October 2005
Volume 14, Number 2
The official news publication of Fairfield University
Index for October 4, 2005
By Barbara Kiernan, Director of University Publications
The art of fundraising continues to serve Fairfield University well, as illustrated by the results of the Advancement Division's efforts in 2004-05. Overall giving to Fairfield rose 12.6 percent to $14.1 million and, most encouraging, gifts to the endowment rose 15 percent.
As important, the Annual Fund, which raises the "no strings attached" gifts that help underwrite day-to-day needs such as financial aid, campus upkeep, and the operating costs of new buildings, climbed 5.5 percent to $2,745,000 - exceeding its goal by almost $100,000.
Lest anyone think this is easy, think again. This "art" requires the ability to ask others for money. What animates that ability is a firm belief in the cause for which one is asking - in this case, the value of Jesuit education as it is offered at Fairfield University, and the ways it benefits students and ultimately the world. "The satisfaction comes in knowing that our work serves a great purpose," says George E. Diffley, vice president for advancement, whose division includes the offices of development (Annual Fund, planned giving, major gifts, corporate and foundation relations, development services, constituent relations), advancement research, special events, alumni relations, and public relations.
This greater purpose also motivates Fredric C. Wheeler, associate vice president for development, who has been at Fairfield since 1981. "The growth in our numbers is encouraging," he says, adding a cautionary note. "We have to realize, however, that these increases are a byproduct of the $138 million capital campaign that ended in June 2004, because donors were still paying off their pledges in 2004-05." Nonetheless, some 9,000 individual gifts were processed and more than 1,200 people (including 267 new members) joined the University's highest donor society, The President's Circle. The Fairfield Awards Dinner, which underwrites AHANA scholarships, raised a record-setting $636,000 in April.
In many ways, Fairfield University fundraising patterns mirror national trends in giving, which reveal decreases in donation levels since the 1990s, when a strong economy and rising stock market fueled greater giving. In the last four years, for example, the percentage of alumni giving has decreased each year, both nationally and at Fairfield. One reason has to do with the economy; a second has to do with the growing number of young (not-yet-career-established) and mobile alumni; a third has to do with increased numbers of charitable giving options. Nonetheless, Fairfield stands up well in that 24.5 percent of our undergraduate alumni made gifts in 2004-05.
"Most Annual Funds gifts are made from a person's income," says Wheeler, "so the decision to give often depends on what other bills need to be paid, including tuition and other family-related expenses." Because of rising housing costs, young alumni tend to have less disposable income than they had in the past, he says. They also move a lot, as the 11,500 address changes and updates processed on campus last year indicate.
To help offset some of these challenges, Fairfield's fundraisers have launched a number of initiatives in their striving to reach financial goals that benefit the University. These include big investments of time and energy in technology upgrades that will soon add to the development repertoire an alumni online community, e-newsletters, and reporting mechanisms that better track donor trends. "Basically we are positioning ourselves to reach out to our constituents in new ways and inspire them to be responsive to us," says Wheeler. "The technology initiative will also allow us to communicate with young alumni in a media they are most comfortable with."
Another initiative involves a closer alliance with the Academic Division through the assignment of development liaisons to the University's schools. They are working with the deans to launch or reconfigure advisory boards for the Schools of Nursing, Engineering, and Business as well as for the College of Arts and Sciences. Not only will board members assist in fundraising, but the schools will also be able to solicit their alumni for specific program needs. This change addresses a growing trend in philanthropy, in which the donor prefers to direct his or her gift to a specific project.
Faced with the twin challenges of alumni being more selective in the gifts they make and being harder to find in an age of increased mobility, the Advancement Division is positioning itself to respond to change, realizing that although it is committed to raising more money, it will likely come from fewer people.
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By Alejandra Nacarro, Publications Writer
For a second time, Fairfield University has received a four-star rating for its fiscal management - the highest possible score from the national evaluator of charitable organizations, Charity Navigator.
"It's very gratifying," says Fredric C. Wheeler, associate vice president for development. "I see some national institutions and some highly regarded institutions with a three-star rating. It does not diminish the universities that do not receive a four-star rating, but it's nice to be in the first rank."
Fairfield received its first four-star rating in 2002. Charity Navigator, an Internet-based, non-profit organization, bases its ratings on informational tax forms. It evaluates organizations in two broad categories: organizational efficiency, the ability to keep administrative costs within reasonable limits to devote most spending to programs and services; and organizational capacity, the ability to show consistent growth and maintain financial stability.
Fairfield University has a few things going for it that Wheeler believed contributed to its high ranking. First, it has continuity in its development staff. "Many staff members have been here for a number of years," Wheeler says. "They know the institution and the constituents, and they are very dedicated to the University." Further, Fairfield's fundraising success has been a group effort. "The Advancement and Finance divisions have a wonderfully collaborative relationship," he adds. "The importance of that can't be overstated. And as far as fundraising goes, the Advancement Committee of the Board of Trustees is very engaged and supportive of our efforts."
For more information on the ratings, visit www.charitynavigator.org
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Students participate in emergency response drill
About 30 nursing students participated in a mock emergency drill on the morning of Sept. 26, posing as injured victims following an "explosion" inside the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Complete with artificial smoke, a power outage, and "victims" splattered with fake blood, the Kelley Theatre was made to look like an actual crime scene. "Victims" were treated on-site, in the Quick Center parking lot, or transported via ambulance to Regis Hall, which served as a mock hospital.
The simulation was planned by local and regional emergency departments, including the University's Department of Public Safety, Fairfield fire and police departments, AMR Ambulance, the Fairfield County Hazardous Materials team, the state Department of Environmental Protection - and even the National Guard. While the campus and neighbors were informed about the drill, it was a surprise to most of the emergency personnel who responded.
Photos by Jean Santopatre
University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., has added four administrators, who have responsibility for key institutional areas, to his regular senior management discussions with the vice presidents and the Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., executive assistant. He announced the change in his September memo to the campus community.
The areas and appointed representatives are: Mission and Identity, the Rev. James Bowler, S.J., University facilitator for Jesuit and Catholic Mission and Identity; Athletics, Mark Reed, associate vice president and dean of students; Enrollment Management, Judy Dobai, associate academic vice president for enrollment management; and Public Relations, Martha Milcarek, assistant vice president for public relations. This is the first time in University history that women have been a part of these regular meetings.
"I felt the need to have the presence, input, and expertise of these individuals," says Fr. von Arx. "Obviously, two women added is a welcome consequence."
Says Dobai, "Many issues facing Fairfield involve multiple facets and often have implications for our mission, public relations, and enrollment work. While the senior team has always considered these implications, having specialists in the room can only enhance what we already do. I look forward to joining the team in advancing Fairfield and accomplishing the important work laid out in the strategic plan."
"I am pleased that Father has chosen to bring the public relations perspective to the discussion table," says Milcarek. "I think adding the administrators who have these key portfolios will enhance and inform the discussions at a critical point in Fairfield's growth and development."
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Students donate food and supplies for hurricane relief
On Sept. 14 and 19, Michael Barrett '07 (pictured right) was one of scores of students who donated food and toiletries for hurricane relief in New Orleans and Mississippi. Several Campus Ministry volunteers, including Nicole Barone '09 and Nancy Sica '09 (pictured left), helped pack vans heading down to the region.
Photo by Jean Santopatre
Strategic Plan review through Oct. 30
A draft of the University's strategic plan, Learning and Integrity: Fairfield University's Strategic Plan (Draft #6), is available for review. University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., invites the campus community to e-mail him comments and input by Oct. 30.
After Oct. 30, members of the Drafting Committee will review all submitted comments and produce the next draft, which will be forwarded to the Board of Trustees in December. Once it is approved, the divisions will develop implementation strategies, tactics, and financial plans.
In September, Dr. Jocelyn M. Boryczka, assistant professor of politics in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), received honorable mention from the Women and Politics section of the American Political Science Association for best dissertation. Her dissertation is titled "Guardians of Morality: A Conceptual History of Virtue in Relationship to Women and Moral and Political Discourse in American Democracy."
Dr. Javier Campos, associate professor of modern languages and literatures in CAS, published a testimony about Sept. 11 in the 2005 book, One Wound for Another/Una Herida por Otra: Testimonies de Latinos in the U.S. through Cyberspace, a joint publication of the National University of Mexico, Whittier College, and Colorado College. It documents the views, experiences, sensations, and emotions after Sept. 11 in the form of testimonies to be shared with Mexican and U.S. transnational audiences. He continues writing about socio-political and economic issues, culture, and literature in Latin America and Latinos in the United States, as a columnist for a Latin American newspaper, www.elmostrador.cl
Rev. Paul E. Carrier, S.J., University chaplain, was interviewed by Carol Costello on CNN Daybreak on Sept. 12. He discussed faith in times of tragedy and Hurricane Katrina being called "an act of God." "God does get bad press, I'm afraid," he said. "God stands not over and against people ... God is there to walk with people, to be with people, to empower people."
Dr. Arjun Chaudhuri, the Rev. Thomas R. Fitzgerald, S.J., Professor of Marketing in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business (DSB), co-authored the paper, "Is Brand Trust Important?," published in the Marketing Management Journal, spring 2005.
Director of Financial Aid Erin Chiaro was a guest on News 12 Connecticut's Education Notebook to discuss the financial aid process. The interview aired on Sept. 24 and 25.
Fred Cotter Jr. of the RecPlex is the Democratic-endorsed candidate for the Board of Education in Stratford.
Dr. Robbin Crabtree, professor and chair of the Communication Department, attended the month-long (June - July) Summer Institute for Women in Higher Education Administration, sponsored jointly by Bryn Mawr College and the Higher Education Resource Services Mid-America. "Programs such as this help women see themselves as leaders, and develop our potential to become leaders," she says. "One thing I learned was that 'you lead from where you are,' so regardless of what our position is at a university, we can and should be leaders."
Dr. Edward Deak, the Roger M. Lynch Professor of Economics in CAS, was quoted in the Connecticut Post on Aug. 22 in an article about increasing gas prices. Dr. Deak also commented in the Danbury News-Times about the increasing cost of oil for home heating. In a Sept. 12 article in the Fairfield County Business Journal, Dr. Deak doubted the likelihood of a recession following Hurricane Katrina. He discussed the topic again in the Fairfield County Business Journal in a Sept. 19 article.
Athletics Director Gene Doris spoke with the Connecticut Post for a Sept. 2 article about the beginning of basketball season.
On Aug. 12, the National Catholic Reporter ran a review of Passionate Spirituality: Hildegard of Bengen and Hadewijch of Brabant, a book by Dr. Elizabeth Dreyer, professor of religious studies in CAS.
Judy Dobai, associate vice president for enrollment management, talked to the New Haven Register for an Aug. 28 article about the factors admission officers look for in applicants.
The paper, "Externalities in International Trade: The Case for Differential Tariffs," co-authored by Dr. Dina Franceshi and Dr. Mark LeClair, associate professors of economics in CAS, has been accepted for publication in Ecological Economics.
News 12 Connecticut interviewed Dr. Donald Greenberg, associate professor of politics in CAS, on Sept. 2 for a Focus on Connecticut segment about the Patriot Act and the ACLU position.
The Tribune-Star of Terre Haute, Ind., interviewed Dr. Miriam Gogol, associate dean of CAS, for a Sept. 7 article about the literary and historical status of Theodore Dreiser. Dr. Gogol, founder of the International Dreiser Society, said that Dreiser was the first to introduce working-class characters into mainstream American fiction without condescension. He also provided feminist portrayals of working-class women, and his honesty is the source of his power that makes it possible for readers to understand the underlying desires that drive characters to crimes of passion.
Dr. Joy Gordon, associate professor of philosophy in CAS, was interviewed in August by National Public Radio's Marketplace, concerning the sanctions imposed in Zimbabwe. In September WNWS radio in Tennessee and KPFK radio in Los Angeles interviewed her on the Volcker Committee's report on the UN Oil for Food Program. Dr. Gordon was also featured with the Kiplinger Letter, discussing plans for UN reform, with the French newspaper, Politis, regarding the United States and the UN, and with Arab Today, a Jordanian newspaper, on U.S. views on global security and the situation in Iraq. In addition, she received a national award for investigative journalism from Project Censored for her article in the December 2004 issue of Harper's magazine, "The UN is Us," on the United States' responsibility for the improprieties with which the UN is charged.
Nancy Habetz, director of media relations, discussed the consistent number of international students on the Fairfield campus in a Sept. 11 article in the Stamford Advocate.
Dr. Alan Katz, professor of politics in CAS, discussed some of the events of World War II in an Aug. 6 Connecticut Post article marking the dates the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Mike Kreuzer, director of planned giving, was featured in The Daily Astorian of Oregon on July 20 for participating in a cross-country bike ride to raise money for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research.
Dr. Mark LeClair, associate professor of economics in CAS, wrote the paper "Currency Regimes and Currency Crises: What About Cocoa Money?" which has been accepted for publication by the Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions, and Money.
"The Philosophy of Richard Fishacre," a study by Dr. R. James Long, professor of philosophy in CAS, was recently published in Albertus Magnus und die Anfänge der Aristoteles-Rezeption im lateinischen Mittelalter von Richardus Rufus bis zu Franciscus de Mayronis (Albertus Magnus and the Beginnings of the Medieval Reception of Aristotle in the Latin West from Richard Rufus to Franciscus de Mayronis), Subsidia Albertina, vol. 1, ed. Ludger Honnefelder, et al.
Dr. John Orman, professor of politics in CAS, commented on President Bush's declining approval rating for a Sept. 1 article in the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill student newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel. In an Aug. 7 Connecticut Post article on a state legislator caught taking a bribe, Dr. Orman said, "After (former Gov. John G.) Rowland stepped down, it was touted as the beginning of a new era in our state political system. I guess a strong enough message hasn't been sent that you shouldn't have to pay to play." In a Sept. 13 article, Dr. Orman said President Bush will likely try to keep the inheritance tax cut, despite spending levels for the Iraq War and promising to respond to the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.
Karen Pellegrino, director of undergraduate admission, was quoted in a Greenwich Time article about the number of students willing to take Advanced Placement (AP) tests, despite the growing number of colleges reducing the amount of credit they give for a high score. Rather than looking at only the score, the department considers how many AP courses a student is taking, as well as what their grades are in them.
Risk & Insurance magazine quoted Mark Reed, associate vice president and dean of students, in an article that discussed the risks that drinking and mental-health issues present to institutions of higher education. He wrote in a letter to Class of 2009 students and their parents that although "appropriate parental involvement and support is essential to the success students will have, there is also the concern about parental involvement which absolves a student from accountability or responsibility for his or her actions or educational decisions." For Reed, the shifting of in loco parentis presents an opportunity for parents and students to discuss how to handle the transition to college, the "letting go" of one another. It's not necessarily a question of who shoulders the most risk, he said.
Dr. Gavriel D. Rosenfeld, associate professor of history in CAS, had his new book, The World Hitler Never Made: Alternate History and the Memory of Nazism, published by Cambridge University Press. He has received positive reviews from the Financial Times, Daily Telegraph, and Evening Standard in the UK, and praise in the United States in the New Leader. He was recently interviewed about his book on ABC Radio's affiliate, KGO AM Talk Radio.
Dr. António Simões, interim dean of the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, was featured in the Connecticut Post on Aug. 10 about his recent appointment.
Dr. Debra Strauss, visiting assistant professor of business law in DSB, presented "The International Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Importing Caution into the U.S. Food Supply" at the annual conference of the Academy of Legal Studies in Business in San Francisco on Aug. 5.
Brian Torff, associate professor of visual and performing arts in CAS, was featured in Westport Magazine's September issue about his work at Fairfield University. In September, he played at the Knickerbocker Jazz Club in New York City with Bucky Pizzarelli and Russ Kassoff, was featured with his own quartet at Silvermine Tavern, and performed in Sutter Creek, Calif., and the Napa Valley Opera House with jazz violinist Randy Sabien.
In the Aug. 18 Connecticut Post, Dr. Ellen Umansky, Carl and Dorothy Bennett Professor of Judaic Studies, talked about the Israeli evacuation of Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip and her fear that the evacuation may extend to the West Bank. "For me, as someone who really loves the stories of both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, it's sad to think of never going to these places again," she said, adding that she hopes the move leads to peace.
In a Sept. 1 Connecticut Post article on the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Edna Wilson, dean of University College, said, "University College can provide courses and help students in the process of determining which classes they can transfer for credit at their home institutions." She also discussed Fairfield's efforts to help college students displaced by Hurricane Katrina in the Stamford Advocate on Sept. 2, the Fairfield Minuteman on Sept 8, and on Mary Jones' Stamford Advocate on Sept. 20. The radio program is carried on four AM stations throughout Connecticut, including WDRC-1360, WMMW-1470, WWCO-1240, and WSNG-610. Fairfield is hosting 56 students displaced by the storm.
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5 years
Stephen Dailey
Linda Mille
David Ryan-Soderlund
10 years
Steven Bayne
Joseph Cron
Alan Dubrow
Christine Earls
Rosemarie Gorman
Susan Haggstrom
Mary Kleps
Eileen O'Shea
Angela Tauro
15 years
Betsy-Anne Entwisle
Richard McCarthy
20 years
Sharon DiVincenzo
Sandra McEachen
Joan Patrick
30 years
Delia Chervansky
Condolences
John Quell, husband of Dr. Theresa Quell, assistant dean of the School of Nursing and father of Katie Quell '05 and John Quell '09, died Sept. 1.
Thomas Gracey, father-in-law of Erin Chiaro, director of financial aid, died Sept. 13.
Philomena LoCascio, grandmother of Colleen McGinn, assistant director of alumni relations, died Sept. 21.
Jerome E. Pinckney, father of Clare Kirk, Computing and Network Services, died Sept. 26.
New Employees
Carolyn Arnold - Administrative Coordinator, Center for Faith & Public Life
Richard Brelsford - Assistant Cross Country Coach, Athletics
Richard Cercone - Assistant Athletic Trainer, Sports Medicine
James Kinsella - HVAC Facilities Mechanic, Energy Services
Alexandra Richardson - Operations Assistant II, Student Support Services
Thomas Schneider, S.J. - Associate University Facilitator, Jesuit, Mission and Identity
Beau Stengel - Operations Assistant II, Student Support Services
Jimmy Sullivan - Groundskeeper II, Maintenance
Joann DeMaso - Circulation-Media, Library
Abubaker Bin Ali Kaldi - Assistant Receptionist, Rec-Plex
Mary Faith Sinnott - Circulation-Media, Library
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Lt. Conley gives flag to University
In September, Lt. Col. Christopher Conley presented Fairfield University and President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., with the American flag that flew over his camp outside of Kabul, Afghanistan. Lt. Conley's daughter, Mikaela '06, and her friend, Aamina Awan '07, teamed up with Students for Social Justice last spring to raise $3,000 for a well for villagers northwest of Kabul City. Pictured above (l-r) are Mikaela Conley, Lt. Conley, Carol Costello of CNN, who interviewed the students on-air in June, Fr. von Arx, Aamina Awan, and Awan's parents, Dr. Mahmud and Roohi Awan.
Patterns of emotional abuse: From secrecy to shame
By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor
With October designated as domestic violence awareness month, there is currently a public service announcement on the radio that describes a mother worrying about her teenage daughter. The mother notices that her daughter has dropped activities, regularly cancels plans with friends, and has trouble keeping up her grades. As it turns out, her daughter doesn't have a drug problem; rather, it's her boyfriend. He's verbally abusive.
Verbal, psychological, and emotional abuse can be overt or covert, says Dr. Ingeborg Haug, an associate professor of marriage and family therapy in the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions (GSEAP) and an ordained minister. Overt verbal abuse, such as an angry outburst, she says, is easier to catch. "A friend might ask, 'How can you let him or her speak to you that way?' This confirms the person's experience of being verbally assaulted, and it is easier to extricate from this form of abuse," she says. Covert abuse, however, occurs in private and breeds in secrecy. In either case, the receiver of the abuse - usually a women - is confused, unable to name and identify what is happening in this supposedly intimate relationship, and so mortified to talk about it, she keeps quiet.
 In her 30 years of counseling young women and couples caught in difficult relationships, Dr. Haug has seen the devastation that such intangible abuse can have on someone's self-esteem. Using sarcasm, jokes, disrespect, and anger, the perpetrator intends to control the other person, creating confusion and, paradoxically, dependence.
Further, subtle patterns of emotional abuse include showing disinterest in the other person's interests, repeatedly breaking promises and inventing elaborate excuses, making the partner the butt of jokes, as well as isolating and blaming the partner. Perpetrators thrive on power gleaned from intimidation and tend to accuse their partners of "making them" act in abusive ways. Because women are still socialized to feel responsible for other's feelings and to question themselves, those accusations create insecurity and confusion, says Dr. Haug. An abused woman might ask herself, "Maybe I did provoke him; maybe it is my fault. How can I show him that I really love him?" "This often results in the woman feeling shame for being nagging and controlling, or whatever the accusations might be, doubling her efforts to appease her partner, and making herself more dependent on the relationship for recognition and care," she says.
The key to distinguishing abuse from a one-time emotional outburst is in recognizing a pattern of disrespectful behaviors. "When the nastiness is sporadic, it is much harder to discover," says Dr. Haug. "It is then experienced as coming out of the blue, totally unexpected, and often at times of closeness. This is extremely confusing to the victim - and the abuse is difficult to name and address. The relationship is a constant emotional yo-yo of highs and lows that feels very unsafe for the abused partner."
Dr. Haug says it's the responsibility of a good friend to find help for someone suspected of being abused. "Encourage that person to talk to others. Tell your friend, 'Don't let yourself be treated like this.' Address the reality which the victim may not be able to see anymore, and lend support. It's also important that friends of abusers are gutsy enough to confront and challenge abusive behaviors. This is a tall order since our socialization as males and females tends to privilege male aggression and female self-effacing."
Dr. Haug holds degrees and training in education, theology, and family therapy. "I have always had a deep interest in human relationships, and in what makes people 'tick,'" she says. Dr. Haug moved to the United States in 1970 where she received training in marriage and family therapy as well as a D. Min. from Andover Newton School of Theology, Department of Psychology and Clinical Studies. Prior to joining Fairfield's faculty in 1994, she had an active career as a clinician, a consultant to schools and various organizations, and as an adjunct professor. She has achieved a national and international reputation as a leader in her field, having served in various leadership positions on the national level within her professional association.
Dr. Haug has taught internationally in various corners of the globe, and has served as a consultant to the emerging professional training of marriage and family therapists in Quito, Ecuador. She holds an honorary visiting professor position at Salesian University in Quito.
Photo illustration by Jean Santopatre
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By Nina M. Riccio, Publications writer
Fairfield welcomes several new tenure-track faculty members this year. In random order, Campus Currents will introduce them to the University community throughout the fall.
Steven Bayne
Dr. Steven Bayne, a visiting professor of philosophy since 2002 and an adjunct since 1994, joins the College of Arts and Sciences as an assistant professor this fall.
Dr. Bayne's areas of specialization include modern philosophy, Kant, and epistemology. He earned his master's and doctoral degrees in philosophy at The Ohio State University, teaching there and at Medgar Evers College of The City University of New York before coming to Fairfield University.
This month, Dr. Bayne is presenting a talk in Brazil at the 10th International Kant Congress. His book, Kant on Causation: On the Fivefold Routes to the Principles of Causation, was published in 2004. In the spring, Dr. Bayne will team with Dr. William Abbott, associate professor of history, to teach the cluster course Knowledge, Politics, Morality, and the British Empire.
Carol Fackler
After working for many years in Boston as an emergency nurse, Carol Fackler moved to Connecticut in 2003 to begin her doctor of nursing science degree in health policy at Yale University. She has been an adjunct in the School of Nursing for two years, teaching medical/surgical nursing and healthcare delivery systems.
Professor Fackler received her BSN from the University of Rhode Island and her M.S. from the School of Nursing at UMass/Boston, where she later taught. She worked as a clinical nurse and manager in the Emergency Department of Boston Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center. In 1989, she was nominated for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for Outstanding Achievement in Emergency Medical Services. Professor Fackler has written for Emergency Nursing Core Curriculum, 4th edition (C.V. Mosby) and CEN Review Manual, 2nd edition (Emergency Nurses Association).
Sally Gerard
Sally Gerard comes to Fairfield University from Stamford Hospital, where she was a critical care nurse and the coordinator of nursing education. She specialized in acute care education, with a focus on diabetes education. Prior to that, she was a diabetes educator at St. Vincent's Medical Center from 1999 to 2003. She has lectured extensively at various hospitals and in the community on issues surrounding diabetes.
Professor Gerard has been an adjunct in the SON for three years and this year joins the staff full time. She received her BSN at Pace University and her M.S. from the College of New Rochelle. Currently, she is enrolled in a clinical doctorate program through Case Western University, where she is concentrating on educational leadership. Her research focus is on diabetes education. For the past five years, Professor Gerard has been a mentor to a young girl in foster care.
Eric Mielants
Dr. Eric Mielants has joined the Sociology Department in the College of Arts and Sciences, coming from the University of Utah, where he has taught since 2003. As an assistant professor, he will be teaching Introduction to Sociology, Sociological Theory, and Contemporary Global Issues.
A native of Belgium, Dr. Mielants earned his undergraduate and master's degrees in history from the University of Ghent. In 2002, he received his Ph.D. in sociology at the State University of New York at Binghamton. His dissertation, "The Origins of Capitalism and the Rise of the West Revisited," has been turned into a book and is under review for publication.
Migration, racism, and social change are regular themes in Dr. Mielant's work; his most recent grants have funded research on migration and globalization. He received post-doctoral fellowships from the Maison des Sciences de l'Homme in 2004 and 2005 for research on comparative migration issues. His most recent article, "The Origins of European Hegemony: the Political Economy of South Asia and Europe Compared," was published in The Historical Evolution of World Systems (Palgrave Macmillan, 2005).
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By Alejandra Navarro, Publications writer
There is a sad similarity between the people languishing on death row and the people who were left stranded for days in the Superdome, on rooftops, and on bridges in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, said Helen Prejean, C.S.J., at the fall Convocation on Sept. 9. Most of the people left behind were poor and African American - much like the people she encountered while living in a New Orleans housing project before she wrote Dead Man Walking.
 "The way that we fail to love is ... not that we hate someone; it is that we ignore them," said Sr. Prejean who, until Hurricane Katrina hit, was a New Orleans resident. "In the evacuation plan of New Orleans, the poor were simply ignored."
Looking out at the members of the Class of 2009 seated on Bellarmine Lawn, she impressed upon them the quality of the education they will receive at Fairfield, and the responsibility they have to make sure that no person is left behind or ignored. "You have been given so much because so much will be asked of you."
Also during the Convocation, University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., welcomed the new class, and students were given a bookmark with thoughts from Fr. von Arx and a pen from the Jesuit community inscribed, "We're with you for life." Fr. von Arx extended a special greeting to the 56 students whose Gulf Coast colleges have closed for the semester and announced the collection of $3,000 from a Sept. 4 Mass, which was contributed to Catholic Charities, USA, in honor of Sr. Prejean and her work.
During the summer, first-year students read Dead Man Walking and participated in discussions on the death penalty, a conversation that began in the spring when Sr. Prejean delivered the Ignatian Residential College Lecture.
In her Convocation address, Sr. Prejean discussed her newest book, Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions, which tells the story of two men she accompanied to their executions, both of whom she believes were innocent. She explained that even as an English major, she never intended to be a writer, but she had a story that needed to be told. It is no coincidence that the state of Louisiana has the highest number of misery statistics (poverty rate, adult illiteracy, inadequate healthcare, to name a few), and yet spends a bulk of its budget on incarcerating people and using the death penalty more often than other states, she said. The solution for so many is simply to criminalize an act, like abortion. To be "pro-life," Sr. Prejean said, is to care for everyone: young and old, rich and poor.
"You want to be pro-life?," she asked the students. "It means you take this good Jesuit education and you pour it into the world and make a difference."
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University's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa celebrates 10th anniversary
Photo by Jim Scholl
Phi Beta Kappa alumni Ryan Farias '05, Tim Eberle '05, and Kristy Farrell '05 were among the performers as Fairfield University's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa (Zeta of Connecticut) celebrated its 10th anniversary on Sept. 10. The day featured an address by University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., himself a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Princeton, as well as a panel of alumni Phi Beta Kappa members.
When granted its chapter in 1995, Fairfield University became the youngest institution ever to earn this distinction.
By Nina M. Riccio, Publications writer
It's only a few weeks into the academic year, but already Campion Hall's new math and science floor for freshmen women looks like a formula for success.
"It's good to be living around people with the same interests," says chemistry major Mayrenid Mejia '09, who notes she's already found the camaraderie helpful when it comes to doing homework. "There's always someone you can ask if you get stuck, and everyone knows what you're going through."
Her floor mate, Anne Sawicki '09, agrees. "When I filled out the roommate survey, I figured it would be easier to be with people in roughly the same field as I am," says the nursing major. "One girl is in my math class, and we go back and forth when one of us has a question."
That's exactly what Dr. Timothy Law Snyder, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, had in mind when the floor was in the planning stages. "Studies show that students typically do better when studying in groups. Ironically, women in science tend to study in isolation, so we're doing our best to try to fix that," he says. There are fewer women in math and sciences at every step in the pipeline, he adds, noting that because there are fewer women in the field, "there are fewer role models and leaders" who can then mentor or be examples for younger women, and the cycle continues. "Basically, we're responding to research that's come out about women in the sciences, and we're trying to fix our segment of the pipeline."
Recently, Dr. Snyder and Dr. Shelley Phelan, associate professor of biology, held an introductory meeting with the 29 students on the floor to talk about the type of programming they want. "The girls are so enthusiastic!" says Resident Assistant Nicklaine Paul '06, a nursing major. "We're trying to get a speaker in every month, maybe an alumna who's working in an appropriate field. We've grouped students so that we know which ones have overlapping classes, and we plan to use Tutoring Services before big tests. And we've talked about taking local trips to the Maritime Center or the shore or to a pharmaceutical company." Equally exciting is an opportunity that materialized unexpectedly. "The grant manager for the Bridgeport school district read about our floor in the Connecticut Post," she says. "She has 30 seventh graders interested in math and sciences, and contacted us to see if we'd be interested in being mentors." Paul adds that the freshmen embraced the idea and are already talking about projects to do with the younger students.
If the best measure of a good thing is the will to continue, the floor is a hit: Students have already asked Dr. Snyder if there is a possibility of extending it through their senior year, so that they can continue with the community they have created.
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Each fall, influenza makes news headlines. Flu shots are typically given from October through December, so the topic is very timely. So far this year, the supply and distribution of the vaccine appears to be sufficient to address the needs of the U.S. population.
The influenza virus not only infects people, but birds and pigs as well. In fact, the latter two sources are believed to be the biological pools from which the virus emerges to infect humans. The world experienced the effects of swine flu in the epidemic of 1976. Some of us remember how ineffective the vaccine was in preventing the spread of this disease in our country. Previously, the country experienced the devastating "Spanish Flu" epidemic of 1918. It is now believed that this misnamed pandemic actually began in the United States, spreading from chickens in the Midwest to Army recruits who then dispersed throughout the country and Europe during World War I. These are just two well-researched examples of influenza jumping from animals and birds to humans in relatively recent history.
Now more than ever, there is great potential for new variations of the influenza virus to affect the world's human population. Recent experience with SARS and bird flu epidemics in Asia indicate that the risk to humans of another very virulent strain of the flu is real. It is estimated that, between the dramatic increase in the world's population and the disparity in levels of health care access in the world, millions of people would die if a flu pandemic that is as virulent as the 1918 epidemic were to occur today. In September, PBS's Wide Angle discussed the H5N1 bird flu virus that has killed nearly 60 people in Asia. (A summary of that program is available at www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/ )
The current flu shot is formulated to protect us from known and expected variations in the influenza virus. If there is a flu pandemic, however, you may need to use additional measures of protection. Older adults should consider getting the pneumonia vaccination. Most people who die in an influenza outbreak do not die from the flu. Rather, they die principally of pneumonia and other respiratory complications.
If you do get the flu, even if you received the flu vaccine, you should closely monitor your breathing ability and report any secretions that are not clear or white to your primary care provider immediately. This is especially important if you have known lung problems, such as asthma or COPD, or if you are a smoker. If you smoke, stopping is the most important step you can take to reduce the risk of infection from the flu.
Local health departments are an excellent source of information on influenza. They hold flu clinics and can provide the pneumonia vaccination as well. You can also receive these injections from your own primary care provider.
It is vitally important that every adult receive the flu injection - now, more than ever!
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Philip A. Greiner, DNSc, RN
Associate Professor of Nursing; Director, Undergraduate Program; Director, Health Promotion Center |
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Orientation introduces freshmen to library services
Linda Gustavson (pictured right), acquisitions assistant, greeted freshmen Beth Masterson and Rachel Breger at the front door of the DiMenna-Nyselius Library on Sept. 6, when the staff hosted its orientation to library services for the incoming class. Info sessions included how to use the reference desk, how to get started on a project, and how to access resources. Also featured were raffles and giveaways, along with a free viewing of the 1985 classic, Back to the Future. In keeping with the theme of the event - "Discover Your Future @ Your Library" - Roxann Riskin, computer technician, parked her DeLorean on the library's front steps. Photo by Jean Santopatre
By Nina M. Riccio, Publications writer
On Sept. 28, writer, educator, and social commentator Leonard Fein delivered the eighth annual Jacoby-Lunin lecture at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The lecture, "Scandals, Values, and the Pursuit of Justice," was sponsored by Open VISIONS Forum and the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies.
 Leonard Fein is the dean of American Jewish thought, said Dr. Philip Eliasoph, director of the Open VISIONS program. Dr. Fein founded Moment magazine, America's leading independent magazine of Jewish affairs, and served as its as editor and publisher until 1987, two years after he founded another seminal Jewish organization, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, MAZON is widely recognized as the American Jewish community's leading vehicle in the campaign against world hunger and has given upwards of $35 million towards alleviating hunger.
"Hunger in America is less a tragedy than a scandal," Dr. Fein said, referring to the lecture's title. In America, "there is no drought. We have an adequate food supply. The failure to see that everyone gets enough food is a political problem." Too few of the people who so generously write checks to MAZON, he continued, stop and ask the question, 'But why is there hunger?'
"The income gap in our country is greater than at any point in our history, and is greater than in any other industrialized country save Israel," he said, noting that 6,000 new millionaires were created in Israel last year, a fact that stirred discussion on values in that country for weeks since 25 percent of the population lives below the poverty line.
The audience broke into spontaneous applause when Dr. Fein called himself a strict constructionist and said, "I believe deeply in the absolute separation of church and state." Because of this separation, he continued, "Americans are by far the most religious of all industrialized states. The moment politics and the church intermingle, both are corrupted."
Dr. Fein has written more than 800 articles and essays appearing in such publications asThe New York Times, The New Republic, The Nation, The Los Angeles Times, Commonweal, and Commentary. He is also the author of several acclaimed books, including his most recent,Against the Dying of the Light: A Parent's Story of Love, Loss and Hope, a brutally honest look at the death of his 30-year-old daughter, Nomi.
Dr. Fein has taught at political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and at Brandeis, where he was professor of politics and social policy and, for six years, the Klutznick Professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies. He served as director of the Commission on Social Action of the Reform Jewish movement, and founded the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy. Dr. Fein has received many honors for his work, including an honorary doctorate from Hebrew Union College.
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Geoff Middleton '08: Playing in China
By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information
Every semester, thousands of U.S. college students learn about ancient Chinese history through textbooks and videos. Geoff Middleton, a sophomore on the men's basketball team, got to see China's incredible history first-hand when he traveled with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) All-Stars for a two-week tour of China.
"I really enjoyed traveling through the country," Middleton says. "It was a new experience to see how people lived on the other side of the world."
The tour included seven games played nationwide against a Chinese college all-star team, a junior national team, and the Chinese Soldiers' Team. While the team posted a perfect 7-0 record during the tour, the roster of 13 players and two coaches received much more: a history lesson.
The first stop was the Shaolin Monastery, followed by a tour of the Hunan Province on the next day. The team also traveled to Xi'an for a tour of the Qin Terra-Cotta Warriors. The final leg sent the student-athletes to Beijing for a tour of Tiananmen Square and The Forbidden City, which housed the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The tour also stopped at the Great Wall of China, which stretches more than 4,000 miles and has a history of more than 2,000 years.
"The Forbidden City was awesome," Middleton says. "It was remarkable to see it. There were so many people there. It took us hours to climb all the steps of the Great Wall."
The team also enjoyed their stay on the basketball court, starting with its first game against the Chinese College all-stars. The MAAC team posted a 106-78 win that night, with Middleton scoring a pair of field goals for four points in the contest.
"I played my best game in the opener," Middleton says. "I scored some points, but I had a lot of rebounds. I did a lot of other things that helped the team win. That was the most important thing to me, helping the team win each night."
The team boarded a plane the next day for Zhengzhou, the site of a game against the China Junior National Team. Middleton tallied a pair of points in the 94-84 victory.
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| Geoff Middleton '08 (#35, pictured second from left), traveled to China with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for a two-week tour and game schedule. Pictured above is game 3 against the Shanghai Sharks in Louhe on July 21. |
Game three sent the MAAC All-Stars to Luohe for the first of a two-game series with the Shanghai Sharks, the former team of the NBA's Yao Ming. The squad swept their hosts with 108-94 and 86-75 decisions. Middleton saw action in the second game, scoring two points and grabbing several rebounds.
"My favorite part of the trip was going to Shanghai," Middleton says. "There were so many things to see and to do."
The all-stars finished their schedule with three games against the Chinese Soldiers' Team. The opening game went to the visitors by a 100-92 count in Xi'an, as Middleton collected two points in the outing. In Yangcheng the team posted a 104-65 decision over the Soldiers, its largest margin of victory. Middleton picked up two points, but made a real impact on the boards.
Following the off-day sightseeing, Middleton and his teammates capped their tour with another win, a 115-83 decision over the Soldiers that gave the all-stars an unblemished record. The forward tied his tour-high scoring total with four points in the finale.
"It was exciting to play in front of seven sold-out crowds," Middleton says. "They were so enthusiastic about the games. We played in arenas like the Arena at Harbor Yard, and played in some that were bigger. But no matter where we played, the crowds were great."
The crowds must have enjoyed watching two styles of basketball come together each night. While the MAAC All-Stars played their brand of ball, the Chinese teams played a more reserved style.
"I guess you could say they play a very fundamental style of basketball," says Middleton. "I compare it to the way they play in Europe. It was interesting for me to play against that style."
And it was something he couldn't have learned in a classroom textbook.
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Sports Shorts
By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information
Basketball season to begin Nov. 19 and 21
With the release of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) games by the conference office last month, the Fairfield University men's basketball team was one step closer to starting the season. The Stags will play 12 home games during the 2005-06 season, and will travel for 15 contests. The 2006 MAAC tournament will take place March 3 through 6 in Albany, N.Y. The Stags' non-conference slate this year includes teams from the Atlantic 10, Big East, Big Ten, and Big West. Fairfield opens its non-conference home schedule by playing St. Joseph's University on Nov. 21, followed by Providence College on Nov. 28. The women's basketball schedule features four postseason teams, including three squads that played in last year's NCAA tournament. Fairfield hosts 12 games at the Arena, which includes teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference, America East, Big East, and the Ivy League. The Stags start their season at home against Brown on Nov. 19.
For complete schedule information, visit www.fairfieldstags.com . For season ticket information for both the men's and women's programs, call the athletic ticket office at ext. 4103.
Soccer goalkeeper earns MAAC honors
For three weeks in a row in September, goalkeeper Andrew Frankel '06 earned the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week, leading the men's soccer team to a 1-1 record at the Holiday Inn Express Invitational, hosted by Stony Brook University. Frankel began by making a pair of saves in a 1-0 win over Columbia University, his first shutout of the season, and followed up with seven saves in a 1-0 loss to Lafayette College in the second round of the tournament. Through the first six games this season, the goalkeeper did not allow more than one goal in any one game.
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Carrier Corporation awards $90,000 grant for greenhouse upgrade
When students in Dr. Raymond Poincelot's biology classes conducted experiments on plants in the University greenhouse, they could never be sure if their outcomes were the result of the experiment itself, or the wildly fluctuating environment in which they were working.
Like most college greenhouses, the one at Fairfield relied on fans to cool the atmosphere when temperatures got too high. Zinc oxide shading compound had to be sprayed on the outside glass to prevent plants from being burned by the hot summer sun. That's now going to change, thanks to a generous grant from United Technologies Corporation's Carrier Corporation.
Fairfield University will receive $90,000 over three years, subject to renewal each year, to help renovate and enhance the greenhouse located on the top floor of its Rudolph F. Bannow Science Center. Much of the funds will be spent to purchase equipment that will control the temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors to within a few degrees, enabling students and faculty to conduct higher level experiments than were previously possible. New equipment and upgrades include vents, flooring, heating, humidification, shading, and air conditioning.
Once the work is completed, professors in the Biology Department will also be able to hold classes in the greenhouse.
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Student sketch chosen for Manhattan façade
The challenge to the Fairfield University Interior Design class was to create a sketch for the outside façade of a brand-new building that was to be erected on West 122nd Street in Manhattan. The aim would be to make the structure unique, but in keeping with the classic Harlem neighborhood, which is home to the famous Madam Walker House. The lure was that this wasn't just a theoretical class project: Rob Hardy, coordinator for the University College Interior Design Certificate Program at Fairfield, was a friend of the owners, and if they liked one of his student's submissions, they might just use it.
"There was one that we really liked," says Greenwich resident Jacques Guillet, who owns the building with his wife, Claudia Weldon. "It inspired." They had been charmed by a sketch created by Ginny Moffitt, one of Hardy's star pupils. Fairfield University presented Moffitt with an outstanding academic achievement award in interior design in May.
The couple made some alterations to Moffitt's original and adopted the plan for the façade of the seven-story structure, which houses five condominiums. They broke ground in the spring of 2004 and will move in this fall.
Moffitt had submitted a Federal style façade for the new building that would look current and use modern materials, but recall classical architectural style. The red brick exterior design features symmetrical divided light windows with white muntins and dentil molding. A transom frames the top two windows, while black wrought iron railings with intricate orioles case the entrance.
Moffitt plans to consult as an interior designer when she completes the Fairfield University certificate program. She is currently the director of sales and marketing for Southport Green, a complex of office and residential space, where she has also put her skills to practical use, designing and outfitting the firm's sales center. Moffitt has also provided input on the interior layout of the condo units.
Alternative investment panel to feature industry experts
The Charles F. Dolan School of Business will host an array of experts in the field of investments for a panel discussion of "The Changing Landscape of the Alternative Investment World," one of the most timely topics in finance today.
The event, which will take place on Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, will feature Arthur Samberg, chairman of Pequot Capital Management Inc.; Mario J. Gabelli, chairman and CEO of Gabelli Asset Management (GAM); Sandra Manzke, chairman and CEO of Maxam Capital; John H. Myers, president and CEO of General Electric Asset Management Inc.; and Dr. Gregory D. Koutmos, the Gerald M. Levin Professor of Finance at the Dolan School of Business.
"If you have an interest in what the future holds in the area of alternative investments (hedge funds) this will be the event of the year," says Dr. Norman Solomon, dean of the Dolan School.
Admission is complimentary for Fairfield University students and faculty. For tickets, call the Box Office at ext. 4010.
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Dr. Elizabeth Dreyer to deliver O'Callaghan Lecture Oct. 5
Dr. Elizabeth Dreyer, professor of religious studies, will deliver the fifth annual Anne Drummey O'Callaghan lecture on Women in the Church on Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. The lecture, "Medieval Women Mystics: Weird or Wonderful?," will take place in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.
Dr. Dreyer believes there are signs of a renewed interest in the religious history of Christian women all around us. "Books about once obscure medieval figures are snapped up by growing numbers of spiritual seekers who wish to recover neglected female role models," she says, noting many women of the time wrote of their relationship with God in gripping and imaginative form. Challenging us to wake up from ignorance, indifference, and apathy, these women witness the intense love of God, brutal honesty about their struggles and doubts, and speak in courageous prophetic voices, she says. "They are weird, but they also provide welcome female companionship on the journey toward love of God and neighbor."
Dr. Dreyer is currently working on her eighth book, about the recovery of medieval language and imagery related to the Holy Spirit. In 2004, she received the Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal from Mt. St. Joseph College in Cincinnati for her outstanding contributions to Catholic theology in the United States.
The annual O'Callaghan Lecture honors the memory of Anne Drummey O'Callaghan, an advocate for persons with mental disabilities and a youth minister and catechist at St. Jerome and St. Joseph churches in Norwalk, Conn. Admission is free. For more information, call the Box Office at ext. 4010.
The Live Music Project presents "The Devil and the Violin" Oct. 7
The Live Music Project, an audience-friendly, conductor-less ensemble in residency at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, considers an age-old musical connection in "The Devil and the Violin" on Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. at the Quick Center. The concert is the first of four, including a family event, that the ensemble will play this season.
For hundreds of years, the connection between the devil and the violin has spawned both music and folklore, forever linking the two. Many stories have re-told the "crossroads legend," in which a violinist meets the devil along the roadside and sells his soul in exchange for peerless musical ability.
For tickets, call the Box Office at ext. 4010.
One-woman-show Van Gogh and Jo comes to Fairfield University
Van Gogh and Jo, a one-woman show considering the relationship between Vincent van Gogh and his sister-in-law, Johanna, comes to the Thomas A. Walsh Art Gallery Oct. 19 at 6 p.m.
The 50-minute performance draws on some of the most eloquent letters shared between van Gogh, his brother and best friend, Theo, and his sister-in-law, whom many credit with revealing the master artist to the world. It features reproductions of paintings related to the story and is followed by a Q&A session.
Norwalk actress and writer Muriel Nussbaum said she conceived the performance because she wanted more people to understand Johanna van Gogh's crucial role in the artist's life and legacy. Most art lovers know van Gogh had a close relationship with his brother, Theo, but few even know Theo's wife existed.
Born Johanna Bonger in 1862, Johanna was a good student and spent time as an English teacher in girls' schools. In 1889, she married Theo van Gogh, a friend of her brother. The marriage was tragically short: Theo died just six months after his brother's suicide in 1890, leaving Johanna with a young son.
Johanna had little money and took in boarders to pay for the necessities. But she did have Vincent's paintings and an unwavering belief in their worth. When she wasn't doing housework and caring for her son, the young widow spent most of her time convincing other artists and gallery owners to view and exhibit van Gogh's works. By 1892, her diary entries show she was succeeding in her mission.
Later in her life, Johanna took on the arduous task of cataloging and translating van Gogh's famous letters, many of which bore no date. At the time of her death in 1925, she had translated 526 into English.
For tickets, call Box Office at ext. 4010.
Dave Samuels and The Caribbean Jazz Project to perform Oct. 21
 Top jazz mallet player Dave Samuels and The Caribbean Jazz Project bring their Grammy-winning virtuosity and improvisation to the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. Multiple Grammy-winning tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano will join the group for a night of Latin rhythms and intricate jazz.
Adept at vibraphone and marimba, Samuels has gained a reputation as the top mallet player of his generation. He is recognized for his inventive style, which takes improvisation to a new level of creativity.
Samuels spent nearly 20 years with Spyro Gyra, during which time the group was nominated for five Grammys and was named Contemporary Jazz Group of the 1980s by Billboard magazine.
In recent years, Samuels has focused his creative energies on The Caribbean Jazz Project, a sextet he founded in 1993. With six albums released, the group explores the blend of African, European and island sounds that come together in Caribbean music. The ensemble won the 2003 Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Recording for The Gathering, and was nominated the following year for Birds of a Feather. This year, the group released Here and Now - Live in Concert, a two-CD retrospective, and Schuur Fire, a collaboration with legendary vocalist Diane Schuur that includes familiar tunes from James Taylor, Stevie Wonder and others set to Latin rhythms. Samuels sees the live CD as a real look inside the band at its best.
For tickets, call the Box Office at ext. 4010.
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Jesuits welcome the Class of 2009
The Rev. Terry Devino, S.J. (pictured right), spoke with freshmen Caroline Quinn and Christina Cherkezian (pictured left) at the First Annual Jesuit-Freshmen Picnic on Sept. 4. The Jesuit Community hosted nearly 1,000 new and returning students.
Campus Currents is the official news publication of the Fairfield University community. It is published monthly. The editorial office is located in Bellarmine Hall, Room 203. Telephone: 254-4000, ext. 2556. Fax: 254-4167. E-mail: jcaseria@mail.fairfield.edu.
Editor
Jill Kasiewicz Caseria
Assistant Director of University Publications
Editorial Board
Martha Milcarek
Assistant Vice President for Public Relations
Barbara Kiernan
Director of University Publications
Jean Santopatre
University Photojournalist
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