August 2002

Index for August 6, 2002

Fairfield University announces William G. McGowan Scholars

By Jennifer K. Covino, Publications Writer

Seniors Brian Beirne and Gina Franceschini have been named 2002-03 William G. McGowan Scholars at Fairfield University. Each will receive $21,000 toward senior year tuition.

The McGowan Scholars program is underwritten by the Washington, D.C.-based William G. McGowan Charitable Fund. Named for the late founder and chairman of MCI Communications Corp., it recognizes the academic achievement of students pursuing a major offered by an accredited business school. Its intent is to foster leadership, intellectual curiosity, entrepreneurial potential, and involvement in campus and community activities.

The program is based on the experiences of McGowan, who was admitted to Harvard Business School to study for a master's degree in business administration. He lacked sufficient funds to complete his studies until a Baker Scholar Award enabled him to earn a degree and launch a successful business career.

Beirne is a Dean's List student, the recipient of a University Fellows Scholarship, and a member of three honor societies: Beta Gamma Sigma, the international honor society for accredited business programs; Alpha Sigma Nu, the national Jesuit honor society; and Alpha Mu Gamma, the national foreign language honor society. He is pursuing a dual major in finance and information systems with a minor in mathematics.

Beirne has interned at UBS Warburg, PaineWebber, and General Electric. Recently, his stipend-supported research took him to Ireland to meet with private equity professionals. He is studying the prospects for entrepreneurism in the European Union via private equity, and hopes to one day found his own technology-based financial consulting business.

Outside academics, Beirne has been involved in a number of volunteer efforts. With finance professor Michael Tucker, Ph.D., he researched loan management programs to help struggling families in Nicaragua obtain homes. Beirne is also a peer counselor at Bridges Mental Health Center in Milford and has aided fundraising efforts for the Milford Literacy Center and the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. He organized a local alderman's election and re-election campaigns in 1999 and 2001. For the past five years, as a member of the Children of the American Revolution, he has participated in an Independence Day ceremony honoring veterans at the Milford Cemetery.

Franceschini is a Dean's List student completing a major in finance and economics with minors in accounting and English. She is a Presidential Scholar and a member of the Honors Program, Beta Gamma Sigma, and Alpha Sigma Nu. She recently received a Financial Executive Institute Scholarship and, as a member of the cross country team in 2000 and 2001, was commended as a scholar-athlete.

This summer, she continues her internship with Canaan Partners, a Rowayton-based firm where she maintains and updates financial data for portfolio companies. She is fascinated by market dynamics and hopes to one day run her own firm.

Franceschini is a resident assistant at Fairfield and a member of student government. She was one of a select few asked to participate in the University's L.E.A.D. leadership program in 2000. Her volunteer work has included teaching preschool children to read, repairing inner-city structures through Campus Urban Experience, and constructing a playground at a Fairfield elementary school with her cross country teammates.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

School of Nursing introduces new focus on gerontology

By Jennifer K. Covino, Publications Writer

Aimee Monahan, a patient at St. Vincent's Hospital in Bridgeport, receives a comforting back rub from Fairfield University nursing student Jen Hughes '03.

Whether it's a chapter on cognitive impairment in older adults or a clinical experience in a long-term care facility, students in Fairfield University's School of Nursing will notice a new focus in their classes this fall, as gerontology - the study of aging and its effects - is woven throughout the curriculum.

The new focus puts Fairfield University at the forefront of a movement to train nurses equipped to meet the health care needs of America's fastest growing segment of the population: those over the age of 65.

Earlier this year, the School of Nursing received a three-year, $90,000 curriculum grant from the John A. Hartford Foundation and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Just 20 baccalaureate programs across the nation were chosen from a group of 120 to receive the prestigious grant, called "Geriatric Nursing Education Project: Enhancing Gerontology/Geriatric Nursing Education."

According to the AACN, more must be done - and done quickly - to meet the dramatically increased demand for care of older adults. The AACN expects that the curricula developed by Fairfield and the other grant recipients will be replicated many times over, creating an education model for other nursing schools and making a significant impact on the preparation of nurses to serve older adults. The innovations will be shared via curricular models, Web site displays, and presentations at AACN conferences.

"I'm sure everyone is very well aware of the demographics and the growth of the older adult population as the Baby Boomers age," says Jean Lange, Ph.D., co-project director and assistant professor in the School of Nursing. "I think our program is very timely and will meet a huge need. I hope it makes students excited about working with older adults."

Students will explore such topics as dementia, chronic disease in the elderly, quality and end-of-life issues, societal views and myths about the elderly, as well as normal physiological changes associated with aging. Through coursework and clinical experiences outside the classroom, they will learn to treat older adults with dignity and respect. "Showing compassion in the care of older adults is definitely in keeping with Fairfield's Jesuit mission," notes Lange.

The School of Nursing has formed partnerships with six community agencies where students can learn about aging issues or gain experience working with the elderly. They include: Raymond E. Baldwin Center in Stratford; Grasmere Eldercare Center and the Jewish Home for the Elderly, both in Fairfield; St. Vincent's Medical Center and the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging, both in Bridgeport; and the Geriatric Assessment and Family Caregiver Support programs at Stamford Health Systems in Stamford.

One innovative idea is for each student to visit and form a professional relationship with an elderly patient. "It's an opportunity for them to really get to know this older adult, including health history and conditions," Lange says.

A final component of the grant focuses on development.

To that end, the School of Nursing faculty attended a one-week workshop in June on geriatric content in undergraduate programs led by renowned experts in the field. The experts were: Ann Hamric, Ph.D., a faculty associate at the Center for Biomedical Ethics at the University of Virginia; May Wykle, dean and Florence Cellar Professor of Gerontological Nursing at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing and director of the Center on Aging and Health at Case Western Reserve University; and Graham McDougall, Ph.D., an American Academy of Nursing fellow and a prominent geriatric researcher.

Other experts will lead a set of similar workshops next year. Towards the conclusion of the grant in 2005, the School of Nursing will host a one-day conference to share its findings and accomplishments with other Jesuit and regional nursing schools. In the meantime, the school is retooling its Web site to show more balanced images of nursing students working with individuals across the lifespan, including the elderly. The School is also creating a new brochure for prospective students highlighting the unique focus on gerontology.

"There's a palpable excitement in the room when we discuss these issues with faculty and our community partners," says Lange. "I hope the students are really going to be engaged by that enthusiasm."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Jeanne Novotny receives national nursing award

By Barbara Kiernan, Director of University Publications

Pictured above with Dean Jeanne Novotny, Ph.D. (left), is Grayce Sills, Ph.D., professor emeritus of nursing, Ohio State University, who has also noticed Novotny's efforts and influence in the practice of nursing. Sills was on campus in the spring, when she worked with nursing students on leadership. Joyce Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., the Elizabeth Brooks Ford Professor of Nursing at Case Western University, another Novotny supporter, also visited campus in the spring. She is working as a consultant for the nursing faculty to help individuals with their scholarship.

Congratulations to Jeanne M. Novotny, Ph.D., dean of the School of Nursing, who, in being named a 2002 Fellow by the American Academy of Nursing, has garnered one of the highest honors in the nursing profession. She is the only nurse in Connecticut to receive the honor this year. The award comes at the end of her first year at Fairfield University.

The award recognizes outstanding contributions to nursing beyond those typically associated with a given position; "activities that reflect a broad perspective of nursing's commitment to society," according to the American Academy of Nursing.

"Dr. Novotny is a wonderful scholar and educator," says Orin Grossman, Ph.D., academic vice president. "This prestigious award confirms our extreme good fortune in having been able to bring her to Fairfield to lead the School of Nursing. With last year's award to nursing professor Anne Manton, we now have two individuals in the School recognized as national leaders in nursing education."

In support of Novotny's selection, Joyce Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., the Elizabeth Brooks Ford Professor of Nursing at Case Western University, noted Novotny's creative and sustained leadership role in nursing education. In addition to the global education initiatives Novotny developed and implemented in Chile, Mexico, Italy, and Zimbabwe, Fitzpatrick also praised the American Red Cross program she established that today "serves as a model for home care in the Americas."

Novotny, who has a special interest in Hispanic culture, is author of two landmark publications in nursing education, including a distance education book cited by faculty throughout the world as an important resource. Both books - Distance Education in Nursing and Schoolcraft Nuts and Bolts of Teaching Nursing - have received Book of the Year awards from the American Journal of Nursing, and a third book, 101 Careers in Nursing, is now under contract.

During the three decades Novotny has made these and other contributions to the nursing profession, she has received external grant support from an impressive roster of funding sources such as the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Glaxo Wellcome, and the Medtronic Corporation.

Through the prism of academic administration, Novotny's energy and initiative have shaped multiple facets of expertise that benefit nursing education, not only at the baccalaureate and master's levels, but also in the realm of continuing education for staff and advanced practice nurses. That her efforts have influenced nursing faculty both in the U.S. and more globally was noted by another of Novotny's champions, Grayce Sills, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Nursing, Ohio State University, who said, "She has exemplified a profound commitment to the belief in the importance of pedagogy to the foundations for excellence in the practice of nursing."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Cusato's band rocks the house

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Pictured above are BigBoned band members (standing, l-r) Tim Burton, Mike Cusato, Kevin Reed, and John Leonard (front).

Head to one of the area's popular bars this weekend and you just might be entertained by a fellow employee. Mike Cusato, director of campus planning and design, has been jamming with his band, BigBoned, since forming it in 1999.

BigBoned's sound is a mix of modern rock and "danceable classics," explains Cusato. "We pride ourselves on having a wide range of music. No matter who's listening, they're bound to hear something they like."

That was obvious at Stamford's Temple Bar one Saturday night last month where the partiers couldn't keep still as BigBoned roared through their first set. On their feet, singles and couples sang and danced along as the group rocked out some of the recent decades' greatest hits and favorites - from "867-5309/Jenny" to Jimmy Buffet's "Margaritaville."

Playing primarily cover tunes, BigBoned also circulates 10 original songs (most written by Cusato) in its rotation. The songs are the basis of a CD the group is currently recording. Not bad for a band that began playing private parties and was "discovered" at its second gig. "The wife of the booking agent at Shenanigan's (of South Norwalk) heard us at a private party and decided immediately to schedule us to play once a month," he says. "It was amazing - and certainly not expected - that after only three weeks we would be playing in the premiere rock club in Fairfield County."

Their rock-and-roll sound features Cusato on lead and rhythm guitar and vocals, Tim Burton on acoustic guitar and vocals, John Leonard on bass guitar and vocals, and Kevin Reed on percussion. Cusato stumbled across his bandmates through mutual friends and at a local open-mic night. As luck would have it, he found bassist Leonard through a Fairfield University connection - he is husband of field hockey coach Jackie Leonard '87 and worked on the construction of several University facilities a few years ago, including the campus center and the RecPlex.

"We're like brothers; we have so much fun," says Cusato about his bandmembers. "We're all adults with other careers and this is our hobby. Playing in BigBoned and goofing off with these guys a couple of nights a week is such a great release. And we all have the same taste in music, which I consider rare among most band members."

In case you're wondering, the band's name is a play on the members' vertical statures - with three of the four guys towering over six feet and weighing in at 230 lbs apiece. Although Leonard is the "smallest" in the group (at 5'10"), he definitely demonstrates the highest on-stage energy level. It's something these guys are bound to draw from as their popularity grows in the local scene.

On Saturday, August 31, BigBoned headlines at Donovan's Reef, Branford; September 13, they'll be at Humphreys, New Haven; and on September 14, check them out at Bear and Grill, Fairfield. Visit www.bigboned.net for additional band information.

Big Wheel rolls into awards luncheon

Engineering student John Pezzulo demonstrated the "Big Wheel" at the "Excellence in Mathematics and Science Awards" luncheon co-hosted on June 3 by the School of Engineering and Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. The luncheon recognized high school juniors from 35 area schools for their outstanding work in science and mathematics.

The "Big Wheel," a three-wheeled, human-powered vehicle, was conceived, designed, and constructed by Fairfield University engineering students. Named for its large, 36-inch diameter back wheel, it has a metal frame similar to a bicycle's and can reach speeds close to 30 mph. The vehicle received a second-place award for design, report, and presentation during an American Society of Mechanical Engineers' Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) competition held in May at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

In a June article in the Greenwich Time, Arthur Anderson, Ph.D., professor of sociology and anthropology, commented on findings of an Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut survey. Of 47 Greenwich congregations queried, the survey showed that only a quarter of the town's residents attend church regularly, a figure that Anderson days falls short of the national average of 40 percent.

Several members of the Advancement Division presented on the following panels at the Jesuit Advancement Administrators Conference at Boston College, June 19 through 21: Janet Canepa, director of alumni relations: "Mission Based Programming"; Cristina Dieguez, assistant director of annual giving, and Jeremy Nappi, assistant director of alumni relations: "Student Programming and Career Services"; Barbara Kiernan, director of University publications: "Marketing 101: Pitching to Your Public" and "Publications: Paper Versus Processors"; Clare Schimpf, director of annual giving: "The Comprehensive Annual Giving Program"; and Fred Wheeler, associate vice president for development: "Stewardship: The Institution's Responsibilities to Donors."

Mark Andrejevic, Ph.D., assistant professor of English, was quoted in a May article in the Lancaster (Pa.) New Era regarding the increasing prevalence of surveillance cameras throughout society.

A January article in the Connecticut Post regarding President George Bush's domestic policy agenda quoted Dorothea D. Braginsky, Ph.D., professor of psychology. The article explored Bush's failure to win over many Connecticut Democrats on the domestic front.

Braginsky and Dee Lippman, Ph.D., professor of nursing, were interviewed for an article on how terrorist attacks have united the nation. The article was carried in the Herald Press in both New Britain and Middletown, and the Register Citizen in Torrington. Braginsky said, "I'm astounded by two things: how much some people have changed, and how many people haven't changed. This should have been a gigantic wake-up call, but for many people - they just want to go back to sleep." Lippman noted that many people who did not receive any treatment or intervention "are becoming more symptomatic, more likely to feel anxious, depressed, more worried there will be another attack."

Phyllis C. Braun, Ph.D., professor of biology, was quoted extensively in a May Connecticut Post article about the attempt to trace the source of the anthrax spores that killed five people. Braun said she believes such investigations can be successful.

Arjun Chaudhuri, Ph.D., professor and chair of the marketing department, presented The Effect of Affect and Trust on Commitment: The Role of Entertainment in Retail Store Relationships, at the annual conference of the Academy of Marketing Science, held in Fort Meyers, Fla., in May.

"Information Systems in Developing and Emerging Economies," a submission by Elia Chepaitis, Ph.D., associate professor of information systems and operations management, has been accepted for inclusion in Harcourt Brace's four-volume Encyclopedia of Information Systems, to be published this fall.

In June, Chepaitis presented The Changing Ecology of IT Management: Cross-Disciplinary Explorations of Context and Content at the Informing Science 2002 conference held in Cork, Ireland. The paper has been selected for publication in the e-book, Challenges to Informing Clients: A Transdisciplinary Approach, which will be released by Informing Science Press this summer.

In June, Ralph Coury, Ph.D., professor of history, participated in a panel, sponsored by the Fairfield Democratic Town Committee, that examined the reasons many Middle Easterners hate the United States. Coury and other panelists - former State Department member Donald Snook and New York Daily News columnist Charles William Bell - said that several American policies, in particular the U.S. relationship with Israel, are what many Middle Easterners dislike about America. An article about the discussion appeared in the Fairfield Minuteman.

Nancy Dallavalle, Ph.D., associate professor of religious studies, was quoted in May (Stamford) Advocate and Greenwich Time articles on parishioner donations during the sex abuse scandal in the Bridgeport Diocese. The flow of money, she said, could make the diocese more attuned to addressing the concerns of parishioners.

The economic forecast announced in May by Edward Deak, Ph.D., professor of economics, was covered in the Taunton Daily Gazette and the Patriot Ledger in Massachusetts; the Telegraph in New Hampshire; and the Bristol Press, (Manchester) Journal Inquirer, Waterbury Republican-American, Middletown Press, Connecticut Post, Fairfield County Business Journal, and the Fairfield and Westport Minuteman in Connecticut. In an article published by the Hartford Courant, Deak said the housing market should remain strong as long as mortgage rates remain low. Deak's comments on consumer spending were also reported on radio stations in Phoenix, Ariz., Albany, N.Y., Atlanta, Ga., and New York, N.Y.

A June article in Allure magazine featured a study by Faith-Anne Dohm, Ph.D., assistant professor in the GSEAP, and researchers at Wesleyan University. The study found the way in which people cope with straying from their diets ultimately affects their ability to lose weight.

Therese B. Dykeman, Ph.D., adjunct professor and research associate for the International Institute for Field-Being, has written the introduction for the six-volume set, The Social, Political and Philosophical Works of Catharine Beecher, published as part of a series, History of American Thought, by Thoemmes Press, England.

"Band-aides & Blackboards," the Web site developed by Joan Fleitas, Ph.D., assistant professor of nursing, was featured in the Poughkeepsie Journal and AAP News in Illinois.

A May article in the (Springfield, Mo.) Mirror quoted Donald Greenberg, Ph.D., associate professor of politics. The article explored the debate among Catholic legal scholars over the Second Amendment, in light of two new gun-rights briefs filed by the Justice Department. He was also quoted in a similar story by the Catholic News Service.

"Improving Communication and Collaboration Skills: Learning to Negotiate Mentorship with a Leader in Health Care," an article by associate professors of nursing Sheila Grossman, APRN, Ph.D., and Lydia Greiner, RN, BSN, was featured in the May issue of Connections, the publication of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.

The Fairfield Chamber of Commerce President's Prize was awarded to Nancy Habetz, director of media relations and the chamber's vice president of public relations, in June.

The June meeting of the U.S. Bishops in Texas brought several interviews for Paul Lakeland, Ph.D., professor of religious studies. He was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times, (Ontario) Globe & Mail, Philadelphia Inquirer, and (Stamford) Advocate. His remarks were also carried in the Kansas City Star, the Blade in Toledo, Ohio, and the Connecticut Post.

Mark LeClair, Ph.D., associate professor of economics, was quoted in a May article in the (Stamford) Advocate about the growth in income and earnings in lower Fairfield County towns. That article also appeared in the Greenwich Time.

LeClair was also quoted in a June article in the Greenwich Time about housing costs in Greenwich and other towns and the household incomes required to afford them.

R. James Long, Ph.D., professor of philosophy and department chair, presented Aquinas and Franciscan Nature Mysticism at The International Medieval Congress 2002 at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom in July. Also in July, he chaired half of the sessions at "Robert Grosseteste, a theologian for the 21st Century?", a colloquium at Oxford in memory of Sir Richard Southern. For several years, Long has been on the board of the Electronic Grosseteste, a group dedicated to publishing the works of Grosseteste on the Web.

Earlier in the summer, Long spent time at the Bavarian Academy of Sciences in Munich, preparing his Latin text for publication and meeting with other members of the Fishacre editing team. He also met with the four continental members at that time, and two more in London the following week.

Computer Magazine's May issue featured an in-depth article by Douglas A. Lyon, Ph.D., associate professor of computer engineering, and Christopher L. Huntley, Ph.D., assistant professor of information systems. The article considered different software approaches to create bridges between older computer systems and a new computer code.

Sharlene A. McEvoy, Ph.D., professor of business law, has had two articles accepted for publication. "What's Love Got to Do With It? A Theory of Jury Decision-Making" will appear in Volume 4 of the Atlantic Law Journal. "Timekeeping Systems, Inc.: Protecting Employee Expression by E-Mail Under Sections 7 and 8 of the National Labor Relations Act" will appear in Volume 10 of the Journal of Individual Employment Rights.

John Orman, Ph.D., professor of politics, did a phone interview with CNN in June on the controversy over the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by another phone interview with CNN Daybreak in July about the effects of corporate scandal on the George W. Bush presidency. In Connecticut, Orman was quoted in the Waterbury Sunday Republican, the News-Times, Connecticut Post and the (Manchester) Journal Inquirer. In June the Hartford Courant ran a front-page story on Orman's upcoming book on celebrity politics, which he co-wrote with Darrell West of Brown University. In a May interview with Boston's WBZ radio, he discussed the 30th anniversary of Watergate.

In May, Marcie Patton, Ph.D., associate professor of politics, presented the scholar-led book discussion on the Middle East at the Prosser Public Library in Bloomfield.

The Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants (CSCPA) elected Patricia Poli, Ph.D., assistant professor of accounting, to serve as secretary to the organization for the 2002-03 year.

Kurt Schlichting, Ph.D., professor of sociology and anthropology, offered his insights on the impact of technology on American history at a spring gathering of Phi Delta Kappa. Schlichting's presentation was about Grand Central Terminal.

Schlichting was also quoted in a May article in the (Stamford) Advocate about the U.S. Census Bureau figures on income, home values, commuting distances, and other vital statistics regarding Fairfield County residents.

The Faculty Research Committee announced that the 2002 Senior Summer Fellowship has been granted to Stephen Sawin, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics and computer science, for his project, "Equivariant Cohomology, Nonabelian Localization and Cohomological Field Theories."

Brian Torff, director of the jazz music program, plays bass accompaniment on Marcelle Gauvin's newest release, "The Edge of the Pond." The CD, released by Whaling City Sound, notes that Torff "makes the bass talk!"

Michael Tucker, Ph.D., professor of finance, was interviewed by News 12 Connecticut on the need to teach ethics in business school.

Ellen Umansky, Ph.D., the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Professor of Judaic Studies, was quoted in a March Fairfield Minuteman article about Passover food shopping. Umansky shared some of her own holiday traditions involving food, such as making recipes passed down by her parents.

Kathryn Jo Yarrington, professor of studio arts, had a solo exhibition, "A State of Grace" (November 2001-January 2002), at Broadway Windows Gallery, New York City. Her current exhibition, "Contemplations on the Spiritual: Site Projects, New York, NY," is on view at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine and runs through Sept. 2.

Births
Melody St. Clair, secretary in the Office of Public Relations - twins (a boy and a girl), Sean Michael and Julien Grace, born July 14.

Condolences
Helena Dolan, the mother of Joan Huvane, department secretary for politics and economics, died June 1.
Mary MacDonnell, the sister of Joseph F. MacDonnell, S.J., professor of mathematics and computer science, died June 19.
Bryant "Buck" Northcutt, the husband of Jan Northcutt of the Library's serials department, died July 7.
Edwin P. Cantrell, the father of Paul Cantrell of the athletics department, died July 8.
Pasquale "Pat" Caruso, the brother-in-law of Rev. Victor F. Leeber, S.J., died July 13.
Kathleen Smith, the sister of Rev. William F. Carr, S.J., died July 13.
Blanche Bouchard, the mother of Joseph R. Bouchard of Central Stores, and grandmother of Joseph M. Bouchard, University fire marshal, died July 21.
Charles Chanin, father of Lucy V. Katz, Ph.D., chair of the management department, and father-in-law of Alan Katz, Ph.D., professor of politics, died July 22.

New Employees
Thomas Angelucci - Groundskeeper, Grounds Maintenance
Lawrence Carroll - Vice president for advancement - Prep
Stephen Dogmanits - Assistant football coach, assistant academic coordinator
Michael Lyons - Network manager, Computing & Network Services
Jeffrey Werneke - Head women's volleyball coach

Sports By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Athletes discuss off-the-field issues at Orlando conference

This summer, class was in session. But there was no credit given, only solutions to problems. No grades were earned, but rather a feeling of self-satisfaction.

In the shadow of Walt Disney World, 300 student-athletes from Division I, II, and III schools across the country converged on Orlando, Fla., to address the problems faced by this group and the campuses on which they reside. This was the fifth annual NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference.

Men's basketball center Rob Thomson '04 attended as Fairfield University's representative. And like each of the other 299 student-athletes in Orlando, Thomson's perspective changed during this four-day experience.

"I left there knowing that people in the NCAA and school administrators are concerned about the conflicts we face as student-athletes every day," Thomson said. "The conference proved that student-athletes everywhere face similar challenges and dilemmas."

Thomson cited this example: A Division I football player at a large university said he thought he should be paid to play football. A Division III athlete promptly raised his hand, suggesting that he put in as much time and as much effort, but did not receive a cent, including scholarship money. The Division I football player humbly retracted his suggestion.

Such is the purpose of this annual NCAA-sponsored event, whose mission is "to develop a diverse group of student-athletes who can actively participate in and experience a multitude of challenging and thought-provoking activities that will enable them to make changes on their campuses and in their communities."

Thomson, who arrived at the conference not knowing any of the attendees, quickly became acquainted with others through a series of group activities.

"One night, they dropped us off at Typhoon Lagoon at Disney World," Thomson said. "They gave us all the food and utensils for dinner, but told us we had to cook the food ourselves. So we huddled, found out who could do what, and made dinner. Some things tasted good, other didn't."

The student-athletes did face more challenging issues than making dinner, however. The group examined problems such as binge drinking, the relationship between students and athletes, dealing with coaches, and play for pay.

Plus, each student-athlete was responsible for presenting one concern from his or her campus. The student-athlete then collected ideas and suggestions, whittling the list down to one that he or she could implement upon returning to campus. Each student-athlete pledged to follow through and not drop the issue upon leaving Florida.

"I chose student apathy as my topic, because I would like to see more students come to the games," Thomson said. "And I don't mean just basketball games. I would like to see students at soccer games, softball games, and every other sport on campus."

Thomson took extensive notes during his presentation, carefully weighing all the suggestions so that he could implement a plan this season. Although, at this point, he's not tipping his hand. The one thing he did tell us is that the conference was certainly worth the trip.

"It was a great experience," Thomson said. "I met so many people who have the same concerns I do. I realize that I will probably not keep in touch with many of my group members, but I have received a few e-mails from some. It was a great learning experience."

Class dismissed.

news Briefs

University's "Striding Stags" walk for MS
Fifty-one University employees and friends laced up their shoes for the annual Walk for Multiple Sclerosis on April 21. The team - dubbed "The Striding Stags" by catalog librarian Helen Lucas - placed second in the number of walkers and funds raised ($6,068) for the Western Connecticut Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The team's co-captains, Judy Arel and John Falzone, thank all walkers and those who made a contribution to the MS Society.

Multiple Sclerosis is an unpredictable, chronic, and often disabling disease of the central nervous system. The progress and severity of MS in any one person cannot be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are giving hope to those with the disease.

Alumnus donates to Program in Applied Ethics
A gift from Fairfield University alumnus Patrick J. Waide, Jr. '59 to the Program in Applied Ethics will support academic speakers during the 2002-2003 school year. Waide, a former University trustee and advisor to the program, recently bestowed $2,500 to applied ethics - a gift matched by his former employer, Deloitte & Touche.

The $5,000 total gift will enhance programs by providing some of the "little extras" when speakers come to campus. In amounts ranging from $250 to $500 per event, these extras may include a faculty/speaker dinner, a public/student reception with the speaker, additional publicity, or funds to cover an overnight stay following an evening program.

"This gift is a wonderful way to get maximum effectiveness from some of the best visiting experts in the fields of international relations, ethics, and public policy, and give greater visibility to the academic sector of Fairfield University," says Lisa Newton, Ph.D., director of the Program in Applied Ethics. "We've been very fortunate to receive these funds and I intend to make the most of them."

Register vehicles this month
Vehicle registration for the 2002-2003 academic year begins August 6 in Loyola Hall, Room 2. Registration fee is $60, which is payable upon registration.

All registrants must bring their state motor vehicle registration and University identification card. The Security Department reminds drivers to review the parking pamphlet to learn the lots designated for faculty, staff, students, and visitors.

For more information, call Mary Ann DeMasi, operations assistant/parking, at ext. 2745.

Live at the Quick
Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts plays top fiddle in a companion CD and DVD released this winter by pioneering banjo player Béla Fleck and his bluegrass/jazz/pop music band, the Flecktones. Recorded during an "incendiary live show" at the Quick Center in November 2000, "Live at The Quick" features guest artists like Sandip Burman and Andy Narell, and showcases the band's blend of electronic sound and earthy acoustics. The recorded concert was also a DirecTV special.

Founded in 1989, the Grammy Award-winning band has opened for Sting, Phish, and the Dave Matthews Band and has released more than a half-dozen albums. Fleck is the only banjo player to be recognized with Grammy nominations in an eclectic range of categories: pop, jazz, bluegrass, spoken word, and country. Flecktones members are: bassist Victor Lemonte Wooten; percussionist Roy Wooten, a.k.a, Future Man; and saxophonist Jeff Coffin.

Stephanie Pelletier named Director of Special Events

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Anyone who has organized even a modest cocktail party knows that event planning requires much more than ordering the shrimp puffs and coordinating the napkins. Along with creativity, it takes unparalleled flexibility and organization - plus the grunt work. Throughout her exhilarating career, Stephanie Pelletier, Fairfield University's new director of special events, has learned to prepare for every conceivable event situation - from sold-out tickets to torrential downpours. Her mantra is the "Serenity Prayer," and she believes that if the organizers are not ready by event time, they shouldn't show up.

A Fairfield employee for just a few weeks and already she is brimming with University pride. "I've become a Fairfield ambassador among my friends, playing tennis in my newly purchased Fairfield
T-shirt and fielding questions about the University's programs," she says, adding that this is the perfect training for her first big event this fall - Parents' Weekend.

Prior to coming to Fairfield, Pelletier most recently headed her own marketing communications firm, partnering non-profit organizations with top companies including IBM, Estee Lauder, and Avon for special fund raising events such as walking/running programs and work for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. She was also managing director at Reach Marketing and director of PR/event marketing at House of Seagram in New York City.

All in all, Pelletier exudes excitement for planning the year's upcoming events. And, she says, her enthusiasm for Fairfield developed immediately. "Everyone I've met here so far has school spirit and works to bring out the best in the University and in their colleagues. I'm so happy to be here!"

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Fairfield University honors retirees and longtime employees

At the 10th annual Service Recognition Luncheon held June 12, more than 100 employees were recognized for their commitment to the university for periods ranging from five years to 45 years (Walter Petry, Ph.D., assistant professor of history). Eleven retirees also received awards.

Among the retirees congratulated by University President Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. (pictured above, third from left) were (l-r): Louis Grisaro, maintenance carpenter; Jennie Sullivan, administrative assistant for communication services; and Barbara Hall, staff nurse in the Health Center.

Other retirees included Bruce Aasen of energy management; Janet Crowther, operations assistant for the School of Business graduate programs; Nina Harkrader, secretary, general academic; Denise Hindle, auxiliary service assistant, communication services; Katherine Martin, operations assistant, campus ministry; Linda Smaligo, associate director of printing and graphic services; Shirley Smith, senior database processor, development services; and Marie Stapkowski, Health Center nurse.

Elizabeth Dreyer, Ph.D., professor in religious studies who joined the faculty in September 1999, received this year's Choice Award. The award, given by the Office of Human Resources, honors an individual who models the mission of Fairfield while conducting his or her job.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Quick Center presents Missoula Children's Theatre productions

The Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT) will present three classic tales this month. Most characters are played by area young people in grades 1-12 who are enrolled in the Quick Center's Children's Summer Theatre Camp.

The camp, now in its thirteenth season, offers six weekly sessions, each culminating in a Friday evening production. Throughout the week, the young people rehearse their roles with directors from MCT, the nation's preeminent professional children's theatre company. In addition, students take workshops in theater movement, theater improvisation, arts and crafts, and more, all led by area professionals.

Jack and the Beanstalk - Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

A handful of magic beans and a friendly vegetarian Giant teach Jack a lesson about true happiness. Adapted by MCT founder James Caron, with music and lyrics by Michael McGill, this original take on a classic fairy tale also features Jill, the Magic Harp, the Farmers, the Merchants, the Circus Performers, and the Magic Beans.

Red Riding Hood - Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Join Red Riding Hood and her three "girlfriends" on a forest adventure when the Quick Center presents a new twist on the classic fairy tale. This MCT adaptation features a cast of familiar childhood characters, from the innocent Red Riding Hood to the Boy Who Cried Wolf to the Three Little Pigs. Also featured are the Little Loveable Wolf, the Woodsman, the Locksmith, the Wolfgang, the Forest Shadows, and the rascally Raccoons.

The Pied Piper - Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Follow the Pied Piper through Hamelin Town in this theatrical twist on the classic Robert Browning poem. Wearing a red-and-yellow cape and carrying a magic flute, the Piper Piper arrives to save a town overrun by ravenous rats in this original MCT adaptation. Featured characters include: the Mayor's Son, the Mayor's Daughter, the Council, the Cooks, the Townspeople, and the troublesome Rats.

For tickets, call ext. 4010 or visit www.quickcenter.com.

Summer Festival Chorus presents "Hooked on Classics"

On August 10 at 7 p.m., the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts presents "Hooked on Classics," its ninth annual Summer Festival Chorus concert. A tribute to Haydn, Mozart, and other pre-Romantic era composers, "Hooked on Classics" also recognizes "classic" works that have served as outstanding models throughout the generations. The program includes Kirby Shaw's arrangement of "Go Tell It On The Mountain"; a rendition of "Danny Boy"; Mozart's "Jubilate"; and a selection celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Richard Rodgers. The chorus is under the direction of Carole Ann Maxwell, director of choral and liturgical music.

Maxwell is considered one of America's preeminent conductors of collegiate, community and professional choral ensembles. She has served as director of choral and liturgical music at Fairfield University since 1980 and is artistic director and conductor of The Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut. Maxwell is also chorus master of the Yale Opera.

The Summer Festival Chorus involves local singers with a wide range of experience in, and passion for, the arts. The program is part of the Quick Center's continued dedication to community outreach.

For tickets, call the Quick Center box office at ext. 4010 or visit www.quickcenter.com.

The freshmen are...here!
More than 800 members of the Class of 2006 (and 1,060 parents) visited campus in June for the annual freshmen orientation sessions. During their visit, the firsties-to-be met deans and faculty, academic advisors, and the campus ministry team. Student facilitators, 132 strong, plus the student-run Orientation Board and volunteer committee, helped acclimate the incoming students to the resources and services available at Fairfield University.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Campus Currents is the official news publication of the Fairfield University community. It is published on the first Tuesday of every month. The editorial office is located in the Public Relations Dept., Bellarmine Hall 220. Telephone 254-4000, ext. 2556; fax: 254-4167. E-mail: campuscurr@mail.fairfield.edu.

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