May 2003

Index for May 8, 2003

Dr. Raymond Poincelot: Growing in a new direction

By Jennifer K. Covino, Publications Writer

Biology professor Dr. Raymond Poincelot is a lot like the plants he's so fond of talking about. Plants burrow in with deep roots. They find the sunlight when it's time to grow. And they leave the area around them richer.

Dr. Poincelot has deep roots at Fairfield University. He's been a faculty member since 1977, serving 13 years as the biology department's chair, founding the environmental science program, and teaching more than a dozen different courses. Now he's growing in a new direction as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, a position he will hold for two or three years. Thanks to his hard work, he leaves behind a department that is stronger than ever, bolstered by the enthusiasm of bright, young faculty, and equipped with high-tech labs and research instruments.

"The department is in the best shape I've seen it in 26 years," he says. "If I'm going to step out for a while, I'm happy to do it at the high point."

Although Dr. Poincelot's new position does not become effective until July 1, the work has already begun. He attends weekly staff meetings at the dean's office, and has been assigned his first project: working on the Howard Hughes grant initiative, which could bring the University as much as $1 million for research in the sciences. "I'm looking forward to the ability to do things on a broader scale," he says.

Dr. Poincelot is known for his dedication, intellect, fairness, and support and knowledge of faculty and students, says Dr. Timothy Law Snyder, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "He has a rounded sense of students, staff, faculty, and administration that will help guide the College through the next few years."

Dr. Poincelot will remain the University's safety, chemical hygiene, and radiation safety officer, and will continue to keep a foot in his field as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, which he founded in 1989.

But Dr. Poincelot, whose fifth book, Sustainable Agriculture: Today and Tomorrow, was published by Prentice Hall in January, will suspend his current research for now. Conducted in a greenhouse atop the Rudolph F. Bannow Science Center, his research has focused on the effects of seaweed extracts on plant growth as a means to reduce the need for fertilizer, an environmental pollutant.

Dr. Poincelot holds a doctoral degree in biochemistry from Case Western Reserve University. He first became interested in socially and environmentally responsible farming as an assistant biochemist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven. His area of expertise - sustainable agriculture - focuses on growing techniques that conserve, recycle, and renew natural resources.

Dr. Poincelot pauses when asked whether his convictions about sustainable agriculture can be considered a Jesuit way of thinking. "We are stewards of the earth," he says. "We need to leave it for future generations as good as we found it or better."

He hopes he has inspired students to think more about where their food comes from and what they can do to protect the environment. "I'll miss the joy of imparting knowledge in the classroom and the ability to fire up students to see the environment in a different light and to do things to improve it," he says.

In the meantime, he will keep his principles alive in his own little corner of the world - an organic herb and vegetable garden behind his Reef Road home in Fairfield. The rewards of gardening are much more than a juicy summer tomato or a fresh-picked strawberry, he says. "Gardening is a low-stress activity and it's fun. Plus, it forces me to practice what I preach."

President launches new University marketing effort

By Martha Milcarek, Assistant Vice President for Public Relations

On April 10, University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., launched a new initiative in Fairfield University's continuing effort to become a premier Jesuit institution of higher education and to ensure that constituencies recognize it as such. During a meeting held at Alumni House, he announced the establishment of the University Strategic Marketing Committee and an executive committee to oversee the group's work.

Citing the success of marketing efforts in recent years on undergraduate recruitment and the Our Promise: The Campaign for Fairfield University initiative, Fr. Kelley explained the need to move into the next phase of the institution's efforts to distinguish itself from competitors and to stand out from the crowd.

"Internally, we must gain greater clarity about what we are, how we differ, and most importantly, what we want to be," he stated in his charge to the group. "Externally, we must develop a communication initiative that aligns what we say about the University with what we are, and create strategies based on a common institutional identity and frame of reference that will resonate with all of our stakeholders.

"The collective knowledge, creativity, and energy present in this room is tremendous," Fr. Kelley continued. "When we leverage this with the outstanding human resources that are abundant all across the campus and work in unison toward our common goal and purpose, the possibilities that await Fairfield are without limits."

According to Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president, much of the group's initial effort will focus on marketing to the adult population, a significant potential revenue source for Fairfield. Fairfield can be a major player in the growing marketplace of graduate and continuing studies programs, he said.

The marketing committee consists of 48 people serving on four ad hoc committees: market research and product development; promotion and public relations; admission and advancement; and customer service. Its purpose is to:

• share and communicate ideas among all institutional divisions and departments and advance an integrated marketing approach to future challenges and opportunities;
• advance viable ideas through the proper University units in order to implement positive actions and outcomes;
• recommend educational programs and products with the academic integrity of a Jesuit institution that serve various constituencies;
• increase Fairfield's visibility and name recognition among local, regional, and national communities; and
• seek opportunities to improve or create better customer service to all students and persons who utilize the programs of Fairfield University.

Overseeing the group's activities will be an executive committee that includes Dr. Grossman; George Diffley, vice president for advancement; Ed Wilkes, associate academic vice president for enrollment management; Martha Milcarek, assistant vice president for public relations; Barbara Kiernan, director of University publications and marketing communications; and Cathy O'Donnell, director of marketing, who will also serve as the committee's facilitator.

The market research and product development work group includes several academic deans and representatives from sociology, marketing, management information, advancement research, corporate relations, computer network services, government grants and foundations, visual and performing arts, finance, and student services.

The promotion and public relations work group has representatives from a variety of departments and offices including publications, media relations, media center, Web management, printing and graphic services, development, computing and network services, sports information, the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, athletics marketing, and special events.

The admission and advancement group consists of representatives from the offices of undergraduate and graduate admission, University College, alumni relations, and annual giving.

The customer service group has representatives from human resources, student services, the University registrar, and security, as well as undergraduate, graduate, and University College student representatives.

Staff Association awards students
At its Scholarship Luncheon held April 29, the Staff Association awarded $2,000 scholarships to each of three students based on their academic achievement and extracurricular activities. Pictured above (l-r) are Eileen McManus '04; Marisa Savocchia '04; Dr. Donald Ross, professor emeritus of biology, who presented each awardee with a $200 gift certificate to the University bookstore from the Friends of the Library; Staff Association President Linda White; this year's guest speaker Brian Torff, director of the music program in the College of Arts and Sciences; and Elissa DeRose '04.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Fairfield raises $600,000 for multicultural scholarships

By Nancy Habetz, Director of Media Relations

E. Stanley O'Neal, chief executive officer of Merrill Lynch, and Michael Neal, chief executive officer of General Electric Commercial Finance, played key roles in this year's record-setting Fairfield Awards Dinner. The event, held on April 1 in New York City, raised more than $600,000 for the Alumni Multicultural Scholarship Fund, exceeding last year's result by more than 80 percent.

Neal, who is a member of Fairfield University's Board of Trustees, took on the job of chairing the dinner during a challenging economic period. The dinner, begun 15 years ago to broaden access to higher education for multicultural scholars, has provided scholarships to 15 recipients to date and, said Neal, has "deeply affected the lives of these students. Fairfield is a better institution for having more diverse students in its midst."

"I am deeply grateful to Mike both for his generosity with his time and for his superb leadership as this year's Fairfield Awards Dinner chairman," said University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., at the dinner. "Having heard Mike's report on the amount raised, you can fully appreciate how indebted Fairfield is to him for what he has accomplished for future generations of scholarship recipients."

The dinner attracted 600 people, including some 50 corporate and business sponsors, and many alumni, parents, friends, and students.

O'Neal, keynote speaker for the event, was born in rural Alabama. He began his education in a one-room segregated school before moving to Atlanta, where he was one of the first students to integrate the high school. While working part-time on a General Motors assembly line, he earned a bachelor's degree in industrial administration from Kettering University, formerly known as the General Motors Institute, before earning an MBA with distinction from Harvard University in 1978.

Education, O'Neal said, is what made possible his journey from "a segregated school in the South to an integrated boardroom in one of the most successful corporations in America." Still, he said, "there are too many that don't have these opportunities available to them."

He continued, "I feel passionately that the business community has a vital role to play. At Merrill Lynch we have made education our top philanthropic priority."

Begun in 1988, the Fairfield Awards Dinner had raised more than $3 million for the endowed scholarship prior to the April 1 event. In expressing his gratitude, Fr. Kelley said that many years of experience have shown that "higher education offers an opportunity like no other in its potential to transform lives. Tapping into talents that might be otherwise lost creates a double blessing: one for the individuals who discover and develop their God-given gifts; the other for their classmates whose education is enriched by the presence of students from diverse cultures, varied backgrounds, and multiple viewpoints."

Fairfield is grateful for this tremendous support, says George Diffley, vice president for advancement. "The remarkable success of this year's multicultural scholarship fundraising effort, particularly in light of the difficult economic times we face, is a tribute to the hard work of Mike Neal and the 70 alumni who served on the dinner committee with him."

Fr. Kelley presented O'Neal with Fairfield University's Distinguished Leadership Award and Neal with the Chairman's Award. Also honored were Rev. Victor Leeber, S.J., a member of the first faculty, with the Honorary Alumnus Award; Arthur Laske Jr. '51, P'83, with the Alumni Service Award; Maive Scully '76, senior vice president and chief financial officer of GE Consumer Finance in Stamford, Conn., with the Alumni Professional Achievement Award; and Dr. Kurt Schlichting '70, professor of sociology and anthropology, with the Distinguished Faculty/Administrator Award.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

In April, Jim Murphy of News 12 Connecticut interviewed Charles Allen, S.J., executive assistant to the President, about people turning more to religion and prayer during a time of crisis.

In March, Dr. Mark Andrejevic, assistant professor of communication in the College of Arts and Sciences who has studied violence in the media and the appeal of reality television, was quoted in a Newhouse News Service article about war as the ultimate reality television experience. The article also ran in the Daily Southtown (Chicago) and the Gloucester County Times (New Jersey).

John Borgo, S.J., of Fairfield's Jesuit community, was featured in a March Westport News column. The column told the story of four men named John who, inspired by a handicapped Westport man also named John, started a trust to provide clothing and personal care items for area nursing home residents of limited means.

In April, Dr. Mary Ann Carolan, director of Italian studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, shared her insights on the Italian novel, The Leopard, as part of the Fairfield Public Library's celebration of Italian culture. Dr. Carolan was also quoted in a Westport Minuteman announcement about a lecture on Italian literature held at the University in April.

In April, Dr. Ralph Coury, professor of history in the College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted in the Connecticut Post's coverage of Fairfield's "teach-in" about the war. Also cited in the article were: Dr. David McFadden, professor of history; Dr. Joy Gordon, associate professor of philosophy; Melissa Reardon, assistant chaplain; and Thomas Regan, S.J., associate professor of philosophy.

Dr. Nancy Dallavalle, associate professor of religious studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, has been appointed to the newly formed Pastoral Council for the Diocese of Bridgeport by the Most Rev. William Lori, Bishop of Bridgeport. The council, consisting of 11 lay people and four clergy, will serve as the "eyes and ears" of the diocese, helping Bishop Lori to meet the pastoral needs of his congregants.

Michael Dalton, director of career planning, spoke recently with News 12 about the current job market for graduating seniors.

Two former Fairfield professors are presenting courses this spring as part of the Fairfield Senior Center's Learning in Retirement program. Professor of History Emeritus Paul Davis's course examines Nazi Germany and the rise of Hitler, while Dr. Frank Rice, professor of biology emeritus, leads a field biology series.

Dr. Edward Deak, professor of economics in the College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted several times recently about the job market, residential housing prices, gas prices, and the fluctuating economy. His comments appeared in the Connecticut Post twice in February. In March, he was quoted by the Hartford Courant, Stamford Advocate, Danbury News-Times, Fairfield Minuteman, and Westport Minuteman.

Dr. Richard DeAngelis, professor of history emeritus who studies changing military strategy, was quoted in a March Scripps Howard newswire story about urban fighting in Iraq. The story ran on CNNMoney, KNXV-TV in Phoenix, Ariz., KSHB-TV in Kansas City, Mo., and TCPalm.com in Florida.

The DiMenna-Nyselius Library appeared in two national journals. In March, the library was featured in CHOICE, the book review journal of the Association of College and Research Libraries. In December 2002, the library was featured in Library Journal's architectural issue.

In March, Judy Dobai, director of admission, was quoted in a Record-Journal (Meriden) story about college admissions. Dobai was one of several college admission officers to attend a program sponsored by Southington High School.

Dr. Elizabeth Dreyer, professor of religious studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted at length in the Ottawa Citizen in Canada about the story of the Christian cross. Dr. Dreyer gave the historical view of what the cross has symbolized throughout history. While she noted that we know about Constantine's relation to the cross, she said, "We will never know about the ordinary people whose lives are given meaning and beauty by the cross. They are not going to be documented."

Reference Librarian Christopher Dunham's review of The Best Books for Academic Libraries: Science, Technology and Agriculture, was published in the March issue of CHOICE, the book review journal of the Association of College and Research Libraries.

In April, The Dallas Morning News quoted Dr. Philip Eliasoph, professor of visual and performing arts in the College of Arts and Sciences, in an article about the destruction of Iraqi statues. He said Saddam Hussein's images recalled more modern, secular models and that his "cult of personality" had similarities to the propaganda art of Nazi Germany, fascist Italy, and Soviet Russia.

In April, Dr. Robert Fedorchek, professor of modern languages and literatures in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, was one of four writers featured in "Celebrating Local Authors," an article that appeared in the Fairfield Minuteman. Also in April, the library journal CHOICE published complimentary reviews of his two latest books of translations, Doña Luz and Stories of Enchantment from Nineteenth-Century Spain. The journal also published Dr. Fedorchek's review of English Translation of Short Stories by Contemporary Argentine Women Writers.

An article by Dr. Donald E. Gibson, associate professor of management in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, titled "Role Models: Reinvigorating a Developmental Construct in Career Theory," was chosen as Best Paper in the Academy of Management, Careers Division. A shortened version will be published in the conference proceedings.

In March, Dr. Joel Goldfield, director of the CEC Language Center, talked to scholars at St. Lawrence University about the applications of Geographic Information Systems technology to the humanities and social sciences disciplines. The item was carried in North Country This Week (Potsdam, N.Y.).

In March, Dr. Joy Gordon, associate professor of philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences, presented "Iraq: Economic Sanctions, U.S. Unilateralism, and Post-War Prospects" at Yale University. The talk was sponsored by the Schell Center for International Human Rights at Yale Law School, co-sponsored by the Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale.
   In April, Dr. Gordon was quoted in a Los Angeles Times story about the U.N. sanctions in Iraq. The story also appeared in the Tampa Tribune and the Boca Raton News. Dr. Gordon was also named the contact person regarding administration claims about humanitarian goods by The Institute for Public Accuracy.

Dr. Donald Greenberg, associate professor of politics in the College of Arts and Sciences, was interviewed by News 12 Connecticut on April 21 about Sen. Joe Lieberman's campaign for the Democratic nomination for president and his need to raise funds. Dr. Greenberg was also interviewed by WSTC/WNLK radio about what the war with Iraq means for President Bush.

Nancy Habetz, director of media relations, was quoted in a March Greenwich Time/Stamford Advocate article about special registration procedures for Middle Eastern immigrants. According to Habetz, six Fairfield students have gone through the process.

Barbara Kiernan, director of University publications and marketing communications, has been elected Fairfield University's new representative on the Executive Committee of the Conference of Jesuit Advancement Administrators and will also serve as treasurer. Her appointment was effective April 4. JAA operates under the umbrella of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, which seeks to develop collaborative relationships among advancement professionals at the 28 Jesuit institutions of higher education in the United States.

Dr. Paul Lakeland, professor of religious studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, was recently quoted in a Boston Globe story about the Catholic lay group, Voice of the Faithful. He said initially he thought the group's approach was "incredibly timid and deferential, but the longer it goes on, it becomes clear that what they really are doing is challenging the church on the authority issue, and therefore they are even more radical than they acknowledge being." In April, also mentioned in the Boston Globe was Dr. Lakeland's new course, "Crisis in the Church."
   Dr. Lakeland organized "Crisis in the Church: A Workshop for the Laity" in April. The day-long workshop drew 80 participants and was held in Gonzaga Auditorium. He presented the morning keynote address.
   In February, the Christian Science Monitor interviewed Dr. Lakeland about Voice of the Faithful. The article also appeared in the Village Voice.

Dr. Martin Lang, professor of religious studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted in the Ridgefield Press and Darien News-Review about the study and vacation tour he is leading to Ireland in May. The tour will highlight the landscapes and spirituality of the Emerald Isle.

Dr. Mark LeClair, associate professor of economics in the College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted in a Connecticut Post article about the effect of a war in Iraq on the stock market. "The worst possible scenario for the markets is the talking back and forth across the Atlantic and the ongoing weapons inspections," LeClair said. "Now that the decision has been made, the uncertainty has been removed."

In March, Dr. Danke Li, assistant professor of history in the College of Arts and Sciences, organized a panel - "Visual Print Art and Political Propaganda: Political Cartoons and Posters in the Construction of Nationalism, Self-Image, Worldview, and 'Other'" - for the Association for Asian Studies' national conference in New York. Dr. Li also presented "Elite Political Propaganda and Popular Expression: Cartoon Power in the Sichuan Railway Rights Protection Movement."

William Lucas, vice president for finance, was chosen to receive the Secretary of the State's 2003 Public Service Award for his work on the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation. The awards ceremony was held on May 5 at Central Connecticut State University.

Dr. Carole Ann Maxwell, director of choral and liturgical music, was featured in a March Connecticut Press Good News article titled "Women who make a difference."

Dr. David McFadden, professor of history in the College of Arts and Sciences, was a guest on the FOX News Channel program "The O'Reilly Factor" the night President Bush declared war on Iraq in March. Nearly 10 million television viewers tuned in as Dr. McFadden, an expert on American public protest who participated in the 1971 Mayday demonstration against Vietnam, sparred with conservative talk show host Bill O'Reilly. Earlier in the day, the duo debated the same topic when Dr. McFadden was given a 10-minute slot on O'Reilly's radio program, No Spin Zone.
   In March, Dr. McFadden was interviewed by the Chicago Tribune for a front-page story, "Radical image often doesn't fit war protesters," on the makeup of modern anti-war movements. Also in March, Dr. McFadden was quoted in a Business Times (New Haven) article about the University's new partnership with St. Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance. Dr. Timothy Law Snyder, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was also quoted in the article.

Martha Milcarek, assistant vice president for public relations, answered queries about increased security on campus. Her comments appeared in the Fairfield Minuteman and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Dr. Lisa Newton, director of environmental studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, was cited in a Connecticut Post article about a congress called to discuss the health risks associated with polychlorinated biphenyls, an industry pollutant.

Dr. John Orman, professor of politics in the College of Arts and Sciences and co-author of Celebrity Politics, was quoted extensively on the subject in March. His comments appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Toronto Star, Grand Rapids Press, Telegram & Gazette (Mass.), Birmingham Post-Herald and Berkshire Herald, as well as the Sacramento Bee, San Bernardino Sun, and three editions of the Sunday Times, all in California. His comments were also carried by TCPalm.com, an online network for several newspapers in the Palm Beach, Fla., area.
   Also in March, Dr. Orman was quoted by the Arizona Republic for a front-page Sunday edition story about the differences of confronting Iraq in 1991 and in 2003. His comments to the Associated Press about the future of Bridgeport and the fall of Mayor Joseph P. Ganim were picked up by the Boston Globe, Record-Journal (Meriden), Journal Inquirer (Manchester) Hartford Courant, Greenwich Time, The Advocate (Stamford), Bristol Press, Norwich Bulletin, Republican-American (Waterbury), New Haven Register, News-Times (Danbury), The Day (New London), and The Hour (Norwalk).
   In April, Dr. Orman was interviewed by National Public Radio about presidents during wartime, and on March 25 by Wisconsin Public Radio about his book, Celebrity Politics.

In March, Dr. Raymond Poincelot, professor and chair of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, reviewed Rick Darke's The American Woodland Garden: Capturing the Spirit of the Deciduous Forest, for CHOICE.

David Ryan-Soderlund, assistant director of student support services, will be serving as vice president for the Connecticut Association on Higher Education and Disability for the 2003-2004 academic year.

Dr. Glenn Sauer, assistant professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, taped two interviews in April for the national radio program, Thoughts of the Week. The first interview was broadcast on May 4; the second will be broadcast on May 11 at 7:30 a.m. on the ABC radio network. In Connecticut, those stations are WAVZ AM 1300, WCCC FM 106.0, WCTY FM 97.7, WELI AM 960, and WILI AM 1400.

Dr. David Schmidt, associate professor of ethics in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, was cited in a February Greenwich Time/Advocate article titled "Scandals bring real-world relevance to classes."

Dr. Michael Tucker, professor of finance in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, spoke with News 12 about the inevitable need for taxes if citizens are to have access to social services.

Dr. Joan Van Hise, assistant professor of accounting in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, was interviewed by The Advocate and Greenwich Time in February for an article about corporate accounting firms that "cooked the books."

"Uncertainty and Quality of Life in Older Men Who Undergo Watchful Waiting for Prostate Cancer," an article by Dr. Meredith Wallace, R.N., assistant professor in the School of Nursing, was published in the March issue of Oncology Nursing Forum.

In April, Dr. Kathleen Wheeler, professor of nursing, presented her work as co-chair of the National Panel to Develop Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Competencies, at the National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculties Conference in Philadelphia. The title of the presentation was "Developing Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Competencies: Opportunities for the 21st Century." She was also re-elected as chair of the NONPF Psychiatric Special Interest Group.

Radio stations WICC and WSTC/WNLK interviewed graduate assistant Shannon Young about the Wellness and Prevention Office's Drink-Out that took place on April 12 in the John A. Barone Campus Center. The event was to encourage students to examine their drinking habits.

In March, Dr. Michael Zabinski, professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted about National Computer Camps, which he founded in 1977. His comments appeared in the Bethel Beacon, Kent Good Times Dispatch, and Litchfield Enquirer.

Births

Kevin Johnson, theology teacher at Fairfield Prep - son, Luke R., born Feb. 22.
Sharon DiVincenzo, administrative assistant in the advancement office - granddaughter, Ava Lynn, born April 19.

Condolences

Patrick Fazzone, husband of retired employee Barbara Fazzone, died in February.
Ernest Beers, father of Linda Ames, program assistant, admissions office, died on April 2.
Joseph Mari, husband of Anna Mari, program assistant in the Office of Human Resources, and brother-in-law of Mary Jo Giordano, accounts receivable office, died on April 27.

New Employee

John Quintiliano - Groundskeeper, Grounds Maintenance

Strobe Talbott to deliver 2003 Commencement address

By Nancy Habetz, Director of Media Relations

The Class of 2003 will hear words of advice from seasoned diplomat and former journalist Strobe Talbott during Fairfield University's 53rd commencement address on Sunday, May 18. The ceremonies begin at 10 a.m.

Talbott was named president of the Brookings Institution, an independent public policy research organization, in 2002. He previously served as founding director of the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization and was deputy secretary of state from 1994 to 2001. His tenure at the State Department also included time as ambassador-at-large and special advisor to the secretary of state for the new independent states of the former Soviet Union.

"At a time when our foreign policy is so much a part of American discussion and debate," says University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., "Mr. Talbott brings to the Fairfield campus a wealth of expertise as a scholar, writer, teacher, and diplomat."

During the commencement ceremonies, Talbott will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree from Fairfield University. The University will also bestow honorary doctor of laws degrees on Sister Mary Rose McGeady, D.C., president and chief executive officer of Covenant House, and Major (ret.) Michael Donnelly '81, a Persian Gulf War fighter pilot now suffering from Lou Gehrig's Disease, who became an advocate for all Gulf War veterans with war-related illnesses. Dr. Grayce M. Sills, RN, FAAN, a leader in nursing and psychiatric mental health nursing for more than 40 years, will receive an honorary doctor of science degree.

Talbott's years of government service were preceded by a long career in the Fourth Estate. He spent 21 years as a journalist at Time magazine, which culminated in positions as Washington bureau chief, editor-at-large, and foreign affairs columnist. As a reporter, he covered Eastern Europe, the State Department, and the White House.

Talbott has also written for Foreign Affairs, The New Yorker, Foreign Policy, International Security, The Economist, The Financial Times, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Slate. His many books include The Russia Hand: A Memoir of Presidential Diplomacy; At the Highest Levels: The Inside Story of the End of the Cold War with Michael Beschloss; The Master of the Game: Paul Nitze and the Nuclear Peace; Reagan and Gorbachev with Michael Mandelbaum; and Deadly Gambits: The Reagan Administration and the Stalemate in Nuclear Arms Control.

Sister Mary Rose McGeady

Sister Mary Rose McGeady, a member of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, has dedicated a lifetime of service to children. Beginning at Nazareth Child Care Center in Boston, where she worked with homeless and disturbed children and their families, Sister McGeady moved on to become executive director of the Astor Home and Clinic for Children in Rhinebeck, N.Y., a treatment center for disturbed children and youth, before working for Brooklyn Catholic Charities, eventually becoming executive director of the Kennedy Child Study Center in New York City.

Sister McGeady holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from Emmanuel College and a master's degree in clinical psychology from Fordham University. She has pursued doctoral studies at Fordham and the University of Massachusetts.

She was appointed president and chief executive officer of Covenant House by the board of directors in September 1990. Based in New York City, Covenant House has 2,200 employees and 1,800 volunteers. Since its inception, the organization has served nearly 2 million children.

Major Michael Donnelly '81

Major (ret.) Michael Donnelly is a Persian Gulf War fighter pilot who developed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, and became an advocate for all Gulf War veterans with war-related illnesses. A 1981 graduate of Fairfield University, Donnelly completed 44 combat missions over Iraq during Operation Desert Storm and was awarded four Air Medals before being diagnosed at the age of 36 with ALS.

While battling his own disease, Donnelly became a champion for Persian Gulf War veterans suffering from ALS, cancer, and other illnesses. His 1998 autobiography, Falcon's Cry, follows him from his all-American childhood through a swashbuckling Air Force career cut short when disease struck, and made worse when the U.S. government would not acknowledge his disease as war-related.

In December 2001, Anthony Principi, secretary of veterans' affairs, announced that a recently released VA study revealed that Persian Gulf War veterans were more than twice as likely as other veterans to develop ALS and acknowledged Donnelly's efforts in this cause. As a result, the VA reversed an earlier decision and has extended full benefits to Gulf War veterans with service-related illnesses.

Dr. Grayce M. Sills

Dr. Grayce M. Sills, RN, FAAN, has been a leader in nursing and psychiatric mental health nursing for more than 40 years. A professor emerita at The Ohio State University College of Nursing and an international consultant for community-based mental health nursing, Dr. Sills is a visiting professor this year at Fairfield University's School of Nursing.

A past president of the American Nurses Association, she serves as an editor for the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and chairs The Ohio State University Hospitals Board. An internationally acclaimed scholar and past president of the American Nurses Foundation, Dr. Sills was named a "Living Legend" by the Governing Council of the American Academy of Nursing in 1999. In June 2000, she received the Hildegard Peplau Award from the American Nurses Association for her contribution to psychiatric nursing.

Fairfield University trustees approve 2003-04 budget

By Martha Milcarek, Assistant Vice President for Public Relations

At its March meeting, the Fairfield University Board of Trustees approved an operating budget of $110,734,000 for the 2003-04 academic year - an increase of 6.1 percent over the current year. An additional $10,073,000 was approved for 2004 capital expenditures.

William Lucas, vice president for finance, says the new budget accomplishes a number of important objectives. "The 2003-04 allocations enable the University to provide some much-needed increases in divisional operating requests; increase total compensation by 4.4 percent; meet the challenges of cost increases that are beyond our control; fund more than $400,000 for strategic initiatives and, at the same time, keep tuition affordable," Lucas explains.

Following months of deliberations, the Budget Committee, consisting of representatives from the administration, faculty, and student body, recommended the balanced budget to the President, who then presented it to the Trustees at their recent meeting.

For academic year '04, undergraduate tuition for continuing students will be $25,650 and $26,100 for incoming freshmen; residence hall room and board $8,920; townhouse rental $6,920, and apartment village rental $7,500. The overall package of tuition, fees, and residence hall room and board represents an increase to full-time students of 5.9 percent.

Lucas says that last fall the Budget Committee, as in previous years, heard presentations from department heads in various areas on how they used their current budget. Among those presenting were the offices of admission, financial aid, development, athletics, health counseling, information systems, and campus operations, and the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, as orientation regarding their detailed financial responsibilities. The Committee also continued the process of holding open hearings during which any member of the University community can address the Committee concerning funding needs or priorities.

In January, the Committee reviewed budget requests by departments, presented through the divisions of the University, for funding approval. Included in this process were certain identified funding priorities.

As is the case each year, the University Budget Committee began its deliberations with a certain set of assumptions. These reflect high priority items and those that have been identified as being outside the institution's control. Uncontrollable costs included significant increases in medical premiums, estimated at 22 percent or $1.3 million; anticipated cut-backs in the State of Connecticut scholarship program, estimated at $460,000; higher student dining service costs; certain operating budget gaps that needed to be addressed; continued implementation of phased-in administrative and staff salary adjustments. A strategic decision was made to fund some divisional operating costs that have been previously unfunded and need to be regularized in the operating budget because of changes in the way we do business. Examples of some of these items are the growth in software license costs, the expanded One-Card System, and the creation of a new office of graduate admission and marketing.

Realizing the impact of the items above, clearly some difficult allocation decisions had to be made, Lucas says. The first of the difficult decisions was cancellation of the football and ice hockey programs. This resulted in a $570,000 base reduction and eliminated the prospect of significant increases that would have been necessary in subsequent years just to maintain the programs at current levels.

The second major difficult decision involved compensation. As is historically the case, faculty, staff, and administrative compensation continued to be the highest funded priority. Specifically, total compensation increased $2.6 million or 4.4 percent. Total compensation is a combination of salaries and benefit costs for medical premiums, pensions, FICA, life insurance, long-term disability, dependent grants-in-aid, unemployment compensation, and workers' compensation. The decision was made to provide a $500 increase for full-time employees as well as fund $470,000 for adjustments, promotions, and salary compression issues. The equity adjustment for staff and administration began two years ago with a comprehensive review of the salary structure with adjustments primarily in starting salaries. Fiscal year '04 will complete that process, primarily addressing the issue of salary compression. Funds were also provided for faculty promotions.

The most significant addition to compensation was a $1.3 million increase in medical benefit costs - primarily the result of soaring hospitalization and prescription drug costs. This was the second straight year of 20-percent-plus increases.

In addition, new positions and employee responsibility adjustments amounted to just over $1 million. These were funded under a combination of strategic initiatives as well as regular divisional requests. Areas receiving funding for strategic initiatives included academics, where five new faculty positions were approved to help improve the student-faculty ratio, and advancement, with two positions funded to help maintain increased levels of fund-raising activity after the completion of the capital campaign. Also approved were additional network support personnel for information systems. Therefore, compensation for continuing and new employees amounted to $3.6 million or approximately 57 percent of all the new funds added to the FY '04 budget.

Other major allocations included funds necessary to meet normal increases in contracted services; i.e., transportation, computer services, custodial services, and food service, amounting to $862,000. Depreciation for new capital assets and other renovations amounted to $356,000. Under the category of general operations, the increase was $600,000, primarily for utilities, insurance, and bank fees, and additions to operating contingency and computer replacement funds.

FY '04 marked a distinct opportunity to provide much-needed operating funds in various departments. This is an area that had not been adequately funded in previous years. Total divisional requests approved were for $884,000. This is net of the reallocations for the reductions in athletics and canceling the Executive MBA program. This funding represents a list of many operating needs too long to itemize.

Strategic initiatives in the amount of $459,000 were established as a separate funding category and represented primarily the additional support noted above for new personnel in academics, advancement, and technology. The capital budget funds normal equipment purchases, major repairs and replacements, debt principal, and restricted gifts for renovations.

"The state of the economy, both nationally and statewide, has created enormous challenges for individuals and organizations," Lucas says. "Educational institutions are no exception and, despite the University's healthy financial picture, Fairfield is not immune to the pressures being faced by other institutions.

"I thank the University Budget Committee for all its efforts," Lucas adds. "The committee continues to be very successful in reviewing University resources and needs. The allocation of available resources was arrived at only after difficult deliberation. Yet," he continues, "the action taken will ensure the continued success, growth, and progress of Fairfield."

Women's Studies program celebrates a decade

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Thanks to the efforts of a faculty/administrator interest group and a collection of students who met and discussed women's issues in the late 1980s, the Women's Studies Program is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

More than 10 years ago, a faculty/administrator group, named the Women's Resource Committee, discussed and responded to issues that affected the status of women on campus. The student group - which was first led by faculty members Dr. Betsy Bowen and Dr. Johanna Garvey - called the Women's Issues Community, addressed issues of concern to all women on campus.

The two groups established a momentum that eventually coalesced into an academic program by fall semester 1993, said Dr. Sally O'Driscoll, associate professor of English and co-director of the Women's Studies Program, at a banquet and presentation held April 10 to celebrate the anniversary. The event, attended by faculty, administrators, students, and alumni, included an address by former governor of New Hampshire, the Honorable Jeanne Shaheen P'97.

"It's important to acknowledge the early work by a large number of people on campus that laid the groundwork for our current program," Dr. O'Driscoll added. "The students, in particular, asked for courses that dealt with women, incorporated the feminist perspective, and made their views known. It is a tribute to the students that the Women's Studies Program was able to be put in place so quickly; they had already done the hard work."

Today an interdisciplinary minor, women's studies offers 12 to 16 courses per semester in a variety of departments and schools. With more than 120 graduates of the program, this year there are nearly 30 student minors.

At the banquet, Dr. O'Driscoll and Dr. Rose Rodrigues, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology and co-director of the Women's Studies Program, presented the 10th anniversary award to Shaheen. Since 1994, the program has bestowed an award to a female University employee whose leadership, mentorship, and service serves as a role model to female students.

Elected in 1996 and followed by two additional terms, Shaheen was New Hampshire's first female governor. Prior to that post, she served in the State Senate for three consecutive terms. As governor and state senator, Shaheen worked to improve education, healthcare, safety, and environmental protection. She is currently a visiting fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Her daughter, Stefany Shaheen, a 1997 graduate of Fairfield University, was one of Fairfield's first students to minor in women's studies.

With the program now firmly established, the co-directors are sketching out new goals. "In the next few years, we need to figure out how to reach even more students," says Dr. O'Driscoll. "The intent is not to convert them to becoming women's studies minors, but to expose them to a course of study they may not think to consider. All students should have a place to think about how gender affects their life choices - because it matters," she adds. One way to do this is to link alumni with current students as mentors. "It's important for students to understand how women's issues and women's studies affect them after college."

But now that more women hold senior positions in business and some men are taking on more domestic responsibilities, how relevant is women's studies today? "Although enormous strides have been made toward equality - especially in terms of legal access to careers and opportunities - some serious problems remain unresolved," says Dr. O'Driscoll. For example, she explains, now that women are able to pursue careers with fewer structural impediments, they find that they have a double workload: women are still assumed to be the ones who take care of relationships, homes, and children, along with their full-time paid jobs. "The conflicts this causes for women still need to be addressed. We have a long way to go," she continues.

There are also important theoretical questions about the way we conceptualize sex and gender that need to be explored, says Dr. O'Driscoll, such as which elements of masculinity and femininity are biological and which are socially constructed.

The goal of feminism, and of women's studies, is to make sure that women have choices, she explains. "There are many aspects of our society that hold women back from being able to make free choices, and we continue to explore that. These questions matter to all women."

Photo by Bob Winkler

Alpha Sigma Nu honors a classroom favorite

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Dr. Dennis Keenan, associate professor of philosophy, loves teaching - and it shows. Recently selected by Fairfield University's chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu, the National Jesuit Honor Society, as the 2003 recipient of the Teacher of the Year award, it's obvious his students recognize and appreciate the enthusiasm he brings to his subject and the classroom.

Says graduating senior Amanda Martignetti about her favorite professor, "Dr. Keenan is a kind person and a wonderfully effective teacher with a great sense of humor. His enthusiasm for and devotion to the subject is exceptional. He takes very challenging material, brings it down to a level that everyone can understand, and encourages us to question philosophers and their theories."

Dr. Keenan is the 18th Fairfield University professor selected for this honor. Alpha Sigma Nu presents the award annually to a student-selected faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the profession, the students, and the development of the University and surrounding community. Students will bestow the award on Dr. Keenan at the Senior Brunch during Senior Week.

His path to becoming a philosophy professor at an East Coast university wasn't always obvious. The son of a corn and soybean farmer, he grew up cultivating his family's land and baling hay for the neighbor's livestock. However, agriculture was not in his future. "My father always encouraged his children to aspire to something other than farming," says Dr. Keenan. "He told us, 'Pursue whatever you want, whatever makes you happy.' So I did."

First, he was intrigued by ornithology. Dr. Keenan has fond memories of walking in the woods with his father as a young man, observing the local birds surrounding his family's farm and listening for their varied calls.

This led him to pursue his undergraduate degree in biology from St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn., but along the way, an inspirational philosophy professor changed Dr. Keenan's course, opening a door for him in a direction he couldn't have predicted. "Fr. Rene McGraw made philosophy come alive for me. I took five of his courses and minored in the subject," says Dr. Keenan. After graduation, the two kept in touch as Dr. Keenan earned his master's and doctoral degrees in philosophy at Loyola University of Chicago. Fr. McGraw, O.S.B., later married Dr. Keenan and his wife, Liz.

Dr. Keenan tells his philosophy students stories such as these to help them realize the connection the subject has to their everyday lives. "Philosophy is a very concrete subject," he says. "Stories about my life in Iowa, my family, and my journey to where I am today, bring otherwise abstract concepts to life."

In addition to teaching, Dr. Keenan is known for his community-building activities at Fairfield. He serves as a mentor in the Ignatian Residential College, where he meets with a group of 10 students once a month; he organizes annual faculty softball games; and has coordinated a poetry reading in the John A. Barone Campus Center. Poetry is a new hobby for him - he composed his first poem during the summer of 1998. He has been writing sporadically ever since, and occasionally shares poetry with his classes - perhaps planting the seed of inspiration among his students to try a new pastime.

"I love teaching," says Dr. Keenan. "I have the best job in the world. Some days I'm amazed I actually get paid to do this."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Fourteen faculty promoted

Congratulations to the following faculty:

• Dr. Robbin Crabtree, associate professor of communication in the College of Arts and Sciences, granted tenure.
• Dr. Patricia Calderwood, promoted to associate professor of curriculum and instruction in the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions and granted tenure.
• Dr. Faith-Anne Dohm, promoted to associate professor of psychology and special education in the GSEAP and granted tenure.
• Dr. Rao Dukkipati, associate professor of mechanical engineering in the School of Engineering, granted tenure.
• Dr. Robert Epstein, promoted to associate professor of English in the CA&S and granted tenure.
• Frank Hannafey, S.J., promoted to associate professor of religious studies in the CA&S and granted tenure.
• Dr. Linda Henkel, promoted to associate professor of psychology in the CA&S and granted tenure.
• Dr. Malcolm Hill, promoted to associate professor of biology in the CA&S and granted tenure.
• Dr. Joan Van Hise, promoted to associate professor of accounting in the Charles. F. Dolan School of Business and granted tenure.
• Dr. Adam King, promoted to associate professor of mathematics and computer science in the CA&S and granted tenure
• Dr. Douglas Lyon, associate professor of computer engineering in the SOE, granted tenure.
• Dr. Dawn Massey, promoted to associate professor of accounting in the DSB and granted tenure.
• Dr. Patricia Poli, promoted to associate professor of accounting in the DSB and granted tenure.
• Dr. David Zera, promoted to associate professor of psychology and special education in the GSEAP and granted tenure.

Faculty Research Committee announces research

grants and sabbaticals

The Faculty Research Committee has announced the following awards, sabbaticals, and pre-tenure leaves for 2003-04:

Research Grants

• Dr. Joy Gordon, associate professor of philosophy, "Research on Effects of Economic Sanctions in Cuba."
• Dr. Lucy Katz, chair and professor of management, "Alternative Dispute Resolution
  in Transitional Economics: The Cuban Experience."
• Dr. Nikiforos Laopodis, visiting associate professor of finance, "Deriving an Optimal Stopping Rule to Predict Emerging Market Loan Defaults."
• Dr. David Sapp, assistant professor of English, "Technical and Professional Writing in Cuba."
• Dr. James Simon, associate professor of English, "The Environmental Reporters of the United States."
• Dr. Patricia Behre-Miskimin, associate professor of history, "The Sephardim in French Louisiana: European Origins of the Jewish Community of New Orleans."
• Eve André Laramée, assistant professor of visual and performing arts, "Hudson River Project."
• Dr. Danke Li, assistant professor of history, "Women at War: A Textual and Oral History of Women in the Chongqing Region, 1937-1945."
• Dr. Elizabeth Petrino, assistant professor of English, "Neither a Wild Indian, nor a Tame One: Representing Native American Subjects in Catlin's Indian Gallery and Women's Autobiographies."
• Dr. Kurt Schlichting, professor of sociology and anthropology, "Continuation of Historic Census Data Collection - African-American Residents of Hartford, Conn., 1920 Census."
• Jo Yarrington, professor of visual and performing arts, "Contemplations on the Spiritual: Site Projects, Veracruz, Mexico."
• Dr. Meredith Wallace, RN, assistant professor of nursing, "Reducing Uncertainty in Men Undergoing Watchful Waiting for Prostate Cancer."

Summer Research Stipends

• Jay Buss, professor of economics, "Changing Tax Burdens in Some Cities with Living Wage Ordinances."
• Dr. Patricia Calderwood, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction, "The Social Construction of Community in the Ignatian Residential College."
• Dr. Joel Goldfield, director of modern languages and literatures and the Culpeper Language Resource Center, "Translation of a Tale from the Nouvelles Asiatigues (1876) of Arthur Gobineau and a Critical Essay with Computer-Aided Research on Nineteenth-Century French Literature."
• Wendy Kohli, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, "Feminism(s) and Educational Research."
• Dr. Nikiforos Laopodis, visiting associate professor of finance, "Financial Implications of Greater Global Integration: Evidence from Short-Term Interest Rates."
• Dr. Mark LeClair, associate professor of economics, "Export Dependency and Price Vulnerability in the World - Economic and Institutional Roadblocks to Diversification."
• Dr. Sally O'Driscoll, associate professor of English, "A Brief History of the Female Orgasm."
• Dr. Tod Osier, assistant professor of biology, "Effects of Light Availability on Allocation to Chemical Defenses by Three Deciduous Tree Species."
• Dr. David Sapp, assistant professor of English, "Ethical and Pedagogical Issues in International and Intercultural English Education."
• Dr. Michael Tucker, professor of finance, "Gazprom: Undervalued Russian Gas Behemoth."

Senior Summer Fellowship

• Dr. Ralph Coury, professor of history, "Islam and the Debate Over Secularism and Democracy."

Sabbaticals

• Dr. Bruce Bradford, associate professor of accounting: spring 2004.
• Dr. Ronald Davidson, professor of religious studies: fall 2003.
• Dr. Robert Fedorchek, professor of modern languages and literatures: spring 2004.
• Dr. Ingeborg Haug, chair of marriage and family therapy: fall 2003.
• Dr. Phil Lane, chair of economics: spring 2004.
• Dr. Roselie McDevitt, professor of accounting: spring 2004.
• Dr. Ed O'Neill, associate professor of mathematics and computer science: spring 2004.
• Dr. Rose Rodrigues, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology: fall 2003.
• Dr. Vincent Rosivach, director of classical studies: fall 2003 and spring 2004.

Pre-Tenure Research Leaves

• Dr. Sharon Abbott, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology: fall 2003.
• Dr. Suzanne Campbell, assistant professor of nursing: fall 2003.
• Dr. James He, associate professor of information systems: fall 2003.
• Eve André Laramée, assistant professor of visual and performing arts: spring 2004.
• Nelson Lopez, assistant professor of modern languages and literatures: fall 2003.
• Dr. Winston Tellis, assistant professor of information systems: spring 2004.
• Dr. Susan Tomlinson, assistant professor of English: fall 2003.

Wiesel offers a message of hope

By Jennifer K. Covino, Publications Writer

When he was 14 years old, Elie Wiesel relied on hope to get him through the horrors of a Nazi death camp. As an author and founder of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, he has spread that hope to victims of famine, ethnic cleansing, racism, and oppression around the world.

In April, the 74-year-old Nobel Peace laureate delivered hope to a sold-out crowd at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts and to hundreds more watching a simulcast at the John A. Barone Campus Center. His lecture, "The Urgency of Hope," was sponsored by Fleet Bank in conjunction with the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies and Open VISIONS Forum.

Wiesel, who was Fairfield's commencement speaker in 1983 and holds an honorary degree from the University, talked about the necessity of hope in a time of new turbulence and upheaval. "Without hope, the soul cannot live," he said. "Just as without greens, the body could not live."

During the question-and-answer session, Wiesel discussed his hope for peace in Israel, his friendship with former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of Israel, and his opinion of former President Yasser Arafat of Palestine. "I would lead the campaign to take back his (Nobel Peac) prize," Wiesel added.

He also offered his view on the war in Iraq, calling the war "necessary" because of Saddam Hussein, who in his words is an "enemy of humanity" who "lives in his own delusions." The United States must begin recovery and rebuilding in Iraq with the same fervor it has devoted to its military efforts, he said, adding: "Wars to me are always blasphemy except just wars and of those there are very few. This one, because of Saddam Hussein, was I think necessary."

During his lecture, Wiesel talked about humankind's eagerness to leave behind the evils of the 20th century. Nonetheless, 2003 has brought little change, he said. "We thought it would be different from now on," he remarked. "People would be more kind, more nice, more generous, more intelligent, more sensitive. And we are in war."

Wiesel also referenced the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "Nine-eleven to me was an important date, not only because of the tragedy itself but also because of something else - terrorists who decide to commit suicide without leaving a message. Death was a message. As if to say, 'you don't deserve our language.' Death was the language."

Still he expressed hope in the forging of better Jewish-Christian relations, in the future of children, and in the end of the segregation he witnessed in the South during the 1950s.

Dr. Ellen Umansky, professor and director of the Judaic Studies program, asked Wiesel why the Holocaust still grips us today. Perhaps, he said, because places like Auschwitz crossed the threshold. "Never before have human beings done that - to make an industry of death," he concluded.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Fairfield University-based Connecticut Writing Project receives grant

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

The National Writing Project has awarded $38,000 to the Connecticut Writing Project at Fairfield University for 2003-04 to aid in enhancing its program of strengthening students' writing abilities by improving the teaching and learning of writing and expanding the professional role of teachers.

The grant to CWP is matched by funds from the budget of the Connecticut State legislature. An additional supporting grant comes from the Tauck Foundation.

"The Connecticut Writing Project at Fairfield is part of a national network that uses the model of teachers teaching teachers," says Faye Gage, director of CWP-Fairfield. "Through the exchange of ideas by highly qualified professionals and the use of current research regarding theory and effective practices in promoting literacy among students of all ages, participants in the various CWP Institutes learn both theory and appropriate strategies to bring back to their classrooms."

This form of professional development is one of the few that is deemed effective by the Carnegie Institute and is unique in that it offers a network of supportive activities for teachers who have already been in the classroom but want to continue to improve their teaching skills, Gage says. "Teachers come away from the CWP-Fairfield institutes reinvigorated and newly committed to being lifelong learners. They become dedicated to improving the literacy of their students."

CWP-Fairfield is in its third year at Fairfield University and has trained more than 250 teachers, kindergarten through college, who represent the fields of math, science, history, English, and language arts. CWP-Fairfield offers a rich assortment of programs including nationally recognized speakers on reading, writing, and learning issues; the Institute on the Teaching of Literature for Grades 6 to 12, a weeklong program focusing on ways to promote students' interest in reading and writing in a reader response classroom; the Young Writers Institute, a two-week program for students entering grades 6 to 11; and an Advanced Writers Institute, for past fellows.

The goals of CWP-Fairfield include improving the writing and learning skills of students' in kindergarten through college; extending the uses of writing in all disciplines; providing schools, colleges, and universities with an effective professional development model, and identifying, celebrating, and enhancing the professional role of successful classroom teachers.

The grant will bring 18 fellows to Fairfield University for a four-week, intensive Institute in the Teaching of Writing. During this time, teachers will research theory and practice in teaching writing, will write and share their writing on personal and professional issues, and will present the results of their research and their own successful classroom practices. Former fellows will attend sessions to share their own experiences and to coach the new demonstrations.

Reception honors College of Arts and Sciences faculty authors

On April 23, the College of Arts and Sciences held a book reception recognizing recently published faculty. Dr. Danke Li, assistant professor of history, was honored with the College of Arts and Sciences 2003 Distinguished Teaching Award for her bringing the long history of the great people and civilization of China to students of Fairfield's Department of History and its Asian Studies, Honors, and Women's Studies Programs.

College of Arts and Sciences' faculty books published in 2002-03 include:

• Undone (David Robert Books, 2003); Dr. Kim Bridgford, professor of English
• Indian Esoteric Buddhism (Columbia University Press, 2002); Dr. Ronald Davidson, professor of religious studies
• The Economics of E-Commerce and the Internet: With Economic Applications Card and Infotrac College (South-Western Educational, 2003); Dr. Edward J. Deak, professor of economics
• The Liberation of the Laity: In Search of an Accountable Church (Continuum Pub Group, 2003); Dr. Paul Lakeland, professor of religious studies
• Ethics and Sustainability: Sustainable Development and the Moral Life (Prentice Hall, 2002); Dr. Lisa Newton, professor of philosophy
• Celebrity Politics (Prentice Hall, 2003);Dr. John Orman, professor of politics, and D. West of Brown University
• Sustainable Horticulture: Today and Tomorrow (Prentice Hall, 2003); Dr. Raymond Poincelot, professor of biology
• Behind the Bench: The Guide to Judicial Clerkships (BarBri Group, 2002); Dr. Debra Strauss, adjunct and full-time visiting professor in management and business law
• God, Evil, And Innocent Suffering: A Theological Reflection (Crossroad/Herder & Herder, 2002); Dr. John Thiel, professor of religious studies
• Brood Bitch: A Mother's Reflection (Purdue University Press, 2002); Dr. Celia Townsend Wells, professor of English, emerita

What motivates us to take care of ourselves?

Did you ever notice how most of us respond to health-related information? Generally, health messages get a gentle nod to indicate receipt of the information without any guarantee of action on the part of the patient. I know because I do it, too. That is, until we get a scare.

Some of the things we avoid are simple to do, such as getting our cholesterol checked or having our teeth cleaned and examined. Some things we can check ourselves on our own schedules, such as looking at our skin for noticeable changes. So imagine my concern when my wife told me about some changes to a mole she has had for some time. She was worried enough to go to a dermatologist, who flagged other questionable sites as well. All were biopsied and she was told that results would be available in a few weeks. Waiting for the results was grueling. We were aware of the possibilities: Skin cancer can be deadly, especially when it is melanoma.

The skin is made up of two layers: the upper layer, or epidermis, containing melanin (which gives skin its color) and the lower layer, or dermis. Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that can spread quickly to other sites through the lymphatic system. Most often, melanomas appear as moles that change size, shape, or color; that begin to ooze blood; or that become tough or tender to the touch. Men tend to get melanomas on the trunk, head, and neck, while women get them on their arms and legs. All forms of skin cancer are related to sun exposure based on duration and intensity. It is estimated that one out of every seven people will develop skin cancer of some form in their lifetime - just one serious sunburn can increase the risk of skin cancer by 50 percent. The risk of developing skin cancer can increase dramatically among people who love to be at the beach; who golf, sail, do yard work, or other outdoor activities; or who just want to have a so-called "healthy" tan. For those of us born prior to the high SPF-rated sunscreens of today, it was common to have frequent sunburns.

Sun protection is the first step in preventing skin cancer. Cover arms and legs when in full sun. Use a high SPF sun block and reapply it at regular intervals throughout the day. Plan for time out of the sun, especially from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. when the sun is strongest. Get out of the sun for lunch, a nap, some reading, or playing games indoors. Protect the areas of your body where you are most likely to get excessive exposure or where you are prone to burn (the top of the head, the nose, the upper arms, shoulders, and the chest). If you drive a convertible or like to open the sunroof, carry sunscreen in the car and apply it before going for a drive.

My wife was lucky - her tests were negative for skin cancer. But now we make a point to do regular checks ourselves or take advantage of free assessments when available, such as the Skin Cancer Awareness Project that took place last month in the John A. Barone Campus Center. The Town of Fairfield also holds free skin cancer screenings periodically at the Health Department Nursing Office on Mona Terrace.

Do not wait until someone you know has a scare. Have fun in the sun this summer, but limit exposure, wear appropriate clothes, and use sunscreen. And before you give the dermatologist a head nod, think about the potential risk that the sun can pose to you and your family members.

Philip A. Greiner, DNSc, RN

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

University of Limerick student wins Fr. Conlisk Scholarship

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

Vincent McCarthy, a student at the University of Limerick, is this year's recipient of the Fr. John M. Conlisk Scholarship at Fairfield University, which is awarded each year to an MBA or M.S. in finance candidate from Ireland.

The scholarship pays full tuition, room and board, as well as medical insurance expenses for the time it takes to complete the degree, which is usually about three semesters since the student is attending full-time. The total grant generally amounts to between $40,000 and $50,000.

"I am delighted to be able to pursue an M.S. in finance at Fairfield University under the Conlisk Scholarship," says McCarthy. "I feel that this greater specialization will better equip me to achieve my goal of a successful career in investment banking."

McCarthy says he's impressed with Fairfield University's business school as well. "The geographical location in the United States and being part of the 30 percent of all business schools accredited by AACSB International makes the Dolan School of Business an attractive choice."

Kevin Conlisk, one of the principal owners of the Alinabal Co. of Milford, Conn., is part of a group that instituted the Conlisk Scholarship at Fairfield University in 1990. The scholarship is named for Conlisk's late brother, a 1954 Fairfield Prep graduate who served the Diocese of Bridgeport. Approximately 20 local residents of Irish heritage comprise the committee that awards the scholarship each year. Many of the committee members are first or second generation Americams. When their parents or grandparents immigrated, they had very little education, and wanted to better themselves and see their children become educated, Conlisk says. "This was the driving force in my youth and also, I can say, in the youth of the other committee members."

At the time the scholarship was being created, Irish students graduating from Irish colleges faced a bleak job market. Bringing them to Fairfield for graduate school meant a chance to make contacts with U.S. firms here and abroad. While the Irish economy has grown tremendously, "the scholarship adds a new dimension of exposure to the American system and, ultimately, American employment," says Conlisk.

McCarthy notes that attending business school in the United States should better his chances in the job market. "My motivation for applying for a business school outside Ireland is the fact that the cultural experience of living and studying in the United States greatly improves my career prospects in the proposed field."

Each year, the Connecticut Irish Open golf tournament and an Irish concert held at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts - this year featuring tenor John McDermott - raise money for the scholarship. The local Irish community also reaches out to the students, by taking them in on holidays and long weekends, and introducing them to local Irish cultural events, says Dr. Norm Solomon, dean of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business.

"The Fr. Conlisk Scholarship not only benefits the individual receiving the award but also the graduate student body as a whole," he says. "There is a tremendous learning opportunity that occurs when American students are exposed to students from other cultures. Given Vincent McCarthy's strong background, he will also be able to make an important contribution to Fairfield students' understanding of global business practices."

Students win prestigious award at Model U.N. conference

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

Fairfield University students helped put their Model United Nations club on the map this year by winning an esteemed Diplomacy Award at one of the most competitive conferences - the Harvard-sponsored World Model United Nations Conference, which was held in Heidelberg, Germany.

At the five-day conference in March, students Brian Gosselin '04 and Julia Cunico '05 represented the African nation of Sierra Leone before a committee investigating the issue of "conflict diamonds," used to fund terrorism and warfare. Gosselin and Cunico conceived the resolution that was ultimately chosen by their committee to tackle that problem.

About 156 country delegations participated in the conference, which gathers together more than 800 university students.

Their work in creating the idea for the resolution and developing a coalition to draft it, won over the majority of delegations at their committee, despite competing resolutions put forth by delegates from Ivy League schools. The World Model U.N. presents Diplomacy Awards to teams that display a variety of virtues that are emblematic of the spirit of the conferences, such as diplomacy, compromise, knowledge, learning, and friendship. In winning an award in their committee, Fairfield University's delegation joined the ranks of delegates from Brown, Yale, and West Point.

Dr. Katherine Kidd, director of international studies, suggested the students look to the Montreal Protocol, a real-life successful U.N. initiative to regulate the movement of chlorofluorocarbons (which deplete the ozone layer) for inspiration in dealing with the issue of administering the Kimberly Process, which regulates the international diamond market and the trade of conflict diamonds.

The two problems were remarkably similar in that they both involve attempts to stop the production of illicit materials, says Gosselin.

Gosselin and Cunico worked with student delegations representing Egypt, Israel, Botswana, and South Africa to draft a resolution.

"They represented their country well," Dr. Kidd says. "They had an innovative way of thinking about the problem that was convincing to other people in the conference."

"Model U.N. provides a concrete example of just how valuable experience-based education is for our students," says Dr. Norm Solomon, dean of Charles F. Dolan School of Business. "Dolan School of Business students are consistently exposed to 'real world' issues in their classes and many of these issues have international dimensions. Competitions such as Model U.N. give our students the opportunity to use their knowledge and skills in ways that contribute to better understanding among nations and peoples.

"Especially gratifying, however, is the fact that the students participating in the program come from academic disciplines across the University. The success of Fairfield's participation is a tribute to faculty advisor Dr. Katherine Kidd who directs the international studies program that is based in two schools," Dr. Solomon adds.

About 40 students participate in the Model U.N. Club at Fairfield University, now in its second official year. "The entire group has grown tremendously in their passion for the program," says LeAnne Mistysyn, the club's founder and advisor. She notes that of the seven students who attended the World Model U.N. conference, that "every student exceeded our expectations in Heidelberg. Fairfield is lucky to have such great students."

The Model U.N. circuit also fosters relations among students worldwide who are interested in foreign policy.

Winning the award is particularly gratifying for Fairfield University students because unlike most of the teams they are competing against, they get no academic credit for their Model U.N. work, notes Dr. Kidd, adding that the World Model U.N. is one of the most competitive conferences. Successes at this level could open Fairfield University up to participating in invitation-only conferences. The Fairfield Model U.N. club also attended the Georgetown invitational, McGill, and Harvard National Model United Nations conferences this academic year.

Hard work, research, and a certain amount of luck are all necessary to win awards at Model U.N. conferences, Gosselin says.

"The work of Ms. Mistysyn, Dr. Kidd, and this fabulously dedicated bright group of students is a model unto itself," says Dr. Timothy Law Snyder, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "First, it represents the form of experiential learning to which many of our faculty are turning. This is particularly important, not just in the sciences, where it is more traditional, but in our humanities and international education, as well. Second, the quality of these students' work is testimony to the increasing quality of our student body."

Andy Towers: Lacrosse veteran

By Pat Nugent, Associate Director of Sports Information

Not many 34-year-olds consider themselves over-the-hill, but in the world of professional outdoor lacrosse, age holds an entirely different meaning. And that presents a dilemma for Fairfield University's head assistant men's lacrosse coach Andy Towers.

A seven-year professional lacrosse veteran, Towers is an all-star face-off man for the Bridgeport Barrage, which is about to enter its third season as part of the six-team Major League Lacrosse.

"I've lost a lot of speed," says Towers. "I have to be a lot more effective with the ball out of my stick. As a player, I was best with the ball in my stick. I just can't dodge with the success I used to have when I was playing out of college."

As a student at Brown University, Towers was a two-time first-team All-American and All-Ivy selection, and was named the Ivy League Player of the Year in 1993. He remains the Bears' all-time leading scorer today.

After graduation, Towers was invited to tryout camps for the 1994 and 1998 USA World Teams (an exhibition squad consisting of the top professional players in the country who compete on the national scene). He then took five years off from competitive lacrosse before signing on in 2000 with the Boston Cannons, where he was named to MLL's first-ever all-star team. Last season, he was traded to Bridgeport but a pulled hamstring in the third game of the season left him sidelined for nearly two months.

This season's workouts are slated to begin in just two short weeks, with Bridgeport's first game scheduled for May 31 in Rochester, N.Y.

"It really is a blast," says Towers. "But at the same time it's a big commitment."

Due to its size and newness, the majority of MLL players hold down full-time jobs during the season and most travel great distances to compete at their respective home venues.

The Barrage, whose members play their home contests at the Arena at Harbor Yard, has 12 games on this year's schedule that stretches through late August. In addition to Boston and Bridgeport, the cities of Rochester, N.Y., Baltimore, Md., Somerset, N.J., and Hempstead, N.Y., host MLL teams.

Tower's experience as a professional has been invaluable to his coaching. Since joining the Stags' staff in 2001, he has helped Fairfield emerge as one of the top face-off teams in the country. This week, two Fairfield players - Peter Vlahakis '04 and Geoff Keough '05 - ranked in the top 28 nationally among Division I face-off specialists. His work with the offense is also a major reason the Stags earned their first-ever trip the NCAA tournament last season.

"It's been an awesome experience," says Towers. "To compete against the best players in the world after having thought my career was over is a lot of fun. I honestly don't know what I'm going to do at this point. It changes almost daily."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

news Briefs

Phi Beta Kappa-Zeta of Connecticut at Fairfield University inducts 48
On April 6, 48 students were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigious academic honor society.

Congratulations to the following inductees: Class of 2003: Michelle A. Bernier, Kristin A. Blicharz, Michele R. Boutin, Debbie M. Carlini, Kelly J. Comiskey, Megan E. D'Archangelo, Gina G. Dell'Aguila, Christian S. DiClementi, Allison B. Dudley, Vincent M. Farisello, Mary C. Gazella, Jennifer M. Gregory, Sean A. Hayes, Erin M. Heslin, David W. Houlihan, Jennifer M. Hughes, Marika J. Jewczyn, Nicole R. Juliano, Therese F. Masiello, Frances L. Newman, Caitlin M. O'Connor, Stephen R. Oliver, Caitlyn D. Pearson, Leigh A. Piccolo, Kathleen A Porto, Lynn M. Raimondo, Kimberly A. Reidy, Michael C. Rubin, Matthew W. Ryzewski, David T. Smith, Nicole Sparling, Jeffrey D. Stone, Emily J. Sweet, Christopher Szabo, Diana Thompson, Brendan J. Tuohy, Laura A. Walsh, Michelle L. Woodruff, Kimberly A. Young, and David A. Zboray. Class of 2004: Catherine A. Auriana, Lauren A. Brady, Deborah R. Brancato, Elizabeth M. Dailey, Kristy L. Farrell, Francis J. Marx, Allison M. Michal, and Jessica Lynn Viner.

Pi Mu Epsilon inducts 40 students
Pi Mu Epsilon held its annual induction on April 13, installing 40 students in the national mathematics honor society. Dr. Timothy Law Snyder, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was also inducted as an honorary member.

Congratulations to the following inductees: Class of 2003: Mary Anderson, Lauren Buda, Casey Butterly, Debbie Carlini, Jeffrey Cole, Julia Coleman, Megan D'Arcangelo, Jami Delo, Christopher Dill, Meredith Kay, Scott McGavin, Stephen Murphy, Laura Tucci. Class of 2004: Michael Allocca, Susan Bowhers, Monika Brinkmann, Shannon Brown, Marybeth Chartier, Christopher Chimera, Lauren Cove, Jonathan Gray, Victoria Hanusovsky, Sean Harrell, Jessica Mauro, Anh Nguyen, Kristen Nilsen, Meryl Oakley, Nicole Pendolphi, Cassandra Perron, Eric Portante, K. Rebecca Post, Carrie Rotondaro, Shawn Schuerlein, Laura Shannon, Melissa Sidor, Lirong Selina Tang, Christopher Wetzel, and Ana Cristina Zablah. Class of 2005: Ryan Jessell and Liana Martuccio.

Beta Gamma Sigma selects new members
On April 22, 28 undergraduate students, 21 graduate students, and two faculty members were inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the honor society for business programs accredited by AACSB - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The keynote speaker was Patricia E. Hutton, senior vice president and chief financial officer of NBC Television Stations in New York City.

Congratulations to the following inductees: Class of 2003: Caitlin J. Bakum, Anthony J. Chiodi, Peter J. Gilboy, Michelle S. Gormbley, Nicole R. Juliano, Stephanie A. Mello, Julie Nicholson, Bianca L. Pope, Tricia Procaccini, Anna E. Zuzick. Class of 2004: James P. Allwein, Michael H. Barwinski, Elizabeth A. Emeigh, Carissa L. Gagne, Katie L. Gill, Jennifer A. Gulianello, Huy D. Huynh, Luca Iacusso, Erin L. Imarisio, Gregory S. Iorio, Kathleen M. McArdle, Tara L. Merlone, Hai T. Nguyen, Christine M. Phillips, Pamela A. Polanowski, Kristin M. Rzasa, Kathryn M. Schiavone, Uros Stosic. Graduate students: Lori A. Baughman, Regina Marie Cunningham, Jonathan Dizney, Kevin Joseph Donnelly. David J. Fogarty, John Geraghty, Leslie Ann Jacobi, Catherine D. Keegan, Sumit Lal, Terry D. Long, Frank Joseph Masso III, LeAnne Mistysyn, Joseph Steven Pachman, Antonio T. Pellicci, Michael J. Phillips, Michael O. Radesky, Vincent F. Ragosta III, Mark Reed, Paulette D. Ryan, Elizabeth Ann Strain, and Brett Joseph Yacoviello. Faculty: Robert Kravet, assistant professor of accounting, and Dr. Carl Scheraga, associate professor of information systems and operations management.

Construction update: May

• The new parking lot at the Thomas J. Walsh Jr. Athletic Center is being completed.
• Progress continues on the new tennis courts at Walsh Athletic Center; they are expected to be completed by June.
• A synthetic surface and new bleachers are being installed at Alumni Field with work expected to be competed in June.
• The Prep project continues with the gym expected to open in September.

Waite proposes compassion to resolve world conflict

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Taken hostage in 1987 for five years, four of which were spent in solitary confinement, Terry Waite says that during his captivity he worked hard to avoid feelings of self-pity and regret. Between beatings and interrogations by his captors and a mock execution, he survived by living "from within," by taking an "interior journey of exploration."

A former hostage negotiator whose risky methods often included face-to-face interviews with captors, Waite presented "Personal Faith, Public Service," the inaugural lecture for the Ignatian Residential College, as part of the Open VISIONS Forum, at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on April 14.

Waite was negotiating for the release of hostages in Beirut, Lebanon, when he was tricked, taken into custody by Shiite Muslims, and chained in a dark tile cell until 1991.

Memories of books and poetry he had read throughout his childhood kept his mind active and rooted his identity, he said. He had no visual or outside mental stimulation the first few years in captivity. With his hands and feet chained to the wall, his muscles atrophied; his black beard grew long and white. After three years, a sympathetic guard smuggled in a handful of English-language books.

Looking back on his experience as a prisoner, he said he understands his captors' actions. "These lads have seen nothing but warfare during their lifetime," he commented. They perceive the West as manipulative, greedy, and as seeking its own economic self-interests, "using arms and power to smother them."

He recommended that world leaders take these perceptions seriously. Additional problems could result, he said, unless world leaders act soon to resolve them.

Since his release in 1991, Waite has written three books - including a memoir of his detainment - and has worked with humanitarian groups to promote compassion and tolerance among world cultures. "We live in a world where we must understand each other," he concluded, adding that universities encourage critical thinking and mutual acceptance. On a political level, he proposed that nations move from international relations based on a power struggle to relations based on combating global injustice. "In a world where there is sickness and warfare," he said, "it's the least we can do."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Fairfield University joins Omicron Delta Kappa

By Elizabeth Alarcon '03, Media Relations Intern

Fairfield University is chartering an Omicron Delta Kappa chapter on campus. New members were inducted on May 4 in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

is the national leadership honor society for college students, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni that recognizes and encourages superior scholarship, leadership, and exemplary character. the society recognizes achievement in several areas: scholarship, athletics, community service, religious activities, campus government, journalism, speech and mass media, and creative and performing arts. founded in 1914 at washington and lee university in lexington, va., by student and faculty leaders, membership is a mark of the highest distinction and an honor that is recognized in both the academic and business worlds.

Of Fairfield University's 125 applicants, 30 students, three alumni, and six faculty and staff members were selected for induction this year. Their membership links them with the likes of politicians, Pulitzer Prize winners, astronauts, and distinguished professors.

Faculty members already inducted include Dr. David McFadden, professor and chairman of the history department and director of Russian and East European studies; Dr. David Sapp, assistant professor of English; Aaron Seymour, assistant dean for undergraduate students in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business; and Dr. Timothy Law Snyder, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Kelli Rainey, director of student activities, has been actively involved in bringing an chapter to Fairfield University.

Student leaders began the process in fall 2001 and worked on the constitution, a summary of requirements, and bylaws. Recruitment consisted of letters to faculty and staff for their nomination of eligible juniors and seniors who ranked in the upper 35 percent of their class. Membership was also extended to graduate students, faculty, staff, administration, alumni, and to those qualifying for honoris causa, achieving distinction in his or her chosen profession or rendering outstanding service through leadership.

On more than 260 college campuses throughout the country, not only recognizes outstanding collegiate leadership, but fosters it through a variety of formats. Of the many programs to take place, the Fairfield chapter has initiated a Student Leadership Awards Ceremony in partnership with the Office of Student Activities, which is intended to run independently by the chapter within a few years. The chapter is also active in service projects such as the MS Walk for multiple sclerosis. The chapter is planning a leadership conference for student leaders on campus and extending that into a leadership conference for high school students, which would serve a double purpose: to get students involved in thinking about college and attract their attention to Fairfield University.

Fass family donates multicultural art collection to Fairfield University

The Fass family of Massachusetts recently donated a 30-piece art collection to the Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery at Fairfield University. Formerly of Fairfield, Conn., the Fass family frequently attended events at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts and the Walsh Gallery.

The art is from various parts of the world, including South America, Mexico, Africa, and Asia. While most of the works originate from the 20th century, some can be traced from 100 B.C. to 900 A.D.

"This collection will serve as a significant academic and practical educational tool for students taking AH 12 (Introduction to the History of Asia, Africa, and the Americas) and AH 100 (Arts of India, China, and Japan)," says Dr. Diana Mille, Walsh Gallery director. "It will also provide the Fairfield community with the rare opportunity to view such sculptural eclecticism in one local collection."

An installation plan for the Fass collection is being developed.

"This important gift from Mr. and Mrs. Fass is a significant milestone in the acquisition of a permanent art collection here at Fairfield," says Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president. "It will be studied and enjoyed by generations of students and we are grateful for this valuable collection."

Take your Daughters and Sons to Work Day
On April 24, the Office of Human Resources sponsored Take your Daughters and Sons to Work Day, providing children of employees with a first-hand look at their parents' jobs and a mid-day luncheon. Enjoying a boxed lunch at the Charles F. Dolan School of Business are members of the maintenance crew with their sons. Pictured above (l-r) are Nick and Jon Lisi, sons of George Lisi (chatting with Janet Dinihanian of accounts payable), and Timothy Craig and his son, Michael.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Fairfield's first junior-year president

By Rebecca Guess '04, Publications Intern

Fairfield University Student Association's presidency is transitioning from one landmark year to another. A year after Karen Donoghue '03 was elected FUSA's first female president, the student body chose its very first rising junior president, Kevin Neubauer '05.

"When they announced my name on election night I was pumped," he says. "I had been hopeful throughout the campaign so it was extremely satisfying to have my hard work pay off."

Being a sophomore does not mean that this 20-year-old is lacking in experience. Neubauer is currently completing his second term as class president, a job that keeps him busy as he programs events for his peers throughout the year.

"Experience and knowledge are more important factors in success than class standing," he says. "As a junior, I'll be in closer contact with students of all years. Also, when I'm a senior, I'll have to live with whatever changes or improvements I made during my year in office."

Student government is just one of his many endeavors. Neubauer is also a lector with Campus Ministry, a member of SKILL, and a facilitator with the First-Year Experience program. A sociology major from Providence, R.I., Neubauer is also working on a project with the town of Fairfield for a global information service.

His plans for his presidency include making teacher evaluations available to students before registration, bringing back the "Red Sea," working with Sodexho to provide new menu items, and establishing additional weeknight programming - all while constantly keeping an ear open to students' wants and needs.

Currently, Neubauer is involved in a six-week training session with his predecessor, to learn the ropes and make the transition smoother. "It is going very well," Neubauer says. "I meet with Karen regularly and am learning as much as I can from her."

Although it's a few years away, Neubauer's post-graduation plans include law school and returning to Providence.

As for the upcoming office, he is looking forward to making a difference in the lives of his peers. "I hope to be remembered as someone who cared deeply about the well-being of the students here," he says, "someone who worked tirelessly to improve their time at Fairfield."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Orchestra New England to play all-Copland concert
Orchestra New England will present an all-Copland concert on May 9 at 8 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The concert will include Appalachian Spring and excerpts from The Tender Land.

Orchestra New England, conducted by James Sinclair (pictured above), has been praised by the New Haven Register as "one of the region's cultural treasures." Formed in 1974, it is considered one of the country's finest small orchestras and its recordings and live performances have been heard on Connecticut and national public radio broadcasts.

All opera cast members belong to the Yale University Opera program. For tickets, contact the Quick Center Box Office at ext. 4010.

Columnist and author Arianna Huffington to speak at

Open VISIONS Forum May 28

Arianna Huffington, an outspoken syndicated columnist and author who is leading the Detroit Project, a program opposing gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles, will speak on May 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Huffington's lecture is part of Open VISIONS Forum, a program of University College, and is sponsored, in part, through generous support from The Patrick J. Waide Jr. Fund for Ethics and Public Policy, and WSHU-FM. Huffington will sign copies of her latest book, Pigs at the Trough: How Corporate Greed and Political Corruption are Undermining America, after the program.

Once known for praising former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and boosting her then-husband's Republican Senate bid, Huffington has, in recent years, become one of the country's leading liberal voices. Her wit, tenacity, and often blistering style of commentary have made her a sought-after guest on the talk show and lecture circuit.

Huffington's books include The Female Woman, After Reason, Maria Callas: The Woman Behind the Legend, The Gods of Greece, and Pablo Picasso: Creator and Destroyer. Her latest books, Greetings from the Lincoln Bedroom, How to Overthrow the Government, and Pigs at the Trough, have brought Huffington back to her original love: politics and public policy. She also shares her views in a twice-weekly syndicated newspaper column and a syndicated show on National Public Radio.

For tickets, contact the Quick Center Box Office at ext. 4010.

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