April 2005

 

Volume 13, Number 8
The official news publication of Fairfield University

Index for April 5, 2005

Strategic planning sessions raise community interest

By Barbara D. Kiernan, Director of University Publications

Dr. Mark Ligas, assistant professor of marketing in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, and Dr. Wendy Kohli, associate professor and chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, were among the Task Force leaders and liaisons who discussed the plans for each of the task forces.

You really had to be there to appreciate the energy in the space, as it was contagious. On March 2 and 3, University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., and representatives of the three strategic planning task forces hosted two public forums at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Nearly 300 faculty, staff, and administrators attended one or the other session, representing close to 30 percent of the full-time employees on campus. Task force reports clearly conveyed the energy, hopes, and hard work being done in the strategic planning process. Follow-up questions from the audience led to thoughtful, reflective dialog, thus modeling the openness and transparency that is meant to characterize the strategic planning process.

Following an overview by Fr. von Arx of the origin, purpose, and goals of the process, task force leaders and drafting liaisons explained the scope of the work each task force has done to date and its plans to wrap up the current research phase and begin writing strategic recommendations. By April 11, each task force will produce a document representing the best ideas for moving Fairfield forward in the area of their respective charges: integration of the core curriculum; integration of living and learning; and integration of Jesuit ideals into graduate education. These recommendations - culled from many worthy ideas - will be forwarded to the drafting committee, which will write an overall draft strategic plan to be shared with the Board of Trustees at its June retreat.

After the presentations, questions from members of the University community sparked and focused discussions in the following areas:

• The relationship of the current planning project to the recently completed academic and other divisions' long-range plans.
• How diversity will be woven into the work and recommendations of the task forces.
• How athletics will fit into the plan.
• Where Fairfield's stated desire to create service links to the external community will become explicit.
• How to reach consensus about what the Jesuit ideals are, so as to clarify varying sets of assumptions.
• Questions about the time it will take to bring about the desired cultural shift.
• Concerns about how we will track changes as they are (or are not) occurring.
• Comments about stress and competition inherent in the lives of today's undergraduates relative to career pursuits, and how that will affect the goal of integrating learning and living.
• How planning groups are using data collected in the Napa Group's focus groups.
• Whether recent alumni are giving input to the strategic planning process.
• Where Study Abroad fits into the picture.
• How to get more students involved in campus activities.
• The role of Career Planning Center in terms of graduate students.

It's not too late to make your opinions and concerns known. Please visit Fairfield University's Intranet website at http://info.fairfield.edu/strategicplan and watch for e-mail announcements of additional public meetings. After all, the strategic long-range plan will eventually affect us all. Don't miss the chance to contribute to the outcome.

Strategic Plan
Intranet website: http://info.fairfield.edu/strategicplan
E-mail Address: strategicplan@mail.fairfield.edu
Task force chairs
     Curriculum: Dr. Vincent Rosivach, ext. 2337, rosivach@mail.fairfield.edu
     Living and Learning: Dr. Mark Ligas, ext. 3117, mligas@mail.fairfield.edu
     Jesuit Values in Graduate Education: Dr. Dan Geller, ext. 2324, dgeller@mail.fairfield.edu

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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Xerox Chairman and CEO to deliver Dolan Lecture

By Justine Simon '05, Public Relations Intern

Anne Mulcahy, chairman and chief executive officer of Xerox Corp., will deliver the Charles F. Dolan Lecture on April 25 at 8 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

A 28-year veteran of Xerox, Mulcahy began her career by selling copiers in Boston in 1976. In August 2001, she was named CEO; on Jan. 1, 2002, she was named chairman of the board.

Mulcahy and her team are responsible for implementing an aggressive, multibillion-dollar turnaround plan that returned Xerox to profitability. The plan significantly improved the company's financial position by expanding its portfolio of systems and services and positioning the company for growth.

When asked about her ability to turn Xerox around, Mulcahy told Business Week, "Turnaround or growth, getting your people focused on the goal is still the job of leadership."

Among several distinguished honors Mulcahy has received, Business Week named her among the 19 best managers of 2004. She has also been named in Fortune magazine's list of 50 Most Powerful Women in Business.

"Having a distinguished corporate leader such as Anne Mulcahy come to our campus will be a great event," says Dr. Norm Solomon, dean of the Dolan School of Business. "She is one of the most outstanding businesspeople and her ability to reinvent Xerox has been amazing."

In addition to her duties at Xerox, Mulcahy is a member of the board of directors of Target Corporation, Citigroup, and Fuji Xerox, and is a member of The Business Council. She is also a board member of Catalyst, a nonprofit organization supporting women in business.

Mulcahy earned her bachelor's degree in English/journalism from Marymount College in 1974. After joining Xerox in 1976, she rose rapidly through various sales and senior management positions. From 1992 to 1995, Mulcahy was vice president for human resources. She became chief staff officer in 1997 and a corporate senior vice president in 1998. Xerox is one of the most enduring brands in business, and is the global leader in document management solutions with close to $16 billion in annual revenues.

The Dolan Lecture series began in 2001 with Jack Welch, then-chairman and chief executive of General Electric. Subsequent lectures were delivered by C. Michael Armstrong, former chairman and chief executive of AT&T; Alan "Ace" Greenberg, chairman of the Executive Committee of The Bear Stearns Companies; and Karen Katen, president of Pfizer Human Health.

The lecture is free, but reservations are required. To reserve seats, call the Box Office at ext. 4010.

Rev. John O'Malley, S.J., presents Bellarmine lecture

By Nina M. Riccio, Publications writer

The Rev. John W. O'Malley, S.J., distinguished professor of church history at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology, and featured speaker for this year's Bellarmine Lecture, discussed his latest book, Four Cultures of the West, on March 30, in the John A. Barone Campus Center. In his talk, Fr. O'Malley outlined what he describes as four cultures of the Mediterranean world of antiquity: the "prophetic culture" of Gregory VII and Martin Luther, the culture of academic analysis spearheaded by the great thinkers of ancient athens, the culture of letters (Cicero, Homer) and humanism, and the culture of image, ritual, art, and performance. "Cultures are styles of communication that provide value systems and often make it difficult for one to understand another," Fr. O'Malley said.

Those influenced by the prophetic culture want reform, he said, adding that their thoughts are often characterized by clear lines of thinking, and their arguments infused with the notion that if the change does not happen, serious consequences will follow. The culture of letters, of which Fr. O'Malley is a part, has given rise to the university system. "Since World War II, there's been ever greater expansion here. This culture now has a tendency to take over other cultures," he said. The culture of letters and humanism gave rise to the Second Vatican Council, which conversed in the language of the heart reminiscent of the way the fathers of the Church had spoken. And the culture of ritual and art was particularly important in medieval times, when most people were illiterate. "The building of basilicas provided a locus; the mosaics, the ornamentation were forms of communication," he explained. While each of these cultures had a "eureka" moment which gave rise to great changes in thought or periods of reform, each had a dark side as well. Fanaticism, for example, would be the dark side of the culture of prophecy.

Referring to this past presidential election, Fr. O'Malley described President George W. Bush as coming from the culture of prophecy; Senator John Kerry, the great debater, as coming from the culture of academics; and Senator John Edwards as the sensitive, consensus-builder, influenced by the culture of humanism. Asked which culture most directly influences the United States, Fr. O'Malley said, "If you go by the headlines today, I'd have to say the culture of prophecy, characterized by shouts and protests. It forces you to make clear cut decisions." But, he added, "ten years ago my answer would have been different."

Fr. O'Malley, who holds a doctorate in history from Harvard University, won the 1995 Jacques Barzun Prize for Cultural History from the American Philosophical Society for his 1993 book, The First Jesuits. The book also won the Philip Schaff Prize for Religious History from the American Society of Church History in 1996. He won the 1979 Howard R. Marraro Prize for Italian History from the American Historical Association for his book, Praise and Blame in Renaissance Rome, and the Roland Bainton Prize for History for Trent and All That at the 2001 Sixteenth Century Studies Conference.

In addition to his work at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Fr. O'Malley is chair of the board of trustees of the Renaissance Society of America and chair of the nominating committee for humanities of the American Philosophical Society. He has received many honorary degrees and held several visiting professorships both here and abroad.

The Bellarmine Lecture series brings distinguished Jesuit scholars in a variety of disciplines to deliver public lectures at Fairfield, providing the community with a chance to hear and interact with Jesuit scholars. The series is part of programming sponsored by the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Chair in Catholic Studies.

Photo by B.K. Angeletti

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Fairfield University's Couples:Fairfield University's Couples: Dr. Ibrahim and Mona Hefzallah

By Nina M. Riccio, Publications Writer

In 1956, when Ibrahim Hefzallah, a physics and math major in his native Egypt, was granted a scholarship to study toward his doctorate at Ohio State, his chosen field was far different than it is today. By far the most obvious difference was that educational technology had nothing to do with computers. "Educational technology really meant studying audio-visual methods of teaching," says Dr. Hefzallah, professor of educational technology in the GSEAP, smiling at the memory. "Now, of course, computers are much more efficient and are excellent tools of learning and teaching." And they have become indispensable to the entire program.

Married just prior to their trip to Ohio, he worked toward his doctorate while his wife, Mona, studied business administration. "My Ph.D. thesis was on the cultural adaptation of films, making an educational film from culture A, for example, understandable to culture B," says Dr. Hefzallah. "It's not just a matter of translating the verbal track. One also has to consider the cultural backgrounds of both the country that produced the film, and the target country for the adaptation. Spoken language, body language, images, and values implied or explicitly expressed are among key elements to be considered in the process of film, as well as television program adaptation."

Both agree that their time in Ohio "was fantastic, a wonderful four years." After graduation, they spent five months touring the United States and visiting universities before returning to Egypt to fulfill the seven years' teaching obligation he owed in return for his scholarship. He spent those seven years as an assistant and then associate professor of educational technology at Ein Shams University in Cairo, while Mona worked as the head of the acquisitions department of The American University library. In 1968, the young family - by this time the Hefzallahs had two small daughters - were eager to return to the United States. Dr. Hefzallah responded to an ad for an interesting position that involved teaching and educational technology development at a northeastern university. That university, of course, turned out to be Fairfield.

"I began receiving correspondence from Dr. John Barone, who was then vice president for planning," Dr. Hefzallah recalls. "His letters were so encouraging, showing how the University was progressing, and it was clear that the position would be more than teaching." It proved to be much more: in 1968, there was no Media Center, and the University's few pieces of audiovisual and television equipment shared space with Dr. Hefzallah in his office. "There was a need for more, and we had the encouragement of Father (William) McInness, who was then University president," recalls Dr. Hefzallah, who quickly went to work writing a five-year plan for technology development.

Mona was offered a job at Fairfield as well - about a month before Ibrahim - working at the library, which had just moved to its present location from the ground floor of Canisius Hall. "Imagine, when I began here, the library had just 80,000 volumes (it now has about 325,000). There were no videos or CDs or other media, and I was working on card catalogs!" She, too, has witnessed a sea change of progress in her field, and has loved what she does. "Everything I touch I learn from. I'm always challenged," she says. Her current position is head librarian cataloger, which puts her ultimately in charge of making sure all those books and CDs are properly cataloged and organized so they can be located when needed.

By 1970, Dr. Hefzallah was asked to spearhead the development of a master's in technology program designed for grade school educators. From 1976 through January 1999, he directed the Media Center, all while directing and teaching in the educational technology program.

"One of the biggest challenges for teachers is to teach students to assess the information that's available to them on the Internet," he says, adding that he's concerned that young people spend too much time on the computer. "Students must learn to budget their time more efficiently. There's more to life than computers. Playing sports, talking with friends, and interacting with family members are also important."

As much as he's loved working with students, he's planning to retire at the end of this year. "I want to travel when Mona retires," he says, noting that he will still do research and write (he's written nine textbooks and a novel based on a character from the Bible). Mona, for her part, has not decided what her retirement plans are. "We had always planned to travel once the girls were on their own, and they are now," she admits, though she is reluctant to set a date for her retirement. "I'm thinking about it," is all she'll offer. Fortunately for Fairfield, she doesn't seem to be in any rush to make that decision.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Dr. Rochelle Almeida, visiting instructor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, had her second book, The Politics of Mourning: Grief-Management in Cross-Cultural Fiction, published by Fairleigh-Dickinson University Press, 2004.

In a Feb. 27 Hartford Courant article on the surge in entry-level job openings, Dennis Amrine, interim director of career planning, said Fairfield had seen an increase since last year. "When employers are inviting those of us on the career-planning side to come visit, that's a good sign."

Dr. Susan Birge, assistant vice president for student services resources and director of counseling services, delivered a presentation on adolescent drug and alcohol use and abuse at Lauralton Hall in Milford on March 9. Dr. Birge, a member of the school's Class of 1969, talked about national trends, drugs of choice, and how experimentation leads to recreational use and possibly drug abuse.

Dr. Mary Ann Carolan, associate professor and director of the Italian studies program, was quoted in a Feb. 14 Hartford Business Journal article about the rise of New Haven as a hip arts center.

The Feb. 27 Hartford Courant quoted Dr. Edward Deak, the Roger M. Lynch Professor of Economics in CAS, in three separate articles. In an article on soaring energy costs, Dr. Deak commented on how the increases could cost families thousands and take away from discretionary spending. In an article on the job recovery, Dr. Deak said he plans to lower his forecasts for 2005. In a third article, which discussed manufacturing emerging from a slump, Dr. Deak said rumored cuts in the federal defense budget could have severe effects for aerospace and defense manufacturers in the state.

On March 21, CNN Daybreak's Carol Costello interviewed Dr. Nancy Dallavalle, associate professor of religious studies in CAS, regarding the subject of Mary, mother of Jesus, and the increased interest in her by Protestants.

Christina DeVald, director of catering for Sodexho, commented for an article in the March issue of On-Campus Hospitality about the exciting challenge it was to cater for more than 5,000 people in the series of events for the Inauguration of University President the Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J.

Passionate Spirituality: Hildegard of Bingen and Hadewijch of Brabant (Paulist, 2005), a new book by Dr. Elizabeth Dreyer, professor of religious studies in CAS, appeared in the "New Scholarly Books" section of The Chronicle of Higher Education on Feb. 25.
In a March 14 article for the Catholic News Service on women in the laity, Dr. Dryer urged devoting more resources for women scholars of theology and spirituality.

An art review about the opening of the renovated and expanded Museum of Modern Art in New York City, written by Dr. Philip Eliasoph, professor of art history in CAS, appeared in the Connecticut Post on March 6 as the centerpiece of the Arts & Travel section.

Dr. Robert M. Fedorchek, professor of modern languages in CAS, recently published an English translation of the Spanish-language masterpiece play, Don Álvaro, or the Force of Fate.

An article in the February issue of the Chai Lights, a publication of The Jewish Home for the Elderly, quoted Dr. Betsy Gardner, professor of psychology in CAS, about students in her "Seminar in Aging" course who volunteer at The Jewish Home.

On Feb. 25, Dr. Paul Lakeland, the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Professor of Catholic Studies, commented on the impact of the Pope's illness on the Church in an interview with Don Melvin, European correspondent for Cox newspapers. The article appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Austin American-Statesman, and MyrtleBeachOnline. On the same day, The Buffalo News featured Dr. Lakeland in an article about the conference "The Liberation of the Laity" at the Christ the King Seminary in Buffalo, N.Y.

Dr. Lisa Mainiero, professor of management in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, appeared on CNN's NewsNight with Aaron Brown tonight to discuss the ouster of Boeing's chief executive officer.

Dr. Carole Ann Maxwell, director of choral and liturgical music, served as chorus master for a performance of Verdi's "Requiem" by the Connecticut Grand Opera and Orchestra on March 19 at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, where the Fairfield University Chamber Singers and The Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut also performed.

On March 7, News 12 interviewed Gary Nelson, director of health services, on meningitis and the steps universities can take to prevent outbreaks of the disease.

Dr. John Orman, professor of political science in CAS, commented for an Associated Press article on Gov. R. Jodi Rell's declining popularity after months of bipartisan praise. The article also appeared in the Greenwich Time and The Advocate (Stamford).

Several Connecticut daily newspapers, as well as the Boston Globe, Long Island Newsday, WTNH-TV, and 1010 WINS-AM Radio carried the news on March 16 and 17 that Dr. Orman is considering challenging Sen. Joe Lieberman for the Democratic nomination for senator in 2006.

The New York Times quoted Tim O'Toole, head coach of men's basketball, in a Feb. 21 article on senior Deng Gai becoming the nation's leader in blocks. O'Toole and Gai were both interviewed for a March 14 Sports Illustrated article, "Hard Road to Hardwood Glory," about Gai's transition from Sudan, a country devastated by civil war, to the United States, where he is a rising star in basketball. CBS News interviewed O'Toole for a feature on Gai, which was recently distributed to CBS affiliates and other national outlets, including BET.

Dr. Marice Rose, visiting instructor of Art History in VPA, presented "Dominus/Servus/ Familia: Representations of Masters and Slaves in the Late Roman Household" at the 93rd Annual Meeting of the College Art Association in Atlanta, Ga., on Feb. 19. She also delivered "Symbols in Early Christian Art" on Jan. 16 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

On March 9, Dr. Timothy Law Snyder, dean of CAS, presented "A Primary Cost-Efficient Strategy for HIV and AIDS in New York City," with Dr. Paul Galatowitsch of New York University at the New York University/Center for HIV Educational Studies and Training Conference, Diagnosing Acute HIV Infection: Frontiers in HIV Prevention.

A March 24 article in The Times (London) quoted Dr. Snyder about the safety and testing of the A380, the world's biggest passenger plane.

Keith Stetson, collection development librarian, recently became a member of the Board of the Connecticut Library Consortium, whose members include more than 1,000 school, public, academic, and corporate libraries. This statewide membership collaborative initiates cost-effective services; provides a forum for the sharing of information, ideas, and expertise; offers continuing education opportunities; and provides interlibrary loan service.

Dr. Michael Tucker, professor of finance in DSB, was interviewed by News 12 Connecticut on March 18 for a story on zone gas pricing and the profit oil companies make on local gas stations.

The Jewish Leger featured Dr. Ellen Umanksky, the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Professor of Judaic Studies, in a cover story marking the 10-year anniversary of the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center at Fairfield University. Dr. John Thiel, professor of religious studies, commented on Dr. Umansky for the article, saying "Students flock to her classes, and whenever I see her in the halls, she is surrounded by students who are engaging her in communication."

Dr. Joan Weiss, associate professor of mathematics in CAS, had her article, "Trigonometric Identities on a Graphing Calculator," published in the fall 2004 issue of The College Mathematics Journal. In January, she presented "Modeling World Series Outcomes via Absorbing Markov Chains" at the American Mathematics Society/Mathematical Association of America Meetings in Atlanta.

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Service Anniversaries

5 years
       Sharon Clark
       Alfred Faulkner
       Kenneth Smith

10 years
       Janet Canepa

15 years
       Barbara Barrett
       Mary Brennan

20 years
       Linda Murphy

Condolences

Thomas Smith, father of Dr. Sandra Ducoffe, professor of marketing in DSB, died in February.
Ann Marie Miller-Smith, sister-in-law of Shirley Klein in the Financial Aid Office, died in March.
Robert G. McGregor, brother of Kathy Allen, accounts receivable coordinator in the Bursar's Office, died March 10.
Imtiaz Kahn, food service manager for board operations with Sodexho Corporation, died March 25.

New Employees

Heather Deyo - Officer, Public Safety
James O'Brien - Head Women's Soccer Coach, Athletics
Maureen Pelletier - Staff Nurse, Health Center
Kristen Alpert - Nurse, SON
Adam Stuart - Technical Staff, QCA

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University recognized for energy conservation

Representatives from ISO New England, the independent operator of the region's bulk power system and wholesale electricity markets, presented University President the Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., and First Selectman Ken Flatto with a 2004 Demand Response Achievement Award on March 30. The awards recognize these entities' participation and performance in ISO New England's Demand Response Program.

Also present were representatives from EnerNOC, a Boston-based firm under contract with ISO New England to recruit and work with commercial electricity users for the Demand Response Program.

"When the power grid is most stressed, we assist by reducing our electricity use," says Ric Taylor, associate vice president for campus planning and operations, noting that the program dovetails with a number of initiatives Fairfield University has undertaken to be as energy efficient as possible. "A small sacrifice in our shedding load can help improve overall power system reliability. Environmentally, the energy-producing plants are less stressed, thereby avoiding additional emissions. By participating in the program, the University also benefits from a new revenue stream that helps to balance ever-rising utility costs."

The Town of Fairfield, the first Connecticut municipality to participate in the program, is also pleased with the opportunity to help improve the region's electrical reliability.

Residential, commercial, and industrial customers throughout Connecticut and New England are participating in ISO New England's Demand Response Program, which requires customers to respond to either an energy emergency or high wholesale energy prices by quickly decreasing their energy consumption in exchange for a financial subsidy. The Demand Response Program allows ISO New England to help maintain reliability by calling on these customers to reduce power consumption during times of stress on the region's bulk power grid or when wholesale electricity prices hit a $100 a megawatt hour (or 10 cents a kilowatt hour).

"Fairfield University has proven to be a dependable and valuable partner in the ISO New England Real-Time Demand Response Program and should be proud of its contributions to maintain the reliability of the electricity grid in Southwest Connecticut," says Robert Laurita, ISO New England's senior program administrator.

Also attending the award presentation were David Brewster, President and COO of EnerNOC, University Control Supervisor Bill Romatzick, University Energy Manager Bill Auger, University Electrician John Tedesco, Vice President of Finance William J. Lucas, and town representatives.

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Dolan School of Business names two to endowed chairs

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

The Charles F. Dolan School of Business has announced the creation of a fourth endowed chair to which it has named Dr. Lucy Katz, professor of business law management. Dr. Winston Tellis, assistant professor of information systems and operations management, has been named to the Stephen and Camille Schramm Chair in Business. Both appointments are effective in September.

Dr. Katz's chair has a five-year renewable term. The title of the chair, which is supported by the gift from Charles and Helen Dolan in 2000, has not been announced. The chair is supported by a generous endowment and will enable Dr. Katz to enhance her research on business dispute resolution and women's issues.

Dr. Katz joined Fairfield University in 1983 as an assistant professor of business law. She was one of two original coordinators of the Women's Studies Program and remains on its coordinating committee. She recently served as chair of the Department of Management in the Dolan School. In all of her work she seeks to highlight the importance of women in business and to promote women's voices on campus and in the classroom. Teaching law to business students, she believes, reinforces their ability to think beyond the "bottom line," to see justice and ethics as vital to business, and to avoid financial scandals such as those currently plaguing the business community.

"Dr. Katz embodies the excellence that our faculty represents and the dedication each faculty member has to our students," says Dr. Norm Solomon, dean of the Dolan School. "We are proud to have her be honored with this Chair."

Dr. Tellis joined Fairfield University in 1969, working in Fairfield's Computer Systems department. There, he worked first as technical advisor, and later as director of technology. He then joined the Dolan School as director of undergraduate programs, internships, and technology before taking on a faculty role in the school. He served as interim dean in 2000, after serving as assistant dean from 1997 to 2000 and in 2000 the Fairfield University Alumni Association honored him with the Distinguished Faculty/Administrator Award.

Dr. Tellis has made it a priority to engage his students in service learning projects in keeping with the University's Jesuit mission. He was also instrumental in helping to form Fairfield University's partnership with Universidad CentroAmericana in Nicaragua, and he co-founded the Center for Microfinance Advice and Consulting in 2001. The Center works to help develop self-sustaining business operations in developing countries. He and some colleagues have helped launch self-sustaining businesses in poor rural areas of Haiti and Nicaragua.

"Dr. Tellis has a deep commitment to the Jesuit and Catholic identity that Fairfield represents," Dr. Solomon says. "He is clearly a faculty member whose belief in those tenets impacts our students everyday. He is well deserving of the Schramm Chair."

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Young Writer's Day features local storyteller

Lot Therrio, a professional storyteller and psychotherapist, delivered the keynote address at the Connecticut Writing Project's Young Writer's Day held at Fairfield University on March 9. The full-day program offered workshops in fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, memoir, drama, short story, and screenwriting. Students and teachers from public and parochial schools in Bridgeport, Norwalk, Greenwich, Fairfield, and Trumbull attended.

Dr. Lakeland inaugurated as first Kelley professor

By Barbara D. Kiernan, Director of University Publications

What a sign of hope it was. Outside, on the evening of March 2, the white winter landscape was still holding forth, refusing to take a final bow to the season soon to come. Inside, however, the yellows, blues, reds, and oranges of academic gowns prevailed, signaling that a celebration was about to take place.

In this spirit of anticipation, Dr. Paul Lakeland, professor of religious studies, was formally installed as the first holder of the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Chair in Catholic Studies. Sharing the honor of the occasion with him on stage were, among others, the chair's namesake, Fr. Kelley, president emeritus; the Rev. Jeffrey von Arx, S.J., University President; Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president; and Dr. Timothy Law Snyder, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. As part of the ceremony, Dr. G. Dennis O'Brien, former president of Bucknell University and the University of Rochester, received an honorary doctor of laws degree and delivered an address.

In his inaugural address, Dr. Lakeland drew a distinction between a university and a Catholic university, noting that both hold as absolute requirements the right to free inquiry and exploration of ideas. The Catholic university also includes a priestly role, not in the sense of conversion, but in terms of mediation between tradition and culture so as:

• To uphold the commitment of Catholicism to the highest intellectual standards, even in the face of resistance and strain, and to share the treasure of the Church's intellectual inheritance in the public marketplace of ideas.
• To be the place where the Church thinks, and learns from a wider world of wisdom, so as to teach the Church.
• To challenge the contemporary world to grow toward fuller humanity, modeling the practices it professes will lead to this fullness.

"The discipline of Catholic Studies," said Dr. Lakeland, "is that branch of the mission of a Catholic university that is self-conscious about this priestly role. Too often, Catholic Studies is taken as a sort of last-ditch apologetics for a tradition in retreat." Not so, he insisted. ... "The priestly role of Catholic Studies is consumed in representing the Catholic tradition in its authentic intellectual rigor and clarity of perception about the human condition of the world... Part of Catholic Studies is the clarification of tradition for those who belong to it; part is the encounter with difference; part is self-criticism. But the best part may, in the end, be the celebration of plain humanity."

As chairholder, Dr. Lakeland intends to model the highest academic standards in representing the Catholic intellectual and religious tradition to the community. This is not unfamiliar territory to a nationally recognized scholar whose writings have included 35 scholarly articles and six books. The research for his most recent book, The Liberation of the Laity: In Search of an Accountable Church, was partially funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment's Louisville Institute, and subsequently received the first place 2004 Catholic Press Award in theology.

Fairfield's new endowed professorship, which resides in the College of Arts and Sciences, was made possible through the generosity of current and former members of the Board of Trustees on the occasion of Fr. Kelley's retirement. Fr. von Arx offered his special thanks to the trustees, noting what a fitting tribute it was to Fr. Kelley, who, during his 25-year tenure, laid the foundation for such a chair "through his leadership in mission and identity." Stressing importance of this new chair, Fr. von Arx said, "It is imperative that we provide the means for the intellectual and spiritual investigation of our Catholic and Jesuit heritage - and its value and relevance in our contemporary world."

Picking up on that theme, honorary degree recipient Dr. O'Brien, delivered "The Quest for the Apostle Paul," in which (drawing upon the scholarship of the late Raymond Brown) he placed today's theologians squarely in the tradition of Paul of Tarsus, whom he called an "apostle of mission." What distinguished Paul from the original companions of Jesus (whom O'Brien called "apostles of memory") was Paul's being called by the risen Christ to go forth to new lands and peoples, using insights and skills different from those given to the twelve. By engaging with new cultures and issues, the apostle Paul challenged the expanding Church to reach beyond first-hand memory and Jewish tradition, and begin to address the needs of the broader world.

Fairfield's new Catholic Studies chairholder, Dr. Lakeland, recognizes this role as an essential component of his responsibilities, given the nature and purpose of a Catholic university. He is also charged with shepherding the establishment of an academic minor in Catholic Studies; examining issues of the Catholic intellectual tradition by organizing public lectures and programs; and guiding the academic aspects of the Office of Jesuit and Catholic Mission and Identity, working with the facilitator to develop appropriate programs for the University community.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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Holocaust survivor to speak on April 19

Westport resident Anita Schorr, a survivor of the Terezin, Bergen-Belsen, and Auschwitz concentration camps, will speak at Fairfield University's Holocaust Remembrance Service on April 19 at 4:30 p.m. in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola.

Schorr came to the United States in 1959, the only survivor in her family. However, it was only 10 years ago that she began to tell her survival story to audiences.

The Holocaust Remembrance Service is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. For information or to reserve a seat, call the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies at ext. 2066.

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Alumni Association to award five outstanding students

By Alejandra Navarro, Publications writer

On April 21, the Alumni Association will honor the following five members of the Class of 2005 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.

Meghan Flanagan
St. Ignatius Loyola Medal

Meghan Flanagan makes an effort to live up to the Jesuit ideal. In doing so, she became a person who leads by example. For the past four years, Flanagan served on the Hunger Cleanup executive board, organizing the annual event, collecting donations, and recruiting volunteers. Flanagan drew more than 350 faculty, students, staff, and alumni to volunteer at approximately 40 worksites throughout Connecticut, which made Fairfield first among the participating schools in the state, in terms of support from volunteers and donations.

In a new initiative this year, Flanagan encouraged the Hunger Cleanup board of 38 to visit some of the sites before the event date and connect with the residents. She invited guest speakers from different community groups to motivate and remind volunteers of the importance of their hard work. In an unprecedented move this year, Flanagan invited another area college to join Fairfield work teams to boost volunteerism for the event.

As a resident advisor, Flanagan left a lasting impression on the students she guided through the highs and lows of living on campus and the unforeseeable tragedies life doles. Her sophomore year, as a Big Sister to 38 students in Dolan Hall, she encouraged friendships to blossom and counseled roommates experiencing conflict. The following year, Flanagan soothed the grief of her residents in Campion after the murder of their friend, Mark Fisher. Recognizing her excellent work and dedication, she was named Resident Assistant of the Year (2002-2003) and Resident Assistant Programmer of the Year (2003-2004).

Flanagan participated in the SKILL leadership development program, served as vice president of communications for the Fairfield University Student Association's (FUSA) board of governors, and attended in the World Debate Tournament in Stellenbosch, South Africa. She received the Fairfield University Emerging Leader Award (2002-2003) and twice was included in Who's Who among American University Students. Flanagan, a management and marketing major in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, plans to pursue a career in event planning.

Jillian Grant
Student Achievement Award

Jillian Grant has her finger on the pulse of the Fairfield University campus, and the students are better off for it. Under her leadership, participation in campus events designed to enrich the experience of Fairfield students has skyrocketed.

When she first arrived, she sensed some student apathy and vowed to make a change. As FUSA's vice president of programming for the past two years, Grant managed a budget of $100,000, advised 18 student directors, and arranged weekly athletic, musical, and cultural events. She made sure students were getting the most for their contribution to campus programming. To collect feedback about the types of events students wanted to attend, she conducted a student survey. Grant was able to stretch programming dollars by spending wisely and focusing on fewer, but more desirable, large events - an accomplishment she values. It's no surprise that every major event she organized sold out.

Grant, who served as the Class of 2005's secretary/treasurer during her first two years on campus, enjoyed being involved with student government. "I wanted to do something that would make a difference, and it just seemed like student government was the way I could affect the most people," Grant says.

In addition to being involved in FUSA, Grant participated in the SKILL leadership development program, the orientation board, Hunger Cleanup, and was a First-Year Experience facilitator. A biology major and philosophy minor, she has stayed on the Dean's list. She is also a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society, and was named in the Who's Who among American Colleges and Universities. University President the Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., nominated Grant to serve on his task force investigating the integration of living and learning.

"Fairfield is a part of me now," she says. "My experience here has formed the person I want to be." Grant plans to continue her education at Yale University School of Nursing and pursue a career in pediatric nursing.

Alison Hildenbrand
Student Achievement Award

As a First-Year Experience facilitator, Alison Hildenbrand has spent the past three years helping Fairfield freshmen make the transition from high school to independent life on campus, an experience that can be as tumultuous as it is enjoyable. She affectionately calls the students who fall under her guidance her "kids." That's not a stretch considering how much she is willing to do for each of them. When she learned her "kids" didn't have Halloween costumes, she organized a trip to the store. She makes sure each one has her contact number. "I always told them, 'You call me,' " says Hildenbrand. " 'Do not get stuck some place. I am your Big Sister.' "

She makes sure everyone feels like they belong at Fairfield. One of her students was painfully shy, so she went out of her way to give him a little extra attention. She didn't know if she had made a difference until she received an appreciative letter from the student's mother.

In addition to helping students learn to manage their time and leading the group's weekly meetings, she encouraged the philosophy of "men and women for others" by taking the students to Prospect House on a regular basis to volunteer. Hildenbrand and fellow facilitator J.P. Scutero won Facilitator of the Year two years in a row, a feat that had never happened before in University history.

This year, Hildenbrand helped the Rev. Terry Devino, S.J., associate University chaplain, develop the Kairos Retreat program at Fairfield. In high school, she had participated in this Jesuit retreat, where the students learn about themselves and their relationship with God. Hildenbrand also participated in a mission volunteer trip to Mexico, and spent a spring break building homes in Kentucky.

"Fairfield truly has meant everything to me," she says. "This is the place where I have grown as a person. I am so much more confident in myself. I am aware of who I am and what I stand for. The people here are friendly and supportive. What more could you ask for?" Hildenbrand's passion for university life will not end at graduation, as she plans to pursue a career in university admissions.

Kevin Neubauer
Student Achievement Award

Encouraged by a family dedicated to community and civic involvement, Kevin Neubauer is known for being in student government. At his Providence, R.I., high school, he served as senior vice president of his class. He joined FUSA the moment he arrived on campus. As a junior, with only two years of experience with the student association, he ran for FUSA president and won - first for a junior in nearly 25 years.

As president, Neubauer was committed to the values of student government and quality programming. He made it a priority to unite all branches of FUSA to create a sense of community among them. He sat on the Presidential Search Committee and participated in interviewing candidates, which he says reflects the University's dedication to its students. He worked with University administrators to relocate the FUSA office to its more convenient location in the John A. Barone Campus Center, to develop a faculty evaluation website, and he played a role in bringing Mike's Pizza to the Levee. As a senior, he is now grooming future campus leaders, by helping with campaign platforms.

Neubauer's commitment to FUSA has never wavered. Even when he was not re-elected president his senior year, he remained active in FUSA as the programming treasurer. "It was a maturing experience, especially after losing the election," he says. "It made me realize that a position title isn't everything. I still believed in what FUSA had to offer to the student body and I couldn't not be a part of it."

In addition to student government, he was a First-Year Experience facilitator, a member of the orientation board, a lector for Campus Ministry, and the manager of the John A. Barone Campus Center information desk.

Neubauer, a sociology and anthropology major with minors in Peace and Justice Studies and economics, plans to work for a year, then apply to law school. He believes the skills he learned as FUSA president and as a Fairfield graduate will serve him well in the future. "I believe in the Jesuit ideal of education of the whole person," Neubauer says. "College is not just job training, but life training."

Jill Macari
William J. Kramer '60, P'96,'85,'83 Humanitarian Award

When Jill Macari set out for her 2004 spring semester abroad in South Africa, she knew she would have an adventure of a lifetime, but she never expected to return a hero. That is what she's become to the orphans in the Baphumelele Children's Home in South Africa.

What began as volunteer work with the University of Cape Town's chapter of Habitat for Humanity - a project to expand the small three-bedroom dwelling that houses more than 60 abused and abandoned children - became a cause for Macari. Touched by the children's plight, and inspired by the dedicated workers at the Home, Macari continued to work at the site preparing snacks, changing diapers, and playing with the children. She recruited a dozen other students to volunteer and persuaded the university there to provide transportation for the students. The informal volunteer program she organized continues today.

With the help of schools in her hometown of Reading, Mass., where her mother teaches, she raised more than $2,500 to buy coats and shoes for the children and a new stove for the home. She inspired others to donate supplies. She remembers how pleased the children were to have something of their own that, despite the heat, many slept in their new coats and shoes. "Whatever I may have done for them by playing with them and giving them winter coats or diapers, it is nothing compared to what they have given me," says Macari, who continues to fundraise for the Home. "These children have nothing and they give you everything. They are a demonstration in genuine human love."

Macari is also a varsity golfer and co-captain of the women's golf team. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics selected her to be a national Coca-Cola Community All-American for her excellence in community service.

After graduation, Macari plans to return to South Africa as a volunteer. Her parents told her that there are two things that can never be taken away: education and the experiences you have traveling. She intends to continue doing both.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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Staff Association features University talent

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

At the Staff Association's St. Patrick's Day luncheon, Ireland-born Con O'Halloran of the maintenance department entertained the crowd with his repertoire of Irish ballads. In addition to the Staff Association's usual raffle to raise money for its scholarship fund, the group also accepted contributions for "The Donnelly Dash," a race held March 19 to celebrate the memory of Tim and Kim Donnelly and to benefit their children, Eric '01 and Tara '03.

Six days in Haiti

By John Ur, Digital media and television producer

John Ur spent six days in Haiti during Fairfield University's Spring Break. While there, he worked on a video project, visited Doug Perlitz's Project Pierre Toussaint, and was deeply touched by the people and scenes he encountered. Here are some of his reflections.

Haiti is burning. Burning garbage. Burning tires. Burning sun. Burning hearts. The smell is distinct, like that first whiff of smoke in the house that tells you something is wrong.

In Cap Haitien, Haiti's second largest city, there are people everywhere, closed in by cracked asphalt, gray concrete walls, and repressive heat. To ride through Cap Haitien is to be jostled, not only by the wild dogs roaming the streets and overflowing tap-taps (taxis that carry 10 to 15 people), but also by the roads themselves. The roads in Cap Haitien don't have "potholes". These ditches stretch some 15 to 20 feet across and are up to two feet deep. There are no street signs or stop lights. Often, the right of way on these roads is determined by the size of your vehicle and your intestinal fortitude.

For many of the poor in the country, the cheapest respite from the oppressive heat is a factory-sealed, plastic bag of water. Bottled water is not cheap, but tap water is not portable. Many things in Haiti are too expensive for the masses. The lucky ones eat rice and beans once a day. A little goat here and there is a treat and only on special occasions will they splurge for chicken.

One year after the U.S.-backed coup that ousted Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the democratically elected leader of Haiti, Cap Haitien is still under rebel control.

From what I saw, Cap Haitien's population seems to consist mainly of the not-so poor, the poor, and the struggling to live. The not-so poor live in small houses, have a minimal income, some cold running water, and a toilet. The poor have a home without running water or electricity, and struggle to find their next meal. The struggling-to-live includes homeless street kids, the families who live in the L'abattoir area of town, and those on the far side of the river near the airport.

L'abattoir is French for slaughterhouse. This is the area of Cap Haitien where animal remains once spilled into the streets and mixed with garbage. This is where the poorest of the poor lived because no one else could stand the smell. Like most of the architecture of Cap Haitien, the "houses" in the L'abattoir are made of solid, gray concrete walls and rusted tin roofs. Today, although the slaughterhouse is gone, the poor still remain. During my visit to the area with Alex Castel, an English teacher and journalist, we came across a group of young adults hanging out between two concrete walls overlooking the river/garbage dump. Two girls asked me something in Creole and Alex translated. He said, "They asked if you would bring Aristide back for them." I turned to the girls and smiled and walked on, knowing it would take more than a videocamera to return their deposed leader.

On the other side of the river, families live in 8' x 10' outhouses with maybe a mattress or two. People bathe outside with a bucket of water and some soap. An old t-shirt hangs in the doorway to serve as privacy from the outside world.

Just beyond this section sits the Village of Project Pierre Toussaint. Founded and directed by Doug Perlitz '92, it is an oasis. Here, 50 to 80 boys come from their houses to go to school, get fed, and clean up. Doug has given unwavering dedication to the people of Haiti. Besides the boys he helps through Pierre Toussaint, he provides jobs to many Haitians. In a country that appears stuck in a downward spiral, Project Pierre Toussaint seems like one project that may be able to remain afloat and possibly keep growing.

The one question that always enters my mind when I see tragedy or injustice is "How can I help fix this?" How can we fix Haiti? The courageous few can become leaders like Doug, dedicating many hours or years to meet the physical needs of the poor. We can also help with monetary or material donations to the people or projects like Pierre Toussaint.

But the best thing we can do for the Haitian people is to help them establish a stable government. And the best way to do that is to vote for United States leaders who care about bettering the lives of people like those in Cap Haitien.

Become a conscious citizen. Speak out against injustice. You could save the world without spending a dime. Maybe you can quench some burning hearts.

Fad diets can be so tempting

There is a dirty little word in our society that packs a powerful punch: fat. In recent times, it has not been politically correct to speak the word openly; uneasiness abounds in discussions of the subject. Many of us are uncomfortable with the extra weight on our frames, due in part to our constant exposure to the youth and beauty standards of Madison Avenue and Hollywood.

Our culture's ideas about weight loss have become more irrational than ever. It seems that most Americans alive today have no memory of a time when thinness was not a national obsession, and so we regard it as normal. Millions of us are so terrified of being fat that we choose to court disaster by smoking, or by abusing laxatives, diuretics, and amphetamines to stay thin. The annual mortality rate attributable to desperate weight-loss products and practices, including drastic surgery, probably numbers in the thousands, yet goes unnoticed. We join health clubs at the beginning of each year, looking for a quick fix. Rarely do these good intentions translate into weight loss. It takes time, energy, and follow-through to succeed in what is often an ongoing, lifelong commitment. The health club industries make a bundle on New Year's memberships that lapse in February.

In our need to do what it takes to lose weight quickly, many of us turn to fad diets for help. What exactly are fad diets? Clearly, they are a miracle! They generally guarantee that you will lose weight in a short period of time, and keep it off. In reality, if these claims seem too good to be true, they probably are. How can you spot fad diets? They usually focus on one or two foods, and they don't inform you about the importance of obtaining enough nutrients and calories. They often don't mention exercise. Some ask you to purchase their own packaged foods or supplements. For some people, the cost of the fad diet makes their wallet slimmer than themselves!

Fad diets are not a recent phenomenon. From ancient times to the present, such diets have been used with poor results, and sometimes with disastrous effects. We see them promoted in the form of infomercials, on radio, in print, and on the Internet.

Here is the best way not to get caught in the trap of falling for a fad diet. When considering diet modification for weight loss, consult a primary care health professional who can evaluate you and, if at all possible, make a referral to a registered dietitian. It takes teamwork to formulate, recommend, and follow a safe and sane diet plan. Working with a professional will better ensure that the recommended weight-loss plan is individualized and takes into account personal factors such as age, sex, current height and weight, activity status, psychological barriers, personal understanding about nutrition, and known health problems that need to be considered when creating a responsible weight-loss diet. The benefits of such a plan can often lead to improved health and longevity.

For the latest U.S. government dietary guidelines for Americans, released in January 2005, please visit www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/.

Tsunami relief effort raises funds for disaster area

By Mike Fanning, Contributing writer

True to its Jesuit nature, Fairfield University is doing its part to help with the tsunami relief effort.

Because students were on a month-long winter break when the tsunami struck in Asia and Africa, the University opted to wait until they returned to campus before coordinating a fundraiser. Campus Ministry, Student Services, Follett Bookstore, and FUSA joined forces in February to help that effort, and are sending whatever is raised to Jesuit Refugee Services, a relief organization that already had personnel working in several of the affected countries.

So far the four organizations have raised more than $3,600, and are hoping to reach $5,000. "The weekend fundraiser at the end of February was very successful," says the Rev. Paul Carrier, S.J., University chaplain. At the 9 p.m. Mass, Dr. Gerald Hemenway '65, spoke movingly of the volunteer work he did with a group of doctors in Sri Lanka about a month after the tsunami hit, describing the ongoing plight of the people and their resolve to go on. The collections from the weekend Masses were added to Fairfield's tsunami fundraiser.

"As time has passed, people have come to see the magnitude of the situation," says Jim Fitzpatrick, assistant vice president for student services. Through the generosity of an alumnus, the campus organizations were able to secure 2,500 white wristbands at a reduced cost. Inscribed with "Jesuit Refugee Service Tsunami Relief," they were sold after Mass in the Egan Chapel and in the days following, at the Barone Campus Center. They continue to be sold there in the Student Life Office.

"The students have been extremely helpful in purchasing bracelets," says Paul Duffy '05, FUSA president. "Some people who donate money don't even take the bracelet. Marketing the relief bands has been crucial and so far successful, but we hope more people will continue to purchase the bracelets for the relief of those who were affected by the tsunami."

University's May 7 concert to benefit Donnelly scholarship

The Fairfield University community will pay tribute to Fairfield residents Kim and Tim Donnelly, P'03, '01 at a concert celebration on May 7. The lineup includes legendary Allman Brothers drummer Jaimoe; the Fairfield University Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble; The Alternate Routes, son Eric Donnelly's band; and the local band, Prophets of Funk.

The groups will put on two performances, at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Proceeds from the concert, named "With a Little Help From Our Friends: A Concert Celebration to Benefit the Kim and Tim Donnelly Music Scholarship," will go toward the creation of a scholarship in their name to assist a Fairfield University music student.

The concert will feature a variety of selections, including music of the Beatles, a favorite of the Donnellys.

Kim worked in Fairfield University's finance office for many years before joining her husband at Donnelly Jewelry. Their son, Eric, graduated from Fairfield University in 2001; their daughter, Tara, graduated from Fairfield in 2003. Tara also earned her MBA in 2004. Eric has taught guitar at Fairfield University since his senior year.

Eric formed The Alternate Routes with Tim Warren '03. The Prophets of Funk includes students from Fairfield Prep. The Fairfield University Orchestra will be joined by Academic Vice President and pianist Dr. Orin Grossman, as well as Dr. Timothy Law Snyder, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, who will sing and play guitar. Brian Torff of the music program will accompany the Orchestra on bass and direct the Fairfield University Jazz Ensemble. Members of the Fairfield University music faculty will also perform.

Tickets to the performance are $100 or $50. For more information, contact Dr. Laura Nash at ext. 2638 or lnash@mail.fairfield.edu. For tickets, call the Box Office at ext. 4010.

Ignation lecture series covers ethics, morality, integrity, and more

Those interested in drawing upon the world-affirming Jesuit tradition of promoting dialogue between faith and culture are invited to attend an Ignatian April mini-series of lectures presented by University College.

Guided by its Jesuit and Catholic mission, University College is offering a series of three lectures that integrate Jesuit values while exploring ethics, morality, integrity, and the human spirit in service to others. The series is held on Fridays from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Dr. Philip Bennett, visiting associate professor of applied ethics in the College of Arts and Sciences, presented the first lecture on April 1, "Democracy and Education." Dr. Bennett drew upon John Dewey's book of the same name and the Jesuit vision of educating men and women for others.

The Rev. James Bowler, S.J., University Facilitator for Catholic and Jesuit Mission and Identity, will present "Jesuit Education and Social Justice" on April 8. The lecture will focus on the Jesuit philosophy of developing creative intellectual potential and fostering ethical and religious values and a sense of social responsibility.

The third and final lecture, "Media and Mortality," will be given by the Rev. Mark Scalese, S.J., assistant professor in the Visual and Performing Arts Program, on April 15. The discussion will explore media bias, the philosophical and constitutional basis of freedom of the press, political advocacy, and the moral dilemmas of media management.

To register, call University College at 254-4307.

Sports

Donna Lopiano: Inspiring athletes

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

When she was 11 years old, Donna Lopiano gazed at the blue pinstripe uniforms and midnight blue baseball caps on the field. She was less than an arm's length away from the first step in realizing her dream of becoming the first women to pitch for the New York Yankees. It wasn't as though she hadn't worked and trained for this moment, throwing as many as 500 pitches against the side of her garage in preparation for this first step.

But all the hard work and training could not prepare her for page 14 of the Little League Baseball rule book. For on that page, a few simple words smashed her dream: no girls allowed. It was that moment she decided to do everything she could to see that no one would ever be told he or she could not pursue a dream.

"At that time, women had to put an X under caregiver, homemaker, sex object," said Lopiano, CEO of the Women's Sports Foundation, during her lecture at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on March 30. "A woman could not get a credit card without having her husband sign for it. Now, women can put an X under astronaut, professional athlete, lawyer. They can put as many Xs as they want where ever they want. That's the purpose of Title IX."

Title IX was adopted in 1972 as part of the education amendments passed by the Federal government. The edict states, "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

While Title IX has bobbed against the jabs of its opponents, Lopiano stands in its corner as leader of the Women's Sports Foundation. The foundation, which was started by Billie Jean King in 1974, is dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. It provides up to $1 million in grant money each year to women's sports organizations throughout the country.

Lopiano's lecture was part of a week-long series honoring women and sport. The series was sponsored by the University's Women's Studies Program, the Athletic Department, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and the History Department.

Lopiano is certainly capable of walking the walk when it comes to being an advocate of women's athletics. She was a nine-time All-America softball player for the Raybestos Cardinals, winning six national championships during her tenure. She also represented her country on the softball diamond. She served as the women's director of athletics at the University of Texas, where she led the program to 18 national championships in six sports. Under her guidance, the mean SAT scores of the athletes competing in her programs went up 100 points.

With the help of advocates like Lopiano, opportunities for women in sports have grown exponentially. Before Title IX, one in 27 females participated in athletics. Today, one in three takes the field or court on a regular basis. And that increased participation has created new markets for professional leagues.

There are 17 professional women's leagues in the United States today. The WNBA averages 10,000 fans per game in its short existence, a number the NBA did not reach until its 30th year. She acknowledges that some failure has occurred in the pro ranks, but not because of a fan base.

"The WUSA (professional soccer league) folded, but you have to remember that professional football leagues folded nine times before today's NFL success," Lopiano stated. "Sometimes a bad business plan is the reason for failure, like any other corporation."

Still, there is room for improvement, and Lopiano will continue to fight for those opportunities. Since Title IX came into existence, there's been a 437 percent increase in female participants in college athletics across the country. However, women represent 42 percent of collegiate athletes even though females comprise 56 percent of the collegiate population.

"The reason I do what I do today is because no child should ever be told they can't realize their dreams," Lopiano said.

And because she knows that somewhere in this country there is an 11-year-old girl throwing a baseball against the side of a garage, hoping one day to get a chance to step onto that hallowed ground at Yankee Stadium and realize a dream.

Sports Shorts

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Nolan inducted into Hall of Fame

Dianne Nolan, head women's basketball coach, will be inducted into the Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame on April 20. She is one of six inductees this year. Nolan recently completed her 26th season at Fairfield University and raised her Fairfield career win total to 430. She needs nine more victories to reach 500 overall career wins, and will begin the 2005-2006 season with a 491-383 mark. The Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame honors those who have contributed to the enhancement of women's basketball in Connecticut through participation, service, support, or achievement.

New athletic website highlights Stag sports

The Athletics Department, in conjunction with College Sports Online, launched a newly improved www.fairfieldstags.com in March. The revision includes a multimedia section featuring archived video clips and game broadcasts, team schedules, recruiting information, and a revised facilities page with aerial views of Fairfield University's fields and facilities. Under Traditions, find out how the Stag was chosen to represent Fairfield athletics. Fairfield University is one of more than 200 colleges and universities on the College Sports Online network, which includes Notre Dame and Duke.

Gai earns MAAC Player of the Year award

Deng Gai '05 capped his collegiate basketball career by earning his third Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) defensive player of the year award. He also reached an offensive milestone earlier in the year when he scored his 1,000th career point, the 33rd player in school history to do so. Gai's accomplishments were featured in Sports Illustrated, CBS, the Associated Press, and the New York Times.

Fairfield basketball MAAC winners

Several Fairfield University basketball student-athletes earned awards from the MAAC, including All-Academic honorees Ivana Podrug '06 and Michael Bell '06. Seniors Janelle McManus and Deng Gai received All-MAAC first team berths, while Terrence Todd '06 and Cathy Dash '05 were on the second and third teams, respectively. Sabra Wrice '08 rounded out the Fairfield awards with a spot on the MAAC All-Rookie Team.

Swimming and diving teams finish strong

The swimming and diving teams enjoyed another solid season under head coach Bill Farley. The two teams combined to break 20 school records, as both teams finished the year with strong finishes in the MAAC championships. The women placed fourth in the 10-team meet, while the men came home in sixth place. Kelly Steele '05 made the MAAC All-Academic team for the third time in her career, while Sean Killelea '06 appeared for the second time on the prestigious squad. Sophomores Brittany Hunter and Tom Scappaticci were first-time All-Academic selections.

News Briefs

Sodexho's pick-up menu features new items and pricing

As you set up your next department meeting, consider treating co-workers to a tray of cookies or gourmet sandwiches - now offered at a discount through Sodexho's new Budget Buster Catering Menu.

The menu applies only to orders picked up in Sodexho's catering kitchen in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. But with items assembled on disposable trays, there is nothing to return.

Catering Director Christina DeVald explains that the menu is a response to requests for more affordable alternatives for groups not interested in hosting fully catered events. What's more, sandwiches can be ordered a la carte for $5 or $6 each, with no minimum quantity.

The menu features a variety of breakfast and lunch items, beverages, and snacks such as cheese and crackers or crudités and dip, and includes two gourmet sandwiches not offered on the regular menu: tomato, mozzarella, and pesto on a baguette, and a turkey club wrap. Napkins and condiments are generally provided with all orders.

To request a Budget Buster Catering Menu, or for more information, e-mail catering@mail.fairfield.edu.

Hunger Cleanup April 9

The 17th Annual Hunger Cleanup, a program of the National Student Campaign against Hunger and Homelessness, will be held on April 9. Every year, several hundred volunteers from the Fairfield University community fan out to non-profit organizations in the area to donate their time and energy to whatever project needs their help, while also working to raise money. Last year, 300 Fairfield participants collected more than $10,000. This year, the goal is to raise $12,000 to fight hunger and homelessness in our area and abroad. One-half of the funds raised will go to local organizations such as Head Start, Mercy Learning Center, Bridgeport Council of Churches, YMCA Families in Transition, and the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. The other half will go to support reconstruction in southeast Asia and Sudan. To volunteer, send an e-mail to signup4hcu@stagweb.fairfield.edu. For more information, visit www.HungerCleanup.org.

Join the Striding Stags in MS Walk April 10

On Sunday, April 10, Fairfield University's Striding Stags team will participate in this year's MS Walk, led by co-captains Judy Arel and John Falzone. The walk begins at 9:30 a.m. at Penfield Beach, with two- and five-mile routes marked out for participants. Be there by 9 a.m. for a team photo. To be part of the team, please contact Judy Arel at ext. 2582 or mailto:jarel@mail.fairfield.edu

Walk for Juvenile Diabetes April 13

Get out your walking shoes, because the FUSA Senior Class Council is sponsoring a Walk for Juvenile Diabetes on April 13. Check-in and registration begin at 5 p.m. in the John A. Barone Campus Center Lower Lobby. The three-mile walk around campus begins at 5:30 p.m. A donation of $25 is recommended; however any contribution will be appreciated. To pre-register, please e-mail 05_jpasquariello@stagweb.fairfield.edu. For additional information, call ext. 2346.

Scholar to lecture on Chinese urban spaces

Dr. Helen Siu, professor of anthropology at Yale University, will deliver "Uncivil Urban Spaces in Post-Reform South China" on April 14 at 4:30 p.m. in Room 101 of the DiMenna-Nyselius Library. The lecture is part of the "China: Its People and Culture Lecture Series" sponsored by the Li Educational Foundation, the History Department, and the Asian Studies Program.

Dr. Siu is the former chair of the Council on East Asian Studies at Yale University. Since the 1970s, she has conducted fieldwork in South China, exploring the nature of the socialist state and the refashioning of identities through rituals, festivals, commerce, and consumption. Lately, she has focused on the rural-urban divide in Chinese cities, civil society, and the middle classes in Hong Kong.

For more information, call Dr. Danke Li at ext. 2353.