May 2001

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

Index for May 1, 2001

Arthur Levitt Jr. to speak at Fairfield University's 51st Commencement; two others to be honored

By Nancy Habetz, Director of Media Relations

Arthur Levitt Jr., the recently retired and longest-serving chairman of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, will be the speaker at Fairfield University's 51st commencement on Sunday, May 20, at 10 a.m. on the Bellarmine Hall Lawn. Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., University President, will award him an honorary doctor of law degree.

Also receiving honorary doctor of law degrees will be Sister Ann Credidio, B.V.M., who has devoted her ministry to helping people affected with Hansen's Disease (leprosy), and Daniel P. Tully, chairman emeritus of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

Arthur Levitt Jr. was appointed Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission by President Clinton in 1993. An activist and reformer during his tenure with the SEC, Levitt's top priority was investor protection, reflected in key successes such as reforming the debt markets, improving broker sales and pay practices, and promoting the use of plain English in investment literature and SEC communications with the public.

He created the Office of Investor Education and Assistance and held a series of town hall meetings to educate investors about how to participate safely and confidently in the securities markets. Under his leadership the Commission created a website (www.sec.gov) that allows the public free and easy access to corporate filings, and a toll-free number that enables the public to report problems and request educational documents.

Levitt worked to sever ties between political campaign contributions and the municipal underwriting business, where billions of dollars in public bond deals were often distributed based on campaign contributions. His effort resulted in new regulations that prohibit Wall Street firms that underwrite public bonds from contributing to the campaigns of local politicians who handle this business.

Prior to joining the Commission, Levitt owned Roll Call, a newspaper that covers Capitol Hill. He also served as chairman of the New York City Economic Development Corporation from 1989 to 1993 and the American Stock Exchange from 1978 to 1989. Before that, he worked on Wall Street for 16 years. He served for two years in the Air Force after graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Williams College.

Sister Ann Credidio, of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was teaching kindergarten at the Nuevo Mundo (New World) School in Guayaquil, Ecuador, when she was first introduced to a group of adult patients living in an abandoned wing of a state-run hospital in the city slums. Moved by the deplorable living conditions of people caught in the vicious cycle of poverty and disease, she began to volunteer at the hospital.

When her three-year assignment in Ecuador was over, she returned to Chicago for a 15-month vow preparation and master's degree in pastoral counseling at Loyola University. But the suffering she had witnessed led her to consider making a lifetime commitment as an advocate for people affected by Hansen's Disease.

Returning to Ecuador, Sister Ann renovated the abandoned wing of the hospital and transformed the slum into a clean, comfortable living facility for 51 people. In addition to providing medicine, home-cooked meals, educational support, art therapy, friendship and a chapel for prayer, the formerly abandoned wing of the Hospital for Infectious Diseases now serves more than 250 men, women and children each month through its out-patient clinic. An additional 200 people receive outreach services through an extension program that assists those suffering with Hansen's Disease in the rural countryside.

In 1994 The Damien House Foundation was formed in Chicago to help channel tax exempt funds to the hospital. Today, Damien House offers quality care services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sister Ann's goal is to develop the former slum hospital into the training and education institute for Hansen's Disease in Ecuador.

Daniel P. Tully is a former trustee of Fairfield University, and chaired the first two Fairfield Awards Dinners to benefit multicultural scholarships.

He has spent his entire business career at Merrill Lynch, beginning in 1955 in the accounting department. Within two years he was named operations manager of the Stamford, Conn., office.

His rise through the company was rapid. He became an account executive in 1959, manager of the Stamford office in 1970, and a vice president of the firm the following year. Successive appointments placed him on the Board of the firm's principal securities subsidiary, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, and in a wide range of management positions, leading to his being named President and Chief Operating Officer in 1985. He served as Chief Executive Officer from 1992 to 1996 and Chairman of the Board from 1993 to 1997.

In his various management positions, Tully orchestrated the company's shift from a product-driven sales effort to a client-focused marketing approach. This led to Merrill Lynch's highly successful asset-gathering and asset-management strategy.

Tully has served as vice chairman of the American Stock Exchange and the Securities Industry Association and director of the New York Stock Exchange, including a term as vice chairman. He was president of the Ireland United States Council for Commerce and Industry and served as chairman of the Board of Governors of NASD.

Dr. Jeanne Novotny named Dean of Nursing

By Barbara Kiernan, Director of University Publications

This is the second in a series of articles to introduce the newly appointed deans to the University community. Next month, Campus Currents will feature Dr. Norman A. Solomon, dean of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business.

Call it an adventuresome spirit, or a zest for living, or energy plus. By any measure, Dr. Jeanne Novotny brings all three phrases to life. An avid hiker who enjoys "rigorous travel," Fairfield's new dean of nursing may need to look beyond campus for certain adventures, but she's eager to take up the one she finds most appealing: the challenge of leading the School of Nursing to new prominence. "In applying for the position, I wanted a challenge, not a job," she says. "Everything I read and heard about Fairfield impressed me, from its history to the strength of its faculty and the opportunity to work collaboratively between Schools. I'm just delighted to be coming."

In doing so, she leaves behind a visiting professorship at the University of Virginia School of Nursing, where she has been chair of the Family Health Division for the last two years. Her background is rich in community health and global outreach, gained primarily during her tenure as assistant dean at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University. There she also served as interim director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center.

In that capacity, she became a consultant on health-related projects around the world, assisting with 16 initiatives in eight countries and the U.S. She traveled to Zimbabwe, for example, to help set up distance learning for master's courses in nursing, creating modules to teach online so that nurses far from the capital city could stay abreast of the latest trends. "Ironically," Dr. Novotny observes, "the infrastructure in Zimbabwe and many Third World countries is poor in terms of travel and communication, because the roads are bad, electricity is limited, and there are few phones. They do, however, have the Internet (through wireless technology), which makes the opportunities for reaching nurses who wish to pursue graduate degrees possible."

In addition to Zimbabwe, she has worked on similar initiatives in Chile and Mexico. "What was great, in addition to the concrete help we offered, was the chance other faculty and I had to visit these countries and get to know their health care systems," she says. Not only did faculty make connections, but Dr. Novotny's students did as well. In teaching Current Issues in Nursing online, half her class comprised undergraduates in the School of Nursing. The other half were students at the Pontificia Universidad Catholica in Chile, who formed partnerships with their U.S. peers and would later get to meet several of them.

"I like to make things happen," Dr. Novotny says, "and work with others to see what's possible." She's eager to discover what those possibilities will ultimately be at Fairfield.

"Dr. Novotny has worked with some of the most influential deans in the nursing profession, and has been associated with particularly high quality programs," observes Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president. "She has a sophisticated understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing nursing education today, and I have great confidence in her ability to position the School of Nursing well in the changing world of health care."

"I hope to be able to use my various contacts to enrich the School of Nursing, because I believe it is one of the jewels in Fairfield's crown," she says. "Nursing is a great profession, and its future is rich with opportunities throughout the world."

Part of that positioning may involve the introduction of some distance education courses, an area of expertise she has developed. Last year, in reaping the inner rewards of having two books published (Distance Education in Nursing and The Nuts and Bolts of Teaching Nursing), she also reaped some "outer" rewards as well when both volumes received "Book of the Year Awards" from the prestigious American Journal of Nursing.

This will be Dr. Novotny's first "up close and personal" taste of Jesuit education, a career move she expects to find enriching, both professionally and personally. "The nursing profession's inherent orientation to service makes it a natural 'fit' at a Jesuit university," she says. Her personal foundation, rooted in academic rigor and grounded in service, has certainly paved the way for this transition.

After receiving a diploma in nursing from St. Vincent Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, she continued her education at Ohio State University while working as a staff nurse. After earning her bachelor and master of science degrees in nursing, she went on to receive her doctorate in education and administration from Kent State University. She then joined Kent State's faculty, became a tenured associate professor, and ultimately director of its associate degree nursing program. In 1994, she accepted the assistant dean position at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, and four years later went to Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, where she taught as an associate professor prior to accepting the Talbott Visiting Professorship at UVA.

In moving to Connecticut, Dr. Novotny will not be a solo adventurer. Joining her will be her husband, Robert, a retired high school Spanish teacher who also taught at Kent State. Their son, James, is a chemist now living in California, but is never far from their thoughts. In fact, last year, she and Bob took one of their rigorous vacations, in Spain. There they hiked a 150-mile pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. James, the patron saint of Spain, for whom their son is named.

St. Ignatius will, no doubt, forgive her.

Spring fling

All over campus these days, members of the grounds crew can be spotted raking, cleaning, and planting - all in preparation for the University's 51st commencement later this month and the reunions in June. On a particularly warm April day, Dennis Quinones cleared the beds around the Campus Ministry Center to get them ready for newly arriving blooms.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

"Writing by the GOLDEN Rule: Creating a Strong Community of Learning and Teaching Educators," an article by Dr. Iris Bork-Goldfield, instructor of German, was published in Lernwelten, vol 4, Sept.-Dec. 2000.

Dr. Bork-Goldfield was also part of the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, March 29-April 1 in New York City. She presented "Reaching Foreign Language Educators on the Web: A Model for Distance Learning."

Dr. Javier Campos, associate professor of modern languages and literatures, was invited in April to read his work at a bilingual poetry reading at Trinity College in Hartford. Also in April, he read his work at "Poetic Discourses at Play 2001," a Hispanic, Luso-Brazilian and Latino/a poetry conference held at the University of California, Irvine.

Dr. Arjun Chaudhuri, associate professor of marketing, co-authored the article "The Chain of Effects from Brand Trust and Brand Affect to Brand Performance: The Role of Brand Loyalty," published in the April 2001 issue of The Journal of Marketing. The studies reported in the article were funded by grants from Fairfield University and the Columbia Business School.

The Connecticut General Assembly presented official citations to Jennifer Cooper '01, Courtney Darts '01, and Kevin Bennett '02 for their outstanding academic achievements. The awards were presented at the State Capitol in Hartford on April 19, after which students were presented to members of the House of Representatives for recognition.

The New York Times, national edition, interviewed Dr. Edward Deak, professor of economics, for an article on a Connecticut population shift in the direction of New York. Dr. Deak credited Stamford's eight percent population growth to the expanding financial services sector, a proliferation of Internet businesses and computer related services; some urban revitalization and good access to New York City.

Dr. Jesús Escobar, assistant professor of art history, was co-chair of "Unparalleled Works: Spanish Art and the Problems of Understanding," a three-day international conference in New York City. The conference brought noted scholars and art historians from around the world to address the place of Spanish art within the academic and museum disciplines. Dr. Escobar was assisted by three Fairfield students: Jennifer Palmer '01, Elizabeth Hastings, and Patricia Stone of the School of Continuing Education.

Dr. Nancy Haegel, professor of physics, was among AJCU Women Leaders highlighted in the March issue of Connections, the monthly publication of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.

Among the "Helping Hands" spring break programs cited in The New York Times, national edition, was Fairfield's Seminar on Justice and the Developing World, in which Dr. Katherine Kidd, director of international studies, and Dr. Winston Tellis, acting dean of the Dolan School of Business, brought students to Leon, Nicaragua, to conduct research.

Dr. Gregory Koutmos, professor of finance, was interviewed by the Danbury News-Times about investors and the stock market. This year's decline isn't anything new, he noted. "A good lesson for everyone is to diversify," he said. "If someone tells you to buy into a single sector of the market or a single stock, walk away."

Dr. Paula Gill Lopez, director of the School Psychology Program for the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, was featured in articles in the New Haven Register and the Connecticut Post for her work with students in the Valley high schools. A member of the Bullying Task Force of the Governor's Prevention Partnership Commission on Children, Dr. Lopez was invited by the Valley Instructional Network for Education (VINE) to speak to students at the Seymour, Derby, Shelton and Ansonia High Schools on how to prevent violence in their schools.

Rev. Joseph MacDonnell, S.J., professor in the mathematics/computer science department, has been invited to present at the University of Santa Clara's 150th anniversary celebration on May 5. His topic concerns the extensive contributions to science by Jesuits during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.

Dr. Sharlene A. McEvoy, professor of business law, presented "What's race got to do with it? A theory of jury decision-making" at the annual meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Academy of Legal Studies in Business in Norfolk, Virginia, on March 23. Dr. McAvoy presented a series of cases in support of her theory that the race of jurors is less an influence on verdicts than their sex, age, and occupation.

Photographs by young people from Longfellow School in Bridgeport, who studied under the guidance of Dr. Alice McIntyre, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction in the Graduate School of Education, are featured in an exhibit at The Discovery Museum. "At a Split Second: Visual Stories by Urban Young People," will be on view through May 27.

"Fides Amor: Amor as Companion in Petrarch's Canzoniere," by Dr. Thomas Mussio, instructor of modern languages, was published in Italian Culture, XVIII, 1, 2000.

Also, Dr. Mussio's "Anti-Community and Chaos: The Role of Free Indirect Discourse in Zola's Germinal" was published in Caverns of Night, University of South Carolina Press, 2000.

Last month, Dr. Elizabeth Petrino, assistant professor of English, discussed American women poets with WVOF radio host Beth Lazar. She also read excerpts from her latest book, Emily Dickinson and her Contemporaries: Women's Verse in America, 1820-1885.

Rabbi James Prosnit, clergy of Congregation B'nai Israel and instructor of Judaic Studies at Fairfield University, told the story of Passover and discussed the relevance of the holiday to modern times on WVOF with radio host Beth Lazar.

The Connecticut Department of Higher Education has awarded certificates of recognition to Kerry Eileen Schardien '01 and Felipe Polanco '01 for their "leadership in community service."

An article by Dr. Marie-Agnes Sourieau, associate professor of modern languages and literatures, has been published in the April issue of The French Review. The article is about Max Radiguet's 1850s diaries telling of his encounter with the "last savages" in the Marquesas Islands.

"A Reconceptualization of Learning Disabilities via a Self-Organizing Systems Paradigm," an article by Dr. David Aloyzy Zera, assistant professor of psychology and special education, was published in the Journal of Learning Disabilities, Volume 34, Number 1.

Mark J. Guglielmoni named Director of Human Resources

Mark J. Guglielmoni has been named Director of Human Resources, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Stephen P. Jakab.

"Mark's career in human resources has covered every aspect of the field," said William J. Lucas, vice president of finance, upon the announcement. "He is held in high regard at St. Vincent's Medical Center where he has administered benefits and implemented strategy for nearly 2,000 employees. I know he will be a wonderful asset to the Fairfield University community."

At St. Vincent's, where he supervised a staff of six, Mark administered all Medical Center benefits, including a self-insured health and dental plan, long-term disability, life insurance, supplemental life, defined benefit retirement plan, and tax sheltered annuity savings plan. He was responsible for converting a Tax Sheltered Program that greatly enhanced available investment options and negotiating a three percent bonus for all Medical Center participants, which resulted in similar offers nationwide. He was the chairperson of the 130-member Hospital Management Conference Group.

He is a graduate of the University of New Haven with a bachelor of science degree in management science and a master of science degree in industrial relations.

Twelve faculty promoted

Congratulations to the following faculty members:

Dr. Arjun Chaudhuri promoted to professor of marketing
Dr. Elizabeth Dreyer promoted to professor of religious studies and granted tenure
Dr. Jesús Escobar promoted to associate professor of visual and performing arts and granted tenure
Dr. Anna Martin promoted to associate professor of finance and granted tenure
Dr. David McFadden promoted to professor of history
Dr. Irene Mulvey promoted to professor of mathematics
Dr. Curt Naser promoted to associate professor of philosophy and granted tenure
Dr. Judith Primavera promoted to professor of psychology
Dr. James Simon promoted to associate professor of English and granted tenure
Dr. Gary Weddle promoted to associate professor of chemistry
Dr. Kathleen Wheeler promoted to professor of nursing
Dr. Michael White promoted to associate professor of English and granted tenure

Service Anniversaries

Births

Debra Johns, assistant director of admission, son - David James, born March 16.

Condolences

Donald Sayer, the father of Patti Pastore of the bursar's office, died on March 23.
Angelina Smith, the grandmother of Michael Strain, technician in Computing and Network Services, died on April 15.
Mary Charlton, the mother of Rita O'Shea, executive secretary for the vice president of finance, and grandmother of Alison O'Shea, secretary for the director of major gifts, died on April 11.
Anita Plude, the sister of Barbara Fitzpatrick of the payroll office, died on April 11.

New Employees

David Keith - Security, dispatcher
Christopher Steger - Annual Giving, associate director

 

Dr. Evangelos Hadjimichael: Up on the roof

By Jill Kasiewicz, Editor

Here's an interesting piece of Fairfield University trivia: Which on-campus building's roof has just the right orientation to the sun (SSW), making it the best location to install solar panels? No, it's not the majestic Bellarmine Hall, the Alumni House on the hill, or even the top of Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola. It's the 2,800 sq. ft. roof of Townhouse 10 - and there's a new solar energy project in the works that could launch a new way for the University to make, store, and use electricity.

Dr. E. Hadjimichael, dean of the School of Engineering, has been heading this grid-connected photovoltaic project for the past two years. The public inauguration was celebrated on April 25 - Earth Day - with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Thus far, the project has been funded through a $100,000 grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation and a $10,000 grant from United Illuminating.

Here's how it works: Last September, the shingles of Townhouse 10 were replaced with approximately 800 photovoltaic cells. The cells soak in the sunlight and convert it into electricity. Basically, when sunlight hits a cell, electrons are dislodged, creating an electrical current. The current is utilized immediately in Townhouse 10's appliances or stored in batteries for later use.

It's estimated that the residences in Townhouse 10 will receive approximately 55 to 60% of their energy from this green energy system. "We had originally thought that the project would produce enough amps to supply all eight apartments in Townhouse 10 with electricity, but for now we will begin with four," says Dr. Hadjimichael. "The project will support all electric appliances and activities in those apartments except for the air conditioner and the electric range, since those items take a lot of energy."

Although it may seem that the steps this project has taken have been small, Dr. Hadjimichael says that this is possibly the largest grid-connected residential photovoltaic solar energy conversion project in the country. "We've turned Townhouse 10 into an energy source for most of its inhabitants."

Monitoring the effectiveness of the photovoltaic cells are students Jose Gonzalez Blanco, Stephen Moodey, and John Palmer, as part of their senior Capstone project. They collect data on the amount of power converted, changes in energy, and level of use. The data will be analyzed later to assess the effectiveness of this new technology. "This project is not only engineering work, it's introducing students to power-electronics and is meant to showcase how solar energy works," says Dr. Hadjimichael. "It's a good source of energy available at little expense. This project provides our campus with a lab to train and educate students about transforming a living environment into its own source of energy, in which you don't have to install pipes, gas, and long power lines. Plus, it's hard to tell from the outside that the system is even in place. The shingles look a little shiny, that's all."

And what about the cost difference between solar energy and fossil fuel? "Right now, upon initial installation, using solar does cost more," says Dr. Hadjimichael. "For example, you might pay eight to twelve cents per kW (kilowatt) for electricity produced by fossil fuel, and as much as sixteen to twenty cents per kW with solar energy. The hope is that by developing better materials for solar cells, and by improving the power electronics now in use - this is the problem considered by the engineering team at Fairfield - the two will soon become financially competitive," he continues. "More importantly, because fossil fuels will eventually run out, we will have to turn to a renewable energy-producing source, such as wind, solar, or geothermal, etc."

Board of Trustees approves budget for 2001-2002 Academic Year

The Board of Trustees has approved an operating budget for the academic year 2001-2002 totaling $98,093,000, an increase of 8 percent over the 2000-2001 year budget.

This budget, recommended to the President and Trustees, reflects the priorities established by the Budget Committee, and new funds associated with the operating and depreciation costs, as well as the renovations and additions to DiMenna-Nyselius Library, Barone Campus Center, and Bannow Science Center.

Tuition matters

Undergraduate tuition for seniors will increase to $21,940 from $20,540, and for freshmen, sophomores and juniors will be $22,430. Room and board rates will rise to $8,000 from $7,630; townhouse rental will go to $6,390 from $6,080; and the apartment complex will increase to $6,930 from $6,600. The general University fee will now be $455; its $20 addition is designated to support WVOF and FUSA. Thus, the overall package of tuition, fees, and room and board represents a 6.3 percent increase to full-time students.

Included in the room charges are two welcome amenities for students, currently paid out-of-pocket: a MicroFridge in each traditional dorm room and laundry service. Through this new program, each student (residence hall, townhouse, and apartment) will have up to 36 wash and dry cycles each semester. The MicroFridge, a combined microwave, freezer, and refrigerator unit, will eliminate the need for outside rental and provide safety and convenience for students.

Committee deliberations

According to William Lucas, vice president for finance, the Budget Committee - comprising faculty, administration, and student representatives - heard presentations from various departments about how they currently use their budget allocation. For 2000-01, these areas and functions included Admission and Financial Aid, the School of Continuing Education, Graduate Education and Allied Professions, Information Technology, Athletics, and Career Planning. In addition, the Budget Committee continued its practice of holding open hearings to allow any member of the University community to address it about funding needs or priorities.

The more intense period for the Committee began in January, when weekly meetings were held to review individual department requests and discuss competing institutional needs for resources. Members then dug into the meat of the matter, prioritizing budget requests to be funded by limited new revenues. "We began the budget process knowing in advance that there were a number of funding needs that would dramatically impact our use of funds," Lucas said. "Specifically, they included the costs of 1) depreciation, 2) additional facility operation, and 3) interest payments associated with our facility enhancement program.

Depreciation expense, he explained, is the recognition of the annual cost of using capital assets, such as buildings and equipment. For FY'02, as the Barone Campus Center and Bannow Science Center come on line, the depreciation for these two facilities alone is computed to be $975,000.

The additional basic operating costs (primarily utilities and custodial services) for these facilities and the expanded library are estimated at $450,000.

With regard to interest, $2.8 million of annual bond interest payments begin in FY '02. This expense, which supports the funds borrowed for facility renovations and expansion, is funded by a combination of unrestricted endowment revenues and net revenues from the new student apartment village. Therefore, no tuition dollars were needed to fund the additional debt service.

Compensation and financial aid

As in past years, one of the budget allocation's largest areas was compensation - that is, salaries and benefits. The total compensation pool for all employees increased by $2,702,000. The allocation includes funds for salary increases and adjustments, as well as for increases in benefit costs for medical insurance, pensions, Social Security, life insurance, long-term disability, dependent grants-in-aid, unemployment compensation, and worker's compensation.

Because the need for student financial aid continues to be a priority - both to assist the 70 percent of students who receive aid and to remain competitive with other institutions - the Budget Committee increased the financial aid allocation by 11.8 percent, to $16,079,000.

According to Lucas, other areas approved for new funding were contract services (food service, custodial services, and the computer center), funds to continue the ongoing compensation plan review (see related story), and funds to move the University's basketball program to the new Bridgeport Arena. The committee, conscious of the financial constraints on new personnel funds over the past year, recommended the funding of 10 positions in FY '02. These include a full-time engineering faculty member, assistant to the dean of freshmen, math and computer science lab manager, reference librarian, major gifts officer, network and institutional support specialists, an energy assistant, a carpenter, and a plumber.

Aware of the pressure on the general departmental operating budgets, the Committee approved an additional $450,000 for items such as supplies, library materials, faculty travel, and computer software licenses.

Tuition dependency

According to Lucas, Fairfield continues to be highly tuition-dependent, with approximately 90 percent of the total University budget funded from tuition, room, board, and fees. It is not unusual, at a university as young as Fairfield, for the vast majority of new funds to come from these sources. The $3,808,000 incremental rise in projected tuition and fees (net of financial aid) represents a combination of enrollment changes and tuition increases, with $3,041,000 coming from undergraduate programs, $442,000 from graduate programs, and $325,000 from Continuing Education. The $579,000 in increased auxiliary services derives primarily from the rise in room and board fees, as well as townhouse and apartment fees.

Budget breakdown

By category, the total University budget breaks down as follows:

Compensation, 57 percent; General Operations (overhead functions such as interest expense, utilities, maintenance, and insurance), 9 percent; Depreciation, 8.4 percent; Contract Services (administrative functions contracted out to third parties, including food service, computing, and custodial services), 9.3 percent. The remaining 13.5 percent represents instructional and office supplies, printing, postage, telephone, travel, and other expenditures for all departments and divisions.

The increase in unrestricted net assets of .37 percent from operating activities, according to Lucas, represents funds that were and continue to be raised from normal operations to fund specific purposes. This includes the University commitment to pay back plant funds from previous borrowings and to provide for major repairs and replacements.

Regarding the University total revenues, the vast majority, as mentioned above, comprises tuition as well as fees and room and board, or auxiliary expenses. The balance of the revenue budget is made up of investment income from endowment and cash flow investing, private gifts and grants, and departmental revenues.

"I thank the University Budget Committee for all its efforts," said Lucas. "The Committee worked diligently in reviewing University resources and needs from an institutional perspective in making these difficult allocation decisions."

Members of the University Budget Committee included Lucas (Chair); Associate Professor Dr. Paul Caster (Accounting); Professor Dr. Edward Deak (Economics); Vice President for Advancement George E. Diffley; Vice President for Information Resources and University Librarian James Estrada; Associate Controller Kenneth Fontaine; Academic Vice President Dr. Orin L. Grossman; Huy Huynh '04; Chair of the Economics Department Dr. Philip J. Lane; and Vice President for Student Services William P. Schimpf.

'A conversation with Jack Welch'

Jack Welch, chairman and CEO of General Electric Company, launched the Charles F. Dolan Lectures on April 9 at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

Answering questions from moderator Geoffrey Colvin, editorial director of Fortune magazine, and several from the fully packed house, Welch discussed his managing style and employee development.

"A manager's job is to pump self-confidence into people - and that's what we do (at GE)," he said.

Welch also identified hiring employees "smarter than you" as one of the best ways to keep a business growing. "Every time you don't hire someone who is smarter than yourself, you are missing out. The only way to have a successful business is to hire great people," he said.

He discussed in detail GE's practice of rigorous annual performance reviews, in his mind a necessary tool to "move up the bottom ten percent." Welch's philosophy is that not being honest with employees is far more cruel than a glowing evaluation that is not reflective of true performance.

Welch also encouraged Dolan School of Business students to have a passion and go for it. "Pick your game; don't be a dabbler," he said. "People with a passion know where they are going and what they want...Someone who grabs life is a successful person."

The Charles F. Dolan Lecture Series is named for University trustee Charles F. Dolan who, with his wife Helen, donated $25 million to benefit the School of Business.

High Achievement

Fairfield hosts Alpha Mu Gamma national convention

For three days in March, the Eta Pi Chapter at Fairfield University hosted the national convention for Alpha Mu Gamma, the national honorary society for foreign languages.

Keynote speaker John A. Rassias, the William R. Kenan Professor and Chair of the Department of French and Italian of Dartmouth College, opened the biennial convention. Dr. Rassias is the developer of an innovative and highly effective approach to teaching languages, known as the Rassias Method® or the Dartmouth Intensive Language Model.

The nearly 30 presentations included several by Fairfield University students and faculty. These presentations were as follows:

Michelle Bernier '03 and Rebecca Couchon '03 - "Stumbling Toward Success," a presentation addressing the learning environments of a foreign language and the learning process unique to that atmosphere.

Dr. Javier Campos, associate professor; Dr. Nick Hill, associate professor - "Bilingual Poetry Readings: Spanish/English."

Dr. Mary Ann Carolan, assistant professor - "From Opera to Soap Opera: Teaching Italian Language and Culture."

Allison Dudley '03 and Anna Motoszko '01 - "The Benefits of French Education and Cultural Experience," a discussion based on their own experiences in using differing methods available to increase skill and understanding of the French language.

Dr. Joel Goldfield, director of the CEC Learning Center - "Building an Assistant Teacher Program: A Team-Based Infrastructure for 'Oral Homework.' "

Dr. John F. McCarthy, chair of the psychology department - "The Relationship between Syntax and Cognition."

Antonio Ortiz, adjunct professor; Angela R. Tauro, instructor; Dr. Eileen Wilkinson, instructor - " 'Come to the Cabaret!' Add Spice and Passion to the Cultural Experience."

Jay Sommer, adjunct professor - "Starting the First Day with Developing Oral Skills in the Target Language."

Dr. Marie-Agnès Sourieau, associate professor - "Teaching French for Business with the Internet."

Angela Weston '02 - "Mudejar Architecture: Muslim Influence on Spanish Culture," a description of the origins and development of Muslim architecture in Spain.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Sports

Defensive Coordinator Joe Bernard named Head Football Coach

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

In an announcement made last month by Director of Athletics Eugene P. Doris, Defensive Coordinator Joe Bernard will take over as head coach of the Stags' football program. Kevin Kiesel, head football coach, resigned to accept the head coaching position at Millersville University in Pennsylvania, a perennial Division II playoff contender.

"Kevin did a good job, building a Division I-AA program from scratch," Doris said. "I thank Kevin and wish him the best. Fairfield is very fortunate to have a coach like Joe Bernard, ready to take over the program. He's been instrumental in the team's success over the years as defensive coordinator. I know that success will continue under his leadership as head coach."

Bernard has been with the program since 1996, and has been responsible for building one of the best defenses in Division I-AA. Under his guidance, the Stags led Division I-AA in total defense and scoring defense in 1998, before placing second in both of those categories in 1999.

Bernard has been building defenses since he joined the coaching ranks. His career began in 1983 as an assistant coach at Bethlehem High School in Pennsylvania. He moved onto Nazareth High School where he contributed as an assistant coach from 1985-89. After serving seven seasons as an assistant, Bernard earned his first head coaching position at Nazareth in 1990. As the head coach, he compiled a 37-28-1 record, and captured three Colonial League Championships. The 1993 campaign was his most successful as that team owned a 10-1 record. For his efforts, he was chosen head coach of the McDonald's All-Star Classic in 1992 and 1994.

Kiesel started the Fairfield football program in 1996, becoming the head coach in January '97. In his five years as head coach, he posted a 34-17 record which included this year's 8-2 mark. He was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the Year in 1998, leading Fairfield to its only conference title with a 9-2 overall record and a 6-1 MAAC mark. After posting a 1-8 overall record in the program's inaugural year, Kiesel coached Fairfield to a 7-3 slate in 1997, the second-best turnaround in Division I-AA that year and one of the 20 best turnarounds in Division I-AA history.

Coxswain Jessica DeMarco '02: Water Strider

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Most sports teams have a person who shoulders the responsibility of winning or losing. In basketball, it's the point guard. In football, it's the quarterback. In crew, it's the coxswain. The coxswain sits on the boat's stern, facing her teammates. The rowers depend upon the coxswain to synchronize their strokes, so the boat glides smoothly across the water toward the finish line. It's only through the strength of the coxswain that the team can accomplish its goal.

"I am the coach on the water," says junior Jessica DeMarco, coxswain on the women's varsity crew team. "I observe and listen to the team, and try to bring everyone together based upon those observations. My goal is to guide them with my voice to motivate the members and to get them to work harder."

DeMarco certainly meets the definition of a leader. Besides beginning her third year as a coxswain on the team, DeMarco is co-president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), along with football player Steve Norcini '01. The committee comprises student-athletes who meet regularly to discuss topics such as community service, and acts as a liaison between athletes and athletic administration. This year alone, SAAC has spearheaded several projects, including a Thanksgiving dollar donation to benefit soup kitchens, a Christmas toy drive (with the women's basketball team), and an on-going commitment with Habitat for Humanity.

"There are about 40 student-athletes involved with SAAC," DeMarco says. "We have different committees to work on various projects. Our goal is to bring all the student-athletes together, and to reach out to the University and town communities."

DeMarco did not find leading such a diverse group an easy task at first. She emerged as a leader once she came to campus. "I was not much of a leader growing up or in high school," DeMarco recalls. "I am the middle child between two boys, so I was always following them. When I came to college, I wanted to be my own person. I wanted to be responsible for my own life. Crew became a way for me to do this."

First, however, DeMarco had to overcome a simple fact - she had never sat in a shell before arriving at Fairfield.

"I was a swimmer in high school," she relates. "I never thought I'd play another varsity sport after graduation. I knew I didn't want to continue swimming, because I'd been doing it for so long. When I came to Fairfield to visit a friend who happened to be on the crew team, she told me I was the perfect size to be a coxswain. So I spoke with coach (Andre Albert) the summer before I came to Fairfield. He encouraged me to come out for the team. I read and read to learn all the terms and become familiar with the sport."

Reading helped, but it was still not the same as stepping into the shell.

"It was difficult getting into the boat as a freshman, because I had to be the leader," DeMarco says. "As novices, we were not sure what we were doing because we were all learning the sport together. It was a challenge to be in charge. But the more I was out on the water, the more I fell in love with the sport. Now, it's become second nature to be leader in the boat."

Her dedication as well as the dedication of the entire team paid dividends last April. Despite competing for only the third season as a varsity sport, Fairfield University captured the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship, edging out perennial powerhouses like Marist and Loyola.

"There's pressure to repeat as champion," DeMarco says. "But our team is so excited about it that we're looking forward to it. We have been through so much together, we are ready for any challenge. My only concern is that we do our best. If we do our best, then I will be pleased."

Since no river runs through the University campus, home regattas are not an option. The team trains in Shelton on the Housatonic River, the site of this year's MAAC championship races. But despite being off campus, the team has built a loyal following.

"The team is a huge family. Because we are so close, our families have become close with each other as well. They follow us all over and are always there to support us. I understand that we are an off-campus sport, so people may not know much about us. But it's such an exciting sport to watch. I hope people will start coming out to see us the same way they do for a basketball game."

DeMarco is a psychology major with a sociology minor. She is a member of Psi Chi, the national psychology honor society, and the psychology club. Both activities should help her to move into her chosen profession.

"I love children, and want to work as a social worker or in a hospital setting," says DeMarco. "I've thought about working with terminally ill children." Meanwhile she is enjoying what she hopes will be a lifelong pursuit.

"It's amazing how close you become within your own boat," DeMarco explains. That closeness will be one of the things that DeMarco remembers most. "We are a family, and that will carry on for many years to come."

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Santos delivers with perfect pitch
Pitcher Mellissa Santos '03 remains among the nation's leaders for strikeouts per seven innings, averaging nine each outing. The sophomore has struck out 200 batters in each of her first two seasons, and is already the team's career leader in strikeouts. Santos' exploits have been noticed by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, earning three straight Pitcher of the Week awards (41/, 4/8, 4/15). By mid-April, Santos had already equalled her freshman win total of 17.

Stags earn Player and Rookie of the Week
Fairfield had its share of honors during the first half of the spring season, as the men's and women's lacrosse team, the baseball team, and the softball squad each earned weekly accolades. Troy Bamann '04, an attackman for men's lacrosse, earned Player of the Week honors after scoring six goals and three assists in a split with Butler and Ohio State. Sophomore goaltender C.J. Kemp is a two-time Player of the Week, buoyed by his nationally ranked save percentage. Freshman midfielder Tom Werney picked up his first career Player of the Week award after scoring three goals and two assists against Cornell. The women's lacrosse team placed senior Colleen Cunningham and freshman Kathleen Crane among the MAAC's players of the week. Cunningham, a senior attack, and Crane, a freshman goaltender, picked up their awards on April 15.

In baseball, junior infielder Ryan Bittner is a two-time Player of the Week, the second of which he earned after hitting .571 over a seven-day stretch. Two softball freshmen - outfielder Laura Sandonato and shortstop Megan Miller - collected Rookie of the Week honors.

Joseph Piagentini elected FUSA President for 2001-02

By Adam Fletcher '01, Public Relations Intern

Last month, Joseph Piagentini '02 was sworn in as FUSA President for 2001-02. Piagentini is majoring in politics and religious studies, and minoring in communication.

What have you been involved with on campus prior to this election?

I was a member of the Class Council (2 years), Student Court (1 year), Facilitator (2 years), Eucharistic Minister (3 years), Residence Hall Floor Governor (1 year), and I am involved in a number of community service activities.

What do you plan on accomplishing as FUSA President?

I want to focus on the apathy issue that has an impact on our campus. My plan is to meet with IRHG, AHANA, and the Board of Governors on a regular basis. Together we can combat issues of apathy among the students.

I also want to see an improvement in the relationship between the campus and the students, by putting FUSA "back" into their hands. One way to do that is to eliminate the perceived "elitist" status of FUSA. I will have an "open door" policy at all times, and my hope is that students will feel comfortable telling me their ideas. I also plan to emphasize to all students that they are always welcome to attend our weekly meetings and help out in any way at FUSA events.

I feel that the University needs to have more events designed for all students rather than just particular groups. Then there would be a better chance for a wide range of campus involvement.

How will you manage your new responsibilities and your senior year?

I have handled my schoolwork as well as my other activities for the past three years so I think that I will handle this just fine. It just comes naturally to me. Plus if I have any questions or problems, I can always ask my brother Michael ('99) for help. He was FUSA President his senior year, so I can always turn to him.

Archbishop of Jamaica confirms six

Six members of the University community received the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola on April 22, by Archbishop Samual Carter, S.J. of Kingston, Jamaica. Among the confirmed was Kristin A. Yochum '02, pictured above with her sponsor, Michelle Bezzone.

Preparing the six for their confirmation was Rev. Richard Deshaies, S.J., assistant University chaplain (above center). Fr. Deshaies concelebrated the Mass with Rev. Paul Carrier, S.J., University chaplain (left). Others confirmed were Brittany A. Yonta '02, Corry B. LePage '02, Kristy M. Golden '02 and Jeannette Mayor.

A clean sweep for hunger

T.J. Murphy (pictured above), house manager for the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, was among the 400 volunteers who participated in this year's Hunger Cleanup, a program of the National Student Campaign against Hunger and Homelessness, held on Saturday, April 7.

The volunteers performed various tasks and chores at 42 nonprofit community programs from Bridgeport to Stamford. T.J. worked at the Senior Center in Fairfield.

Last year's volunteers raised over $10,000. This year's Hunger Cleanup Committee set a goal of breaking the $11,000 mark for the first time. Funds are distributed to local programs and grass roots initiatives in Third World countries and are used to heighten awareness about hunger and homelessness in this country as well.

For the last six years, Fairfield University has won one Silver Medal and five Gold Medals of Excellence for having the best campaign in the United States.

The Arts on Campus

St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble to perform all-Czech program at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble, a division of the Orchestra of St. Luke's, will perform an all-Czech program at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on May 4 at 8 p.m.

On the program are Zelenka's "Sonata for Two Oboes and Continuo in F major," Janacek's "Suite for Strings," Myslivecek's "Palesar vorrei col pianto," and "Cedere e forza, o cara? Luci belle, se piangete" from Medonte, followed by the finale, Zelenka's "Suite for Two Oboes, Bassoon, and Strings in F major."

Elizabeth Ostrow, the orchestra's director of planning, will give a pre-concert Art-to-Heart talk from 7 to 7:40 p.m. For tickets, contact the box office at ext. 4010.

Broadway to Opera is the Mendelssohn Choir's spring offering at the Quick Center for the Arts the Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut (MCC) will herald the spring season with a concert, "Broadway to Opera - The Grand Connection," on May 12 at 8 p.m. in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The choir, under the direction of Carole Ann Maxwell, director of Fairfield University's Glee Club, is the Quick Center's Chorus-in-Residence for 2000-01.

"Broadway to Opera," a sparkling array of theatre favorites, will spotlight arias, duets, and choruses by Verdi, Puccini, Strauss, Sondheim, Loewe, and many other Broadway and opera composers. In addition, a selection titled "Songs that Lift the Spirits" will celebrate famous drinking songs from Broadway and opera.

For ticket information, call the box office at ext. 4010.

Dr. Michael White to read from his latest novel at DiMenna-Nyselius Library

The Friends of the DiMenna-Nyselius Library invite the public to a reading by Dr. Michael White, associate professor of English. Dr. White will read from his latest novel, A Dream of Wolves, on May 4 at 2 p.m. in the library's new auditorium.

The program is free but reservations are necessary. To reserve a place or for more information, call Sharon at ext. 2180.

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

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

Barbara Kiernan
Director of University Publications

Jean Santopatre
University Photojournalist

Linda Gustavson
Publications Assistant