November 2002

Index for November 5, 2002

Fairfield wins $1.6 million for bilingual and special education

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

At a time when enrollment of immigrant children and those with limited proficiency in English is growing in Connecticut at four times the rate of overall enrollment, Fairfield University's Graduate School of Education & Allied Professions has garnered two grants totaling $1,644,521 for two programs that foster bilingual education.

Project TELL (Teachers of English Language Learners) will receive $798,832 over four years. The grant will prepare 25 in-service teachers to obtain a graduate degree in bilingual education or TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) and/or to assist them in meeting initial educator certification and endorsement requirements in bilingual education or TESOL.

Project BiSEP (Bilingual Special Education Professionals) will receive $845,689 over five years to prepare 25 bilingual candidates to serve students with limited English proficiency and/or students identified as having exceptional learning needs.

The school districts of Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Stamford will recruit educators for both programs which are being funded by the U.S. Department of Education's National Professional Development Program. Both projects provide tuition reimbursement for all participants.

Project TELL builds on a series of grants awarded to Fairfield University since 1995 to train bilingual teachers, says Sister Julianna Poole, S.S.N.D., Ed.D., project director of the grant. "Project TELL will enable us to continue to support the recruitment and training of teachers in the critical shortage areas of bilingual education and English as a second language," she says.

Project TELL's co-director is Dr. António Simões, professor of TESOL, foreign language, and bilingual/multicultural education.

Fairfield University is the only institution of higher education accredited by the Connecticut State Department of Education to offer initial educator certification in bilingual education on the graduate level and one of two accredited to provide initial educator certification in TESOL. Fairfield has been offering courses in bilingual education and English as a second language since 1972.

Dr. David Aloyzy Zera, director of Project BiSEP and director of the program in special education, says BiSEP "has the potential to dramatically and positively affect the education of a significant number of persons." Candidates for the program will receive initial certification in special education with cross-endorsement in bilingual education, as well as a master of arts degree or a certificate of advanced study. The educators "will be trained to work in a variety of settings to better meet the needs of an underserved population," says Dr. Zera.

Co-director of Project BiSEP is Dr. Daniel Geller, professor and chair of psychology and special education in the GSEAP. Drs. Geller and Zera co-wrote the grant proposal.

Fairfield University's program in psychology and special education has grown tremendously under the guidance of graduate school Dean Margaret Deignan, says Dr. Zera. Fairfield University recently underwent a five-year re-accreditation process and was awarded passing scores in all areas with a large number of commendations and a significant number of high-distinction scores.

Father of Athletics
Student-athletes Ajou Deng '03 and Nick Delfico '04 were among the members of the varsity basketball team who presented their beloved chaplain, Victor Leeber, S.J., with an oversized team photo at a farewell reception last month. After serving the University for 55 years, Fr. Leeber has departed for Weston, Mass.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Budget hearing

The University Budget Committee will hold an open budget forum Tuesday, Nov. 5 and Thursday, Nov. 7, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., in the John A. Barone Campus Center Faculty Dining Room. A sign-up sheet is available at the Information Desk.

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to address the committee on funding needs and priorities for the fiscal year 2003-04. In order to accommodate as many participants as possible, comments should be limited to 10 minutes. Those unable to attend one of the open forums may write to University Budget Committee Chair William J. Lucas, McAuliffe Hall, Room 305.

FIPSE awards grant to implement GIS program

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

The federal government has awarded Fairfield University $353,000 over three years to enable Dr. Kurt Schlichting, professor of sociology and anthropology, to implement a Geographic Information Systems program in five area high schools.

Faculty at Bridgeport's Central and Kolbe Cathedral high schools, New York City's Rice High School, Fairfield College Preparatory School, and Weston High School will receive training and GIS software, which students will use to plot data onto maps.

For example, a classroom lesson on urban development can be enhanced by showing a map of population density in Fairfield County.

But that is just the beginning. The GIS program can map data to illustrate income disparity in the United States or global environmental concerns in Asia. Maps integrated with historical data can provide students with a picture of an area's development through recent decades.

The software is a valuable tool for increasing students' knowledge, says JoAnne Jakab, principal of Kolbe Cathedral High School.

"I'm very excited about this because we are always seeking to increase students' skills, particularly critical thinking and analyzing data," Jakab says.

"This funding will facilitate a valuable partnership between Fairfield University and neighboring high schools, and allow them to keep pace with new technologies," says Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Bridgeport).

Schlichting's "University-High Schools Collaboration: Analytical Skills, Technology, International Studies" program will receive $141,453 in the first year, from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education.

Only 61 of the 1,313 applications received by the Comprehensive Program for FIPSE, which is part of the U.S. Department of Education, were awarded funding, according to Joan Krejci Griggs, program officer and coordinator of the Comprehensive Program.

The first step will be to visit each high school and evaluate its computer resources. The FIPSE grant will not fund computer hardware, but if a school requires more hardware, such as a server, Fairfield University will seek other funding to increase the high school's computer resources.

The grant will fund the $2,500 to $3,000 cost per high school to install GIS software and cover costs for some of the faculty from each high school to spend approximately one week at Fairfield during the summers to learn about the software. Those faculty members will continue to receive support on use of the program from the via the Internet.

In addition, the grant will fund a GIS specialist, Chris Calienes, to work with the schools and their faculty. For the last three years, Calienes has trained and supported Fairfield University professors using the GIS program in their classes, thanks to funding from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Adrian & Jessie Archbold Charitable Trust.

"Dr. Schlichting has been a leader in introducing GIS technology into a variety of disciplines here at Fairfield University," says Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president. "It is entirely consistent with our Jesuit mission that he has expanded his outreach to include partnerships with high schools, many of which have large numbers of minority students.

"This grant will allow these students access to the most sophisticated technology and training all too often available only to the richer high schools," continues Dr. Grossman. "By seeking to create a more level playing field of opportunity, Dr. Schlichting and the other faculty and students involved are truly living out the Jesuit ideal of men and women for others."

University partners with Jesuit Conference

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations & Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Fairfield University has joined the Jesuit Conference Office of Social and International Ministries and is working with the Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation to conduct social justice research on the local and international levels.

Based in Washington, D.C., the Jesuit Conference is a support organization for Jesuits in the United States. Fairfield is the first Jesuit university in the nation to enter into a formal alliance with the Conference's Social and International Ministries Office, which conducts research, generates position papers, and lobbies to eliminate social injustices within the system.

Fairfield launched the new affiliation on Oct. 10, with an on-campus meeting of representatives from the Jesuit Conference and the Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation.

The partners discussed an initial five topics with groups of faculty and deans: refugees and the phenomenon of migration (with co-coordinators Drs. Katherine Kidd and Marie-Agnes Sourieau); challenges of widespread conflict and human displacement in Colombia (Drs. Walter Petry and Joy Gordon); information systems in underdeveloped nations (Drs. Gerard Campbell and Winston Tellis); banking and insurance red-lining in poor urban neighborhoods (Drs. Jay Buss, Philip Lane, Kurt Schlichting, Carl Scheraga, and Joy Gordon); and problem solving for better health, an international and national model of the Dreyfus Health Foundation (Drs. Jeanne Novotny, Philip Greiner, and Dee Lippman).

For the latter two topics in particular, Fairfield will also work with its neighbors at the Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation and local communities.

Much of the faculty research at Fairfield dovetails with the Jesuit Conference's mission, says James Bowler, S.J., University facilitator for Catholic and Jesuit mission and identity. The partnership has the potential to involve a host of Fairfield faculty and students to research relevant topics in ways that endorse Fairfield's Jesuit mission. Some ideas brainstormed at the meeting ranged from examining migrant issues on the Guatemalan-Mexican border to translating documents from Spanish to English.

"This collaboration will provide both students and faculty with opportunities to jointly publish important research leading to addressing major social problems," said Dr. Mary Frances Malone, associate academic vice president at Fairfield University.

Fairfield will offer the Jesuit Conference support in areas of research, policy development, and model programs. The University will also collaborate toward the development of a model for interdisciplinary research that will partner with grass roots parishioners and commit two or three seminar classes to working on particular social policy issues.

An additional aspect of the partnership will integrate the research into the undergraduate curriculum, says Dr. Kidd. This integration, she explains, could lead to a host of opportunities for students - from internships at the Conference's Washington, D.C. office to research abroad.

"The national Jesuit office provides us with opportunities for research, advocacy, and the promotion of justice that we would not enjoy on our own," said University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., at the meeting. "On the other side, Fairfield offers an extraordinary potential for faculty and student research that will significantly enhance the effectiveness of this national office. Many of our faculty have distinguished themselves through their commitments to research, addressing the struggle for justice. This collaborative effort will provide an umbrella where the whole will have a more significant impact than the sum of its parts."

Planting fall colors
Con O'Halloran (pictured left) and Chris Beecham (right) of the grounds crew plant a patch of yellow mums at the John A. Barone Campus Center's lower entrance.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

University celebrates Bannow addition

The science faculty was all smiles on Oct. 3 as Fairfield University dedicated the north wing addition to the Rudolph F. Bannow Science Center. The new facility houses specialized laboratories, multimedia classrooms, and faculty offices.

The addition's new atrium is named for Joseph MacDonnell, S.J., professor of mathematics and computer science, in honor of the more than 30 years he contributed to teaching and residence life. Hanging from the entryway's ceiling are Fr. MacDonnell's vividly colored mathematical models of ruled surfaces.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Dr. Susan Birge, director of counseling services and assistant vice president of student services, has been appointed to a four-year term on the Town of Stratford's Ethics Commission.

Dr. Iris Bork-Goldfield, an instructor in the modern languages and literatures department, organized a weekend foreign language workshop at Fairfield in September. Dr. Bork-Goldfield, who is co-president of the Connecticut chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German, invited Carnegie Mellon University Professor Dr. Anne Green to lead the workshops, which were attended by area high school and college instructors.

Dr. Cecelia Bucki, associate professor of history, was quoted in a September Norwich Bulletin story about the modern-day mission of labor unions. Bucki said unions revived themselves in the 1980s and 1990s by organizing non-traditional sectors such as white collar and service workers.

In September, psychology professor Dr. Dorothea Braginsky was quoted in a New York Times article about how our closets reflect ourselves.

Dr. Braginsky was also interviewed for a Connecticut Post article about the long-term psychological effects of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"The Pinochet Case in Manhattan," an article by Dr. Javier Campos, associate professor of modern languages and literatures, was in the Oct. 22 edition of El Mostrador, a Chilean publication.

Dr. Arjun Chaudhuri, professor of marketing, co-authored the paper "Product Class Effects on Brand Commitment and Brand Outcomes: The Role of Brand Trust and Brand Affect." The paper was published in the September issue of the Journal of Brand Management.

On Sept. 24, Dr. Ralph M. Coury, professor of history, was one of two speakers participating in a panel on the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, sponsored by the Middle Eastern Studies Program of Binghamton University. The other speaker was Dr. Howard Morley Sachar, a widely published scholar of Jewish and Israeli history. The title of Dr. Coury's talk was "Reflections on the Past, Present and (Uncertain) Future of Zionist Settler-Colonialism."

In September, Dr. Edward Deak, professor of economics, was cited in several regional newspaper articles dealing with employment prospects and the Wall Street downturn. His comments appeared in the Middletown Press, the Stamford Advocate, the New Haven Register, the (Torrington) Register Citizen, and the Hartford Courant.

In October, Dr. Edward Dew, professor of politics, led a discussion on the book, Everyday Life in the Muslim Middle East, at the Ridgefield Library.

Religious studies professor Dr. Elizabeth Dreyer delivered the annual "Great Theologians" Lecture at Seattle University's School of Theology and Ministry in July. Also in July, Dr. Dreyer addressed the Secular Franciscans Quinquennial Congress, held at Loyola University in New Orleans.

Dr. Therese Dykeman, a research associate in the philosophy department's International Institute for Field Being, has reviewed the anthology Rhetorical Theory by Women Before 1900. The review was published in the October issue of Choice.

Also published in the October issue were book reviews by Dr. Alan Katz, professor of politics, and Dr. Raymond Poincelot, professor of biology and department chair. Dr. Katz reviewed Iain McLean's Rational Choice and British Politics: An Analysis of Rhetoric and Manipulation from Peel to Blair, and Dr. Poincelot reviewed James D. Mauseth's A Cactus Odyssey: Journeys in the Wilds of Bolivia, Peru and Argentina.

Band-Aides and Blackboards, a website for chronically ill children and teens created by Dr. Joan Fleitas, R.N., associate professor of nursing, has been included in the American Library Association's Great Web Sites for Kids ages birth to 14. The site was one of 11 added to the ALA list in September.

This summer, Dr. Fleitas was a keynote speaker at three international conferences. In June, she presented at The Parent Project: Muscular Dystrophy International Conference in Pittsburgh. In July, she spoke at the Moebius Syndrome International Conference in Chicago, and in August, Dr. Fleitas delivered "Parenting Children with Alagille Syndrome: Lessons from the Trenches" at the Alagille Syndrome International Symposium in St. David's, Pa.

Following President George Bush's address to the nation on Oct. 8, Dr. Donald Greenberg, associate professor of politics, provided the commentary on News 12 Connecticut.

In September, Dr. Greenberg led a discussion on the book, Between Memory and Desire: The Middle East in a Troubled Age. The discussion was one in a series developed by the Connecticut Humanities Council.

Mike Gross, the disc jockey behind Swingin' West, a weekly radio program that runs on Fairfield University's WVOF-FM, was inducted into the Western Swing Music Society's Seattle Hall of Fame at the 12th annual Pioneers of Western Swing Festival.

"Providing Self-Healthcare Models for Well Adults Can Increase Cost Effectiveness," an article by Dr. Sheila Grossman, professor of nursing, appeared in Clinical Excellence for Nurse Practitioners.

Nancy Habetz, director of media relations, was elected to a three-year term on The Kennedy Center's board of directors. The Bridgeport-based center provides a range of service options for children and adults with mental retardation and other psychiatric, physical, and developmental disabilities.

The New York Times quoted Dr. Paul Lakeland, professor of religious studies, in an article on New Hampshire Bishop John McCormack. News 30, the NBC Connecticut affiliate, interviewed him about the commission of four Vatican officials and four U.S. bishops. In addition, the Waterbury Republican-American interviewed him for an article, "Vatican, bishops at odds over abuse," in which Dr. Lakeland said the Vatican is wrong to be concerned that the laity has been given too much power, because the lay review boards have no authority to tell bishops what to do.

Dr. Jean Lange, R.N., assistant professor of nursing, has been named a 2002 Geriatric Research Scholar by the John A. Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing. Dr. Lange was one of 11 nurses from the Northeast region selected for the five-year-old program, which fosters gerontological research in the hope of improving health care for older adults.

"Methodological Considerations in Conducting Research with Hispanic Individuals," an article by Dr. Lange, appeared in a recent issue of Research in Nursing and Health.

Dr. Nick Laopodis, associate professor of finance, has published several articles in scholarly journals. "Monetary Implications of Volatility Linkages Among Long-Term Interest Rates" appeared in the International Journal of Finance and Economics; "Dynamic Interactions Between Wall Street and Main Street" was published in the Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance; "Exchange Rate and Stock Market Interactions: Evidence from an Emerging Economy" appeared in Global Business and Finance Review; "Stochastic Behaviour of Deutschemark Exchange Rates Within EMS" was published in Applied Financial Economics; and "Distributional Properties of EMS and Non-EMS Exchange Rates Before and After German Reunification" was published in the International Journal of Finance and Economics.

Eve Andrée Laramée, assistant professor of visual and performing arts and director of the studio arts program, was featured in the July/August issue of Sculpture Magazine. The eight-page, illustrated article was titled "Questioning Authority: A Conversation with Eve Andrée Laramée."

WSTC/WNLK radio and the Fairfield Citizen News carried reports on an Internet survey conducted by Dr. Lisa Mainiero, professor of management, that examined how corporate policy was altered by the Sept. 11 tragedy.

Dr. Anne Manton, R.N., associate professor in the School of Nursing, has been appointed to the Health and Medical Advisory Board of Family Circle magazine. Members of the advisory board help evaluate story ideas, review materials for accuracy, and provide quotes for articles.

In October, Dr. Manton was a panelist for a forum titled "The Future of Health Care in Connecticut." Sponsored by Health Net of the Northeast, the forum was hosted by the Bridgeport Regional Business Council at the Trumbull Marriott.

Philosophy professor Dr. Lisa Newton, director of the programs in applied ethics and environmental studies, has been asked to head a community advisory panel in Hamden set up by the Olin Corp. Dr. Newton, a specialist in business ethics who has written about environmental problems and corporate responsibility, was mentioned in a September New Haven Advocate article about the controversy over contaminated soil on the grounds of Hamden Middle School.

In a September Danbury News-Times article, politics professor Dr. John Orman commented on Democratic U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd's announcement that he may seek the presidency. Also in September, Dr. Orman's comments on negative advertising campaigns in the state gubernatorial race appeared in the Hartford Courant, the New Haven Register, the New Britain Herald, and the (Middletown) Herald Press. His comments were also carried in the Stamford Advocate, Greenwich Time, the (Manchester) Journal Inquirer, and the Connecticut Post.

In April, Dr. Gita Rajan, associate professor of English, published "Pliant and Compliant: Colonial Indian Art and Postcolonial Cinema" in Women: A Cultural Review. Also in April, Dr. Rajan served on the plenary panel for the ASIANetwork 2002 Conference in Lisle, Ill., and spoke on "The Future of Asian Studies in the Era of Globalization." She also delivered "Exhibiting Technology Through the Lens: The Sackler Gallery Event" at Portsmouth University in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Vincent Rosivach, director of the classical studies program, recently published "The Requirements for the Solonic Classes in Aristotle" in the journal Hermes, and "Zeugitai and Hoplites" in the Ancient History Bulletin. The latter piece marks his 75th published article. Dr. Rosivach has also been elected executive secretary of the Classical Association of New England.

"The Environment Reporters of New England," a study co-authored by Dr. James Simon, associate professor of English and former environmental reporter with the Associated Press, was published in the current issue of Science Communication. The study concluded that only about half of the region's daily newspapers and about one out of 10 television stations have a reporter who covers environmental issues on a regular basis. The study's co-authors included Dr. David B. Sachsman of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Dr. JoAnn Myer Valenti of Brigham Young University.

Dr. David Alan Sapp, assistant professor of English, served as guest editor of a special issue of Networks: An On-line Journal of Teacher Research, a refereed journal published by the Centre for Teacher Development at the University of Toronto. This issue, published in September, focused on action research in international educational settings. Out of the 13 scholars who contributed to this issue, two were Fairfield faculty members: Dr. David Aloyzy Zera, assistant professor in the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, contributed "Effective Inclusion Program Suggestions From Around the World," and Dr. Robbin D. Crabtree, associate professor of communication and department chair, contributed a review article.

Bassist Brian Torff, director of jazz and popular music, has released a new CD, Another Great Day, on the Bassline Records label.

Dr. Ellen Umansky, the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Professor of Judaic Studies, was quoted in a September article in the Westport Minuteman titled "Terrorism at home and abroad on minds of Jewish community this new year."

Dr. David Aloyzy Zera, assistant professor in the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, was a guest editor for the fall 2002 edition of the journal, Educational Horizons, and devised the theme of the issue - "Special Education: A Systems Perspective." Dr. Zera wrote "What is a System and a System Perspective" for the issue and co-wrote an article with Dr. Roy Maynard Seitsinger titled, "Administrative Systems and Their Responses to Special Education."

At October's Connecticut National Association of Multicultural Education conference, Dr. Zera and Dr. Sandra Billings, director of secondary education certification programs and assistant professor in the GSEAP, presented a paper on the infusion of multicultural goals into core education courses.

Births
Patrick Dolan, Prep, son - Owen Joseph Dolan, born Sept. 20.
Barbara Kiernan, director of university publications, grandson - Sean Robert Kiernan, born Oct. 10.
Barbara Guenette, alumni relations, grandson - Christian Michael, born Oct. 22.
Laura Martin, special events, granddaughter - Josie Rose, born Oct. 29.

Condolences
Eugene Klein, husband of Shirley Klein, Office of Financial Aid, and father of Christopher Klein '05, died Sept. 27.
Matilda M. Lemire, mother of Dr. Jeanne M. Novotny, dean of the School of Nursing, died Sept. 28.
Simeon Valentin, stepfather of Edwin Rivera of Custodial Services, died Sept. 28.
Frances Regina, mother of Angela Tauro, visiting instructor of modern languages and literatures, died Oct. 8.
Pascal J. Petrino, father of Dr. Elizabeth Anne Petrino, assistant professor of English, died Oct. 15.
Josephine Salito, mother-in-law of Cathy Salito of Campus Planning and Operations, died Oct. 24.
Ann Fiore Quinn, sister of Diane Scalzi, Office of Financial Aid, died Oct. 25.

New Employees
Steven Bayne - Visiting instructor, philosophy
Jocelyn Boryczka - Visiting instructor, politics
Peter Dresch - Visiting assistant professor, marketing
Amanda Edwards - Visiting instructor, politics
Richard Irizarry - Skilled landscaper, maintenance services
Mary Koehm - Language teacher, Prep
Melissa Laguzza - Language teacher, Prep
Roshown McLeod - Assistant men's basketball coach
Lynne Penczer - Visiting instructor, sociology and anthropology
David Ralston - Mathematics teacher, Prep
Michael Santora - Auxiliary services assistant, student phone system
Peter Scifo - English teacher, Prep
Grayce Sills - Visiting professor, nursing
Marina Simeone - Research assistant, ARA/Pfizer
Sandra Stock - Computer science teacher, Prep
Michael Tortora - Coordinator, information systems
John Vangor - Visiting instructor, mathematics
Dana Wilkie - Assistant director, graduate programs, DSB

---

College Of Arts and Sciences

 

Eve Andrée Laramée: visual ambassador

By Jennifer K. Covino, Publications Writer

Eve Andrée Laramée has long been an artist. Now, she's an ambassador, too.

In October, the director of Fairfield's studio arts program traveled to Canada courtesy of the U.S. State Department's Art in Embassies program, a 40-year-old initiative that loans artwork to American diplomatic residences worldwide. For the first time this fall, the program sent five "visual ambassadors" to visit host countries along with their work and Laramée was among the chosen few.

"We asked Eve to participate in our initial group of artists traveling to American embassies worldwide because her work addresses issues that are being explored by both American and Canadian contemporary artists," says Anne Johnson, the program's director. "Eve is very articulate and passionate about her work, and we thought she would be a great addition to our program."

A sculpture and installation artist who explores the intersection between art and science, Laramée was guest of honor at the residence of U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci in Ottawa. Her trip included private tours and lively conversation with curators at the National Gallery of Art in Ottawa and the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Montreal; an interview on Canadian public radio; and a visit to an artist's studio.

"It truly was a kind of cultural exchange, a way to discover our commonalities rather than our differences," she says. "I was able to learn firsthand about the Canadian arts scene and vice-versa."

An assistant professor of visual and performing arts, Laramée says she wants students to realize that teachers have a professional life beyond the classroom and that art is a big discussion, an "international discourse."

"Art brings people together. It bridges cultures," she says. "It's why, on the deepest level, the Art in Embassies program exists."

As an undergraduate, Laramée entered San Diego State University intending to study biology, but soon discovered her calling as an artist. "I became enthralled with the history of science because I saw it as the history of ideas," she says. She began to explore the relationship between art and science, finding "similarities in what motivates the investigative intention of both artists and scientists."

Laramée says she questions the pervasive idea that art and science occupy completely unrelated realms - intuition versus cognition - and draws attention to areas of overlap and interconnection between artistic exploration and scientific investigation. Her work, she says, "leads viewers to contemplate and consider nature through both art and science in a way that embraces poetry, absurdity, contradiction, and metaphor."

During the past 22 years, Laramée's work has been exhibited throughout the United States and Europe, and she has taught sculpture, installation, and critical theory at a half-dozen institutions. She has received two fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1992, she was named sculptor-in-residence at the Guggenheim Museum and received a grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

Her 1999 installation tracing the history of digital culture was what first caught the attention of state department officials. After "A Permutational Unfolding" appeared at the List Visual Art Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Laramée received a surprise phone call from the Art in Embassies program. It was to be the first of many conversations leading up to her recent trip.

Laramée's goal with "A Permutational Unfolding" was to illustrate the influence of the decorative arts, performing arts, and entertainment upon the development of the computer. Central to the exhibit was a Jacquard loom, a machine invented in 1801 that used a binary system of punched cards to weave intricate fabrics.

Laramée designed a pictorial fabric that she then had woven on a contemporary, computerized Jacquard loom. The fabric - used as drapery and to upholster custom-made Empire period antique reproduction chairs in the room - contained images of key developments in the arts that were important to the history of digital technology. Among them were a portrait of the inventor Joseph-Marie Jacquard, a mechanical duck, and a 1972 computer chip design. The fabric's background grid was inspired by the pattern of wires used in the magnetic memory cores of the Whirlwind computer, which was invented at MIT in 1949.

The brocade fabric drapery and three other pieces from "A Permutational Unfolding" are now on display at Ambassador Cellucci's residence in Ottawa. The ambassador is a former Massachusetts governor who is familiar with Laramée's work from his involvement with the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.

A highlight of Laramée's three-day trip was dinner at the embassy residence with Cellucci, his wife, and a dozen of Canada's most influential names in arts and culture. When dessert arrived, Laramée was delighted - the chef had made an effort to replicate her work in his presentation. Tucked jauntily into the towering chocolate creations were thin cookie wafers piped with her 1972 computer chip design.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

New trustees, chair named to Board

By By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

A new chairman and six new members have been named to Fairfield University's Board of Trustees.

Paul J. Huston, managing director of Liberty Capital Partners in New York City since 1992, has been named chairman. Huston replaces Roger M. Lynch '63 who retired as chair after seven years. A trustee since 1988, Lynch will remain on the board for one more year.

Huston previously worked as an investment banker with Merrill Lynch Interfunding and as an auditor with Coopers & Lybrand. He is chairman of the board for North Sound Music Group as well as Polaris Pool Systems.

Huston is also a member of the board of directors of Rath Manufacturing, SmileCare Dental Services, PlayPower, and Regulus Group, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He received his undergraduate degree in accounting from Fairfield in 1982 and an MBA in finance from Columbia University in 1991.

Four of the new board members are University alumni and two are Jesuits.

Thomas A. Franko, of Chatham, N.J., has been an attorney with the Pershing Division of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities since 1986. Franko graduated from Fairfield University with a bachelor of arts degree in 1969 and subsequently earned his law degree from Fordham University in 1977. Franko is a trustee for the Columbian Club of Chatham and a member of the New York and New Jersey bar associations. He is also affiliated with the Securities Industry Association's compliance and legal division and with the Knights of Columbus.

John C. Meditz, of Weehawken, N.J., has been vice chairman of Horizon Asset Management for eight years, and is also a director of the firm. Meditz graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Fairfield in 1970 and received his MBA two years later from Rutgers University's Graduate School of Business. Meditz is governor and treasurer of Palisades Medical Center, a trustee and treasurer of Weehawken Public Library, chairman of the Weehawken Planning Board, and a board member of the Weehawken High School Scholarship Committee. He is a trustee of Xavier High School and a past trustee of HSBC family of mutual funds. He had previously served on Fairfield's board of trustees from 1995 to 2001.

Elner Laverne Scott Morrell, of Prospect, Conn., has worked at United Healthcare since 1989. Now senior I.S. project manager, Scott Morrell graduated from Fairfield University in 1981 with a bachelor of science degree in nursing. At Fairfield she was a member of AHANA groups in the University's Center for Multicultural Relations. She has served on Fairfield's Trustees Advisory Council since 1999.

Rosellen Walsh Schnurr, of Sharon, Conn., has served as chairman of the board of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Conn. since 1992. Walsh Schnurr was a former professional educator at Salisbury School, Guilford High School, and Elizabeth A. Seton High School and was dean of the Liberal Arts Program at Katherine Gibbs School.

Walsh Schnurr is also founder and president of the board of directors of Sharon Day Care Center. Walsh Schnurr earned her bachelor of arts degree from Fairfield in 1974 and received her master's degree from Georgetown University in 1979. She served two previous terms on Fairfield's board of trustees from 1995 to 2001.

Dr. Jeffrey P. Von Arx, S.J., a resident of the Bronx, N.Y., has been dean of Fordham College at Rose Hill since 1998. Fr. Von Arx was assistant professor and then associate professor and chair of history at Georgetown University from 1982 to 1998.

Fr. Von Arx entered the Society of Jesus in 1969 and was ordained in 1981. He received his doctoral degree in history from Yale University in 1980.

Dr. Timothy R. Lannon, S.J., of Milwaukee, Wis., is vice president for university advancement at Marquette University. Fr. Lannon received his bachelor of science degree from Creighton University in 1973, his master's degree in education from Harvard University in 1996, and his doctorate in education from Harvard in 2000. Fr. Lannon is a member of the board of directors for the Red Cloud Indian School in Pine Ridge, S.D., and a member of the board of trustees at the College of the Holy Cross.

Roger M. Lynch Chair announced

In honor of Roger M. Lynch's extraordinary service on Fairfield's Board of Trustees, University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., has announced the establishment of the Roger M. Lynch Chair in Economics. Lynch, a Class of 1963 graduate of Fairfield University, has retired as chairman of the board after serving in the position for seven years. He has been a member of the board since 1988 and its chair since 1995.

During the naming, Fr. Kelley praised Lynch's "intelligence, patience, diligence, and good humor, all motivated by a very deep affection for his alma mater." He said that Lynch provided invaluable leadership during a period of dramatic development for Fairfield, and that Lynch and his wife, Nancy, have been very generous to the University for many years, including during the current Our Promise: The Campaign for Fairfield University.

Lynch had a lengthy and distinguished career with Goldman Sachs & Co., where he was a limited partner when the firm went public in 1998.

Throughout his career, Lynch has been a devoted alumnus of Fairfield. He has served on a multitude of committees and boards, always striving to make Fairfield accessible to talented students regardless of their means, while enhancing its academic stature and maintaining its Jesuit character.

Upon the announcement, Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president, said, "It is truly a momentous occasion to have a chair named for an alumnus for the first time. While Roger is to be commended for achieving a high level of success in his business career, what really distinguishes him is his selfless commitment to this university."

The first appointment to the chair will be determined in the near future.

Catherine O'Donnell: Director of Marketing - academic programs

By Kelsie DeWalt '03, Publications Intern

In an effort to bring more attention to its growing number of graduate and adult programs, Fairfield University has hired Catherine O'Donnell for the new position of director of marketing - academic programs.

O'Donnell grew up in Fairfield and graduated from the University in 1979 with a degree in history, followed by a master's degree in communication in 1984. She brings more than 20 years of communications experience to the position.

Prior to joining Fairfield University, O'Donnell worked for the Connecticut Audubon Society as director of marketing communications and at Pepperidge Farm as manager of corporate communications and public relations. She has also held positions at Garden Way Associates and Brooks Community Newspapers, and has handled numerous freelance projects for corporate and business clients throughout Fairfield County. O'Donnell says that much at Fairfield has changed since her undergraduate years, and she is excited to promote graduate and adult programs. "It's like coming home to a house that's on the same street and holds great memories for me, but has been completely renovated inside," says O'Donnell. "It's great to be back at this particular time in the University's history and to contribute to its future success and growth."

O'Donnell explains that any successful marketing campaign must be a coordinated team effort. "Marketing does not happen in just one office, with one person, but works best with the combined efforts and talents of many people and departments across the University," says O'Donnell. She reports to Edwin Wilkes, associate academic vice president for enrollment management, and will be working closely with Marianne Gumpper, director of graduate admission.

"There are many educational institutions offering adult and graduate programs in the region. Our task is to identify what distinguishes Fairfield University in programs and services to the adult student," explains O'Donnell. "There are many ways to get our message out through a variety of avenues: advertising, direct mail, Internet, public relations, and special promotional events." O'Donnell will be very busy in the months ahead, meeting with various departments of the University and gathering research and ideas that will become the elements of an effective strategic marketing plan. University College is also a key part of the plan.

One of the things that O'Donnell says she has learned in her career is the importance of trying to maintain a balance in all aspects of life. O'Donnell says. She adds that there is a lot of satisfaction and enjoyment in her work and she feels fortunate to work in a field that is fun and can have positive impact at the same time. She prides herself on trying to keep that balance in everything she does.

O'Donnell enjoys reading, skiing, walking, and being outdoors. She and her husband, John '75, live in Fairfield with their children Annie and Patrick.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

AHANA students honored for academic excellence

Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president (pictured above), was among those who congratulated the 74 students honored at the Center for Multicultural Relations' annual Christopher B. Love Student Achievement Awards Dinner held Oct. 24. To be eligible, students must hold a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Jennifer Ramos '03, Ora Dorche '04, and Hai Nguyen '04 received special recognition for having the highest GPA's among AHANA students. Also honored were psychology professor Dr. Joy Gordon, named Faculty of the Year, and Clint Lewis '88, who received the Alumnus of the Year award.

Class of 2003: Yesneia Almanzar, Reesa Antony, Peggy Bourguillon, Rayman Choo-Wing, Peter De La Cruz, Maria DiPilato, Michael Ibe, Marisa Marquez, Michael Mercado, Christopher Miles, Hung Nguyen, Elizabeth Orga, Cristina Quintero, Jennifer Ramos, Ellen Sarosy, Summar Siddiqui, Tina To, Francisco Velez, and Mary Louise Wei; Class of 2004: Antonio Bennazar, Zultan Bermudez, Amanda Borges, Brigedette Castro, Tanya Chavez, Danielle Doran, Ora Dortche, Eloise Frangias, Huy Huynh, Mai Huynh, Robert Keder, Aelee Kwon, Ji-Eun Lee, Anh Nguyen, Hai Nguyen, Veena Panduranga, Michael Purcell, Jose Reymondez, Julian Saavedra, Andrew Smith, Mariam Sultan, and Jennifer Tan; Class of 2005: Kathryn Banahan, Nicholas Benaquista, Grace Bermudez, Melissa Bonnie, Jessica Carrasquillo, Bridget Champagne, Jessica Cuomo, Mothler Dalexis, Nehemiah Ellison, Stephanie Gonzalez, Victoria Jones, Timmy Khenmy, Byron Kim, Vicky Lizardi, Sheauling Luong, Michelle Martir, Lindsay Mulvihill, Gabriel Munoz, Mark Anthony Mutuc, Hyewon Noh, Jennifer Ortega, Paola Perez, Lyn Pham, Orlando Roman, Deepak Sethi, Randeep Singh, Ricky Singh, Kaity Sisto, Wieslaw Szymonik, Cesar Urena, Carlos Uria, Suzanne VanValkenburgh, and Stephanie Wong.

Photo by B.K. Angeletti

Federal government awards three Boren scholarships

By Dana Ambrosini, Assistant Director of Media Relations

The National Security Education Program has awarded the David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship to three Fairfield University students to study in Russia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic this year.

Created by the National Security Education Act of 1991, the prestigious scholarships are intended in part to increase Americans' understanding of less commonly taught languages and cultures. In the past three years, Fairfield University students have garnered three of the scholarships - one each year.

That three Fairfield students were chosen this year to study in Eastern European nations, showcases the growing strength of Fairfield University's Russian and Eastern European Studies Program, says Dr. Katherine Kidd, director of the International Studies Program.

In addition to increasing their knowledge of foreign cultures, the scholarship recipients will be in a better position to seek jobs in the diplomatic arena, Dr. Kidd adds. As part of the scholarship requirements, students will work for the government in a security capacity. This obligatory part of the internship is actually another foot in the door for students, Dr. Kidd explains. "It opens up a lot of opportunities for students interested in government service."

Jessica Viner, one of the scholarship recipients, is in Russia. She is spending her junior year at Herzen University in St. Petersburg studying language, history, politics, and other subjects taught in Russian. Viner pursued the Boren scholarship after a visit to Ukraine in the summer of 1999. She has a double major in international studies and politics.

Stephanie Medvigy, vice president of Model U.N., is in Hungary. Medvigy looks forward to the follow-up federal service requirement.

Accounting major Brian Gosselin is in the Czech Republic. The country is still making the transition from communism to capitalism, Gosselin says, which is what prompted him to choose the nation for his study. He is taking courses in the language, the history of Central and Eastern Europe, and art and architecture at Charles University in Prague.

Theologian discusses role of women in the Church

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Dr. Susan A. Ross, distinguished professor of theology and faculty scholar at Loyola University in Chicago, presented "Be Thou My Vision: Women and the Sacramental Life of the Church" at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Oct. 2. She was this year's speaker for the Anne Drummey O'Callaghan Lecture on Women in the Church.

The lecture series honors the memory of Anne Drummey O'Callaghan who devoted her life as an advocate for the mentally disabled. She was also a catechist, youth minister, and director of religious education at St. Jerome and St. Joseph churches in Norwalk, Conn.

Using the lyrics of Be Thou My Vision, an Irish hymn that dates back to the 8th century, Dr. Ross discussed the unexamined contributions of women to the Catholic Church throughout history. Women's work today, she said, is transforming the Church's sacramental life and challenging the Church's position on female ordination.

Throughout history, women have been involved in the church's worship and liturgical practice, she said. But despite their contributions, women's work in the Church has not received the recognition it deserves. Quoting from Teresa Berger's Women's Ways of Worship, Dr. Ross explained how women have served as sacramental mentors for centuries, even performing such "priestly things" as baptisms and exorcisms. But gender hasn't been properly investigated by liturgical scholars, she said, "so our picture of the Church is incomplete." And since women are not allowed to be ordained, their work is not always visible to the public eye.

Today, women act as liturgical leaders, take responsibility for sacramental preparation and education, and administer the sacraments to the sick and dying when a priest is not available, said Dr. Ross. While these ways of serving the Church are allowed, she said, a woman still may not celebrate a Mass. "Why do we have to have Father to celebrate the Eucharist?" she questioned. "We can worship with each other but we need an outsider (a priest) to come in and make it valid."

Dr. Ross concluded, "We may not know the entire story of women's involvement, but it is there. Like the neglected hymn, we need to revisit this neglected history."

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan discusses Sept. 11 attacks, terrorists

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Speaking one year after the terrorist attacks, Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto told audience members on Sept. 30 that this is a "difficult and dangerous time" in our world's history - with the death of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl signifying the current political situation as a "no-rules" war. "This is not how I expected the new millennium to begin," she said.

Bhutto gave the fifth annual Jacoby-Lunin Humanitarian Lecture to a standing-room-only crowd in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The lecture was presented in affiliation with the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies.

Bhutto was the first female prime minister of Pakistan and of any Islamic nation, and served two non-consecutive terms. A mother of three and alumna of Radcliffe College and Oxford University, she has spent the past several years in self-imposed exile, living in London and Dubai, since her husband was jailed on corruption charges in 1996.

Regarding the Sept. 11 terrorists, Bhutto - who has had encounters with Islamic extremists - said that one must never give in to their ways or threats, "or let fear stand in the way of justice," she added. Bhutto said that the terrorists' greatest fear is the spread of information about social equality and democracy.

"The challenge for the 21st century is to help the Muslim people attain the rights enshrined - modernity, diversity, democracy," she said. "These are what the people want; it is what the terrorists oppose."

Sports

Sports Shorts

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Athletics welcomes two new coaches
The athletic department hired two coaches in October: Stacey McCue, head coach of women's lacrosse; and Bill Farley, head coach of the men's and women's swimming and diving teams. McCue comes to Fairfield after serving as an assistant lacrosse coach at the College of William and Mary and Lehigh University. She began her coaching career at Greenwich High School as head coach for the freshman girl's lacrosse team. Farley comes to Fairfield after coaching the Punahou Aquatics team in Honolulu. His experience includes positions as head coach at the University of Michigan and Princeton University. He also served as aquatics and gymnasium director at the International School in Manila.

Men's basketball to play exhibition games
The men's basketball team will play a pair of exhibition games at Alumni Hall this month against two former collegiate all-star teams. The games begin at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 and Nov. 15. The women's basketball team will not play any exhibition games this season. Both teams open their regular seasons on Nov. 22, with the women hosting Penn State at 7 p.m. and the men hosting Harvard at 9 p.m.

Athletes receive MAAC and Patriot League honors
Several Fairfield University athletes received honors during the month of October. Freshmen goalkeepers Steve Burns and Andrew Frankel each earned the MAAC Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week award. On the women's side, Katie Ely '06 and Lindsey Pulito '04 won MAAC Player of the Week honors in consecutive weeks.

In volleyball, Kristin Anderson '04 received the MAAC Player of the Week, while teammate Casey Machon '06 collected the MAAC Rookie of the Week award.

The field hockey team was just as decorated, with Kelly Rath '06 picking up Patriot League Rookie of the Week, and goaltender Lauren Thomas '04 taking the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week.

Lauren Thomas '04: positive impact

By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Lauren Thomas '04 is set on making a positive difference no matter where she goes.

As a goaltender on Fairfield University's field hockey team, Thomas is familiar with serving as a last line of defense. This past summer, however, she had an opportunity to be front and center. Serving as an intern in the office of U.S. congressman Paul Kanjorski, Thomas learned first-hand what it was like to play a part in bettering people's lives and preserving the community.

Passing up a chance to work in Kanjorski's Washington office in favor of working directly with her hometown district, Thomas contributed to local projects such as earth conservancy and flood relief. She also had a hand in turning an old mine into a park and collecting signatures to save a veteran's hospital, which was threatened with closure.

Since Kanjorski is a senior member of the Financial Services Committee, Thomas also got a first-hand perspective on the Enron case as it unfolded during the summer.

"We were able to see a lot of his speeches and the hearings," says Thomas. "It was interesting to hear his ideas and then help put them into action."

Her internship fortified her desire to serve humankind.

"My career goal is public service," Thomas says. "I really enjoyed helping people with their claims or problems."

Helping others comes as second nature to Thomas, as she has assisted the Fairfield University field hockey team for the last three seasons as the team's starting goaltender. She split time as a freshman, but still managed to get in nine games. She started every game the past two seasons, which has helped her place fourth all-time on Fairfield University's saves list (324).

"As a freshman, it was a lot of pressure for me to start," Thomas admits. "But, those starts helped bring me where I am today as a player."

Her play was certainly instrumental in last year's Patriot League championship and the team's first-ever trip to the NCAA tournament. Thomas earned her first collegiate shutout in the championship game, a 2-0 victory over Lafayette.

The win propelled the Stags into the NCAA tournament against national champion runner-up University of Maryland. Even though the team lost the game, Thomas says the program turned some heads with its performance.

"It was the best feeling to win a championship and play in the NCAA tournament," Thomas says. "I remember the compliments that their players paid us following the game."

Head Coach Jackie Leonard has done her best to bring the team to the national scene. This year, the Stags gained their first-ever mention in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll, receiving votes in mid-September. Thomas and her teammates will play four teams in the national poll this season.

"It's a great feeling to be recognized nationally," Thomas says. "People thought it was a fluke last year, but receiving votes this year proves that we are building this program. I would prefer playing a national-caliber schedule each year, rather than playing a schedule where we would not be challenged each and every game."

It's that love of a challenge that will make Thomas successful in her future pursuits. Upon her graduation, Thomas may go to law school, get involved with public service, or possibly run for public office. She hopes to get insight into the law profession with an internship this summer.

Whatever she decides, she's sure to make a positive impact.

Victor Leeber, S.J.: Athletic's M.V.P.

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Among students, colleagues, and alumni, he's known as a teacher, an advocate, an advisor, and a friend. Fairfield's "Father of Athletics," Victor F. Leeber, S.J., chaplain and retired professor of modern languages, departed for Weston, Mass. last month, after more than 50 years of service to the University.

When Fairfield first opened its doors in 1947, Fr. Leeber (who was then Mr. Leeber) was a member of its original faculty. A young scholastic assigned to teach Spanish, he was preparing for his final stages of Jesuit training, understanding what life as a Jesuit was all about.

Although he also taught Italian and French, decades of alumni remember Fr. Leeber as their Spanish teacher and as chairman of the Department of Modern Languages - a position he held for 26 years.

Founder of the first athletic program at Fairfield - cross-country - Fr. Leeber also established the programs for track, football, men's and women's swimming, and men's basketball.

He retired from teaching in 1992, but remained an active presence on campus by tutoring athletes in languages, serving as a chaplain to the teams, and always giving students a few moments of his time.

And he also managed to hang on to another favorite pastime: getting an early start to the day.

Around the St. Ignatius Jesuit residence, Fr. Leeber's 4 a.m. risings made a lasting impression on the residents. "He says that those are the quiet hours and the best time he can give to God," says his long-time friend and former colleague William Carr, S.J.

"He also used to say Mass at about 4:30 a.m.," says Richard Costello, S.J., although not many would match his enthusiasm for the early morning to join him.

"Of course he went to bed early, before most of us, at about 8 p.m.," continues Fr. Carr. The away games, which he always made a point to attend, however, would keep him out later than his scheduled bedtime. "He probably snoozed on those bus rides back to campus!" laughs Fr. Carr.

In addition to his early bird style, Fr. Leeber's devotion to his students is legendary. "He takes a real interest in their learning," remarks Fr. Costello. "He never took a sabbatical; he didn't want to be away from students for a long period of time."

And after 55 years, that's a lot of students.

"He loves to say, 'Oh, he's a trustee now? I had him in class,' " says Fr. Carr with a smile.

While Fr. Leeber loved working with all of his pupils, the student-athletes - never football or basketball "players" - have always held a special place in his heart. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992 as the Father of Athletics for his outstanding contributions to the athletic program.

Men's basketball coach Tim O'Toole, who knew Fr. Leeber first as teacher, and then as colleague, will never forget his Spanish lessons. As a colleague, O'Toole cherishes the conversations they shared on the bus rides back from the away games. "Fr. Leeber would talk about his family and what it was like to be the youngest of nine children," says O'Toole. "I believe that for him, students have become an extension of that family."

Eugene Doris, director of athletics, notes that student-athletes hold a high regard for Fr. Leeber. "He has a very unique, wonderful relationship with the students. He is always there to help, to listen, and to point them in the right direction. He cares for all of them very, very much."

Doris won't forget Fr. Leeber's eagerness to fill in for a colleague or help however needed. "He is there when someone needs assistance. He is a true man for all seasons, spiritually, academically, and personally," says Doris. "And he always has a positive outlook."

At his farewell reception held Oct. 24, Fr. Leeber recalled stories of some of his most memorable students and expressed his respect for Fairfield's athletes. From counseling individuals, to addressing the teams after the events of Sept. 11, Fr. Leeber said that for him, student-athletes always came first.

"My life has been my 55 years here, and they have all been very rewarding. That's why I'll miss Fairfield University," he told the crowd of friends, colleagues, and students. "You will always be in my prayers. I will bless you all for being so kind to me and I will certainly never forget it."

School of Engineering honors Richard Grossi
Dr. Evangelos Hadjimichael, dean of the School of Engineering, presented Richard Grossi with the School's Lifetime Achievement award last month. Grossi, who was honored for his outstanding drive and leadership throughout his career, is former chairman and chief executive officer of New Haven-based United Illuminating Co. and current chairman and president of Science Park Development Corporation.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

news Briefs

Dartmouth theologian to present Christopher F. Mooney, S.J., Lecture
Dartmouth College Professor Dr. Susannah Heschel, a noted scholar in Jewish studies, will present the ninth annual Christopher F. Mooney, S.J., Lecture in Theology, Religion, and Society on Thursday, Nov. 7. at 8 p.m. Her talk, "From Rabbi to Aryan: The Political Uses of Jesus in Jewish-Christian Dialogue," will take place in the Kelley Theatre at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

In her lecture, Dr. Heschel will discuss Jewish-Christian relations from the 19th century to the present and consider what the future may hold. She will also touch on her research on archival materials that she uncovered in the former East Germany.

Dr. Heschel holds the Eli Black Chair in Jewish Studies and is an associate professor in Dartmouth's department of religion.

The Christopher F. Mooney, S.J., Lecture is an annual event sponsored by the Office of the Academic Vice President and the Department of Religious Studies. This year it is co-sponsored by the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies. The lecture honors Fr. Mooney, a former Fairfield University academic vice president who died in 1993.

For more information, call the religious studies department at ext. 2130.

Expert in Middle Eastern history and politics to speak at Fairfield
Dr. Kenneth W. Stein, noted author and Emory University professor in Middle Eastern history and Israeli studies, will speak at the Charles F. Dolan School of Business on Monday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. Dr. Stein, who will visit Fairfield University as a Judaic studies scholar-in-residence, will deliver "American Interests and Foreign Policy Toward the Middle East: Past, Present and Future."

In addition to the public lecture, Dr. Stein will address students, faculty, and local clergy during his residency. This program is made possible through the generosity of David and Edith Chaifetz of Fairfield.

Dr. Stein is the William E. Schatten Professor of Contemporary Middle Eastern History and Israeli Studies at Emory University in Atlanta and was an advisor on Middle Eastern issues to former President Jimmy Carter for 20 years.

Dr. Stein's lecture is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested due to limited seating. To reserve and for more information, call the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies at ext. 2066.

Ismar Schorsch to deliver Bennett lecture on Nov. 12
Dr. Ismar Schorsch, noted Jewish scholar and chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, will deliver the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Lecture in Judaic Studies at 7 :30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Dr. Schorsch's talk, "The Future of American Judaism," will explore whether an open society is good for traditional religion.

Dr. Schorsch is the sixth chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary and its Rabbi Herman Abramovitz Professor of Jewish History. Founded in 1886, JTS is a Jewish university that serves as the spiritual and academic center of Conservative Judaism in the United States.

As the leader of JTS for the past 14 years, Dr. Schorsch has worked to convey his vision of Conservative Judaism as the most authentic contemporary expression of rabbinic Judaism.

The Bennett lecture series, created through a grant from the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Foundation, aims to improve relations between Catholics and Jews and the understanding of a common heritage. In 1993, the Bennett family created the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Chair in Judaic Studies, held by Dr. Ellen M. Umansky, which is the cornerstone of the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies at Fairfield University.

The lecture is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. For tickets, call the Quick Center box office at ext. 4010.

Arts programming receives two-year grant from EFA

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Fairfield University has been awarded $41,700 from the Educational Foundation of America. The two-year grant will fund diverse programming for the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts' popular ArtsBound and "Art to Heart" series, as well as several artist residency opportunities in local public schools.

ArtsBound programs serve students in grades K through 12 with its Schoolday Series. Through partnerships with approximately 60 area schools in economically disadvantaged regions, the Schoolday Series provides students the opportunity to experience live theatre and learn about a production through a collection of pre- and post-show activities.

The "Art to Heart" events include pre- and post-show lectures, discussions, and question-and-answer sessions with performers and/or directors.

New this year, the funding will also support several residencies in area schools during which artists and performers will work with students in the classroom. Upcoming "hands-on" residency activities include master classes with The St. Luke's Chamber Orchestra, a lesson in cultural and musical differences with tabla player Sandip Burman, and dance workshops with the Russian folk ensemble Rossijanochka.

Deborah Sommers, director of programming at the Quick Center for the Arts, is excited about the expansion of the already successful series. "This grant has enabled us to take this next step with the program," she says.

The Educational Foundation of America is a non-profit organization that works to improve the lives and environments of humanity through education and awareness. It has provided funding for several Fairfield University projects in recent years, including the School of Engineering's photovoltaic project, the School of Nursing's Health Promotion Center, the Adrienne Kirby Family Literacy Project, and Mathonline.

Tenor Ronan Tynan performs
Ronan Tynan of the Irish Tenors charmed a packed house with his vocal selections and personal stories at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts last month. Accompanied by pianist William Lewis and violinist James Graseck who also performed solo selections, he entertained audiences with an evening of music - from Finiculi, Fincula and Night and Day to Danny Boy and other Irish favorites. The concert was presented by The William and Mary Stack Fund for Irish History and Culture and benefitted the University's Irish Studies Program.

Photo by B.K. Angeletti

Folk legend Arlo Guthrie to sing at Quick Center for the Arts
Folk musician Arlo Guthrie will perform Saturday, Nov. 9, at 8 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

The son of folk icon Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie is a pioneer in his own right, stretching the limits of his musical talents from the Woodstock Festival to Boston's Symphony Hall, while passionately promoting interfaith community service, education, healthcare, and other endeavors through two not-for-profit organizations he founded.

His stature soared in 1967 with the release of Alice's Restaurant, which he debuted at the Newport Folk Festival. His other early hits include Coming in to Los Angeles and a rendition of Steve Goodman's City of New Orleans.

In recent years, Guthrie has released new music, but he has also remained true to his roots. In 1997, Rounder Records released a new version of Woody Guthrie's classic This Land is Your Land, pairing his voice with that of his late father. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award. He also released 32¢, a compilation of Woody Guthrie tunes, with special guests that included his own children, Abe, Cathy, Annie, and Sarah Lee Guthrie. Abe and Sarah Lee will be among the musicians backing their father at his Fairfield University performance.

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

Singer Kathy Mattea to perform at Quick Center for the Arts
Grammy-Award-winning singer-songwriter Kathy Mattea, who blends bluegrass, gospel, funk, folk, and Celtic sounds into her own singular style, will perform Friday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

Mattea is the sure spirit behind the Top 10 country singles 18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses, Goin' Gone, Come from the Heart, and many others. Her efforts have won her accolades, including two Grammys and Single of the Year, Song of the Year, and Female Vocalist of the Year awards from the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.

For tickets, call the Quick Center box office at ext. 4010.

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center to perform the first of three concerts
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will offer the first of three concerts this season at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m. Violinist Cho-Liang Lin, cellist Gary Hoffman, and pianist André-Michel Schub will perform the complete piano trios of Johannes Brahms. A pre-concert "Art to Heart" discussion with New York Times music critic Robert Sherman will take place from 7 p.m. to 7:40 p.m.

The evening's program will include Brahms' Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano in C minor, Op. 101; Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano in C major, Op. 87; and Trio No. 1 in B major for Violin, Cello, and Piano, Op. 8.

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

Dolan open house
Rita Duda, associate director of human resources, provided a guided tour of the new Office of Human Resources, which is now located in Dolan Commons. Evelyn Pond, secretary for the men's and women's basketball teams, and Alison Sexton, senior associate athletic director, were among the dozens of visitors who stopped in to see the renovated space on Oct. 3. Printing and Graphic Services, Computing and Network Services, and University College also invited the campus community to check out their locations.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

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