Campus Currents June 2007

Volume 15, Number 9
The official news publication of Fairfield University

Index for June 5, 2007

Dr. Billy Weitzer breaks new ground at Fairfield
Class of 2007 encouraged to be advocates for justice
For Kellys, Commencement is a family affair
Firm offers ideas for the future of campus
Campus Newsbreakers
Service Anniversaries
Fairfield mourns the loss of a faculty leader
Faculty promotions and retirements
Faculty Research: Dr. Strauss
Rick Taylor departs after 20 years of building Fairfield
Dr. Ray Poincelot pitches in as interim dean of CAS
Dr. Robbin Crabtree: A challenging "Teacher of the Year"
C&NS Tech Talk: What's the hype about running Windows on Macs?
SOE offers new five-year dual degree
Relay for Life raises $30,000
Sports: Eight Stag teams honored for academic excellence
Gene Doris inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame
Annual Athletics Banquet honors Student-Athletes
Library awards inaugural research prize
Fairfield students bring space to schools
Campus Operations and Planning reorganized
Staff Association awards scholarship
Mirror staff wins journalism awards

Dr. Billy Weitzer: Breaking new ground at Fairfield

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

At an Ignatian Residential College dinner, Dr. William "Billy" Weitzer shares with students advice he's found to be priceless: focus on finding a passion, not a position. "When you know what you want to learn, college really takes off for you," he says in a conversation about his own career path. "It is difficult to plan out a career since you someday may find yourself in a job that doesn't even exist yet."

This he knows from experience. Dr. Weitzer began his career in what was then the emerging field of environmental psychology, the study of the relationship between humans and their surroundings. After a decade studying and working in environmental psychology, he brought this expertise to University administrative positions at Wesleyan University and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. "I didn't leave environmental psychology," he explains to the students. "It affects the way I view and know the world."

This experience is also an asset in his current post as senior vice president at Fairfield University - a position that didn't exist until this year. Dr. Weitzer oversees University-wide planning efforts, including institutional research and facilities planning. He has taken the lead on several projects; the most prominent is the implementation of the strategic plan.

In any given week, Dr. Weitzer's calendar is filled with meetings across campus: with administrators, faculty, and students, in addition to job candidates and consultants. Not only are they getting to know one of the campus' newest neighbors, as he recently moved a few blocks from campus, but they are also learning how the strategic goals can create a stronger campus community. This particular week is no different.

Monday: Tapping into the opinions of students

At the Ignatian Residential College dinner on Monday, he asks students, "Do you know about the strategic plan?" Catching a few puzzled looks among the faces, he pushes up his sleeves and begins to explain each goal: the integration of the core, the integration of living and learning, the integration of Jesuit ideals in graduate and professional

education, the support of the Jesuit mission and identity, and diversity. It's a description he's repeated several dozen times since he arrived in October, but it's one that continues to evolve and improve.

He shares with the group some of his ideas that can move along the strategic plan, including creating more program housing. These would be similar to the Ignatian Residential College, but dedicated to different themes, such as the environment or politics. Another idea, Dr. Weitzer explains, would be to create open areas around campus that would encourage outdoor activities and recreational sports (and not just because he has a penchant for Ultimate Frisbee, which he learned from his daughter).

Each time he meets with different members of the campus community, he uses these conversations to determine how best to implement the University's strategic goals.

Dr. Weitzer believes that students are critical to the process. "We've had some student involvement in the development of the strategic plan, but they can also help on the applied level," he says. "We really do need their input."

Dr. Weitzer is in tune with just how important students' opinions can be for such a project. His family keeps him connected to a variety of campuses: his wife, Lisa Grant, is a professor at Hebrew Union College in New York City, his daughter, Hannah, recently graduated from Brown University, and his son, Nate, just finished his freshman year at Skidmore College.

Dr. Billy Weitzer speaks with students at an Ignatian Residential College dinner.

Tuesday: Exploring a new approach to the strategic plan

Dr. Weitzer expects everyone to contribute ideas. At a strategic implementation meeting on Tuesday, he assigns a task to each of the administrators and vice presidents present. Instead of looking at how to apply each goal, he had the group look at how each goal could be applied to the experiences, programs, and activities associated with a particular moment in a student's life, from pre-college to post-graduation. The University's goals shouldn't be viewed independently, explains Dr. Weitzer.

The Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., who tackled applying the goals to the junior year, likes the approach. As an example, he notes that students' participation in study abroad and mission trips contributes to the integration of living and learning. "It fits into the natural progression of life," he says. "It's something that comes very naturally - and it's something we can get excited about."

As the ideas pour from the group, Dr. Tom Pellegrino scribbles them down on Post-it® poster sheets. By the end of the meeting, Dr. Weitzer smiles, overwhelmingly pleased at the row of sheets stuck to walls with lists of ways the goals can be incorporated into students' lives.

"It's like looking into a kaleidoscope," he said of the goals. "We keep turning it on its side to see the way the goals blend together."

Wednesday: Diving into graduate school goals

Not all goals are clearly defined or will be as easy to implement. On Wednesday, Dr. Weitzer dove into Goal III with the faculty and administration of the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions. The chairs of each program within GSEAP share with Dr. Weitzer the ways in which the faculty have been forming relationships with local communities that focus on service learning and social justice.

Dr. Weitzer noted that some people on campus may feel that they don't have great ideas to contribute to each of the goals. "Don't let that underestimate your value to the strategic plan and the institution," he says. "You are integrating the strategic plan by becoming familiar with it and having it guide your day-to-day actions and decisions."

Dr. Susan Franzosa, dean of GSEAP, had an opportunity to work with Dr. Weitzer on the University's proposed daycare center. "I love his energy and enthusiasm," she says. "I've been impressed with him so far."

Meeting with the campus community, he often finds himself on the receiving end of tough questions. On this day, this group of professors, fierce advocates for their students, ask about boosting scholarships for graduate students.

"It saddens me that students want to become psychologists, counselors, and teachers, but they don't have the financial resources," says Dr. Bogusia Molina, associate professor of counselor education.

Dr. Weitzer nods in agreement, but also stresses the importance of fiscal responsibility on campus, something he's become well versed in as part of the budget and the faculty salary committees. He suggests that external gifts and grants might be a source of funds for this purpose. He notes that the newly created Office of Institutional Research will help coordinate the information already being collected in the different corners of the University to apply for grants and funding for new programs and scholarships. He is currently conducting interviews for the director of this three-person office.

Thursday: Hitting the books with faculty

Late Thursday morning, Dr. Weitzer arrived at Vino's restaurant in Fairfield to find Dr. Betsy Gardner, professor of psychology in CAS, counting seats at a table for a conversation on diversity. The group, made up of faculty and administrators, including Dr. Weitzer, is preparing for a summer institute for faculty learning communities at the Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education.

"Do we have enough chairs?" Dr. Gardner asks aloud, recounting seats.

"O.K. chairs, stop moving," Dr. Weitzer commands, revealing a playfulness that puts the members at ease.

Being part of this group, Dr. Weitzer gets to know the faculty and participates in intellectual conversations, many of which mirror those taking place in the classroom.

For this team-building assignment, participants must select three books on diversity that all students should read. Dr. Weitzer suggests A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from Inner City to Ivy League, by Ron Suskind. "It shows the difficulty just getting out of high school and fitting into the culture of college life," he says. "I really found it incredible." It is the type of book, he explains, that illustrates the challenges most college-bound students never encounter.

Diversity played a large role in his conversation with the Ignatian Residential students earlier in the week. They described the heated debates they've had in their courses on the contentious issue of affirmative action. Dr. Weitzer understood the concerns, particularly about scholarship money, given the growing tuition costs and the financial squeeze on middle class families.

It would have been easy to gloss over the concerns with a cautious response. Instead, he dove into the subject. "I believe very strongly in the value of diversity," he says. He describes the difficulty in hiring a diverse faculty, for example, given our tendency to gravitate unconsciously to those who are like us, those who research topics we know, and those who use research methods we've used.

The conversation underscores the importance of giving students the exposure and the experience of living and learning alongside people from all social, economic, and racial backgrounds. "It's good to get students to leave their comfort zones," he says after the dinner.

He's working on ways to have students connect both in the classroom and on campus. Darting from his office in Bellarmine Hall to his next engagement, Dr. Weitzer pauses at the quad in the middle of the freshmen dorms and shakes his head.

"It's a beautiful space, but there's something about the spaces between these buildings that doesn't bring people together," Dr. Weitzer says. Tapping into his expertise in environmental psychology, Dr. Weitzer is collaborating with landscape architects, who are in the process of developing guidelines on how to create a more coherent physical campus.

He brings up these concerns at his meeting with Dr. Tim Snyder, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, and Dr. Rick Dewitt, professor of philosophy. After discussing how to present the strategic plan at a retreat for department chairs, the trio's conversation veers to the physical campus.

Dr. Weitzer discusses his desire to get faculty more involved in student life and the benefit of creating a common area in each dorm to promote a living and learning environment and reflection. His ideas bubble up fast, but he's careful to listen to the reaction of his audience before moving forward.

His eagerness to listen to people is what impresses Fr. Allen. "He arrived on campus willing to listen to how Fairfield works, and suggesting tweaks when necessary, instead of instituting sweeping changes," says Fr. Allen. "I say, ‘If it's not broken, improve it slowly.' And that's what I see happening here."

Friday: Reviewing the week with the president

Dr. Weitzer meets with University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., on Friday - the last of several meetings he's had with the president this week - to communicate the news and issues developing on campus and in higher education.

Dr. Weitzer's role reflects an important moment in Fairfield's becoming a more integrated university, says Fr. von Arx. "He is responsible both for moving forward our strategic plan, whose main theme is the integration of learning, and also for a new model of integrated management that will assure the collaboration of the various divisions of the University toward common goals. With Billy attending to continuity and collaboration in our planning, I have been freed up for the kind of strategic thinking that a university president should do, and for having greater presence to the various constituencies of the University. I am grateful for his presence and for the considerable talents experience, knowledge, and personality that he brings to a complex and challenging job."

Photos by Jean Santopatre

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Class of 2007 encouraged to be advocates for justice

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

After walking across the stage, engineering student Jon Vallee is ready to celebrate. His brother, who is stationed in Iraq, sent word that he would be thinking of him on this day. Mike Zaffetti follows Vallee.

Meghan Lowney, MSW, receives an honorary doctor of laws degree from President Jeffrey P. von Arx.

Fr. von Arx watches the procession of excited graduates.

Jessica Lew stands out in a crowd.

Brendan Hermalyn tips his cap to the family and friends in the audience.

At Commencement on May 20, the Class of 2007 received one last assignment. The Rev. Thomas Regan, S.J., the Provincial Superior of the New England Province of the Society of Jesus, challenged students to think about the extent to which they have embraced and will continue to embrace their Jesuit education.

"I hope that your Jesuit education has impressed upon you the virtue of the Magis, the more," said Fr. Regan, who previously taught at Fairfield. "You should never evaluate yourselves or others in terms of the size of your wallet or the impressive sounding nature of your title. Rather, you should evaluate yourselves by the extent to which you live out a daily commitment to be 'men and women for others'."

That was the message for the 1,226 graduates receiving 863 bachelor's degrees, 340 master's degrees, 17 certificates of advanced study, and six associate's degrees.

At the ceremony, Ashley Toombs received the Saint Ignatius Loyola Medal for outstanding university service and Anthony Kunz received the Bellarmine Medal, which is given to the student with the highest four-year GPA. For devoting their lives to service and learning, the University also conferred honorary doctor of laws degrees on Fr. Regan; Edward P. Hardiman, Ph.D., '92; Meghan K. Lowney, MSW; and James P. Roach, M.D.

As the sun fought back morning sprinkles, Fr. Regan led the students through the many intellectual, personal, and spiritual experiences of the past several years as Fairfield students that have culminated in this milestone.

"Because of who you are and the Jesuit education that you have received here at Fairfield University, you should always consider your integrity as non-negotiable," he said. "You can and should always feel an inner urge to get personally involved in the struggle for justice throughout our contemporary world."

In his valedictory address, David Charles Muccino spoke of how he was inspired during his time at Fairfield to support and be an advocate for charity and justice in the community and abroad. The interdisciplinary core curriculum, the service learning courses, and the cultural performances - such as the stage version of Dead Man Walking - encouraged reflection and action.

The Rev. Thomas Regan, S.J., delivers the Commencement address.

Actor Bill Murray congratulates his son, Luke Murray

He told of his mission trip to Haiti, where he encountered Pierre, a boy suffering from malnutrition. "When I first approached Pierre, he was lying in his bed, lethargically swatting flies around his face," he said. He witnessed alumnus Doug Perltiz '92 pay for medical care that ultimately could not save the boy's life.

"While Pierre's death will forever remain a testament to the inequities of the world," he said, "Doug's actions of charity and justice will forever resonate with potential that we hold as Fairfield graduates. Today we graduate with the challenge to be more so that we too may effect positive change in the world."

In the closing remarks, University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., said, "You leave Fairfield objects of our hopes and our longings, of our dreams and our aspirations. And you leave of course with our best wishes, our prayers, and our blessings."

Photos by Jean Santopatre and B.K. Angeletti

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Fairfield employees, sons, & daughters graduate

Congratulations to the following employees in the Class of 2007:

• Pam Kelly, operations assistant, Graduate School of Education & Allied Professions (GSEAP) - B.A.
• Rose Olexovitch, program assistant, mathematics and computer science, College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) - M.A.
• Kristen Smith-Michels, communications coordinator, Admission - M.A.
• Sandra Stock, teacher/bookstore director, Fairfield Prep - M.A.
• Patrick Wiseman, assistant men's soccer coach - MBA

The following are the sons and daughters of employees who graduated:

• Alicia Castelot (daughter of Annette Castelot, secretary, School of Engineering) - B.A.
• Christopher Daniele (son of Jean Daniele, administrative assistant, CAS) - B.A.
• Joseph Duffy (son of Christine Duffy, program assistant, Development Services) - B.A.
• Alison Dusenbery (daughter of Barbara Dusenbery, operations assistant, Dolan School of Business) - B.A.
• Beth Grossman (daughter of Dr. Sheila Grossman, professor, School of Nursing) - B.S.
• Kaitlyn Kelly (daughter of Pam Kelly, operations assistant, GSEAP) - B.A.
• Jacqueline Miller (daughter of Linda Miller, secretary, English, CAS) - B.S.
• Eileen Mullan (daughter of Dr. James Mullan, associate professor, English, CAS) - B.A.
• Marion Schimpf (daughter of Bill Schimpf, former vice president of Student Services, and Clare Schimpf, director of Annual Giving) - B.A.
• Bridget Takacs (daughter of Marianne Takacs, purchasing assistant, Purchasing) - B.S.
• Christina Testa (daughter of Louis Testa, supervisor, Central Receiving) - B.S.

For Kellys, Commencement is a family affair

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

Our children learn, not from what we say, but from what we do. Pam Kelly's children learned the importance of an education by

Commencement is a family affair for Pam Kelly (center) and son Patrick and daughter Kaitlyn.

Kellys at Commencement.

watching their mother study the night away at the kitchen table after putting in a day's work as an operations assistant in the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions. Kelly began college when her children were in elementary school.

"I remember her writing papers and reading assignments after work," says daughter Kaitlyn Kelly '07. "She didn't have the opportunity to go to school when she was my age. Seeing her work so hard for her education made me realize how important it was for me to go to college."

Eight years later, mother and daughter walked across the stage at Commencement in May, both graduating cum laude. And to make the ceremony a family affair, Pam Kelly's son, Patrick Kelly '10, carried the arts gonfalon for the College of Arts & Sciences.

Kelly credits her children with encouraging her to pursue a bachelor's degree. "I couldn't believe the things they were learning at such a young age," she says, remembering when she would help them with homework assignments. "They were my inspiration."

When Kelly was younger, college didn't seem as necessary. "My mom didn't tell us we couldn't go to college; it just wasn't pushed as much back then," says Kelly, who got married at 21 and then had two children.

Attending college wasn't always easy, but she had helpful professors - even in her more challenging subjects, such as math. "Dr. Ben Fine was just so great," Kelly says. "He really helped me get through it." And there were always students willing to help. "You always had someone to work with."

She also had the benefit of great study partners at home. Kaitlyn Kelly remembers talking about classes and exchanging papers with her mom to review. "It was like a buddy system," she says, adding with a giggle, "Sometimes, I teased her because she studied more than I did. She was making me look bad!"

Pam Kelly graduated with a bachelor's degree in English. Eager to continue learning, she's already enrolled in the GSEAP counseling program and will begin taking classes this summer. That same ambition is apparent in her children. Kaitlyn Kelly, who graduated with degrees in Italian and French, has an internship at the International Institute in Bridgeport and has applied to the teaching and foundations graduate program in GSEAP. She also was awarded a French government scholarship to the island of Martinique to teach English to children. Patrick Kelly will begin his sophomore year as a member of the Ignatian Residential College.

At Commencement, it's usually the parents who are beaming over the milestones of their children. "Sunday was the third best day of my life, the first two best days being the days they were born," says Pam Kelly.

In the Kelly family, the admiration is mutual. "It took her a long time to get where she is," says Kaitlyn Kelly of her mom. "She's finally reached her goal and I'm really proud of her."

Photos by Jean Santopatre

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Firm offers ideas for the future of campus

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

Fairfield University could create a more cohesive and pedestrian-friendly campus by moving vehicular traffic to the edges of the University and building more direct pathways through the center of campus, according to representatives from the architectural planning firm of Ayers Saint Gross Architects at a May 17 open session.

The University hired the Baltimore-based firm to provide options for how best to develop and design the physical campus to meet the needs of the University. The open session constituted an opportunity for the firm to present ideas and collect input from the campus community.

"We think there are a lot of ties to the language of the strategic plan and open space planning," said Betsy Boykin, a landscape architect with Ayers Saint Gross, who delivered the presentation with her colleague Jennifer Dillon. Integration of the core, for example, could be facilitated by strengthening the pathways between academic buildings and providing more spaces for collaborative work and reflection, she said.

The firm recommended creating primary pathways between main points across campus, and secondary pathways for less-used routes. Use of a similar palette of materials could help achieve a consistency that doesn't currently exist on campus. The firm also suggested making a tertiary pathway around the University that would allow members of the campus community to experience the lush forest-like areas of campus.

Dr. Billy Weitzer, senior vice president, who is overseeing campus planning and design, said that improving the pathways could make the distances between buildings seem shorter. "We can't shorten the distances between points on campus, but we can change the way people feel about those distances so they seem shorter," he said.

The firm will make recommendations about the ideal palette of materials and colors to use in pathways, benches, lighting fixtures, signs, and trash receptacles on campus. The firm will also offer a list of possible trees and plants that could be good options for University use, but Boykin added that Fairfield has a beautiful collection of plants already on campus.

Many in attendance offered their opinions on the proposed ideas. Some questioned if the changes would make it difficult to access to the center of campus; others suggested the type of trees and vegetation they would like to see planted. Dr. Weitzer emphasized that all of these suggestions will be evaluated and comments and concerns from the University community will be considered before decisions are made. Proposals will be brought before the Board of Trustees in June for additional feedback. The consultants will produce a landscape master plan in the fall that will provide a "blueprint" for projects that will be designed and constructed over time.

Some possible options presented included:

• Replacing the rotary in front of the Barone Campus Center and a portion of Loyola Drive with a more pedestrian-friendly design.
• Creating a traffic circle in back of Xavier Hall for Fairfield Prep students in order to move traffic away from the University.
• Building an outdoor amphitheater on the south side of the BCC.
• Consolidating parking spaces outside the center of campus. Parking is currently scattered across campus and consumes approximately 24 acres. A more comprehensive parking study, however, would need to be conducted first.

Dr. James Biardi, assistant professor of biology in CAS, said he was pleased to see the effort to make the campus more pedestrian-friendly as it will encourage students to be more engaged with each other and the campus. "This design makes the students a part of campus by getting them out of their cars and onto the pathways."

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Dr. Philip Eliasoph, professor of visual and performing arts in the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), was mentioned in an article on a Connecticut Forum panel discussion, entitled "Saving the World," in the May issue of Connecticut Magazine. Phil Donahue, who appeared in an Open VISIONS Forum last October, also mentioned Dr. Eliasoph in an article in Country Capitalist, No. 4, 2007. Dr. Eliasoph's essay about his scholarly "re-discovery" of the American master Paul Cadmus appears in the catalogue published by Christie's New York for its May 24 sale of "Important American Art." Consulting with the American art experts at Christie's, Dr. Eliasoph served as a liaison between the international auction house and the estate of Paul Cadmus in organizing a range of paintings, drawings, prints, and archival photographs for the auction event.

"College students will very likely rely on MySpace.com as an important source for information during the next presidential election," Dr. Gisela Gil-Egui, assistant professor of communication in CAS, said in a May 3 article in the online news source TechNewsWorld about Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign taking over a MySpace Web page. "One of the reasons is that they still trust this site as a neutral, noncommercial, and student-led place for social interaction," she said.

Dr. Joel Goldfield, associate professor and chair of modern languages and literature, and Dr. Kurt Schlichting, professor of sociology, both in CAS, co-authored the book chapter, "Foreign language and sociology: Exploring French society and culture," published in Understanding Place: GIS and Mapping Across the Curriculum (September 2006). In addition, Dr. Goldfield has been selected as a summer Scholar-in-Residence at New York University, where he is working with NYU faculty on a research project, "Computational Stylometry and the Use of Large-Corpus Databases in the Human Translation of French Literary Texts."

In April, Le Monde Diplomatique (France) published the article "En Irak, la reconstruction aussi est un échec," by Dr. Joy Gordon, professor of philosophy in CAS. In the English edition, the title is "Follow the Money: Iraq." The article was translated and published in several of Le Monde Diplomatique's foreign language editions, including Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Farsi, Afrikaans, German, and Romanian. Another article by Dr. Gordon, "When Unilateralism is Invisible: A Different Perspective on the Oil for Food Scandal," appeared in the March issue of the journal Global Governance. Last fall, her article, "The Accusations Against the Oil for Food Program: The Volcker Reports," appeared in Arab Studies Quarterly.

Dr. Ingeborg Haug, associate professor of marriage and family therapy in the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions (GSEAP), taught a three-credit course in professional ethics at the Universidad Latinoamericana, Centro Integral de la Familia in Quito, Ecuador, in March. Dr. Haug has been affiliated with the Center since 1990 and has been instrumental in helping establish marriage and family therapy training in Ecuador.

Discussing his research on head injuries and the long-lasting impact of concussions, Dr. Tim Heitzman, assistant professor of psychology in CAS, was interviewed on several radio shows, including Cox Broadcasting's Star 99.9/WPLR 99.1 Public Affairs show on March 25; WTIC News Talk 1080's Mornings with Ray and Diane show on April 6; and WICC 600 AM's David Smith Exchange on April 27.

In a Connecticut Business News Journal article on the growing influence of technology in our lives, Dr. Christopher Huntley, associate professor of information technology and operations management in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business (DSB), said "Technology is getting smaller, more powerful and more personal. I think that will continue. People will be carrying out more and more of their lives online. None of us seems to be off the wire anymore."

In March, Dr. Elizabeth Langran, assistant professor and chair of educational technology in GSEAP, presented "The Tapestry Project: Digital Stories at the United Nations Global Youth Summit," at the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education annual conference in San Antonio, Texas. In April, she presented "Using Distributed Leadership to Sustain a Technology Initiative" at the American Educational Research Association annual meeting in Chicago.

Laudemus viros gloriosos: Essays in Honor of Armand Maurer, CSB (University of Notre Dame Press, 2007) includes the essay "Undoing the Past: Fishacre and Rufus on the Limits of God's Power" by Dr. R. James Long, professor of philosophy in CAS. This is the sixth Festschrift to which he has been invited to contribute. Dr. Long also organized and chaired the session, "The Encyclopedia of Bartholomew the Englishman: New Edition, New Insights" at the 42nd International Congress on Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo from May 10 to 14.

Dr. Sharlene McEvoy, professor of business law in DSB, presented the paper, "The Case of the Defaulting Donors: Can Colleges and Universities Rely on Promissory Estoppel and Gift Agreements to Reinforce Promised Donations?" at the annual meeting of the Northeast Academy of Legal Studies in Business in Galloway, New Jersey, April 27 to 29. The paper dealt with the problems nonprofit organizations have in collecting pledged donations and the responsibilities recipients have in adhering to promised naming opportunities for donors. At the conference, Dr. McEvoy also participated on the panel, "The Business Law Minor: Why or Why Not?" and was elected program chair and president elect for the 2008 meeting.

Dr. Elizabeth Petrino, associate professor of English in CAS, was awarded a research fellowship at the American Antiquarian Society, a national private research library in Worcester, Mass., which contains collections that document American society and history from the Colonial period to the Civil War and Reconstruction. She will be working this summer on her project, "'Kitchen in Parnassus': Lydia Sigourney as Poet, Activist, and Historian." Her project will explore the writings of Lydia Sigourney, who wrote numerous poems and essays discussing slavery, Indian removal, and women's rights; she will compile a bibliography for an edited volume of her selected works.

Jeff Potocki, software support specialist, and Jay Rozgonyi, assistant director, both in Computing and Network Services, presented the track session "iPods + iTunes + Faculty = iTunes U at Fairfield University" at the annual NERCOMP (NorthEast Regional Computing Program) conference hosted by Educause in Worcester, Mass., from March 20 to 21. The session focused on implementing iPods and podcasting technology into faculty curricula as well as accommodating the needs of university administration. On March 27, Potocki presented "Podcasting: New Oxford Dictionary Word of the Year!" at the Fairfield Woods Branch Public Library as part of its Spring Lecture Series. On April 9, Potocki also discussed podcasting with David Smith, host of the David Smith Exchange radio show on WICC 600. On April 13, Potocki and Dr. Richard Regan, assistant professor of English in CAS, presented a lecture at Worcester Polytechnic Institute on why faculty should podcast, from a pedagogical standpoint. Dr. Alfred Benney, professor of religious studies in CAS, also contributed to the lecture by recording an audio podcast that was downloaded to be presented.

Dr. Jackie Rinaldi, adjunct professor of English in CAS, presented "How Language Shapes Patient Identity" at the March 2007 Conference on Composition and Communication.

In an April 29 Observer article on the new film based on the life of director Leni Riefenstahl, Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, associate professor of history in CAS, said, "She created beautiful surface images for Nazism. With the medium of film she orchestrated that very persuasive image for many Germans. She had a big impact." Riefenstahl made the Nazi propaganda film Triumph of the Will.

In addition to congestion on our roadways, a number of other problems emerge with population growth, said Dr. Kurt Schlicting, professor of sociology in CAS, in a May 12 Connecticut Post article. "We've never been able to reconcile the want to own that suburban home and the need for rational planning and growth," he said.

Highly publicized scandals, such as the Enron debacle, are leading the country closer to business accountability, Dr. David Schmidt, associate professor of business ethics in DSB, told the New Haven Register in its May 6 edition. "There have been high-level scandals, and there are very strong responses to these scandals in terms of regulations," he said.

In April, Dr. Kathleen Wheeler, professor in the School of Nursing, presented "Neuroscience, Psychotherapy and Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing" at the International Society of Psychiatric Nursing Annual Conference in Montreal and "Challenges and Realities of Teaching Psychotherapy: A Survey of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Graduate Programs" at the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Annual Conference in Denver.

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5 years
Thomas Angelucci
Lawrence Carroll
Jeffrey Werneke

10 years
Patrick Bike
Alison Sexton

15 years
Linda Gustavson
Deborah Sommers

20 years
Cecilio Martinez
Sandra Robinson
Richard Taylor

25 years
Charles Bond

30 years
Todd Pelazza

Service Anniversaries
July 2007

5 years
Joseph DeFeo
Robert Didato
Elizabeth Hastings
Claudia Nielsen

10 years
Andre Albert
Jacqueline Kane

15 years
Philip Palumbo

20 years
Matthew Dinnan

25 years
Jeanne Di Muzio

30 years
Stanley Kisiel

Births
Chris (Barata) Puttock, program assistant in the Dolan School - son, Mateus Anthony. He was born on April 9.

Condolences
Francis McGinn, Sr., grandfather of Colleen McGinn, assistant director of alumni relations, died on April 29.

New Employees
Deana Dunkin - Registration Processor, University Registrar
Joseph Frager - Head Women's Basketball Coach
Donna Ormsbee - Secretary, Residence Life
Michelle Robles - Academic Counselor, Talent Search

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Fairfield mourns loss of faculty leader
By Barbara Kiernan, Director of Publications

Dr. George Lang, professor of mathematics in the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), died on May 9, 2007, following a brief illness. His death came as a shock to the University community. "It is hard news to absorb," said University President Jeffrey von Arx, S.J., in a memo to the community, "given the lively and dynamic life that George lived. He was what we encourage our students to be - well-rounded, passionate about his beliefs, and generous in his concern for others."

Dr. Lang joined the University's Department of Mathematics in 1970 and helped establish the Department's computer science program a decade later. During his tenure as department chair, the program was elevated to a concentration and a major, leading CAS to rename the area as the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.

As a faculty member, Dr. Lang was elected by his peers to many leadership roles, including Secretary of the General Faculty. In this capacity, he challenged employment and administrative decisions of the University, giving important voice to alternative viewpoints. Always well prepared (and able to quote Catholic social teaching on the spot), Dr. Lang was an active and respected member of the national, state, and Fairfield University chapters of the American Association of University Professors.

Outside the University, he enjoyed acting in community theatre and was an active member of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Fairfield. He quietly supported various charities, including those that serve people with disabilities. While raising his now-grown children, Susan and Kenyon, Dr. Lang volunteered with the Cub Scouts, and coached and refereed soccer.

In addition to his children, Dr. Lang is survived by his wife, Mary-beth. Funeral services were held in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola on May 14, and a memorial service is planned this fall.

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Faculty promotions and retirements

Promoted to professor:
Dr. Betsy Bowen, English in the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS)
Dr. Javier Campos, modern languages and literature in CAS
Dr. Wendy Kohli, curriculum and instruction in the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions
Dr. Douglas Lyons, School of Engineering
Dr. Marie-Agnes Sourieau, modern languages and literature in CAS
Dr. Stephen Sawin, math and computer science, CAS
Dr. Michael White, English in CAS

Promoted to associate professor and received tenure:
Dr. Peter Bayers, English in CAS
Dr. Suzanne Campbell, School of Nursing

Promoted to associate professor:
Dr. Margaret Wills, communication in CAS

Faculty retirements
Dr. Alan N. Katz (1970 - 2007)
Dr. Roselie E. McDevitt (1984 - 2007)
Dr. Edward J. O'Neill (1967 - 2007)
Dr. Joseph E. Sarneski (1976 - 2007)

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Dr. Strauss: Dismantling terrorist groups via the courts

By Meg McCaffrey, Assistant Director of Media Relations

Dr. Debra Strauss's inspiration to write an article - one that was ultimately cited in the Pan Am Flight 103 terrorist prosecution case - came in 1999 when she heard Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center speak at an University College Open VISIONS Forum lecture. Dees has been instrumental in initiating civil lawsuits against hate groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan, as an alternative and supplement to the criminal justice system.

This made an impression on Dr. Strauss, assistant professor of business law in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. "As the U.S. government has been proceeding on military and diplomatic fronts in the war against terrorism, it occurred to me that private citizens could bring lawsuits against terrorist organizations so as to dry up their assets and financial backing, thereby eliminating the funding for future terrorist activities," she said.

Dr. Strauss went to work on writing an article that would be cited by the District Court for the District of Columbia in a landmark case pertaining to terrorism and the downing of Pan Am Flight 103. Her article, "Enlisting the U.S. Courts in a New Front: Dismantling the International Business Holdings of Terrorist Groups Through Federal Statutory and Common-Law Suits," was published in the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law, Vol. 38(3), May 2005.

"In my article, I argue that the national approach that has been used to dismantle the infrastructure of hate groups can be extended to the international realm and used against terrorist groups," she said. "The foundation of this approach is a private right to a cause of action rather than, or in addition to, relying upon military or diplomatic efforts by the government. The U.S. courts, aided by Congress's lending of statutory support, have begun to pave the way for civil lawsuits brought by U.S. victims of terrorism against terrorist organizations and the states that enable them."

The article analyzes case precedents under several federal statutes - the Antiterrorism Act of 1991, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the Torture Victim Protection Act, and the Alien Tort Claims Act - as well as state common-law tort claims, including aiding and abetting liability. It proposes a model by which victims could bring lawsuits against terrorist groups, organizations, and state sponsors of international terrorism. In addition, the article outlines important tools for plaintiffs in the civil battle against terrorism by exploring the obstacles to and avenues for enforcement of these judgments through the rule of international law and access to the frozen assets of terrorist states and organizations.

In Hurst v. The Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, et.al. (Civil Action No. 02-02147) 474 F. Supp. 2d 19, 24 (D.D.C. 2007), the court cited Dr. Strauss's article as the authority in interpreting Section 2337 of the Antiterrorism Act, thereby denying the defendants' motion to dismiss the case. In effect, this case has allowed a civil lawsuit against Libya and Libyan officers waged by the families of some of the Pan Am passengers to continue. All 259 passengers on board the London to New York flight and 11 people on the ground, were killed on December 21, 1988, when the plane exploded 31,000 feet in the air over Lockerbie, Scotland.

The defendants in the case are Libyan Arab Airlines (LAA), the Jamahiriya Security Organization (JSO), the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, and two Libyan intelligence officers who were LAA employees.

Investigators determined that a portable radio cassette player packed in a brown Samsonite suitcase that was smuggled onto the plane caused the explosion. An explosive device within the player was constructed with a digital timer manufactured and purchased by Libya.

"This article has also made its way into the encyclopedic legal sources as the cited authority in this area," Dr. Strauss said. "Now the article has reached the courts in support of precisely the type of lawsuits I had proposed against terrorist groups and state sponsors of terrorism."

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Ric Taylor departs after 20 years of building Fairfield

By Meredith Guinness, Publications Writer

Ask Ric Taylor about his favorite project in his 20-year career at Fairfield and you'll get an unexpected answer.

"I'd have to say the Canisius Hall renovation," says Taylor, associate vice president for Campus Planning and Operations. "We had 93 days and it had to be completely gutted and we had to move everyone out. If we didn't make it in 93 days, we would be without one of our main classroom buildings."

Ninety-three days came and went and a crowd gathered at the rededication ceremony, eager to get a peek at their new digs. Little did they know, Taylor and his crew were still laying carpet upstairs. "It was literally down to the last minute," he says with a laugh. "I was pretty proud of that one."

When Taylor leaves his post this month, it will be that blend of professionalism, humor, and ingenuity that those who've worked with him say they'll miss.

"He's been able to use his imagination to find interesting solutions," says Associate Academic Vice President Mary Frances Malone, who worked on the sleek library redesign with Taylor. "It's always been a personal and professional pleasure to work with Ric."

Taylor oversaw many projects that have changed the face of the campus, including the new Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Center. Associate Academic Vice President for Enrollment Management Judy Dobai praised his foresight in the design and construction. "Ric always impressed me in his ability to see every aspect of the project and his openness to suggestions and new ideas," she says.

In addition to his work, Taylor immersed himself in Fairfield. When his mother passed away in 1999, his father moved into his Derby home and the pair were fixtures at Stags basketball games. In fact, one of Taylor's fondest memories is the men's team's trip to the NCAA Tournament. "That was one of the most exciting times of my life," he says. "When we were beating North Carolina at halftime? I was hoarse for a week."

Taylor is moving onto another exciting adventure. He recently bought a motor home and plans to spend the next three months on a "15-city tour" of the mid-Atlantic and South, checking out communities and job opportunities, possibly in residential construction or adaptive reuse. "New England will always be my home," says the Massachusetts native, "but I'm looking forward to a quieter lifestyle."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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Dr. Ray Poincelot pitches in as interim dean of CAS

By Nina M. Riccio, Publications Writer

The resignation of Dr. Timothy Snyder, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, has left a void that will be filled by Dr. Ray Poincelot, who will step in as acting dean. Dr. Poincelot has been associate dean in the College for four years.

In making the announcement, Academic Vice President Orin Grossman said, "With Dr. Poincelot, the College of Arts & Sciences has an experienced senior faculty member and administrator who is capable of keeping the important College initiatives on track. He will be invaluable next year in providing wise and steady leadership, and I am delighted and grateful that he has agreed to serve as interim dean."

Dr. Poincelot said he is looking forward to the challenges of the next year. "I welcome the opportunity to work with the faculty of the College of Arts & Sciences and to continue the good work of Dean Snyder. My goal is that the next academic year will be mutually beneficial to all and that the College will continue in its excellence and high-energy scholarly creativity."

A professor of biology who joined the Fairfield faculty in 1977, Dr. Poincelot was the founding director of the Environmental Science Program and served 13 years as the chair of the Department of Biology. Under his leadership, the department gained a number of scholarly and dedicated young faculty and a facility equipped with high-tech labs and research instruments.

There will be a national search to fill the dean's position. A search committee has been established, consisting of five faculty members elected by the Academic Council and four others chosen by the academic vice president. Once a search firm is chosen and candidates are sought, Dr. Grossman explained, "we will narrow the field and invite three to tour the campus in January and early February." Dr. Grossman expects that University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., will be able to announce a new appointment by February 2008.

"Apart from scholarly credibility, administrative experience, and a knowledge of the educational challenges facing Fairfield and higher education in general, the right candidate must have an ability to work with both faculty and other deans," said Dr. Grossman.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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Dr. Robbin Crabtree: A challenging "Teacher of the Year"

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

Dr. Robbin Crabtree makes no apologies: she's tough and has high expectations for her students. "I don't initially come off as nurturing or motherly," she said. "I know students think I'm tough. I'm kind of a hard ..." A knock interrupts her.

She opens her office door to find a student gripping a letter. The young woman has been accepted for a Fulbright scholarship and she wants Dr. Crabtree, who worked with her on the application and research design, to be one of the first to know.

Dr. Crabtree beams with the pride, ironically, similar to that of a parent. Later she said, "I love getting to know these students. They are really impressive."

The feeling is mutual. Dr. Crabtree, chair of the Communication Department in the College of Arts & Sciences and director of Service Learning, was named the 2007 Teacher of the Year by Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society.

"I'm just taking in the moment," she said of the honor. She had read and re-read the letter to quell her disbelief.

"She defines the Jesuit ideals of finding the 'Magi' or 'the more' in our educational studies," said Mike Barret '07, secretary of Alpha Sigma Nu and the leader of the Teacher of the Year Award committee. "Dr. Crabtree inspires. As a communication major, I have personally witnessed courses about family communication, argument and advocacy, and mass media transform into 'life courses.' Both the members of Alpha Sigma Nu and I truly believe her guidance as a mentor changed so many students' worldviews for the better."

Drawn to Jesuit education, Dr. Crabtree joined Fairfield University in 2001. The Jesuits, she says, have always understood the importance of effective communication, especially across cultures and contexts. Dr. Crabtree has been involved in Fairfield's partnership with Universidad Centroamericana in Managua, Nicaragua, which provides opportunities for scholarly collaborations, service learning, and faculty and student exchanges. She had been conducting research in Nicaragua for two decades, and also has led educational and service trips for a New York-based nongovernment organization called Bridges to Community.

Dr. Crabtree began studying communication with the hope of becoming a National Public Radio correspondent in Central America. But while teaching as a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, where she received her master's and bachelor's degrees, she found her love for teaching. Since then, she has taught at DePauw University, New Mexico State University, UNISUL in Santa Catarina, Brazil, and at St. Louis University's Madrid campus.

She still gets invigorated teaching courses she has taught many times. "Sometimes I laugh at myself," Dr. Crabtree said, admitting that sometimes she feels like she's on the edge of her seat going over material she's taught many times before. "I hope that passion is infectious."

It is infectious, even for students who aren't easy to inspire. She recalls one student who wasn't applying herself. She told the student, "You can float through this, but is that what you want to do? I'm inviting you to become a woman of substance. You have a voice. Use it for something important." No surprise to Dr. Crabtree, the student improved significantly on the next assignment. "I think students want to be challenged and pushed," she said.

At the senior brunch, Dr. Crabtree shared something Carlos Santana said at a concert. He said, "There are really only two things: fear and love. You choose." Fear gives us an excuse to hate, inhibits our potential, and allows us to build walls around our hearts, our neighborhoods, and our borders, she said. Love allows us to have faith in each other, and to nurture hope for the future despite all odds.

"Every day in ways small and large, in your big decisions and your daily routines: choose love," she said. "I hope with all my heart that you will find your true vocation and be in love with it as I am with mine."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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C&NS Tech Talk: What's the hype about running Windows on Macs?

By Jeff Potocki, Software Support Specialist and Training Coordinator for Computing and Network Services

C&NS staff hold an information session in May answering questions on how to install and run Windows on a Mac.

In the past, you could only run the Microsoft Windows operating system on a PC, such as Dell, Gateway, Hewlett Packard, or Compaq. But now, you can run it on a Mac. A recent innovation in software and hardware has allowed the newest Apple computers to run Microsoft Windows and, in essence, run multiple operating systems. This has begun to revolutionize the way we use computers.

So what's the big deal? It's the best of both worlds. Not only can you use Windows on the Mac, but if you choose, you can run both operating systems at the same time.

That's right! Create a file in Garage Band or iMovie on the Mac side and easily move it to the Windows side. Create a PowerPoint presentation on the Windows side and move it to the Mac side so you can make a movie out of it - it's as easy as drag and drop! And, you get double the number of applications.

Apple computers have a longstanding reputation for reliable hardware. Recent woes with Dell computers on campus have prompted C&NS to consider other vendors. Since the University already has an outstanding relationship with Apple, in addition to this new innovation of running Windows on the Mac, implementing this alternative was a no-brainer.

Fairfield University is already using "dual-boot" Macs on campus. New iMacs that have both operating systems are being installed in the University computer labs.

On the support side, C&NS technicians are being trained to support new Mac computers. Campus computer users who are up for a new computer purchase can choose to get a Mac that can run Windows. And every new Mac that is available for purchase (laptop or desktop) can run Windows.

If you are interested in learning more, come over to C&NS to see how Windows on a Mac works. Computer training classes for those who would like to get to know the Mac or to learn how to do PC tasks on the Mac are currently being developed. Please check "Today @ Fairfield,"the daily e-mail announcement, for upcoming training classes.

For more information, please contact C&NS at ext. 4069 or e-mail cnstraining@mail.fairfield.edu.

Good luck and safe computing!

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SOE offers new five-year dual degree

By Meg McCaffrey, Assistant Director of Media Relations, and Nina Riccio, Publications Writer

In response to a growing demand for master's degree level engineering education, the School of Engineering has established a five-year dual degree program in software engineering. Students graduating from the program will receive a bachelor of science degree and master of science degree in software engineering.

Beginning this spring, juniors in the software engineering program can elect to continue on for one more year of study to earn their M.S. in software engineering, provided they have maintained a 3.2 average in their engineering courses and have recommendations from their professors.

Once accepted into the program, students complete the B.S. degree requirements in their fourth year while taking graduate-level engineering classes. The fifth year of study includes eight courses, plus one elective taken during the summer. In addition to embracing traditional educational objectives, the new program emphasizes experiential learning in the form of summer industrial internships, and includes a final capstone project.

It is anticipated that this five-year B.S./M.S program will reduce the time it takes to earn a master's degree by one or more years.

In the face of ongoing economic globalization that has changed the way industry and technology work, academic institutions must identify the best way to prepare students for skillful work in this environment, said Dr. Evangelos Hadjimichael, dean. "The number of universities with accredited software engineering degree programs is relatively small, while the need for software development to solve complex problems across all sectors of technology is skyrocketing," he said. "The School of Engineering has a responsibility to assist in the education of experts in this discipline. The program will enable students to enter graduate studies in software engineering along a fast track in order to achieve positions of responsibility in their companies early in their professional career."

Graduate engineering education is a key to innovation and creativity in technology, and central to the national economy, social welfare, and the security and management of social institutions, Dr. Hadjimichael added.

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Relay for Life raises $30,000

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Sports

Eight Stag teams honored for academic excellence

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Eight Fairfield University athletic teams were recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for academic achievement on the basis of their latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores. The Stags baseball, men's cross country, men's tennis, women's rowing, women's golf, women's soccer, softball, and women's swimming and diving were cited by the national organization.

"We are very proud of the accomplishments of our student-athletes," Director of Athletics Gene Doris said. "The Academic Progress report shows that our coaches are recruiting student-athletes who enjoy success both academically and athletically."

The eight Fairfield sports were among 839 honored across all Division I athletic teams, representing 217 of the 326 institutions that compete in Division I. High-performing teams receiving awards posted APR scores ranging from 975 to a perfect 1,000. At Fairfield University, men's cross country, men's tennis, women's golf, women's rowing, and women's swimming received a score of 1,000.

This year's APR report is the third since the NCAA established this unit of measure. Data collection began in the 2003-04 academic year and the first report was distributed in February 2005. The rating takes into account eligibility, retention, and graduation rates for each scholarship student-athlete. An APR of 925 translates to an NCAA graduation success rate of approximately 60 percent. Teams that score below 925 can lose up to 10 percent of their scholarships.

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Gene Doris inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Fairfield University Director of Athletics Gene Doris was inducted into the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) Hall of Fame on May 17, one of four individuals honored for their contribution to the New York City-based league. The induction took place at the Canyon Club in Armonk, N.Y.

Doris earned the distinction for his contributions at Archbishop Stepinac High School, where he coached basketball for 11 years. His team won the Division 11 New York Catholic championship in 1985. He also coached baseball at Stepinac for eight seasons, and junior varsity baseball at Archbishop Molloy High School in Jamaica, N.Y.

"The CHSAA means more to me than any other organization to which I belong, because it is more than the name," Doris said. "It is the people. When you see the college coaches and administrators and officials who played, coached, and officiated in the CHSAA, come back year after year, you know that the seeds planted by Msgr. Peters, Fr. Stafford, and Bernie Gallagher (CHSAA founders) took root and flourished."

Doris has been the director of athletics at Fairfield University for 13 years. He had moved to Connecticut after spending five years as the director of athletics at Marist College. His résumé also includes serving Fordham University as an assistant director of athletics as well as one season with the Rams men's basketball team as an assistant basketball coach under "Digger" Phelps.

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Annual Athletics Banquet honors student-athletes

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Volleyball junior Lindsey Lee and men's soccer senior Alex Cunliffe were selected as Fairfield University's female and male athletes of the year by a vote of the head coaches. The awards were given at the annual athletic awards banquet in Trumbull.

In addition to earning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Offensive Player of the Year honors, Lee was named to the All-MAAC first team as well as the MAAC All-Tournament squad. During the 2006 campaign, she became the fifth Stag to post more than 1,000 career digs and 1,000 career kills.

Cunliffe picked up the Male Athlete of the Year award after leading the men's soccer team in scoring with 20 total points. He tallied eight goals and four assists with one game-winning goal in 2006. He earned All-MAAC first team honors this year, and later added All-Region honors to his résumé.

Casey Frobey received the University's Female Freshman of the Year award after helping the women's soccer team post a 9-7-2 overall record. She also earned a spot on the Soccer Buzz Northeast Region All-Freshmen team. Frobey was selected by conference coaches as the MAAC Rookie of the Year, and as a member of the All-MAAC second team and the MAAC All-Rookie squad. She led the team with 12 goals, and tallied a team-high 27 points in her 20 starts.

Christian Uy collected the Male Freshman of the Year award after playing an instrumental role in the men's soccer team success. The midfielder placed third among his teammates with six goals and 12 points, which included four game-winning goals. For his play, the midfielder earned a spot on the MAAC All-Rookie team.

Matt Scanlon, a junior defensive midfielder with the men's lacrosse team, earned the Alumni Association Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. During his three years at Fairfield, Scanlon has earned Dean's List recognition, including one semester with a 4.0 GPA. On the field, he was one of the team's leaders with 37 ground balls.

The Alumni Association Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year award went to field hockey senior midfielder Caitlin Quinn. Quinn was a Dean's List student throughout her career, which included six semesters with a 4.0 GPA. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa as a junior, and received an American Chemical Society Award for Achievement in Analytical Chemistry and in Organic Chemistry. On the field, she led the team in scoring as a senior with six goals and two assists for 14 points.

Senior Courtney O'Connor garnered the William Wallin Memorial Award, which is given to a student-athlete who best epitomizes the late William Wallin '61. A field hockey player, O'Connor was an active member of the Student Athlete Advisory Council, and served the Council as an officer. She supervised Fairfield University's Relay for Life team, which raised $30,000. O'Connor also coached gymnastics at Darien High School and lacrosse at Westport High School. As a nursing major, she served the community at Yale-New Haven Hospital. On the field, O'Connor served her teammates as a captain. She also earned All-NEC (Northeast Conference) honors.

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Library awards inaugural research prize

Sarah Howe '07 is the winner of the first annual DiMenna-Nyselius Library Prize, which recognizes undergraduate research projects that show significant research knowledge and extensive use of the library's services, resources, and collections. Her classmate, Jennifer Miller '07, received honorable mention.

The bibliography of Howe's prize-winning project, "Civil Defense and 'Nuclear Mortality': The Fallout Shelter Debate During the Berlin Crisis of 1961," used interesting primary sources, including a 1962 White House radio-television address and a transcript from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum website. Her advisor was Dr. David McFadden, professor of history in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Miller's "Visual Rhetoric: Documentary Design and the Web," was her honor's thesis in English, and the library staff commended her use of 35 high-quality sources in her works cited list. Her advisor was Dr. David Sapp, assistant professor of English in CAS.

Howe and Miller were recognized at a May 3 ceremony.

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Fairfield students bring space to schools

By Meg McCaffrey, Assistant Director of Media Relations, and Meredith Guinness, Publications Writer

At NASA's Microgravity University in the spring, Fairfield's Brendan Hermalyn '07, M.S. '07 (right), and Mike Zaffetti '07, experience weightlessness while conducting an experiment.

Four Fairfield students who conducted experiments through NASA's 'Microgravity University' this spring took their science expertise and a film of their weightless journey to Bridgeport elementary school students in May, hoping to spur the next generation of space travelers.

The quartet - Jessica Kurose, John Stupak, and Mike Zaffetti, all '07, and math graduate student Brendan Hermalyn - spoke to about 1,500 students at 14 city schools. "The main motivation is to get across to kids the importance of going into space," said Hermalyn, who received a bachelor's degree in physics from Fairfield in January and expects to receive his master's degree in August. "So much comes out of space experiments, and life on Earth is better because of it. Airbags, computers, cell phones all came out of the space program."

The school visits are the outreach aspect of the team's NASA adventure at Johnson Space Center. As part of NASA's highly competitive Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program, the team was asked to design an experiment to be conducted in a weightless environment, much like what astronauts do in orbit. The students' experiment, "Splashless in Space," examined how atmospheric pressure affects a liquid droplet's splash on a hard surface. The practical implications of the study in microgravity range from aircraft wing de-icing to ink-jet printing.

During the school visits, kids got a peek at footage taken by the NASA crew of the Fairfield team flying high over the Gulf of Mexico. The film, which will be available on the University website, gave a rare look inside the "Weightless Wonder," a specially equipped airplane that achieves weightlessness inside its cabin.

The Bridgeport-based Discovery Museum and Planetarium provided educational toys, such as a liquid-filled gyroscope, an hourglass, and a fish tank, to help the Fairfield crew explain its complicated experiment. "The Discovery Museum is absolutely delighted to collaborate with the Fairfield University team on this project," said museum Educational Director Alan Winick.

The team also spent the month poring over experiment data for a report that it was scheduled to send to NASA in early June.

Hermalyn, who is heading to Brown University for a Ph.D. in planetary science, said NASA hopes Microgravity University and the related outreach program will encourage young people to consider study and careers in science, engineering, and related fields. "They want to get people interested in space," he said. "There's no better way to do that than by taking part in what we did."

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Campus operations and planning reorganized

By Alejandra Navarro, Editor

On May 29, Mark Reed began his new post as vice president for Administrative Services & Student Affairs, which adds facilities management to his area of supervision. In addition, Senior Vice President Dr. Billy Weitzer has taken responsibility for the University's facilities planning.

University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., announced this shift in responsibilities among the vice presidents in late May. Instead of filling the positions left vacant by Richard Taylor Jr., associate vice president for Campus Planning and Operations, and Mike Cusato, Fr. von Arx opted to reorganize the department.

"The challenge of replacing Ric, as well as Mike Cusato who served for 10 years as our chief in-house designer, has caused me to consider the future direction and needs for the planning and management of our physical plant," said Fr. von Arx, in a University announcement. "Simultaneously, I have been thinking about the connections between facilities planning and the implementation of our strategic plan, as well as the balance of responsibilities among some of the vice presidents."

Reed will absorb the campus operations, custodial services, energy management, and safety officer functions into his division. Dr. Weitzer will have oversight for campus planning and design. Bill Lucas, vice president for administration and finance and treasurer, has overseen all of these areas for the past eight years. The changes will allow him to focus on the managing the University's financial and human resources, as well as the endowment, and on coordinating legal affairs, which have become increasingly demanding and complex.

The changes were instituted immediately to give Reed and Dr. Weitzer time to work with Taylor before his departure in June.

Reed says he looks forward to the challenges ahead. "Since I have been at Fairfield, I have been fortunate to be asked on occasion to get involved in new areas, and I am grateful for the opportunity," he said. "I look forward to working with the staff in Campus Operations. I know many of them already and know I will learn a lot from them."

Reed added that he will rely on the experience and expertise of his current staff, including Jim Fitzpatrick, assistant vice president for Student Affairs; Deb Cady, associate dean and director of Residence Life; and Matt Dinnan, associate dean of students, who already have strong working relationships with Campus Operations and have provided leadership and direction in key areas.

Dr. Tom Pellegrino has become associate vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students, overseeing the daily coordination of student life matters.

Reed praised Dr. Pellegrino's work. "He employs exceptional leadership and sound judgment in so many matters, large and small, public and private."

Dr. Pellegrino said being in the middle of a strategic planning process makes this an important time for both the division of and the University. "I look forward to our continued progress as we approach a new academic year," he said. "Developing vigorous assessment protocols, advocating for the diverse needs of our student body, and nurturing a community commitment to the vision espoused by the strategic plan underlie much of what I plan to do in my new role.

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Staff Association awards scholarship

Staff Association awards scholarship

Junior Amber DelPrete, center, a double major in finance and information systems in the Dolan School of Business, smiles broadly after receiving the Staff Association's scholarship of $5,000, plus a bookstore gift certificate from the Friends of the Library. "The Staff Association Award is not just given on the basis of need; we always offer it to a well-rounded student," says outgoing Staff Association President Linda White, left. "Amber was a wonderful choice. She has been involved in Model UN, the finance club, and Pop Warner cheerleading, among other things. She also wrote a beautiful essay about her experience as a volunteer in New Orleans." To the right of DelPrete is incoming Staff Association President Tim Craig, a carpenter in Campus Operations.

Photos by Jean Santopatre

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Mirror staff wins journalism awards

Six Mirror staff writers won an impressive 10 college-level awards at the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists awards dinner on May 24. The Mirror took home first place honors in four categories and placed in everything from editorial writing to sports photography.

The winners are:

• Editorial-Op/Ed Column - first place, Ben Doody '07, "The End of an Era;" second place, Chris Simmons '10, "A New Standard."
• Feature - second place, Ali Bart '08, "Tale of a Little-Known Champ Gets Praise, Could Get Praise;" honorable mention, Ali Bart, "Front and Center."
• General Column - first place, Dan Scivoletti '07, "Genie Dan Brings You: Your Horoscope for October;" second place, Ben Doody, "All the Quips and Quirks from the Debate at the Quick Center."
• General Reporting - second place, Tom Cleary '10, and Chris Simmons, "Where to From Here?"
• Sports Story - first place, Ben Doody, "Retooling: Tim O'Toole Not to Return."
• Sports Photo - first place, Jon Oliwerther '10, "Play Brawl; second place, Tom Cleary, "Men's Basketball Riding Seven Game."

Dr. James Simon, professor of English in the College of Arts & Sciences, and Cindy Simoneau, adjunct professor, advised the students.

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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 202. Telephone: 254-4000, ext. 3392. Fax: 254-4167. E-mail: anavarro@mail.fairfield.edu.

Editor
Alejandra Navarro
Publications Writer and Editor

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

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