March 2002

Volume 10, Number 7
The official news publication of Fairfield University

Index for March 5, 2002

Collaboration counts: University responds to crisis

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Paul Carrier, S.J., University chaplain, checked in with Elizabeth Dreyer, Ph.D., professor of religious studies, at the Ash Wednesday prayer service held February 13 in the Barone Campus Center.

On February 12, when word got out that a group of students and a professor were being held hostage in Canisius Hall, Fairfield Police and University Security teams answered the call. And quick on their heels was a cross-section of University personnel.

As soon as the first details of the situation filtered in, Fire Marshall Joe Bouchard and his assistant, Barbara Giaquinto, grabbed their coats and headed to one of the most congested zones on campus - the intersection in front of Bellarmine Hall. There they stood for more than seven hours, helping the police do their job by directing people and vehicles out of harm's way.

Also responding was Joe Martinelli, communications technician, who arrived at Donnarumma Hall with armfuls of telephones and equipment, connecting the police to the outside world.

Later, within ten minutes of the request, Gary Stephenson, director of housing operations, provided the counseling and release areas with 35 blankets. Dining services delivered food to comfort anxious parents gathered in the Arrupe Center, while counselors, faculty, and the Campus Ministry team supported their spirits.

And the list goes on. University personnel provided whatever was needed at the moment - their talents, their time, their support, their cell phone batteries. From the Public Relations team handling a seven-hour media blitz to the administration reassuring parents, and the countless other behind-the-scenes angels and heroes, the University was there.

"In a situation like this, any landing is a good landing - and we did just that," says Bill Schimpf, vice president for Student Services. "As a community we may sometimes fight like cats and dogs in good times," he added, "but we certainly come together when there is a need."

Who could have choreographed such a united effort? No one - it happened because employees in every division put their skills and talents in service of a greater good.

However, in the aftermath, not everyone has the same perspective. As a result, since February 12, Schimpf has met with various individuals about how to handle things should another crisis occur, asking for suggestions. Feedback includes: developing a crisis plan for each department, using the campus media (WVOF, HAM Channel) to broadcast updates, instituting a system for identifying essential personnel, and providing a place where telephone inquiries can be directed and handled. All comments will be reviewed in the coming weeks.

Nevertheless, for what Fairfield's Police Lieutenant Gary MacNamara called the "most stressful event on a college campus in the last 20 years," the University community gave its all.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Faculty, staff take time for Mission Volunteers

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

On a clear day, you can see the San Diego skyline from the city landfill in Tijuana, Mexico. It was cloudy the day Laurence Miners, Ph.D., associate professor of economics, and a Mission Volunteers group went to visit the people who call the landfill home, but that didn't stop them from trying. "We brought sandwiches to the kids living there and played soccer in a makeshift field," he says. "It was incredible to see kids running around with smiles on their faces in the midst of so much garbage."

In terms of significance to her life, Fran Koerting, associate dean of residence life, ranks her four Mission Volunteer trips to Tijuana with her wedding day and the birth of her children. "The experiences have made such an impact on me," she says. "They taught me about what we take for granted and help me appreciate what I have."

Organized through Campus Ministry, the Mission Volunteer program sends students to some of the most destitute communities in Mexico, Haiti, Belize, Ecuador, Honduras, and Jamaica to live among the poorest of the poor and engage in a wide variety of service activities. Each group has two or three leaders - members of the Fairfield community, faculty, staff, or administration - who facilitate the group. "By living with the poor, and through immersion in another culture, volunteers come to see the world through their eyes," explains Paul Carrier, S.J., University chaplain.

Some are designed as work trips - building houses, painting - while others are to be with the people and learn about the local communities. In Haiti, the Mission Volunteers stay with and support various activities at Pierre Toussaint Village, a home and school for homeless boys. Doug Perlitz '92 started the school as a result of his experience as a Mission Volunteer.

Opening students' eyes to the world of material poverty and having them care about it is a priority for Elizabeth Gardner, Ph.D., professor of psychology, who has been with groups on more than 10 trips to Ecuador. "Learning is more global than text books," she says. "The trips expand my world, alter my priorities, and help me see and think about my life differently."

In Mexico, students join the locals in completing work projects, mixing cement for up to five hours a day in the hot sun. "Working with the students in this way is a real honor for me," says Koerting. "They don't complain; they give it their all. They work hard and play hard." After a day's work, the students often play with the local children. "Letting loose and having fun helps break up the intense emotional experience we all go through while we're there."

A commonality with all of these former (and current) group leaders is their combination of flexibility and openness to new people and situations. "There is a lot of teamwork among group members when you are there," says Charles Allen, S.J., executive assistant to the President, who has been to Ecuador several times. "Living close together for a two-week period is certainly not as comfortable as we are used to in Fairfield County, but the camaraderie and relationships you build while working together and preparing meals is inspiring."

Knowing the local language is not the most important skill to have. "I don't have a good command of Spanish," says Koerting, "but I have learned to communicate without words. There is no doubt that this experience pushes you well beyond your comfort zone," she continues, "but seeing the genuine, Christ-like children and interacting with the community we visit puts everything into perspective."

Says Suzanne MacAvoy, Ph.D., professor of nursing, "As leaders, it is our responsibility to get the group ready to go and to get the students there. But then, God takes over." She also notes that it is up to the leaders to help the students reduce their own barriers and become open to what they are experiencing, thereby allowing God in. "People in the communities we visit are so close to God largely because they don't have the barriers we do in our more affluent, 'self-sufficient' society. Their faith is inspiring."

Dina Franceschi, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics, led a trip to Tijuana in 2000, during her first year of teaching at Fairfield. Then (and now), issues of poverty fascinated her. "I wanted to find out how people lived and existed in such desolate communities. At the time, I was looking to combine my interest in Latin American economies with an involvement in campus activities," she says. She was more successful than she could have hoped, today staying in contact with several members of the group. "I encourage anyone with an interest in advancing students' knowledge, who want their own eyes opened, or who have an interest in teaching, to go."

"This is a wonderful opportunity to live your faith through your work," says Mark Reed, dean of students. "The trips are a living example of who we are, and speak to the mission and purpose of Fairfield University. To have a true Jesuit education, you have to balance the academic pursuits with a real living example."

Lucy Katz, Ph.D., chair of management in the School of Business, who participated in trips to Belize and Ecuador, echoes this philosophy. "Traveling to these countries gave me a whole different sense of what that kind of poverty and deprivation can mean to a society. To see first-hand how it affects daily lives has changed me forever," she says. "Everyone should go. We have such a narrow view of the world and this trip provides a wonderful opportunity for personal growth - in knowledge, sensitivity, and spirituality."

Discussing the day's events is an important element to the Mission Volunteer trips. During a trip to Duran, Ecuador in May 2000, Elizabeth Gardner, Ph.D., professor of psychology, and students (l-r) Jeannette Bilello '01 and Kristen Noto '02 and Sasha Hutchings '02, took time to relax while preparing for the evening reflection activity.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

On pace for brightest class yet

By Barbara Kiernan, Director of University Publications

With more than 6,900 applications to read, the Office of Admission is a rather quiet place these days. But don't confuse quiet with slow. Given the pressures of the decision-making time frame, administrative staffers have been entering data in overlapping shifts from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily since well before the February 1 application deadline arrived. To help deal with the volume, the Financial Aid Office "loaned" two of its staffers - Linda Murphy and Diane Scalzi - to assist with data entry and other tasks, from December to March. In recent weeks, admission counselors and administrators have occasionally come up for air while reading thousands of color-coded folders, each representing a prospective member of the Class of 2006.

"We're very encouraged by the quality we're seeing," says Director of Admission Judy Dobai. "Engineering apps are up 30 percent, Connecticut applications are up 12 percent, and the overall quality of the applicant pool has risen yet again." Coming off a record three years of growth in applications, this year's slight dip in numbers came as no surprise. "Yet given the rise in overall quality - as indicated by SAT scores, grades, class rank, and the caliber of accomplishments - the Class of 2006 promises to be stronger than ever," says R. Edwin Wilkes, associate academic vice president for enrollment management.

Two Scholars Days held in early February brought 350 high-ability students and their families to campus for an event that included faculty-led seminars, interaction with Fairfield's current University Scholars, and sessions with deans. Among the questions fielded by Norm Solomon, Ph.D., dean of the Dolan School of Business, were a good number regarding internships, study abroad, and quality of student life. "Many parents wanted assurance that core values also matter and that our atmosphere is not one of dog-eat-dog competitiveness among students," he said.

Marti LoMonaco, Ph.D., associate professor and director of Theatre Fairfield, also facilitated a small group discussion, assisted by Tim Eberly '05, a student in her Shakespeare Production course. "I guessed, and rightly so, that Tim had been a University Scholar candidate last year, so I invited him to join me," she says. "He was a natural, and the students responded to him immediately. The fact that, just a year ago, Tim had been sitting where these students were that day made for great camaraderie and a real sense of connection. As it turned out, he basically led the session."

This month, as admission finalizes its decisions on the applicants who will be admitted to the Class of 2006, the office of financial aid enters its busiest season, creating financial aid packages to entice the brightest, assist the needy, and help ensure that the benefits of a Fairfield University education become an option for as many qualified students as possible.

An editorial on reality television by Mark Andrejevic, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication, appeared in Newsday. He wrote, "Reality TV didn't emerge as compensation for a reality shortage, but as a buffer against the real. The genre offers a reality substitute that has the same flavor as the real thing, but without the disconcerting aftertaste of a call to action - political, social or otherwise."

Associate professor of history Patricia Behre-Miskimin Ph.D.'s book, One King, One Law, Three Faiths: Religion and the Rise of Absolutism in Seventeenth-Century Metz, was published by Greenwood Press in January.

Dorothea Braginsky, Ph.D., professor of psychology, was quoted in the Connecticut Post in an article that assessed President Bush's first State of the Union address. "The first part of his speech was masterful," she said. "It rallied everyone and went to the heart of the American people." She added that his comments on economic policy "won't wash. Even his facial expressions changed. He didn't look as determined."

Cecelia Bucki, Ph.D., associate professor of history, discussed her book, Bridgeport's Socialist New Deal, 1915-36, at a meeting of the Bridgeport Community Historical Society.

In January, Javier Campos, Ph.D., associate professor of modern languages and literatures, presented Chilean Writers During and After the Dictatorship and read his poetry at "Chilean Literature in Canada," an international conference at the University of Mexico in Canada and The Cultural Workshop El Dorado, in Ottawa, Canada.

In February, he was invited to present and discuss the Spanish film "Butterfly Winds" at Trinity College in Hartford, as part of its Hispanic Films Series. In addition, he gave a bilingual reading of his poetry (with W. Nickerson Hill, Ph.D., associate professor of modern languages and literatures) at "Bethel Arts Junction," Bethel, Conn., as part of its Poetry Series.

Recently, Campos was selected among 50 Latino artists in the U.S. to write for the forthcoming book, Latino Testimonies About September 11. Other writers include Isabel Allende, Sandra Cisneros, Ariel Dorfman, and Gloria Anzaldua. Campos wrote about the Latino workers who died in the Twin Towers on 9/11.

Edward Deak, Ph.D., professor of politics, was the guest speaker at the Connecticut Better Business Bureau breakfast meeting, held at the Trumbull Marriott. He was also quoted in the Hartford Courant, Greenwich Time, and Stamford Advocate. He said, while the "Federal Reserve's policy of lowering interest rates has basically been able to insulate, for a while, the housing market in Connecticut," it is uncertain whether that will continue into this year. He also noted that a major aerospace decline could affect the state's economy. "It's not just so much those jobs as it is the feeder network of parts and suppliers."

Jeanne Di Muzio, director of wellness and prevention, has been selected to serve as the first chairperson of the Connecticut College Consortium on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. The consortium of 26 schools meets monthly to receive training on the different issues facing college campuses in relation to sexual assault. On campus Jeanne serves as the point person for the SMART program, the University's Sexual Misconduct and Assault Response Team. In addition, Jeanne was selected to represent the State of Connecticut at the national college consortium training sponsored by CALCASA (California Coalition Against Sexual Assault), the holder of the national grant for sexual assault prevention.

Matt Dinnan, associate dean of students, was quoted in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle Web Edition in an article about an on-campus pub opening at the University of Rochester. Dinnan said that Fairfield's Levee was opened four years ago as "a drinking-conscious environment" where students can see drinking done casually and not to excess."

Harold Forsythe, assistant professor of history, has been selected to serve on the five-member editorial board for OAH Newsletter - the official newsletter of the Organization of American Historians. The board advises the newsletter's production team, forms basic policies, helps guide content, and explores new ideas and directions for the publication. His four-year term on the board begins in May.

Donald Greenberg, Ph.D., associate professor of politics, was interviewed on Channel 12 News immediately following President Bush's State of the Union address in February. Greenberg noted that it was a standard State of the Union speech until the President described the Arab States as the "axis of evil," and felt that Bush's comments would generate much national and international controversy.

Evangelos Hadjimichael, Ph.D., dean of the School of Engineering, was interviewed by the Connecticut Post for a business page article about the opening of the Thomas A. Edison exhibit, on display in the first-floor lobby of McAuliffe Hall.

In January, Ingeborg Haug, Ph.D., chair of the Marriage & Family Therapy Department in the GSEAP, held a parenting workshop for parents, children, and teens. The workshop was sponsored by the Simsbury Youth Services Bureau, the Simsbury Social Services Department, and the Student Parent Teacher Council.

In February, Haug chaired an accreditation site visit, reviewing a master's and doctoral-level program for the Commission on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education at Michigan State University in Lansing.

"Teaching Culturally Competent Care: Nursing Students' Experience Rural Appalachia," an article by professors of nursing Suzanne MacAvoy, Ph.D., and Doris T. Lippman, Ph.D., was printed in the July 2001 issue of Journal of Transcultural Nursing.

In January, James Mayzik, S.J., director of the Media Center, was interviewed for an article in the Waterbury Republican-American on the increased number of students interested in attending religiously affiliated colleges. Fr. Mayzik discussed the Ignatian Residential College that is being introduced at Fairfield and the positive response from the university community.

The 2002-2003 edition of National Register's Who's Who in Executives & Professionals includes T.J. Murphy, house manager for the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

John Orman, Ph.D., professor of politics, was quoted in the Danbury News-Times, Torrington Register Citizen, and Connecticut Post. In predicting what President Bush would say in his State of the Union remarks, Orman said, "It's going to be a real positive speech - more like Ronald Reagan than like his father."

In January, Marcie Patton, Ph.D., associate professor of politics, presented Understanding the Middle East Conflict at the YMCA's Men of Westport/Weston meeting.

Associate Professor of Psychology Judith Primavera, Ph.D.'s program with Head Start is featured at www.americaconnects.net. America Connects chose to feature the program on its site under the title, "With Computers, Children Learn the 3 Rs Plus the S: Self-esteem." Among the results cited were that children "improved their basic academic skills, interest in learning, attention span and concentration, hand-eye coordination, self-esteem, independence, cooperation, and memory skills."

"The Ethics of it All: A Letter to the Editor," an article by Gita Rajan, Ph.D., associate professor of English, was published in World Literature Today, Autumn 2001.

In December, Rajan helped coordinate the annual conference of the South Asian Literary Association that was held in concert with the Modern Language Association Conference in New Orleans. At the conference, she presented Once Upon A Time: Indian History/British Story and A New Cosmopolitanism: South Asians in the New World Order.

Congratulations to Kurt Schlichting, Ph.D., professor of sociology. The Association of American Publishers recently announced its selections for the Outstanding Professional and Scholarly Titles of 2001. His book, Grand Central Terminal (John Hopkins University Press), won the top spot in the category of "Architecture & Urban Studies."

Schlichting recently addressed a gathering of Phi Delta Kappa, a professional educator's association, at the Peppermill Restaurant in Westport, where he discussed his book.

Norman Solomon, Ph.D., dean of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, was interviewed by the Fairfield County Business Journal for an article on the ties between local colleges and business. He said, "Because my background is in labor relations, I'm a big proponent of experiential learning to show our students what the real world is like."

In December, music program director Brian Torff led a clinic session, "Jazz Techniques for Bass," at the Midwest Band/Orchestra Conference in Chicago. In January, Torff and Thunderstick performed at the Colorado Brewery in Danbury. The New York Times critiqued him as "a virtuoso bassist, imaginative and distinctive in his solos, but more than that - a solid composer and arranger."

An exhibition by Kathryn Jo Yarrington, associate professor of visual and performing arts, is on view at the University of Rhode Island's Photography Gallery through March 6.

Professors contemplate Jewish-Christian relations with author James Carroll

A near sold-out Kelley Theatre was the setting for a wide-ranging and lively discussion of Jewish-Christian relations on February 19. Author James Carroll was the featured presenter for the evening, discussing his recent New York Times bestseller, Constantine's Sword, the Church and the Jews: A History. Following Carroll's provocative talk, Ellen M. Umansky, Ph.D., the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Professor of Judaic Studies, and Elizabeth A. Dreyer, Ph.D., professor of religious studies, offered insightful responses. Patricia Behre-Miskimin, Ph.D., associate professor of history, led Carroll, Umansky, Dreyer, and Bill Hulseman '98 in conversation.

Earlier that day, Carroll spent time with students in Behre-Miskimin's course, "Jewish and Christian Social History," where he answered questions about how he came to write his book. Although he spent nearly seven years writing it, Carroll told them, it took his "entire life to formulate." Also in attendance were students from Umansky's course, "Faith After the Holocaust."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Poet laureate Robert Pinsky discusses translation

Pinsky, the nation's poet laureate from 1997 to 2000 and translator of Dante's "Inferno," spoke with students in the Thomas A. Walsh Gallery on February 27 prior to his Open VISIONS Forum presentation. Pinsky discussed his year-long translation process with students in the "Dante" course taught by Mary Ann McDonald Carolan, Ph.D. Pictured above with Pinsky are students (l-r) Jonathan Kugler '04, Laura Vele '05, Jamie Frio '04, and Ryan Zipp '04.

Photo by B.K. Angeletti

Clarification

The online article, "Wireless iBooks enliven labs, lectures, and learning" (February 2002) on Apple's education web page, also includes photos by Laura Dancho, secretary in the biology department.

Service Anniversaries

March 2002

5 years
Darren Elderton
Patrick Jacquot

10 years
Jean Pullen

15 years
Pierrette Evanko

20 years
Michael Lauzon
Michael Walsh

Births

Kristin Lantz, assistant director of sports medicine - son, Evan Thomas, born January 30.
Christina McGowan, reference librarian and bibliographic instructor in the DiMenna-Nyselius Library, son - James Vincent, born February 13.

Condolences
Marguerite Gish, the wife of Peter Michael Gish, retired professor of fine arts, died on January 15.

New Employees
Deborah Blackwood - Faculty support coordinator, Dolan School of Business Tech Fund
Laura Martin - Secretary, Special Events
Cornelius O'Halloran - Groundskeeper, Grounds Maintenance
Alexander Sency - Locksmith, Carpenters
Charlene Wallace - Secretary, Religious Studies

The College of Arts and Sciences

Mary Ann McDonald Carolan, Ph.D.: Italian cinema

By Carolyn Malkin, Contributing Writer

Carolan's office reflects her interest in Italian film.

Mary Ann McDonald Carolan's blue Irish eyes light up when she's invited to discuss her favorite subject: Italian cinema. Sitting on the edge of her chair and using her hands for emphasis, the assistant professor of modern languages and literatures moves fluently from neorealism in post-war Italy to the latest Nanni Moretti picture to the metaphors of big hair and spaghetti sauce in "Moonstruck" - barely pausing for breath.

How did an Irish-American government major who grew up in Middlebury, Connecticut, become so fascinated with Italian movies? "Film is an entree to the incredible richness of Italian culture," says Carolan, who directs Fairfield's Italian Studies Program.

She fell in love with Italy when she traveled there during her senior year at Dartmouth College as part of a classics foreign studies program. She went on to study Italian language and literature in graduate school at Yale University, where she earned a Ph.D.

"When I went to Italy for the first time, I immediately felt at home," she says. "I was attracted by the warmth of the people and the incredible artistic wealth of the country." She is particularly fond of Rome, the center of Italian film production, where she lived while researching her dissertation. "I love the city because it's kind of a living museum. You can walk around and see a Christian church built on the foundations of a pagan temple."

Her interest in film began in graduate school when she participated in an international workshop of European and American scholars and filmmakers in Friuli, Italy. The seminars focused her attention on two genres essential to the development of Italian cinema: neorealism and commedia all'italiana.

After completing her dissertation on The Betrothed, Italy's great historical novel, Carolan realized she could analyze Italian films in a similar way - by treating them as texts. "My interests as a literary critic enliven my approach to films," she notes. She has contributed several essays on Italian literature and film to academic publications.

She began incorporating film into her courses at Yale, where she was a senior lecturer of Italian language and literature for four years. Student response was so overwhelming that she began teaching a course solely on Italian film. Now she teaches a similar course at Fairfield, whose faculty she joined in 1997.

Drawing on her own research as well as seminar discussions, Carolan is working on an original manuscript tentatively titled "Modern Italian Cinema: Essays on Genre and Identity." The collection of essays focuses on the idea that Italian cinema portrays the individual's search for identity as well as the Italian filmmakers' search for artistic self definition within the various genres of film.

The essays also reflect Carolan's interest in feminist literary theory. In her writing and teaching, she strives to reveal the true role of women in Italian film and culture.

"In the world of cinematic stereotypes, the female counterpart to the male Mafioso is the bimbo," Carolan writes in an essay to be published in a special edition of LIT (Literature Interpretation Theory) dedicated to film adaptation. Picking apart the dialogue and roles of female characters in films such as "My Cousin Vinny," "Moonstruck," and "Married to the Mob," she points out that the stereotypical women with big hair, stiletto heels, and Brooklyn accents are comic foils who play pivotal roles in the narrative.

For example, in "My Cousin Vinny," the female character Mona Lisa Vito, played by Marisa Tomei, "presents a strong female protagonist who, precisely because we do not believe she is competent, literally steals the show," writes Carolan. She has uncovered the same hidden truth in Sergio Leone's spaghetti western, "Once Upon a Time in the West," where a strong woman successfully navigates the male-dominated terrain of the Wild West.

"Too many times we get stuck on the stereotypes and don't see how powerful these female characters really are," says Carolan. She wishes more people would "look beyond the stereotype and see the narrative importance of these female characters," not just in Italian films but also in a culture that has contributed some of the greatest art to the world.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

CCNE seeks input for School of Nursing re-accreditation

By Barbara Kiernan, Director of University Publications

For the School of Nursing, it's about standards. Meeting the highest standards, that is. For this reason, faculty and administrators in the School have engaged in an extensive self-study these last several months, reviewing the mission, goals, curricula, and programs that prepare undergraduate and graduate students for the myriad career options today's nursing profession affords.

According to Jeanne Novotny, Ph.D., dean of the School of Nursing, the University is seeking accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), a nationally recognized accrediting agency devoted exclusively to the evaluation of baccalaureate and graduate programs in nursing education.

"Fairfield's move in this direction reflects the accreditation route most top-notch baccalaureate and graduate programs are taking," Novotny says. "The self-assessment exercise has been a very positive one in that it has helped formalize a quality improvement process within the School. By looking at everything that we are doing, we've been able to identify areas where we are doing well and areas where we have challenges."

A quality improvement process

Among the latter, she notes, is the lack of an advisory committee that could encompass the School of Nursing's varied communities of interest, such as students, hospitals, health care facilities, alumni, government agencies, and consumers. "Rather than meeting with these constituencies in isolation," Novotny observes, "bringing them together twice a year will foster very beneficial interaction."

CCNE recognizes such honest self-assessment as a positive, and bases its evaluation not on any identified challenge but on the plans and timeline developed to address them. "In Fairfield's case," says Novotny, "looking at ourselves with a critical eye has revealed far more strengths than challenges. As one of the top-notch nursing schools, we must continue to grow, change, and enhance the educational preparation we offer students entering or enhancing their credentials in the nursing profession."

Call for comments

CCNE has scheduled its on-site evaluation for April 24-26, when four commission evaluators will review the University's baccalaureate and master's degree programs in nursing. As part of the accreditation process, CCNE affords affected parties - students, alumni, faculty, and the practice community - the opportunity to provide written input into the deliberations of the evaluation team.

Written and signed third-party comments will be accepted by CCNE until 30 days prior to its visit. Third-party comments are shared with members of the evaluation team prior to the on-site evaluation. These comments are confidential and are at no time during the review process shared with the University's nursing program.

Such comments should be addressed to:

Mark Jenkins
CCNE Data and Records Coordinator
One Dupont Circle, NW Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036

Engaging in "Olympics of the heart" during Lent

By Paul Carrier, S.J., University Chaplain

Watching the spectacular opening ceremonies of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, with the theme of "Light the Fire Within," reminded me of the words of Jean Vanier, who ministers to the poor and marginalized throughout the world. He writes, "We will never win the Olympics of humanity racing for perfection, but we can walk together in hope, celebrating that we are loved in our brokenness, helping each other grow in trust, living in thanksgiving, learning to forgive, opening up to others, welcoming them, and striving to bring peace and hope to our world."

The Olympics of humanity - Olympics of the heart - is a special theme we can bring with us throughout this season of Lent. The Olympics of the heart stretch us so that we can reach out and embrace our battered and bruised world through every experience of our lives. Vanier's words highlight what we could see as eight major Olympic events, each one calling for our perseverance and commitment, to living a discipline of love and service. We are not alone in this very challenging project; we are a team, a community at Fairfield University, encouraging and supporting each other, as was powerfully evidenced during the recent crisis on campus.

The Fairfield University community has special bonds and commitment to the people of Prospect House in Bridgeport and the street children of Haiti, through the Pierre Toussaint Project, founded by Doug Perlitz '92. We have seen involvement and outreach to both projects increase over the years. We have not only become witnesses but participants, agents of light and love in a world filled with injustice, oppression, hunger, and violence.

Our walking and celebrating, our helping and living, our learning and opening, our welcoming and striving, become a blazing torch of light, a light that rises in the darkness. Because of our passion to make peace, love, justice, and community real, we stand preserving what is valuable, preserving what otherwise might be lost in a world where greed and violence reign. We need only look at our daily headlines.

In a recent Boston Globe editorial it was noted, "each participant of the recent World Economic Forum in New York City spent, on average, over five days what an average American makes in one year ($33,000), four times what an average Mexican makes in a year, 14 times what an average person in India makes in a year, 74 times what the average person in Sierre Leone makes in a year." That is the darkness we live in, a darkness that creates fear and violence, a darkness that covers a great portion of our earth and its people. It just isn't fair!

To take up the challenge of the Olympics of the heart during Lent is to light the fire within, to be children of the light, and to be pitted against the very real and powerful forces of darkness, expressed through poverty, injustice, violence, and oppression. As Pedro Arrupe, S.J., the late General of the Jesuits wrote, "injustice is atheism in action."

As we continue to reach out to our brothers and sisters in Bridgeport and Haiti, and everywhere, where we can, we recall and make our own the prayer of Maryknoll sister Carla Piette:

The Lord has guided me
dropping me here
at this time and place in history.
Not somewhere else.
But here.

And so I will stay until
I have found that broken Lord
in all his forms
and all his various pieces,
until I have bound up all his
wounds
and covered his whole body,
his people,
with the rich oil of gladness.

And when that has been done,
he will up and drop me again,
either into his promised kingdom
or into the midst
of another jigsaw puzzle of
his broken body
his hurting people.

Take stock of your workplace health

The white-collar workplace is generally a safe work environment. At least that is what we like to think. The fact is that those of us who work in white collar "industry" are exposed to different types of health risks than are people who work in manufacturing and construction. Why should we concern ourselves with workplace health and safety? Consider these statistics:

• The average stress-related worker's compensation claim costs employers $13,339 each year.
• The average smoker costs a company $960 a year in insurance and time lost from productive work.
• The average overweight person costs a company $401 a year in health-related costs.
• Healthy employees have increases in productivity as high as 25% compared to less healthy employees.

Two recent events prompted me to look at the issue of workplace health. The first was that February was American Heart Month. Heart disease is directly influenced by stress, smoking, excess weight, and low physical activity. When was the last time you had your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose checked? When was the last time you had a physical examination? Now would be a great time to take care of these basic health screening activities. We are blessed with excellent health insurance, so make that appointment today!

The second event was one I observed on campus. A few weeks ago I witnessed an employee skillfully handle a verbally abusive patron. The employee handled the situation very well, acknowledging the patron's concern, looking again at the problem, but standing firm on the process that the patron needed to follow to use the facilities. After the interaction, I complimented the employee on her handling of the situation. Her response shocked me. She said, "Thank you, but that was nothing compared to some other situations we have had." I hear similar stories from students, faculty, and staff: the anger at the seeming lack of communication between units on campus, the frustration with workload, deadlines, and family responsibilities, and the feelings of devaluation of work contributions. Each of these conditions can contribute to increased stress that has been recognized as linked to heart disease and other stress-related health problems.

Fairfield University is still a face-to-face university, where (except for those of us with basic memory impairments) one can still get to know the names of most people on campus. While this brings us into direct contact with people who may increase our job-related stress, it also provides the opportunity for us to be positive influences on those with whom we have contact. Communication skills are vitally important for employees and faculty, because the ability to work with each other lowers the stress levels of all involved in those communications. Positive communications can contribute to a positive work environment. What are the benefits of a positive work environment? Research identifies the following: decreased absenteeism, reduced health care costs, increased productivity, and improved employee health and morale.

So it is time for you to take stock of your workplace health. Are you doing your part to improve your personal work experience? Are your people skills demonstrating to others how you would like to be treated? Do your interactions with people serve to encourage people to speak positively about Fairfield University? Are your lifestyle and habits contributing to your level of stress or helping you to control stress? The first step is recognizing that you can influence your health by your decisions, your behavior, and your communications.

Philip A. Greiner, DNSc, RN

Associate Professor of Nursing; Director, Undergraduate program; Director, Health Promotion Center; and Health Partners Fellow, International Center for Health Leadership Development

Seeking employment in a difficult market

All graduating seniors worry about finding a job. However, for members of the Class of 2002, landing a job may be much more challenging now than it was just 12 months ago. Fairfield University is facing this challenge head-on with career panels and business etiquette dinners. Faculty, administrators, and alumni are lending a hand to offer advice and give students an edge in today's very competitive market.

That competition is reflected in the reality that on-campus recruiting is down about thirty percent from last year. "Larger firms are still coming, but not with the usual volume of openings; smaller firms and consulting companies are not" says Michael Dalton, director of the Career Planning Center.

Mark LeClair, associate professor of economics, spoke with students at a January career panel, advising them to start looking early. And once they land a job, not to quit. "If you are able to find a job in the market this year, stay there, because you are not likely to find another for a while."

At the same panel, Thomas Regan, S.J., associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, emphasized the importance of networking and taking risks. "In this very tough economy, you have to take advantage of every opportunity that comes along," he said. "Talk to people, take chances, explore; try jobs out - ask to sit in an office for a day."

In December, Dalton brought career planning directors from several top schools to Fairfield to discuss some of the challenges they face in helping students find jobs in a diminishing market. "We talked about how we might be able to collaborate resources, such as sharing internship information, allowing access to career centers, and opening up job fairs to students at each other's schools," he says. "We are all trying to uncover job opportunities for our students."

Business etiquette workshop teaches the art of eating, greeting, and meeting

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

At last month's business etiquette dinner, seniors Rebecca Severs and Colleen Reiley practiced using their utensils European style.

Students looking for jobs and internships know they need to make a good impression. But there is a lot more between "please" and "thank you" that they need to know:

Keep your hair trimmed and your shoes shined. Wear no more than 13 accessories. Solids (napkins, bread plate, salad plate) are on the left, liquids (beverages) on the right. Never make a bread-and-butter sandwich. Dress for the job you want (not the one you have).

Welcome to Business Etiquette 101.

On February 20, 120 students, plus faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the Trustees Advisory Council took part in "Gaining Your Competitive Advantage," a business etiquette workshop and dinner in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. Taught by Ann Marie Sabath, founder of At Ease Inc. and author or six books on etiquette, students learned everything from table manners and mixing and mingling, to the real definition of "business casual."

Why this workshop now? It's recruiting season. "It is important for students to know how to present themselves and to put their best foot - and best fork - forward," says Dean Norm Solomon. "These are the skills students need to know but can't learn in the classroom."

Good manners and a neat personal style get noticed, says Cath Borgman, director of corporate relations. "Recruiters have told me that they can tell which students have had more experience in the business world just by the way they carry themselves." And good etiquette just might be the edge one job applicant has over another.

Some other tips:

• Wear name tags on the right. (It's easier to read when shaking hands.)
• Proofread and spellcheck e-mail messages before sending.
• Never crumble crackers into soup. (Oyster crackers are okay.)
• Women, wear stockings. Men, make sure your socks match your pants (no patterns).
• Keep both hands on the table during a business meal. (You look interested.)
• Don't stack or push away dishes when you are finished eating.
• Always leave some food on your plate.
• Walk with confidence.
• And don't forget the basic "please" and "thank you."

Photo by B.K. Angeletti

Isadora scores 1,000

Forward Schrene Isidora '03 became the 18th Fairfield University women's basketball player to reach 1,000 career points. She scored the prestigious point in a 75-68 overtime victory over Marist College, finishing the game with 16 points. Isidora is the second Stag to reach 1,000 points this season, joining senior guard Megan Light.

"Herds" of fans support Stags

More than 40,000 fans witnessed Fairfield basketball's first season at the Arena at Harbor Yard, averaging more spectators per game than the capacity of Alumni Hall. In fact, six crowds exceeded the 2,479 capacity of Alumni Hall this season. Nearly 5,000 fans came out for the February 2 doubleheader, which was also Winter Homecoming. The Stags capped their successful inaugural season with a crowd of 4,091 for a doubleheader sweep of Canisius College.

Gai named top-ranked shot blocker

Deng Gai remains the top freshman shot blocker in the country, rejecting 106 shots in 26 games this season (4.0 per game). Gai has blocked four or more shots in a game 13 times, has 23 multi-block games (two or more), and has blocked at least one shot in all but two games this season. He currently averages 11.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

Thompson swims ahead in the record books

The men's and women's swimming team continued its record-breaking season, raising the team total to 13 school standards this year. Melissa Thompson '05 became the latest record-setter, as she established records in the 100 fly and the 100 free. Thompson qualified for the ECAC Championships in both events, which took place on February 28.

Metz makes Stags history in ice hockey

Junior Rae Metz scored his 100th career point in a 3-2 loss to Army on February 16, becoming the 30th player in school history to reach that plateau. Metz entered the Army game with 99 points, but tallied a goal and an assist to push his career point total into triple digits. He was named to the All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Pre-Season first team this year.

Student-athletes also earn high marks off the field

Dana Comuniello '02, senior goal keeper and MAAC All-Academic

While many fans know the accomplishments of Fairfield University student-athletes on the court or field, those same fans may not realize the accomplishments in the classroom. During the fall semester, nearly 300 student-athletes earned a 3.0 grade point average. Of this prestigious group, 90 received recognition as a member of the Dean's List, including six with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

All 21 sports were represented on the 3.0 GPA list, each with at least two student-athlete representatives. In fact, 14 of the 21 teams had 10 or more athletes earn a GPA of 3.0 and higher.

Mary Ann Palazzi, coordinator of programs for student athletes, is pleased with their performance. "It's encouraging to see their hard work in the classroom rewarded with such success," she says.

The women's soccer team and head coach Maria Piechocki were honored with the prestigious National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Adidas College Team Academic Award for exceptional performance for the 2001 campaign.

The Stags were one of 70 teams recognized among the 280 Division I programs in the country, holding a 3.2 team grade point average - including 16 players with a GPA of 3.0 and higher. Two women's soccer players earned a 4.0 for the fall semester, seven received dean's list designation, and five players collected MAAC All-Academic accolades.

news Briefs

Eight week Ignatian retreat begins March 18

Eight days in eight weeks? Yes, Jim Bowler, S.J., does know how to count. It's just that as facilitator for Jesuit and Catholic mission and identity at Fairfield, he's part of a centuries-old tradition known for adaptation and innovation (among other things ...). That's good news for University and Prep faculty and employees, as well as those who consider themselves friends of either institution. You see, between mid-March and mid-May, interested individuals will be able to make what is customarily an eight-consecutive-day retreat done in the silence of a retreat house. The format at Fairfield, however, will be adapted to be carried out in the midst of daily life.

Rather than go away for eight quiet days (one can dream), retreatants meet once a week with a spiritual director, and commit to 15 to 30 minutes of prayer and reflection each interim day. Those serving as "directors" include both Jesuits and lay women who have experience as companions to those on the spiritual journey.

Participants need not be Catholic, nor "spiritual superstars." The only requirements are a desire 1) to know a living and loving God, 2) to become better at recognizing God's fingerprints in daily life, and/or 3) to deepen that relationship as time goes on. "You never know what pattern or path the retreat will take," observes Fr. Bowler, "because each person brings to the process a unique self, a unique history, a unique way of relating to God. God honors that, as do we in accompanying the retreatant on this personal spiritual walk."

The retreat begins March 18 and runs through May 17. If interested, please call Fr. Bowler at ext. 3248, or fill out one of the blue flyers located in the Campus Center, Dolan Hall, and the Chapel foyer, and send it to him.

United Way honors Fairfield U. professors and interns

Two Fairfield University professors and their student interns were honored in January by the United Way of Eastern Fairfield County with a Community Builders award. The awards were presented this year for the first time.

Myra Oliver, Ph.D., executive director of the International Institute of Connecticut, Inc. (IIC), nominated Katherine Kidd, Ph.D., Joy Gordon, Ph.D., and the University interns including Amy Celleri '02, Anna Czerwinska '04, Meghan Driscoll '05, Sara Fannon '02, Danielle Fashano '02, Kristy Golden '02, Myriem Hashembhoy '02, Mai Huynh '04, Victor Izquierdo '02, Pierre Krogstad '02, Jose Merheb '03, Carly Samaha '05, and Melissa Volpe '05 for the awards.

The director of Fairfield's international studies program, Kidd coordinates a student volunteer program in conjunction with the IIC Department of Language and Employment Services, successfully enlisting the help of willing and motivated students to donate their time.

Oliver said that through Kidd's leadership and guidance, they "have enabled foreign-born citizens to become better acquainted with American ways and have fostered a smoother transition to their new homes in the United States."

Fairfield University student volunteers have tutored in English as a second language and provided mentoring and familiarization with American language, customs, and culture to a number of refugees serviced by the IIC. "The Fairfield University students have been generous and flexible with their time and availability and have committed themselves to sharing their own American heritage with persons from various countries and cultures around the world," Oliver said.

Gordon, associate professor of philosophy and director of the legal studies minor, has developed an introductory program to human rights. They focus on immigrants who are not represented in immigration proceedings at government expense, and who are victims of exploitation. As a direct result of Gordon's program, almost two dozen more asylum seekers were represented through IIC's Pro-Bono Asylum Project.

Oliver noted, "because of the efforts of the students and the organization of Dr. Kidd and Dr. Gordon, dozens of newly arrived refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants to the U.S have had positive and productive experiences in our American society."

Hunger Cleanup slated for April 6

Join students, faculty, and staff in this spring's 2002 Hunger Cleanup. This great annual event is set for April 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Co-chairs for this year's Cleanup are Sara Brady '03, Chris Dill '03, and Kevin O'Donnell '02. For more information, contact Rich Gruffi at 03_rgruffi@campus.fairfield.edu.

Mathonline project receives grant

The Educational Foundation of America awarded the Mathonline project a grant of $10,000 toward the $17,147.50 budget requirement for the academic year.

Currently used as part of the first-year calculus class, Mathonline is a web-based, self-paced mathematical quizzing system that covers quantitative material. The project also includes peer tutors who proctor the online quizzes and offer tutoring support to those who request it.

As stated in the project overview, the goal of Mathonline is to free class time spent on the acquisition and assessment of these basic skills in favor of higher level skills and comprehension; to increase student command of basic skills through practice, immediate feedback, and more active student engagement; and to reduce out-of-classroom faculty time spent on designing and grading homework and quizzes addressing basic skills. With the online quizzes, students get instant feedback on a particular mistake or misunderstanding when they get an incorrect answer.

The Mathonline program is funded by a $200,000 grant from the Davis Foundation and $45,000 grant for hardware from the E.L. Cord Foundation.

On-line users flock to Fairfield's website during hostage crisis

The week of February 10, Fairfield University's website handled a whopping 71,215 off-campus visitors, with more than 36,000 combined on February 12 and 13. Thursday, February 14's activity returned to average levels with 8,616 off-campus visitors.

Aside from reading the letter from University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., visitors also moved around the site to learn specifics about Fairfield. Pages that significantly jumped in rank include "About Fairfield," the campus map, "About the Campus," driving directions, and "President's Message," a general welcome letter from Fr. Kelley.

Dragon parade

The Oak Room was alive with color on February 21 for the annual Chinese New Year celebration. The evening featured Chinese cuisine, a Zheng musician, classical and folk dances, traditional songs sung by the Chinese language class, and a dragon parade, pictured above, led by members of the Asian Performing Arts group.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Trinity Irish Dance Company to perform at Quick Center for the Arts

trinity irish dance company, innovators of the lightning-fast footwork and dramatic choreography that paved the way for the "riverdance" craze, will give an adrenaline-packed performance on march 8 at 8 p.m. at the regina a. quick center for the arts. a post-show st. patrick's celebration and "meet the artists" party will follow.

Founded in 1990 by international Irish dance champion Mark Howard, Trinity Irish Dance Company consists of 22 dancers, ages 18 to 24, many of whom were groomed at the award-winning Trinity Academy of Irish Dance in Chicago, Ill., and Milwaukee, Wis. Dressed in colorful costumes, the troupe takes to the stage with fuel-injected footwork, intricate rhythms and high-kicking jigs. Director Howard blends traditional Irish dance - a centuries-old art form synonymous with Irish independence and cultural identity - with influences from Japan's Kodo drummers, Mexico's Ballet Folklorico, and Chicago's modern dance scene.

The performance is part of the Quick Center's Emerald Isles Series. For tickets or information, call the box office at ext. 4010 or visit the website at www.quickcenter.com.

Irish Scholarship Committee presents tenor Anthony Kearns and Gaelic-American Glee Club

Anthony Kearns, the 30-year-old tenor from rural County Wexford who has combined talent, pluck, and a bit 'o Irish luck to carry him to fame, performs March 15 at 8 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The 75-member Gaelic-American Glee Club, an outgrowth of the Fairfield-based Gaelic-American Club, will open the program and a post-show reception will follow in the lobby. The concert is presented by the Irish Scholarship Committee.

Kearns is an original member of the famed Irish Tenors. In 1999, he, Ronan Tynan, and John McDermott (later replaced by Finbar Wright), first toured the United States, earning millions of fans via a major gala concert televised coast-to-coast on St. Patrick's Day. With the group and as a soloist, Kearns has performed sold-out shows at some of the world's greatest venues, including Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, and Royal Dublin Society Main Hall. Fans describe his voice as "breathtaking," "unequaled," and "like a serenade" and journalists have called Kearns a new Count John McCormack, referring to the world-renowned tenor of the early 20th century.

The Gaelic-American Glee Club has shared the stage with Wright, McDermott, and tenor Frank Patterson in previous Quick Center performances. The group, founded in 1995 by Edward O'Connor and Art Beagan, sings Irish favorites. Tori Presti, a music teacher and choral director in the Newtown school system, is director.

Proceeds from the performance will benefit the Irish Scholarship Committee's Father John M. Conlisk Scholarship Fund, which was established in 1991. Fr. Conlisk was spiritual director of Cathedral Girls High School in Danbury, director of Family Life at the Catholic Center in Bridgeport, and pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Georgetown and St. Patrick's Church in Redding. He was pastor of St. Jerome Church in Norwalk before his death. In his memory, a year of study at the university is granted annually to an Irish national.

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

Irish vocalist and traditional/folk band to perform March 23

Soloist Karan Casey and Dervish, the traditional Irish band, perform in a powerful night of Irish music on March 23 at 8 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The performance is part of the Quick Center's Emerald Isle Series.

In a nod to her exceptional two-and-a-half-octave voice range, The Wall Street Journal has dubbed Casey "one of the true glories of Irish music today." Since releasing the first of its six albums in 1993, Dervish has gained recognition as the most soulful traditional Irish band today. In 1997, Dervish was named Best Overall Traditional/Folk Band by the readers of Irish Music magazine.

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

Center for Judaic Studies presents "An Evening with Madame F"

The horror and the guilt experienced by Fania Fenelon and other Jewish musicians confined to concentration camps during World War II is the subject of a musical and dramatic performance to be given on March 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. "An Evening with Madame F," written and directed by pianist/singer/actress Claudia Stevens, is sponsored by the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies. A discussion will follow the performance.

Fenelon, a French cabaret singer, was a member of an all-female orchestra in the Auschwitz death camp. By playing for their captors, she and other members earned a better chance at survival, but were also accused of treason by fellow prisoners. Stevens' narrative, with music by Fred Cohen, is interspersed with segments of songs and numbers that were actually played in the concentration camps. Stevens is the daughter of Holocaust survivors.

"An Evening with Madame F" is free. Reservations are suggested. For information or to reserve a seat, call Judaic Studies at ext. 2066.

French Festival events continue this month

The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts' "French Showcase: Evolving Arts" continues this month, celebrating the many contributions the French have made to the world in the areas of arts and letters.

For tickets and more information about these events, call the box office at ext. 4010 or visit the Quick Center web site at www.quickcenter.com.

Music

March 22, 8 p.m.: The Orchestra of St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble, featuring Kurt Ollman, baritone, will perform works by Ravel and Schubert. A pre-concert "Art to Heart" discussion with Howard Kissell, 7 p.m.

Theatrical Reading

March 14, 7:30 p.m.: Jean Anouilh's "Antigone," directed by Muriel Nussbaum

Film series

March 11, 7 p.m.: "Les Enfants du Paradis" ("Children of Paradise," 1945), directed by Marcel Carne (chosen in memory of his passing in 2001)

March 25, 7 p.m.: "Tatie Danielle" (1990), directed by Etienne Chatiliez

French Bistro fare, including salads, soups, and cheeses, will be available for sale prior to each film.

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

Editor
Jill Kasiewicz Caseria

Editorial Board
Douglas J. Whiting
Associate V.P. for Public Relations

Barbara Kiernan
Director of University Publications

Jean Santopatre
University Photojournalist

Linda Gustavson
Publications Assistant