October 2002

Index for October 1, 2002

Fairfield University remembers Sept. 11

Last month, Fairfield University joined the nation in honoring the memory of those who died on Sept. 11, 2001. Masses in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola, a stamp unveiling, and community reflections on the tragedies were among the ways in which Fairfield marked the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

Memorials will continue throughout the fall, with the dedication of a plaque for Patrick Hoey, father of Sharon Hoey '04, on Oct. 26. On Nov. 2, the University will unveil a permanent campus memorial honoring its 14 alumni who died in the World Trade Center.

Patricia Behre-Miskimin, Ph.D., associate professor of history, reads "Reflections of an American Prisoner of War: July 23, 1945," as part of Fairfield University's "A Community Commemoration of September 11th: A Tribute to America." The commemoration featured faculty, staff, and students sharing personal stories and literary selections that reflected their thoughts and emotions about Sept. 11's terrorist attacks and their aftermath.

At the Mass of Remembrance at the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola, Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Alicia Ignacio '92, light a candle in memory of those who died on Sept. 11.

Art history professor Philip Eliasoph, Ph.D., examines his students' proposals for the World Trade Center site with guest speaker Maureen Halvorson. Halvorson lost her husband and brother in the World Trade Centers on Sept. 11. The designs are displayed in Canisius Hall.

On Sept. 9, the United States Postal Service presented "A Tribute to Heroes" in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Pictured here (l-r) are Bill Butler, retired Fire Department of New York (FDNY) captain; Dennis O'Berg, retired FDNY lieutenant; Jack Lynch, retired from the Metropolitan Transit Authority; and Lee A. Ielpi, retired FDNY. All four men lost their sons, who were city firefighters, in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.

Photos by Jean Santopatre

University receives nearly $300,000 to host Russian teachers

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

Fairfield University will host 12 Russian university professors over the next three years to increase their understanding of American culture and train them in different teaching methods.

With tensions continuing in the Middle East, now more than ever, the United States must create bonds with Russia and the other former Soviet states, says David McFadden, Ph.D., chair of the history department and director of the Russian and Eastern European Studies program.

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs received 36 proposals for programs working in Russia beginning this year. Nine were ranked as highly competitive, including Fairfield's. Only seven received funding and some were not given all they originally requested. Fairfield, however, received full funding, totaling $294,806. The winning proposals were chosen by a panel with subject and regional expertise.

The transition from communism is far from over, says McFadden, and maintaining open lines of communication with Russia is integral to maintaining a friendly relationship. "It's still one of the most important countries in the world," he continues, adding that both Russia and the United States will be involved in efforts to reduce instability in the Middle East and Central Asia.

Many Russians have enduring misconceptions about the United States and Americans, says Katherine Kidd, Ph.D., director of international studies.

During the Cold War, studies of English and the United States were very contained, Kidd says, noting that after the fall of the Soviet Union, interest in American Studies ballooned. But thanks to the constraints of the Cold War years, Russian professors did not have, and still do not have, the information and resources to meet that need, she continues. "They had relatively limited resources."

For example, courses in American literature often contain no social analysis of the author or the time during which the piece was written, Kidd explains. So while Russian professors might be able to offer students a flawless lesson in the writing itself, they would not be able to give them any historical context for it.

Fairfield University hopes to increase Russian understanding of Americans by teaching its teachers about U.S. society. Over the period of four semesters, 12 Russian professors from four universities will spend a semester each at Fairfield University, learning about American culture and American teaching methods. The first two will arrive in January 2003.

The Russian professors will attend Fairfield University classes and work with professors in their fields of study. They will be required to make a proposal for a new course and elements of two other courses to bring back to Russia. "The greatest strength of this program," says McFadden, "is the invaluable interactive exchange between American and Russian professors, when both are learning from each other through the development of these courses." The Russian professors, he adds, also offer Fairfield students a chance to learn about Russian people and their culture.

The grant also provides the Russian professors with $2,500 to purchase books, cassettes, and other resources to use in their courses at their home institutions.

Fairfield University's push to bring Russian professors here is an expansion of a smaller initiative within the Russian and Eastern European Studies program. With approximately $15,000 from the Gladys Kreible Delmas Foundation in New York and about $5,000 each from Fairfield University and the U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg, the program has been sending professors from Fairfield to Herzen University in St. Petersburg for about two weeks in each of the last three years.

During those visits, Fairfield faculty members from a variety of disciplines worked with Russian counterparts in the same field for a week. Together, each pair of professors created a workshop that the Russian professor could offer students, as well as a lecture that the pair delivered at a four-day seminar in St. Petersburg to representatives from more than a dozen universities in Northwestern Russia. The final step was publishing the seminar proceedings.

With the state department grant, Fairfield has the opportunity to vastly expand the program by bringing Russian professors here.

"We've been developing this idea for at least two or three years," McFadden says.

Fairfield applied once before for the grant, but was denied. Now, thanks to its successful ventures with Herzen, Fairfield has been able to show that it has the contacts and resources to succeed, he continues.

Also bolstering Fairfield's bid was its experience with the Junior Faculty Development Program (JFDP). For the past four years, the University has been among the host schools for professors from former Soviet nations brought to the United States by JFDP, which is also funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. That program is administered by the American Councils for International Education and funds Russian professors who have not yet received the Russian equivalent of a doctoral degree to study at American universities. At present, there are two such professors at Fairfield: Nelly Sargsyan, from Armenia, and Rano Zakirova, from Kurgistan.

Koutmos named to endowed chair of finance

By Nancy Habetz, Director of Media Relations

Orin Grossman, Ph.D., academic vice president, has announced that Gregory Koutmos, Ph.D., will be the first to hold a newly endowed academic chair in finance in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. The chair is made possible by the campaign leadership gift of Charles Dolan, for whom the business school is named, and his wife, Helen. Koutmos, a professor of finance and the chair of the finance department, has been appointed for a five-year renewable term.

Dolan is a trustee of the University and the founder and chairman of Cablevision Systems Corporation. He and his wife are parents of two Fairfield graduates and have been loyal supporters of Fairfield University and its mission for more than 20 years.

In making the announcement, Grossman noted, "Dr. Koutmos is a scholar of international stature and a highly regarded teacher." He said that in addition to his scholarship and teaching, Koutmos was selected for his service to the Dolan School and to the University.

Koutmos joined Fairfield University in 1993. An authority in the field of financial markets volatility, equilibrium asset pricing models, and fixed income securities and risk hedging, he has traveled globally to study U.S., European, and emerging markets. Twice a year he travels to Vaasa, Finland, to present a seminar to post-graduate students of the Swedish School of Business and Economics Administration.

His work has been presented at national and international conferences and his articles have appeared in several publications including the Journal of International Money and Finance, the Financial Review, the Journal of Business Finance and Accounting, and the Journal of Economics and Business. Koutmos is an associate editor for the Financial Review and the Multinational Finance Journal. He is also a founding member of the Multinational Finance Society.

Koutmos earned a bachelor of science degree in economics and business from the Graduate School of Business and Economic Studies in his native Greece. He also holds a master of arts degree in economics from City College of the City University of New York and a doctorate in finance from the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York. Prior to joining Fairfield, he was an assistant professor at Catholic University of America.

Gates Millennium scholarship awarded to Fairfield freshman

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

Jamar Paris '05 thought he'd be eliminated from consideration for a Gates Millennium scholarship before even one judge took a look at his application. That's because an overloaded computer server prevented the Bridgeport student, then a senior at Harding High School, from submitting his application on time.

Apparently more than a few students had used the same approach as Paris: a last-minute attempt to e-mail the application.

Luckily for Paris, the judges must have recognized the technological problem. Just a few weeks ago, he was informed that he had indeed been selected as one of only 1,000 students nationwide to receive the scholarship this year. The scholarship, which is for minority students with significant financial need, pays for all the costs of attending college that are not covered by the student's financial aid package - for four years.

The scholarships are administered by the United Negro College Fund in conjunction with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the American Indian Graduate Center of Scholars, and the Organization of Chinese Americans. Students are judged on academic achievement, community service, leadership potential, and financial eligibility.

Kevin O'Connell, former project coordinator for Fairfield University's Upward Bound program, encouraged Paris to apply and assisted him through the process. Upward Bound is a federally funded TRIO program for low-income and/or first generation college students.

Paris is the second TRIO recipient of the Gates Scholarship and the third Fairfield University student to receive the award. Former recipients are Kevin Bennett '02 and Aisha Seyal '01.

"Jamar is a role model for other students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds," says Georgia Day, Ph.D., assistant academic vice president for TRIO programs. "He has a vision and strives to be all that he can be. I'm delighted to know that he has chosen to matriculate at Fairfield University."

Paris has been involved with Upward Bound since his sophomore year at Harding. He is also a recipient of the State of Connecticut's Gear-Up scholarship for $2,500.

"He is a prepared, well-rounded student," says Patrick David, academic counselor with Upward Bound, noting that Paris had good grades and high SAT scores.

Paris plans to major in accounting.

Don Adams, director of computing and network services, was quoted in a New Haven Register article on protecting college computer networks from hackers. The article was also carried in the Herald Press in Middletown and Bristol.

Charles Allen, S.J., executive assistant to the president, offered prayers at the Town of Fairfield's candlelight vigil for Sept. 11, which was held on the Sherman Green. (Fr. Allen was recently named chaplain of the Fairfield Police Department). He also spoke at a Catholic Couples social evening at St. Aloysius Church in New Canaan.

In addition, Fr. Allen was among the University faculty and staff invited to News 12 Connecticut to reflect on Sept. 11 from the perspective of their particular disciplines. He discussed how the tragedy tested one's faith, while David McFadden, Ph.D., professor of history and department chair, offered a historical perspective. Meanwhile, Doris Lippman, Ph.D., professor of nursing, spoke about post-traumatic stress syndrome and the lasting effects of the events of Sept. 11.

In July, Javier Campos, Ph.D., associate professor of modern languages, presented at the International Conference on Iberoamerican Literature at the University of Iowa. He also read his own poetry to an audience of other Latin American poets. In August, Campos was asked to conduct a poetry workshop at the Universidad del Sudeste in Oaxaca, Mexico. Campos regularly contributes stories on current Latin American politics, literature, and society to www.elmostrador.cl, an Internet-based Chilean newspaper. This summer, he published an article about Cuba that included a lengthy interview with a Cuban poet living in the United States.

Arjun Chaudhuri, Ph.D., professor of marketing, published "How Brand Reputation Affects the Advertising-Brand Equity Link," in the Journal of Advertising Research. The result of a study of 107 brands in 41 product categories, the paper shows how the relationships among brand reputation, advertising, familiarity, and uniqueness relate to outcomes such as market share and relative price.

Robbin Crabtree, Ph.D., assistant professor and chair of the department of communication, led 12 people on an intercultural, educational "safari" to Kenya in August. The trip, part of Crabtree's ongoing research about cross-cultural participatory development and service learning, was a collaboration between the Greenbelt Movement of Kenya and the Westchester-based non-profit organization, Bridges to Community, for which Crabtree is a board member and consultant. Crabtree will present her work at the Faculty Research Symposium this month.

Edward Deak, Ph.D., professor of economics, was quoted in a Hartford Courant article in August about the gain and loss of jobs in Connecticut during the past several months. Deak was also interviewed twice by the Connecticut Post about the fluctuating stock market. After the Dow took a three-day dive in August, he told the publication, "For weeks now, Alan Greenspan and President Bush have been saying, 'Don't worry, everything's fine. Wall Street is out of step with Main Street.' Well, guess what? It's time for a little worry."

Deak was interviewed extensively on the same topic for "Return of the bear: a troubling new economy," an article that appeared in the Fairfield Minuteman in August.

Edward Dew, Ph.D., professor of politics and department chair, was interviewed by News 12 Connecticut following President Bush's address to the United Nations. Dew said he thought President Bush did a good job laying out his position, but did not make a compelling case for going to war with Iraq.

In May, Rao Dukkipati, Ph.D., associate professor of mechanical engineering, presented and/or published several papers: one at the Sixth International Conference on Motion and Vibration Control in Tokyo, Japan, and four at the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineers Forum at Queens University in Ontario, Canada. He has also recently published six articles in journals, including the International Journal of Vehicle Design, Mechanism and Machine Theory, and the JSME International Journal. In addition, Dukkipati has published three textbooks - Advanced Dynamics, Vehicle Dynamics, and Spatial Mechanism: Analysis and Synthesis - through the New Delhi-based Narosa Publishing House. He also co-authored a fourth textbook, Computer Aided Analysis and Design of Machine Elements, which was published in 2000.

Band-Aides and Blackboards, a Web site maintained by Joan Fleitas, Ed.D., R.N., associate professor of nursing, was featured in a recent story in The Oregonian titled "Sites help kids with disabilities."

At the Windsor Public Library in September, Donald Greenberg, Ph.D., associate professor of politics, lead "Understanding the Contemporary Middle East: History and Politics," a book discussion about R. Stephen Humphrey's book, Between Memory and Desire: The Middle East in a Troubled Age. During the discussion, Greenberg talked about how Middle Easterners today are caught between bitter memories of the past and frustrated desires for the future. The discussion was one of five taking place at Hartford-area libraries this fall in response to widespread interest in the Middle East since the tragedy of Sept. 11.

Also, in August, Greenberg spoke on WSTC/WLNK radio in response to an appeals court ruling about Connecticut's primary system.

Orin Grossman, Ph.D., academic vice president, was quoted in the Connecticut Post and interviewed by WSTC/WNLK radio about Fairfield University's rise in the U.S. News & World Report rankings of colleges and universities.

A book review by Paul Lakeland, Ph.D., professor of religious studies and department chair, was published in the fall issue of the quarterly journal, Theological Studies. Lakeland, whose interests include the role of the laity in the Catholic Church, reviewed Claire E. Wolfteich's book, American Catholics Through the Twentieth Century: Spirituality, Lay Experience and Public Life.

In August, philosophy professor R. James Long, Ph.D., presented Interiority and Self-Knowledge According to Richard Fishacre at the International Congress of Medieval Philosophy, held in Porto, Portugal. The congress was the quinquennial meeting of the Societe Internationale pour l'Etude de la Philosophie Medievale.

Keith Martin, Ph.D., Stephen and Camille Schramm Professor of Information Systems and Operations Management, presented a case study on the Selesian Manufacturing Company at the 2002 Information Resources Management Association International Conference in Seattle, Wash. An expanded version of that paper, "Great Plans - Little Planning: A Corporate Case Study," has been selected as a chapter in the book Virtual Education: Cases in Learning and Teaching Technologies, to be published next year.

Also, in July, Martin organized and moderated a plenary session, "The Case Method: Factor or Myth in Professional Development," at the 19th International Conference of the World Association for Case Method Research and Application in Mannheim, Germany. During the conference he received the association's Recognition Award, becoming the only person to receive the award twice.

John Orman, Ph.D., professor of politics, was quoted in a front-page Danbury News-Times story in August on the number of longtime Danbury educators who have won Republican seats in the state House of Representatives. Also in August, Orman spoke on WSTC/WLNK radio, telling listeners that President Bush does not have the authority to declare war on Iraq without a United Nations resolution and congressional approval.

In September, Gavriel Rosenfeld, Ph.D., assistant professor of history, appeared on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews to share his thoughts on the redevelopment of the Ground Zero site. Rosenfeld was interviewed about similar issues by WILM radio in Wilmington, Del.

Brian Torff, associate professor of music, recently wrote an autobiographical essay for Working Musician: Defining Moments from the Road, the Studio, and the Stage, edited by Bruce Pollock. The essay is a vignette of his journey into the world of professional music.

Births
Karen Soares, development services, son - Christopher Antonio, born Sept. 21.

Condolences
Elizabeth "Lynne" (Lofting) Mutrux, former instructor of art history at Fairfield University for more than 15 years, died on Aug. 7.
   In 1990, Mutrux and her husband, Robert - who taught architecture at Fairfield - donated approximately 35,000 photographic slides to the University. Taken during their world travels, The Mutrux Visual Resource Collection, which now comprises more than 100,000 slides, includes images of global art and architecture, landmarks, and monuments not available in commercial sets. "These slides represent their sympathetic understanding of the artworks and monuments they photographed," says Philip Eliasoph, Ph.D., professor of art history. "Generations of art history students at Fairfield University will be the beneficiaries of their gift."
   The couple also donated a library of 1,200 books on art and architecture, many of which are now out of print.
   In addition to teaching at Fairfield, Mutrux's artistic career led her to hold positions such as photographer for Glamour magazine and fashion designer at Lilly Dache. She also wrote children's literature, following in the footsteps of her father, Hugh Lofting, author of the Dr. Dolittle series.
   Robert Mutrux, who predeceased his wife, was an architect with Fletcher Thompson when the firm designed the University's campus center and other buildings.

Milo C. Barone, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology who joined the Fairfield University faculty in 1968, died on Aug. 29.
   Barone's specialization in physiology led him to study the physiological effects of certain earthworm cells and the physiological effects of tobacco smoke on organismal metabolism. The results of his studies on the effects of cold torpor and time of year on blood coagulation were published in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology.
   "While at the University, Milo was known for his thoughtfulness and rigor as a teacher," says Ray Poincelot, Ph.D., chair of the biology department. "He devoted his life to teaching and helping students to learn in the classroom, lab, and during office hours." Barone also mentored numerous interns in the health sciences at several area facilities including The Burke Rehabilitation Center in White Plains, N.Y., and St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport. Many of his students pursued careers in nursing, medicine, dentistry, and other allied health fields.
   At Fairfield, Barone served as a board member for the University's Credit Union and as a member of the Arts and Sciences Committee. Off campus, he was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Association of University Professors, New York Academy of Sciences, and the New York Zoological Society. While his primary love was teaching, Barone also held a deep interest in new plants and gardening, and enjoyed collecting antiques.
   Barone earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Scranton, an M.S. from John Carroll University, and a Ph.D. from St. Bonaventure University.
   He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Smith Barone.

Elizabeth Davis, grandmother of Barbara Wanamaker of undergraduate admission, died on Aug. 28.

Anthony J. Campbell, father of Gerard Campbell, Ph.D., associate professor of information systems & operations management, and father-in-law of Suzanne Campbell, Ph.D., assistant professor of nursing, died on Aug. 30.

Mary E. Hunter, mother of Linda Murphy, operations assistant in the office of financial aid, died on Aug. 30.

Paul G. Millerick, brother-in-law of Albert F. Reddy, S.J., Faculty Emeritus and currently adjunct professor, died on Aug. 29.

John Macurak, father of Joy Mellinger of the registrar's office, died on Sept. 5.

Jamie Hulley, the daughter of Judy Primavera, Ph.D., professor of psychology, died on Sept. 6.

New Employees
Kera Carter - Assistant women's volleyball coach
Robert Cortegiano - Assistant University chaplain
Courtney Darts - Department coordinator, visual & performing arts
Janet Dinihanian - Accounting assistant, accounts payable
Michael Grappon - Mathematics, Prep
Jennifer Jaksina - Mathematics, Prep
Frederick Kuo - Senior admission counselor
Patricia Li - Research assistant, psychology
George Lisi - Craft mechanic, carpenters
Jodi Marak - Assistant athletic trainer, sports medicine
Kimberly Morton - Judicial officer, dean of students' office
Melissa Reardon - Assistant University chaplain
Jean Siconolfi - Accounting assistant, controller's office
Marina Simeone - Research assistant, ARA/Pfizer
Jonathan Thomas - Media technician, Media Center
Catherine Whamond - Science teacher, Prep
Anna Yankow - Language teacher, Prep

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Graduate School Of Education And Allied Professions

 

Faith-Anne Dohm, Ph.D.: Recognizing the silent clues

By Jennifer K. Covino, Publications Writer

You won't hear much about binge eating disorder in public service announcements, newspaper articles, or on Thursday night TV, although new research shows it is more common than anorexia or bulimia among both black and white women.

You won't find it listed among eating disorders in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, either. You have to flip to the back of this leather-bound tome - the standard reference psychologists and psychiatrists use to treat and diagnose mental illness - to find a brief entry and the phrase: "in need of further study."

That's where the ever-inquisitive, ever-methodical Faith-Anne Dohm, Ph.D., assistant professor in the graduate program in applied psychology, comes in. In collaboration with Ruth Striegel-Moore, Ph.D., of Wesleyan University, and other researchers, Dohm has been studying the development of psychological disorders, particularly bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, since 1995.

"Our really big question is this: Is binge eating disorder its own disorder or a variant of bulimia nervosa?" asks Dohm. "They share a core feature, which is a binge-eating episode - the person eats an objectively large amount of food within a two-hour period of time in which she experiences a loss of control."

Unlike those with bulimia nervosa, women with binge eating disorder don't use compensatory measures such as vomiting, laxatives, or excessive exercise, to counter their overeating, which puts them at greater risk of obesity. Plus, binge eating disorder is difficult to detect; unlike anorexia nervosa, which presents itself with extreme thinness and other noticeable physical symptoms, binge eating disorder can easily be overlooked by a physician unless he or she probes further.

"Anorexia nervosa usually hits you right between the eyes," Dohm says. "You need to ask someone about binge eating disorder."

Dohm's research is of particular importance for black women, who tend to be undertreated for eating disorders. "Physicians think black women don't get eating disorders - that they must have a weight problem," says Dohm. "In one study, we found that among women with an eating disorder, 28 percent of the white women had received treatment versus 5.1 percent of the black women."

Currently, Dohm is helping to analyze results of the second wave of the National Growth and Health Study, which was funded by the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute. The study followed 2,000 white and black girls in the District of Columbia, California, and Ohio during a ten-year period.

According to Dohm, young white women in the study exhibited a higher incidence of eating disorders, with binge eating disorder being the most common among both white and black women (2.7 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively).

The research also shows that, independent of race, women with binge eating disorder or bulimia nervosa are more likely to report substance abuse, sexual and physical abuse, bullying, and self-harming behavior even before the onset of their eating disorder, when compared to healthy control subjects. "It's really important to identify these risk factors so we can intervene earlier," Dohm says. Some of these results will be published in an upcoming issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Since joining the faculty at Fairfield in 1998, Dohm's research has focused on the risk factors for the development of psychiatric disorders in women; gender and research mentoring in clinical psychology; and speech rate, gender, ethnicity, and person perception.

In June, her analysis of a large-scale Consumer Reports survey on health and mental health issues was highlighted in the women's consumer magazine, Allure. Dohm determined that people who managed to maintain a weight loss of 10 percent or more for at least three years shared a similar coping style: They agonized less over each relapse, increased exercise, or cut portion sizes to deal with it directly.

Dohm, who was reading Freud's original works by high school, received her master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. In 1995, she became project director of the New England Women's Health Project at Wesleyan, and is now considered a co-investigator. The multi-site study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and involved a broad cross-section of more than 8,000 women.

Its purpose was to explore whether certain risk factors predispose white and black women to develop eating disorders. The study was the first of its kind to include a sample of black women and to use a community-based sample, rather than one that was clinic-based.

In addition to her research, Dohm teaches psychopathology and statistics and maintains a small private practice as a clinical psychologist. Her findings about eating disorders have made her much more attuned to her patients, she says.

"When I get new female patients, I ask them right out (about an eating disorder)," Dohm says. "I don't wait for them to tell me. I always ask if there is anything about their eating that is of concern."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

New faculty join University team

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Fairfield welcomes these four new tenure-track faculty members to campus this fall.

Wendy Reva Kohli
Wendy Reva Kohli is associate professor and department chair of curriculum and instruction in the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions (GSEAP). Her scholarly interests include philosophy of education, urban education, curriculum theory, and feminist educational theory. She earned a B.S. and M.A. from SUNY College at Cortland and a Ph.D. from Syracuse University's interdisciplinary department of cultural foundations.

Kohli brings a range of professional experiences in the education of teachers at the master's and doctoral levels. She served most recently as director of teacher education at The New School where she taught courses in secondary urban education in its progressive pre-service master's program. Prior to that, Kohli was a tenured faculty at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and at SUNY Binghamton.

Her interest in international education has taken her to New Zealand, the former Soviet Union, and to central and eastern Europe.

Widely published and a member of several editorial review boards, Kohli is writing a book on feminism and educational research.

Bogusia Molina
Bogusia Molina, assistant professor of counselor education in the GSEAP, specializes in group work, children and adolescent counseling, and career development. She earned a B.S., M.S.Ed., and Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Molina's research includes studies on the fears and sleep problems of children residing in urban and women's shelters, issues unique to murder victim survivors, and working with children in groups. She was honored with the Peg Carroll Group Work Research Award in 1996, and the President's Award from the Association for the Specialists in Group Work in 2000.

Prior to Fairfield, Molina most recently was assistant professor and coordinator at Stetson University's Celebration Campus Department of Counselor Education. Additionally, she has served as a career counselor and as a program coordinator at two Illinois substance abuse treatment and prevention centers where she created wellness and abuse prevention programs, and supervised and trained clinicians and teachers.

In addition to English, Molina speaks Polish, Spanish, Russian, and French.

Jerry Sergent
Jerry Sergent, associate professor of electrical engineering, is an authority in the fields of microelectronics and electronics packaging. His extensive consulting record and professional accomplishments reflect the wealth of experience Sergent brings to Fairfield.

The author of two published books and more than 70 technical papers, Sergent was most recently a partner in a consulting firm he founded and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Microelectronics and Electronics Packaging. He has served as national president of the International Society for Hybrid Microelectronics, and has received several major awards in the microelectronics industry, including two coveted lifetime achievement awards in the fields of microelectronics and electronic packaging.

Sergent holds a patent for his invention of the electroformed stencil, which deposits solder paste and epoxy in extremely small geometries. Another patent is pending for a manufacturing process for chip-on-glass structures.

Sergent received a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Cincinnati.

Meredith Wallace
Meredith Wallace, assistant professor of nursing, specializes in gerontological nursing care. She received a B.S.N. from Boston University, an M.S.N. from Yale University, and a Ph.D. from New York University.

In addition to holding an assistant professorship in gerontological nursing at Southern Connecticut State University, Wallace has provided health care for older adults in assisted living communities, medical centers, and hospitals, including the Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven.

She has served in various editorial roles for several books including Geriatric Nursing Research Digest, winner of the American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award. Widely published in industry journals, she has also written numerous book chapters on elderly care for several nursing textbooks. Wallace received prestigious recognition for her work including the Springer Publishing Company Award for Applied Geriatric Nursing Research in 2001.

Lange selected as scholar in gerontologic nursing

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

The John A. Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing selected Jean W. Lange, R.N., M.N., Ph.D., assistant professor of nursing, as a scholar in its 2002 Geriatric Research Scholars and Fellows Program.

One of 11 nurses from the Northeast region chosen for the program, Lange was named for having a promising research program in gerontologic nursing and for her strong leadership potential.

Now in its fifth year, the program fosters new gerontological nursing researchers with the goal of improving the quality of health care for older adults. The scholars and fellows attended an intensive week-long seminar, during which they met with nationally recognized experts in geriatric nursing, addressed issues and obstacles in undertaking high-quality research, and received individual mentoring and critiquing.

At the seminar, Lange drafted a proposal looking at cultural differences between long-term-care residents and caregivers. She hopes to join with one of the partnerships created under the geriatric education grant sponsored by the institute to study how these varied perspectives may influence health care.

Lange says she is interested in pursing a research career in gerontology in conjunction with her teaching because of the current critical need. "Not only are numbers of elders mushrooming in the U.S., but also important aspects in this significant population have been neglected," she says. For example, she explains, the needs of elders living in nursing homes have only recently become an area of research interest. The grant positions Lange to pursue her study of this population.

"I think Jean is going to be one of the leaders in research and teaching of best practices in the care of older adults," says Jeanne M. Novotny, R.N., Ph.D., F.A.A.N., dean of the School of Nursing.

"Our program aims to bring together outstanding new scholars who are conducting significant research in gerontologic nursing and to give them an opportunity to interact with leading experts in the field," says Terry Fulmer, R.N., Ph.D., F.A.A.N., co-director of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing. "This unique opportunity to hone research skills helps these individuals gain the competitive edge they need to attract research funding and publish the results."

The John A. Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, part of the New York University Division of Nursing, seeks to shape the quality of health care that older Americans receive by promoting the highest level of geriatric competency in all nurses who deliver care.

Them bones, them bones, them dry bones!

The body is an amazing entity, yet we are unaware of its most important functions most of the time. The lungs breathe automatically, the heart beats continuously, and the skeleton holds us up, without our having to think about it.

Still, we do have to think about the body periodically to maintain its wellness. The greatest strides in medicine in recent years include those that demonstrate to us healthy lifestyles. In this month of Halloween, let's look more closely at skeletal health.

The skeleton seems like a series of hard bones held together with cartilage and muscle. While bone is one of the hardest parts of the human body, portions of those bones are like complex factories: They contain blood vessels that feed the denser portions of the bone, as well as fat, cells, and fluid. The larger long bones of the arms and legs have more of these components than do the shorter, smaller, and flatter bones of the body.

The amazing part about the skeleton is the role that calcium plays in the process of bone formation and structure. Calcium is important for the growth and maintenance of strong bones. From birth until our mid-30s, calcium is needed to develop bone mass, or the integrity of bony structure. After age 35, many people begin to lose bone mass because of a lack of calcium in the diet and a lack of exercise. Certain life choices - such as smoking and alcohol use - can actually contribute to calcium loss. After age 50, the need for calcium increases by 50 percent.

Throughout their lives, women generally need more calcium than men, in part because men have different hormones. Between the ages of 25 and 50, women need 1,000 mg of calcium each day in their diets, as do men. After age 50, women's needs increase to 1,500 mg per day.

Much of this calcium can be obtained through a normal diet. Dairy products have the most calcium of the various food groups, and we absorb more of it per serving from these foods. Good choices are low-fat versions of milk, yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products. Leafy greens such as spinach and kale also are good sources of calcium. (Just don't cook these greens too long!) There are now calcium-fortified foods in the marketplace, such as orange juice and breads, and calcium supplements, in the form of chewable tablets, vitamin supplements, and fortified drinks.

Without the necessary amount of calcium, the skeleton begins to shrink and become brittle. Bones can break easily and inadequate calcium levels can lead to severe deformation, making it impossible to stand up straight. These changes are due to osteoporosis. It is important to address calcium needs early because this type of bone damage is permanent.

So do something good for yourself this month. Make a commitment to maintain your skeleton by examining the amount of calcium you normally get in your diet. Talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner about calcium supplements. Have a bone density test done to determine bone loss to date, especially if you are 50 years of age or older. And get plenty of exercise - it is one of the best ways to maintain bone integrity.

Happy Halloween!

Philip A. Greiner, DNSc, RN

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

Phi Beta Kappa awards two at Sophomore Symposium

By Jennifer K. Covino, Publications Writer

In September, Martha LoMonaco, Ph.D. (center) presented students Angela Schuster and Christopher DiBiase with Phi Beta Kappa Sophomore Book Awards.

Take responsibility for your own learning, reap the opportunities the University has to offer you, and explore the world outside the college campus. That was the message delivered to sophomores in the College of Arts and Sciences during Fairfield's first Sophomore Symposium, held Sept. 10 in the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Theatre.

During the presentation, students received advice from faculty on how to make the most of their Fairfield educations, as well as a dose of inspiration from two of their distinguished peers: Christopher Di-Biase and Angela Schuster. Martha LoMonaco, Ph.D., professor of visual and performing arts, presented the two sophomores with the first Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) Sophomore Book Awards for their outstanding freshman academic and extracurricular records.

Consideration for the award - designed to raise the honor society's visibility among underclassmen - was extended to 39 freshmen, according to LoMonaco, who was president of Fairfield's Zeta chapter at the time. Twenty-three responded by submitting essays, experiments, art, and other examples of their work as freshmen; the two finalists were selected from that group.

The Sophomore Symposium was organized by Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, who quipped that as a second-year administrator he, too, is a Fairfield "sophomore." Snyder said that while freshman year is a time of transition and letting go, sophomore year is one of adulthood and action. He urged students to develop relationships with their professors, to engage deeply in their studies, and to prepare themselves well for class. "I am here to ask you to make a responsible, rigorous commitment to your academic life at Fairfield," he said.

Snyder's message was repeated by a panel of faculty members that included Philip Eliasoph, Ph.D., professor of art history; April Hill, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology; Nancy Dallavalle, Ph.D., associate professor of religious studies; and Thomas Regan, S.J., associate professor of philosophy, who asked, "Where's your passion? Find it this year. Take a gamble. Take classes that will stretch your mind."

Before adjoining for a pizza party in the lobby, the students also heard from Class of 2001 valedictorian Courtney Darts. "Get to know your professors," said Darts. "They can point you to opportunities you didn't even know existed and they may see things in you that you don't see in yourself."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Weiss to head nationwide mathematics honor society

The National Honorary Mathematics Society, Pi Mu Epsilon, has elected Joan Weiss, D.A., associate professor of mathematics, to head its organization. She will serve as president-elect for three years, followed by a three-year term as president.

Pi Mu Epsilon, founded in 1914 at Syracuse University, has approximately 300 chapters nationwide. The organization acknowledges outstanding achievement in mathematics by undergraduates. Fairfield University established the third Connecticut chapter in 1986 under the direction of Edward J. O'Neill, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics. O'Neill quickly turned the reins over to Weiss soon after she joined the faculty. Connecticut currently has four chapters of the organization.

Under Weiss's direction, the Pi Mu Epsilon Connecticut Gamma chapter brought mathematics speakers to the University, participated in math bowl competitions, invited alumni to speak on panels, and hosted review sessions for the comprehensive examination that all math majors at Fairfield must take.

As head of the nationwide organization, Weiss will coordinate its summer meetings and recruit new chapters, among other duties.

"It's quite an honor to be president-elect of an organization that acknowledges student achievement in math and encourages student research and participation in mathematical activities," she says.

"Fairfield is proud that Professor Weiss has been selected to lead Pi Mu Epsilon," says Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "Her long-standing dedication to the learning of mathematics will work well in an organization that has dedicated itself to promoting scholarly activities for students of mathematics."

Brenda Joyce Young '74 shares path to self-discovery

By Jennifer K. Covino, Publications Writer

The daughter of Jamaican immigrants and the eldest of five girls, Brenda Joyce Young, Ph.D., left a bleak housing complex in the Bronx for Fairfield University in 1970 to become a member of the University's first class to accept female students. As a student, she was active in theatre and spent a spring break in Appalachia, but her studies were another story: Time-management was tough, the environment was new, and the reading often bored her to tears. Young had lost her focus.

Last month, Young - a 1974 graduate who eventually became a scholar, professor and academic dean - shared her "rocky and circuitous path to self-discovery," and how an interest in black studies and a lifelong love of words and books helped her to regain direction. Young delivered "My American Journey," the annual Academic Convocation address, to students, alumni, faculty, and staff gathered at Alumni Hall. She had been scheduled to speak in 2001, but the lecture was canceled due to the events of Sept. 11.

"I feel as though I've come full circle and returned to the place where it all began ... the beginning of my journey, one that is uniquely American and uniquely mine," Young told her audience. "What's more, I've been given an opportunity to come back and thank everyone here who made it possible to become the person I am today."

In her speech, Young recalled the strong impression of her professors at Fairfield and how her undergraduate experience gave her a commitment to social responsibility and the ability to think globally. Although she received a thorough education at Fairfield, Young said, she had much to discover about her identity as an African-American.

The defining moment came a dozen years after graduation. Young was working as a secretary in an Atlanta architectural firm when a co-worker lent her Tony Morrison's Song of Solomon. The genre fascinated her and she decided to go back to school. She enrolled at Emory University, where she earned a master's degree in interdisciplinary studies and a doctorate in African-American studies.

Today, Young is a professor of English at Georgia Perimeter College in Clarkson, Ga.

In conjunction with Convocation, Young spent three days on campus, visiting classes, meeting with AHANA (African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American) students, and talking with program directors and faculty members. At a pre-Convocation reception, she was moved to tears by surprise visits from John Artis Yopp, a fellow Class of '74 graduate and a member of the AHANA Alumni Board, and Rudy Childers, the mentor who discovered her in high school and helped recruit her to Fairfield.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Sports

Service opens athletic season On Sept. 23, athletic director Gene Doris (pictured left) addressed student-athletes and coaches at the annual ecumenical service in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola. The service celebrated the beginning of the athletic season. Photo by Craig Skinner

Runner Erin Heslin '03: In record time

By Patrick Moran, Assistant Director of Sports Information

To help calm her nerves before a race, cross country runner Erin Heslin '03 developed a regular routine: she eats a bagel and banana, and drinks a Gatorade.

"She always gets nervous before a competition and worries that she's going to cramp up," says Head Coach Andrew Harrington. "But once the race starts, she relaxes and runs very well."

Heslin, a mathematics major, has been a member of the women's cross-country team at Fairfield University for the past four seasons. She also carries an impressive 3.9 grade point average, and has been named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) All-Academic Team for the last two seasons.

The Kensington, Conn., native aspires to become a mathematics teacher and a cross country coach at the high school level. She currently holds the University record for fastest time at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. The record, previously held by Fran Arthurs '95, was broken at the ECAC/IC4A Championships in 2000. At the same race last season, Heslin later lowered the time to 19 minutes, 36.1 seconds.

Coincidentally, Heslin is discovering that she seems to be following in Arthurs' footsteps in more ways than one. "I recently had my first student teaching meeting, and Fran was there," Heslin says. "She told me that she was a math teacher and cross country coach at Trumbull High School. I couldn't believe it - since that's what I want to do. I would love to do my student teaching there and be able to help out with the team."

Heslin has kept things in order while facing a difficult course load and being one of Fairfield's top runners during her stellar career. She also seems to keep a reasonable balance between practice and homework.

"My friends tease me because I always write things down in my date book," Heslin said. "But for me, that's the best way to stay organized. Life gets hectic between running and classes, but I manage to find the right balance."

Last season Heslin was the Stags top runner in six of the nine races, including a win in the University of Hartford Invitational. She was the team's top runner in every race in her freshman and sophomore seasons.

According to Harrington, she is one of the top runners in the history of Fairfield's women's cross country program.

"Her work ethic makes her the best at what she does," Harrington says.

This year, Heslin was the Stags top runner in September's Central Connecticut State Invitational. She finished the 5,000 meter course at Stanley Quarter Park in New Britain, Conn., with a time of 19.09 minutes, and placed 19th overall in a field of some of the top programs in the Northeast.

"At Central Connecticut I thought I was running poorly, compared to the other runners from all of the big schools," she says. "But, when I got my split times I found out I was doing really well."

Which shouldn't come as a surprise to this student-athlete champion.

Alumni Association to honor John "Doc" McCarthy

By Patrick Nugent, Assistant Director of Sports Information

In his 28 years as head coach of the Fairfield University hockey team, John McCarthy, Ph.D., guided his program from club to varsity status, compiled a 345-327-20 (.513) overall record, won three Metropolitan Intercollegiate Hockey League championships, and made two trips to the Eastern College Athletic Conference playoffs. On Nov. 1, he will be among the key players when the Fairfield University Alumni Association inducts him into the Athletics Hall of Fame as the hockey team's all-time-winningest coach.

Now retired from the team, what "Doc" - as he's affectionately known - remembers most about his coaching career, however, aren't wins and losses or championships, but the unique opportunities that hockey has given him and the players he's coached over the years. "Hockey has given me many memorable moments," he says. "Over the years I've watched the tremendous development and expansion of the team. With that came many opportunities for experiences that I never would have had if I weren't involved with hockey."

Among those experiences is playing the first-ever college hockey game at Madison Square Garden (in which the Stags beat Iona 4-2), and traveling to distant places such as Huntsville, Ala. and Anchorage, Alaska. The Stags also made two trips to Europe during Doc's regime. "I'll always remember being in Innsbruck and celebrating the new year on a night with sparkling stars, a light snowfall, and fireworks illuminating the sky."

But does Doc miss coaching? "That's a big question," he says, sitting deeper into his chair. "It's impossible to answer without breaking it down to the many facets of the job. At this time in my life, I clearly do not miss late nights and early morning practices at the Wonderland of Ice, nor do I miss the bus trips and the commitment of time on every weekend throughout the fall and into the spring. The one aspect of coaching that I still am able to satisfy to some degree is the contact with the players, which provides me with the opportunity to watch them grow and develop during their four years at Fairfield."

Since his retirement in 1996, Doc has remained an active participant in the office operation of the hockey program, serving as the team's academic advisor as well as helping with alumni relations and fundraising. The added time has also helped him pursue other interests, such as his research and his duties as chair of the psychology department. "I thoroughly enjoy being chairman of the psychology department and the opportunity to continue my research activities looking at the relationship between syntax and cognition," he says. Interestingly enough, Doc's passion for this topic began while brushing up on his German in preparation for his first trip to Europe with the hockey team.

Doc attributes his induction into the Hall to not only his own achievements, but also the hard work of his players. "There's always an enormous sense of pleasure in being recognized for the time that one has put into anything. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame is certainly an opportunity that comes to few and for this I'm proud and thankful - thankful for those players who over the course of years have worked hard and have provided the basis for this honor."

Athletic Hall of Fame to recognize four
The Alumni Association will honor four individuals for their outstanding contributions to Fairfield's athletic program at the annual Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony on Nov. 1, at 6:30 p.m., in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. This year's inductees are John "Doc" McCarthy, Ph.D., men's ice hockey coach, 1968-1996; Shannon Bowman '97, men's basketball; Kara Burmaster Heckler '96, women's soccer; and Melissa Gassler '95, women's tennis.

For tickets, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at ext. 2355.

news Briefs

Loyola Theologian to deliver Anne Drummey O'Callaghan Lecture
Susan A. Ross, Ph.D., professor of theology at Loyola University Chicago and author, will deliver the second Anne Drummey O'Callaghan Lecture on Women in the Church at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Oct. 2 at 8 p.m.

The title of Ross's lecture, Be Thou My Vision: Women and the Sacramental Life of the Church, is taken from an Irish hymn. She will use the verses of the hymn to reflect on the contributions of women in light of the current crises in the church.

"The lyrics of the old Irish hymn, 'Be Thou My Vision,' sing of relying on God alone, where wisdom, shelter, dignity, and delight are our inheritance," Ross says. "As increasing numbers of women take responsibility for sacramental preparation and education, liturgical planning, preaching, and ministering to those in need, what does this mean for our sacramental life, a central element of Catholic identity?"

Loyola University recognized Ross's distinguished work in systematic, feminist, and sacramental theology by naming her faculty scholar.

Ross is the author of Extravagant Affections: A Feminist Sacramental Theology, Broken and Whole: Essays on Religion and the Body, and numerous articles and chapters. She is now writing a book on feminist theology and beauty.

Ross has received the Louisville Institute Sabbatical Grant, the College Theology Society's 1999 Book of the Year award, and the Ann O'Hara Graff Award of the Women's Seminar of the Catholic Theological Society of America.

The annual lecture at Fairfield honors the memory of Anne Drummey O'Callaghan, an advocate for people with mental handicaps and a youth minister and catechist at St. Jerome and St. Joseph churches in Norwalk, Conn.

For more information, call the Quick Center for the Arts box office at ext. 4010.

Dolan campus to host open house
Now home to the offices of Human Resources, Printing and Graphic Services, and Computing and Network Services, the Dolan campus will host an open house for the University community on Oct. 2, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tours will begin in Dolan Commons LL4 (HR), move on to LL3 (P&GS), and progress to the second floor for a stop in CNS's new digs.

The open house will continue to Dolan House where the dean and directors of University College will provide visitors with updates about the School's new image and focus.

Fairfield University rises in U.S. News & World Report
Fairfield University has placed third among the best universities in the North with master's degree programs, according to the new rankings released by U.S. News & World Report's 2003 edition of America's Best Colleges. Fairfield was number four last year.

Some of the statistics that kept Fairfield among the best regional universities in the North are: 71 percent of freshmen in the top 25 percent of their high school class; a selective acceptance rate of 49 percent of applicants; an 80 percent graduation rate; and an 89 percent freshman retention rate. Fairfield also scored well in peer assessment. The freshman statistics are taken from the class that is now entering its sophomore year.

Orin Grossman, Ph.D., academic vice president, says while he was pleased that Fairfield was once again being recognized as an outstanding academic institution, there are qualities not mentioned in the rankings that are also important. "The scholarly initiative of both faculty and students, their research collaboration, and the state-of-the-art science and information technologies we have added create a synergy that has made Fairfield a very exciting place to study and grow. Still," he adds, "it's always gratifying to be recognized for doing a good job."

Named in gratitude
In thanks for a generous gift from Jack L. Kelly '67, P'96 to Our Promise: The Campaign for Fairfield University, DiMenna-Nyselius Library's Information Commons now bears his name. Kelly (above, right), a member of the board of trustees, and his wife, Jo-Ann, are long-time benefactors to the University. Pictured above with Kelly are James Estrada, vice president for information services and University librarian, and University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J.

Two other sites on campus also reflect campaign gifts: The athletic director's office in the Thomas J. Walsh Jr. Athletic Center was recently named for former basketball player William T. Boyd Jr. '67, and his wife, Cheri; and the graduate program suite in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business reflects the gift of trustee Charles E. Hanley P'90, P'97 and his wife, Jane.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Inspiring Irish tenor to sing at Quick Center for the Arts

By Meredith Guinness, Publicist

Dr. Ronan Tynan, one of the famed Irish Tenors whose life story is an inspiration, will grace the stage at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at 7:30 p.m. The concert is sponsored by the William and Mary Stack Fund for Irish History and Culture at Fairfield University and benefits the Irish Studies Program.

"We are pleased to have someone of Ronan Tynan's stature performing at Fairfield," said William M. Stack of New Canaan, Conn., who established the program in memory of his father and to honor his mother. "While this is a departure from our usual lecture format, Dr. Tynan's own story of personal courage and perseverance in developing his many talents is a wonderful example of Irish culture and spirit."

Tynan, who has released five popular albums with fellow Irish tenors Finbar Wright and Anthony Kearns, won the 1992 John McCormack Cup for Tenor Voice at the National Singing Festival in Dublin and the 1996 International Operatic Singing Competition in Marmande, France. When he made his concert debut in 1994 at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, the Irish Times review noted Tynan has "a rich Italianate tenor voice with wonderful facility." Tynan's first solo album, My Life Belongs to You, was released in 1998 and went platinum within four months.

Hailing from Johnstown, County Kilkenny, Tynan was born with a lower leg disability and, at age 20, his legs were amputated below the knee after a car accident caused complications.

Within a year of the operation, he began winning medals in athletic competitions for people with disabilities. Between 1981 and 1990, he amassed 18 gold medals and 14 world records in international track and field events. Tynan was the first person with disabilities admitted to the National College of Physical Education in Limerick. He followed that with medical training at Trinity College in Dublin and he is now a doctor of sports medicine.

His singing career didn't start until he began formal lessons at the age of 33 at The College of Music in Dublin. His 1992 win at the McCormack competition led to master classes with the famed Italian tenor Ugo Benelli in Genoa, Italy. Shortly after winning at Marmande, where one judge called his voice "a God-given gift," he was the only Irish finalist at The International Pavarotti Competition.

Tynan joined the Irish Tenors in 1998. This collaboration has produced five albums and has sold more than 1.5 million albums worldwide.

Most recently, Tynan sang for President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, and he was one of the performers at the 2001 September 11 Memorial Service at Yankee Stadium. He sings a widely acclaimed rendition of "God Bless America," which he has offered at several Yankees games, including the Division and World series.

Tynan has appeared on numerous television shows and released his memoir, Halfway Home: My Life 'Til Now, in January 2002.

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

Shanghai Ballet to grace the stage at Quick Center for the Arts
The Shanghai Ballet, a mesmerizing troupe known for its repertoire of classical and folk ballets, will perform Coppelia on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 8 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The presentation is the first in the Quick Center's 2002-2003 Dance America series and will be followed by an "Art to Heart" question-and-answer session with the company.

For tickets, call the box office at ext. 4010 or visit ww.quickcenter.com.

"The Blame Show" to open at the Lukacs Gallery this month
An eclectic collection of art, graphics, and video will make its way to Fairfield University this month after a well-received stint at the esteemed Queens International exhibition in New York City.

The works of "The Blame Show" will be on display Tuesday, Oct. 15, through Wednesday, Nov. 6, at the Lukacs Gallery. The exhibition opens with a reception Oct. 15 from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. followed by a half-hour presentation, "The Blame Show Live: Polite, Politic, and Political," by curators/artists Larry Litt and Eleanor Heartney.

"The Blame Show" is devoted to topical, political, and satirical videos; visual art; and graphics from a diverse group of artists and writers. Sponsored in part by the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Coalition Against Censorship, the exhibition is an expression of the political crises created after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, censorship, and other important topics.

"The collection was inspired by the need to give voice to the loyal opposition. There are voices out there that aren't being heard," Heartney says. "And if we aren't behind all of it, it doesn't mean we're traitors."

The cornerstone of the exhibition is "The Blame Show," a video by Litt. In Dec. 2001 and Jan. 2002, he videotaped approximately 90 everyday citizens discussing their post-Sept. 11 views on "the current homeland situation." The 13-minute video, which the New York Times calls "wryly conceived and politically provocative," presents a range of opinions - from gung-ho hawk to pacifist.

Among the show's features are several cartoons by Dan Perkins, a listing of political satire Web sites, and graphics, posters, and stickers from the "Your Right Not to Remain Silent" project created by ACLU design director Sara Glover. Svetlana Mintcheva of the National Coalition Against Censorship, offers her "Censorship Timeline: 1989-2002," which details specific acts of censorship.

For more information and gallery hours, call ext. 2476.

Bannow dedication set for Oct. 3
Don't miss the Bannow Science Center Dedication Ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 4:30 p.m. A reception and tours of the renovated facility follow the ceremony. For more information, contact the Office of Special Events at ext. 2660.

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