October 2003

Index for October 9, 2003

University President announces his retirement

University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., announced Friday that, having fulfilled 25 years of service to Fairfield, he plans to retire at the end of the academic year. Board of Trustees Chair Paul Huston '82 made the decision public at the conclusion of the Board's annual fall meeting held last week.

The seventh and longest-serving president in the University's history, Fr. Kelley's decision marks the end of a tremendously successful tenure during which Fairfield has become one of the preeminent Jesuit schools in the country.

"Fr. Kelley brought Fairfield University from a very small, little-known college to a nationally recognized comprehensive university. That legacy is extraordinary," says Dr. Mary Frances Malone, associate academic vice president. "Fairfield, as a young institution, has far surpassed other institutions in the quality of its students, faculty, and programs, due to Fr. Kelley's leadership. He has also deepened, in a very real way, the Jesuit education mission."

Paul Carrier, S.J., University chaplain, who has worked with Fr. Kelley for 16 years, comments on his continuous support of Campus Ministry activities. "When we have a new idea, he encourages us to try it; he's never refused an initiative. We never feel stifled or blocked in trying something, such as the Mission Volunteers and Global Outreach programs, or expanding our community service activities," he says. "And he is always interested in the students' spiritual well-being through the Campus Ministry programs."

Dr. Judy Primavera, professor of psychology and director of the Family Literacy Project, notes Fr. Kelley's ongoing support of her work with Head Start families in Bridgeport. "The Family Literacy Project has been able to thrive largely because of Fr. Kelley's efforts to expand the University's commitment to a more active and productive involvement with the greater Bridgeport community."

Also the longest serving president of the nation's 28 Jesuit colleges and universities, arriving at the University in 1979, Fr. Kelley has presided over the graduation of 64 percent of Fairfield's 38,000 alumni.

The President made his plans known through a letter to the Board in which he said that serving Fairfield as President and contributing to the advancement of Jesuit higher education has been one of the most rewarding experiences of his life. He wrote that his decision to retire at the end of this year will "mark both the successful conclusion of Our Promise: The Campaign for Fairfield University and the completion of my 25th year as president ... It is the ideal time for a transition to new leadership, as the University is poised and ready to be taken to new heights. Fairfield has achieved remarkable success - enhanced academic reputation, programmatic development, facilities expansion, and endowment growth. These successes have come about through the dedication and support of the Board; the collaboration of faculty, administrators, and staff; and the devotion of so many generous alumni and friends. For that partnership, I am most grateful."

Says Huston, "This is truly the end of an era - and one that will become known as an extraordinarily successful one. Under Fr. Kelley's leadership, Fairfield University has experienced dramatic growth institution-wide; an increasingly qualified student body; major facility enhancement; large gains in the endowment; and sound financial health - a major achievement in and of itself in a time of escalating costs in the complex and technology-driven world of higher education."

Photo by James Marshall

Deak named as first Roger M. Lynch Chair in Economics

Pictured above (l-r) are Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president; University Trustee Roger Lynch '63; University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J.; Dr. Edward Deak, Roger M. Lynch professor of economics; and Charles Allen, S.J., executive assistant to the President.

By Nancy Habetz, Director of Media Relations, and Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

In an Oct. 2 ceremony, Dr. Edward Deak, professor of economics, was installed as the first to hold the new Roger M. Lynch Chair in Economics.

"The establishment of this chair in my name is honoring and humbling," said Lynch '63, who served on the Board of Trustees for 15 years and was its chairman from 1995 to 2002. "Or, as the younger generation would say, 'This is awesome.'" He added that Dr. Deak is an "outstanding individual who has represented Fairfield University and his discipline very well."

Dr. Deak spoke on the value of economics to undergraduate students. One of his greatest satisfactions, he said, is hearing from alumni who still employ the economic concepts taught in the classroom.

Known throughout the state and beyond for his role as Connecticut model manager for The New England Economic Project, Dr. Deak is often called upon by the media to comment on economic developments. He testified on the Y2K problem before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs' Subcommittee on Financial Services and Technology, and was the Governor's appointee to and chair of the Connecticut Economic Conference Board. This year, Dr. Deak published The Economics of e-Commerce and the Internet, in which he states that contrary to popular belief the vast majority of Web businesses did not fail.

Dr. Deak joined Fairfield University in 1970, reaching the rank of full professor in 1980. Among his areas of expertise are regional economic analysis, banking and finance, antitrust and regulation, industrial organization, transportation economics, and global competition and competitiveness.

Lynch has been a key member of the board since 1988. He and his wife, Nancy, have shown great generosity to Fairfield, particularly during the current capital campaign.

Lynch had a lengthy and distinguished career with Goldman Sachs & Company, where he was a limited partner when the firm went public in 1998.

Throughout his career, Lynch has been a devoted alumnus of Fairfield, serving on a multitude of committees and boards, always striving to make Fairfield accessible to talented students regardless of their means, while enhancing its academic stature and maintaining its Jesuit character.

"Fairfield University has been like a second home to me," he said at the installation, while expressing his love for the spirit of the faculty and administrators, Jesuit tradition, enthusiastic students, and working with University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. "When I first drove through the gates 45 years ago, I had a good feeling from the start. I've done that drive hundreds and hundreds of times since and it always has the same feeling for me. Fairfield University will always be my home away from home."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Irish prime minister outlines a peaceful and promising future

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland, accepted an honorary doctor of laws degree from University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., on Sept. 25.

University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., presented Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland, with an honorary doctor of laws degree on Sept. 25, as part of the annual William and Mary Stack Lecture in Irish History and Culture.

In his Irish brogue, Ahern delivered "Ireland Today: Building on Peace," addressing his country's economy, and the Good Friday Agreement, and Ireland's multilayered ties to the United States. Ahern's stop at Fairfield University coincided with his visit to the 58th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York City.

"It is an enormous honor and privilege for me to accept this award from Fairfield University," he said upon receiving the degree. "While I humbly and gratefully acknowledge the personal recognition that this award signifies, I see it also very much in terms of underlining the depth and closeness of the ties that bind our two nations together socially, economically, and politically."

Ahern expressed his optimism for the future of Ireland, calling the present "exciting and hopeful times." He credited the United States with playing a key role in this transformation and noted that the approximately 500 U.S. companies that have plants in Ireland employ more than 100,000 people.

He expressed that the United States can continue to support Ireland on the economic front by building on the technological investments that companies such as Intel and Microsoft have already made in the country.

Ahern also illuminated the progress of the Agreement, the 1998 accord to stabilize peace in Northern Ireland. "The situation on the ground has continued to improve," he said. "The paramilitary ceasefires and historic acts of IRA decommissioning have made a valuable contribution, and, while the peace has not been perfect, life in Northern Ireland has vastly improved for everyone. The atmosphere on the streets is better. Belfast is thriving." He urged Connecticut's state leaders to continue to encourage national leaders to make the final steps toward implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

Ahern, who has been instrumental in the difficult peace process in Northern Ireland, is the tenth prime minister of Ireland. His effort in the ongoing struggle for peace in the North persuaded the Catholic Republican leaders in that region to join the peace process. He also convinced voters in the Republic of Ireland to give up the Republic's constitutional claim to Northern Ireland.

The William and Mary Stack Lecture in Irish History and Culture is made possible by a gift from William H. Stack in honor of his parents, William and Mary. Stack is a member of Fairfield University's Trustee Advisory Council.

Photo by B.K. Angeletti

Serving for others
Dave Salthouse (pictured above) was among the nine officers and personnel from Fairfield University's Security Department who donated time and service to the wait staff at Southport Brewing Co. last month. As part of the "Tip-A-Cop" fundraiser, the department served, set-up, and cleared - all to raise money for Special Olympics Connecticut.
     "The security department has been involved with Special Olympics for a long time and this is just another way to help contribute," says Todd Pelazza, director of security. The department collected more than $1,000 for the organization.

Photo by Todd Pelazza

An interview with Dr. Dorothea Braginsky, professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, appeared in an Aug. 4 Ann Arbor News article titled "Wise consumers watch and learn." Dr. Braginsky discussed how to respond to personal finance blunders and unexpected budget crunches.
     In a Connecticut Post article, Dr. Braginsky noted that Sundays have become just another day to do more shopping. We have become, she said, "a kinesthetic society. We don't think. We don't pause ... Mostly, what I think is that we have given up thought for action."

Dr. Suzanne Campbell, assistant professor in the School of Nursing, published or presented her research on several occasions this spring. She authored "Physical Assessment," a chapter for the second edition of Internet Resources for Nurses. In April, she presented "Keeping Leader Skills and Knowledge Current" at the La Leche League of Connecticut's 25th Annual Parenting Conference in Southbury. Also in April, she presented "Recurrent Plugged Ducts: The effect of traditional therapy versus ultrasound therapy" at Sigma Theta Tau International's annual research day for its Connecticut chapter. The conference was held in Meriden.

Dr. Javier Campos, associate professor of modern languages and literatures in the College of Arts and Sciences, delivered lectures and read his fiction and poetry at several German universities last spring. He was also invited to read his poetry at The Iboaemerican Institute in Berlin. At that time, his poetry was translated into German in a chapbook.
     Dr. Campos continues to publish articles on Latin American issues on www.elmostrador.cl.

Dr. Paul Caster, associate professor of accounting and director of the graduate accounting program, and Dr. Carl Scheraga, associate professor of business strategy and technology management, published "Application of Digital Analysis to Assess the Quality and Usability of the ATA Database" in the Jan.-June issue of the Journal of Forensic Accounting. Both are professors in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. The article was also authored by Dr. Barry Mittag, a former visiting associate professor of mathematics at Fairfield who now teaches the subject at Western Connecticut State University.

Dr. Elia Chepaitis, associate professor of information systems and operations management in the Dolan School of Business, was interviewed by the Newhouse News Service on computer-virus writers and the damage they cause. "It's a massive power trip for someone who's working by themself at a keyboard and dreaming that he or she can bring a national system down," she said. "The very fact that they're typically loners might increase their sense of alienation and destruction." The article was carried on the Newhouse News Service and published in the Saginaw News in Minnesota, the Gloucester County Times in Woodbury, N.J., the Seattle Times, Observer in Kearny, N.J., and Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. Edward Deak, professor of economics in the College of Arts and Sciences, was featured in articles in the New Haven Register and Business New Haven on the publication of his book, The Economics of e-Commerce and the Internet. He was also interviewed by Westchester County Business Journal on Fairfield County's solid economic base and by the Connecticut Post on the elimination of Connecticut's Blue Laws in 1979. He said, in a Connecticut Post article, that this "probably kept residents who live near other states from traveling to those states to do their Sunday Shopping."
     Other media quoting Dr. Deak included the Journal Inquirer in Manchester, News-Times in Danbury, New Haven Register, Hartford Courant, Bristol Press, Newtown Bee, Middletown Press, all in Connecticut, the Telegraph Herald in Dubuque, Iowa, and CNNMoney.

In June, Dr. Margaret Deignan, dean of the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, received a Shining Star Award from the Connecticut Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities. The award was presented at CACLD's Starry Night Benefit in Norwalk, which raised more than $80,000 for the organization.

Dr. Robert Fedorchek, professor of modern languages and literatures in the College of Arts and Sciences, has published translations of two 19th-century Spanish fairy tales in the October 2003 issue of Marvels & Tales: Journal of Fairy-Tale Studies. One is a translation of Cecilia Bohl de Faber's "The Souls in Purgatory," a variation on the Grimms brothers' "The Three Spinners." The other is a translation of Juan Valera's "The Queen Mother," an example of the writer's earthy sense of humor.

Dr. Donald Greenberg, associate professor of politics in the College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted in Charles Walsh's Connecticut Post column on race haters. Dr. Greenberg said, "Episodes of racial and ethnic prejudices (in suburban communities) are more normal than we'd like to think. They tend to get covered up."

In August, Francis Hannafey, S.J., associate professor of religious studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, published "Entrepreneurship and Ethics: A Literature Review" in the Journal of Business Ethics.

Dr. Doris Lippman, professor in the School of Nursing, was honored in September by the Military Order of the Purple Heart, George Washington Chapter No. 1. The event recognized military wartime nurses who treated the combat-wounded in the field or in hospitals or aboard ships or aircraft.
     In June, Dr. Lippman attended the International Council of Nurses Congress in Geneva, Switzerland, where she presented "Problem Solving for Better Health: An International Approach." Her co-presenter was Pamela Hoyt, R.N., international nursing coordinator for the Dreyfus Health Foundation.

In September, Dr. R. James Long, professor of philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences, read a paper titled "Adam's Rib: Materia and the Formation of the First Woman According to the Oxford Masters," at the 28th International Conference on Patristic, Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Villanova University, a conference which this year was devoted to the theme of matter. Dr. Long has served on the conference's program committee for 28 years.

Dr. Sharlene McEvoy, professor of business law in the Dolan School of Business, presented a paper at the annual meeting of the Academy of Legal Studies in Business in Nashville, Tenn., in April. Her paper - addressing the artist's right to use a celebrity's likeness for profit - examined cases involving the images of the Three Stooges and of golfer Tiger Woods. The paper is titled, "A Tale of Two Cases: 'Comedy Three Productions v. Saderup' and 'ETW Corp. v. Jireh Publishing Inc.': The Right to Publicity v. The First Amendment."

Martha Milcarek, assistant vice president for public relations, was interviewed by WSTC/WNLK radio on the U.S. News and World Report rankings.

Dr. Jeanne Novotny, dean of the School of Nursing, was interviewed on WSTC/WNKL radio on a new study by the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, that found a link between hospitals with a higher percentage of nurses with baccalaureate degrees and lower mortality rates among patients.

Dr. Rodrigo Obando, assistant professor of information systems in the Dolan School of Business, was interviewed by Science News about his research in visualization during a June conference in Waltham, Mass. The conference was hosted by Stephen Wolfram, a theoretical physicist whose use of cellular automaton to solve complex problems is being hailed by some as scientific revolution. Dr. Obando, one of 10 attendees to present projects in which they had used Wolfram's style of computer modeling, statistically analyzed cellular automata patterns and translated the results into three-dimensional forms resembling disks, bowls, and hats.

Dr. John Orman, professor of politics in the College of Arts and Sciences and co-author of the book, Celebrity Politics, was quoted in an August Danbury News-Times article about Arnold Schwarzenegger's bid for California governor. "When we wrote our book, we thought celebrities monopolizing public space had reached their threshold in American politics," Dr. Orman said. "Little did we know about Arnold Schwarzenegger." The San Diego Union-Tribune also interviewed Dr. Orman twice in relation to the recall election in California. In addition, he was interviewed by The Daily Tar Heel on President Bush's chances for reelection.

Dr. Timothy Law Snyder, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted on Richmond.com on the statistical chances of winning the lottery jackpot with two versus one ticket.

In early October, Dr. Winston Tellis, assistant professor of information systems and operations management in the Dolan School of Business, presented a paper at the International Association for Computer Information Systems' 2003 conference in Las Vegas, Nev. The paper, "Socialist Democracy and Software Development: The Case of Software Development in India," is coauthored by Art McAdams.
     In July, Dr. Tellis presented a "best practices" segment at the Colleagues in Jesuit Business Education conference in Denver, Colo. His topic related to the practical application of justice issues across the curriculum at Fairfield University.

An article by Dr. Michael Tucker, professor of finance in the Dolan School of Business, has been named a winner in the Certified Financial Planner Board's 2003 Article Awards. "Partial Privatization of Social Security: A Simulation of Possible Outcomes and Risks to Works," appeared in the Winter 2002 edition of Financial Services Review, and placed in the Academic Journal category. In recognition, Dr. Tucker will receive $1,000.

Service Anniversaries

October 2003

Condolences

Francis Xavier McFarland, S.J., who taught at Fairfield University in the 1980s, died Sept. 4. A Jesuit missionary at heart, he traveled the world to promote the Jesuit ideal of men and women for others.
     Born in New Jersey, Fr. McFarland joined the Society of Jesus and was ordained in India in 1950. His travels for the Society also took him to Nigeria, Vietnam, and Ghana, where he was instrumental in setting up schools and television stations. He taught in Fairfield University's department of visual and performing arts and in graduate communication.
     In remembrance of Fr. McFarland, Dr. Mary Frances Malone noted that he "possessed such a deep and abiding love of truly engaging, understanding, and appreciating other cultures throughout his years as a missionary. That international sense translated into his teaching at Fairfield. He truly enjoyed his years at Fairfield University, but his heart was in India and Africa in his beloved mission schools."

Albert William Beeler, father of Judy Vindheim, Office of Undergraduate Admission, and grandfather of Daniel Vindheim '05, died Sept. 9.

Bryce Alexander Ziegler, grandson of Bonnie Gleason, Annual Giving secretary, died Sept. 11.

New Employees

Joseph Destinoble - groundskeeper, Grounds Maintenance
Julie Ann Greco - assistant director, Sports Information
Matthew Letko - assistant director, Sports Medicine
Donna Molitor - secretary, Major Gifts
Jennifer Sayre - assistant director, Judicial Affairs
Donna Schmidt - director of student activities, University Activities

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The Charles F. Dolan School of Business

 

Business professors tap into workplace controversies

By Jennifer K. Covino, Publications Writer

Dr. Mousumi Bhattacharya (right), assistant professor of strategy and human resource management, and Dr. Donald Gibson, associate professor of management, both of the Dolan School of Business, are two of several professors who have researched workplace issues.

Companies today merge and downsize, demand flexible skills sets, and leave employees feeling as if their bosses don't care. At the same time, technology has revolutionized the way we do business, with fax machines and cell phones giving rise to the modern-day teleworker and e-mail surveillance that surprises employees who once thought their communications at work were private and protected.

These rapid changes in the business world have created fertile ground for new research - and professors in Fairfield's Charles F. Dolan School of Business are among those leading the pack.

Dr. Sharlene McEvoy, professor of business law, has found that corporate casual wear, combined with employees' greater desire for personal expression, has created new conundrums for employers. The courts have determined, for example, that companies may create policies that forbid facial hair or limit those with body piercings and tattoos from interacting with clients, she says. In one case documented by Dr. McEvoy in the Spring 2000 North East Journal of Legal Studies, a New Haven man was fired from the Knights of Columbus for wearing shorts that were too short for company policy. His firing was upheld.

"Many people today think they have more rights," says Dr. McEvoy. "But today, most people are 'at will'-employees - their employer may fire them at any time, for any reason, or for no reason at all." In some cases, employers are also more wary of being sued, she says. They may fear being held liable in the event of workplace violence, which is why firms have stepped up their vigilance of employee communications like e-mail.

Unlike phone conversations and correspondence sent via snail mail, e-mail can be easily monitored by employers; some even establish programs that search company e-mail for certain keywords - derogatory or ethnic remarks that could lead to an employee being fired. Employees "should have little expectation of privacy," says Dr. McEvoy. "Your conduct in the workplace should be beyond reproach."

In the meantime, Dr. Norm Solomon, dean of the Dolan School, has studied technology and the workplace, especially as it relates to telework - company work that's done at the employee's home. Originally, telework was associated with low-wage workers who were paid by the hour. "Telework is not a new phenomena," says Dr. Solomon. "It really goes back to the days of the Music Man and the door-to-door salesman."

More recently, however, thanks to technology, telework has become popular among white-collar workers. It's also been promoted as a way to ease traffic congestion in urban areas, and as a way to bring employment to people in rural areas. Dr. Solomon has examined how managers should handle employees who work from home part-time. For one thing, he says, they need to set clear objectives about what needs to be done.

Dr. Mousumi Bhattacharya, assistant professor of strategy and human resource management, has drawn international attention with her research on flexible skill sets. According to Dr. Bhattacharya, businesses used to operate under the human capital model, believing that if peoples' skills were very specific to the organization, productivity would be optimized. "Now, the workplace is ever-changing. You cannot be so overly specific in an area," she says. "You have to build in flexibility."

Dr. Bhattacharya surveyed chief executive officers or human resource heads at 123 firms across the country. She found that flexibility of skills was linked with greater firm performance and efficiency. The effect was compounded when other factors were considered as well: how human resource departments compensated employees for their skills and how well they communicated new expectations; and employees' attitudes about taking on new tasks. "Skills are no good without the proper behavioral attitude," Dr. Bhattacharya says. "People should be willing to learn."

Dr. Donald Gibson, associate professor of management, has also studied employee attitudes; since 1999, his research has focused on emotions in the workplace, including the effects of chronic anger on employee performance.

Dr. Gibson partnered with Dr. Sigal Barsade of Yale University's School of Management to conduct a national telephone survey of 1,000 working adults. They found that nearly a quarter of respondents felt angry at work, most often because they felt betrayed or unappreciated by their employers. Anger can mean everything from feeling annoyed and frustrated to the kind of door-slamming, desk-overturning rage that's portrayed on television.

The researchers also found that angry respondents were less likely to put their best effort into the job and more likely to compete with co-workers. To counter chronic anger, managers need to "create an atmosphere in which people feel they can communicate," says Dr. Gibson, and look for ways in which anger can produce positive change. "Getting angry can energize and motivate people," he says. "Managers need to think, 'how can we foster the constructive expression of anger, rather than view it as something negative?'"

More recently, Dr. Gibson and Dr. Lisa Mainiero, professor of management, published "Managing employee trauma: Dealing with the emotional fallout from 9-11," in the Academy of Management Executive journal. Dr. Mainiero arranged an online survey of 5,860 employees across the country, three months following Sept. 11. Fear, denial, and anger were the most common emotions expressed; women, parents with children, and those closest to the attack sites showed the strongest responses.

"We found that firms generally addressed health and safety concerns but didn't recognize the emotional responses post-9/11," says Dr. Gibson. The report encourages managers to be open and supportive of employee emotions following trauma.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

New faculty join Fairfield

By Jennifer Covino, Publications Writer

Part II in a series to introduce Fairfield University's newest facult members to the University community

Dr. Donald Joy
Dr. Joy joins the School of Engineering as chair of software engineering. His teaching interests include everything from software architecture and systems to Web development to algorithms and data structures. His research has focused on software development, design, and implementation. He developed an experimental system called KNOWS, which allowed for the sharing and compilation of electronic course materials and textbooks via the Internet. He presently works in the areas of Web search engines, text and document classification, network programming, and software engineering.

Prior to his arrival at Fairfield, Dr. Joy taught graduate classes in software development and engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology and computer science at Western Connecticut State University and Sonoma State University. He also worked at several consulting firms, serving as software development and architecture manager or in other leadership positions. From 1997 to 2000, he worked for Thompson Corporation. He was a software architect for a wide variety of systems and the development group manager for the Internet development groups at Peterson's, a Thompson Learning Company. There, he developed operational tasks for GradAdvantage, CollegeQuest, and Petersons.com - systems that allowed students to apply to undergraduate, graduate, and business schools online.

Dr. Joy earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. For two years, he attended the Theological School at Drew University, taking graduate courses toward a master of divinity degree. He then worked for various corporations until 1982.

After receiving his master's degree from the University of Massachusetts, Dr. Joy spent three years as an associate programmer at IBM in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and then earned his doctorate from the University of Massachusetts.

Mark McGregor, S.J.
Fr. McGregor, an aspiring screenwriter who recently relocated from Los Angeles, has joined Fairfield University as an assistant professor in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts. A Jesuit from the Oregon Province, he teaches classes in the areas of new media, film, television, and radio.

While working toward his master of fine arts degree in screenwriting at Loyola Marymount University, Fr. McGregor wrote a screenplay titled Back in the Day, a drama about a college student who confronts his gang past. In addition, several of his original screenplays are under review. They include a spec script for NYPD Blue in which detectives investigate a priest's link with a teen's death; The Barber of Y.A., a musical drama/comedy set in a youth prison; and You Can't Always Get What You Want, a coming-of-age comedy/drama about a 12-year-old Irish lad who sings back-up for the Rolling Stones.

Fr. McGregor earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Seattle University, a graduate degree in philosophy from St. Michael's Institute at Gonzaga University, and a master of divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. He earned his MFA in 2002. Prior to joining Fairfield, he taught screenwriting, was a teaching assistant at Loyola Marymount University, and served as detention chaplain at the Los Angeles County Central Juvenile Hall.

Between January and August, Fr. McGregor was in Australia where he and 10 other Jesuits from seven countries completed a tertianship program of studies, prayer, and work in preparation for final vows.

Breaking news

CNN Daybreak's Carol Costello spoke with students in Assistant English Professor Dr. Jim Simon's Newswriting course on Sept 25. In addition to sharing the story of her career trek to CNN - which Costello referred to as "the most difficult and easiest job" she's ever had - she shared tips on how to become a better reporter, which included the importance of reading other people's news reports. "Read all that you can. There aren't any excuses; you have to be right in your reports."

Photo by Bob Winkler

In solemn reflection on Sept. 11 at Fairfield University

University alumni, employees, and friends gathered last month in solemn reflection to remember Fairfield's 14 alumni and others who died on Sept. 11, 2001. Celebrating a Mass and prayer service at Alumni House were University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., John Higgins, S.J., Paul Carrier, S.J., and Terrence Devino, S.J.

"We gather today to affirm and remember our shared, fragile, beautiful, and vulnerable humanity," said Fr. Carrier in his homily. "During the past two years, we have continued in our daily living to learn lessons of the heart, lessons of broken hearts, and lessons of love and hope. We look back on that day and we continue to see in our world the enormous destructive power of evil in the human heart as well as its inexhaustible power of love ... Our struggle to remain true to our graced humanity becomes the source of hope in our lives. That hope knows that whatever happens, God lives in it. We are always and everywhere in God's hands at every moment of our lives."

Richard O'Shea views the alumni memorial with his granddaughter, Catherine Heller, 8. Catherine's father, H. Joseph Heller '86, died on Sept. 11.

Photos by Jean Santopatre

Leckey sees promising place for women in the Church

By Meredith Guinness, Publicist

Theologian Dolores Leckey has always been a fan of Dutch painting, particularly depictions of thresholds and the inner life beyond them. It's an image she says speaks to the promising place of women in the Roman Catholic Church today.

"Today, Catholic women are poised on several thresholds - in their homes, in their churches. And the door is swinging open," Leckey told an audience Oct. 1 at the third annual Anne Drummey O'Callaghan Lecture on Women in the Church.

Leckey, senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center, said she's hopeful that work done by women who now hold the majority of leadership roles in most dioceses will open access to governing roles and even ordination for women.

Author of several acclaimed books, Leckey is the former executive director of the Secretariat for Family Life, Laity, Women, and Youth at the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, where she served for 20 years. While working with the Conference, Leckey saw firsthand how much effort went into crafting pastoral letters and other missives addressing women's place in the home, the community and the church.

While progress on such crucial issues takes time, she said research on women's involvement in church life shows they have taken on more responsibilities in recent decades. A 1994 study showed women hold about 80 percent of ministerial roles in Catholic institutions, which include everything from CCD teachers to diocesan chancellors.

She believes women's collaborative nature and willingness to network and reach out to others make them effective church leaders. And the reaction from lay people seems encouraging. "They're appreciative of the compassionate competence of these new ministers," she said.

In response to questions from the audience, Leckey said she expects to see an acceptance of married priests in her lifetime. Ordination of women may be farther away.

"I'm more hopeful than optimistic," she said of any reversal on the matter. "But I think we all have to leave room for the Holy Spirit."

Dr. Elizabeth Dreyer, professor of religious studies, said Leckey offers a unique perspective on the church and women.

"She has a very distinct voice because of her role within the Bishop's Conference. She's a bridge builder. She breaks down the 'we versus they' because she has a foot in both worlds."

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

Photo by Jean Santopatre

The President's Circle
Members of The President's Circle enjoyed cocktails in the John A. Barone Campus Center and dinner and dancing in Bellarmine Gardens last month. The President's Circle is the University's most prestigious giving society, comprising individuals who contribute $1,000 or more annually.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Workshop highlights history and hallmarks of Jesuit education

By Barbara D. Kiernan, Director of University Publications

John Padberg, S.J., director of the Institute of Jesuit Sources at Saint Louis University, spent two days on campus this summer to help ground Ignatian Residential College mentors and faculty participants in the history and heritage of the Jesuit educational tradition. In response to wider interest, the workshop was made available to other members of the University community, bringing to 42 the number of people who attended the Aug. 11 and 12 full-day sessions.

Sponsored by the Office of Jesuit and Catholic Mission and Identity, the workshop included morning and afternoon talks by Fr. Padberg, followed by small group discussions and larger group reflection. Day one focused on the Ignatian vision of the person and the world, and how that vision got translated into education. Day two expanded upon the theme, offering an historical view of its evolution, the consequent contemporary challenges, and the implications of these for the Ignatian Residential College.

Reflecting on what made Jesuit education different from similar enterprises of the day, Fr. Padberg suggested that its roots in the spirituality of St. Ignatius made it so. How? By seeing in the things of the world a reflection of and a pathway to God. Thus, Ignatian spirituality made it possible to embrace both the humanities and the sciences - heretofore not taught together - as essential, complementary elements in the educational process.

For the early (and contemporary) Jesuits, this belief opened the door to full engagement with the world, bringing with it the tensions inherent in being part of a culture while challenging it. According to Fr. Padberg, the free exchange of ideas with men and women of the times was - and is - part of the search for truth, a search Ignatius believed would ultimately lead to God.

Education, then, became a means to empower rich and poor alike for leadership and service. At the same time, it offered Jesuits a ways to serve the faith for the greater glory of God and "help souls" through service to those in need.

Ignatius understood the powerful force for good that could be marshaled through the collective wisdom and commitment of students who were educated:

• for productive careers
• for political and social responsibility
• for the totality of the human person in both arts and sciences
• to reflect on the ultimate destiny of the human being.

Those goals remain the defining force of Jesuit education.

Alan C. Greenberg to deliver Dolan lecture

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

Alan C. "Ace" Greenberg will deliver the third Charles F. Dolan lecture on Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. He is chairman of the Executive Committee of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc., the parent company of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., a leading Wall Street investment banking and securities trading firm.

Charlie Rose, an acclaimed interviewer and broadcast journalist and host of the popular PBS series by the same name, will serve as moderator of the event. The program will feature Greenberg and Rose in a conversation-style format, during which they will cover a variety of topics including business leadership.

Greenberg has been affiliated with Bear Stearns for more than 50 years, joining the firm in 1949 as a clerk and subsequently becoming a trader. He was made a partner in 1958 and was named chief executive officer in 1978. In 1985, when the firm went public, he was named chairman of the board as well. He relinquished his title as chief executive officer in 1993 and retired as chairman in 2001.

During his long career, Greenberg built a reputation as one of Wall Street's most successful traders and industry visionaries. Under his leadership, Bear Stearns became one of the industry's top market makers and clearinghouses.

"Mr. Greenberg is a legendary figure in the financial services industry," says Dr. Norm Solomon, dean of the Dolan School of Business. "His business acumen, his compassion for his employees, and his strong support of a variety of philanthropic endeavors clearly make him a role model for our students. We are indeed fortunate to have an individual of Mr. Greenberg's stature visit us."

Greenberg grew up in Oklahoma City, Okla., and attended the University of Oklahoma on a football scholarship. He transferred to the University of Missouri and earned his business degree there in 1949.

Greenberg's accomplishments extend well beyond his professional career. An avid sportsman, professional-level magician, and dog trainer, he also won a national bridge championship. He was knighted by the Queen of Denmark (1984), was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame (1995), and became a member of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans (1997).

The Charles F. Dolan Lecture series, featuring highly accomplished, visionary and internationally recognized business leaders, was inaugurated in 2001 with Jack Welch, then-chairman and chief executive of General Electric. Geoffrey Colvin, editorial director at Fortune magazine, moderated. C. Michael Armstrong, then-chairman and chief executive of AT&T, delivered the second Dolan Lecture last year, with Charlie Rose.

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

Arab-American series seeks to dispel misconceptions

By Jennifer K. Covino, Publications Writer

The Arab-American series began in September with a poetry reading featuring Nathalie Handal (pictured above with a poetry fan) and D.H. Melhem. Two weeks later, Abdeen Jabara, a former president of the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, spoke on civil liberties of Muslims, Arabs, and Arab-Americans.

Despite the stereotypical images, many Arab-Americans are well-educated professionals with higher-than-average incomes. They are poets and musicians, politicians and police officers. They have made rich contributions to this country, yet they are often despised, stereotyped, and even feared.

"The Arab-American Experience," a series organized by Dr. Ralph Coury, a history professor specializing in the modern Arab world, seeks to dispel these misconceptions while highlighting the poetry, music, and culture of countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and Iraq. The events run through Nov. 13.

Political conflict, radical Islamic movements, terrorism, polarization over Israel, and issues surrounding the international oil trade have colored Americans' perceptions of Arab nations and people, breeding more misunderstanding than understanding, says Dr. Coury.

"Even before Sept. 11, people in the field of Arab-American studies were concerned to present a picture of the diversity and positive aspects of the culture of the Arab peoples," he explains. "Many errors are quite common. People, for example, often speak of Iran as Arab. But it is not. It's Persian. Another misconception is to think of all Arabs as Muslims."

While on one hand, Sept. 11 increased Americans' desire to read and learn more about the Arabs, he says, on the other, negative stereotypes perpetrated by government officials and the media, the forced registrations, the crackdown on Islamic charities, and the tight visa regulations, led the public to believe that Muslims and Arabs are dangerous as such.

According to Dr. Coury, the most recent wave of Arab immigrants to America, from the mid-1960s on, includes a large number of Muslims. Nonetheless, two-thirds of Arab-Americans are Christians. Arab-Americans include Green Party candidate Ralph Nader, radio personality Casey Kasem, and former New Hampshire Governor and White House Chief of Staff John Sununu.

Dr. Coury hopes those who attend The Arab-American Experience events will walk away with a sense of the rich and long history of Arab-American life.

This month, the series offers a concert by Arab musician and composer Simon Shaheen and members of the Qantara Ensemble, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m., in the Oak Room. "Caught in the Crossfire," a one-hour documentary about how life was changed for three Arab-Americans following Sept. 11, concludes the series on Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Oak Room. For more information, call ext. 2110.

Photo by Bob Winkler

Fairfield University's Couples: The first in a series

Drs. Tod Osier and Jen Klug

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Assistant Professors of Biology Drs. Jen Klug and Tod Osier

Marriage is about sharing, from the household chores and grocery shopping to family holidays. But for Drs. Tod Osier and Jen Klug, assistant professors of biology, that also includes sharing lab equipment and biology students.

More specifically, they split a faculty position in the Biology Department. The position is literally divided down the middle: each teaches half a course load, contributes to half a retirement fund, and earns half a salary.

Their story of couplehood began in 1998 on a molecular level - in a biology classroom at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. As graduate students finishing their doctoral degrees, they met in a course on - of all topics - how to teach college-level biology. Soon after marrying in 2000 at a biological research station in Michigan, it was time to look for jobs.

As luck would have it, in 2001, Fairfield University posted an ad for an ecologist. Rather than both applying for the same position, the couple proposed a split position. It looked like an ideal situation, since both desired to work at a small, comprehensive university rather than a large, more impersonal one. And the Jesuit philosophy added another dimension.

"I like that students are encouraged to think as 'men and women for others,'" says Dr. Klug, "as well as how biology fits into society as a whole, or a person's life. There are lots of principles of the Jesuit tradition that transcend religion and get the students thinking about how to be a better person."

With half the teaching, research, and service expectations of other faculty, the couple enjoys the extra time in their schedule to garden, cook, and work on their Newtown home.

"It's the ideal combination for us," says Dr. Osier. "We like the flexibility to decide how we want to allocate our time off campus." In fact, Dr. Klug is using the half schedule to her advantage by teaching her annual course load (three, instead of six) this semester.

"So while we get a more relaxed work schedule, the University gets diversity," continues Dr. Osier. Instead of having one ecologist, he explains, the University has two in different fields, providing students with twice as much expertise, thereby increasing opportunities for students in research and course topics. Speaking to their diverse research interests, they concentrate on very different organisms living under distinct conditions - a biological surf-and-turf of sorts. Dr. Klug uses an aquatic approach to study ecology, examining how changes in nutrient concentration impact the algal community. Dr. Osier, on the other hand, has a terrestrial focus, studying the interactions of plants and the insects that eat them.

"We've gotten a lot of support from administrators in setting up this position," emphasizes Dr. Klug. "Fairfield has never had a split position before. And without the Biology Department's support, we wouldn't be here."

The downside to the arrangement, they admit, is splitting a salary, but - so far - the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. They have separate offices, telephone lines, and equal access to applying for funding.

Another plus, Dr. Klug says, is that commuting together (and with another faculty couple, Drs. Malcolm and April Hill) gives them a chance to discuss the day's lessons as well as unwind before arriving home. "But at times we do have to make a conscious effort to stop talking about work," she says with a smile.

Although each represents "half" a professorship, Drs. Klug and Osier give nothing less than 100 percent to their students - who are sometimes surprised to find out their lecturer and lab professor are married. Says Dr. Osier, "They think it's very cute."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Class of 2007 discusses Ehrenreich's book, Nickel and Dimed
Dr. Nancy Dallavalle, associate professor of religious studies, discussed Barbara Ehrenreich's book, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America, with a group of first-year students prior to the author's Academic Convocation address. Pictured with Dr. Dallavalle are class of 2007 students Melissa DiNoto, Kate Bryson, Keri Greenberg, Cindi Munden, Dan Shannon, and Erin Ajemian.

At the Convocation, held in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, Ehrenreich discussed her attempt to survive while working various minimum-wage jobs.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

What's happening to my memory?

The question comes up at work, at home, and at social gatherings. It is raised by people in their 20s, 50s, and 90s. And it reflects a growing concern about the inability to retain all of the information and facts that we gather throughout our lives. Underlying this question, however, is a deeper fear about cognitive decline, possibly reflecting Alzheimer's disease. But there are other reasons why your memory might fail at times.

One approach to looking at memory is based on capacity - that is, the amount of information your memory can hold. It's believed that capacity is based in part on the size of your brain and the number of connections that you develop within it. It is also believed that the earliest memories become deeply imbedded, while newer memories are more fluid. Memory is also affected by competing demands and activities. All of these factors, and some others, influence your personal capacity to remember.

So the first question you should answer honestly is, "How good has my memory been throughout my life?" For example, I have a terrible memory for names. Always have; always will. I need to develop a way to link the name to the person before I can begin to remember. Therefore I know that name recognition is not a good test of my ability to remember! The second question to answer is, "Do I eventually remember the item I had difficulty remembering?" For most of us, our difficulty in remembering stems from either inattention or competing demands for our attention as we are speaking. For example, you are attending an off-site conference and a colleague walks by. You suddenly remember that you wanted to tell that person about the restaurant you found last weekend, but you cannot remember the name of the restaurant! The harder you try, the more frustrated you become. Yet an hour later the name suddenly pops into your head. This is typical. You were engaged in one task that required your attention, then tried to switch to a different mode of thought and memory. The key is that you were able to remember the name of the restaurant. The memory was there and you were able to retrieve it.

Because of our complex society, we are now expected to keep track of more information and related detail than ever before. Women, in particular, are responsible for self, family, job, and social activities in most families. These responsibilities place competing demands on our ability to remember. The real question is, "What can I do to improve my memory?"

First, become more organized. Make lists of important items and tasks for each part of your life. Put the lists where you are most likely to encounter them. For example, make a prioritized list of what you realistically hope to accomplish today at work. Cross off each item when it is completed. Make another list of the things you need to do on the way home. Put that list in your car or with your house keys so you remember to look at the list as you leave work. You may not get through all of the items, but you have remembered the important things!

Second, work on your memory. Crossword puzzles, word jumbles, card games, and board games that force you to make up words or remember patterns are some activities that force you to use your memory. Watch game shows actively, guessing the answer before the players. Or read a book and tell other people about it - the characters, the plot, and other aspects of the story. This forces you to remember detail. If you travel the same roads to work each day, begin to pay attention to what's around you. Have you noticed the number of fences that have been put up recently? What do you think about plastic fencing as opposed to wood?

Finally, if your memory problems are getting in the way of your daily functioning, talk with your health care provider. Decline in memory is usually gradual, so often our friends, colleagues, and loved ones notice it first. Memory decline can be due to poor nutrition, poor circulation, and metabolic problems. These problems need to be explored first. Memory speed also declines with age. So your provider needs to compare your performance to established norms. There are specific tests of memory that can be done to determine if there is cognitive decline.

The risk of cognitive decline and dementia increases with age, but it is not inevitable. It is important to be physically and cognitively active, regardless of your age. So pump that mental muscle we call the brain!

Philip A. Greiner, DNSc, RN

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

Search tips: Fairfield's website

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Not finding the results you want when searching Fairfield's website? Try these tips:

1. Narrow your search terms to the most specific word related to what you're looking for. Sometimes a word related to the person or event can help. For example: "solomon," or "dedication," "nu." On the other hand, the more general the terms used, the more varied and numerous the results. Searches are not case-specific, so using upper or lower case letters in the search box will not alter your results.

2. Put what you're looking for in quotation marks. For example: "charles allen," "school of business," "alpha sigma nu," "teacher of the year." This narrows the results by only searching for the specific item, rather than all charleses, allens, schools, businesses, alphas, teachers, etc.

3. The order of results does not necessarily reflect the relevance to your search. On www.fairfield.edu, there are several factors that influence the order of the results, including the number of times the search item appears in the document. For example, the first few results for "charles allen" may be an issue of Campus Currents in which his name appears in the birthday column, a headline, an article, and a Newsbreaker item. But if you're looking for information about his participation in Hunger Cleanup, that may be further down the list of results. Other factors that determine the order include the way an item was cataloged on the search engine, and how high the search term appears on the page. If the item is at the top of a specific page, the result will be listed closer to the top.

4. When viewing a result, conduct a search within the page. Click on Edit in the top menu bar and select Find (or type Command-F on a Mac; Control-F on a PC). In the box, type the name - "solomon," for example (case doesn't matter) - and hit return. The term will become highlighted within the document. To find it again in the same document, use the keyboard shortcut Command-G (Mac) or Control-G (PC), and the term will light up in another place in the document/issue, if it's there.

5. Another method to ensure more specific search results is the use of a "+" or "-" sign. To search with terms that do not necessarily have to appear together, use a "+" sign before each term. For example, to locate information on a nursing grant, type +nursing +grant. This instructs the search engine that both terms must appear on a web page. Conversely, the use of a "-" sign eliminates words in the search process. For example, to locate information on nursing grants, but not the Fuld grant, type: +nursing +grant -fuld.

6. Finally, to search for an on-campus telephone number, use the Faculty/Staff Directory Search at http://info.fairfield.edu/commserv/phone/index.htm.

Ecumenical service for athletes

To open the athletic season, Gene Doris addressed the athletes in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola during the annual Ecumenical Service.

Photo by Bob Winkler

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Dianne Nolan chairs Walk for Diabetes
Dianne Nolan, women's basketball coach, was the chairperson of the annual Walk for Diabetes, which took place Oct. 5 at Fairfield Beach. "I am honored and excited to be part of this event," Nolan said prior to the big day. "I look forward to helping make this event one of the best and most successful walks ever. It's a great feeling to know that with each step we take, we are helping find a cure."

Swim teams offer lessons
The Fairfield University men's and women's varsity swimmers are now giving swimming lessons on every level to help raise money for their Christmas training trip. In addition to lessons for beginners, intermediates, and advanced swimmers, the teams also offer two sessions for area Tri-Athletes to improve their swimming technique. The classes, which began Sept. 27, run through Oct. 19.

The second tri-athlete session will be held on Oct. 19 and will include one hour of lecture time and one hour of swim technique. For pricing, scheduling, or to register, call ext. 3949.

Purchase tickets for 2004 NCAA tournament
Those who attend Fairfield University's Coca Cola Classic on Nov. 29 and 30 will receive an added bonus. Besides seeing five outstanding college basketball games that weekend, fans will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets for the 2004 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, to be hosted by Fairfield University on March 22 and 24 (the first and second rounds) at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

Two-sessions packages will be sold at the Arena box office beginning at halftime of the second game on Saturday through the end of the third game. On Sunday, tickets will go on sale during the doubleheader. Beginning Dec. 1, tickets will be available through Ticketmaster. The two-session ticket, priced at $35, is good for the two first-round games on March 22 and the second-round game on March 24. Single-session tickets are not available. For further information, call ext. 4103, or visit the Fairfield University athletic website at www.fairfieldstags.com or the Arena at Harbor Yard website at www.arenaatharboryard.com.

Sports

Dani Brown '03: Coaching in the classroom, on the field

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

When Dani Brown '03 was an undergraduate at Fairfield University, she endured long days as a student-athlete. They included a full classload in addition to practicing and playing with the field hockey team.

Although she's now an alumna, she still endures the rigors of life that include a full day of classes and an afternoon of field hockey. But now Brown is on the other side of the desk and sideline. The Connecticut native is teaching 10th grade English at Bridgeport's Harding High School and is assistant coach of Fairfield University's field hockey team. A busy schedule, but she wouldn't have it any other way.

"It's a long day, but I am getting used to it," says Brown, who gets up around 6 a.m. She teaches from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., coaches until 6 p.m., then grades papers and completes other schoolwork before calling it a night. "At first, I collapsed around eight o'clock each evening. But now, I can make it until 10."

Brown's association with Harding High School started when she received her student teaching assignment. She was unsure what to expect at an inner-city high school, but was certainly looking forward to the new experience.

"It was culture shock going from Watertown High School and Fairfield University to a Bridgeport public school," Brown said. "But I got used to it fairly quickly. Fortunately, I had a lot of supportive people who helped me make the transition from student to teacher."

Brown's cooperating teacher at Harding helped her with the adjustment. "She'd been teaching for eight years at Harding, so she knew the kids well. She was aware of their needs and how to best meet them," says Brown. But that wasn't her biggest concern when she started. "I wasn't nervous about teaching; I was more nervous about what I would do if I didn't like teaching," she says. "But I really enjoy working with the kids."

And the kids certainly enjoy their experience with Brown.

"I think they are kind of relieved to have a younger teacher because we sometimes connect on similar levels," she says. "We listen to the same music and watch the same movies. I think that really helps."

It was that connection that solidified Brown's decision to stay at Harding High School.

"I received an offer (from Harding) before graduation," Brown says. "Once they made the offer, I knew that this was going to work out. I wanted to stay and teach in Bridgeport. I never really considered anything else."

The same could be said of her coaching at Fairfield University. After becoming one of the most prolific scorers in Stags field hockey history, Brown felt it was a natural progression to return to her alma mater as a coach.

"I can relate to the players and what they are going through," Brown says. "I feel that I can help them both on and off the field because I've gone through it recently." As an undergraduate, Brown completed her career by ranking third in career points (81), third in career goals (35), ninth in career assists (11), and first in career game-winning goals (9). She earned two berths to the All-Patriot League first team (2000 and 2002), as well as a nod to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Mideast team.

As if her days weren't filled enough, she recently accepted a role supervising the tutoring program at Harding High School.

"We identify kids who need help and find tutors to help mentor them in certain subjects," Brown said. "I recruit and assign those tutors. It's really rewarding, especially when you see the kids get or understand a concept. That reaction is priceless."

Which makes those long days seem so much shorter.

Unveiling the NCAA logo
In September, Dianne Nolan, head women's basketball coach, and Gene Doris, athletic director, unveiled the NCAA logo with Jeff Toler, director of marketing for the Fairfield County Sports Commission, at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport. Fairfield University is hosting the 2004 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament on March 22 and 24 (the first and second rounds) at the Arena.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

news Briefs

Info sessions to discuss a Retreat in Daily Life
Informational sessions about the Retreat in Daily Life, a five-month journey of reflection and prayer based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, will be held Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 15 at 12:40 p.m. in the community room of the Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Campus Ministry Center.

Retreatants commit to an hour of daily prayer and reflection, and meet once a week with a spiritual director. You may also opt to enter an eight-week preparation period before committing to the retreat at a later date.

For further information, contact James Bowler, S.J., facilitator for Catholic and Jesuit Mission and Identity and a spiritual director, at ext. 3248.

University College offers two New York City walking tours
University College at Fairfield University will host two New York City walking tours this month. Participants will explore New York City's historical and ethnic past and view its architecture in the context of its multicultural history.

The two-part series begins Oct. 9 at 10 a.m. with a lecture on "Irish New York," by Dr. Jim Mullan, chair of the Irish Studies Program. The walking tour takes place a week later, on Oct. 16. Participants will explore the former Little Ireland district of Lower Manhattan. Stops include Old St. Patrick's Cathedral, the founding site of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Al Smith's childhood home, the former sites of Tammany Hall, and the Five Points Slum.

On Oct. 30, join Walter Petry, assistant professor of history and long-time resident of Washington Heights, on a trip through "The Three Harlems." Harlem, one of New York City's most intriguing and culturally important neighborhoods, is steeped in the rich musical and literary history of the Harlem Renaissance. Visit Harlem, Spanish Harlem (El Barrio), and Italian Harlem. Stops include the Abyssinian Baptist Church, Striver's Row, the Schomberg Center, and sites associated with Zora Neal Hurston, Marcus Garvey, A. Phillip Randolph, and Langston Hughes. Participants will lunch at Sylvia's (not included in course fee).

To register or for more information, call University College at 254-4307.

Get the most from your garden year-round
This fall, University College is offering the course, 12 Months of Gardening.

Katherine Neville, owner of Katherine's Gardens, a floral and garden design company in Milford, will teach the tips and tools needed for a colorful and continually productive garden all year long. The course runs Wednesdays, Oct. 18 through Nov. 5, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Each two-hour lecture will cover one season, taking students from spring bulbs, to summer annuals and perennials, to fall vegetables, and to winter berries and barks.

Students will learn how to extend the growing season until first frost and creatively bring the outside indoors during the dreary months of winter. They will also learn to create mixed borders that offer year-round interest and enhancement to the home and garden.

For those with a little less time on their hands, "Fall and Winter Containers for Your Gardens," will offer ideas and illustrate how, through proper care and maintenance, garden containers can be utilized year-round by using plant material suitable for colder weather. The two-hour seminar will, which will run on Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to noon, will be taught by B.B. Stamats, owner of Stamats Landscape Design.

To register, call University College at 254-4288. For more information, call 254-4307.

Scholar-In-Residence Reuven Firestone to lecture Oct. 23
Dr. Reuven Firestone will present "Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in Dialogue and Dissent" on Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. This is the fourth annual Judaic Studies Scholar-In-Residence lecture, which is sponsored by the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies. The lecture is also made possible by a gift from Edith and David Chaifetz and Praxair, Inc.

Dr. Firestone is currently professor of Medieval Judaism and Islam, where he is also and director of its Louchheim School of Jewish Studies and the Department of Graduate Studies.

Dr. Firestone has lived in Israel and traveled extensively throughout the Middle East. He has been involved in a variety of committees and commissions exploring Jewish-Muslim and Jewish-Arab relations in the United States. He has also served on the international "Voice of Peace" radio project. Dr. Firestone's areas of expertise include early Islam and its relationship with Jews and Judaism, and scriptural interpretation of the Bible and the Qur'an.

A prolific author, he has written several books and has been widely published.

There is no charge for admission to the lecture; however, reservations are suggested. For information and reservations, call Judaic Studies at ext. 2066.

An evening of music, comedy, art, and generosity

Dr. Judy Primavera and her husband, Fred Hulley

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Brian Torff, director of the music program and associate professor of jazz performance, was among the performers who donated their talent on Sept. 20 at the Quick Center to benefit the Jamie A. Hulley Fund for the Arts. The evening event supported a multitude of scholarships and awards to area student artists. Jamie, daughter of Dr. Judy Primavera, professor of psychology, and her husband, Fred Hulley, died of lymphoma in September 2002, just two weeks before her 21st birthday.

The Fund is a means of keeping Jamie's memory and spirit present in our daily lives, explains Dr. Primavera. A non-profit organization that provides young artists with opportunities to explore their talents and pursue their dreams, each award and scholarship reflects an artistic experience or aspect important to Jamie. From her days as a sixth-grade art student at Race Brook School in Orange, Conn., through her major in studio art at Wesleyan University, her travels in Italy, and all of her activities in between - including her love for Theatre Fairfield and activities with the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts - her artistic interests are able to be continued by area students.

"She was not an ordinary kid," says Dr. Primavera about her daughter. "She was an artist in all aspects - dance, theatre, studio art, writing - she even did stand-up comedy at Wesleyan." She also touched the lives of others in ways few young people can. She encouraged her peers to take risks with their art and supported them in myriad ways. "Her friends have told me, 'she made us believe that we were wonderful,'" Dr. Primavera continues. "The whole idea of the fund was to help other people do what Jamie liked to do. Her career was cut short, but this is a way to help other young artists experience the creativity she enjoyed."

The Sept. 20 benefit reflected Jamie's range of talents. It featured a concert of jazz standards and original selections performed by bassist Brian Torff, pianist Florence Melnotte, and drummer Thierry Arpino. Comedian Mike Morris, a psychology professor at the University of New Haven who has performed in several local clubs, contributed a stand-up routine. And the Teen Company from Lee Lund Studio of Dance in Milford (which includes Jamie's sister, Kari) danced several numbers. A silent auction featuring works by local artists and reproductions of Jamie's paintings rounded out the evening. Funds raised will enhance existing scholarships as well as support new ones, including a possible grants program for artists-in-residence at local schools.

Dr. Primavera is overwhelmed by the extensive support she's received from people in many areas of her life. "It almost seems like Jamie has a lot of helpers to do her work," she says. "As a result of their support, we now have this extended family of young artists who are a part of our and Jamie's lives. Jamie's always been my best teacher, and now I'm learning how generous and kind people in the world are."

To contribute to the fund, call (203) 891-8869, or mail to Jamie A. Hulley Fund for the Arts, P.O. Box 1208, Orange, CT 06477-7208.

Photo by B.K. Angeletti

Piano virtuoso Andre Watts to perform at the Quick Center Oct. 18

Master pianist Andre Watts will be the guest artist for a concert with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center on Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The performance is the first of three concerts the ensemble will offer this season. There will be a pre-concert Art to Heart discussion with Robert Sherman, journalist and New York Times music writer, at 7 p.m.

Watts will perform Brahms' "Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano in A minor, Op. 114" and Schubert's "Quintet for Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass and Piano in A." The Chamber Music Society will also offer Meyer's "Trio No. 1 for Violin, Cello and Bass." Watts will be joined by: Ani Kavafian, violin; Paul Neubauer, viola; Gary Hoffman, cello; Edgar Meyer, contrabass; and Artistic Director David Shifrin, clarinet.

For tickets and more information, call the Box Office at ext. 4010.

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