky," she says. "I get to see the positive results of these relationships."

The mentoring program will run through the end of the semester, culminating with a wrap-up event in a few weeks. Nolan adds, "I would like very much to continue the program next year simply because of the great responses from the mentors and the wonderful results overall."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Dr. Kim Bridgford wins Connecticut Commission on the Arts grant

Dr. Kim Bridgford, professor of English, has received a 2003 fellowship from the Connecticut Commission on the Arts. The $2,500 CCA grant, one of 28 awarded this year, will allow Dr. Bridgford to spend the summer writing poetry. Linda Dente, the senior program specialist of CCA, presented the awards to Dr. Bridgford and the other recipients on March 27 at the State Capitol, as part of the state's celebration of Connecticut Arts Week.

In her grant application statement, Dr. Bridgford discussed the various avenues she would like to pursue in writing: poems about famous poets, sonnets on mythological and Biblical figures, and personal and humorous poems.

Dr. Bridgford recently published her first book, Undone. All poems in the collection, which are written in traditional forms, are about understanding and transcending life's losses. Dr. Jo Yarrington, professor of visual and performing arts, created the cover art. Dr. Bridgford's poetry has appeared in more than 300 publications, including The Georgia Review, The Quarterly, The Iowa Review, The Hollins Critic, and The Formalist.

Dr. Bridgford's teaching accolades include Connecticut Professor of the Year in 1994 by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and Advisor of the Year by Fairfield University students in 1993.

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Student-athletes named to MAAC All-Academic
Congratulations to the winter sport MAAC All-Academic teams and the 18 student-athletes who received the recognition. Honorees from the swimming and diving teams include Corrine Zamaitis '03, juniors Mike Cipollino, Kyle Stefanczyk, Robyn Glaser, Kim Maher, and Meghan Powers, and sophomores Meghan Doherty, Karen Seavers, and Kelly Steele. From the ice hockey team are Vincent Timpione '03, and sophomores Lyon Porter, Eamon Delgiacco, and Brian Payant. The basketball teams placed juniors Rob Thomson, Marybeth Chartier, and Milica Miljkovic, and sophomores Catherine Rusie, and Yvette Rutherford.

Softball coach earns 400th career victory
Julie Brzezinski, head softball coach, earned her 400th career victory in March, when the team posted a 7-4 record during its one-week stay in Florida. Brzezinski, who returned North with 160 wins as the Stags' coach, owns a 400-335-3 record in her 14-year coaching career. She hopes to guide the team to a sixth straight MAAC tournament berth this year, after bringing the program to a conference championship game appearance last season. Fairfield hosts the 2003 MAAC tournament May 9 and 10 in Stratford.

Ellen Sarosy '03: All-time leader

Ellen Sarosy '03 uses a left-handed slap-style when batting.

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

When outfielder Ellen Sarosy '03 entered the batter's box for the final time on May 9, 2002, against St. Joseph's University (Penn.), she promptly lined a single to the outfield. It was something she had done 191 times before, but this base hit was anything but routine - it established Sarosy as the all-time leader for career hits at Fairfield, breaking Theresa O'Connor's (Class of 2000) record.

Sarosy now puts distance between her numbers and O'Connor's statistics each time she steps onto the diamond. The Howard Beach, N.Y., native has already surpassed the 200-hit mark, and could break into the NCAA's Division I all-time hit leader list by the end of the season.

"Achieving this kind of success is really a matter of everything coming together. The most important thing is that the hits get me on base, which helps the team score runs and win games," Sarosy says. "It would be bittersweet to have this record but not make the NCAA tournament."

Last season, Fairfield came very close to reaching that goal, but lost two extra-inning games in the championship round of the MAAC tourney - which carried an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

"Losing that tournament was the biggest disappointment of my softball career," Sarosy says. "But it has given us so much incentive to win the MAAC this year and get into the NCAA tournament."

Sarosy, along with seniors Maria DiPilato, Mellissa Santos, and Christy Urban, hopes to make the MAAC tournament for the fourth time in her career, becoming the first class to achieve that feat.

"When we came in as freshmen, the senior players told us they wanted to win the MAAC that year," she says. That's the way we thought it should be - to make the MAAC tournament, win it, and get to the NCAA tournament. We seniors are doing the same for our freshmen this year."

The team has several advantages heading into the 2003 MAAC tournament, including hosting the event in Stratford in May and having Sarosy lead off. She has started every game in her Fairfield career, playing in 186 straight games (as of March 20). Her consistency at the top of the lineup has helped the team win game after game.

"She's been a catalyst for us throughout her career," says head coach Julie Brzezinski. "Ellen's performance on the field and her leadership off the field has been instrumental in our success. She gives everything she has in every game - that's something that cannot be taught."

One thing that was an acquired skill is her slap-style of hitting that works with her speed. She starts at the back of the batter's box and times the ball so that she strikes it as she comes out of the box. This gives her a running start toward first base.

"My summer coach thought I would get on base more and get noticed by college coaches if I changed to the slap-style of hitting," Sarosy says. "I used to bat right-handed, but switched to the left side so that I could use my speed to beat out ground balls."

That speed has also helped her achieve the school record for career stolen bases - a record she needed just three years to set. Sarosy had 86 steals by the end of her junior year, adding 10 more in her first 17 games this year. Amazingly, the senior has been caught stealing a base just 15 times in her three-plus years.

Her all-around game helped her garner the MAAC Player of the Year last season, as well as earn a berth on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region team.

"Awards are nice, but they're not what is important," Sarosy says. "What's important is winning as a team. If I get an award it means that I've helped my team win by playing well."

In May, Sarosy will graduate from Fairfield University with a degree in finance. The University's academic reputation was the most important element in her decision to attend Fairfield.

"I wanted to go to a school where I could also play a key role on the softball team," she says. "I didn't want to be just a pinch-runner somewhere. I wanted to receive a quality education and play every day."

She has certainly achieved both - two goals that are anything but routine.

Men's basketball plays in the NIT
In March, the men's basketball team earned its fifth bid to the National Invitation Tournament and secured a home game at the Arena at Harbor Yard. The Stags hosted Big East foe Boston College before 6,585 fans, a record attendance. Fairfield gave the game its all, trailing by only five points with two minutes to go before losing to BC, 90-78. The team finished the season with a 19-12 overall record and a 13-5 MAAC mark, tying the school record for most conference wins in a season. The 13 conference wins gave the senior class a four-year total of 41, the most ever by a four-year class.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

news Briefs

Art history alumni to speak at Walsh Art Gallery
The third Art History Alumni forum will take place on April 5 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery.

The forum, which has taken place twice before, in 1997 and 2000, gathers former art history majors to discuss their career paths in a panel format. The most recent forum featured 20 alumni in diverse positions including art gallery executive, attorney, and architectural conservator.

For more information, call Dr. Marice Rose, visiting instructor of art history, at ext. 3240.

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is April 24
The Office of Human Resources invites University employees to bring their daughters and sons, ages 9 to 15, to the office with them on April 24 as part of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. A special luncheon for parents and their children will be held in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business Dining Room from noon until 1:30 p.m. Dr. Jeanne Novotny, dean of the School of Nursing, is this year's guest speaker.

Remembrance Service to feature Rabbi Cahana
The annual Holocaust Remembrance Service will be held in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola on April 28 at 5 p.m. Guest speaker Rabbi Michael Cahana, senior rabbi of Temple Israel in New Rochelle, N.Y., will present "The Problems and Responsibilities of Being a Child of a Survivor."

The service and talk are open to the public and are sponsored by the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies, Campus Ministry, and KADIMA, Fairfield's undergraduate Jewish student group. There is no charge. Registration is requested. To register, contact the Judaic studies program at ext. 2066.

Fairfield University Dance Ensemble's spring production to take to the stage

The Fairfield University Dance Ensemble will perform everything from ballet to hip hop in its spring production on April 4 at 8 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

The production, Groove is in the Heart, will feature performances in tap, ballet, modern, jazz, and hip hop by the 65-member troupe, as well as some selected soloists and small groups. Among the musical selections are Dirrty by Christina Aguilera, Kiss by Prince, and selections from Chicago.

Amy Augustyn '01, who works with the students on modern dance techniques, has choreographed many of the pieces.

For tickets, call the box office at ext. 4010.

Cellist and pianist join forces at the Quick Center for the Arts April 5

Cellist Maya Beiser and pianist Anthony de Mare will perform an evening of haunting and sensual tango-infused music on April 5 at 8 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. A free wine tasting will precede the concert at 6:30 p.m.

Among the finest contemporary soloists, Beiser and de Mare are powerful interpreters of Latin composers Astor Piazolla and Joaquin Nin. The evening's program, Oblivión, will feature several memorable compositions, including Nin's "Suite Espanole" and "Chants d'Espagne," and Piazolla's "La Mufa," "Le Grand Tango," and "Adios Nonino," which begins with a piano solo and melts into an extended ardent musical dialogue between these formidable artists.

For tickets, call the Box Office at ext. 4010.

Fairfield University Jazz Ensemble and guest artist James Williams to perform April 8

The Fairfield University Jazz Ensemble will welcome internationally known pianist and composer James Williams as guest artist at its spring concert on April 8. Performances will take place at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. in the Wien Experimental Theatre.

Brian Torff, director of jazz and popular music and a noted bassist and composer, will lead the ensemble through a program of standards and innovative new works, including "Aqueous" by Nicholas Young '06 and "Piano Players Don't Drink Soda" by Sean Barrett '05. Bassist Larry Valliere '03 will be featured on Torff's arrangement of The Beatles' "Lady Madonna."

The Jazz Ensemble often invites notable guest artists to join them in concert. Past guests have included members of Blood, Sweat & Tears, Spyro Gyra, and soul diva Aretha Franklin.

Williams, an active player on the jazz scene for more than 20 years, brings blues and gospel overtones to his soulful playing. Named alongside Diana Krall and Keith Jarrett as Jazz Artist of the Year in the 1999 Downbeat Annual Critics' Poll, he extends his considerable influence as a seasoned composer, producer, and teacher.

For tickets, call the Box Office at ext. 4010.

Kennedy Center Imagination Celebration on Tour presents The Nightingale this month.

Kennedy Center to present Andersen's The Nightingale at Quick Center for the Arts

Hans Christian Andersen's timeless tale, The Nightingale, will take to the stage on April 6 and 7 at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The Sunday performances will be at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.; the Monday shows, geared for school groups, will take place at 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.

Part of the Washington, D.C.-based Kennedy Center Imagination Celebration on Tour, The Nightingale is the story of an emperor who believes himself to be the wisest man in China. A nightingale's lilting strains make the emperor realize that the truly wise are compassionate.

Acclaimed writer/director Mary Hall Surface and choreographer Dana Tai Soon Burgess reshaped this classic tale into a powerful theatrical presentation filled with dance, colorful sets, humor, and action.

For tickets, call the Box Office at ext. 4010.

St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble to perform "A Schubert Sandwich" April 11

Two Franz Schubert works will flank a composition by Joseph Haydn for "A Schubert Sandwich," the last of three performances of the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble this season at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The April 11 performance will begin at 8 p.m.

The Quick Center concert begins with Schubert's "String Trio in B-flat, D. 471," an unfinished piece that was almost entirely unknown until after the young composer's untimely death in 1828. It went unpublished until 1890. The second piece will be Haydn's "Divertimento in C major, Hob. II: C5." A relatively recent find from the prolific composer, this work had its first modern premiere in Vienna in 1975. The Ensemble will finish the evening with Schubert's most beloved chamber composition, "Quintet in A major, D. 667, for piano, violin, viola, cello and bass," otherwise known as "The Trout."

For tickets, call the Box Office at ext. 4010.

Campus Currents is the official news publication of the Fairfield University community. It is published on the first Tuesday of the month. The editorial office is located in Bellarmine Hall, Room 203. Phone: 254-4000, ext. 2556. Fax: 254-4167. E-mail: campuscurr@mail.fairfield.edu.