December 2002

Index for December 5, 2002

School of Nursing programs receive CCNE accreditation

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Fairfield University's School of Nursing has received accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education for its baccalaureate and master's degree programs.

CCNE is the only national accrediting agency to evaluate both undergraduate and graduate programs in nursing education. Recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, CCNE assesses and identifies programs that engage in effective educational practices in the preparation of nurses.

Receiving the CCNE's stamp of excellence indicates a high level of accreditation, says Dr. Jeanne Novotny, dean of the School of Nursing. "This is the gold standard in baccalaureate and graduate nursing school accreditations," she says. "More and more baccalaureate and graduate programs are considering moving toward CCNE accreditation - so we're ahead of the curve."

Fairfield's accreditation is the result of a three-day, on-campus review by CCNE. Last April, four evaluators visited campus, examined the standards report prepared prior to their visit, and met with University administrators, nursing faculty, and students.

According to Dr. Novotny, preparation for the visit took nearly a year, during which School of Nursing faculty and administrators engaged in an extensive self-study that examined the nursing programs' mission, goals, and curricula. Dr. Novotny credits the dedication and perseverance of the nursing faculty for the success of the CCNE review. "This accreditation couldn't have happened without them," she says. "The faculty made continuous efforts to meet all of the standards and the benchmarks they themselves set for excellence in nursing education."

The School of Nursing met all four accreditation standards of quality and effectiveness: mission and governance of the nursing programs; institutional commitment and resources from the University; curriculum and teaching-learning practices; and student performance and faculty accomplishments.

"The recent accreditation from CCNE is a tribute to the hard work and great talents of the nursing faculty and administrators," says Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president. "They came together to tackle complex issues of curricular development and assessment, among others, and developed a plan that convinced the accrediting agency that they deserved this important 'seal of approval.' I am greatly pleased for the Nursing School and I congratulate the faculty and staff for their excellent work."

Although Fairfield's nursing programs are accredited for five years, and the next review isn't until spring 2007, Dr. Novotny says that she and the nursing faculty are already preparing for that visit - with an expectation to renew their mark of excellence.

University unveils Sept. 11 alumni memorial

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Family members and alumni adorned the University's permanent campus memorial with dozens of red carnations at November's unveiling. The memorial honors the Fairfield University alumni who died in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

During a Homecoming weekend filled with alumni celebration, Fairfield University remembered 14 of its own who died in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

Members of the campus community joined dozens of alumni, family members, and friends on the Alumni House grounds for the unveiling of the permanent campus memorial. The engraved granite features a steel beam from the World Trade Center.

"Today we gather for another celebration - one that honors the lives and accomplishments of 14 alumni who may not be here physically, but are certainly with us in spirit," said Janet Canepa, director of alumni relations. Fairfield is where their seeds of friendship were first sown, she added, and the University "will always be home to alumni of the past, present, and future."

Dennis Cannon '73, a lieutenant with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and James Costello '85, a captain with the New York City Fire Department, did the unveiling.

The ceremony closed with a blessing by Paul Carrier, S.J., University chaplain, and Laurence O'Neil, S.J., alumni association chaplain.

Following the ceremony, family members and friends of the deceased alumni laid red carnations on the granite memorial alongside the names of their loved ones and this inscription: "May this steel beam, once part of the New York World Trade Center destroyed by terrorists, lead us to reflect on the gift of life so tragically lost there by 14 Fairfield alumni on September 11, 2001. In their memory, may we renew our faith, live in hope, and strive for peace."

The memorial design and its dedication were the work of a committee composed of administrators, alumni, and a student. O&G Industries of Bridgeport donated the materials and construction for the memorial.

"Difficult as it may be to view, I believe we have created a memorial that will serve an important purpose," said Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., University President, at the ceremony. "The starkness of its design will educate future generations of what took place that fateful day. Yet its inscription reveals a response to this evil that I trust will be equally instructive; it offers a message of hope."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

The Giving Tree

Melissa Reardon, assistant University chaplain, and Maria Barata, sacristan, helped Campus Ministry staff set up this year's Giving Tree in the atrium of Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola. The tree is adorned with handmade ornaments (by Pauline Moycik, secretary), each of which bears a child's name provided by the Evergreen Network and a gift idea. The University community is invited to select an ornament and bring wrapped and labeled gifts to the Chapel by Dec. 8. For more information, contact Deb Picarazzi at ext. 2550.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Dr. Katz honored by alumni

By Jennifer K. Covino, Publications Writer

When Dr. Alan Katz learned he'd be receiving the Alumni Association's First Distinguished Teaching Award, the longtime professor of politics says he was stunned and speechless.

But Dr. Katz, who joined the faculty in 1970, has been lauded before. Students have honored the well-respected teacher twice, as Teacher of the Year and as Advisor of the Year - the latter distinction for his role in helping students and alumni apply to law school.

Dr. Katz accepted his latest accolade on Nov. 9 at a lunchtime ceremony in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. The ceremony, attended by more than 100 University graduates, was part of the annual Alumni College event. Alumni College offers Fairfield graduates a day of "courses" on eclectic topics taught by University professors, and, for the first time this year, one alumnus.

The award, which carries a $5,000 prize, is meant to honor faculty who have served the University 10 years or more and who have displayed excellence in the areas of teaching, curriculum development, and mentoring/ advising. Nominations were accepted from alumni, and a committee of alumni, faculty, and administrators chose Dr. Katz from among the candidates.

"We looked at the e-mails and the letters alumni sent in, and one name kept coming up," said Academic Vice President Dr. Orin Grossman, who introduced Dr. Katz as a "gifted and talented faculty member who goes above and beyond."

Mary-Margaret Weber '84, former president of the Alumni Association and the creative power behind the award, then read from a nomination letter submitted by Jennifer Hafner Cratem '90 of Jacksonville, Fla. Cratem wrote that she was finally following her professor's advice to go into teaching. "If I can be a fraction of the teacher he was and is, my students will be lucky," she wrote.

Current Alumni Association President Brian LeClerc '84 presented the award to Dr. Katz, who passed the credit to his mentors in the politics department: Dr. Dan Felicetti, the former department chair who taught him sound pedagogy; Dr. Edward Dew, the professor with whom he developed a Siskel-and-Ebert-like co-teaching routine; and Professor Emeritus Carmen Donnarumma, who taught him how to build relationships with students.

"I'm humbled by the award," Dr. Katz said after the ceremony. "I think there are many other distinguished people who deserve it." He said he planned to give some of his award money to charity.

Dr. Katz added that the establishment of an award recognizing teaching is "incredibly timely." "I think faculty are spending more time on research and publishing, and feeling that teaching isn't as important in terms of career advancement," he said. "This award says something very meaningful to the faculty about teaching."

The Katz family, including wife, Dr. Lucy Katz, professor of business law in the Dolan School, attended the ceremony. "I'm proud of him and feel lucky that I could have him also mentor me as a teacher," she said.

He will serve on next year's selection committee for the award and will be named Dean for a Day, presiding over the 2003 Alumni College.

Presenting the Distinguished Teaching Award to Dr. Alan Katz (center) on Nov. 9 were (l-r): Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president; Mary-Margaret Weber '84, former president of the Alumni Association; Brian LeClerc '84, current Alumni Association president; and Dr. Mary Frances Malone, associate academic vice president.

Photo by Bob Winkler

Dr. Elizabeth Boquet, director of the Writing Center and associate professor of English, received the Outstanding Research Publications award from the Learning Assistance Association of New England for her book, Noise From the Writing Center.

Dr. Cecelia Bucki, associate professor of history, spoke about "The Socialists as a Third Party" at the October meeting of the Bridgeport Community Historical Society.

The Association for the Study of Connecticut History recently awarded Dr. Bucki's book, Bridgeport's Socialist New Deal, 1915-1936, the 2002 Homer D. Babbidge Jr. Award. See article on page 3.

In November, Paul Carrier, S.J., University chaplain and director of campus ministry and community service, was the guest speaker at the annual communion breakfast of the women of Saint Mary Guild in Greenwich.

Dr. Edward Deak, professor of economics, was quoted in the Connecticut Post in October about the fluctuating stock market. Also in October, he was the subject of a question-and-answer-style article on Connecticut's economy that ran in the Journal Inquirer (Manchester), New Haven Register, Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Ill.), Hartford Courant, Chronicle (Willimantic, Conn.), Woburn Daily Times Chronicle (Woburn, Mass.), Norwich Bulletin, and Middletown Press. In addition, he was quoted in the Journal Star (Peoria, Ill.) on the effects of raising the minimum wage for workers

Dr. Edward Dew, professor of politics, led a discussion at the Ridgefield Library in October on the book Everyday Life in the Muslim Middle East. His discussion was part of a series organized by the Connecticut Humanities Council in response to widespread interest in the Middle East since Sept. 11, 2001.

In October, Dr. Elizabeth Dreyer, professor of religious studies, spoke on "Suffering: Why?" at the Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center in Litchfield. The interfaith program was sponsored by the Casagrande Institute for Interfaith Conversation.

In October, Dr. Jesús Escobar, associate professor of art history, delivered "The Politics of Urban Space in the Spanish and Spanish-American Plaza," at the annual meeting of the Sixteenth Century Studies Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

"Band-Aides and Blackboards," a website for chronically ill children and teens created by Dr. Joan Fleitas, R.N., associate professor of nursing, was included in an online CNNMoney article in October.

"Cool War: Economic Sanctions as Weapons of Mass Destruction," an article by Dr. Joy Gordon, associate professor of philosophy, was published in the November issue of Harper's magazine.

In October and November, Dr. Gordon was interviewed on the topic by C-Span; National Public Radio's "Counterspin"; KPFA in Berkeley, Calif.; KPFT in Houston; and WBAI in New York City. Her research is also the subject of an upcoming article in the Connecticut Law Tribune.

In November, Dr. Donald Greenberg, professor of politics, participated in a panel discussion titled, "God in the Pledge: Does It Belong?," which was organized by the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism and the City Congregation in Westport.

In November, Dr. Sheila Grossman, a professor in the School of Nursing, published "Using Evidence-Based Practice to Develop a Protocol for Postoperative Surgical Intensive Care Unit Patients" in Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing.

Also in November, she presented "Monitoring Prescription Practice and Microorganism Resistance with Patients" at the NPACE, National Nurse Practitioner Conference in Boston. In West Hartford, she was the keynote speaker at Iota Upsilon, the St. Joseph College chapter of the international nursing honor society, Sigma Theta Tau. She presented "Chaos and Disequilibrium: Invigorating, Challenging, and Growth-Producing.

Ramona Islam, a multimedia librarian in the DiMenna-Nyselius Library, presented a poster session titled "Is the Web Working?" at the Connecticut Educational Media Association (CEMA) conference in November. In addition, she recently reviewed the VEA Productions video, "Visual Literacy: Images and Meaning"; the review marks her 12th contribution to Educational Media Reviews Online.

Susan Kadir, director of financial aid, was quoted in the Greenwich Time and The Advocate (Stamford) in October. Kadir said the University saw a 10 percent increase in financial aid applications this year.

Dr. James Keenan, professor of communication, attended the ESBRI-2 authors' workshop on research in entrepreneurship in Stockholm, Sweden, this summer. In addition, his contribution to the 2001 workshop was published recently in the book Movements in Entrepreneurship Research.

Also, in July, Dr. Keenan presented "A Communicationist Turn: Narrating Intellectual Capital in Organizations During Environmental Jolts" at the International Communication Association conference in Seoul, South Korea. His paper received Best Paper Award in its division.

Dr. Keenan also traveled to Beijing this summer, where he met with directors of the MBA program at Peking University, and to Copenhagen, Denmark, where he spoke with colleagues at the European Communication Association.

Finally, he authored the chapter, "Nutritionist Education of Intellectual Entrepreneurs: Graphic Shapes of Problematic Processes," for a book published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

Dr. Paul Lakeland, professor of religious studies, was quoted in an October New York Times article about a New Hampshire bishop accused of dismissing reports of clerical abuse. "Few if any bishops have reached such a level of bad feeling among Catholics that their support has been so seriously undercut," Dr. Lakeland said.

Dr. Lakeland was also interviewed by USA Radio Network during the meeting of the U.S. Bishops in Washington. In addition, he was quoted in the Hartford Courant and the Waterbury-Republican on the role of laity in the Catholic Church. While American Catholics see lay boards as a sign of health, he said, "the Vatican doesn't like that. They know Americans are like this and they do tend to write them off, but they don't want it spreading to the rest of the world."

In October, Dr. Anna Martin, associate professor of finance, presented the paper, "First and Second Moment Exchange Rate Exposure: Evidence from U.S. Stock Returns," at the Financial Management Association annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Finance professor Dr. Gregory Koutmos co-authored the paper.

Dr. Sharlene McEvoy, professor of business law, presented a paper at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Academy of Legal Studies in Business in Charleston, S.C., in October. "Star Trek: The Legal Issues" looked at the licensing of Star Trek merchandise and Screen Actors Guild union contracts.

Dr. John Orman, professor of politics, was quoted on the recent state gubernatorial debates in the New Haven Register, The Herald (New Britain), and the Thomaston Express. In a Sunday Danbury News-Times article, Dr. Orman spoke about the influence of television ads on the race for the governor's seat.

Also in October, Dr. Orman was quoted in a Journal Inquirer (Manchester) story about the role of abortion issues in the 5th District Congressional race; in a Connecticut Post article about Congress's inability to deliver on top issues; and in a News 12 Connecticut piece about the media's coverage of campaign issues.

In November, Greenwich Time and The Advocate (Stamford) carried his comments on the recent elections.

Sr. Julianna Poole, S.S.N.D., director of bilingual/multicultural education, was cited in an October Connecticut Post article about renewed funding for a University grant that trains bilingual teachers in Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Stamford.

In October, Dr. Gita Rajan, associate professor of English, attended the ASIANetwork annual board meeting in Chicago, where she was asked to coordinate the organization's 2003 conference. Also in October, Dr. Rajan was recognized for her work co-editing her community newspaper, the Black Rock Community Council Newsletter.

In June, she presented "The Paradox of Imagining Home: Meera Syal and Chitra Divakaruni" at the Multi-Ethnic Studies: Europe and the Americas Conference at Padua University in Italy.

Dr. James Simon, associate professor of English and coordinator of the journalism program, has published "The Environment Reporters of New England" in Science Communication. Dr. Simon's study of media outlets in six New England states found that only half of the region's daily newspapers and one out of 10 television stations has a reporter who covers environmental issues on a regular basis.

Dr. David Alan Sapp, assistant professor of English, presented several papers at professional meetings in October. The first, "Supervising Adjunct Instructors: Reflections of a New, Tenure-Track Professional Writing Coordinator at a Small Comprehensive University," was delivered at the Meeting of the Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication in Logan, Utah. At the Meeting of the Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association in Scottsdale, Ariz., Dr. Sapp delivered "Technical Writing Students and On-Campus Clients: A Collaboration with the University Writing Center" and "Life as a New Faculty Member: Futures for English Majors."

In addition, his review of bell hooks' Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics appeared in the fall 2002 issue of Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture.

In October, a computer analysis by Dr. Kurt Schlichting, professor of sociology, was the basis of an article on Latino voting records that ran on the front-page of The Advocate in Stamford. Dr. Schlichting's examination of census data and voter lists found that the city's West Side, where Latinos comprise more than 60 percent of the population, also has one of the lowest voter registration rates.

In October, Dr. Marie-Agnès Sourieau, associate professor of modern languages and literatures, organized and chaired a panel on the topic "Visions of Haitian Reality by Caribbean Writers" at the annual conference of the Haitian Studies Association in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She was invited by the Haitian government to participate in an organizational workshop for the preparation of the 2003 international conference on Toussaint Louverture.

In June, Dr. Sourieau presented a paper on the Haitian poet Joel des Rosiers at the annual conference of the CIEF in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

God, Evil, and Innocent Suffering, a book by Dr. John Thiel, professor of religious studies, was reviewed in the Oct. 21 issue of America magazine.

Brian Torff, associate professor of fine arts and director of the jazz and popular music program, performed at the Django Reinhardt New York Jazz Festival at the Birdland Jazz Club in October. The festival was recorded and will be released on Atlantic Records.

In October, Dr. Ellen Umansky, holder of the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Chair in Judaic Studies, spoke before the Women's Association of Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, N.J.

Dr. Kathleen Wheeler, professor of nursing, presented the results of her van Ameringen Foundation grant-funded project at the 16th Annual American Psychiatric Nurses Association meeting in Dallas in October. "Integrating Research, Education, and Practice in an APRN Mental Health Services Program" received a second-place award for poster presentation.

Dr. Edna Farace Wilson, dean of University College, is leading a United Way initiative to harness the collective expertise of area universities. Her goal is to help involve professors, administrators, and students in finding solutions to pressing human needs in eastern Fairfield County.

Births
Laura Pitaniello, Alumni Relations, daughter - Jessica Simone, born Nov. 4.
Nancy Lilley, on leave from the public relations department, grandson - Jack, born Oct. 30.

Condolences
Jeanne Fay Manfredi, daughter of Leo Fay, associate professor emeritus, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, died Nov. 2.

Charles S. McCoy, father of Marsha McCoy, classical studies, died Nov. 3.

Dr. Mark Worden, professor of psychology, died Nov. 3.
   Dr. Worden, who specialized in family and adolescent therapy, also shared a private practice with his wife, Dr. Barbara Drahus Worden.
   Author of three textbooks - Adolescents and Their Families, Family Therapy Basics, and The Gender Dance in Couples Therapy (co-written with his wife) - Dr. Worden considered the writing process a "very personal exploration," and something he looked forward to each morning. Throughout his career, he received letters from psychology students and practitioners around the country, thanking him for his work.
   Yet he remained modest about his success. "I consider myself a good communicator, not a writer," he said in a 2001 Campus Currents article about his books. "When I think of what a writer is, I think of a novelist, someone who can write a good story. I, on the other hand, am able to take ideas and make them accessible." He encouraged first-time writers to enjoy the creative process. "Whatever you write will be a labor of love," he said.
   "I will always remember Mark's laugh and his warm and friendly manner," says Dr. John McCarthy, chair of the psychology department. "He was a Southern gentleman - without the southern accent." Students always responded positively to Dr. Worden's personality and teaching style, Dr. McCarthy notes.
   Dr. Worden received an A.S. from Bellarmine College, an M.S. and Ph.D. from Saint Louis University, and completed his post-graduate training at West Haven Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
   Along with his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Jessica and Emily, and several other relatives.

Carmella Min (Riccio) Alaimo, mother of Bernadette Voytek, accounts payable, died Nov. 9.

Gertrude Campbell, mother of Dr. Gerard Campbell, Charles F. Dolan School of Business, and mother-in-law of Dr. Suzanne Campbell, School of Nursing, died Nov. 14.

William E. Duggan, father of Karen O'Connor, adjunct professor of English, and father-in-law of Dr. Leo F. O'Connor, professor of American studies, died Nov. 25.

New Employees
William Farley - Director, men's & women's swimming
Stacey McCue - Head coach, women's lacrosse
Carolyn Monachelli - Program assistant, University College
Caridad Rivera - Counselor, Project Excel
John Rosito - Distribution assistant, mailroom
Matthew Tellis - Cash account assistant, office of finance

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College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Robert Fedorchek: Translating cultures

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

When he's engaged in translation, Dr. Robert Fedorchek surrounds himself with his most beloved tools - mechanical pencils, a stack of blank paper, and his collection of 11 dictionaries. For this professor of modern languages and literatures, doing Spanish-to-English translations is a favorite pastime.

This passion began nearly 20 years ago when he was working to complete a comparative study of short stories by French writer Guy de Maupassant, Russian writer Anton Chekhov, and Spanish writer Emilia Pardo Bazán. While it was easy to get translations of the first two authors' works, finding any more than a half-dozen translated stories by Bazán was nearly impossible. So he decided to take it upon himself to translate a number of stories by various authors, which resulted in his first book, Alone and Other Stories by Armando Palacio Valdés, published by Bucknell University Press.

Today, his 11 books include a new collection of Spanish fairy tales, called Stories of Enchantment from Nineteenth-Century Spain (published in October), and Doña Luz, a novel by Juan Valera, just out last month. Several of these books also contain never-before-published photographs of Spanish statues, monuments, and 19th-century political cartoons. Many of the photographs were snapped by Dr. Fedorchek himself during his own trips to Spain.

With translation, every word is a decision, he says. Sometimes it takes several dictionaries to choose the proper interpretation - and he's studied the language for more than 40 years. "That's because translating is much more than simply replacing a Spanish word with an English one," says Dr. Fedorchek. "It's more like transplanting one culture into another. When you translate, you have to get into the author's head; you have to bring in all of your cultural and linguistic knowledge about the story and time at which the author was writing." Over the years, he's had to re-teach himself some 19th-century Spanish culture and vocabulary - and even still, he's stumped at times. In cases when the dictionaries and his knowledge can't provide the word he's looking for, he consults his friend and colleague, Dr. Consuelo García-Devesa, assistant professor of modern languages and literatures - and a native of Spain.

Two of the most difficult things to translate are bullfights and foods, he says. "With the bullfights, we just don't have words in English to explain what's going on." And foods often reflect regional cuisine. "For example, you can't just write down 'sausage' as a translation. There are so many different types of sausage in Spanish culture, and each has its own name, depending on how it's cured or what it's made of."

Dr. Fedorchek's multi-step process in novel or story translation begins with a careful reading - sometimes up to four times - of the original text. He then begins to translate by hand, one paragraph at a time, scratching out this "transfer" on a blank sheet of paper with one of his mechanical pencils. Next, he re-reads this first pass of Spanish-to-English and smoothes out the translation on another piece of paper. He then types this re-worked copy on his word processor. "At that point, I begin to see the shape and form of the translation," he says. Finally, the document is reviewed by his primary editor, his wife, Theresa. "She is my first and best reader," he says, "and is free to make any criticisms at that point." After inputting her changes, Dr. Fedorchek lets the document rest for at least three months. "I have to step away from a translation for a while. Only then am I able to go back to it with a more critical eye," he says. For him, this distance provides a fresh perspective.

Where has he found the time to devote to this pursuit? "I get my best work done in the morning, usually between 7 a.m. and noon," says Dr. Fedorchek. During this semester, he's able to stick to that schedule two mornings a week. He also translates during the weekends and all summer long.

Dr. Fedorchek appreciates the endorsements he's received from colleagues - past and present - to continue to pursue his work. "I have been very fortunate to have had such supportive deans and research committees over the years," he says. "I couldn't have accomplished this much without them." With his tenth and eleventh books (in only 10 years) published this fall, Dr. Fedorchek shows no signs of slowing down. The first draft of book number 12 has already been completed; the project after that (book number 13) will be a two-volume, nearly 600-page novel with "pages and pages of unbroken prose," he says. A daunting challenge to most, but for Dr. Fedorchek, it's pure delight.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Dr. Cecelia Bucki's book receives 2002 Homer D. Babbidge Jr. Award

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

The Association for the Study of Connecticut History recently awarded Dr. Cecelia Bucki's book, Bridgeport's Socialist New Deal, 1915-36, the 2002 Homer D. Babbidge Jr. Award, which is given for the best work on a significant aspect of Connecticut's history published the year before.

The book begins with, "Why was the socialist party elected in 1933?" Frustration during the Great Depression with the reigning political parties drove Bridgeport's population to seek an alternative. The Bridgeport Socialist Party was composed of moderate socialists, says Dr. Bucki, associate professor of history. "The politics of Bridgeport illuminate the New Deal in the state of Connecticut," she continues.

"Her investigation of the city's industrial boom during the first World War and subsequent labor issues illustrates how the working class agenda eventually led to capturing City Hall," says Amy Trout, a member of the awards committee and curator at the New Haven Colony Historical Society. "This book shows how valuable local history is into understanding broader issues such as Socialist movement and New Deal reform efforts."

Says Dr. David McFadden, chair of the history department, "Dr. Bucki's book is a path-breaking case study of a labor community coalition with an alternative vision of organizing an industrial city in the heart of the Depression. She tells exciting stories about a part of Bridgeport's history that most people don't know."

"Dr. Bucki's book is a groundbreaking examination of an amazing period in Bridgeport's history," notes Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president. "She combines social history with an acute sense of the local political scene to fashion an illuminating look at one of the great working class cities in America. She richly deserves this wonderful recognition."

Dr. Patton receives Fulbright scholarship to teach in Turkey

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

In light of a lifetime's love affair with the nation of Turkey, it's fitting that Dr. Marcie Patton, professor of politics, received a Fulbright scholarship to teach there.

Dr. Patton was one of 10 people nationwide chosen to receive a Fulbright to Turkey this year. Approximately 800 U.S. faculty and professionals traveled abroad to some 140 countries for the 2002-2003 academic year through the Fulbright Scholar Program.

The Program was established in 1946 to build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries. Fulbright Scholars are selected based on their academic or professional achievement and demonstrated extraordinary leadership potential in their fields. Among thousands of prominent Fulbright Scholar alumni are Nobel prize-winning economist Milton Friedman and Intel Corp. Chief Executive Officer Craig Barrett.

Dr. Patton is teaching comparative political economy at Bilkent University in the capital city of Ankara.

Turkey is a predominantly Muslim nation in the Middle East that borders Bulgaria, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, and Georgia. Now a candidate for admission into the European Union, Turkey has been and is one of the United State's biggest allies in that region of the world.

Dr. Patton's devoted interest in Turkey began during her first visit in 1977. Since then, she has visited frequently, although the last time she lived there for an extended period was more than 20 years ago, as a graduate student developing a dissertation topic.

It wasn't always fun, says Dr. Patton, who still remembers the chilling winter of 1979-1980, when fuel oil shortages deprived her apartment of heat for two months.

Most recently, Dr. Patton spent summer 2001 teaching two courses at Bogazici University in Istanbul. "I regarded this as a kind of pilot project to determine if I would enjoy teaching in Turkey and if I could make any useful contributions," Dr. Patton wrote in her Fulbright project statement.

The answer on both counts was a resounding yes. Dr. Patton found the students bright and energetic and having a deep interest in the global issues they studied. In evaluations of their class with Dr. Patton, Turkish students praised her motivated teaching style and sincere presentation of all sides of an issue.

"Professor Patton is known for her bright synthesis of teaching and research. Fulbright recognition and support of her scholarship will allow her to immerse herself fully in a region that is central to her work," says Dr. Timothy Law Snyder, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "Fairfield is proud of professor Patton and her continuing accomplishments."

The Fulbright also gives Dr. Patton a chance to develop her research on the political economy of globalization to a greater extent. She plans to expand upon an earlier paper she published titled "Open for Business: Capitalists and Globalization in Turkey and Morocco."

Finance department among the top 20 percent for published research

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

A report to be included in the official publication of the Financial Management Association has ranked Fairfield University's finance department number 188 of similar departments in 923 institutions worldwide.

Among the 1000 most prolific finance writers was the Charles F. Dolan School of Business's Dr. Gregory Koutmos, chair of the finance department, who ranked at 208.

The study, conducted by Kam C. Chan, Carl R. Chen, and Thomas L. Steiner of the University of Dayton, was based on the number of Journal of Finance-equivalent pages of research published by each institution in 16 of the top financial journals. The results will also be discussed in an article in the forthcoming issue of Financial Management.

Fairfield's finance department ranks ahead of those at Brown University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology, Lafayette College, and Amherst College.

"Dr. Koutmos is a world-renowned finance academic and certainly reflects the distinction associated with an endowed chair in finance in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business," said Dr. Norm Solomon, dean.

As a midsize school competing with other, larger counterparts, Fairfield's ranking is noteworthy, Dr. Solomon added. "This is a great achievement because we're competing with top echelon schools that not only have undergraduate and master's programs, but also doctoral programs that enable them to have doctoral students assisting professors in their research."

Santa Claus: A jolly old elf... with some potential health problems

One of the endearing and enduring images of the Christmas season is that of Santa Claus. While the representation of the jolly old elf has changed over time, there are many elements of his physical character that are embedded in our collective memories, regardless of our faith or our feelings about the commercialization of this holiday.

Santa Claus embodies the European heritage and behaviors brought to the United States by this country's Caucasian ancestors. A more contemporary assessment of his situation, however, raises some concerns about his health and lifestyle.

For example, Santa Claus is often depicted smoking a pipe. We now know that smoking is the absolute worst thing you can do to your body because of its adverse effects on the heart, circulatory system, lungs, and brain. Smoking causes or contributes to cancers of the throat, lung, breast, and - in pipe smokers - the lip, and narrows the blood vessels. Second hand smoke is a major contributor to asthma in children and adults, and can trigger asthmatic responses in people who are predisposed to respiratory problems. So one of the best things that Santa could do for himself, Mrs. Claus, and the elves, is to quit smoking.

Santa Claus is always shown as an obese older adult. Obesity, in adults and children, is one of the top five public health issues in the United States. Obesity and overweight are linked to overeating ­ a holiday tradition for most of us! But extra weight is also linked to a lack of exercise. Think of the foods that are your tradition for the holidays: cookies and cakes made with butter, turkeys and hams, mashed potatoes and yams, creamed corn and green bean casserole, cheese and crackers, smoked salmon and bagels. These are foods can be very high in calories, especially when butter and gravy are added. Overeating also adds to feelings of lethargy. We feel tired and lazy after cooking and consuming a large meal. So another area for improvement for Santa is to increase his aerobic exercise and decrease the amount of food and the number of calories that he eats - year-round. He can begin by parking his sleigh farther from the houses and walking, and by not eating all of the cookies and milk left by the children.

Santa has a high-stress job that takes incredible concentration and coordination at a critical time each year. This is not unlike an academic environment where students return each semester for continuing course work. Having an exercise plan will help reduce his stress. Including other activities in his life will help refocus his energies after the holiday rush. Santa is also at risk for depression, since the post-holiday period leaves him without the flash and dash of the Christmas season.

There are some positive behaviors that Santa Claus models for us. He has a focus in his life that brings him obvious joy. He receives social support from his wife (which has been shown to contribute to longer life for both spouses), and from the elves. Santa is productive and feels needed in his role in life. And finally, he encourages faith in humanity and provides a model of how we should give to others throughout the year, not just during the holidays. For a jolly old elf, Santa provides us with many lifestyle lessons!

Philip A. Greiner, DNSc, RN

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

Cardboard City teaches lessons on homelessness
Richie Brennan '06, Chandana Ravi '04, and Assistant University Chaplain Melissa Reardon, were among those building Nov. 20's "Cardboard City" outside the John A. Barone Campus Center. The event was part of the annual Hunger and Homelessness Week, which aims to heighten awareness of world hunger and raises funds for organizations including Habitat for Humanity and Oxfam.

In addition to construction of the "City" and sleeping outside, the evening also included music by Erin Curtain '03 and Tim Warren '04, a prayer service with Paul Carrier, S.J., and teach-ins by students in Fr. Carrier's Hunger and Homelessness course.

"We try to make the sleep-out as realistic as possible, but of course, it's not the same as actually spending the night on a sidewalk somewhere," says Christopher Dill '03, who helped set up the evening and even managed to get a few hours of shut-eye on the cement. "We know we were more fortunate than real homeless people - we were bundled up and had extra blankets - although I was surprised at how warm it was in my cardboard box."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Fairfield students to study at Biosphere 2 Center

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

Fairfield University has partnered with Columbia University's Biosphere 2 Center to allow Fairfield students to receive Fairfield credits while they spend a semester learning at the Arizona facility, which features a three-acre glass- and steel-domed laboratory. Beginning in the spring semester of 2003, Fairfield will send two to three students each semester to the 250-acre Arizona facility in the Santa Catalina Mountains - just north of Tucson - to live and learn.

The Center, constructed in 1984, gained headlines for its mission to see if a crew of men and women could sustain themselves for two years in a closed environment. Today the Center is an offshoot of Columbia University that attracts more than 180,000 visitors annually. The southwestern ecosystems accessible from the Biosphere 2 campus serve as living laboratories for studying Earth's physical and biological processes.

Alexandra Galeano '05 will be among the first students from Fairfield University to experience Biosphere 2. Galeano, an international studies major going for a business degree, says she is excited about fulfilling her science requirements by studying environmental concerns in a hands-on setting.

"Environmental concerns are important no matter what subject you're studying," says Galeano. "Every business has to make decisions about the environment; for example, whether they will use methods in their business that are more expensive for the company, but better for the environment."

Fairfield is the 37th institution to partner with Columbia on the Biosphere project, joining such schools as the University of Notre Dame, Assumption College, and Smith College. Since Columbia University began managing the Center in 1996, more than 1,400 undergraduate students from around the world have completed semester or summer programs.

"This is one of the most exciting research facilities in the world," says Dr. Lisa Newton, professor of philosophy and director of the environmental studies program.

"The Biosphere program provides students who want to link international issues and environmental issues with a world-class educational program that explicitly combines scientific study of the environment with policy analysis," says Dr. Katherine Kidd, director of the international studies program. "Fairfield students who succeed academically in their Biosphere 2 semester will be eligible for preferential admission to Columbia's new Master of Public Administration program in Earth Systems Science, Policy, and Management - a wonderful new graduate program of Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs."

"We are pleased to add Fairfield University to the Biosphere 2 Center partnership family," says Dr. David Downie, director of educational partnerships, Columbia Earth Institute. "Fairfield's commitment to interdisciplinary education and preparing students to effect positive change is in keeping with our educational mission."

Dr. Kenneth W. Stein, noted author and Emory University professor in Middle Eastern history and Israeli studies, signed copies of his book on Nov. 18, following his lecture in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. Dr. Stein, an expert in Middle Eastern history and politics, visited Fairfield University as a Judaic Studies scholar in residence.

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Theologian Ismar Schorsch discusses the future of Judaism

By Jennifer K. Covino, Publications Writer

Noted theologian Dr. Ismar Schorsch traced the roots of his religion in centuries past to paint a picture of modern-day and future Judaism during the University's annual Carl and Dorothy Bennett Lecture in Judaic Studies on Nov. 12.

As chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, Dr. Schorsch is considered the titular head of Conservative Judaism in America, a leader whose views have given "greater ideological and theological expression" to the movement, according to Dr. Ellen Umansky, holder of the University's Carl and Dorothy Bennett Chair in Judaic Studies. Dr. Umansky praised Dr. Schorsch for his willingness to voice opposing views and to speak out on issues such as the environment and health care reform.

In his lecture, Dr. Schorsch, who is also the seminary's Rabbi Herman Abramovitz Professor of Jewish History, outlined several long-term factors that have contributed to contemporary American Jewish identity. According to Dr. Schorsch, the Emancipation was a 19th-century European movement that resulted in the abolition of the legal restrictions and political and social disabilities that had been placed on Jews. In the absence of these external bounds, he said, the synagogue in America has become "the primary arena for expressing Jewishness ... the place where social capital is created for the entire Jewish community." Statistics showing that only 41 percent of American Jews are affiliated with a synagogue must therefore be improved, he said.

He added that the preservation of Judaism depends on tactics such as strengthening synagogue membership, intensifying efforts for lifelong Jewish education, building ties to Israel, and dissuading intermarriage and/or making it easier for non-Jewish spouses to convert.

Synagogues must focus on "inreach," he said, the creation of centers with such magnetism that wayward Jews will be attracted back. "If the community continues to exhibit commitment, beauty, and joy, it will bring back the unaffiliated when they're ready to return."

Dr. Schorsch entertained questions from the audience, including one about the future of Conservative Judaism. In response, he described the Conservative movement as a blend of tradition and modernity that acts as a bridge between Orthodox and Reform Judaism. "The demise of the Conservative movement would be a communal tragedy," he said. "It is the bridge, the backbone of the Jewish community. If the center disappears, the two wings will break apart."

Photo by Susan Warner

Students assist local polls during election night 2002
As moderator Merrilyn Vanghele (pictured right) read Nov. 5's election results from the Black Rock voting machines, Fairfield student Eileen Arnold '05 phoned in the numbers to Cablevision's News 12 Connecticut, where the Associated Press was also using the information for its reporting. Arnold was among 56 Fairfield University students who assisted Cablevision and the Connecticut Post in obtaining election-night numbers.

Photo by Linda Gustavson

Sports

Prior to beginning his undergraduate studies at Fairfield, Lyon Porter '05 played junior hockey for four years.

The junior hockey phenomenon

By Patrick C. Nugent, Assistant Director of Sports Information

If you've noticed that the average age this year's graduating hockey player is slightly older than the traditional student, you're not just seeing things. In fact, of the eight hockey players graduating this year, three will turn 24 this spring while another three will be 25 by commencement.

Why? The answer is simple. An increasing number of hockey players who aspire to compete at the Division I Collegiate level are opting to play as many as three years of junior hockey after completing high school. Their goal is to develop physically, socially, and academically in order to receive a scholarship and place themselves at the best institution possible. The result is that players are entering their freshman year of college at the age of 20 or 21 years old. This year, 18 of the 30 players on the Stags roster hail from junior hockey programs.

"Players who come out of junior programs are often more mature, physically and socially, and are almost always more reliable athletically," says head hockey coach Jim Hunt, who spent a good part of his career coaching in the junior ranks before arriving at Fairfield. "The rigors a junior hockey season puts them through are in some ways more demanding than the schedule they are faced with in college."

On average, a junior hockey team will play 60 to 80 games a season - that's more than twice as long the traditional high school or prep school season. Players also participate in regular off-ice conditioning workouts, hold a part-time job, and participate in academic development exercises such as taking classes at a local college.

"Juniors" as they're known, are unique to the sport of hockey. No other sport sends its players to outside organizations to develop before attending college.

Junior hockey is most successful in the mid-western states where it exists as a revenue generating entity. The Lancers of Omaha Nebraska, who compete in the United States Hockey League - the premier junior hockey league in the country - draw thousands of fans per game. The USHL, as well as its counterparts - the North American Hockey League and the America West Hockey League - boast distinguished alumni Eric Lindros of the New York Rangers and Brian Rolston of the Boston Bruins.

Being selected for one of these teams isn't easy. Players are either scouted by someone within the organization or impress the coaching staff at tryouts. Competition is fierce, as most tryouts field anywhere between 60 to 80 players for just 24 spots.

Once selected, most of the players' expenses are covered by the organization. Each athlete is provided all the necessary equipment and assigned a billet family with whom they'll live for the duration of the season. Billet families are usually afforded a stipend by the organization, are responsible for feeding and housing the players, and act as surrogate parents throughout their stay. Some players elect not to live with billet families, and instead live on their own in housing subsidized by the team.

"Living in my own house with roommates and no parental supervision my senior year of high school truly taught me responsibility," says Lyon Porter '05, 22, a juniors journeyman who finished his career with the Lancers in the USHL. "Each year of juniors taught me life experiences I wouldn't have had until getting to college."

Porter spent four years playing junior hockey before coming to Fairfield. He began with Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins when he was in his third year of high school. He then spent his senior year in Syracuse, N.Y., playing for the Auburn Jr. Crunch. After graduation, Porter played for the Rochester Jr. Americans. That fall he began with the Capital Centre Pride in East Lansing, Mich., before being traded in November to the Lancers in Omaha, where he finished his junior career.

"I'm very happy with the way things worked out," says Porter. "Juniors was a great experience, and I know that coming out of Fairfield with those additional years under my belt will benefit me in the long run."

news Briefs

Charitable Sharing Campaign runs through Dec. 20
Now through Dec. 20, you can make an unrestricted gift to the United Way and Community Health Charities or restrict a gift to one of 26 CHC agencies.

More than 50 on-campus campaign captains have distributed brochures and pledge forms. Any amount is welcome and can be donated by payroll deduction. This year's goal is $30,000.

For more information, call campaign co-chairs Judy Dobai at ext. 2285 and Mark Reed at ext. 4211.

Top students inducted into Sigma Theta Tau
Sixteen nursing students were inducted into Fairfield University's Mu Chi chapter of Sigma Theta Tau last month. The honor society acknowledges top nursing students for their leadership, creativity, achievement, commitment, and exceptional professional standards.

The new inductees include: Jennifer Balukonis, Abigail Blicharz, Catharine Blom, Melissa Botelho, Eva Chludzinski, Theresa Conroy, Lisa Garvey, Jacqueline Gauthier, Meghan Hanley, Susan Jacoby, Daria Kiernan, Allison Lutz, Kimberly Owens, Laura Parisi, Amanda Simpson, and Adriene Whitaker.

Alpha Sigma Lambda inducts 19 new members
Fairfield University's Gamma Phi Chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda, the national honor society for continuing education, inducted 19 new members on Nov. 15. The chapter acknowledges evening undergraduate degree students for their academic achievement. Members are matriculated students with a 3.2 GPA or higher. At the ceremony, Dr. Ipshita Ray, assistant professor of marketing, was also installed.

Congratulations to: Bruce A. Adams, Sally Ann Bohling, Marianne Davenport, James M. Dean, Joanna Fowler, Stefanie Frankel, Gina S. Garvin, Pamela Kelly, Diane Lawler, Mary F. Mahoney, Mayx Malachowski, Noreen McGoldrick, Maria Mittal, Scott Partridge, Darlynne Patrignelli, Gary G. Rudenis, Carmen S. Santiago, Deborah Suozzi, and Channyra Than.

Christopher Mooney, S.J., lecturer discusses German Protestantism

Dr. Susannah Heschel

By Barbara D. Kiernan, Director of University Publications

Dr. Susannah Heschel, Eli Black Chair in Jewish Studies at Dartmouth College and associate professor in the Department of Religion, opened the ninth annual Christopher Mooney, S.J., Lecture in Theology, Religion, and Society on Nov. 7 by sharing a treasured memory of a kind Jesuit priest who took the time to comfort a little girl whose father had just died.

The Jesuit was Christopher F. Mooney, S.J., former professor of religious studies and academic vice president at Fairfield University. Dr. Heschel was the little girl. As the daughter of the late Jewish philosopher, professor, and theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel, young Susannah was used to the ebb and flow of scholars who visited her home on a regular basis, Fr. Mooney among them.

In the days after her father died, now 30 years distant, her family was receiving visitors coming to their home to pay respects, as is the Jewish custom. "Fr. Mooney, who was a great friend of my father, came over and sat down beside me," Dr. Heschel said. "He wanted to know how I was doing, and told me if there were anything he could ever do for me, to please call him." Fr. Mooney, she said, was the only adult who thought to spend time with and comfort a child that week, a gesture that she called a blessing she will never forget.

Her lecture proved to be a blessing in return. A scholar of modern Jewish thought, feminist theology, and German Protestantism, Dr. Heschel spoke on the latter, focusing on the late-19th-century movement by liberal Protestants to study Jesus from a purely historical perspective. Many Jewish theologians joined them in doing the same, confident that Christians engaged in such a study could not possibly hate Jews because, after all, the historical Jesus was a Jew.

As time passed, however, fascinating but conflicting perspectives began to take shape. While some Jewish theologians purported that Jesus was a rabbi, Protestant theologians were declaring him an Aryan. In seeking to create a synthesis of Christianity and the National Socialism movement developing within Germany, Protestant theologians went on to suggest eliminating the Old Testament from the Christian Bible, and others began running an anti-Semitic propaganda institute called the Institute for the Eradication of Jews in the Religious Life of Germany.

Dr. Heschel did much of her research in the 1997-98 academic year as a fellow at the National Humanities Center. Extensive archival research in East Germany led to her writing Abraham Geiger and the Jewish Jesus, and, with Robert Erickson, editing a volume of essays on The German Churches and the Holocaust.

Photo by B.K. Angeletti

Historian to speak at Martin Luther King Jr. celebration

By Nancy Habetz, Director of Media Relations

dr. manning marable, one of america's most influential historians and political interpreters of the black experience, will be the speaker at fairfield university's martin luther king jr. human relations convocation on wednesday, jan. 22, at 3 p.m., in the regina a. quick center for the arts. his talk is part of a three-day observance that celebrates the life and achievements of the slain civil rights leader and has as its theme, "re-inventing the dream: creating a new diversity through knowledge and power."

Perhaps the most widely read intellectual within the African American community, Dr. Marable is the author of 13 books, including Black Leadership (1998); Black Liberation in Conservative America (1997); and Beyond Black and White (1995). Since 1976, he has written "Along the Color Line," a syndicated political affairs series that appears regularly in more than 400 black-owned and -oriented mass publications throughout the world.

Frequently called upon to comment on the history and politics of race in the United States, Dr. Marable has appeared on CNN's Talk-Back Live, C-SPAN, the Charlie Rose show, and BBC television and radio, among others.

Since 1993 Dr. Marable has been professor of history and political science at Columbia University where he also serves as the founding director of the Institute for Research in African American Studies.

In January 1999, Dr. Marable initiated Souls: A Critical Journal of Black Politics, Culture and Society. A quarterly journal, it examines key theoretical issues within black America, Africa and the Caribbean.

In 2001, he initiated the "Malcolm X Project" at Columbia University. The research project includes the development of a Malcolm X e-course, an electronic multimedia version of Alex Haley's The Autobiography of Malcolm X, and other writings on Malcolm X.

Most recently, in 2002, Dr. Marable launched the "Africana Criminal Justice Project" with funding from the Open Society Institute (Soros Foundation). The project encourages the development of civic capacity building and leadership training among former prisoners, and proposes fundamental legal reforms within the criminal justice system and the prison industrial complex.

Other celebration events

The three-day celebration begins on Tuesday, Jan. 21, with a Multicultural Marketplace in the lobby of the John A. Barone Campus Center from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open to the public, the Marketplace will offer a wide array of products from various cultures. Dr. Marable's book will be available for purchase.

On Wednesday, Jan. 22, Dr. Marable will deliver his address, followed by a special Vision Awards Dinner. Honored at the dinner will be area leaders who received the Martin Luther King Jr. Vision Award earlier at the convocation for their "tireless effort to instill and inspire the teachings and ideals of Martin Luther King Jr. in today's youth."

On Thursday, Jan. 23, area middle school students will participate in a Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Leadership Workshop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Barone Campus Center Oak Room.

For tickets to Dr. Marable's presentation, contact the box office at ext. 4010. For additional information on any of these events, contact the Center for Multicultural Relations at ext. 2909.

Civil Rights photography to be on view at the Walsh Art Gallery
the provocative works of photographer james hinton, whose camera captured the public and private sides of the civil rights movement, will be on display in "images from the 1960s - photographs of james hinton" from Thursday, Jan. 23, through Sunday, March 23, at the Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery. An opening reception and lecture by Hinton will be held Thursday, Jan. 23, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the gallery.

Hinton, who is an award-winning filmmaker, began his career just as the Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum, and produced an archive of thousands of photographs from that era. His collection also includes those who walked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., angry crowds gathered beside march routes in the north and south, and literary and cultural figures, such as Mahalia Jackson and Muhammad Ali.

For more information, call the Walsh Gallery at ext. 2969.

Jazz Ensemble's winter concert to feature renowned pianist James Williams
The Fairfield University Jazz Ensemble will welcome internationally known pianist and composer James Williams as guest artist at its winter concert on Thursday, Dec. 5. The concert will take place at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. in the Wien Theatre of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

Brian Torff, director of jazz and popular music and a noted bassist and composer, will lead the ensemble through a program of standards and innovative new works, including "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise," "Bemsha Swing," and Torff's originals "Don't Ask," "Calypso Café," and "Reggae North Dakota."

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

Williams is the director of jazz studies at William Patterson University in New Jersey and has held teaching and artist-in-residence appointments at Dartmouth College, Harvard University, the New England Conservatory of Music, and the Hartt School of Music in Connecticut, among others.

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

Theatre Fairfield to present 11 student-directed plays in "Director's Cut"
Theatre Fairfield, Fairfield University's student theatre company, will present "Director's Cut 2002," a selection of 11 short, student-directed plays on Thursday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the PepsiCo Theatre.

"Director's Cut 2002" is the culmination of a semester-long student project. The directing ensemble, under the mentorship of Dr. Marti LoMonaco, director of the theatre program, includes Megan Bell '03, Elizabeth Capinera '03, Lauren Drzata '03, Kristy Farrell '04, Jessica Harper '04, Angela Lewonczyk '03, Alex Pavone '04, Paul Robinson '04, Nicole Smith '04, Jason Stowe '04, and Danny Williams '04.

The short plays include "Layla Miserables," which follows the surreal journey of one man on the road to happiness, and "Truth and Sex," the story of a young couple discovering their fears and uncovering a deeper love. "Hope 'n Mercy" recreates the love and sin that culminate in a woman's death and the angst her grandmother goes through to find forgiveness. The imaginative "Cabbage Head" chronologs a young woman returning to her trailer park home to find her mother in an affair with the television, her father suffering unusual punishments, and the refrigerator filled with cabbage.

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

St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble to perform at the Quick Center for the Arts
St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble, New York's preeminent chamber group, will perform on Friday, Dec. 13, at 8 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. A pre-concert Art to Heart discussion with Howard Kissel, chief drama critic for the New York Daily News, will take place from 7 p.m. to 7:40 p.m.

St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble is the artistic core of the larger Orchestra of St. Luke's. The ensemble includes 21 virtuoso artists who perform nationally and internationally with a repertoire ranging from the Baroque to the contemporary.

The evening's program shows the variety for which the ensemble is known. Opening with Handel's "Concerto Grosso in G Major, Op. 6 No. 1" and Corelli's "Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6 No. 8," it moves into two Telemann works, "Oboe Concerto in D Minor" and "Concerto in E Major for Flute, Oboe d'amore and Viola d'amore." The concert also features Pachelbel's memorable "Canon in D Major" and concludes with Bach's "Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor."

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

New Haven Symphony Orchestra to perform a Christmas concert at the Quick Center for the Arts

The New Haven Symphony Orchestra, directed by Gerald Steichen (above), will perform a holiday concert on Friday, Dec. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. This program of traditional carols and classic selections will feature the Elm City Girls' Choir and an end of the evening sing-along. For tickets, call the box office at ext. 4010.

Campus Currents is the official news publication of the Fairfield University community. It is published on the first Tuesday of the month, with the exception of the September and December issues. 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.