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December 2004

Campus Currents

Volume 13, Number 5
The official news publication of Fairfield University

Index for December 7, 2004

Strategic planning process begins
'Tis the season
Martin Luther King Jr. convocation set for Jan. 27
Fairfield University's couples:
     Drs. Lucy and Alan Katz
University President proposes change in
     speaker selection
News breakers
Service Anniversaries
Rev. Francis Hannafey, S.J.: Entrepreneurs for
     the greater good
New faculty join Fairfield
Good grief
Princess uplifts her devastated homeland
Regular exercise: What's in it for you?
Gifts and grants
History of a building: Southwell Hall
Yossi Klein Halevi discusses religion and peace
Keep your stuff safe from opportunists
Doing well in business to do "good" for the world
Alpha Sigma Nu inducts 44
Remembering El Salvador
Happenings



Strategic planning process begins

By Barbara D. Kiernan, Director of University Publications

How many times do you hear people in their 40s, 50, and 60s, well-established in successful careers, joke about what they want to be when they grow up? While sometimes spoken wistfully, this desire to explore new possibilities, to "reinvent" the routine of daily life, to change direction by creating a growing edge, reflects a spirit of openness to life and creates the dynamism to move forward in new ways.

It is precisely this spirit that University President Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., hopes can be tapped during an institutional strategic planning process that began last month. Through it, members of the Fairfield University community have the chance to reflect, suggest, and help shape what Fairfield will "look like" institutionally as it moves through the decade of its 60s.

The process began with a letter from Fr. von Arx in October, announcing his intention to engage the University community in a strategic planning venture, so as to "create a document that will reflect Fairfield's uniqueness and ensure its future among top Jesuit institutions in the nation." To that end, he engaged the services of The Napa Group, a California-based strategy and leadership consulting group with considerable experience in higher education.

The drafting of the strategic plan will draw on a variety of resources. On Nov. 12 and 13, RJ Valentino and Kathy Jones, Napa's president and principal respectively, conducted a series of focus groups on campus to take, as it were, an initial snapshot of Fairfield. Participants included a cross section of faculty, trustees, administrators, staff, and students - 58 in all - who shared their perspectives on six different questions:

  • What are the special characteristics that make up the Fairfield culture and need to be preserved as Fairfield plans its future?
  • What special opportunities exist for Fairfield?
  • What critical challenges need to be addressed?
  • What does success "look and feel like" for Fairfield?
  • What are Fairfield's strongest attributes and programs?
  • What are some of the best ways to involve the Fairfield community in the strategic planning process?

Most importantly, the work of three task forces has begun. In appointing members to these groups, Fr. von Arx charged them with exploring ways to implement the goals set forth in his inaugural address: integration of the core curriculum, integration of living and learning, and incorporation of Jesuit values into graduate education. A separate Drafting Committee will work with Task Force recommendations while writing drafts of what will become a final document next summer.

To make the process as transparent as possible to the University community, the Information Services division is developing a public website that will include documents from and updates by the Task Forces and Drafting Committee. It will also include an e-mail address through which committee members can receive comments and suggestions.

Task Force on Core Integration
William Abbott, history
Betsy Bowen, English
Evangelos Hadjimichael, engineering
Linda Henkel, psychology
Dennis Keenan, philosophy *
Paul Lakeland, religious studies
Shelley Phelan, biology
Lynne Porter, theatre
Vincent Rosivach, classical studies
Kurt Schlichting, sociology
David Schmidt, business ethics
Edna Wilson, University College

Task Force on Living/Learning
Debnam Chappell, dean of freshmen
Nancy Dallavalle, religious studies *
Terrence Devino, S.J., campus ministry
Deirdre Eller, new student programs
John Gallagher '05
Jillian Grant '05
Olivia Harriott, biology
Katherine Kidd, international studies
Fran Koerting, residence life
Mark Ligas, business/marketing
James Mayzik, S.J., media arts
Jeanne Novotny, nursing
Karen Pellegrino, undergraduate admission
Thomas Pellegrino, student activities
Alison Sexton, athletics

Task Force on Graduate Education/Jesuit Mission
Dennis Amrine, career planning
Cathleen Borgman, corporate relations
Arjun Chaudhuri, business/marketing
Walter Conlan, S.J., rector
Margaret Deignan, GSEAP
Daniel Geller, special education/GSEAP
Marianne Gumpper, graduate admission
Donald Joy, engineering
Wendy Kohli, curriculum and instruction/GSEAP *
Jean Lange, nursing
Leo O'Connor, American studies
Catherine O'Donnell, academic marketing
Norman Solomon, business

Drafting Committee
James Bowler, S.J., mission and identity
Nancy Dallavalle, religious studies *
James Estrada, information systems
Dennis Keenan, philosophy *
Barbara Kiernan, publications
Wendy Kohli, GSEAP *
Mary Frances Malone, academic division
Mark Reed, student services
Timothy Snyder, CAS

* drafting committee liaison to task force

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Wreath

'Tis the season

 

Tim Craig and John Falzone of the Maintenance Department hang Christmas wreaths on Bellarmine Hall's front doors just after the first Sunday of Advent, marking the beginning of the Christmas season.

  

  Photo by Jean Santopatre

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Martin Luther King Jr. convocation set for Jan. 27

By Nancy Habetz, Director of Media Relations

University President Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., will be the speaker at this year's Martin Luther King Jr. Human Relations Convocation on Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. His talk will focus on the history of Jesuits and multiculturalism and the importance of diversity in a Jesuit vision of education. Also on the program will be a performance by the Mount Aery Baptist Church Choir and the announcement of this year's Martin Luther King Jr. Vision Award winners.

The convocation is the highlight of a three-day celebration that begins on Jan. 26 at 6 p.m., with an Interfaith Service and Multicultural Festival. Students, faculty, and staff will offer prayers and words of peace and inspiration, followed by a "Taste of the World" food and cultural festival, accompanied by entertainment. The University community is invited to attend this free event.

On Jan. 27, the traditional Multicultural Marketplace will be held in the John A. Barone Campus Center lower lobby from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with ethnic vendors, food, music, and performances. The Marketplace will be in the Quick Center from 3:30 to 6 p.m.

That evening, the Martin Luther King Jr. Vision Awards Dinner will be held in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business Dining Room at 6 p.m. The dinner honors recipients of the Martin Luther King Jr. Vision Awards and the winners of the Connecticut Post-Fairfield University essay contest for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders from Bridgeport. For tickets, contact the Office of Multicultural Relations at ext. 2909.

The celebration comes to a close on Friday morning, Jan. 28, with the Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Leadership Workshop for middle and high school students, which will be held in the Barone Campus Center.

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Fairfield University's couples:
Drs. Lucy and Alan Katz

By Nina M. Riccio, Publications Writer

Drs. Lucy and Alan KatzThey met when she briefly dated his best friend. Now, one marriage, two children, and 39 years later, Drs. Lucy and Alan Katz find themselves settled in Easton and living a lifestyle that's a lot less tumultuous than the one they started out with.

Controversy about the Vietnam War and civil rights made New York City a heady place to be in the 1960s - just the time Lucy was entering law school at New York University and Alan was teaching junior high school in Chinatown and studying for his doctorate in political science at NYU. They were living in Greenwich Village, and marching for peace and civil rights. Their shared passion for politics has remained a constant thread throughout their marriage.

After law school, Lucy's first job was at the Center of Social Welfare Policy and Law, part of the Federal Legal Services Program. After that, she joined a private firm in Bridgeport "that had a strong commitment to civil rights and social justice," she says. Since 1983, Lucy has taught business law, human resource law, and dispute resolution in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. She's also proud to be one of the founders of the Women's Studies Program, an interdisciplinary minor designed to heighten awareness of women's perspectives and to challenge cultural assumptions regarding gender.

Alan preceded Lucy to Fairfield, leaving his beloved Manhattan and joining the College of Arts and Sciences in 1970. He not only teaches politics, but also served two terms as department chair and two years as associate dean in the College. He was also the first director of the school's Asian Studies program. His interest in Asia developed when he was a teacher in Chinatown.

While the two have traveled separately (Alan explored Asia in 1998; Lucy has done several mission trips) and had their own orbits of research, their interests did mesh last summer when they traveled together on a three-week trip to Vietnam. Lucy received a grant from the Dolan School to study mediation and arbitration there.

For Alan, it was a trip that will forever change the way he teaches his courses on Vietnam.

"One of the things the Vietnamese continually say is that they are a country, not a war," Alan explains. "I realized that the courses I teach all conclude with the end of the war in 1975. Half the population of the country has been born since then! Now I intend to focus more on contemporary Vietnam and to teach it as a political and economic model - how it has differed from China, for example." They would love to return and research the effects of Agent Orange on the population.

Coming from different disciplines and schools, "we have different perspectives, and we appreciate that," says Alan, who says their dinner table conversations often focus on Fairfield University, politics, and family, particularly their two grandchildren. Alan has also become involved with local politics in Easton, and currently serves on the town's Democratic Town Committee and the Board of Education.

"Teaching here has been a wonderful, shared experience," says Lucy. "We're supportive of each other, but in many ways our campus lives are very separate, and that's intentional." They make it a point not to serve on the same committees, Alan adds, while noting that it's not unusual for them to go an entire semester without seeing each other on campus.

Really, says Lucy, "the most important role of being half of a faculty couple is to rein in each other's egos and keep one another from doing anything dumb."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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University President proposes change in speaker selection

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor, & Alejandra Navarro, Publications Writer

In a memo sent to students and faculty last month, University President Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., proposed a change in the way Fairfield selects commencement speakers. Rather than invite well-known figures, he is suggesting a model that features individuals who truly know the University.

"Speakers who have had a close relation to the institution and to the goals and ideals of Jesuit higher education have given excellent talks that have spoken to the graduates of a Jesuit university, even though they may not have been famous people," he wrote. "I would like to invite speakers who have a close relationship to Fairfield and to the kind of education we stand for to deliver the commencement address. Our own faculty, administration, alumni, and friends of the University will be an obvious place to look for this kind of speaker."

At some distinguished universities, outside speakers have never been a part of commencement. "The attitude among students at such institutions is that their graduation is an important enough occasion in its own right and does not require an outside speaker to lend it dignity or significance," his memo stated.

When Fairfield is unable to identity an appropriate commencement speaker, he proposed that the University President deliver remarks to the graduates.

A second idea, which he suggested last week, is to invite each honorary degree member to speak for a few minutes.

"I thought there would be a lot more dissent, but people tend to agree," says Kevin Neubauer '05, who attended a forum on Dec. 1 with Fr. von Arx to discuss the proposed changes. "It makes sense to have someone with ties to the University." In the past, celebrity speakers didn't always generate excitement among the students, Neubauer adds.

"Most students understand where he's coming from," says Julie Paquariello '05, of Fr. von Arx new direction with commencement speakers. "Our University has a very strong community feel. Someone who is more connected to the University would be more in line with our goals."

Fr. von Arx invites comments from the University community on the proposal.

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News Breakers

Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., executive assistant to the president, commented on global cooperation between nations in an Oct. 23 article in The Hour (Norwalk) on the Westport celebrations marking the 59th United Nations Charter Day.

Dr. Mike Brienza, visiting instructor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, delivered a presentation to freshmen at his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, on non-traditional career opportunities for physics majors.

Dr. Gerry Campbell, associate professor and chair of information systems and operations management, and Dr. Winston Tellis, assistant professor, both in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, co-authored the article, "IT Education: Service Learning as an Experiential Component," which was published in Issues in Information Systems, 2004.

Dr. Tellis received the Ben Bauman Award for Excellence at the Annual Conference of the International Association of Computer and Information Systems in October. He was cited for his continued excellence in research, teaching, and service to his institution and others for more than 25 years.

"Writers Under (and After) the Chilean Military Dictatorship," an article by Dr. Javier Campos, associate professor of modern languages and literature in CAS, was published in Literary Cultures of Latin America: A Comparative History (chapter 45, vol. 3). More than 200 scholars around the world participated in this extensive project of literary studies on Latin America. Each of the three volumes is printed in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. Dr. Campos also delivered several poetry readings at a conference in Rianxo and Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain. He also recorded three of his poems for inclusion in a 2005 CD, Poets y their voices. Dr. Campos continued as a columnist for the Latin American newspaper, El Mostrador (www.elmostrador.cl).

Dr. Edward Deak, economics professor in CAS, published "Restarting Connecticut's Job Growth Engines" in Business Times in October. Dr. Deak discussed some of the challenges to increasing jobs in the state, including the cost of doing business, the state's troubled transportation system, and the high cost of housing, and presented some possible solutions. Dr. Deak also commented on the increase in oil prices in the Connecticut Post on Oct. 20 and in the Fairfield County Business Journal on Oct. 11.

A "Herpsective" columnist in the Connecticut Post on Oct. 10 illustrated the enthusiasm of mature learners by describing a lecture by Dr. Edward M. Dew, chair of politics in CAS.

Dr. Philip Eliasoph, professor of art history in CAS, recently provided critical insight for three publications. An interview and visit to the "American Pantheon," a new residential gallery and library of a private collector in Dallas, Texas, was published as the cover story for The Catalogue of Antiques & Fine Art (Fall, 2004). In addition to works by American masters, the article examines a collection of 5,600 original letters and autographed letters by the Founding Fathers and all 43 American presidents. Dr. Eliasoph also contributed the November cover story of Westport Magazine, "Million Dollar Man: Christie's Auction House Insider, Behind the Scenes with Christopher Eykyn." On Oct. 17, The New York Times Magazine published Dr. Eliasoph's letter questioning curatorial decisions at the Museum of Modern Art. In the Connecticut Post on Oct. 10, Dr. Eliasoph reviewed the exhibit on the thematic idea of "bottles" at The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art.

Dr. Betsy Gardner, professor of psychology in CAS, is serving on Fairfield First Selectman Ken Flatto's Temporary Advisory Committee on Military Housing.

"Role Models in Career Development: New Directions for Theory and Research," an article by Dr. Donald E. Gibson, associate professor of management in DSB, was published in the Journal of Vocational Behavior (2004, Vol. 65). His chapter, "Returning Human to HR Management," appears in Next Generation Business Handbook: New Strategies from Tomorrow's Thought Leaders (Wiley, 2004).

Dr. Joy Gordon, associate professor of philosophy in CAS, published, "The UN is Us: Saddam Hussein's Silent Partner," in the December issue of Harper's. The BBC interviewed Dr. Gordon for a documentary on issues of accountability in the UN that aired on Nov. 18 and 19. In November, The Nation published Dr. Gordon's article, "The UN Oil for Food 'Scandal'." In December, The Nation published an article on the accusations regarding the UN Oil for Food Programme. Her article, "Cool War," on the economic sanctions on Iraq, originally published in Harper's in 2002, was included in a collection called, Tell Me No Lies: Investigative Journalism and its Triumphs. In addition, Dr. Gordon was recently interviewed by National Public Radio's Counterspin, Between the Lines, and Democracy Now.

Dr. Donald Greenberg, associate professor of history in CAS, was interviewed by News 12 Connecticut about rumors that Senator Christopher Dodd was considering running for governor of Connecticut.

Dr. Sheila Grossman, professor of nursing in the School of Nursing, published a chapter, "Developing Leadership through Shadowing a Leader in Health Care," in Educating for Leadership (Springer Publications). She also recently completed the Leadership Fellowship sponsored by the American Association of Collegiate Nursing.

Marianne Gumpper, director of graduate and continuing studies admission, and Catherine O'Donnell, director of marketing, were featured presenters at the November annual meeting of the American Marketing Association's Higher Education Symposium in San Diego, Calif. Their topic, "Shining the Light on Adult Students: An Enrollment Strategy," highlighted Fairfield University's centralized efforts in marketing and recruiting adult students for graduate and continuing studies programs.

Reference Librarians Jackie Kremer and Ramona Islam presented the poster, "Collaboration: If You Reach Out, They Will Come" at the Dartmouth BioMedical Libraries on Oct. 28. The poster detailed the collaborative efforts behind the library's September Freshman Open House. Kremer's review of the Internet resource Literature for Children (http://palmm.fcla.edu/juv/) was published in the November issue of Choice Magazine.

A review of Benedict Kiely's book, The Collected Stories of Benedict Kiely, by Dr. Paul Lakeland, the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Professor of Catholic Studies, appeared in Commonweal on Sept. 8.

News 12 Connecticut interviewed Dr. Mark LeClair, associate professor of economics in CAS, about holiday shopping and economic predictions for spending this year.

The recently published Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford, 2004) includes three articles by Dr. R. James Long, chair of philosophy in CAS, on Adam of Buckfield, Geoffrey of Aspall, and Richard Fishacre. The reference book, revised once every century, details the contributions of Britons in areas including the arts, sciences, and politics. Dr. Long also gave a conference paper, "The Division of the Waters (Gen.1, 6-7): A Challenge for Natural Philosophy," at the 13th annual meeting of the Southeastern Medieval Association, hosted by the College of Charleston in October.

"Philosophy," the chapter Dr. Long was commissioned to write on the history of medieval philosophy, has been published. It is chapter six in Medieval Europe, one of the volumes in Arts and Humanities Through the Eras, a series of reference books published by Thomson Gale.

The appointment of Arthur C. McAdams III to the post of director of professional development at University College was announced in the Business Times in October.

Rev. Mark McGregor, S.J., resident Jesuit and assistant professor of television in Visual and Performing Arts in CAS, was one of 20 college faculty and administrators selected nationally to receive a $1,000 stipend to participate in the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' 2004 Annual Faculty Seminar. Held at the Emmy's Offices in Burbank, Calif., for five days in November, Fr. McGregor learned about primetime telecommunications to help educate college students in production, careers, and industry topics. This was the first time a Fairfield University faculty member was awarded this grant.

In November, Martha Milcarek, assistant vice president for public relations, was interviewed by Connecticut Business Magazine for an upcoming article about new major construction projects statewide.

Dr. John Orman, professor of politics in CAS, commented on the importance of having challengers in races with popular incumbents, for an Associated Press article published in Newsday (Long Island, N.Y.) and in The Day (New London) in October. The Republican-American (Waterbury) quoted Dr. Orman on the 4th District race in the U.S. Senate.

Dr. Orman also discussed college students' participation in the elections for an Oct. 2 article in the Fairfield Minuteman. His political science students were interviewed in the Connecticut Post for an Oct. 14 article on student reaction to the third and final presidential debate. He also provided commentary on the presidential debates to the Herald (New Britain), the Middletown Press, the New Haven Register, and many other area media outlets in early October, and an editorial in the Connecticut Post on Oct.18 cited Dr. Orman's suggestions on how to increase voter turnout. In an Oct. 12 New Haven Register article on Gov. M. Jodi Rell's first 100 days, Dr. Orman said it would be difficult to make a judgment on her performance until the end of the 2005 General Assembly.

Dr. Marcie Patton, associate professor of politics in CAS, discussed the Middle East on Radio WSTC/WNLK in Stamford and Norwalk on Nov. 10.

Comments by Todd Pelazza, director of Public Safety, on the benefit of crisis planning, appeared in an Oct. 13 Connecticut Post story. Pelazza, who participated in a one-day "Weapons of Mass Destruction" training course at Sacred Heart University, referred to an incident in 2002 in which a former student took a class hostage. "We had plans in effect, carried them out, and they worked," he said.

Drawing on her current work on African-American writers, Dr. Elizabeth Petrino, assistant professor of English in CAS, will present the paper, "'Becoming a Poet of Her Race': Frances Harper's Early Writings of Racial Uplift," for a panel on "African-American Philadelphia" at the MLA Convention this December in Philadelphia.

Dr. Petrino's article, "'We Are Rising As a People': Frances Harper's Radical Views on Class and Racial Equality in 'Sketches of Southern Life'," was accepted for publication in ATQ: 19th-Century American Literature and Culture. The essay will appear as part of a special issue on "The Woman Question" next fall.

Dr. Nicholas Rinaldi, professor of English in CAS, received a friendly welcome at McKinley School in Fairfield where he delivered an address on his novel, Between Two Rivers. The North Jersey.com published a feature article Dr. Rinaldi on Oct. 3.

Dr. David Alan Sapp, assistant professor of English in CAS, presented the plenary address, "Exporting Students, Importing Content: Global and Political Diversity in Homogenous Technical Communication Programs," at the 31st Meeting of the Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication in West Lafayette, Ind., in October. In November, he presented, with Dr. Robbin Crabtree, professor of communication in CAS, "Negotiating an Ethical Learning Environment for Teaching Communication in Brazil, China, and Spain" at the 90th Annual Meeting of the National Communication Association in Chicago.

Dr. James Simon, associate professor of English and director of journalism in CAS, delivered commentary on the presidential election to The Des Moines Register (Iowa), WICC in Bridgeport, the University of North Carolina student newspaper, and other media outlets. Simon also delivered the conference paper, "Revisiting the Police Blotter: Public Service Stories...or Assembly Line Journalism at its Worst," in Toronto, Canada, at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in August. A revised version of the article will be published in the fall edition of the Newspaper Research Journal which Dr. Simon co-authored with Fairfield's Sean Hayes '03. Dr. Simon also co-authored the article, "Risk Assessment and the Environment Reporter: A Four-region Analysis," published in the November issue of Public Understanding of Science.

Dr. Norm Solomon, dean of DSB, serves on the Advisory Council of Durham Business School for Durham University in the United Kingdom. Dr. Solomon is also a member of the nominating committee of the AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business - the world's premier advocacy and accreditation organization for collegiate schools of business. In addition, he is the new executive secretary of the Association of North East Business Deans, the regional affiliation of the AACSB International, replacing the association founder who served in the position for 23 years. Dr. Solomon is also involved with several accreditation teams as chair of the initial accreditation for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, business advisor for the initial accreditation team for Rockhurst College, and member of two maintenance accreditation teams for Suffolk University and Rochester Institute of Technology.

Ecrire en pays assiégé - Haïti - Writing Under Siege (Amsterdam/New York, Editions Rodopi), a collective book co-edited by Dr. Marie-Agnès Sourieau, associate professor of French, was released in November. Her article, "Jean Métellus' Historic drama: the Epic of the Haitian Nation," appeared recently in the Journal of Haitian Studies (vol. 9).

Dr. Debra Strauss, visiting assistant professor of business law in DSB, presented "Using the Courts to Dismantle the Business Holdings of Terrorist Groups Through the Rule of International Law" at the Annual Meeting of the Academy of Legal Studies in Business on Aug. 20 in Ottawa, Canada.

The Fairfield Minuteman and the Westport Minuteman both published articles on Oct. 14 on the inauguration ceremony for University President Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., held on Oct. 7.

Dr. Kathleen Wheeler, professor of nursing in SON, presented "An Adult with Childhood Medical Trauma Treated with Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and EMDR: A Case Study" at the October 2004 Annual American Psychiatric Nurses Association Conference in Phoenix, Ariz.

Dr. Michael C. White, professor of English in CAS, delivered a lecture at the Enfield Public Library on his book, The Garden of Martyrs.

In an Oct. 8 Fairfield Citizen-News article on the United Way's Project Blueprint for Volunteer Diversity, Dr. Edna Farace Wilson, dean of UC and chair of Project Blueprint, commended the work done to improve the program. "The result is a finely tuned program whose offerings best serve the needs of both non-profit organizations and the communities they serve." Project Blueprint's mission is to increase the involvement of historically underrepresented groups.

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Service Anniversaries

December Service Anniversaries

5 years
Diana DeVelli

20 years
Arthur Payne

January Service Anniversaries

5 years
Andrew Martinez
Madeline Minerly
Brian Remigio
Gavriel Rosenfeld
Michael Strain

15 years
Cathleen Borgman
Ann Burritt
Diana Cerritelli
Brian Torff

20 years
Sharron Picard
Theresa Quell

25 years
Daniel Geller

Condolences

Dr. James McElaney, age 81, died on Nov. 11. After completing a doctorate in physics at Johns Hopkins University, he joined the Fairfield University Physics Department in 1964. A specialist in the field of optical spectroscopy, his research took him in two directions - working with NASA in the summers and at the North Pole during winter breaks. "Students loved him," notes his former colleague Dr. E. Hadjimichael, dean of the School of Engineering. "He was a careful and meticulous scientist who was always available to students." According to Physics Professor Dr. Jack Beal, then-Fr. McElaney served as a liaison to the architect during the construction of Rudolph F. Bannow Science Center. He retired as professor emeritus in 1993.

Joseph J. Mayzik, father of Rev. James Mayzik, S.J., director of the media center, died Nov. 12.

Pavel Troha, also known as Paul, died Nov. 16. A long-time University employee, Paul retired in 1994 after 38 years of working in the Maintenance Department. Paul was born in Yugoslavia and came to the United States in 1956.

Shirley J. Snyder, mother of Dr. Timothy L. Snyder, dean in College of Arts and Sciences, died Nov. 20.

L. William Miles, former vice president for administration (1992-2000) died on Nov. 20 in Milford Hospital. He is survived by six children, three of whom are Fairfield alumni (Michael '84, David '85, and Patricia '95). His daughter, Janice Miles Dunn, is director of distance education in University College.

Elected to Fairfield University's Board of Trustees in 1973, he served as its chairman from 1978 to 1989. In 1981, the Fairfield University Alumni Association named him an honorary alumnus and, in 1989, the University awarded him an honorary doctor of laws degree. In 1992, he received one of 50 Jubilee Medals awarded by Fairfield University on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

New Employees

Sharon Fanelli, records assistant - Development Services
Ellen Harry, secretary III - Constituency Relations
Hal Stark, equipment mechanic - General Maintenance

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Faculty research

College of Arts and Sciences

Rev. Francis Hannafey, S.J.: Entrepreneurs for the greater good

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Rev. Hannafey, S.J.

Rev. Francis Hannafey, S.J., chair of the Religious Studies Department, in discussion with his students in his course, Contemporary Moral Problems.



"Where would we be if people didn't take risks in business?" wonders the Rev. Francis Hannafey, S.J., chair of the Department of Religious Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. "Entrepreneurs are a spark to a market economy. They are the artists of business; they make things happen and bring a tremendous change to the way we live."

Among Fr. Hannafey's favorite entrepreneurs are Bill Gates and Michael Dell, and he admires forerunners in advance cell technology, stem cell research, and human genome mapping. Then there's the work of another group he appreciates: the Jesuits.

"Think about the entrepreneurial work they have done," he adds. "For example, Jesuits in the Chicago Province started Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, giving students from economically challenged backgrounds an opportunity to receive a sound education in a Catholic school environment." Since then, nearly a dozen schools across the country have replicated the Cristo Rey model which has students work in local corporate offices one day a week. Students assign their earnings to Cristo Rey to offset the cost of his or her education by 67 percent, and to experience in a real-world workplace environment.

By thinking creatively, these entrepreneurs accomplished the ideal, Fr. Hannafey maintains, creating a business or business product that contributes to the greater good. Papal leadership has discussed the importance of this connection since at least 1891, and Fr. Hannafey has dedicated his academic research to this concept.

Interested in creative business enterprise since his days in high school, as a young man, Fr. Hannafey pursued a traditional business education, receiving an undergraduate degree in economics followed by an MBA in finance and marketing. He joined Fairfield's faculty in the School of Business in 1986 and became the University's assistant academic vice president in 1988. In 1989, he left to earn his M.Div. and S.T.M. from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley and a Ph.D. in Christian Ethics from Loyola University Chicago, writing a dissertation on entrepreneurship and ethics in Roman Catholic social teaching. In 1998, he returned to Fairfield University to teach religious studies.

Fr. Hannafey's research detailing the past 100 years of various popes' teachings on entrepreneurship reveal some interesting ideas. While conventional business theory tends to perpetuate an image of the entrepreneur as selfish, the papal teachings present a view that reflects one as a "person who is called to a life of special virtue in the community," bringing new vitality to economic structures and creating business opportunities that can greatly assist others. Popes have viewed entrepreneurship as a way to develop the earth's resources and serve the needs of the poor, as well as work for global economic justice.

But isn't this a somewhat naïve perspective, given that so many industries seek to exploit workers to increase profits? "The popes attempt to see business in its true light," says Fr. Hannafey. "They look at it from the perspective of its deepest, most real purpose. They don't want it to be apart from real human needs. Business is here to serve humans, not the other way around."

Papal teachings on entrepreneurship began during the industrial revolution, says Fr. Hannafey, when many in the working class began laboring under very different conditions and there was a need to examine the intentions of those who established the new way of working. Rerum Novarum, a major encyclical of Pope Leo XIII on capital and labor written in 1891, addressed how the modern economy was changing society and its development. Exactly 100 years later, Pope John Paul II wrote about modern economic life in an encyclical letter, Centesimus Annus. "His reflection on economic life in our day describes the distribution of wealth and the need for entrepreneurs to think about establishing economic development that is truly human," Fr. Hannafey says.

Entrepreneurs have a deep obligation to aid human development, he continues. When well-ordered, business can bring about greater human development, a spiritual dimension where life can be explored, a richer life experience, and more material things, says Fr. Hannafey. "Papal teachings speak about economic development in a broader way, that it's really developed when it serves human needs."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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New faculty join Fairfield

By Nina M. Riccio, Publications writer, & Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Part four in a series to introduce Fairfield's newest faculty to the University community. The series will continue through the spring semester.

Dr. David Gudelunas

A new assistant professor of communication in the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. David Gudelunas comes to Fairfield University by way of the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication, where he received both his master's and doctoral degrees. He is no stranger to Jesuit education, however, having done his undergraduate work at the University of San Francisco, where he graduated summa cum laude.

Dr. Gudelunas has published and presented extensively on his area of interest - popular culture, specifically involving the role of media industries and audiences. At the 2002 National Communication Association conference in New Orleans, he presented three talks: "Of Movements and Markets: Targeting the Gay and Lesbian Family"; "What a Girl Wants: Diamonds, Deals and QVC"; and "When Bias Shapes the Intifada: Challenging The New York Times' Status as a Newspaper of Record." His article, "QVC: Television Retail and Ritual" was published in the Journal of American and Comparative Cultures in 2002. Dr. Gudelunas has also worked as a member of several research teams housed at the Annenberg Public Policy Center, including teams that looked at fictional representations of medical professionals and at journalistic coverage of bioterror threats following Sept. 11.

Dr. Gudelunas previously taught art and communication at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Gisela Gil-Egui

Dr. Gisela Gil-Egui, also an assistant professor in the Communication Department in the College of Arts and Sciences, completed her Ph.D. in communication last October from Temple University with her dissertation, "Framing the Internet as a Global Public or Private Good." She also earned her master's degree from Temple.

With a specialty in international communication and experience in distance education and information/communication technologies, she brings a unique perspective to the department. She wrote two chapters on online learning for a recently published book on distance education. She has also published in several academic journals and presented conference papers on communication policymaking, global digital divide, and network analysis.

Dr. Gil-Egui holds a B.A. in journalism from the Universidad Central de Venezuela, and was a staff writer for Al Día, a Spanish-language newspaper based in Philadelphia, as well as for two major Venezuelan newspapers. She has also worked in publishing and media relations for various Venezuelan organizations.

Dr. Gil-Egui has earned research and teaching awards from Temple University and the International Communication Association. Her current research program focuses on regulatory notions such universal access and public interest, as well as on the boundaries between private and public domains.

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Good grief

Weightlifter can grief be good? many researchers agree that grief helps with the resolution of loss in one's life. grief is an individual and dynamic response to loss that is patterned by the expectations of society. what does this mean? first, people grieve in different ways. these differences are influenced or determined by one's culture, religion, and society. for example, it is customary in some societies to hire "wailers" to assist the family in grieving the loss of a loved one.

Secondly, each of us experiences grief in a personal way that varies throughout the grieving process. Grief is often referred to as "grief work" in a professional context. This term reflects that grief is process that takes active work on the part of the grieving person. It also makes room for the grieving person to ask for help in the process, or at least to allow others to participate in the grieving.

I am struck by the number of death notices in my e-mail box each month. Fairfield is not a large university, yet we value the contacts that extend into the various communities that we touch through our Jesuit educational endeavor. Faculty, students, administrators, staff, friends, family members, colleagues, alumni, parents, and donors each contribute to the University and, at times, are lost. When that happens, we grieve, we gain insight, we receive care from others in our community, and we take the time to regain control in our lives.

Grieving is an important process. You can assist those who are grieving by acknowledging their loss and by making yourself available to them. People experiencing grief can find support in common rituals of life and faith. But that does not negate the role that you can play in assisting others. Your role can be supportive and nurturing. Or you can just listen. It is also important to recognize when that person may need more assistance than you can provide. In our community, Campus Ministry can play a vital role, as can Human Resources.

Resolution of loss and grief often means that the person is able to be thankful for what is left, rather than dwell on what has been lost. This holiday season you have the opportunity to start a new tradition. Take time to thank the people who have influenced you throughout your life. And resolve to touch the lives of others, especially when they are grieving.

Dr G Philip A. Greiner, DNSc, RN

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

 

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Princess uplifts her devastated homeland

By Alejandra Navarro, Publications Writer

Princess Elizabeth

Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia (left) meets with audience members after her lecture.



Elizabeth Karageorgevic, known as Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia, was born in Belgrade's White Palace, but she did not live a fairytale life. She was a child when her father was ousted from power and members of the royal family were forced to leave their homeland. Since then, her country has crumbled, and its people, divided by ethnic hatred, have faced destructive civil wars.

"I have witnessed what has been done to innocent people and what needs to be done to help them," she explained to the audience attending the Jacoby-Lunin Humanitarian Lecture at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Nov. 15. "I learned it the hard way."

Princess Elizabeth was the first to bring national attention to the people of the former Yugoslavia, now divided into the states of Slovenia, Croatia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro. She has worked with the United Nations, touring the United States and Europe, promoting tolerance and peace among ethnic groups. In 1990, she founded The Princess Elizabeth Foundation, a humanitarian organization to provide food, clothing, homes, medical supplies, and treatment to children and families in the Balkans. The reason she does so much is simple: "The hope is that my one small candle may light another," she said.

In her youth, Princess Elizabeth and the royal family lived in Greece, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Europe, and the United States, where she gained citizenship. She described walking around a "sad little tree" in Kenya with her eyes closed, hoping that when she opened them she would find herself and her family back in Yugoslavia. Decades passed before her eyes would see her homeland again, and by then, the country no longer existed. She returned to find her former country devastated by civil war. Today, many buildings and churches remain in ruins and countless roads still have mines, although the actual war ended several years ago. "People are being murdered or maimed every day," she said of the underground bombs. "So you might say it's a war without end."

She credits her father, Prince Paul, Prince Regent of Yugoslavia, for inspiring her work. She talked at length about his role in keeping the Nazis out of Yugoslavia during World War II - efforts that would eventually lead to a coup d'état.

"Most were unaware of how Prince Paul stood up to Hitler to prevent an invasion," Princess Elizabeth said.

When asked about the invasion of Iraq, given the United States' intervention in the Balkans, she said didn't see the need to get involved with military force. "With enough talks, you can solve problems," she said.

Princess Elizabeth's appearance was part of the Open VISIONS Forum series in affiliation with the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies, and was made possible by a grant from the Frank Jacoby Foundation.

Photo by Bob Winkler

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Regular exercise: What's in it for you?

By Nina M. Riccio, Publications Writer

Pilates class

Employees take advantage of Billy Davidson's lunchtime Pilates class at the RecPlex.



Consider these statistics:

  • Between 1990 and 1998, the number of people with diabetes rose by a whopping 33 percent. According to the National Institutes of Health, those at risk for Type 2 diabetes can more than halve their chances of developing the disease by exercising for 30 minutes a day and eating a low-fat diet.
  • People in their 50s and 60s who get regular exercise are about 35 percent less likely to die within eight years than their inactive counterparts, says a University of Michigan Health System study.
  • According to a Duke University Medical Center study of 156 clinically depressed patients, exercise is more effective than Zoloft at easing depression over the long term.

No one said it's easy to fit a trip to the gym into a workday, but with statistics like these, it's a wonder we're not all pumping iron and running marathons. For those among us who do make the effort to exercise, the pay-offs are tremendous.

Just ask Betty Coger, operations assistant in Human Resources. For her, "it's all about attitude," she says. She dons her sneakers and walks every day at noon, rain or shine. Her lunchtime loop, which begins at Dolan Commons, takes her down Loyola Drive and around McCormick and West Langguth roads to Bellarmine Hall, behind the campus center, and up the hill to Loyola Hall before heading back to Dolan by way of the townhouses. Total time: 40 minutes. "I do it to meditate," she says. "I want people to walk out of my department feeling as though they have had a pleasant experience, so I walk at noon to enjoy the day and then feel I'll be able to impart this good feeling to anyone visiting my desk."

Joe Martinelli's reasons for working out are a lot less esoteric. "If I exercise, I can eat seconds and drink beer on weekends!" claims the communications technician, while also admitting that exercising helps curb his headaches. Martinelli can often be spotted running a three-mile circle around the campus at lunchtime. Twice a week, he takes a Pilates class in the Leslie C. Quick Jr. Recreation Complex with a core group of dedicated Pilates aficionados who swear by instructor (and psychology lab supervisor) Billy Davidson's class. Because Pilates focuses on strengthening "the core" (i.e., the abdomen), "it's a nice complement to running," says Martinelli. "Plus, it's nice to hang out with the ladies at lunchtime."

Phyllis Fitzpatrick gets her workout in earlier. Since 1987, she's been walking at 6 a.m., and now that the RecPlex is open at 7 a.m., she uses the cardiovascular equipment. "I see about seven regulars there." One of those regulars is Dr. Winston Tellis, assistant professor of information systems and operations management in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, who has swum a mile every morning since the late 1960s. "I do it for my peace of mind," he says. "Swimming keeps me in shape and exercises the entire body. It energizes me, and that energy lasts all day." One of the nice things about the RecPlex, adds Fitzpatrick, "is that the staff is open to suggestions. For example, two years ago I suggested they have someone come in and measure body fat percentages, and they did."

Claudia Nielsen, associate director of annual giving - Parents' Fund, appreciates the new Nautilus equipment, a vast improvement over the old weights that had to be racked. She uses the Nautilus and the elliptical machine about three times a week, takes Pilates, and occasionally swims. She tries to exercise when she's on her frequent business trips, too. "It's a great stress reliever," she says. "And I love good food, so I need to exercise to maintain my weight. But I'm much better off if I get my workout in during the day, because if I plan it for after work, I always find an excuse not to do it."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Join the RecPlex

For those of you bitten by the exercise bug, take note. During the academic year, the RecPlex is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Friday, with shortened hours on the weekend. Faculty and staff can join for just $25; spouses and family members can join for a nominal fee. All employees are welcome to use the outdoor track, outdoor basketball courts (behind the softball field), frisbee golf course, and tennis courts (on a first come, first served basis).

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Gifts and grants

College of Arts and Sciences awarded grants for diversity course and project on China


The College of Arts and Sciences has received two grants totaling $11,400 for the development of a new psychology course and a project on China.

Ellie Hawthorne '85, M.A.'88, co-trustee with her brother for the Earl W. and Hildagunda A. Brinkman Family Foundation, presented $7,500 to Dr. Elizabeth Gardner, professor of psychology, to create a diversity seminar course for senior psychology majors. The course, tentatively titled Psychological Implications of the Concept of Race, would include a study of the psychology of discrimination, bias, and stereotyping, as well as current literature on implicit measures of those acts. Additional goals may include raising consciousness about diversity and justice issues related to differences, establishing a basis of conceptual understanding, and the development of skills for taking concrete action. The course would build upon the Cognition, Culture, Race, and Identity psychology course that Dr. Gardner and Dr. Larri Mazon, director of Center for Multicultural Relations, currently co-teach. Dr. Gardner will work with Dr. Mazon and the Center, as well as the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, University College and other CAS departments, to develop the new course.

In a separate award, Dr. Danke Li, assistant professor of history, has received $4,000 from the Bethesda, Md.-based Li Educational Foundation (no relation), in support of "China: Its People and Culture," a year-long series of programs. The funding will support lectures, four film screenings, and performances by Chinese musicians. Matching support from the University will provide the resources to create a website for the Asian Studies program that will feature this project, along with various other important achievements of the program's students and faculty. Dr. Peter Kwong, professor of urban affairs at Hunter College of the City University of New York and an expert on Chinese American immigrant and labor issues, presented the first lecture in the series on Dec. 1.

People's Bank provides scholarships to two students

Fairfield University students M. Isabel Torres '07 and Danielle Spears '06 have been chosen to receive People's Bank scholarships for the 2004-2005 academic year. The scholarships are given each year to Bridgeport residents with financial need.

Torres, who majors in nursing, received the $8,900 People's Bank Minority Scholarship. She is a member of the Nursing Club and the Model United Nations Club, and served on the Student Senate in her freshman year.

Spears was awarded the Thomas P. Legen '78 Memorial Scholarship of $2,500. Spears transferred to Fairfield University this year from Temple University. She is a member of UMOJA and wants to join the intramural basketball team. A biology major, she plans to attend medical school and become a pediatrician.

The Legen Scholarship is named for the late Thomas P. Legen '78, a former senior officer at People's Bank, died in 1994.

School of Nursing wins $5,000 grant

The John J. Barcklow Foundation awarded the School of Nursing $5,000 to consider ways of integrating spirituality into its geriatric nursing curriculum. Spirituality can be an essential aspect of care for older adults with medical problems, particularly those in long-term care situations, says Dr. Meredith Wallace, assistant professor of nursing.

The grant project will design a clinical rotation within Fairfield University's geriatric course for spring 2005, with a substantial emphasis on spirituality. Ten selected students and faculty members will be educated in faith-based nursing care through consultation with nursing experts specializing in this area. Low-income patients in one faith-based nursing home will be selected as recipients of this specialized care.

The grant will also fund a lecture by Sister Mary Elizabeth O'Brien, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, of the Catholic University of America, who will discuss spirituality and geriatric care on Dec. 14 at 9:30 a.m. in the School of Nursing Auditorium. An internationally renowned expert on spirituality and nursing, she has written many books and articles on the topic.

Connecticut Society of CPAs awards MBA student

Jennifer Gulianello '04, a student in Fairfield University's five-year MBA in accounting program, has been chosen to receive a Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants' Educational Trust Fund grant of $2,500 to help defray the costs of her education.

The society established the Candidate's Award to help foster the accounting profession in Connecticut. Students who have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, attained a GPA of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale, and are enrolled in a formal program in Connecticut to satisfy the 150-hour requirement of the Connecticut State Board of Accountancy, are eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Gulianello was one of two statewide winners this year. She is the first Fairfield University MBA student to receive a Candidate's Award. She previously won a $500 scholarship from the society's Educational Trust Fund. An intern at General Electric, Gulianello has signed on to work as an auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers upon graduation.

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History of a building: Southwell Hall

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Southwell HallThe oldest building on campus, Southwell Hall - named for poet St. Robert Southwell - holds the most mystery among University structures. The two-story white clapboard house, built in the Greek Revival style, is rumored to be more than 200 years old. Those who claim the building was once a busy tavern situated on the major route to Danbury during the Revolutionary War, also say the large room downstairs with the fireplace was supposedly the main pub room. There was a kitchen on the opposite side and two guest rooms upstairs.

Although this and other legends about the house cannot be verified, the Town of Fairfield's records about the structure are intriguing nonetheless.

Land records show that in 1848, Mary Burr purchased a plot of five acres and 16 rods from Seth and Eunice Osborn at Southwell's location for $150. Whether or not the existing house - or tavern - was there at the time of purchase is up for debate. While the Historical Society believes Burr built the house around that time, the town assessor's records indicate 1834 as the construction date. The 1850 census report indicates that Nicholas Burr, 73, and Mary Burr, 63, lived in this house.

After Mary's death, the land and house were valued at $1,967. James Robinson (or Robison, depending on the record) purchased the house and land, also called the "Homestead at Round Hill," for $2,500 sometime between 1858 and 1867.

Records are unclear after that, but Robinson may have sold the land in 1870 to a Polly Brown. The town's 1940 records indicate that William Lashar owned the house. It is assumed that he purchased the land and structure as part of his estate (now Bellarmine Hall), and that the building housed the estate's staff in the 1920s and 1930s.

Since the Jesuits purchased the land and existing buildings in 1942, Southwell has undergone more than one transformation. Over the years, a number of University employees called Southwell home: various Jesuits until about 1955; Francis Toal, instructor and coach; Mary Frances Kirk, the first University nurse, who lived in Southwell in retirement; and Annie O'Neill, the seamstress/laundress for the Jesuits and housemother for female students.

It was then renovated to become the Campus Ministry house and residence for Rev. Francis Moy, S.J., then-University chaplain, and Rev. Patrick Cafferty, S.J., and later, Rev. Randy Sachs, S.J., theology instructor. "The ministry was very successful," remembers Fr. Moy. "Any student could come to Campus Ministry and sign up for a dinner with their friends. For four years, we ran it four nights a week, usually with six to eight students, sometimes with faculty. All chaplains each took a turn cooking."

In the mid-1980s, the University transformed Southwell for the Office of Alumni Relations, a place University alumni could call home until 2000, when the current Alumni House was completed. Today, Southwell houses the offices of the TRIO program.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Fact or fiction?

In researching Southwell Hall's history, the following stories about the house were heard. The Fairfield Historical Society was unable to confirm them. If you can, or if you've heard other tidbits about the structure, please call Jill Caseria at ext. 2556.

  • An interior wall dates back to the Revolutionary War. The existing house was built around it.
  • Part of the house was a tavern during the Revolution.
  • The structure was once a boarding house that stood in another part of town, and was moved to its present location.

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Yossi Klein Halevi discusses religion and peace

Yossi Klein Halevieditor and columnist yossi klein halevi delivered the adolph and ruth schnurmacher lecture in judaic studies at the john a. barone campus center oak room on nov. 9. halevi tweaked his originally scheduled presentation, "the future of diaspora-israeli relations," in light of yasir arafat's imminent death and "this crucial transitional moment in the middle east," halevi said. he spoke of his journey into the world of islam and christianity in the hopes of understanding why the peace process continues to fail. "i wanted to know whether religion can be the language of reconciliation rather than incitement," he explained. the peace process would fail even if israel were to uproot all its settlements, he concluded, "because theologically, for muslims, the conflicts are not over settlements but over the fact of israel's being."

The lecture was sponsored by the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies.

Photo by Bob Winkler

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Keep your stuff safe from opportunists

Sgt. John Ritchie

Public Safety Officer Sgt. John Ritchie shares crime prevention tips with employees.



At a Nov. 30 Brown Bag Luncheon sponsored by the Office of Human Resources, Public Safety Officer Sgt. John Ritchie shared some valuable tips to prevent your home from becoming a target for criminals. Here are a few:

  • Install an alarm system. "An alarm may not prevent a break-in, but it will decrease the amount of time the criminal is in the home," he said.
  • Set up effective lighting in and around your home, use timers and motion lights, and consider leaving the television on while you are on vacation.
  • Maintain the exterior of your home. Present an "I care" image by trimming shrubs, cutting down excess trees, and fixing damage.
  • Get to know your neighbors, so you can identify a stranger quickly. Consider starting a Neighborhood Watch.

Todd Pelazza, director of public safety, also reminds employees of some basic crime-prevention tips for the office:

  • Always lock your door whenever you leave your office, even if it's just for a moment. A minute is all it takes for someone to take something. "Ninety percent of robberies on campus, whether in an office or a residence hall, happen because people don't lock their doors," he says.
  • Don't leave valuables in plain sight, whether you are in or out of your office.
  • Let people know when you will be away from your office for an extended period. Leave word with someone if repairs or work will be done in your office while you are away.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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Doing well in business to do "good" for the world

By Alejandra Navarro, Publications Writer

Karen KatenKaren Katen, president of Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals, admires the philosophy behind the education provided by Fairfield University and the Charles F. Dolan School of Business.

"You're here to learn two basic things: how to do 'good' and how to do well," she said to the students in the audience of the 4th Annual Charles F. Dolan Lecture on Nov. 10. "To do a lot of good, you have to do really well."

That's not a popular view, particularly when pharmaceutical companies have come under fire for making profits and for the cost of their drugs, said Katen, who is also executive vice president of Pfizer Inc. and is a member of the Pfizer Leadership Team. Some people believe healthcare has no business being a business, and that profit promotes corruption, she said.

"I don't believe for a minute that profit corrupts the pharmaceutical industry," Katen said. "Quite the opposite. Profit attracts revenues, it fuels invention and innovation, it improves medical care, and it improves medical outcomes." The cost of a pill is still far less than the cost of being ill or having surgery, she said.

To do good work, companies need sustainable funding. As in any business, profits attract investors. The rewards you offer investors have to match the risk. "And there is no riskier business than ours," she said.

Katen used two stories to illustrate her point: The first concerned the accidental discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 that would take until the 1940s for Howard Florey and Ernest Chain to uncover the research and, with the help and resources of Pfizer, commercially produce the first antibiotic. The second story was about a promising drug that Pfizer scientists thought could help the body build muscle. Every step of the way, the research findings looked promising, until it was tested in humans. Researchers found that it made no difference. After spending 10 years and more than a half-billion dollars, they ended the unsuccessful project, a huge personal and professional defeat for the people involved and the company.

"The stories tell you that creating medicine is very hard and very expensive," she said. "We can't rely on happy accidents. It takes time, it takes dedicated research, and it takes money to advance our work."

Pfizer, the world's largest private biomedical research company, spends more than $25 million each day on research and development, Katen said. "The bottom line is that the pharmaceutical industry invested more money into medical research than all the government and private foundations," she added. "That's honorable. That allows us to make lives better."

Helping people is the company's mission, said Katen. Its success has allowed it to provide charitable health programs around the globe. Pfizer is dedicated to eradicating trachoma, a contagious eye infection that causes blindness, and is commonly found in northern African countries. Pfizer is providing the medicine and funding the cost of preventing the spread of the disease. By next year, the company expects to eliminate trachoma in Morocco, and have other countries follow.

"Some people say that doing well and doing good simply do not fit together," Katen said. "We know that's not true."

Photo by Bob Winkler

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Alpha Sigma Nu inducts 44

Alpha Sigma Nu

In October, Alpha Sigma Nu, the honor society of Jesuit institutions of higher education since 1915, inducted 32 new members from the Class of 2005. New this year, the society included 10 graduate students. Students who rank in the top 15 percent of their class may be considered for membership. Congratulations to the following inductees, pictured above, with University President Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., Rev. Charles Allen, executive assistant to the president, and Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president: Class of 2005: Carolyn Arnold, Eileen Arnold, Sarah Bachman, Grace Bermudez, Sean Boyle, Elizabeth Burns, Julia Cuncio, Erin Daly, Gregory DiCamillo, Jessica Dolan, Timothy Eberle, Liana Martuccio, Christopher McGee, Katherine Petta, Lauren Puma, Brett Ritterbeck, Angela Schuster, Melody Serafino, Joshua St. Onge, Carolyn Stankiewicz, Julia Tedesco, Erin Teeling, Michael Tellerico, Kathryn Turcsany, Alexandra Uehling, Andrea Vanacore, Robert Williams. Graduate students: Sharon Benard, Kathleen D'Amico, Michael DeMarco Jr., Catherine Desmarais, Lydia Greiner, Marianne Gumpper, Paul Lizotte, Melissa Reardon, Deirdre Magner Schoenster, Nancy Torson Watsky. University College: Peter Daniels, Christine Duffy, Pamela Kelly. Honorary members: Rev. James M. Bowler, S.J., Dr. Michael Brienza.

Photo by B.K. Angeletti

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Remembering El Salvador

Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J.

At a campus Mass held Nov. 14, University President Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., and students remembered the six Jesuit priests, the community cook, and her teenage daughter, assassinated in 1989 in El Salvador by soldiers who trained at the U.S. Army's School of Americas (now named Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation). The Mass marked the beginning of campus's Jesuit Identity Week, which included discussions, films, reflection, and a send-off for 14 members of the University community attending the annual remembrance and protest at the Institute.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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Happenings

Musical version of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas comes to the Quick Center

A fresh musical take on the classic Santa Claus tale, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, will take the stage on Dec. 12 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Two more performances, part of the Quick Center's ArtsBound Schoolday Series, will take place on Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. and noon.

The musical takes the audience into the home of Clement Clark Moore, the New York educator and poet who wrote the timeless 1823 poem, "A Visit From Saint Nicholas." 'Twas the Night Before Christmas is a creation of Richmond-based Theatre IV. For tickets, call the Box Office at ext. 4010.

The New Haven Symphony Orchestra to perform selections from The Polar Express

Music from the hit film The Polar Express will be featured in a holiday concert by the New Haven Symphony Orchestra Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. This program includes highlights from Kapilow's score for the movie, selections from Handel's Samson and Bach's The Christmas Oratorio, and other sacred and secular holiday favorites. For tickets, call the Box Office at ext. 4010.

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

Editor
Jill Kasiewicz Caseria

Assistant Director of University Publications

Editorial Board
Martha Milcarek

Assistant Vice President for Public Relations
Barbara Kiernan

Director of University Publications
Jean Santopatre

University Photojournalist

Fairfield University

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