Campus Currents December 2005

Volume 14, Number 4
The official news publication of Fairfield University

Index for December 6, 2005

New project is green and energy smart
Dr. Lucy Katz installed as Robert C. Wright Chair
With visions of Key West, Schimpf gets ready to retire
University to launch major marketing initiative
News breakers
Service Anniversaries
Examining the metamorphosis of the city
New faculty join Fairfield
GE's Immelt touts economic growth in developing nations
College of Arts and Sciences launches Board of Advisors
Noted theologian delivers annual Mooney lecture
University opens Center for Faith and Public Life
Jesuit Jubilee Year celebrations begin Dec. 11
New forum celebrates women at Fairfield University
Getting Some Zs for the Holidays
Martin Luther King Jr. events planned for January
Hurricane Katrina Students prepare to return to home campuses
Sports Shorts
Sports
Fairfield students plan American Red Cross benefit dance-a-thon
News Briefs
Happenings

New project is green and energy smart

By Martha Milcarek, Assistant Vice President for Public Relations

While conversation and debate about supply and cost of fuel are increasing nationally - in the halls of Congress, during school soccer games and around corporate water coolers - Fairfield University is taking action to produce most of its own energy needs.

This past October, the Board of Trustees gave its stamp of approval for the University to move forward with a combined heat and power project that will enable Fairfield to produce its own electricity via a turbine. The heat produced by the working turbine will be captured to heat and cool a large percentage of campus structures. Through the Central Utility Facility (CUF), the University has been producing its heat and cooling since 1960, but has relied on outside sources for electricity.

"This project will enable us to better control our destiny in terms of electricity needs and place us among leading institutions that have adopted similar approaches," says William Lucas, Fairfield's vice president for finance and administration. "We will be using improved technologies, controlling costs, and, in addition, have a cleaner operating facility." Other academic institutions involved in co-generation include Bucknell University, Clemson University, Central and Eastern Michigan universities, Rutgers University, and the University of Illinois. The University of Connecticut is in the process of a implementing a similar project.

Lucas indicated that the new project will provide about 70 percent of the campus's fossil fuel energy requirements. The "waste heat" produced will heat and cool the main campus as well as the Dolan campus.

The proposed $9.5 million project will be done in collaboration with United Technologies Carrier and will be accomplished through a 3,000-square-foot addition to the existing CUF. It will be funded through a combination of tax-exempt bonds and gift funds. Fairfield University hopes to take advantage of "An Act Concerning Energy Independence," recently passed state legislation that provides incentives for implementing the co-generation technology. No additional personnel will be required to operate the facility.

Ric Taylor, associate vice president for campus planning and operations, will oversee the project. Among the next steps is seeking appropriate state and local approvals. Taylor says the University will likely submit a request to the Town Planning and Zoning Commission in January 2006. Prior to that, neighbors will be invited to an information session. According to the proposed timeline, construction will begin in March and be completed in September.

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Baking bread

Carolyn Rusiackas, associate University chaplain, and Eucharistic Ministers-in-training Anne Krane, Aileen Callahan, Colleen Gibson, John Shettle, and Danielle Bujak, all freshmen, made communion bread for their retreat weekend and Mass. The new Eucharistic Ministers were commissioned last month.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Dr. Lucy Katz installed as Robert C. Wright Chair

By Alejandra Nacarro, Publications Writer

For Dr. Lucy V. Katz, being named the Robert C. Wright Chair in Business Law, Ethics, and Dispute Resolution is not just a personal honor.

Dr. Lucy Katz and Robert Wright

"It is important to me because this chair moves the disciplines of law, ethics, and dispute resolution further from the margins and to the center of business education," said Dr. Katz at the November installation ceremony. "For our students, I hope that it will convey a respect for law and an intention to live ethically, even, or especially, in business life." This is the fourth endowed chair in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business.

Robert C. Wright, chairman and chief executive officer of NBC Universal and a vice chairman and executive officer of General Electric Company, who attended the ceremony with his wife, Suzanne, praised Dr. Katz's work on alternative dispute resolution as incredibly valuable for the United States and emerging international economies.

GE and NBC Universal have long used alternative dispute resolution, he said. "We found it to be quicker and more efficient than the trench warfare of litigation, and certainly an approach that is more likely to preserve our business relationships in the end," said Wright, who joined NBC in 1986. He has worked with business leaders such as Charles F. Dolan, whose $25 million gift to Fairfield University has made three of the School's chairs possible. NBC Universal is in the process of expanding its use of alternative dispute resolution in human resources to resolve employment disputes before they become major disruptions.

"I was drawn to law, to teaching, to ethics, certainly to feminism, and even to dispute resolution, because each involved challenging the status quo," explained Dr. Katz, a member of Fairfield University's Management Department since 1983. "Even my work in dispute resolution has meant being part of a movement that has challenged, and altered, the practice of law, from an adversarial focus to one that stresses human connection and relationship."

Citing the adage, "It takes a village to raise a child," Dr. Katz believes we never outgrow our need for a village. Her village includes family, friends, colleagues, and students, most of whom attended the ceremony. The development of law, ethics, and dispute resolution also rely on relationships and dialogue, she said. Justice and good policy emerge from debates with many voices, and an ethical perspective begins with a concern for others. These fields offer a voice from the borders of society, forcing us to take a critical perspective of basic assumptions for a more just and ethical society.

Today, the world faces difficult problems: great challenges to the law, our ethics, and our dispute resolution skills, said Dr. Katz, noting the starvation, genocide, global conflict, and the struggle to respond to natural disasters. "We are mired in a war that has killed 2,300 Americans and allies, and 27,000 to 30,000 Iraqis, and we are still counting; a war that as we speak is draining much-needed resources from health care, education, even food and other basic assistance for the poor and the middle class. This is indeed a world that needs those voices from the borders, and a world that is sorely in need of conflict resolution."

Photo by B.K. Angeletti

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With visions of Key West, Schimpf gets ready to retire

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Bill Schimpf is really looking forward to this year's winter trip to Key West. With a week or so of sailing and beachcombing, this vacation is bound to provide him with some long-awaited R&R. And it should - after 37 years serving the University, he's set to retire at the end of December.

But even with the trip in store, as well as a long list of to-dos around the house, he admits it's a little intimidating to retire. Intimidating? Yes. "Who will I be on January 1? I'll no longer be Vice President Bill Schimpf," he says. "On January 2, when my wife, Clare (director of annual giving), leaves the house and heads to campus, I'll start working on the basement."

It sounds like a pretty humble new beginning for the man who's headed the Student Services Division since 1971.

It all began in 1969 when he was hired as dean of students of the then-all-male University by the Rev. William C. McInnes, S.J. "At that time, I only knew two things about Fairfield University: one, it had lost a basketball player in a tragic accident, and two, the New York Giants trained here," he admits. "I had a fascinating discussion with Fr. George Mahan, who talked me into coming here. I was extremely fond of him. He was a model of what a Jesuit should be." Upon hearing Fairfield's mission, he was sold. "The values orientation - saying that some things are right and should be encouraged, while others are not, and should be discouraged - made sense. I thought that should be the mission for all institutions of higher ed." Schimpf was joined that September by Henry W. Krell, the associate dean of students and director of student housing.

In the late 1960s, college campuses all over the country were places of turmoil. Fairfield University was no exception. "It was a period of great trouble. We were told to keep our senses alert for signs of some difficulty." Sure enough, the first night the students were back on campus, he heard yelling. "I got up from my desk in Xavier Hall and walked around Berchmans toward the middle of campus, and saw about 300 students in front of the campus center, screaming. When I walked closer to the crowd, I saw what they were yelling at - busses of girls from the College of New Rochelle had just pulled in to campus. These guys had been all of five hours 'without' women!" Also in that first year, three buildings were taken over by students, and students held a multiple-day strike demanding that the University president resign. (He didn't.)

Halfway into his first year, he hired an assistant dean of students, Anne Marie Samway, to lead the move into coeducation by September 1970. It was difficult to change the all-male culture on campus, and he also admits to worrying about more "practical" matters, such as visitation hours, curfews, housing, and "what to do with the extra urinals."

He's seen on-campus housing expand over the years. "Claver, Kostka, the townhouses, and the Apartment Village were all built while I have been here," he says. "In 1969, 70 rooms were faculty offices. They've slowly made them residence spaces."

In the years when he had more direct contact with students, he says, his job was more enjoyable. Unpredictable, but enjoyable. He's led the inner circle on handling such challenges as campus-wide power outages, hurricane threats, the hostage situation, presidential visits, and most recently, the Fairfield University's Business Continuity Plan, which now includes a phone line to the University of Scranton, should Fairfield be affected by a hurricane like Katrina and all area telecommunication is shut down. Being prepared is something he's grown accustomed to, always keeping a paper and pencil on his nightstand, "since 3 a.m. calls are not unusual." But it's just a part of the job, and reflects the type of place Fairfield University is. "If something serious affects an individual student, it will reach the highest level at the University," he says. "If that happens at 2 a.m. on a Saturday, it's dealt with then. That's what makes Fairfield a unique place." He still stays in touch with many alumni, some of whom have encouraged their sons and daughters to attend Fairfield. Others have since confessed "crimes." Among the most courageous was an alumnus who admitted to being the guilty party behind launching a soda machine out the fourth floor of Jogues Hall years ago.

While it's obvious the students have made an impression on him, so have each of the four presidents he's served. "Each one has had his own style and easily identifiable differences," he says. "Each was ideal for the institution at a certain time."

As former presidents have decided to retire, so has Schimpf. Besides the vacation and the basement work, he's got a few other ideas to fill his time. There's boating in the spring and summer, and he says his role at church will expand as other volunteer opportunities present themselves. For the short term, however, he invites us to "visit" him in cyberspace this February. "Go to hogsbreath.com, the website of my favorite retreat in Key West," he chuckles. "You just might see me sitting there via the Hog View camera."

The University community is invited to a retirement party for Bill Schimpf on Dec. 16 at 3:30 p.m. in the lower level of the John A. Barone Campus Center.

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University to launch major marketing initiative

By Nina M. Riccio, Publications writer

The need to communicate a clear, consistent, and unified message about Fairfield emerged as a concern during the University's strategic planning process, as did a general need to better link decision-making to data. In the area of marketing and communication, this had traditionally presented a challenge in that little comprehensive research had been done on how the University is perceived by its many constituencies. Without this information, it was difficult to compare what the institution was saying about its identity, values, and distinctions with what its various publics believed the University to be.

Now, University administrators have approved a major marketing and research initiative, with elements of sophistication that will lead to an integrated plan for marketing and the development of messages that convey Fairfield's key strengths. A six-member committee appointed by University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., recommended hiring a firm of national reputation - Lipman Hearne of Chicago - and that has been done. The initiative will launch this month when Lipman Hearne staff will be on campus to interview key people in various departments. Work will include:

• an institutional communications and market analysis,
• a comprehensive market research study,
• development of a brand platform, and
• development of an integrated marketing plan.

"Marketing efforts at Fairfield University are already taking place in a number of different areas, including graduate education, enrollment management, athletics, and public relations," says Fr. von Arx. "We're asking Lipman Hearne to look at our overall effort, especially as it impacts the critical areas of student recruitment at the graduate and undergraduate levels."

Lipman Hearne is expert in marketing and communications for institutes of higher education, says Fr. von Arx. "Its contribution should be seen in the context of our strategic planning to bring Fairfield to a level of best practice in delivering a coherent and consistent message about who we are, and what makes us distinctive."

George Diffley, vice president for University advancement, and Judy Dobai, associate academic vice president for enrollment management, are spearheading the project. Additional committee members include Orin Grossman, academic vice president; Mark Reed, associate vice president for student services and dean of students; Martha Milcarek, assistant vice president for public relations; and Cathy O'Donnell, director of marketing.

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Fr. Regan returns for DSB Sophomore Symposium

The Rev. Thomas J. Regan, S. J., provincial superior of the New England Province of the Society of Jesus, chatted with Ada Sim '08 after delivering the keynote address at the second annual Charles F. Dolan School of Business Sophomore Symposium on Oct. 26. Fr. Regan, a former assistant professor of philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences at Fairfield for 23 years and one of the founders of the CAS Sophomore Symposium, presented the historical reasons Jesuits became educators. Outlining the benefits of a Jesuit education, he explained that Jesuits work to provide students with advantages for practical living and learning, help create leaders and intellectuals, and strive to enhance students' values and commitment to the important things in life, such as family. "You go into business with your eyes wide open, and what really is important in life, you realize, is not just about the bottom line," he said.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

The Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., executive assistant to the president, celebrated the Mass to honor St. Vincent's College's Alumni Homecoming Day on Oct. 9 at the Oronoque Country Club in Stratford. A notice appeared in the Stratford Star on Oct. 6.

Dr. Dorothea Braginsky, professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), commented on the growing popularity of vanity license plates from a psychological point of view in an article in the Connecticut Post on Oct 23.

At the American Association of Teachers of Italian conference in Washington, D.C., Dr. Mary Ann Carolan, associate professor of modern languages and literature in CAS, delivered two papers: "Behind the Screens: A Variety of Approaches to Teaching Italian Cinema: Discussion on Il Gattopardo," on Oct. 15, and "Pasolini's Legacy: Moretti's Caro diario," on Oct 13. Dr. Carolan gave two lectures: "Nanni Moretti's Caro diario as Film History," at Sacred Heart University on Nov. 6, and "Autobiography and Film History in Moretti's Caro diario," at the College of Charleston (S.C.) on Oct. 20.

Dr. Edward Deak, Roger M. Lynch Professor of Economics in CAS, was quoted in The Advocate (Stamford) on Oct. 19 in an article about native-born American laborers, illegal immigrants, and the unemployment rate. He was also quoted in The Hartford Courant on Oct. 14 in an article discussing economic issues in relation to the campaign of Gov. M. Jodi Rell and in the Connecticut Post on Oct. 25 commenting on President Bush's appointment of Ben Bernanke as the new chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. In a Nov. 15 Connecticut Post article, Dr. Deak also commented on the benefits of the British company AC Cars building a plant in Bridgeport. "It helps to re-establish Bridgeport as a place where this kind of work can be done profitably," he said. Also in November, Dr. Deak, the New England Economic Project Connecticut Model Manager, released his biannual report, which notes that Connecticut's unemployment rates have risen above the U.S. average and job growth has underperformed the country as a whole.

Dr. Marge Glick, associate dean in University College, was honored on Nov. 1 in Madison, Wisc., where she received the National William C. Hine Award for outstanding service to adult students. The award is presented annually by the Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society, the oldest honor society for adults. Glick was recognized by her colleagues nationally for her commitment and dedication to part-time and non-traditional students. The award was presented at the national meeting of the Association for Continuing Higher Education hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Joy Gordon, associate professor of philosophy in CAS, was interviewed on Oct. 27 on the BBC program, The World, about the report of the Volcker Commission concerning the UN's Oil for Food Program.

"My take is that Generation X is not as apathetic as they are somewhat cynical," said Dr. David Gudelunas, assistant professor of communications in CAS, in a Nov. 5 Connecticut Post article about the generation born between 1965 and the late 1970s.

Dr. Robert Kelly, assistant professor of economics in CAS, was featured in the Connecticut Post on Oct. 22, The Day (New London) on Oct. 27, and The Boston Globe on Oct. 28 in articles about the use of remote-like clickers in his classroom to answer classroom questions and gauge the students' participation.

Dr. Danke Li, associate professor of history in CAS, gave a talk on Chinese women, "Economic Reform and Gender Inequality in Education," at the New York Institute of Technology on Nov. 8.

On Nov. 11, the Connecticut Post announced the appointment of Dr. Dee Lippman, professor of nursing in the School of Nursing (SON), as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

The Fairfield Citizen-News featured the University's New Media Film, Television, and Radio major in an Oct. 26 article. The Rev. James Mayzik, S.J., director of the program in CAS, explained, "We point to certain spiritual principles, encouraging our students to use these media to speak the truth they see."

In October, the Rev. Mark McGregor, S.J., of the Media Center, presented at the "Commitment to Justice" held for the National Jesuit Higher Education conference in Cleveland, Ohio. In November, Fr. McGregor participated in a panel discussion and shared his experience in the field of detention ministry and as a producer of the upcoming film, Posada, at the Detention Watch Network's eighth annual conference in Washington, D.C.

Martha Milcarek, assistant vice president for public relations, was a resource for the Non-Profit Communications Report's article on recognizing media spokespersons in nonprofit organizations.

Dr. John Orman, professor of politics in CAS, commented on the campaign of Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell in the Connecticut Post on Oct. 15 and Oct. 26.

Dr. Judy Primavera, professor of psychology in CAS, was named to the steering committee of the New England Psychological Association.

Dr. W. Ronald Salafia, professor of psychology in CAS, was quoted in the Connecticut Post on Oct. 15 in an article about how the increased use of technology has contributed to a rise in rudeness.

Dr. Marie-Agnès Sourieau, associate professor of Modern Languages and Literatures in CAS, authored an article on Bicentenaire, the latest novel of the Haitian writer and political activist Lyonel Trouillot, in the fall issue of Cariforum, a trilingual cultural journal of the Caribbean published in the Dominican Republic.

Dr. L. Kraig Steffan, associate professor of chemistry in CAS, discussed the science of liquefied natural gas for a Sept. 30 Fairfield Citizen-News article on the proposed liquefied natural gas terminal and pipeline in the Long Island Sound.

Brian Torff, director of jazz and popular music and associate professor of music in CAS, and his musical group, the Django Reinhardt Festival, received a glowing review of their performance at the Kennedy Center's KC Jazz Club by the Washington Post on Oct.31. In November, Torff performed at the Dakota Café in Minneapolis, Jazz Alley in Seattle, Birdland in New York City, and the Disney Theatre in Los Angeles. A Nov. 19 Los Angeles Times review of the Django Reinhardt Festival performance reported that Torff on bass "bristled with the upbeat, joyous approach to jazz that is at the core of the Reinhardt style." Reviews in the Los Angeles Daily Variety and the Hollywood Reporter also praised the performance.

University President Jeffrey von Arx, S.J., delivered the presentation, "Students Today: A College President's Perspective," to the Y's Men of Westport and Weston on Oct. 13. The event was covered by The Hour (Norwalk) and the Westport Minuteman.

In November, Dr. Kathleen Wheeler, professor of nursing in SON, presented and chaired a pre-conference course at the annual conference of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association in Nashville, Tenn., titled, "Trauma Care: Psychotherapeutic and Psychopharmacological Strategies for Healing." She also reported the results of her research with Kathleen Delaney, a colleague from Rush University, on "Challenges and Realities of Teaching Psychotherapy: A Survey of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Graduate Programs."

In November, Dr. Michael White, associate professor of English in CAS, spoke at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts and at The Arlington Center for the Arts in Virginia, as part of the fall writers and poets series.

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Service Anniversaries

December

5 years
Steven Ruple
Jeanmarie Santopatre

10 years
Linda Ames
Joseph Martinelli

January

5 years
James Bowler, S.J.
Jo Drusbosky
Bonnie Gleason
Karen Panza
Dennis Quinones

20 years
Jack Beal
Theresa Sabo

25 years
Frances Berry

Condolences

James H. Fitzpatrick Jr., father of James Fitzpatrick, assistant vice president of student services, and father-in-law of Phyllis Fitzpatrick, director of management information, died in October.

Alfred Johnson, father of Barbara Barrett, switchboard operator, died Nov. 1.

Thomas Francis Lakeland, father of Dr. Paul Lakeland, Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Professor of Catholic Studies, and father-in-law of Beth Palmer of Visual and Performing Arts, died Nov. 18.

Nancy Montini, mother of Dr. Dana Wilkie, assistant dean and director of graduate programs, Charles F. Dolan School of Business, died Nov. 24.

New Employees

James Cavallaro - Public Safety Officer, Public Safety

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Lt. Conley gives flag to University

In September, Lt. Col. Christopher Conley presented Fairfield University and President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., with the American flag that flew over his camp outside of Kabul, Afghanistan. Lt. Conley's daughter, Mikaela '06, and her friend, Aamina Awan '07, teamed up with Students for Social Justice last spring to raise $3,000 for a well for villagers northwest of Kabul City. Pictured above (l-r) are Mikaela Conley, Lt. Conley, Carol Costello of CNN, who interviewed the students on-air in June, Fr. von Arx, Aamina Awan, and Awan's parents, Dr. Mahmud and Roohi Awan.

Faculty Research

Examining the metamorphosis of a city

By Nina M. Riccio, Publications writer

In the early days of the 20th century, many cities in the Northeast underwent an economic and social transformation that continues to have ramifications today. That transformation began with The Great Migration of African-Americans who traded the prejudice and poverty of the South for the promise of economic opportunity in the North. Though smaller than Baltimore or Philadelphia, Hartford mirrored the phenomena occurring in most Northeastern cities from 1910 to 1930.

"Hartford's manageable size was one of the reasons we chose to focus on it for our study of The Great Migration," says Dr. Kurt Schlichting, a professor of sociology and anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences, explaining the research he's been doing with colleagues Dr. Peter Tuckel of Hunter College, C.U.N.Y., and Dr. Richard Maisel of New York University. The three, who have collaborated on research projects in the past, began with a street-by-street map of the city from 1920 to 1930, developed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. ("If you've ever used Mapquest, you've used GIS technology," explains Dr. Schlichting.) Their goal: To study how the influx of newcomers subsequently affected population movements, as well as the relations between the races and tensions between subgroups in the African-American population.

Dr. Kurt Schlichting and student researcher Devin Hagan '06.

"Prior to 1910, there had been a small, established African-American community in Hartford," says Dr. Schlichting. "And while there was certainly prejudice, Hartford had been a loud voice in the abolition movement. These African-Americans did have some social standing and were not living in poverty." That began to change in the early 1900s, when large numbers of African Americans were encouraged to come North to work on Connecticut's tobacco farms. Within a decade or so, thousands of very poor, uneducated Southerners, the majority of them from Georgia, overwhelmed the resources of the city. What happened then, the researchers found, was typical. "Racial tensions between blacks and whites increased, and, as whites began to move, certain streets became ghettos." The street-by-street map will help determine where the whites went, says Dr. Schlichting. "This was just prior to the establishment of suburbs, so we know they weren't moving out to the areas surrounding the city. Besides, the majority of these people were of modest means. They didn't own their own homes, and many were recent immigrants themselves. I think what we'll find as we continue to go through the census records is that they just moved to different streets." Also interesting, says Dr. Schlichting, is the rise in tension between those in the established African-American community and the newcomers. He compares it to the animosity the "lace curtain Irish" directed toward the millions of their wretchedly poor countrymen coming to America a century before. "The need to assimilate is so strong that people will turn against members of their own group if they think they are bringing the rest down," he says.

Dr. Schlichting and his colleagues have been working on the project for approximately three years, and have an article due to appear in the Journal of Black Studies. Last month, they presented their findings at the Social Science History Association Annual Convention in Portland, Oregon, an interdisciplinary group that brings together historians, economists, political scientists, sociologists, and "anyone interested in history with an emphasis on the social sciences," he says. With a modest grant from the faculty research fund, he has been able to have several students cull through census materials and do data entry, and next semester plans to incorporate his work into his research methods class. "I see a series of articles coming out of this research," he says, "both to answer the questions we've stirred up, and also to explore where we are today, and why we still have ghettos and impoverishment in Hartford."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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New faculty join Fairfield

By Emily Faherty '08, Contributing writer

Fairfield welcomes several new tenure-track faculty members this year. Campus Currents will introduce them to the University community through the February issue.

Angela Biselli

Dr. Angela Biselli has joined the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) as an assistant professor in the Physics Department, after being a research associate of the Experimental Medium Energy Physics Group at Carnegie Mellon University since 2002.

Dr. Biselli graduated cum laude from the Universita' di Genova and continued her graduate education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., where she received her Ph.D. in experimental particle physics.

As a part of the Carnegie Mellon University Experimental Medium Energy Group, Dr. Biselli contributed to the parity violating G0 experiment at Jefferson Lab and gained extensive expertise with high rate electronics at the nanosecond scale.

Suzanne Chamlin

A visiting assistant professor of studio art since 2004 and an adjunct since 2000, Suzanne Chamlin has joined CAS as an assistant professor of visual and performing arts.

An accomplished artist, Chamlin's paintings and drawings have been featured at galleries throughout the tri-state region, including The National Arts Club, St. Peter's Church, and The Painting Center in New York City; Simon Gallery in New Jersey; Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City; and the Walsh Art Gallery and Lukacs Gallery at Fairfield University. Her work is also part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., and the Yale University Art Gallery.

Chamlin has taught in several art programs, including Rhode Island School of Design and New York University, and was a visiting lecturer at Yale, The New School, and Purchase College, State University of New York.

She received her B.A from Barnard College and an M.F.A. from Yale University School of Art.

Kevin Dawson

Dr. Kevin Dawson has joined CAS as an assistant professor of history. He received his Ph.D. in history in May 2005 from the University of South Carolina. Dr. Dawson completed his undergraduate studies at California State University, Fullerton. He was the recipient of the Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship for Minorities in 2004-2005. His dissertation, "Enslaved Watermen in the Atlantic World, 1444-1880," was also offered a contract for publication from the University of North Carolina Press.

Maritime studies and the study of slavery are common themes for Dr. Dawson, and he has made many presentations of his work in this area. His article, "Enslaved Swimmers and Divers in the Atlantic World" will be published in the March 2006 edition of the Journal of American History and "A Culture of Cleanliness: Slaves' Impact on Western Hygiene," is currently being considered for publication. In addition, his research on "Culture and Creativity in the Atlantic World," and "Primus Slavery Conspiracy" will soon be published.

Terry-Ann Jones

Dr. Terry-Ann Jones has joined the Sociology and Anthropology Department in CAS as an assistant professor.

Dr. Jones received her undergraduate degree from York University in Toronto, Canada, and completed her studies at the University of Miami, receiving doctoral research grants in 2002, 2003, and 2004 and earning her Ph.D. in International Studies. Her area of specialization is Latin American and Caribbean Studies and includes comparative politics and geography and regional studies.

Migration from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the assimilation of refugees and immigrants in the United States and Canada, are some of her research interests. She is also interested in political and economic change in the Caribbean.

Dr. Jones has lectured at the Association of American Geographers Conference on Race, Ethnicity, and Place at Howard University, and has done work on "Ethnicity and Assimilation: Jamaicans in South Florida and Toronto," as well as "West Indian Migration to the United States." A member of the Association of Caribbean Economists, her paper, "Remittance as a Mechanism for Caribbean Development," will soon be published as a chapter in Remittances and Beyond: Migration, Diaspora, and the Global Caribbean Economy.

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GE's Immelt touts economic growth in developing nations

By Alejandra Navarro, Publications writer

Finding a way to drive economic growth is the most serious challenge facing this generation of business leaders, said Jeffrey R. Immelt, General Electric chairman and chief executive officer, at the sixth annual Charles F. Dolan Lecture on Nov. 2. Immelt began his presentation, "Growth and Leadership," by noting that 300 of GE's employees, several of whom are officers or senior executives, are Fairfield University alumni. "Good product development," he quipped, sparking laughter in the packed Kelley Theatre.

Product development, however, is only part of the equation for success. "Unless you know how to generate your own growth, you can't be a successful company," said Immelt, who joined GE in 1982, held a series of leadership roles in the company, and assumed his current post at the helm of GE in 2001.

Today, the world's economy, Immelt explained, is driven by slow growth; volatility illustrated by technical, economic, and political change; and increased regulatory pressure, which is a result of the fear derived from slow growth and volatility. In the United States, Immelt expects the Gross Domestic Product to increase only 2.5 to 3.5 percent. The bulk of economic growth for the next five to 10 years will come from developing nations, primarily India, China, and Russia. "This is the future," he said, "and this is where we need to go." Indian airlines, for example, are expanding while some U.S. airlines are filing for bankruptcy. GE is no stranger to globalization, with approximately $85 billion of its revenues coming from outside the United States and more than 300,000 of its employees in other countries.

Companies can position themselves to grow, said Immelt, outlining several factors that will make growth happen. In addition to having a quality product, a company must also take advantage of new technologies that will shape our world, he added. GE, for example, positioned itself to be a leader in energy efficiency and renewable energy. In addition, a company needs to generate customer satisfaction and be able to differentiate itself from others in the marketplace.

Growth is also dependent on good leaders, and good leaders drive change. "Change, in the beginning, has a constituency of one," he explained to the students in the audience, "and that's you."

Good leaders also have the ability to learn, work in teams, instill optimism, develop other new leaders, and inspire innovation, which is urgently needed in the United States today, he said. "Losers perfect the execution of old business models. Winners are rapidly adapting new ideas."

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College of Arts and Sciences launches Board of Advisors

By Barbara D. Kiernan, Director of University Publications

In September, the College of Arts and Sciences Board of Advisors gathered to begin the formal activities that will support the goals of the College. Working with Dr. Timothy Law Snyder, dean, the Board will advise on matters of strategic planning, offer financial support linked to College goals, and facilitate gift and grant requests to individuals, corporations, private foundations, and agencies considered to be potential benefactors. Jorge Figueredo '82, president of Liz Claiborne International, has agreed to serve as the Board's first chairperson.

"In putting together our Board, we sought, over all, a membership diverse in experience, viewpoint, and expertise," says Dr. Snyder, noting its range of ages and the balance of gender, race, academic major, geography, and profession. "Our first meeting in September indicated that we succeeded in obtaining such a Board, and we received much more - a thoughtful, considerate group who are poised to work well with the University and with each other. This group embodies the notions of lifelong learning and service that are hallmarks of our Jesuit tradition, and its members are committed to strengthening the College's teaching, scholarship, and service."

As Fairfield University has grown, the role of the University's oldest school - the College of Arts and Sciences - has grown as well. As the crucible through which the core curriculum is delivered to all Fairfield undergraduates; the academic "home" of 60 percent of the University's full-time faculty, 15 diverse majors, and 20 interdisciplinary minors; and the locus of the University's Honors, Fulbright, and Writing programs, the College has broad responsibilities and an even broader range of creative ideas to move it forward.

With this in mind, the new Board of Advisors will be working to develop projects proposed by the Departments of Biology, Religious Studies, and Visual and Performing Arts, three areas identified by Dr. Snyder as funding priorities for the College at this time. Each department will work with a two-year, $50,000 supplementary budget to be raised by the Board of Advisors. The following are snapshots of their goals:

Biology: Building on the success of its innovative, laboratory-intensive curriculum, the department intends to continue its focus on student-faculty scientific research and seeks to establish a formalized mentoring program for students (most of whom come in with pre-med goals). In the department's experience, key transitional moments take place during the college years. Typically, the first occurs in freshman year, when students become aware of the many avenues open to them; another occurs in junior year, when they make choices that will influence the rest of their lives. The department will phase in a mentoring program, with a proposed Scholarship Center serving as the academic hub for a sequence of discernment activities to take place - including mentoring and opportunities for internships and research.

Religious Studies: Faculty members in this department have established national and international reputations for their scholarship. Yet they teach both core and upper-level courses, giving all Fairfield undergrads the opportunity to engage with them. Because of the broad range of careers that a grounding in religious studies makes possible, the department wants to increase the number of students immersed in the serious study of religion, whether as majors or minors in the field. To that end, its goal is to increase student interaction and dialogue with faculty and external scholars, so as to enrich students' experience of religious studies as an academic discipline. An annual student/faculty colloquium, a summer curriculum development workshop for faculty, and a student/faculty research mini-grant program are the elements envisioned to realize this goal.

Visual and Performing Arts (VPA): Each semester, this department teaches one-third of the University's undergraduates, many through the core curriculum. No other Jesuit university offers the breadth of programs (art history; music; new media film, television and radio; studio art; and theatre) within the major. The department's programmatic goal is to institute a visiting artist/scholar program, which will be richly enhanced by Fairfield's proximity to major artistic centers and by the scholarly connections of the VPA faculty. Bringing such accomplished individuals to campus will create new ways to integrate the arts across disciplines, increase options for collaboration in and outside the classroom, and have an impact on faculty research as well.

Additionally, VPA is working with the University to create a museum on the ground floor of Bellarmine Hall. It will house a representative collection of medieval (Western Europe), Byzantine, and Irish works of art on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Medieval Department and its Cloisters Collection. Master paintings from the Samuel H. Kress Collection and other University-owned works of art will be on exhibit, making the Bellarmine museum a visible component of the integrated liberal arts education offered at Fairfield. The budget for this project is currently being finalized.

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Noted theologian delivers annual Mooney lecture

By Nina M. Riccio, Publications writer

The pre-Vatican ll world in which she grew up in Chicago was a very ordered one, Margaret O'Brien Steinfels told her audience at the Quick Center on Nov. 16. "My Catholic world was all encompassing. We went to Catholic schools and celebrated Catholic holidays.... Marriages lasted and there was little premarital sex. We knew what a sin was!" she said with humor.

Still, when Pope Paul Vl announced the changes in the Church that would come to be known as Vatican ll, "most American Catholics welcomed the idea and spirit of the council. Many were living in a way that made Vatican ll acceptable," she noted.

Steinfels, who is currently co-director of the Fordham Center of Religion and Culture, was invited to speak for the 12th Annual Christopher F. Mooney, S.J., Lecture in Theology, Religion and Society. Her talk, "Vatican ll Americans: the Middle of the Journey," focused on the changes in attitudes of Catholics toward the Church and its teachings in the years since Vatican ll. Her lecture was sponsored by the Catholic Studies program.

Soon after Vatican ll, she said, opposition to the war in Vietnam and disillusionment over Watergate changed the mood of the entire country. Higher levels of education and the greater economic prosperity of many Catholics helped fuel a decline in Catholic culture and encouraged "an increased sense of the here and now." The result was that rules and traditions began to be contested in Catholicism just as they were in the culture. Concurrent with that, she added, was a decline in the sense of sin and penance. Many younger Catholics today can't even define a sin, she said.

Steinfels also addressed the Church's 1968 ban on contraception. "It was not a convincing argument for many American Catholics. Many disgruntled Catholics have never forgiven Paul Vl" for his ruling on the issue, she said. "If the line on contraception had been drawn somewhere else, perhaps we would have been in a stronger place (to fight) Roe v. Wade."

Steinfels noted that many of today's American Catholics have become rich and powerful. "Many people think Catholics vote Republican because of Roe," she said. "I think it's because they want taxes cut and they believe things about the poor that would make their grandparents' hair curl."

"What does the rest of the journey require of us?" Steinfels asked. "The liberation theology of the 1960s and '70s focused on the poor and the outcast in the developing world. Perhaps (today's focus) should be a theology of accountability." It's time to stop thinking about what the Pope might do and think about what we might do, she posited. "Participate fully with what you have, not what you don't. Share your faith with children. Sit with the sick. Read the signs of the times in the U.S. of 2005 (concerning) war and torture. Consider poverty amidst excess. We can alleviate it in some small part if we want to."

Prior to her work at Fordham, Steinfels spent 15 years as the editor of Commonweal, an independent bi-weekly journal of political, religious, and literary opinion edited by Catholic laypeople since 1924. She also co-directed "American Catholics in the Public Square," a three-year project of the Commonweal Foundation. The project published two volumes of essays, American Catholics & Civic Engagement: A Distinctive Voice, and American Catholics & American Culture: Tradition and Resistance.

In 2002, Steinfels made history when she was one of only two American lay Catholics selected to address the U.S. bishops on the clerical sexual abuse crisis at a Dallas meeting. She has also served as a commentator on several television and radio news programs. In 2003, she and her husband, New York Times "Beliefs" column writer Peter Steinfels, were awarded the University of Notre Dame's Laetare Medal and the University of Dayton's Marianist Award.

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Dolan School Advisory Council names new Chair and members

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

Seventeen top executives from an array of prominent companies have joined the new Advisory Council for Fairfield University's Charles F. Dolan School of Business. John O'Neill '71, a partner and U.S. director of private equity at Ernst & Young. The Advisory Council will:

• advise the dean, Dr. Norm Solomon, in identifying and analyzing broad issues that serve its long-range goals;
• identify speakers and promote the Dolan School's educational programs to achieve recognition nationally and internationally;
• assist the Dolan School in meeting its financial development needs; and
• act as a confidential sounding board to the dean on issues pertaining to the advancement of the Dolan School and the achievement of its vision.

"We are fortunate to have such committed and high-profile individuals on our Advisory Council," says Dr. Solomon. "Each member brings a tremendous amount of business experience as well as a strong commitment to what we are doing at the Dolan School."

"I am honored to chair the Advisory Council and work with such a prestigious group," O'Neill says. At the first meeting, members brainstormed about finding ways to get engaged: mentoring students, serving as guest lecturers, providing internships, introducing high profile speakers, or assisting the dean.

The council, which currently has 16 members, will ultimately grow to 25. Serving on the executive committee are: Chris Desmarais '93, senior vice president and director of institutional marketing at Gabelli Asset Management Company; Ernest Pittarelli, chief operating officer of Sailfish Capital; Kevin Piccoli '79, executive vice president and chief auditor for Bank of New York; Joseph Sargent '59, former president and CEO of Guardian Life; and Maive Scully '76, senior vice president and chief financial officer for GE Capital.

In addition to the executive committee, several key subcommittees have been developed to address the programmatic and student service goals of the Dolan School. These include:

• the Corporate Partnership Program Committee, which develops programs to encourage corporations to partner with the Dolan School;
• the Development Committee, which addresses the Dolan School's endowment and program priorities and how to meet financial objectives; and
• the Academic and Global Programs Committee, which guides and assesses the Dolan School's technology needs and responds to the international dimension of business education.

In addition, an ad-hoc Membership Committee identifies qualified Board members. The new council replaces a more informal organization that previously acted in an advisory capacity.

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University opens Center for Faith and Public Life

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

In the esteemed company of two cardinals of the Catholic Church, Fairfield University launched the Center for Faith and Public Life in a ceremony on Nov. 7. The Center is an outgrowth of Fairfield's partnership with the U.S. Jesuit Conference and the Jesuit Refugee Service, made possible by an anonymous $2 million gift.

The Rev. Richard Ryscavage, S.J., professor of sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences and former director of the Jesuit Refugee Service, is the Center's director. "I am deeply grateful to Fairfield University for asking me to lead this new Center," he said at the opening. "I consider it a blessing from God to be able to work at the enormously exciting crossroads of faith and public life today."

In his address, Fr. Ryscavage discussed the role religion has played in civic life throughout history. "If the new generation is to function effectively as leaders in the 21st century," he said, "it needs a much stronger grounding in the dynamics of faith and civic life."

He also outlined the goals of the Center, noting that it will anchor its normative orientation in the Roman Catholic Church and the Jesuit tradition. As such, it will:

• create an interdisciplinary structure of support for faculty research and teaching as that relate either to various social priorities or that focus on religion and public policies;
• expand faculty and student engagement in civic life;
• develop strategic ways to assist the local community in addressing some of its most pressing social issues; and
• offer a public forum for balanced and intelligent reflection on the role of religion in local, national, and international political life.

Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., offered remarks, asserting that Catholic politicians have a moral responsibility and should consider the consequences their decisions have on the people they serve. "A Catholic in the Jesuit tradition can serve the country well by raising the questions in the context of who we are and what we believe. We may not always agree on the answer, but we can bring questions to the dialogue."

Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., the Laurence J. McGinley Professor of Religion and Society at Fordham University, offered his personal congratulations. The Center, he said, "will increase Fairfield University's position as a Catholic and Jesuit institution to enrich Catholic social teaching," and it "speaks to thoughtful citizens of our nation and around the world."

Also in attendance was Richard Boucher, U.S. Department of Education Deputy Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. He read a statement from President George W. Bush who encouraged young people to become involved with their community and help others in need.

"This is a celebration of Fairfield University's commitment to be of service to the Church and the wider community as we begin a series of programs, studies, and initiatives that link the teachings of the Catholic social tradition to issues prominent in the public square," said University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J. As the Center grows, he added, it will be "one of the centerpieces of the University's strategic plan."

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Jesuit Jubilee Year celebrations begin Dec. 11

By Nina M. Riccio, Publications writer

We're having a party - not the kind with confetti and balloons, but one that lasts for a year and is punctuated with lectures, a Mariachi band, and a unique opera. These are all part of the Jesuit Jubilee celebration honoring the 450th anniversary of St. Ignatius Loyola's death and the 500th anniversary of the births of St. Francis Xavier and Blessed Peter Faber, S.J. St. Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1540. St. Francis, who became one of the Church's great missionaries, and Bl. Faber, who promoted the Spiritual Exercises throughout Western Europe, were initial members of the order.

Jesuit schools around the world are recognizing the anniversaries in their own ways. "The theme at Fairfield University is 'listening to the voices of others'," says Dr. Paul Lakeland, the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Professor of Catholic Studies, who is spearheading the campus Jubilee Year celebration. "That's particularly important in a school as homogenous as ours. By listening to others, we broaden our experiences." Fairfield Prep is coordinating its own Jubilee year celebrations, which will be announced as they become more definitive.

The year's celebration begins with a Mass on Dec. 11 at 9 p.m., presided over by University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., and featuring the Fairfield University Chamber Singers and Fiesta del Norte, a well-known Mariachi band from Hartford. Other events include:

• Feb. 8: A lecture, "The Humanism of St. Ignatius Loyola," presented by Dr. Ronald Modras of St. Louis University.
• Feb. 15: An academic convocation at which an honorary degree will be bestowed on the Rev. Dean Brackley, S.J., who has been teaching in El Salvador since the murder of the six Jesuits in 1989. He will deliver "Education for Solidarity."
• March 1: A lecture, "Here Come the Evangelical Catholics," by Dr. William Portier from the University of Dayton.
• March 28: A lecture, "Tattoos on the Heart: Putting a Human Face on Gang Members," by the Rev. Gregory J. Boyle, S.J.
• March 30: A lecture, "Listening to the Voices of HIV/AIDS," by ethicist James Keenan, S.J., of Boston College.
• October: Speakers from across the country will gather at Fairfield for a national conference on feminism and pedagogy, hosted by College of Arts and Sciences faculty Dr. Jocelyn Boryczka and Dr. Elizabeth Petrino; San Ignacio, a 17th century Italian opera sung entirely by countertenors, will be performed at Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola. The performance will be open to the general public as well as to the University community.
• Oct. 4: Dr. Maria Pilar Aquino of the University of San Diego will present the sixth Annual Anne Drummey O'Callaghan Lecture on Women in the Church.

More events will be announced as they are finalized.

"Taken together, these events represent a year long broadening of our collective experiences, hopefully opening all of us to 'other voices,'" says Dr. Lakeland.

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New forum celebrates women at Fairfield University

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

The Oak Room buzzed with excitement and anticipation last month, as the Fairfield University's Women's Forum launched its inaugural event.

Nearly 90 women from all levels of the University and Fairfield Prep attended the lunchtime discussion, sharing ideas that the Forum could address in the coming months. Several attendees expressed the need to give women a "voice" on campus in University decision- and policy-making processes. Elizabeth Hohl, adjunct professor of history in the College of Arts and Sciences, delivered "Celebrating Women," a talk about pioneers who challenged the barriers against women's public speaking in the early 1800s.

Led by Dr. Susan Birge, assistant vice president of student services and director of the counseling center, the steering committee has been meeting since August. "Women on campus need to feel more connected to one another to build community, respect, and value," she said. The Women's Forum will provide a venue for the intellectual, professional, personal, and spiritual enhancement of women, and for relationship and community building. In addition, the committee plans to bring in speakers who will discuss topics such as health and finance. Activities will also focus on assisting others outside and within the University community.

Women's forums are common on campuses across the country, says Dr. Birge, and Fairfield should be no exception. Her goal is to keep involvement high, members engaged, and meetings worthwhile. A similar group existed in the late 1980s, but fizzled after enthusiasm died.

Three subcommittees within the steering committee are: Membership (chaired by Eileen Bossone), Programming (chaired by Judy Primavera and Jeanne DiMuzio), and Service (chaired by Melissa Quan). Additional members of the steering committee are Dr. Suzanne Campbell, Dr. Elizabeth Dreyer, Rita Duda, Susan Fitzgerald, Elise Harrison, Barbara Kiernan, Dr. Mary Frances Malone, Dr. Jeanne Novotny, Karen Pellegrino, Heather Petraglia, Dr. Rose Rodrigues, Dr. Sallyanne Ryan, Alison Sexton, and Bernadette Voytek.

"We're looking to forge relationships to effect change and make a difference on campus," Dr. Birge says. "We are calling ourselves to make a better, more meaningful experience as employees and as women. When women come together, there's a real synergy - positive and powerful."

The next Women's Forum is today, Dec. 6, at noon in the Oak Room. Activities will include a toy and book collection. For more information, e-mail womensforum@mail.fairfield.edu.

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Ways to help Santa's elves this Christmas

Getting some Zs for the holidays

Napping. When was the last time you took time for yourself and laid down for a nap? It does not require any planning on your part, just the recognition that 1) you are tired, and 2) you need to rest. This non-activity is especially important during the holiday season.

Most people in the United States do not get enough sleep, averaging less than six hours per night. These are not people with sleep disturbances - just regular people not taking the time to get an adequate night's sleep. This continual lack of adequate rest can make you moody, short-tempered, and less tolerant of others' behavior. It can also affect your health, particularly if you already have a health problem. Sleep-deprived employees are less productive, more prone to accidents on the job, and more likely to have an accident while driving to and from work than are employees who get adequate sleep.

Recent research from NASA and scientists at sleep research centers indicate that as little as 15 minutes of napping can increase job performance and alertness. As a result of these studies, some corporations are providing quiet nap rooms and break time for employees to nap. Employees return to work feeling more energized and, it is argued, can better attend to their work, increasing their productive hours. Research also shows that short naps are better for recovery from sleep deprivation than sleeping longer on the weekend or using artificial stimulants to increase attention.

The holidays are times of great joy and family gatherings. They are also times of increased stress. Shopping, traffic, additional responsibilities, cooking, cleaning, hosting - all of these activities place an increased burden on your resources, including your sleep resources. Experts recommend that you use periods of inactivity to take a quick nap. All you need is a reasonably quiet, darkened area where you can lie down or at least recline comfortably. You may also want to set an alarm clock to wake you in 20 to 30 minutes. Late morning and early afternoon are the best times to nap. Personally, a quick nap in the late afternoon recharges me for the things I need to accomplish in the evening.

You should not nap if it interferes with your normal sleep patterns. People who have difficulty falling or remaining asleep should be evaluated by a sleep specialist. For the rest of us, some thought should be given about where not to nap. Nap at work only if you have discussed it with your supervisor and have approval. And limit the time of naps to less than 30 minutes. If you have small children, nap when they are napping, using the child monitor plus an alarm clock to wake you up.

Make your holidays brighter by taking a nap when you can. You might want to build it into your holiday plans.

Philip A. Greiner, DNSc, RN Associate Professor of Nursing; Director, Undergraduate Program; Director, Health Promotion Center

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Martin Luther King Jr. events planned for January

By Nancy Habetz, Director of Media Relations

Fairfield University will honor the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in January with three days of events. The opening event is a 6 p.m. interfaith service on Jan. 25 in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola, followed by a multicultural festival and art exhibit from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the John A. Barone Campus Center Oak Room.

The convocation will take place at 3 p.m. on Jan. 26 in the Kelley Theatre with an address by Rev. Bryan Massingale, an associate professor at Marquette University, who specializes in African-American religious ethics, racial justice, and Catholic social thought.

The event also includes a workshop and essay and art contests for area youth.

Fr. Massingale's recent essays have been about the contribution of Martin Luther King Jr. to Catholic moral thought and the moral consciousness of the African slave. He has written more than 30 articles, book chapters, and book reviews. Fr. Massingale is currently working on two book projects - one that develops the African-American contribution to Catholic Social Ethics, and another that explores an ethic of racial reconciliation from a Catholic perspective. He also writes an award-winning column for the Catholic Press examining contemporary social issues from a faith perspective.

Fr. Massingale is a member of the Board of Directors of the Catholic Theological Society of America and sits on the Executive Committee of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium. He has served as a theological consultant to the National Black Catholic Congress. He is a consultant to the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops, and is working on a forthcoming pastoral statement on the sin of racism.

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Hurricane Katrina students prepare to return to home campuses

Aaron Melchizedek, a senior at Tulane University (right), evacuated New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina landed and recently shared his experience with students in the Ignatian Residential College.

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Just a few weeks after he evacuated Loyola New Orleans, Brian Conley of Duxbury, Mass., settled in as a semester-long freshman at Fairfield University. With a new wardrobe and new friends, he follows a course schedule that resembles one of nearly any first-year student. But two months prior, his experience was hardly typical.

The morning he was told to evacuate, he had just 15 minutes to pack a bag that would fit on his lap and would last him approximately two days - or so he thought. So with a few changes of clothes and his laptop "to keep him occupied," he and seven near-strangers jumped into a university van headed for Baton Rouge. Leaving behind nearly all of his belongings and books, Conley was heading toward a week of adventures that would test his physical and psychological strength.

Conley and others found themselves weary at a church shelter. From there they moved to another run by the Red Cross , where they were asked to help the exhausted volunteers. Nearly a week later, hungry, dirty, and without money, he was fortunate enough to find a flight home to Boston.

Music business major Glenn MacRae of Brookfield, Conn., has been living with three other displaced students in a converted lounge this semester. Now comfortable with two televisions and two refrigerators, the freshman had no idea where he would end up once mandated to leave the Loyola New Orleans campus. Ultimately, he followed his friend to where that family was staying in Memphis, thinking they would be there for a day or so. Like Conley, MacRae packed light. Once they reached his friend's family in Memphis, they ended up sharing a hotel room with two other families for nearly four days. His parents were able to send him an airline ticket about a week after he left New Orleans. "I'm so glad I'm alive and thankful that I wasn't in New Orleans for a week or longer," he says.

Conley, McRae, and more than 50 other students from Loyola and Tulane are now preparing to return to a damaged city. No one knows what to expect upon arrival. Will their belongings and books be okay? Will there be mold? Will their friends return? What will campus be like?

Aaron Melchizedek of Stratford, Conn., a history major, should be graduating from Tulane University this spring. He is looking forward to permanently returning to the city he has called home for more than three years, going back to the second floor apartment he and his roommates had to flee in August.

The group of friends took shelter in a home in Slidell, La., owned by a roommate's parent. For four days, they lived without electricity or running water, surviving on cashews and Diet Coke. When the roads opened up, he got a ride to a friend's house in South Carolina. His mother met him there and brought him home to Connecticut.

Images of the escape from New Orleans are etched in his memory, he says. "There were cars wrapped around trees, houses caved in, and a coating of slime and mud everywhere." Tulane University is on a hill, and from reports he has heard, damage has been minimal.

After settling back in New Orleans, he plans to put his energy into construction or something to serve the people who have nothing to return to. "It will feel good to help rebuild the city," he says.

But no matter what may be in store for the city of New Orleans, he says, "the culture will go on. People are resilient and really love the city. They are not going to let it die."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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Psychology students present poster session

Last month, psychology major Bryant Duda '06 (above, right) explained his poster project to University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J. Students in Psychology of Race and Ethnicity, the senior seminar taught by Dr. Elizabeth Gardner (pictured left), professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, presented a poster session on their research in the Rudolph F. Bannow Science Center.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Sports

Women's soccer team advances to NCAA

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Adjectives such as "improbable" and "miraculous" are thrown around the sports world to such an extent that they have lost their impact. And, when the terms truly do describe a team's ascent from the unexpected to the unfathomable, people might miss the team's or individual's true accomplishment.

The Fairfield University women's soccer team found itself in that lament, traveling to Orlando for the 2005 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament as the number five seed, and disposing of the number four, one, and two seeds, in that order, to win the championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999.

"Having finished our last three games unbeaten, we felt we had turned the corner," Head Coach Jim O'Brien says. "We felt if we defended well and finished opportunities that came our way, we would have a good chance to win the tournament."

The Stags used that confidence to its advantage in the first game of the tournament against fourth-seeded Iona College. The Gaels had defeated the Stags 3-0 in mid-September, before the team came together so well late in the season. Coach O'Brien saw his team give that defensive effort to which he referred, resulting in a 0-0 score after regulation time. Neither team managed much offense in the first overtime, so a second 10-minute overtime began. This time, freshman Ahna Johnson broke free and went in alone on the goalkeeper to score the game's only point.

The 1-0 victory provided Fairfield with an opportunity to avenge a 1-0 home loss to top-seeded Loyola College in early October. Offense was not an issue as it was in the previous meeting. The Stags found the back of the net twice en route to a 2-1 win which ended Loyola's string of five straight MAAC Championships. Senior Shannon Helm started the day for the Stags with an unassisted goal in the 13th minute. The Greyhounds tied the game in the 61st minute, giving fans all the indications of another overtime nail-biter. However, sophomore M.T. Church was awarded a penalty kick with 10 minutes remaining to provide the Stags with the winning margin.

With two games under their collective belt, the Stags were ready to tackle the second-seeded Niagara University Purple Eagles, another team which dealt the Stags a regular-season loss. Once again, Fairfield's resilience paid off in the championship game. Niagara jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first half, but the Stags tied the game 13 minutes later when sophomore Janna Breitenwischer redirected a free kick from sophomore Alex Caram for her first goal of the tournament. Johnson tallied the game-winning score with 30 minutes remaining, her second game-winner of the tournament.

The MAAC Championship set a date with nationally ranked Duke University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, as the Stags earned an automatic bid with the title. The game was played at Yale University, which also made the NCAA Tourney by winning the Ivy League crown.

"We had a large and loud crowd for the game and we hope we won over the student body," Coach O'Brien said. "If we continue to succeed, we will see more at our home games in the future."

The Stags played their ranked opponent well and trailed by only a goal midway through the second half. The Blue Devils finally broke through with a pair of goals just minutes apart, ending Fairfield's hopes of an upset victory. Duke advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 4-0 win over the Stags.

"I felt that the team did very well on such a big stage," O'Brien said. "They were poised and focused to play against a program of the level of Duke. Playing so close to home gave our loyal fans an opportunity to see us play our most important game in many years and the team and staff was happy so many turned out."

With most of the team returning in 2006, O'Brien is encouraged that this year's success will give him and assistant coaches Laura Duncan and Rich Koczak an opportunity to bring the momentum into next year.

"We lose only two seniors who were on the field when we lifted the MAAC trophy," O'Brien said. "We return with nine starters from our championship team. We hope to build on that and take the program another level. We will strive to upgrade our non-conference schedule to prepare to take on an always improving MAAC. We hope to bring home another championship to Fairfield."

And there's certainly nothing trivial about that.

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Sports Shorts

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

University teams earn MAAC honors
With Fairfield University men's soccer team captured the 2005 MAAC regular-season championship and reached the title game of the 2005 MAAC tournament, losing 2-1 to Marist College. The Stags finished the season with a 13-4-3 record, and earned a spot in the national poll for three straight weeks. Head Coach Carl Rees led his team to the number 20 spot in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) top 25 poll. Fairfield played another top-quality schedule which included five teams that made the MAAC Tournament. The Stags went 2-1-2 against those teams in the regular season. Freshman Kerr McLeod received the MAAC Rookie of the Year award.

The Fairfield University volleyball team collected the 2005 MAAC regular-season title to earn the number one seed in the MAAC Tournament. The Stags advanced to the championship game, but fell short with a 3-2 setback against Siena. Fairfield finished up its season with a regular-season tournament appearance at the TCU Classic in Texas during Thanksgiving break.

The fall sports were well-represented on their respective All-Academic teams this year, with 28 individuals gaining honors. The women's soccer team placed 10 players on the All-MAAC academic team, while the volleyball, men's soccer, and cross country teams each earned six spots on their All-MAAC academic squads. The Northeast Conference, to which the field hockey team belongs, has not yet announced its all-academic awards.

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The William Randolph Hearst Foundation funds scholarships for inner-city high school students
The William Randolph Hearst Foundation has awarded Fairfield University $100,000 to help endow The Community Partnership Scholarship Program. This program provides full tuition for four years to students from partnering inner-city high schools in Bridgeport, New Haven, and New York City, and helps the schools provide their students with information about applying to, financing, and succeeding in college.

The University launched the scholarship program in 1999 offering the top student from each of 10 schools a full-tuition scholarship for four years. The students also receive a computer and appropriate post-admission academic and social support.

Through the program, Fairfield brings prospective students to campus once a year for financial aid workshops and college counseling. "The premise is to move beyond just admitting students to making sure that they are able to attend," says Judith Dobai, associate academic vice president for enrollment management.

The program was designed to help reduce and/or eliminate financial barriers confronting low-income students who are academically prepared to attend college. It also furthers Fairfield's goal to increase diversity within its student body.

The program is funded each year by the University and a generous grant from the William Pitt Foundation. The University is moving to fully endow the program, so that its funding is self-perpetuating, Dobai said, noting that the Hearst grant is a significant step toward achieving that goal.

The William Randolph Hearst Foundation has been a Fairfield University benefactor for several years, endowing a scholarship for students in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business with an initial grant in 1986.

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News Briefs

Anti-Defamation League director Abe Foxman to lecture Dec. 7

Abe Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), will deliver a lecture, presented by the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies, on Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Oak Room of the John A. Barone Campus Center. The presentation, "American Attitudes Towards Jews in America," is this year's Adolph and Ruth Schnurmacher Lecture in Judaic Studies.

Foxman was born in Poland in 1940, just before his family escaped to Vilnius, Lithuania, but his parents were captured by the Nazis shortly after and sent to a ghetto. Foxman was raised as a Catholic by his nanny until the end of the war. His parents survived and then introduced him to the Jewish faith, resulting in confusion over his religious identity. He immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1950, and went on to graduate from City College of City University of New York and New York University Law School.

Foxman joined ADL in 1965 and was promoted to national director in 1987. During his tenure, ADL arranged the First International Gathering of Children Hidden During World War II, reuniting 1,600 Jewish children who, like Foxman, were hidden and disguised as Christians during the war. Since then, ADL has worked to establish the Hidden Child Foundation.

Admission is complimentary for this event, but registration is required and IDs will be checked at the door. To register, please contact Judaic Studies at ext. 2066.

Faculty and staff to participate in Ignatian Spiritual Exercises

In the hustle and bustle of our lives, it's sometimes hard to remember that we are not the center of the universe. Our daily demands rob us of time to stop, think, listen, and pray. The Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, according to the Rev. Thomas Schenider, S.J., are just the thing to help us slow down and hear what God may be communicating to us.

As a result of several informational sessions in October about the Spiritual Exercises, 18 people - faculty, administrators, staff, and community members - are preparing for the programs that begin in January. Sessions are either eight-week or five-month experiences of directed prayer and reflection with a spiritual advisor.

"People are reaching a point in their lives where they feel something is lacking. Whether it's a sense of authenticity, loss of freedom, or diminished energy, they want a deeper sense of peace," says Fr. Schneider, who is part of the University's Office of Jesuit and Catholic Mission and Identity. "They want to see God more clearly in their lives." The principles they use to figure out life aren't working for them anymore, he explains. "It's as if pieces of life's puzzle are thrown into the air, and they can't put them together anymore." The Spiritual Exercises, he says, are a way to reach an inner freedom and develop the right relationship with oneself by acquiring a new sense of connection and purpose.

For further information about the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, contact Fr. Schneider at ext. 2026; the Rev. James Bowler, S.J., director of the Office of Jesuit and Catholic Mission and Identity, at ext. 7203; or Barbara Kiernan, director of University publications, at ext. 2526.

University supports Bridgeport initiative for student success

On Nov. 16, University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., was among local leaders at a press conference to respond to Bridgeport's plan for preparing students for higher education. The Bridgeport Higher Education Alliance, which includes several representatives from Fairfield University, presented its report, "Education Beyond High School for All Bridgeport Youth: A Brighter Future for Bridgeport," to Mayor John M. Fabrizi. This report was in response to his January 2005 challenge to the Alliance to create a plan for all Bridgeport high school graduates to be prepared for higher education or training.

"This is the beginning step in what hopefully will be a turning point in Bridgeport schools and will provide the options and opportunities they deserve," said Fr. von Arx at the press conference. "It is my hope that today's announcement will create leaders to move Bridgeport into the future. Fairfield University is happy to partake in this endeavor."

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Prep opens new addition

The Rev. Gilbert Sanghera, S.J., from the University of Detroit-Mercy, Prep senior Brandon Kelly, and Fairfield Prep President Michael Boughton, S.J., greeted guests as they came to admire Fairfield Prep's new addition. The two-story structure connects Xavier and Berchmans halls and incorporates old and new architecture. Features include a library, weight room, classrooms, administrator and faculty offices, and breathtaking views of Long Island Sound.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Food, glorious food

Freshmen Kelly Ferguson and Liz Bowden fed "dorm-made" microwave brownies to Food Network host George Duran last month in their Regis Hall room. The event was part of a taping of a new Food Network reality show, Ham on the Street, which will premiere in January.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Fairfield students plan American Red Cross benefit dance-a-thon

Teams of Fairfield University students will kick up their heels - and raise much-needed funds for the American Red Cross - at the "Rockin' for Relief Dance-a-thon" on Dec. 9 in the Oak Room of the John A. Barone Campus Center. Sponsored by the Red Cross Club, the all-night dance will begin at 10 p.m. and conclude at 5 a.m. on Dec. 10.

Student dancers in teams of three to six are seeking sponsors and all proceeds will go to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The students also hope to get faculty and staff involved.

"This is really our first big project," says sophomore Emily Faherty, who is organizing the event with a committee of about 20 students. "Hopefully, the generosity will surprise us."

Faherty's high school friend, sophomore Joy Polignano, started the Fairfield University Red Cross Club because she enjoyed volunteering for the Red Cross when she was in high school. With about 40 dedicated members, the club has staged a blood drive with Circle K, a campus service organization, and plans two more this school year.

Sophomore David Guerrera has volunteered to spin tunes for the dance-a-thon. The committee is also enlisting campus bands to play during the competition. Fairfield University and local restaurants and businesses are donating food to be served during the event and raffle prizes.

To make a donation, send a check payable to American Red Cross to: "Rockin' for Relief," c/o Joy Polignano, Box 2565, Fairfield University. To donate food or prizes, contact Faherty at 08_efaherty@stagweb.fairfield.edu.

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The Snow Queen comes to the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts Dec. 18

The Snow Queen, Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale about holding onto beliefs, returns to the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Dec. 18 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Set to the music of Archangelo Corelli, the unusual production features a narrated ballet by larger-than-life puppets from Hudson Vagabond Puppets (HVP).

Suitable for children in all grades, The Snow Queen tells the tale of two friends, Kay and Gerde, who are as close as brother and sister. When Kay catches a sliver of a demon's magic mirror in his eye, he sees everything in the world as bad and twisted. Fascinated by the mathematical beauty of the mystical Snow Queen, Kay travels with her to her frozen palace in the north.

Gerde searches the world for her friend and, with the help of some wise animal friends and a rowdy robber girl, she makes her way to the Snow Queen's palace. In the end, the story holds a valuable lesson about holding onto one's beliefs.

Incorporated in 1980, Hudson Vagabond Puppets borrows from the Japanese Bunraku style, as dancers and actors don black costumes and become shadows of the enormous figures they bring to life. HVP tours nationally throughout the year at major performing arts centers.

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

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Kaplansky lights up Quick Center stage
Lucy Kaplansky (pictured right) and Richard Shindell, two highly revered singer-songwriters on the modern music scene, took to the stage at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Nov. 19. In addition to their solo efforts, Kaplansky and Shindell have collaborated with Dar Williams, forming the folk group, Cry Cry Cry.

Aloha
As a part of last month's Jesuit Spirit Week, several campus Jesuits performed in Jesuit Cabaret Night on Nov. 14. Above, the Rev. Walter "Skip" Conlan, S.J., rector for the Jesuit Community, performs a Hawaiian song with the help of some student volunteers.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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

Editor
Jill Kasiewicz Caseria
Assistant Director of University Publications

Editorial Board
Martha Milcarek
Assistant Vice President for Public Relations
Barbara Kiernan
Director of University Publications
Jean Santopatre
University Photojournalist

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