April 2004

Index for April 6, 2004

Dr. Arjun Chauduri to hold Rev. Thomas R. Fitzgerald, S.J., Chair in Marketing

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

Dr. Arjun Chaudhuri, professor and chair of the Marketing Department in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, will be the first person to hold the newly created Rev. Thomas R. Fitzgerald, S.J., Chair in Marketing, University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., announced last month. An installation ceremony will take place on May 3 at 4:30 p.m. in the Dolan School of Business Dining Room.

The chair has been named for Fr. Fitzgerald, the sixth president of Fairfield University, who oversaw the creation of the School of Business, and the construction of the Student Recreational Complex and the Center for Financial Studies, the latter which has since become the home of the School of Business. The new position has been endowed with funding from a $25 million gift made by Charles F. and Helen Dolan in 2000.

"Dr. Chaudhuri has distinguished himself as a scholar, teacher and a department chair," says Dr. Norm Solomon, dean of the Dolan School of Business. "Under his inspired leadership, the Marketing Department at Fairfield University has graduated more Marketing majors than ever before," "His own classes are highly sought after by graduate and undergraduate students alike."

Dr. Chaudhuri has served as chair of the Marketing Department since 2001. Under his guidance the department has enhanced both its undergraduate and graduate curriculum, adding two concentrations to the undergraduate degree and a number of classes to the graduate requirements. Dr. Chaudhuri joined the University in 1991 as an instructor of marketing. Prior to that, he worked as an assistant professor of marketing at King's College and Eastern Connecticut State University, and served as a visiting instructor and graduate assistant at the University of Connecticut.

Dr. Chaudhuri received his bachelor's and first master's degrees, both in English, from Calcutta University in India. He then earned a second master's degree, this time in communication science, from the University of Connecticut, where he went on to earn his doctoral degree in that field in 1992.

For more than a decade, Dr. Chaudhuri has been studying the role of emotional communication in advertising and marketing, and the relationships between psychological responses and marketing phenomena. In April 2001, he reached a pinnacle in his field when he co-authored an article published in the Journal of Marketing. Dr. Chaudhuri has written and co-authored a number of other articles, which have been published in several journals, including Human Communication Research, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Advertising Research, Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, Zeitschrift fuer Sozialpsychologie, International Journal of Research in Marketing, and others. Dr. Chaudhuri has won best paper awards and nominations at leading conferences.

"Dr. Chaudhuri's pathbreaking research in the areas of branding and the role of emotions in branding have brought international acclaim and recognition to himself and to the Dolan School of Business," Dr. Solomon says. "We are indeed fortunate to have a faculty member of Dr. Chaudhuri's caliber."

Dr. Chaudhuri says he enjoys working at Fairfield University and looks forward to continued successes in the marketing department - particularly in growing the graduate program.

"Fairfield allows me the freedom to do the research that interests me, and I am deeply grateful for this recognition," Dr. Chaudhuri says.

Fr. Fitzgerald was born in 1922 in Washington, D.C. A graduate of St. Paul's Parochial School and Gonzaga High School, he studied at Georgetown University and entered the Society of Jesus novitiate at Wernersville, Pa. Fr. Fitzgerald received a bachelor's degree in 1945 and a master's degree in 1948 from Woodstock College. Ordained a priest in 1952 in Belgium, he went on to earn his doctoral degree in classical languages from the University of Chicago in 1957.

Prior to joining Fairfield University, Fr. Fitzgerald taught at St. Joseph's Preparatory School, the Wernersville novitiate, Fordham University and Georgetown University, where he was made the academic vice president in 1966.

Fr. Fitzgerald served as president of Fairfield University from 1973 through 1979, during which time he directed the creation of the School of Business in 1978. It previously had been the Department of Business Administration for 31 years within the College of Arts and Sciences. The new school, approved that fall, offered majors in accounting, finance, management, and marketing. Fr. Fitzgerald felt his successes in growing the University were the result of careful planning and he envisioned even more milestones for Fairfield that would come to pass after his departure, including another academic building and a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. "The planners of the late 1940s and early '50s could not have seen exactly what would happen here," he said in a 1979 Fairfield Now article. "But what we have at the University today is, in some ways, a great fulfillment of their dreams and aspirations." Fr. Fitzgerald, who went on to serve as president of St. Louis University and then Rector of the Jesuit community at Loyola College in Maryland, passed away last month (see "In memoriam").

Mr. Dolan is a trustee of the University and founder and chairman of Cablevision Systems Corporation. He and his wife, Helen, the parents of two Fairfield University graduates, were awarded honorary alumni degrees at this year's Fairfield Awards Dinner, in recognition of their years of service to the University.

Praying for peace

Kristine Poplawski '04 and Jacquie LeClair '06 were among the students participating in last week's 18-hour prayer vigil for world peace. The vigil, which took place in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola, was part of the University's Jesuit Awareness Week, featuring Masses focused on St. Ignatius and an outdoor Way of the Cross. The week's events concluded with Saturday's Hunger Cleanup.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

President's luncheon for Fairfield University employees and faculty

Mark your calendars for a special end-of-year luncheon with University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., on Monday, May 24, at noon in the John A. Barone Campus Center Dining Room. It's an opportunity for University employees and faculty to say a final farewell to Fr. Kelley before he retires in June after 25 years of service to Fairfield. The seventh and longest-serving president in the University's history, Fr. Kelley's decision marks the end of a tremendously successful tenure during which Fairfield has become one of the preeminent Jesuit schools in the country.

Invitations will be mailed in the coming weeks.

University Business Continuity Plan underway

By Nina Riccio, Publications Writer

Remember the Y2K issue? Businesses around the globe poured billions of dollars and countless hours into troubleshooting a catastrophe that - thankfully - never materialized. And that's just as it should be, says William Schimpf, vice president of student services, and James Estrada, vice president for information services and University librarian, co-chairs of Fairfield University's Business Continuity Planning Group.

Planning for potential problems within a business is nothing new, of course. The library, for example, has had a disaster recovery plan in place for years that outlines procedures for dealing with problems such as flooding and water damage to print materials. Recently, however, the Fairfield University Board of Trustees has charged the senior administrators with taking a comprehensive look at ensuring business continuity for the whole University. In turn, the vice presidents have established the Business Continuity Steering Committee. Its members will examine the various risks to the University, assess those risks, and make contingency plans for handling them. "Some of those potential crises are attention-getting, such as a hostage situation or an act of terrorism," explains Schimpf. "But most of them are pure and simple business issues, such as, how would we handle it if a competing school opened in the area?"

Each of the 10 members of the Business Continuity Planning Committee is charged with overseeing a different area. Jim Fitzpatrick, assistant vice president for student services, would coordinate the vendor services - particularly food - during a crisis; Martha Milcarek, assistant vice president for public relations, would handle the press and coordinate the distribution of information; counseling, health services, and housing are just some of the other areas overseen by committee members.

A few of the issues typically facing a college campus have relatively simple solutions. Meningitis, for example, is always a worry for University administrators because the disease is highly contagious among people living in close quarters, and can have fatal results. "We resolved to have all incoming students vaccinated, which cuts down on the risk of an outbreak significantly," explains Schimpf. Other problems require long-range planning, he says. "Back in 1980, we had 1,000 students living at the beach. If there had been a major flood or fire, we would have had issues over student safety, and we would have lost a major source of housing." The solution was to build more on-campus housing, thus gradually reducing dependency on beach rentals.

The renovation at the Dolan campus in March, to move the computer center to Dolan Hall and create a backup data site in Bannow that would support the University's computer services in the event of a problem, was "a direct result of what we learned during the August 14 blackout," says Estrada. "That afternoon, our electricity was out for about an hour. The computer center staff had long recognized the need for backup generators, but the funding wasn't available. The blackout made us realize we didn't have the fail-safe capacity we needed, and the experience prompted the administration to put the creation of a backup site at the top of the list." As things change and as problems are dealt with, other items will move to the top of the priority list. "All these plans are guidelines. They must be fluid in order to work," says Estrada.

"We try to anticipate what could happen, recognizing that we'll never have a comprehensive list," says Schimpf. "This is something that the Business Continuity Planning team must revisit continually. Continuity planning is not something you can put on a shelf and forget about."

New construction on tap for Fairfield University

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Hang on to your hard hats - plans to construct a new 15,000 sq. ft. office building are in the works.

The Board of Trustees has signed off on a new building plan that will house the offices of undergraduate and graduate admission, financial aid, the University registrar, and the bursar. Design of the two-story construction and adjoining parking lot will begin in the fall.

The decision to construct a new building is multi-faceted, says Ric Taylor, associate vice president for campus operations. "From opening up needed offices for faculty and staff, to fulfilling a 1995 Master Plan goal to establish a 'one-stop shopping' space for current students, the building will provide prospective students and parents with a 'sense of arrival,'" he says. Construction of the new facility will also open up existing space on campus for additional classrooms and offices.

Earlier this year, the University's vice presidents identified the following as vital needs for the campus:

• To create more high-tech classrooms and simulation labs, due to the requirements of modern pedagogy, as well as space for related equipment and staff.
• To house departments with related functions in proximity to each other. Currently, departments related to admission are spread across campus.
• To reallocate and/or increase office space for faculty and staff. In 2002, offices in Bellarmine Hall's lower level were closed due to environmental concerns. When the current restoration project is complete, this space will not be used for offices.

The new building, combined with other office moves, will open office and classroom space around campus, targeting Fairfield's needs. This will include:

• nine additional classrooms;
• 20 faculty offices; and
• returning displaced employees to Bellarmine Hall, as well as providing for recent new hires as well as foreseeable growth.

Marianne Gumpper, director of graduate and continuing studies admission and marketing, welcomes the plan to house in one place the offices of admission, financial aid, the registrar, and the bursar. "From a customer standpoint, having admission in one building and the Office of Financial Aid in another - as it currently stands - is not customer-friendly," she says. "With the offices sharing a building, we'll be more efficient internally and will therefore serve our customers much better."

Post-construction, the Office of Development will move to Bellarmine Hall, in the current space occupied by the Office of Undergraduate Admission, and the area occupied by the Office of Financial Aid in Donnarumma Hall will be converted into faculty offices.

The project comes on the heels of a $2 million restoration of Bellarmine Hall, where hazardous materials such as asbestos and lead paint will have been removed and the exterior restored by August.

Boulevard construction begins in May

Construction on the new University boulevard is scheduled to begin in late May, following commencement. Envisioned in the 1995 Master Plan, the boulevard will "give visitors a sense of arrival and eliminate traveling through the sea of parking lots," says Ric Taylor, associate vice president for campus operations.

In what promises to be an attractive and user-friendly entrance, the boulevard will feature a checkpoint, a tree-lined entrance, historically correct light fixtures, and a small visitor parking lot and drop-off location at the front of the John A. Barone Campus Center.

From the North Benson Road entrance, the existing road will be straightened to continue across the former location of the tennis courts, ending at a large green in front of the Barone Campus Center. The grouping of trees between the BCC and Loyola Hall will remain.

August is the estimated completion date for the project.

Construction update: Bellarmine Hall

Restoration work on Bellarmine Hall continued through the winter, thanks to the tenting and heating of the construction areas, giving crews a jump on the schedule.

• Hazardous materials found on the lower level have been removed and the space is being converted into storage areas.
• Grinding operations on the exterior mortar are finished.
• Replacement of window caulking is beginning on the second floor.
• Scaffolding will be down for commencement and reunions.
• Work will continue following reunions, with an estimated completion date set for August.

Office moves through September

• Career Planning Services: from Dolan Hall to the John A. Barone Campus Center (former FUSA space).
• FUSA: to former Council of Student Organizations (COSO) space; COSO: to BCC lounge.
• SCT: to Dolan Hall (mid-April); former SCT offices in Bannow will be converted to faculty offices (Sept.).
• Campus Operations: from the Charles F. Dolan School of Business to Dolan Hall (June).
• Offices of the vice president for Student Services: from Dolan Hall to current Faculty Dining Room space, BCC (May).
• Charles F. Dolan School of Business dean's offices: to former Campus Operations suite (June); the former offices will be converted into classrooms (Sept.).

In March, Dr. Mike Brienza, visiting instructor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, spoke with high school and college students at Notre Dame University, his alma mater, about the various career directions in which a major in physics can lead. Dr. Brienza has worked in industry, holding several management positions, as well as teaching at the college level. "Physics is like the liberal arts of sciences," he says, and can be paired with fields such as law, politics, and finance, to make for a very interesting career in several fields.

CNN interviewed Rev. Paul E. Carrier, S.J., University chaplain, live from Haiti every morning during the March Spring Break. Fr. Carrier travels to Haiti regularly in support of the Project Venerable Pierre Toussaint, begun and directed by Doug Perlitz '92. (See related story on page 6.) CNN has since interviewed Fr. Carrier twice in the last month on developments in Haiti.
    On Feb. 24, the Connecticut Post interviewed him during the rioting that ultimately led to the overthrow of President Aristide. "The poor of the country are taking the brunt of the violence," he said. "They can still buy food and supplies, but things are becoming scarce."
    In addition, Fr. Carrier was interviewed by WTNH-Channel 8 News, News 12 Connecticut, WSTC/WNLK Radio in Stamford/Norwalk, and WGCH Radio in Greenwich.
    Catholic New York reported Fr. Carrier's installation as a chaplain of the American Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. The ceremony took place on Jan. 16.

Charles F. Dolan School of Business professors Dr. Arjun Chaudhuri, professor of marketing, and Dr. Mark Ligas, assistant professor of marketing, co-authored "The Effect of Affect and Trust on Commitment in Retail Store Relationships" for Marketing Management Journal.

Dr. Edward Deak, professor of economics in the College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted in an Advocate article on tax breaks, stating that states often end up competing with each other to give tax incentives to businesses. The article also appeared in the Greenwich Time.
    The Westchester County Business Journal quoted Dr. Deak extensively in a Feb. 16 article about jobs. Among his observations was, "I do worry about a society where the manufacturing base is slipping as rapidly as it is in the United States."

Speaking on Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, Dr. Elizabeth Dreyer, professor of religious studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, said that Romans used crucifixion long before and after Jesus. That practice, she said in a February newspaper and online article by the Republican-American (Waterbury), was created by the Phoenicians and Persians and wasn't outlawed until the fourth century.

It's "quite plausible" that a photo purchased from an antique dealer for $1 could be that of the artist Vincent van Gogh, said Dr. Philip Eliasoph, professor of visual and performing arts in the College of Arts and Sciences, in an article that was carried in 16 newspapers around the country and on four websites. The photo bears a remarkable resemblance to many of van Gogh's self-portraits done during the same time period. But, Dr. Eliasoph added, "there is such a thing as a period look. There were a lot of guys walking around...(who) had their hair cut and their beards trimmed all the same way."

Dr. Jesús Escobar, associate professor of visual and performing arts in the College of Arts and Sciences, is the recipient of the Eleanor Tufts Book Award for 2003 given by the American Society for Hispanic Art and Historical Studies. He received the award at the annual meeting of the College Art Association of America.

On March 15, Dr. Elizabeth Gardner, professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, visited Fairfield's Mill Hill School kindergarten classes to thank them for raising money to buy books for day care centers in Duran, Ecuador.

On March 3, SPED*NET Wilton and the Connecticut Tourette Syndrome Association hosted a second talk by Dr. Daniel Geller, chair of psychology and special education in the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions. Dr. Geller discussed the major issues affecting special needs families, according to an article in the Westport News.

Dr. Linda A. Henkel, assistant professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, recently presented two papers at the annual meeting of the American Psychology and Law Society conference, held in Scottsdale, Ariz., March 4 through 7. The papers, "Inadmissible Evidence and Intentional Forgetting: Can Jurors Really Forget What They are Told to Disregard?" and "Confession, Coercion, Procedural Error and the Juror", were co-authored with her colleague, Kim Coffman of Florida International University.

Dr. Douglas Lyon, associate professor and chair of the computer engineering department in the School of Engineering, recently completed his third book, Java for Programmers, designed to help "re-skill" computer programmers who were trained in older computer languages, as well as those who need a more advanced understanding of Java.

Dr. Anne Manton, associate professor in the School of Nursing, wrote an article on Emergency Nursing for the January issue of Imprint. In it, she discussed ways students could prepare themselves for a career in emergency care. "Emergency nurses are 'elegant generalists,'" she wrote. "That is, they must know a great deal about virtually all aspects of nursing."

Martha Milcarek, assistant vice president for public relations, was interviewed by the Connecticut Post on March 11, the day of the terrorist bombings in Spain. She reported that all 14 Fairfield University students studying in Spain, including the three in Madrid, are safe. In a Connecticut Post article on Feb. 25, she spoke on the allegations of NCAA rule violations in the men's basketball program. Regarding University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J.'s upcoming retirement, she said that his successor, Rev. Jeffrey von Arx, S.J., a member of Fairfield's Board of Trustees, is aware of what actions have been taken. "There's a sense of urgency to get this done as soon as we can in the framework of a complete and thorough investigation," she said.

Dr. David McFadden, chair of and professor in the history department in the College of Arts and Sciences, recently published Constructive Spirit: Quakers in Revolutionary Russia (Intentional Productions, 2004), a study of Quaker relief workers in Russia during the revolution and subsequent famine.

Dr. Leo F. O'Connor, director of the American Studies program in the College of Arts and Sciences, has been selected for inclusion in Who's Who Among America's Teachers, 2004, an honor which is conferred upon just 5 percent of the country's teachers.
    Dr. O'Connor was also interviewed recently on ABC Radio's Thoughts for the Week. On Feb. 29, he spoke on "Literature and Religion: The American Experience," discussing the relationship of literature in religion, and the impact of American religious values on public policy. On March 7, he and several Catholic theologians discussed and analyzed what it means to be Catholic and American.

On Feb. 1, The Advocate's Emery Filmer said that Men's Basketball Coach Tim O'Toole merited being named MAAC Coach of the Year. On March 5, Chris Elsberry with the Connecticut Post also stated that O'Toole deserved the honor. Later that day, the MAAC named O'Toole the Coach of the Year.

On Feb. 13, Dr. John Orman, professor of politics in the College of Arts and Sciences, was interviewed by the BBC on President Bush's service in the National Guard. On Feb. 19, CNN Daybreak, WELI Radio in New Haven, and WSCT/WNLK in Stamford/Norwalk interviewed him about Governor Howard Dean's withdrawal from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. On Feb. 23, he was quoted by foxnews.com on U.S. presidents who exercise by running.
    He discussed the pros and cons of another Connecticut casino in a Feb. 29 article in The Day (New London). The article appeared in several other papers, including the Sunday Journal (Providence), The Westerly Sun, Connecticut Post, New Haven Register, and The Advocate.
    On Feb. 21, the Middletown Press quoted Dr. Orman as saying he was shocked at the decision of the impeachment committee investigating Governor John Rowland to meet in private. "It's amazing that a small state like Connecticut can go ahead and have a secret investigation about things that have been on everyone's minds for the past three months."
    In a Feb. 27 article in The News-Times (Danbury), Dr. Orman discussed Senator Joe Lieberman's chances of winning a fourth term in the Senate. And in The Hour (Norwalk), he spoke of the end of Gov. Dean's campaign, saying that Dean forced the other Democrats to more clearly differentiate themselves from Bush. "Without Howard Dean doing that, I think the Democratic party would be a Joe Lieberman clone." A similar article also appeared in the Connecticut Post on Feb. 8.
    Connecticut has too few delegates to really make a difference in the primaries, stated a March 1 Connecticut Post article. In it, Dr. Orman said that it is costly to stage a primary and is questionable for many states. "If it is going to wrap up after the first 10 or 15 state primaries, that leaves 35 without much meaning," he said.

College students are generally apathetic when it comes time to vote, states a Feb.16 article in The Hour. But student activists are working to change that. Quoted are Kristina Riordan '05, president of the College Democrats at Fairfield University. "Politicians are never going to start catering to students' interests until we show that we're a group to be listened to," she said. Riordan's housemate, Emily McAdam '05, vice chairwoman of the Connecticut Union of College Republicans, was also quoted. "It's a vicious cycle. College students don't vote, so politicians don't pay any attention to them," she said.

Dr. David Alan Sapp, assistant professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Robbin D. Crabtree, chair and associate professor of communication in the College of Arts and Sciences, recently co-authored the articles: "Your Culture, My Classroom, Whose Pedagogy? Negotiating Effective Teaching and Learning in Brazil" published in the spring 2004 issue of Journal of Studies in International Education and "Theoretical, Political, and Pedagogical Challenges in the Feminist Classroom" published in the fall 2003 issue of College Teaching. Dr. Sapp also recently published a chapter on Eldridge Cleaver in Men & Masculinities: A Social, Cultural, and Historical Encyclopedia, a review essay on smallpox (co-authored with Lisa Donovan '04) in Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture, and a review essay on consumption and technology in the Journal of Communication. His paper "Supervising Adjunct Instructors: Reflections of a Professional Writing Coordinator at a Comprehensive University" has appeared in the proceedings of the Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication.

Kathleen Thopsey, recorder in the Office of Human Resources, was highlighted on March 16 by the Connecticut Post as a Woman of Substance. The honor is conferred weekly upon a woman "who makes a difference in her community." Thopsey was cited for her numerous volunteer efforts, among them Eucharist Minister, assistant scoutmaster, and fundraiser for various organizations.

Speaking out on Haiti recently was Dr. Winston Tellis, assistant professor of information systems and operations management in the Dolan School of Business, who returned from the country on Feb. 11. His op-ed articles appeared in the March 5 Advocate - "Calling the Crisis in Haiti What it is: A Class Struggle" - and the March 5 Hartford Courant - "U.S. Should Uphold Principles of Democracy in Haiti."

Brian Torff, director of the jazz and popular music program, performed two concerts in March at the Quick Center with his jazz-rock band Thunderstick. Torff has added a horn section to the powerful lineup and refers to the original compositions they play as a "newer form of jazz-rock."

The February issue of Catholic New York reported the appointment of Rev. Jeffrey von Arx, S.J., as president Fairfield University following the retirement of Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., in June. National Jesuit News also ran a story on Fr. von Arx, which included his educational background and his extensive involvement with myriad Jesuit institutions.*

Service Anniversaries

April 2004

5 years
Deborah Picarazzi
William Romatzick

10 years
Sharon Jones
Judy Vindheim

20 years
Frank Ficko

Births

Gina Garvin, program assistant for University College, daughter - Hannah Paige, born Jan. 20.
James O'Leary, security dispatcher, daughter - Shannon Theresa, born Jan. 26.
Dr. Nikiforos Laopodis, associate professor of finance in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, son - Haralabos, born Feb. 11.
Rick Hutchinson, assistant director in the Office of Undergraduate Admission, son - Hugh Ford, born March 2.
Stefanie Borsari, major gifts officer, son - Leo Francis, born March 7.
Linda Gustavson, library assistant, granddaughter - Josie Joy, born March 12.
Steve Minnick, Media Center digital media/T.V. production - son, Sean James, born March 23.

Condolences

Albert Beck, father of Margaret Dennehy, health center nurse, died on March 1.
Concetta Rosito, mother of John Rosito, mailroom assistant, died on March 1.
Ruth A. Pacheco, mother of John Pacheco, EAP counselor, died on March 2.
August Santolupo, brother of Julie McGovern, administrative coordinator for the Office of Advancement, died on March 5.
Cecile Murphy, mother-in-law of John Pacheco, EAP counselor, died on March 7.
Chris Biello, MBA'02, former graduate assistant for University Activities, died on March 9.
Robert Eagan, brother of Rev. William J. Eagan, S.J., Fairfield Prep, died on March 10.
Elizabeth Formichella, mother-in-law of Rosemarie Sweeney, operations assistant, development, died March 20.
Aristide Ippolito, father-in-law of Dr. Gerald O. Cavallo, associate professor of Charles F. Dolan School of Business, died on March 21.

New Employees

Scott Hayes, network security specialist, Computing Services
Bill Taylor, associate dean, School of Engineering

In memoriam: Rev. Thomas R. Fitzgerald, S.J.

The Rev. Thomas R. Fitzgerald, S.J., sixth president of Fairfield University, died on March 22. Born in 1922, he graduated from Gonzaga College High School. After a year at Georgetown University, he entered the Society at Wernersville in 1939. He studied philosophy and theology at Woodstock College and went on to study at St. Albert de Louvain in Belgium where he was ordained in 1952 by Bishop Nicholas Kujur, S.J. His tertianship was at Muenster, Germany.

During regency, Fr. Fitzgerald taught at St. Joseph's Preparatory School from 1946 to 1949. He earned a doctoral degree in classics from the University of Chicago in 1957. At Wernersville, where he stayed from 1957 to 1964, he served as dean of studies. He served as Dean of the College at Georgetown University, academic vice president, and provincial consultor for higher studies.

Fr. Fitzgerald was president of Fairfield University and Fairfield College Preparatory School from 1973 through 1979, overseeing the construction of the Student Recreational Complex and the Center for Financial Studies. In 1978, he directed the creation of the School of Business, which had been the Department of Business Administration for 31 years within the College of Arts and Sciences.

Following his tenure at Fairfield University, Fr. Fitzgerald served as president of St. Louis University until 1987, and then joined the Jesuit community at Loyola College in Maryland.

At Loyola College, he taught classics and the history of ancient art and served as rector of the Jesuit community. Failing health prompted his retirement to the Colombiere Residence in 1996 and then to Georgetown in 1999.

Fr. Fitzgerald was a member of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus.

College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Danke Li: Making history come alive

By Nina Riccio, Publications Writer

Above her desk, Dr. Danke Li has affixed a postcard from China, written in a mix of English and neatly printed Chinese characters. It's from a former student who says he was inspired by her course to spend a semester in China. "I was so proud when he sent me this," says this assistant professor of history in the College of Arts and Sciences. "This is what makes teaching so wonderful for me."

Dr. Li has spent the past four years at Fairfield University trying to make teaching - and learning - wonderful for her students, too. "Professor Li's work represents Jesuit education and scholarship at their best," says Dr. Timothy Snyder, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "She fuses her scholarly work and experience with her teaching, sharing careful, first-hand knowledge with students that they are unlikely to find elsewhere." Dr. Li has published four peer-reviewed articles and an article for the Field-Being conference collection, in which scholars from all over the world participated. Last year, the College of Arts and Sciences awarded her its first-ever Distinguished Teaching Award. "A gifted, caring, devoted scholar can open up new worlds for students," Dr. Snyder noted about Dr. Li in his citation. "We are proud to be your colleagues."

Dr. Li has much to celebrate these days. A book to which she contributed, Holding Up Half the Sky: Chinese Women Past, Present, and Future, has just been released, and she spent the March break doing a series of speaking engagements. Her article in the book deals with gender inequality in education in rural China. "Access to schooling concerns females' opportunity to attend school, while access to knowledge considers what females actually learn," she writes. "Differential access to knowledge in secondary schools could adversely affect women's access to higher education, desirable job opportunities, and other important choices."

As she's done almost every year, Dr. Li will return to China this summer to continue working on the oral history project she hopes to complete soon. Her research on women at war focuses on women from her hometown of Chongquing - the wartime capital of China - during the fight against the Japanese from 1937 to 1945. Being a native of the region has helped her greatly in finding women willing to speak candidly. Through a web of family members and friends, she's met and interviewed more than 30 "ordinary women" who lived in the Nationalist-controlled city during the war, some of whom actively participated in the effort against the invading army. During those tumultuous years, the elite women established organizations to mobilize other women, students handed out propaganda, and housewives made winter jackets and shoes for the soldiers. The interviews are often quite emotional. "There was a great deal of hardship in those years, and many of these women lost their loved ones," says Dr. Li. "In addition, they were the ones who had to take care of the family." Already, Dr. Li has incorporated this research into her coursework. "History tends to focus on the Communist-controlled areas, and little attention is paid to women," Dr. Li explains. "But after all, they are one-half of the story."

"History should be alive to students, not dead," says Dr. Li, who has several ways of keeping history alive in her classroom. In her Modern Japan course, she interspersed her discussions on Japan's path toward industrialization and a debate on the atomic bombings with cultural activities. Recently, she brought in a group of Japanese women to explain the history and symbolism of the Japanese tea ceremony and then conduct "a very beautiful and enchanting ceremony." In her Modern China course, she invited musicians in to play the 21-string zheng, a classical instrument that dates back at least to 400 B.C. Students have watched and discussed Japanese and Korean films, as well as American movies such as The Manchurian Candidate. With one class, Dr. Li organized a singing group and taught them Chinese songs that they performed during the University's Chinese New Year celebration. For the course East Asia in 20th Century American Wars, Dr. Li's teaching is a blend of personal and social history. "I want my students to examine the war through the experiences of the East Asian people who lived through them."

Japan and China are seen as exotic, says Dr. Li, "and I want to break that down, to show that we are all part of a shared heritage. I want to show that other cultures are different, but our differences don't make us enemies. We're less likely to draw a line between 'us and them' if we understand each other. I hope my courses will give students a chance to think about these issues."

Alumni attorney task force and faculty researchers bridge University and Jesuit Conference

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

A collaboration among Fairfield faculty, alumni, and the Jesuit Conference has resulted in an opportunity for the three groups to further resonate the University's Jesuit mission.

In a relationship formed in 2002, Fairfield University agreed to use its expertise to advise the Jesuit Conference, Office of Social and International Ministries, in Washington, D.C., on a variety of issues on the international, national, and local levels: immigration and the challenges faced by refugees; affordable housing and predatory lending in the United States; and housing and lending markets in Bridgeport.

At that time, British Robinson, national director of social and international ministries with the Jesuit Conference, identified the areas in which the conference currently needs the most help, says Noel Appel, Trustees Advisory Council University liaison and director of foundation relations. These needs, in turn, were described at the Academic Resources Committee lunch program during the fall 2003 TAC meeting, where alumni Dennis Murphy, J.D. '78 and Stephen Packard, J.D. '75 became interested in forming an attorney task force team of half a dozen alumni to serve on an as-needed basis.

The task force serves two primary functions. It provides legal information and assistance to the Fairfield University research team of Dr. Jay Buss, professor of economics; Dr. Phil Lane, chair of the Department of Economics; Dr. Kurt Schlichting, professor of sociology and anthropology; and Dr. Mark LeClair, associate professor of economics - a group of faculty researching banking and insurance red-lining in poor urban areas, including Bridgeport. Second, the task force - along with the research and data provided by the faculty team - assists in preparing comments to proposed regulation and banking legislation to the Jesuit Conference. "If the Jesuit Conference needs to respond to something quickly, it can call on the task force to interpret a document or offer legal advice," says Appel.

"We saw there was a need out there and found it rewarding to be able to contribute the expertise we have to the University's Jesuit mission of social justice," says Murphy, co-founder of the task force and an attorney and owner/manager of Murphy Strategic Group in Bridgeport. "And, we wanted to be helpful in an appropriate way to the Jesuit Conference." Murphy specializes in employment and labor law, and expects to apply this expertise in future issues that may arise within the Jesuit Conference.

"This collaboration among the attorney task force, the faculty, and the Jesuit conference exemplifies the Fairfield ideal of Jesuit education," says Dr. Mary Frances Malone, associate academic vice president. "As part of the intellectual mission of Fairfield University, the faculty conduct solid research, the results of which aim at alleviating problems of the less fortunate. This research is informed and strengthened by the interaction with the attorneys who deal with these issues in their work. The collaboration also provides alumni with an opportunity to reconnect to Fairfield in a meaningful and important way. It allows them to live out the Jesuit mission of being women and men for others. In many ways, this faculty-alumni engagement on social issues illustrates the Jesuit approach to life-long learning, engagement with the world, and consciousness of social justice issues."

Packard, Murphy, Dr. Malone, Appel, and faculty met in March with members of the Jesuit Conference to discuss the first assignments: the effect of bank mergers on low-income neighborhoods, with regards to predatory lending practices; and issues surrounding the Community Reinvestment Act, which states that funds collected by a bank in one neighborhood should be lent to the community in which they were obtained.

In a matter of weeks, Drs. Lane and Buss collected and analyzed data, solicited input from the team of TAC lawyers who are knowledgeable about banking laws, and wrote responses to be used by the Jesuit Conference in their lobbying efforts. These responses concerned two important issues: One involved two mega-mergers taking place in the banking industry - Bank One and JP Morgan Chase, and Bank of America and Fleet. The second was to propose changes in CRA regulations pertaining to the identification of lenders who might be engaged in making abusive or predatory loans.

To date, the collaboration between the researchers, the task force of lawyers, and the Jesuit Conference is working well.

"TAC members are so excited about this, and they have been trying to recruit even more alumni attorneys," says Appel. "Everything is now in place - the people, the energy, the procedures. All we are waiting for are more assignments. We are truly grateful for the increasing interest on the part of the TAC membership through its three committees - corporate relations, academic resources, and marketing - to participate in a very meaningful way with Fairfield's students, faculty, and staff."

TAC has 94 members including friends, parents, and alumni, and is celebrating its 10-year anniversary.

National Jesuit Conference experts discuss research projects with faculty, administrators

By Barbara Kiernan, Director of University Publications

Thanks to an incredible level of faculty activity in areas related to immigration, migration, and service to poorer nations, the National Jesuit Conference sent a team of experts to campus on March 1. Representatives from Jesuit Refugee Services USA and the Office of Social and International Ministry met with three faculty groups engaged in collaborative research projects that involve or will involve University students.

Sponsored by Fairfield University's Office of Jesuit and Catholic Mission and Identity, the day included a luncheon attended by some 60 University faculty and administrators, at which the directors of each organization spoke.

Rev. James Storms, S.J., director of the office of social and international ministry, explained the current apostolic priorities of the Society of Jesus (mission in culture; social justice; women in the Church; and inter-religious dialogue), and discussed the preferred apostolates through which these goals may bear fruit. Among these is the intellectual work being carried out at universities like Fairfield, where interdisciplinary dialogue and research are beginning to provide important social analysis. "These intellectual pursuits bring to the work of social justice a basis for action," said Fr. Storms, "and a more effective analysis of the problems underlying unjust conditions in China, Africa, and among refugees."

Picking up on the theme, Rev. Ken Gavin, S.J., director of Jesuit Refugee Services USA, noted that the goal of JRS is to help refugees - the majority of whom are displaced within their own countries - to go home. How? By listening to their stories of trauma, loneliness, and rejection. By serving the needs that become apparent through this listening. And by accompanying them in the struggle to acquire education and a livelihood that will provide a living. "We need research to help understand patterns of migration, whether forced or chosen, because global mobility is higher than ever," said Fr. Gavin. Some refugees cannot return due to fear of persecution, he explained. But there are other categories of de facto refugees, including those forcibly displaced in their own countries; those on the move because of civil war or internal collapse of government; asylum seekers; and those imprisoned in immigration detention centers.

Fairfield University's couples: Paul and Laura Cantrell

By Alejandra Navarro, Publications Writer

Paul and Laura Cantrell never bring work home. That's because home is at work.

The Fairfield University couple lives on campus in the historic Teilhard de Chardin building, a two-story home nestled among the student townhouses.

Paul, who is now assistant director of recreation, accepted a job to be assistant volleyball coach in May 2001. Laura followed in July 2001, accepting the position of associate director of resident life and housing.

Both previously worked at large public institutions. They welcomed the chance to work at a more intimate university with goals that included service work and whose faculty encouraged students to be well-rounded outside of class. "Those are things I've been talking about for a long time, but from a student affairs perspective," says Laura.

On Oct. 20, 2003, Fairfield gained one more resident: the Cantrell's son, Chase. For the couple, there's no better place to raise a child than on a college campus that has 24-hour security, on-campus emergency medical technicians who are only about a minute away, and a roster of more than 3,000 potential babysitters. Although many students know Paul and Laura are married, most don't know where they live.

"A majority of the students have no clue we are here," says Paul, recalling several occasions when the students' actions in full view of the house proved they were unaware of the Cantrell's presence.

The couple also lives their lives in full view of the students. Although it doesn't faze them, since their entire relationship has been among students.

The pair was working at Georgia's Valdosta State University, when they met through a mutual friend. Paul was head coach of women's volleyball; Laura worked in resident life and resided in a dormitory with 700 undergraduates. Since entering college in 1989, Laura has only lived three years off of a college campus.

Paul still blushes when he talks about having to walk through a lobby filled with giggling college students, some of whom were on his volleyball team, to pick up Laura for their first date.

"They got to see him as a regular man going on a date," Laura says. Keenly aware of the students watching, the couple made sure to present a healthy relationship. They married on the Georgia campus in May 2001.

"Living on campus gives you the opportunity to be closer to the students," says Paul, with Laura nodding in agreement.

The Cantrells enjoy being involved in the Fairfield University community. "We aren't really a shy couple," says Laura. Once a week they have a meal in the campus dining hall, with baby Chase in tow. They regularly attend University events, including basketball games and a recent 1980s trivia game organized by students.

"We went only because we knew we would know all the answers," says Laura, noting that she and Paul had the advantage of living through the decade at the heart of the game. "They are the ones who didn't put an age-limit on it," says Paul with an innocent "don't-blame-me" look that makes Laura laugh.

Living on campus also requires the Cantrells to step-up in emergency situations and answer late-night calls about incidents with students.

"Living here means that you are really never off-duty," Paul says. The Cantrells say they don't mind the additional work, because they care about the students and the campus. Laura says, "Unfortunately, we love our jobs."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Alumni Association to award five outstanding students

Honored for excellence by Fairfield University's Alumni Association are seniors (l-r) Michael Ciavaglia, Jessica Michael, Todd Pelletier, Gregory Iorio, Robert Keder

On April 20, the Alumni Association will honor the following five members of the Class of 2004 for their leadership, community service, and commitment to the Jesuit ideal. The annual Student Awards Dinner will take place in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business.

Michael Ciavaglia
Student Achievement Award
Michael Ciavaglia, from Emerson, N.J., has been a voice in a choir since the tender age of six. His first choral endeavor was singing in the Orthodox Christian Church of Christ the Savior Choir under Matushka Eugenia Nehrebecki. It was there he began conducting as an apprentice, two years before joining the Fairfield University Glee Club.

Ciavaglia entered Fairfield University as one of a handful of music majors. Glee Club conductor Dr. Carole Ann Maxwell took him under her wing. By the second semester of his freshman year, Ciavaglia was director and conductor of the Glee Club's Men's Ensemble. In addition, he has served as a cantor and song leader at weekly Mass at Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola.

Ciavaglia has also shared his abilities beyond the University community. As a freshman, he began as the assistant choir director for the Holy Ghost Russian Orthodox Church in Bridgeport. In his sophomore year, Ciavaglia joined the Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut. He is also a member of the Yale Russian Chorus and a voice student of its conductor.

Last summer Ciavaglia worked as student conductor of the Summer Festival Chorus at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, where he was exposed to the administrative side of choral work. He also conducted the Mendelssingers, the outreach choir of the Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut, and is responsible for its programming, rehearsals, and fostering the group's mission to bring music into hospitals and nursing homes. Ciavaglia was instrumental in creating a partnership between the Mendelssingers and the University Glee Club, through which some of its members participate in the outreach choir and receive scholarships.

Ciavaglia also sits on Fairfield's orientation board, has studied three languages, and achieved academic excellence by consistently making the Dean's list and being inducted to Alpha Sigma Nu, the national honor society of Jesuit colleges and universities. He was recently inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

Ciavaglia hopes to continue studying music and conducting at the graduate level. He views his love for music and conducting as deeply connected to his belief in God.

Gregory Iorio
Student Achievement Award
As president of the University Pep Band, Gregory Iorio, a business management major from Ramsey, N.J., has earned the honor of being called Fairfield's "Music Man". With trombone in hand, his spirit and dedication to the school is written all over his face - literally. At basketball games, Iorio and his fellow band members are known for their side-show high jinx and their brightly painted visages.

Band was a big part of Iorio's life during high school, and his love for music and leading a group carried over to his freshman year at Fairfield, where he met the Pep Band director Duane Melzer. It didn't take long for Iorio to become Melzer's right hand man. As part of the band's setup crew, Iorio lugs and assembles the heavy sound equipment at each game and stays around late to make sure everything is packed away. He has even had a chance to conduct the band during a men's and women's basketball game.

Iorio doesn't just want the band to achieve musical greatness, he wants it to become one of the most important sources of spirit at Fairfield sporting events. To that end, Iorio has worked to get club status for the band, recruit new members, and organize fundraisers.

Iorio has been involved in many other campus activities. As part of S.K.I.L.L., he learned more about what it means to be a manager and applied these skills to his leadership roles in Pep Band, Eucharistic Ministry, and the Residential Apartment Student Organization. He is also a Eucharistic Minister and an Apartment and Townhouse manager.

Iorio has continued his active schedule throughout his four years at Fairfield while maintaining academic excellence. Besides making Dean's list every semester, he has been a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the National Business Honor Society; Alpha Sigma Nu, the National Jesuit Honor Society; Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society; Alpha Mu Gamma, the National Foreign Language Honor Society and the National Residence Hall Honor Society.

After graduation, Iorio plans to pursue an MBA.

Robert Keder
St. Ignatius Loyola Medal
It is not only the number of activities in which Robert Keder, from Seymour, Conn., takes part, but also the tremendous amount of dedication and time he puts into everything he does that is impressive.

Keder, who majors in biology and psychology, has been inducted into various honor societies including Alpha Epsilon Delta, the National Premedical Honor Society; Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society; Alpha Sigma Nu, the National Jesuit Honor Society; Psi Chi, the National Psychology Honors Society; and Phi Beta Kappa.

Service is an integral part of Keder's Fairfield experience. Keder has served as a member of the Hunger Cleanup board for four years. As a Eucharistic Minister and retreat leader, Keder created a moving video which asked the friends of each EM why the retreatant is an everyday hero.

Keder has been an essential leader of the Ballroom Dance Club, for which he has implemented "Dinner, Dancing, & Murder," an annual fundraiser for charity.

During his undergraduate experience, he spent most of his time working with students as a resident assistant. "It's one of the best things I have done," he says. "I have been able to impact and influence students' lives at Fairfield just as much as they have, in turn, influenced mine." Through Residence Life, he also had the opportunity to work with the Ignatian Residential College, in which he was involved during its first year of implementation, and later as an RA.

He spent his sophomore year spring break living on the Passamaquoddy reservation in Maine, working with children there and in the neighboring city of Eastport. "Through the service trips I've been on, the work I've done, and my position as an RA, I discovered what cura personalis, care of the person, really means," he says. "Our group in Maine had become contemplatives in action, men and women for others. There, all of the pieces fell into place for me and I realized I wanted to go into medicine."

He has also participated in a Mission Volunteer trip to Kentucky and an Urban Plunge experience in Bridgeport. He returned to Maine as a student leader for the 2004 Mission Volunteer trip.

He names Dr. Judy Primavera, professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, and local pediatrician Dr. Robert Chessin as two of his most influential role models. Keder spent three summers researching the effects of technology and literacy on children and families with Dr. Primavera. He shadowed Dr. Chessin at his practice in Trumbull, Conn., where he learned what it truly means to practice medicine. "It is not simply treating a disease or a patient," he says, "but it is caring for people and families as a whole."

This fall, Keder will be attending the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine to begin his medical studies.

Jessica Michael
Student Achievement Award
"So much of what I have become stems from my relationship with my grandparents," says Jessica Michael of Clifton Park, N.J. She has summered with her grandparents in Milford, Conn., for the past two years and often visits with a host of friends during the academic year. She sends care packages filled with homemade cookies to her other grandmother in Pennsylvania and calls frequently to stay in touch. Through her grandparents' love, she has come to understand the uniqueness of a grandparent-to-grandchild relationship and created a Fairfield University chapter of the national Adopt-a-Grandparent Program.

For the past two years, Michael, who majors in chemistry, has worked at Bridgeport Health Care Center as a social services intern. There, she realized how lonely some of the nursing home residents were and searched for ways to rectify the situation.

Michael has loved seeing Fairfield's Adopt-a-Grandparent Program take off. Now, when she goes to work, the residents are asking when their young friends will be visiting next. The seniors eagerly look forward to the conversation, games of checkers, and trips outside in the sunshine.

Academically, Michael, a chemistry major with a math minor and pre-med concentration, has earned her way into three honor societies: Alpha Epsilon Delta for pre-medical professionals, Omicron Delta Kappa for leadership, and Pi Mu Epsilon for mathematics. Consistently on the Dean's list, she has received both the chemistry department Book Award and the Analytical Chemistry Award.

She has also been involved with Theatre Fairfield, intramural softball, the Loyola Singers, the International Student Orientation Program, and leads chemistry review sessions for freshmen, tutors, and participated in a Mission Volunteer trip to Ecuador.

As for her post-graduation plans, Michael has applied to medical school but will defer acceptance to pursue a year of service teaching. She says her dream is "to some day have my own RV and deliver medical supplies and care to people in need."

Todd Pelletier
William J. Kramer '60 Humanitarian Award
Todd Pelletier can't leave home without these three things: his cell phone, his portable radio, and his insatiable desire to help those in need. Pelletier first began his volunteer healthcare career at age 15 as a ski patroller in Maine, where he was recognized as Junior Ski Patroller of the Year. During high school, he successfully completed Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician training. Since his freshman year at Fairfield, Pelletier has volunteered for Stratford EMS two to three nights a week - something he feels enriched his college experience by providing him with the motivation he needed to excel in Fairfield's nursing program.

In the first weeks of Pelletier's sophomore year, local emergency responders, including many volunteers, were called to action to assist on Sept. 11, 2001, in New York City. Pelletier took part in these efforts that included treating patients.

Following Sept. 11, he joined Stratford EMS's Special Operations Division, a unit trained and equipped to provide specialized EMS assistance for atypical events throughout the region. Pelletier was recently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with direct administrative and operational oversight responsibilities for the Special Operations Division. In February 2004, he attained the volunteer service milestone of 3,000 hours with Stratford EMS.

Pelletier has also worked as an EMT in Hartford for American Medical Response and has been an assistant instructor for Emergency Medical Technician-basic initial and recertification courses in southern Connecticut. In 2003, he participated in a nursing internship program in Yale-New Haven Hospital's Pediatric Emergency Room, where he continues to be employed as an Emergency Department Technical Associate. He is pursuing a career in pediatric critical care nursing and his professional interests include emergency management, with respect to bioterrorism.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Live from the Jazzman's Café

WICC's Citizen Smith (center) broadcasted his radio show live in the Jazzman's Café on March 1, one day before Super Tuesday. The show featured several students and faculty members discussing the political issues debated on the primary trail. Among the show's guests were Dr. John Orman, professor of politics; Dr. Donald Greenberg, associate professor of politics; Dr. James Simon, assistant professor of English; Kristina Riordan '05, president of the College Democrats; Emily McAdam '05, vice chair of the Connecticut Union of College Republicans; as well as members of the debate club. Dr. Winston Tellis, assistant professor in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business (second from right), and Rev. Paul Carrier, S.J. (right), University chaplain, discussed the political situation in Haiti. Student Jenilee Lindo '04 (left) provided a first-hand account of Japanese reaction to the Iraq war, which began during her semester abroad in Japan.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Easter means finding light through the darkness

Rev. Paul E. Carrier, S.J., University chaplain, and Wilnaud, 16, in Cap Haitien, Haiti.

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

With Easter, God not only has the last word, but God has the last laugh. All the evil in the world, all the hatred, all the violence cannot withstand the powerful surge of God's love.

We believe that death's claim to finality is hollow, but the victory of Easter seems elusive at times in our world.

After my recent visit to Cap Haitien, Haiti, during which I visited Doug Perlitz '92, founder of the Pierre Toussaint School and Outreach Program for Street Children in the city, and the kids, I was struck by the realization that the people of Haiti live a constant Good Friday - they are always in the Third Week of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, experiencing the Passion of Jesus. They constantly wait for the dawn of the light of the Resurrection. It is dawning, slowly, almost imperceptibly, and not without resistance. The light of the Resurrection shines in commitment that Perlitz and co-director Andy Schultheis have to the Haitian children, as they stay with them in the weeks of turmoil and violence. The light of the Resurrection shines in the lives of the kids as they try to live lives of love and service. But we can still wonder if the light will triumph in Haiti. Will the real darkness be dispelled? Will the sound of laughter be heard? The last sound I heard as I left Cap Haitien was that of the rebels working feverishly to rebuild the prison they had recently burned down. They were not working on the city hospital that has only two hours of generator power a day, not working to restore electricity to a city of 500,000 people, not building desperately needed houses and schools - but the prison, a symbol of darkness that could be a metaphor for the entire country.

God does have the final word, but God's plans and dreams can still be blocked. The light of the Resurrection dawns through people like us through our acts of love and service and forgiveness.

The Upper Room was filled with people who knew fear, pain, and suffering, people like us. But with the Risen Christ they were bursting with life and confidence and celebration. What better way to proclaim and celebrate the Resurrection than to laugh through our tears? Easter doesn't need a lecture, or arguments, or proof. Each of us can make a list of people - parents, family, and friends - whose faith and laughter point us to the eternal life that is ours now, today. These special people living Easter life remind us that those who joined hands for the journey in Christ sang through the darkness and found it pierced with light. Blessed Easter!

Feeling valued and valuing others

 A common theme in this column is stress and its effect on our bodies, lives, and society. One source of stress is when people in a workplace become angry. As a workplace, Fairfield University is as likely to have these situations arise as are other work environments.

Workplace anger is becoming more of a problem in our society and increasingly the focus of research in psychology and management. The most frequently reported cause of anger in the workplace is frustration with coworker/supervisor work performance and/or relationships with a coworker or supervisor. The second cause of anger is dealing with the public. And the third cause of anger is the work context, including pay, benefits, opportunities for promotion, physical work environment, etc. While some research demonstrated differences in anger expression by gender, other research shows that both men and women have the same potential to become angry and to act on it.

Anger is most often expressed through verbal outbursts. But workplace anger can be internalized and expressed in more subtle ways, such as sabotage of plans made by coworkers or the supervisor, being late for meetings without reason, delaying work on specific projects, or disengagement from work obligations. In either case, the most common reaction by managers is to penalize the behavior rather than attempting to address the cause of the behavior. So what is an employee (or a manager) to do?

First, anger management is closely related to stress management. Both require the person to look at the behavior and realize that the behavior is a problem, then look at the source of the behavior. If you are having difficulty with a coworker or supervisor, you need to talk to that person to determine if the situation can be resolved. Most authors agree that the key to resolution is mutual respect. People can disagree on a variety of issues, but still work together effectively if they can respect the contribution of the other person. Disrespect of a coworker or supervisor can lead to growing anger and to violence. It also forces coworkers to take sides, causing further division within the work group or department. It is the job of coworkers to help limit these types of interactions and to point out that such behavior is inappropriate. Managers need to recognize when employees need a forum to discuss problems and when it is necessary to confront an individual about behavior that is anger-based.

Second, anger and stress can contribute to health problems. Regular exercise can help alleviate stress. Look at your lifestyle and see how you best deal with stress. If you overeat or drink when stressed, consider making some health changes to substitute exercise for these less healthy choices. Let your manager/supervisor know when you are feeling overworked. Managers can be observant as well, looking for signs of overwork and stress in the employee group. A group retreat, an employee dinner, a celebration of goals achieved because of hard work, and other group activities reward employees and diffuse feelings of anger.

Third, employees and managers alike need to develop better communication skills. Employees should be given the skills and support to work out problems that arise. Employees should also ask for further information before becoming upset. Managers need to share information and teach communication skills through modeling of expected behavior.

Finally, a key requirement is the ability to forgive and forget. Much of the anger found in employee groups is over perceived wrongs that happened over a period of time. This requirement means that there need to be methods available to employees to say they are sorry and to address perceived wrongs. Meetings without a planned agenda, group retreats, and group sessions where people can share what is going on in their lives help to diffuse feelings of anger and resentment, leading to forgiveness.

In researching this topic, I found numerous references to Dr. Donald Gibson, associate professor of management in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. A specialist in workplace anger and co-author of Managing Anger in the Workplace, he can serve as an excellent resource to departments within the University. He will be part of a panel discussion on April 28 on this topic, sponsored by the Connecticut Psychological Association (See "News Briefs" for details.) Human Resources also has contacts available for employees who feel that they need to talk with someone outside of their work environment about anger. And, given the nature of our University, Campus Ministry provides excellent resources on understanding yourself in relation to others, and on the nature of forgiveness.

We work in a very positive physical environment. Many of us have been here for more than five years, leading to more personal relationships layered within our professional relationships. We also have a wonderful benefits package. Yet all of us need to work on anger and stress management. In this Easter season of rebirth and resurrection, include this goal among those you strive to achieve in the upcoming year.

Philip A. Greiner, DNSc, RN

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

Join the Fairfield University team for the 2004 MS Walk

Come join the Fairfield University Striding Stags on Sunday, April 18, at Fairfield Beach as the team takes part in the annual Multiple Sclerosis Walk. All members of the Fairfield community - students, faculty, staff, and friends - are welcome. Last year, the Striding Stags raised more than $5,000 to support research for a cure, as well as essential services for those with MS. Routes range from two miles (wheelchair and stroller accessible) to four and eight miles along the beach and historic Fairfield. Walkers are encouraged to raise at least $100, but there is no entry fee or minimum donation for joining the walk, which begins at 9 a.m.

Fairfield University's Judy Arel, assistant to the University registrar, and John Falzone of the carpentry department, are not only spearheading the Striding Stags team, they have been named honorary chairpersons for the event. Their impressive dedication - all voluntary - to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is reflected in the numerous awards they have received over the years. Among them are the 1998 Challenge Team Award for raising the most money and the 2003 State of Connecticut Department of Higher Education Award for their efforts in fighting MS. In 1991, Falzone founded the "Sweetheart Dance" for MS, which has raised $44,000 over the years. "One hundred percent of that has gone to respite care or special MS programs," he says. In recognition of this, as well as Arel's efforts year after year with the MS fashion show, both received the chapter's Henry E. Baker Fundraising Award in 1999.

Registration forms for the MS Walk are available at various campus locations. Please include Fairfield Striding Stags as the team name on the form. For information, call Judy Arel at ext. 2582.

It's hard to miss the shiny new campus shuttle that debuted last month. Painted bright red with the Fairfield University Stags logo emblazoned on all sides, the new bus picks up and drops off at various campus locations, including the John A. Barone Campus Center (above), day and night. A second bus, which will provide stops at Fairfield locations on the Post Road, will soon be added. Printing and Graphic Services and the Office of Student Services developed the design for the Dattco buses.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Sports

Tyquawn Goode '05: The nonconformist on the court

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Tyquawn Goode '05 (left) at the February game at Duke University.

Tyquawn Goode '05 is not the prototypical defensive player, the kind who swats shots into the third row or skies high above the rim for a rebound. But great players are not always conventional.

Goode is a prime example of a player who goes against the grain, especially on the defensive end of the court. He does not swat shots into the third row, nor does he sky above the rim for rebounds. Instead, he frustrates the opposition with speed, determination, and heart.

Those attributes have made Goode the top defensive player in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The 5-foot, 5-inch guard became the second Fairfield player to garner the MAAC's Defensive Player of the Year award when the awards were announced in March. Stags forward Deng Gai '05 earned the honor the first two years the award was presented (2002 and 2003).

"I was very surprised to win the award," Goode says. "It means a lot to me, probably more than any other type of award. It's always my goal to be the top defensive player because everything gets started with defense."

Goode is known around the MAAC for his tenacious style of defense, the in-your-face ball pressure that often frustrates opponents and causes them to make mistakes.

"Defense is the most important part of the game," Goode says. "If you can stop the opponents from scoring, you will win the game. Even when you have trouble scoring points, you will still win if you play defense. That's why we've been successful the last two years."

The Stags have posted back-to-back 19-win seasons over the previous two campaigns, and have won 25 conference games during that time. Fairfield is constantly among the conference leaders in most defensive categories.

"Defense brings a team together, which is why we have won these last two years," Goode said. "One guy cannot guard all five opposing players. You need to rely on each other to be successful. That's why defense helps build a team. You all work together for one common cause - to win the game."

But Goode is not a one-dimensional player who can only play on the defensive side of the court. The guard has success on offense as well. Goode became the first Fairfield player in nearly 20 years to post back-to-back 100 assist seasons, averaging 3.3 assists per game this year.

As for scoring, Goode is never one to look to put the ball into the hoop unless he is the only option. He averages 5.6 points per game, mainly because he is an unselfish player who would rather pass the ball than shoot it.

"I don't like to force it offensively," Goode says. "I like to play within the offense. If I see an open player, I'd rather pass it than take the open shot. I am a point guard, which is why I get so many assists. My job is to keep the offense running smoothly and not disrupt it. I concentrate on trying to score each time we have the ball."

While many players look to score points in order to get into the flow of the game, Goode would rather dictate tempo with defense.

"Defense gets me into the game," Goode says. "For most players, they like to score baskets in order to get going early in the game. I'd rather turn things up with defense. I guess I am different that way."

That's because not all great players are conventional.

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Basketball players earn significant honors
Basketball center Rob Thomson '04 secured a spot on the College Sports Information Directors Academic All-District 1 team. The district includes the New England states and eastern Canada. Tyquawn Goode '05 of the men's basketball team earned the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference defensive player of the year award. Candice Lindsay '07 garnered the MAAC co-rookie of the year as a member of the women's basketball team.

Field Hockey team recognized for academic achievement
The field hockey team was one of 42 programs honored for team GPA during the fall semester. Senior Lauren Thomas and freshmen Nicole Mazzocchi, Justine Odenwaelder, and Caitlin Quinn were chosen for the Division I National Academic Squad. Team and individual awards were made by members of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.

Swimming and diving team caps off a good season
Congratulations to the women's swimming and diving team which capped its successful campaign with a strong showing at the Eastern College Athletics Conference Championships. The squad, which did not score a point during the 2003 event, tallied 92 points at the 2004 championships, placing 12th overall.

Men's lacrosse team off to a great start
The men's lacrosse team received votes in the Inside Lacrosse Media National Poll, earning 16 points. The Stags propelled themselves into the national spotlight after defeating 19th-ranked Penn State on March 6. The Penn State game was the first of six on the 2004 men's lacrosse schedule. Fairfield's 3-0 record equals the best start in the University's history, tying the 1999 team.

Volunteering at the NCAA Women's Tournament

More than 100 students, faculty, and staff, as well as community members, donated their time during last month's NCAA Women's Tournament, which was hosted by Fairfield University. Katie Voight '06 (pictured left), who interns in the athletic marketing office, and Todd Pelazza (pictured right), director of security, were among the volunteers who assisted with media relations, checking in teams, searching and tagging bags, managing fans, and countless other tasks. The tournament was held over a four-day period at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport.

news Briefs

Phi Delta Kappa initiates new members
The Fairfield University chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, an international professional association for men and women in the field of education, held an initiation ceremony of more than 20 new members on March 9 in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. Following the induction, Rosemary Coyle, Connecticut Education Association president, addressed the initiates.

Phi Delta Kappa, founded in 1906, comprises classroom teachers, school administrators, college and university professors, specialists, and support staff. Membership is by invitation. Fairfield University's faculty advisors to the chapter are Dr. Margaret Deignan, dean of the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, and Sister Julianna Poole, SSND, chair of TESOL, foreign language, and bilingual/multicultural education, and assistant professor of secondary education in the GSEAP.

Film highlights relations between Jews and Catholic Church
The Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies will host a screening of the movie, I Am Joseph Your Brother: Relations Between the Catholic Church and the Jewish People Over the Past Half Century, on April 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the John A. Barone Campus Center Oak Room. An inter-religious discussion with Rabbi Ron Kronish, director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel, and Sister Mary Boys, the Skinner and McAlpin Professor of Practical Theology at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City, will follow the film.

Reservations are requested. Call the Carl & Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies of the College of Arts and Sciences at ext. 2066.

On-campus Holocaust Remembrance Service to be held April 19
Area resident and Holocaust survivor Abe Baron will speak during Fairfield University's Holocaust Remembrance Service on April 19 at 5 p.m. in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola. The Service will include a memorial candle-lighting.

Baron was a teenager during the Holocaust and a prisoner at more than a dozen camps before he was liberated from Buchenwald by American troops on April 11, 1945.

To attend, call the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies of the College of Arts and Sciences at ext. 2066.

"Anger in the Workplace" seminar to be held April 28
Managers and employees can learn techniques for handling anger at a panel discussion and breakfast hosted by The Connecticut Psychological Association and The Charles F. Dolan School of Business at Fairfield University. "Anger in the Workplace," one in a series of Psychologically Healthy Workplace Best Practices Educational Breakfasts, will be held at the Dolan School Dining Room on April 28 from 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

An interactive panel discussion will address strategic plans for managing anger in the workplace, including how to recognize early warning signs of escalating workplace violence and the effective use of verbal responses to de-escalate potential workplace aggression.

The panel of speakers includes: Dr. Donald Gibson, associate professor of management in the Dolan School and executive director of the International Association for Conflict Management; Dr. Susan Freedland, a licensed psychologist, executive coach, and organizational consultant; E. Lee Lowery, training director at Physical/Psychological Management Training Associates; and Dr. Jeffrey Zimmerman, president of Beacon Behavioral Services and chair of Psychologically Healthy Workplace Committee, Connecticut Psychological Association.

To register, contact Betty Ann Foy at bfoy@connpsych.org or (860) 586-7522. The event is free for all Fairfield University students.

Summer computer camp for kids
If your children are between the ages of 8 and 18, don't miss the opportunity to send them to summer computer camp at Fairfield University. Dr. Mike Zabinski, physics and engineering professor, founded National Computer Camps in 1977, at the time convinced that personal computers would soon be in everyone's homes and offices.

Still going strong in its 27th year, NCC attracts as many as 70 students per week in its locations in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Atlanta. At NCC, kids learn to program, create graphic videos, take apart a computer, create a home page, and play (and create) educational games. Optional sports programs (soccer, basketball, swimming, tennis) are available in the afternoon.

Students may sign up for one or more weeks of camp, which runs from June 27 through July 30. For more information, visit www.nccamp.com, or contact Dr. Zabinski at mike@nccamp.com or 795-9667.

Happenings

Walsh Art Gallery hosts the 2004 Faculty Art Exhibition

Fairfield University faculty unveil a wide range of expression and process in the eclectic 2004 Faculty Art Exhibit, which opened on April 1 in the Walsh Art Gallery in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

The show, which runs through May 2, includes selected multimedia installations, painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, and printmaking, all created by members of the University faculty.

The exhibit includes Fairfield University faculty Kathryn Jo Yarrington, John Mendelsohn, Peter Benson, Donna Ruff, Suzanne Chamlin, Richard McCabe, and Joan Fitzsimmons. Faculty from the Department of Art and Design at Sacred Heart University will also be included.

For more information and Gallery hours, call the Quick Center at ext. 4010.

Moscow Festival Ballet performs Giselle at the Quick Center for the Arts

The exciting Moscow Festival Ballet will perform one of its signature pieces, Giselle, on April 16 at 8 p.m. at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. An Art-to-Heart session with the company will take place immediately after the performance, which is part of the Russian Arts and Letters Festival.

Giselle is the story of a peasant girl who falls in love with a count, Albrecht, who, disguised as a villager, tries to woo the young woman. However, her mother, Berthe, takes an instant dislike to Giselle's love and tries to dissuade her by telling the legend of the Wilis, ghost girls who have been jilted and die before their wedding days. This vengeful sisterhood becomes deadly at night, when they force any man who crosses their path to dance himself to death. When Giselle learns Albrecht is intended for another, she loses all reason and kills herself, setting off a series of harrowing scenes in this memorable tragedy.

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

Grammy nominee jazz artist to perform at Quick Center for the Arts

Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Brad Mehldau, a genre-defying musician and composer of enormous passion, will perform an evening of original works on April 24 at 8 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

Known for surprising critics with his own innovation, Mehldau often confounds those who would categorize him, playing works of Beethoven and Radiohead with the same stunning virtuosity. In concert and on his award-winning recordings, critics have praised Mehldau's ability to move "between yearning melancholy and rapturous ecstasy," carrying his listeners through a world of musical possibility.

Mehldau continues to thrill live audiences and filmgoers, who may recognize his works from the soundtracks to Eyes Wide Shut, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and Space Cowboys.

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

Fairfield University wins four Telly Awards

Three videos produced by the Fairfield University Media Center have been selected to receive silver and bronze Telly Awards in the 25th Annual Telly Awards competition. A video produced by Bridget Lake '04 also won a Bronze Telly.

Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards honor non-network and cable productions and commercials.

"The awards we have received point to the creative and skilled talents of our staff," says Rev. James Mayzik, S.J., director of the Media Center. "The Media Center's production capability for video, graphics, and web design rivals the best production houses in the metropolitan area. It's great to have such a resource right on campus!"

The Media Center won the prestigious Silver Telly for its "Lyons Lademann Athletic Fund 2004 Promotional," a 30-second spot developed for the Office of Development and shown at Fairfield University's home basketball games at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

The Center won a Bronze Telly for "The Runner," which was produced as a kick-off piece for the final phase of Fairfield University's capital campaign.

Also winning a Bronze Telly was "The Quick Center 2004 Promotional," a 30-second spot developed by the Media Center as a direct marketing tool for the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. This promo is also shown during Fairfield University's home basketball games.

A third Bronze Telly was awarded to "Bridgeport and the Railroad," a 30-minute video produced by student Bridget Lake '04. Lake is pursuing a major in history and a minor in television, film, and radio. Through interviews with local historians and Fairfield University history professors, her video documents the railroad's impact in changing an agricultural-based municipality to a bustling city during the 19th Century.

Campus Currents is the official news publication of the Fairfield University community. It is published monthly. The editorial office is located in Bellarmine Hall, Room 203. Phone: 254-4000, ext. 2556. Fax: 254-4167.

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