September 2001

Volume 10, Number 2
The official news publication of Fairfield University

Index for September 4, 2001

Dr. Brenda Joyce Young '74 to speak at Fairfield University Convocation

By Nancy Habetz, Director of Media Relations

One of the first female undergraduates to study at Fairfield University in 1970 is returning to speak at Fairfield's seventh annual fall academic convocation on Friday, September 14, at 11 a.m. in Alumni Hall.

Dr. Brenda Joyce Young, who graduated from Fairfield in 1974 with a bachelor's degree in English, went on to earn a master's degree in interdisciplinary studies and a doctorate in African American Studies from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. At convocation, she will present "My American Journey," reflecting on her experience at Fairfield and how it prepared her for her career.

Dr. Young was affiliated with Clark Atlanta University from 1988 to 1999, except for a year spent at Emory University as a graduate assistant from 1989 to 1990. At Clark Atlanta she served as freshman orientation instructor and later as assessment coordinator where she analyzed student outcomes. Following the awarding of her Ph.D. in 1996, she was appointed an assistant professor of English.

While at Clark Atlanta, Dr. Young published a book with her colleagues entitled Fracturing the Canon: An Interdisciplinary Humanities Reader. Selections from the book were given to Fairfield's incoming freshmen to read over the summer.

In 2000, Dr. Young joined Dillard University in New Orleans as Academic Dean in the Office of Academic Affairs and held the rank of associate professor of English. There, her responsibilities included reviewing and reforming the core curriculum, proactive student retention initiatives, development of new academic programs, global studies programs, and the first-year student experience.

Dr. Young grew up in the Bronx, New York, the oldest of five daughters raised by their mother. A friend, whose son had gone to Fairfield, encouraged her mother to send Brenda to Fairfield where she would "have a chance to shine." Eventually her mother and all her sisters earned college degrees as well.

Among her academic awards, Dr. Young was named a Patricia Roberts Harris Fellow in 1990 and a UNCF/Mellow Faculty Doctoral Fellow in 1995. She was a Bradley Fellow at the Graduate Institute for Liberal Education at St. John's College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for three consecutive summers (1997, 1998, and 1999), and in 1998 was awarded the CAU NAACP Image Award for Excellence in Teaching.

The Academic Convocation is open to all members of the University community. Preceding convocation is a Mass of the Holy Spirit at 9:45 a.m. in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola. All are welcome. For more information about these events, call ext. 2778.

Welcome, Class of 2005!

Hailing from 26 states and several foreign countries, 837 new students - the Class of 2005 - now call Fairfield University "home." Last weekend, this freshman class arrived on campus, ready to begin their college years.

The impressive group represents the most selective class since the class that entered in the fall 1989. With 7,128 applications received by the Office of Admission last spring, the acceptance rate was a mere 49% - 14 points lower than the previous year. (As a point of reference, the most recent statistics available state that only 5% of colleges and universities in the country have admit rates less than 50%.)

Here are some other numbers worth bragging about: 64% of students ranked in the top 20% of their high school graduating classes; the average SAT score rose nine points from last year to 1180, and the percentage of the class with SAT scores higher than 1200 improved from 41% to 46%; there are 178 merit scholars (University Fellows, Presidential Scholars, Deans' Scholars) and 11 Community Scholars among the class; and 12 were named national merit commended or semi-finalist scholars.

Apart from academics, 61% (511) of these first-years participated in some type of community service work in high school, 33 held positions of class or student council president; 18 were editors of their high school papers; 27 edited their high school yearbooks.

Nearly 100 students have family members who attended Fairfield University, with 35 of those having a sibling here now. There are 14 international students, with two who tie for coming from the farthest distance (New Zealand). Fourteen percent (120 students) of the incoming class identified themselves as AHANA - the largest AHANA freshman enrollment in the University's history.

Among these new freshmen are two sets of twins, and the nieces of two Jesuits: Rev. Joseph MacDonnell, S. J. and Rev. John Higgins, S.J. (one each). The largest groups from any single school are 10 from Boston College High School and nine from Holy Cross High School in Waterbury.

We welcome you, Class of 2005, and wish you all the best in the years ahead.

Redesigned course earns top national honor

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Assistant Professors Dawn Massey and Joan Van Hise were selected by the American Accounting Association (AAA) to receive the 2001 AAA Innovation in Accounting Education award for their redesign of "Advanced Accounting," a required course for all students majoring in the field.

Dr. Massey and Dr. Van Hise's submission, "A Revision of the Advanced Accounting Curriculum in Light of the Accounting Education Change Commission's Directives and Local Needs," was based on a two year-long evaluation of the course and feedback from students.

"What is unique to Fairfield University is that many finance majors also take the Advanced Accounting course," says Dr. Van Hise. "We were faced with the challenge designing a curriculum that provided value for both accounting and finance students."

In approaching a redesign, the team drew from recommendations from leaders in accounting education to provide students with more knowledge, skills, and abilities (known as KSAs) in "real-life" accounting situations, and less rote memorization of mathematical procedures. Drs. Massey and Van Hise also sought out advice, syllabi, and "war stories" from colleagues around the country teaching similar advanced accounting courses.

"What we were finding was that most everyone teaching the standard type of advanced accounting course was dissatisfied with the approach," says Dr. Van Hise.

"A key challenge was that no textbook offered an alternative," explains Dr. Massey.

At the center of their new course is the integration of classroom discussions, group projects and presentations, and debates of accounting theories - alongside mastering the basic accounting concepts. "We try to provide a technical base and the emphasize students' critical analysis of the technical rules," Dr. Massey says.

"Today, so many tasks traditionally done by accountants can be completed on a computer," says Dr. Van Hise. "Now accountants have to understand the processes and think beyond the mechanics of 'doing' a problem. In this course, we teach the students the techniques to get through a problem they may encounter on the job by using professional judgement, thinking through the issues, and approaching it analytically."

How did they know the new course design was working? Through enrollment and feedback on course evaluations. Now in its third year, the course is more popular than ever. In fall 1999, just over 40 students registered for two sections of the course. This academic year, enrollment is expected to jump to nearly 100. For the first time, Drs. Massey and Van Hise expect that two sections of the course will be offered in the spring semester.

"We really enjoyed redesigning this course," says Dr. Van Hise. "Not only are we colleagues, we're good friends, so we work off each other very well."

Dr. Massey adds, "Fortunately for the students, the 'whole' of our joint efforts is greater than the sum of the parts."

The award is funded by the Ernst & Young Foundation. Submissions are judged on innovation, educational benefits, and adaptability. by other educational institutions.

The AAA promotes worldwide excellence in accounting education, research and practice.

By the book

Upon arrival to campus, Megan Ricard '04 (right) of Southbury and her mother, Pam, headed toward the newly remodeled Follett Bookstore to buy textbooks and other supplies for the semester ahead.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

GE's Dammerman gives $1.5 million to Fairfield

The GE Company's Vice Chairman of the Board Dennis D. Dammerman and his wife Marsha have made a $1.5 million gift to Fairfield University. This gift, to support the goals of Our Promise: The Campaign for Fairfield University, will be used to fund multicultural scholarships.

Dammerman served on the University's Board of Trustees from 1987 to 1998, during which time he chaired the Finance Committee and the Fairfield Awards Dinner, for which he helped raise hundreds of thousands of scholarship dollars to benefit AHANA students. For this record of dedicated service, Fairfield University presented him with an honorary doctor of laws degree in May 2000.

"I learned a lot about Fairfield while on the board and I like it very much," he says. "I think it's a great institution to help become more diverse."

"We at Fairfield express our deepest appreciation to Dennis and Marsha Dammerman for their most generous commitment," says University President Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. "They are addressing an important priority for Fairfield University, and their support certainly will make the University more accessible to AHANA students who otherwise could not afford a Fairfield education." The University will thus establish the campaign gift as the Dennis and Marsha Dammerman Scholarship, designated to assist such students.

"Both the scholarship recipients and Fairfield University stand to benefit," says Dammerman. "I believe the people my wife and I are trying to help are going to be great contributors to society."

In August, Robert Bolger, associate professor of mathematics, presented several talks to faculty and students on "Non-Aristotelian n-valued logics and the Evolution of the Function Concept" at Imperial College in London, England. Prof. Bolger was invited by former student and Prep alumnus Robert Kowalski '62, who is now chairman of the computer logic department at Imperial College.

The Connecticut Post interviewed Dr. Dorothea Braginsky, professor of psychology, for an article on the political scandals in Bridgeport and Waterbury.

In June, Dr. Arjun Chaudhuri, professor of marketing, received a Best of Congress Paper Award for "A Study of Emotion and Reason in Products and Services," the paper he presented at the World Marketing Congress held in Cardiff, Wales. This is the second time in three years that he has been honored with this award.

During the summer, Dr. Chaudhuri also presented "Product Class Effects on Brand Commitment and Brand Outcomes: The Role of Brand Trust and Brand Affect" (co-authored) at the Association for Consumer Research Conference in Berlin, Germany, and "How Brand Reputation Affects the Relationship of Advertising and Brand Equity Outcomes" at the Marketing Communications and Consumer Behavior Conference in La Londe, France.

The Hartford Courant interviewed Dr. Edward Deak, professor of economics, on Connecticut's unemployment rate. While he said the rate of 2.5 is quite low by historical standards, "The fact that it's up six-tenths (since March) is telling us ... that Connecticut is not immune to what's happening on the national level."

Dr. Rao V. Dukkipati, associate professor of mechanical engineering, presented the following three papers at the 8th IFToMM International Symposium on Theory of Machines and Mechanisms-SYROM 2001, August 28 - September 2, in Bucharest, Romania. These papers are "Lateral Stability Simulation of a Truck on Roller Rig;" "Curving Analysis of Modified Designs of Passenger Railway Vehicle Trucks" (co-authored with Dr. S. Narayanaswamy); and "Analysis of Drivelines with CV Joints" (co-authored with Drs. A. Srinivasan and Nagi G. Naganathan).

Drs. S. Narayanaswamy, A. Srinivasan and Nagi G. Naganathan are Dr. Dukkipati's former colleagues at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, and the University of Toledo, Ohio.

In May, Dr. Joan Fleitas, associate professor of nursing, presented "That Mouth Belongs to a Person: Beyond Periodontal Disease" to Fairfield County dentists and hygienists.

In July, Dr. Fleitas presented "Mastering Balance Beams: Parenting Children with Rare Disorders" at the International University on the Italian island of San Servolo. Her presentation was part of the conference "I Convegno Internazionale Sulla Sindrome De Moebius."

Dr. Joel Goldfield, associate professor of French, foreign language pedagogy, and technology in the department of modern languages and literatures, demonstrated new strategies and digital technologies for curricular planning and foreign language acquisition at the annual conference of the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages held in New York City in March. He also spoke at the bi-annual conference of the International Association of Language Learning Technology (IALLT) held at Rice University in May. The two talks on computer-assisted language learning and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) were based on work being done under the International Studies/Language Technology Initiative funded by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

"On the Usefulness of 'Augustinianism' as a Historical Construct: Two Test Cases from Oxford," a paper by Dr. R. James Long, chair of philosophy, was published in "Medieval Perspectives. Proceedings of the Twenty-sixth Annual Conference of the Southeastern Medieval Association 26" (2001).

Michael Maccarone, associate vice president for finance, was interviewed by the Connecticut Post for a story on university budgets.

Fr. Joseph MacDonnell, S.J., professor of mathematics, recently borrowed "Rubens' Pictorial Biography of St. Ignatius" (written and published in the year of Ignatius's beatification of 1609) from the Jesuitana of the Burns Library at Boston College, and electronically reproduced the 79 sketches by Peter Paul Rubens, who was working for the canonization of Ignatius in 1622. Fr. MacDonnell has put them on his web site, and also printed the pictures in a small booklet.

Lee Mason, support specialist for viruses in Computing & Network Services, was interviewed by the Connecticut Post on the Code Red worm that was defacing Web sites. He explained that most home PC users did not need to be concerned because the virus was attacking Web servers.

An article by Dr. Thomas Mussio, instructor in modern languages and literatures, titled "The Phoenix Narrative in Petrarch's Canzone 323," was published in the Rivista de Studi Italiani, vol. XVIII, 2, December 2000.

Dr. Jeanne Novotny, dean of the School of Nursing, was recently interviewed by Greenwich Magazine about the nursing shortage and what can be done to attract people to the profession.

In June, Dr. Gavriel D. Rosenfeld, assistant professor of history, delivered a lecture at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich on the subject of "Coming to Terms with the Nazi Past in Postwar Munich."

Grand Central Terminal, a book by Dr. Kurt C. Schlichting, professor of sociology and anthropology, was favorably reviewed by John Linsenmeyer in the Greenwich Time.

Dr. James Simon, assistant professor of English and journalism, was interviewed by News 12 Connecticut on the ramifications of Waterbury Mayor Giordano's arrest on the city.

Dr. Timothy Snyder, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was on MSNBC to answer queries on PowerBall and the mathematical odds of winning.

An interview with Dr. Norman Solomon, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was featured on the business page of the Connecticut Post. Dr. Solomon was also quoted in the Fairfield County Business Times in an article about MBA and EMBA programs in Connecticut.

Dr. Gayle Sullivan, a nurse attorney who is working to implement the health care law concentration in the School of Nursing's Healthcare Systems Program, was the subject of a feature story in the Fairfield Citizen News.

Dr. Winston Tellis, assistant professor of information systems and operations management, was interviewed by Jim Thompson on WGCH radio in Greenwich on the work that the Charles F. Dolan School of Business does in Haiti and Nicaragua.

Brian Torff, assistant professor of music, performed with his group, Thunderstick, during a seven-band "Get Back Jack Benefit" in Danbury, designed to raise public awareness for Ridgefield resident Jack Tobin, the Fulbright scholar who was held in a Moscow jail. The event was reported in The Fairfield County Weekly.

Dr. Michael White, associate professor of English, read from his novel, A Dream of Wolves, at the Palmer Public Library in Palmer, Mass.

Joan Overfield named Director of Library Services

James Estrada, vice president for information services and university librarian, recently announced that Joan Overfield has been named Director of Library Services.

"Joan is a very talented person and well deserving of this promotion," Estrada said upon the announcement. "She has continuously demonstrated an extraordinary ability to work with a diverse group of constituents - faculty, students, and staff - and has shown it through her exceptional work on the library building project."

Overfield joined Fairfield University in 1974 as reference librarian. After her first child in 1984, she moved to a part-time position in reference and media. In the early 1990s, she was promoted to Associate University Librarian, a post she has held for nearly ten years.

"I have been fortunate to have been given many new opportunities in various positions here, first by Barbara Bryan, librarian emerita, and by James Estrada in these last five years," says Overfield. "Recently, James had been giving me increasing responsibility in managing the day-to-day operations and the building project. I am very appreciative of his faith in my abilities and his desire to recognize them in this way. I am also very fortunate to have such a strong and professional staff."

As Director of Library Services, she will continue her current duties, as well as oversee the library staff, budget, and services. She will also work with Estrada on formulating library policies and strategic planning. Overfield expressed that one of her goals is to develop new library programs. "At this stage, there are many exciting opportunities for new services and initiatives. I plan to do more one-on-one work with deans and faculty in the coming months, including outreach."

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Dr. Anne Manton to receive nursing's highest honor

Dr. Anne Manton, associate professor of nursing, is one of 68 nurses nationwide to be selected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the profession's highest honor. She and Dr. Linda Schwartz, a research scientist at the Yale University School of Nursing, are the only nurses selected from Connecticut. They will be inducted on October 27 in Washington, D.C. during the Academy's 2001 Annual Meeting and Conference.

The 68 new fellows represent diverse nursing practice areas and are being honored for their extraordinary commitment and contributions to nursing that far exceed the responsibilities of their employment, and their potential for sustained contributions to the profession in the future.

A Certified Emergency Nurse and an Adult Nurse Practitioner, Dr. Manton served as president of the national Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), receiving its Lifetime Achievement Award last year along with induction into the ENA Hall of Fame. She is a design and coordination team member of LUNAR (Learning and Using New Approaches to Research), a national multi-site study, the first of its kind sponsored by the ENA. The LUNAR Project identified characteristics of the consumer of emergency s and analyzed trends in repeat ER usage.

Joining the Fairfield University faculty in 1995 to teach in both the undergraduate and graduate programs, she continued to work at least one or two shifts a month in the ER at St. Raphael's Hospital in New Haven. For the last two years she served as acting dean of the School of Nursing.

Dr. Manton is the author of numerous journal articles on emergency nursing and is a frequent presenter at nursing conferences and conventions across the country.

She has taught at MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston, Southern Connecticut State University, and the Yale University School of Nursing. From 1992 to 1994 she was the director of the Center for Collaboration and Nursing Practice at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, Conn.

Dr. Manton earned a diploma in nursing from the Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing, a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Boston State College, a master of science degree from Boston College, and a doctor of philosophy degree from the University of Rhode Island.

Condolences

Glenora McFadden, the mother of Dr. David McFadden, professor of history, died on August 1.

Edna Farace, the mother of Dr. Edna Farace Wilson, dean of the School of Continuing Education, died on August 8.

Anne Tyler, the wife of Richard Tyler, professor of management, Charles F. Dolan School of Business, died on August 10.

New Employees

Sandra Billings - Director of Secondary Ed. Programs, GSEAP
Stephen Campbell - Project Coordinator, Talent Search
Laura Cantrell - Assistant Director, Residence Life
Cristina Dieguez - Assistant Director, Annual Giving
Bonnie Gleason - Secretary, Annual Giving
Richard Santiago - Security Officer
John Ur - Digital media TV Producer
Earl Whiskeyman - Acting Director, Masters Program/Software Engineering

Fairfield names two William G. McGowan Scholars

By Nancy Habetz, Director of Media Relations

Seniors Catherine (Kate) E. Smith and Kevin D. Bennett have been named 2001-2002 William G. McGowan Scholars at Fairfield University, and each will receive $21,000 in tuition. The program is underwritten by the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, Inc., based in Washington, D.C., and honors the memory of the late William G. McGowan, founder and chairman of MCI Communications Corporation.

The McGowan Scholars program is based on an experience of William G. McGowan, who as a young man was admitted to Harvard Business School to study for an MBA degree. He lacked sufficient funds to complete his studies until he won the Baker Scholar award that allowed him to earn his degree and launch a successful business career.

Kevin Bennett has been a Dean's List student since 1998 and is completing a double major in accounting and finance. At Fairfield he has played leadership roles in residence hall government and the Fairfield University Student Association, and is a peer mentor for Project Excel, a program that helps students overcome cultural, personal and academic barriers to higher education. Kevin also worked on the planning and organization of Senior Week 2000 and 2001.

Last year, Kevin was chosen as a Gates Millennium Scholar by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In April he received an official citation from the Connecticut General Assembly for outstanding academic achievement as part of College Academic Day.

Kevin has also been active in his community, serving on the Adventist Youth Council and as a Junior Deacon in his church.

He has been an undergraduate technical assistant for the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, which is a regulatory body that establishes the accounting and reporting standards for state and local governments across the country. His long-term goals include earning his M.A. in Public Accounting from Fairfield University and then sitting for the CPA exam, before attending law school. In addition, Kevin will be trying to gain a Fulbright Scholarship or a Gates Fellowship to do further graduate studies and governmental accounting research at Cambridge University in England after he graduates.

A Dean's List student since her freshman year, Kate Smith is completing a double major in marketing and management.

At Fairfield she has held several leadership positions, including in the Peer Education Network where she was the team leader of the AIDS/HIV Team her freshman and sophomore years, and president of Peer Education during her junior year. She was also active on campus with the Residence Hall Government, Student Leadership Program, and the Alcohol Task Force. She volunteered for the Breast Cancer Walk that raised tuition for two children with cancer to attend Camp Rising Sun last year.

With entrepreneurial spirit she took on a paper route at age 11 and looked for ways to improve the route and make it more efficient. She has worked ever since, including 15 to 20 hours a week during the school year. During the summer she worked in an internship with Gold Orluk and Partners, a sports marketing and event planning firm.

CASE honors Fairfield for third consecutive year

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

Vice President for University Advancement George Diffley recently announced that The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) has named Fairfield University a winner of the 2001 CASE Circle of Excellence in Educational Fund-Raising Award. This is the third consecutive year CASE has recognized the University's fund-raising efforts.

Of 448 institutions considered this year, only 43 won an award. Fairfield was one of two schools in the state honored for performance; winners in other states include Harvard, Stanford, and Williams College.

"It is a great honor to have received such recognition from CASE for the past three years," says Diffley, "We are pleased to be among this prestigious assembly of recipients."

Reflecting the University's fund-raising efforts in fiscal year 1999-2000, criteria considered for this award included the numerous gifts from alumni and other benefactors to Our Promise: The Campaign for Fairfield University.

According to Fredric C. Wheeler, associate vice president for development, the University's constituency base has responded to Our Promise beyond expectations. "Donors have continued to recognize that Our Promise has the potential to take the University to the next level through endowment growth, new construction, and enhancing existing structures," he says.

CASE is an international association of education advancement officers, representing 3,200 institutions in 40 countries.

University welcomes new faculty this semester

By Barbara Kiernan, Director of University Publications

This fall, Fairfield University welcomes eleven tenure-track faculty members who bring new energy and expertise to their respective departments and to the classroom. Among them are two new husband-wife teams in the College of Arts and Sciences: Robbin Crabtree (communication) and David Sapp (English); and Jennifer Klug (biology) and Tod Osier (biology). In addition, Cathy Miners (economics) has formally joined the Economics Department, where her spouse, Larry Miners, has taught since 1981.

During the coming semester, Campus Currents will feature each faculty member, focusing on his or her background and research interests.

Mark Andrejevic
Mark Andrejevic, assistant professor of communication, comes to Fairfield from Boulder, Colorado, where he earned a Ph.D. in media studies. His background includes many forms of communication: a French language certificate from the Alliance Francaise in Paris; a B.A. in economics from Williams College; a master's certificate in painting and sculpture from the New York Academy of Art; and an M.A. in journalism from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Andrejevic, an award-winning newspaper journalist, has focused his scholarship on media education, writing about reality TV, gangsta rap, video surveillance, digital capitalism, and the debate over public funding for the arts as it relates to deployment of "inappropriate" works.

Robbin Crabtree
Robbin Crabtree, associate professor of communication, specializes in international broadcasting and intercultural communication. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in speech communication from the University of Minnesota, and her undergraduate degree in communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

The wealth of experience she brings to Fairfield includes her teaching at New Mexico State University and DePauw University. A widely published scholar and presenter, Dr. Crabtree's paper "Gender, nation, culture: The implications of privatization of televisions in India" was named one of the top three papers in mass communications by the National Communication Association for 2000.

While in New Mexico, she served as a hantavirus educator along the U.S.-Mexico border for three years, producing health education videos on the disease with funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Her international research experience has included projects in Spain, Brazil, Mexico, India, Kenya, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Cuba.

Rev. James Mayzik, S.J., director of the Media Center, and John Ur, coordinator of RCADE workshops, are setting up a series of free workshops on the use of new digital media production and tools. An open house on September 13 and 14 will showcase the series.

RCADE to offer free workshops on new digital technology

By Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, Editor

The Resource Center for Advanced Digital Exploration (RCADE), launching this month, will provide an assortment of free workshops on the use of new digital media production and tools. Housed on the ground floor of Xavier Hall in the Media Center, RCADE's workshops teach digital imaging and design. This fall, sessions will cover digital video and still cameras, designing web pages using Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Dreamweaver, Final Cut Pro, and iMovie, and creating audio/visual materials for off-site conferences, including Powerpoint presentations.

These workshops were designed with the needs of Fairfield University faculty, staff, administration, and students in mind. "Lots of faculty are interested in incorporating new media into their existing curricula," says John Ur, coordinator of RCADE workshops. "These sessions provide the basic tools needed to interact with the web and other digital products."

Taught by Media Center staff on Macintosh G4 computers and with new digital video and still cameras, the RCADE workshops are not full-semester courses; they are intended to introduce topics, and teach the basic skills needed to use these new media. "We're whetting the appetite for anyone who might have an interest in further exploring one of these areas," says Rev. James Mayzik, S.J., director of the Media Center. More comprehensive courses on many of these topics are offered through the School for Continuing Education.

"What we have here at the Media Center is education in how to use and incorporate multimedia technology. We wanted to take that to the next level," says Fr. Mayzik. "Today, everything is moving to a digital format, and these workshops teach the skills needed to do that."

Fr. Mayzik emphasizes that RCADE is a place where the tools are available to experiment and be creative. Workshop attendees will be encouraged to return to the Center to use the digital imaging lab, cameras, and editing equipment to practice their new skills. "It is through creativity that we discover who we are," he says. "We in the Media Center are in the business to promote creativity and encourage exploration."

The workshop schedule is posted on the Media Center's main page; click on "Academic Group." To register, call John Ur at ext. 3255.

On September 13 and 14, the Media Center will host "RCADE Expo," a two-day open house to showcase the workshops to be offered this fall. The hours are as follows: Sept. 13, 2 to 5 p.m., with a special presentation by Fr. Mayzik for deans and vice presidents at 2 p.m.; and Sept. 14, 1 to 3 p.m. All are invited.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Engagement with others: the path to longevity?

What is the secret to longevity? The wonderful women participating in the Nun Study might just hold an answer for us.

An aspect of the sisters in the congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame that has always impressed me is their continuous engagement in life: They are avid readers of a wide variety of materials; they write letters and e-mail to hundreds of former students who keep in touch; they watch game shows and educational programs on television; and they participate in society and in the life of the convent. Each aspect of their lives is vital and done with purpose. For example, a sister might read a book for enjoyment, but she is as likely to read for new knowledge that she will share with others in her living group. Television is not used as a means of escape but as a method of learning more about the world. And game shows are not viewed passively, as I suspect most of us might do. Instead, the sisters are actively engaged in the questions, often answering them before the contestants.

One sister I remember dearly (she was not a participant in the Nun Study) had to leave the convent due to advanced arthritis that confined her to a wheelchair and limited her capacity to care for herself. She was moved to a nursing home a few hours away from the convent that had been her home and from the sisters who had been her support. I was visiting the nursing home and stopped in to see how she was doing about a month after her move. I was surprised to find her upbeat and moving ahead with her life. Her reason? She had found her "mission" at the nursing home. Each sister is challenged to find a mission that is above and beyond the currently assigned role. In the month that she had been at the nursing home, this sister had found hers.

Her mission was to read twice each day to two other sisters who were blind. She would get up each day, say her prayers, then climb aboard her wheelchair to go to the lobby gift shop to buy a newspaper. She would then go to the room of these other sisters to read and discuss the events in the paper. After lunch, she would return to the room with a book and would read a novel. This sister was accomplishing many things in her mission. First, she was providing stimulation for the minds of these women, keeping them engaged in the larger world. Second, she was giving these sisters a gift of self: her willingness to be a part of their lives. But equally important were the benefits that this sister received for her mission. It gave her a reason to get up each morning, forced her to wheel herself around the building, and contributed to her own physical and cognitive health. In short, her mission benefited others but, in so doing, contributed to her own longevity.

This is the challenge to each of us as we begin a new academic year at Fairfield University. What is our mission here, above and beyond our assigned roles on campus? Who benefits from the way in which we do our work? And how do we benefit from the interactions and activities we pursue each day? Each of us at this wonderful place of learning needs to ask God what is needed from us. We need to ask ourselves how our activities and missions reflect the Jesuit traditions that make Fairfield University such a unique place to teach and learn, and to become engaged. The answers to these questions will help each of us find new friendships and experiences that may contribute to our happiness and, ultimately, to our health.

Notice that the sister described did not dwell on her own limitations and her move to a nursing home. While these were certainly issues in her life, the goal of finding and fulfilling her mission became her priority and allowed the other issues to be put in perspective. Through this year, take the time to find your mission. Use the resources of Campus Ministry or Rev. James M. Bowler, S.J., University Facilitator for Catholic and Jesuit Mission and Identity. These people can assist us in our quest to see opportunity in the world around us. God speed for a fantastic year!

Philip A. Greiner, DNSc, RN

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

Last month, University President Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. moved into his new home at 637 Round Hill Road. The house was deeded to Fairfield University in 1995.

Benefactor bequest becomes new home for University President

By Barbara D. Kiernan, Director of University Publications

There are neighbors ... and then there are neighbors. Imagine having one like Mrs. Frances Harde. In 1947, the same year Fairfield University opened its doors to its first freshman class, Dudley and "Frankie" Harde bought a home right across the street. They raised two sons at 637 Round Hill Road, during which time Mrs. Harde opened an upscale gift shop in Greenfield Hill called Tres Bon.

The store celebrated its 40th anniversary of operation in 1995, the same year Mrs. Harde deeded the house at "637" to a neighbor she had come to love and appreciate: Fairfield University. Her husband of 65 years had died in 1993. A while thereafter, the astute 89-year-old widow set in motion an estate plan that would make a gift of her property while giving her lifetime use of the home. With the blessing of her surviving son and his wife, she formalized the planned gift in 1995, with the stipulation that it be used by the University for housing.

Mrs. Harde died last August at age 96. In keeping with her wishes, the University began making plans for the transition of her home to administrative housing, opting to designate it for the President so as to free up a townhouse for student use and establish the house as an attractive space for future University presidents as well.

Fr. Kelley moved in during August, following needed renovations that upgraded the electrical service and replaced the furnace, windows, and roof. The main floor includes a living room, dining room, kitchen, library, and an office; the second floor has three bedrooms. Painting and landscaping have made this new landmark a ship-shape site suitable for meetings, receptions and the like.

Speaking of landmarks, one does have to wonder, though. Now that the President has a garage in which to park his car, what will become of the sign ("Thou Shalt Not Park Here") that so faithfully sought to provide him a space during his nineteen years in residence at the townhouse?

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Environmentally Speaking

In this column, Joanne Choly, biology laboratory supervisor and adjunct lecturer, offers readers an environmental perspective on the world we live in.

During my summer vacation to Cape Cod, the motel's colorful placards (made out of recycled paper and soy ink) invited me to conserve energy and water, turn off the power when I left the room, elect to not have my linens changed daily, and to "change the world." I turned over the cards and felt impelled to save Mother Nature in seven languages.

Most of us will not save the Earth in seven languages. So what can we do - and what ought we do - to care for nature?

The Earth as an ecosystem, the interaction between the living and non-living aspects of the environment, is the Biosphere. Some call it "Spaceship Earth." We live on something like an orange rind, at the intersection of water, land, and air. Or in other words: hydrosphere (oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater, ice caps), atmosphere (about 7 miles high), and lithosphere (a few thousand feet deep). This delicate crust of Earth is our Biosphere, our home.

Earth travels through space with essentially all of its material supplies on board. When we take trash to a landfill or put something "down the drain," we entertain false notions to "get rid of it" or "throw it away." There is no "away." We may create pollution, misplaced waste, or make valuable resources nigh impossible to reuse. Everything remains with us on Spaceship Earth.

Does the placement of matter matter? Consider these figures from environmentalist Judith Getis' book, You Can Make a Difference:

• We annually bury enough aluminum to rebuild the entire American commercial airfleet.
• The wood and paper dumped in landfills could heat at least 5 million homes for two hundred years.
• Recycling reduces the amount of waste; it is turned back into "raw" materials for manufacturing. Americans recycle only 13% of their waste, but analysts say up to 50% is recyclable.

Assisted by my Ecology and Society classes and Rob Keder '04 of the Student Environmental Association (SEA), I am in the process of collecting information about Fairfield's recycling and conservation practices. Rob will examine the logistics of recycling glass, plastic, office paper, newspaper, cans, and corrugated cardboard on campus. I shall begin examining who is recycling what and how much.

I ask my students to keep an Environmental Log in an attempt to track everything they take from and return to the environment. I invite you to join us. To make it easy, use the online form at http://faculty.fairfield.edu/jhcholy/. I will report our progress and results in a future column.

In case you're wondering, I did not reuse the motel towels while on the Cape. But I did follow most of the other suggestions. I'm still working on that save the world thing.

Sports

With a goal in sight

Kristen Spohn, assistant coach for the women's soccer team (above, left), hands a soccer ball to freshman player Jennifer Chapla during the team's goalie practice last week. Player Sophia Lakfayan '05 (above, right) practices a few moves on her own. The women's soccer team is among many athletic teams that returned a few weeks early to begin training for the fall season.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Sports Shorts By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information

Athletic teams score high in pre-season polls

Fairfield athletic teams fared well in the various pre-season polls and awards. The volleyball team was selected as the pre-season favorite to win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title. Conny Paul '03 earned the MAAC pre-season player of the year, as well as a spot on the All-MAAC team. Kelly Sorensen '04, Joanne Saunders '02, and newcomer Carola Stowe also made the pre-season volleyball team.

The women's soccer team was chosen second in its pre-season poll, but was well represented in the annual team. Pam Cluff '02 was chosen the pre-season player of the year, while JulieAnne Forman '02, Maureen Miller '04, and Erin Porter '02 joined her on the pre-season team.

The men's soccer team collected second place in its pre-season poll. Aaron Kingi '02, Justin Thompson '03, and Rob DeFaveri '02 earned All-MAAC honors. The Stags, which tied defending national champion UConn 2-2 in a scrimmage, were ranked as high as 15th in the national poll last season.

The field hockey team also picked up a second-place placement in its respective poll, just four points behind American University. The team comes off another successful season, posting a 12-9 record and advancing to the Patriot League tournament for the third straight season.

Two new coaches join athletic department

Fairfield athletics welcomed two new coaches to its ranks with the hiring of Jeff Wyshner and Andrew Harrington. Wyshner took over the men's and women's tennis programs in August. He was the women's tennis coach at Manhattan College, where he led the Lady Jaspers to their only MAAC championship. He graduated from Yale University in 1992, before earning his master's degree and juris doctorate from Columbia University.

Harrington, a member of Fairfield's class of 2000, will coach the cross country team. He was a captain of the cross country team in his senior season. He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in marketing and a bachelor of arts degree in economics. Having completed the 2000 Boston Marathon, he remains an active runner.

Women's golf outing to be held September 15

Women golfers of all ages are invited to the Fairfield Women's Basketball Red Tees Golf Outing on September 15 at Short Beach Par Three Golf Course in Stratford. A $100 entry fee includes a round of golf, a clam bake, and a gift. Non-golfers can participate by attending the clam bake only for $50. For reservations and additional information, call the women's basketball office at ext. 2209.

news Briefs

"Women in the Church" lecture series begins Oct. 3

Fairfield University's first annual Anne Drummey O'Callaghan lecture on Women in the Church will take place on October 3 at 8 p.m., in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Speaker Elizabeth A. Johnson, C.S.J., Ph.D. will discuss "Women Imaging God."

Dr. Johnson, Distinguished Professor of Theology at Fordham University, is a leading Catholic theologian. Her scholarship focuses on the theology of God, Christology, the sacredness of the earth, and issues related to justice for women.

She has written several books, including Friends of God and Prophets: A Feminist Theological Reading of the Communion of Saints, which received the annual Excellence in the Study of Religion Award from the American Academy of Religion.

A past president of the Catholic Theological Society of America, Dr. Johnson is also an active member of the American Academy of Religion, the College Theology Society, the American Theological Society, and serves on the editorial boards of three theological journals. A religious sister in the Congregation of St. Joseph, her public service in the church includes consultant to the Catholic Bishops' Committee on Women in Church and Society, theologian for the Vatican-sponsored dialogue between science and religion, and participant in the Vatican-sponsored study of Christ and world religions.

This lecture honors the memory of Anne Drummey O'Callaghan, formerly of Norwalk, a catechist and advocate for the retarded. O'Callaghan dedicated herself to religious education, especially as it relates to liturgy. She served as youth minister and director of religious education at both St. Jerome and St. Joseph parishes in Norwalk. Active on numerous catechetical boards and committees of the Diocese of Bridgeport, she was chair of BRED, the professional association of Bridgeport Religious Educators. She was particularly interested in church history and was passionate about the role of women in the church.

The lecture is free, but tickets are required. For more information, call the box office at ext. 4010.

First executive MBA students of banking complete their degrees

A reception and dinner honoring the first 19 Executive MBA students of banking to complete their degrees, was held on August 3. They came from Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to earn executive MBAs in Community Bank Management through a joint program of Fairfield University's Charles F. Dolan School of Business and the National School of Banking of America's Community Bankers (ACB).

Designed specifically for bankers, the executive MBA program is an innovative effort that combines the National School of Banking's training in banking and finance with a 12-month capstone program with a global perspective, taught by faculty from the Dolan School of Business. The graduate students completed the degree requirements by attending on-campus summer residence sessions and studying in distance learning courses.

Diane Wishnafski, executive vice president and chief lending officer for the New Haven Savings Bank, said she was impressed with the versatility of the on-line education portion of her studies. "Our professors used many different tools in the on-line environment that were very effective, including conference threads, group chats, quizzes with immediate feedback, e-mail, powerpoint, and links to Internet research sites. This variety, coupled with the ability to access the courses 24/7, provided a more dynamic environment than I had anticipated."

She was surprised by "the closeness and camaraderie" that she experienced among the class participants. She had thought the online environment would not be conducive to teamwork but said the opposite was true, "especially when the class was stymied by a new concept."

Daniel Murphy, executive vice president for The Roslyn Savings Bank in Jericho, N.Y., said he was surprised by the attention to detail. "The courses were well constructed and the faculty and administration were both readily accessible and responsive." Once he became accustomed to working in the computer environment, he said, "It was very much like being in a classroom or lecture hall."

Dan said he enjoyed the other EMBA candidates. "I think we surprised each other with the depth and diversity of our experience. I learned a great deal from my fellow candidates."

Dr. Norman Solomon, dean of the Dolan School of Business, said that in the ever-changing world of business, "schools of business and the business community they serve must look to new and better partnerships to enhance the skills and leadership potential of executives." It was this understanding, he noted, that "led to the partnership in 2000 between our school and the National School of Banking of America's Community Bankers. We are proud to be a part of this exciting evolution in executive education."

Among the 12 other banking institutions represented were People's Bank, GE Capital, Naugatuck Savings Bank, Ulster Savings Bank, and Farmington Savings Bank.

Summer pilgrimage leads travelers to home of St. Ignatius

In June, Dr. Martin Lang, professor of religious studies, led a summer spiritual and cultural tour to northern Spain and Portugal. Stops included Lisbon, Madrid, and Barcelona, with special masses at Loyola, Compostela, and Fatima. The tour was held in conjunction with the Alumni Association of Georgetown University. Travelers included Sr. Julianna Poole SSND of GSEAP (second row, third from right).

Pictured above is the group's visit to the upstairs bedroom of St. Ignatius's family's castle where he recuperated from his wounds. This was the very room where he had his conversion experience, vowed to study theology and Latin, and committed to doing something more positive with his life.

The celebrant (center) is Fr. Stephen Fields, S.J., associate professor of theology at Georgetown University. He offered a special lecture on Jesuit spirituality in this room as part of the mass celebrated here.

Citibank awards Adrienne Kirby Family Literacy Project

Citibank in Connecticut, through the Citigroup Foundation, has awarded $5,000 to support Fairfield University's Adrienne Kirby Family Literacy Project. This project, a collaborative effort between the University and Action for Bridgeport Community Development (ABCD), is an intergenerational intervention program aimed at improving school readiness and literacy in low-income preschool children in Bridgeport. Now in its eighth year, the project provides preschool children with the intellectual tools they need for learning and strengthens the parental/caregiver involvement that is so critical to their success.

"We are pleased to support Fairfield University and Action for Bridgeport Community Development in this fine endeavor, which enables us to strengthen our commitment to helping educate the next generation," said Ellen Tower, Citibank vice president and director of community relations in Connecticut. "Through this literacy building project, we know that our local children and their families will be able to sharpen their skills and expand the range of future opportunities available to them."

The Arts on Campus

Play time

Sarah LeClaire, Katie Ullman, and Olivia Morrison, all of Fairfield, were among the children participating in the Missoula Children's Theatre Camp this summer, held at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. These girls were rehearsing for the camp's final summer production, "Red Riding Hood."

Dillon's "Perfectus - Imperfectus (1980 - 2000)" on view at the Walsh Gallery

Perfectus - Imperfectus (1980-2000), an exhibition that explores the paintings of contemporary artist Michael Dillon, will be on view in Fairfield University's Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts from September 20 to December 9. The exhibition opens with a reception and an informal lecture by the artist on September 20, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Dillon has long been attracted to the device of a frame within a frame as a way of putting distance between his initial inspiration and the play of muted shapes and forms that must carry the burden of meaning.

The artist's preference for soft, unadulterated color emphasizes the inward-looking nature of his paintings. He shows us a stage curtained by the mists of memory, on which half-glimpsed, half-sensed figures strut and fret. In his paintings one finds abstract equivalents of everyday emotions, maps of the mind, and microcosms that invite our empathy and understanding.

For more information call the Walsh Gallery at ext. 2969.

NEA award-recipient John Himmelfarb's paintings and prints at Lukacs Gallery

The paintings and prints of Chicago native John Himmelfarb will be on display from September18 through October 10, in the Lukacs Gallery. The exhibition opens on the 18th with a reception at 5:30 p.m.; a lecture follows at 6 p.m.

"What I really like is putting paint on anything, making marks, moving, changing things, reusing my daily experience to create a sense of order about my chaotic world," Himmelfarb says about his work. "Of course I hope that my efforts to draw something organized out of my interactions - with literature, music and industry; trees and language; numbers and maps; and everything and everybody else that bumps into me during the night and day - will resonate with a few other people."

Himmelfarb is the recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts Awards, a Pollock-Krasner Foundation award, and an Illinois Arts Council Fellowship.

For gallery hours, call Frances Hynes, gallery director, at ext. 2476.

Open VISIONS Forum: Fall 2001

September 23

Princess Michael of Kent

Her Royal Highness, Princess Michael of Kent, will discuss "Royal Power - the Substance and the Show." The wife of the Queen of England's first cousin, Princess Michael was born in Bohemia and is a descendant of ancient European aristocratic houses on both sides of her family. She has written two books, Crowned in a Far Country: Eight Royal Brides and Cupid and the King: Five Royal Paramours, both of which became best-sellers and have been translated into several languages.

Quick Center, 3 p.m.

October 10

Howard Means

Howard Means, author of Money and Power: The History of Business, will share his stories of the millennium's most prominent moguls. His book covers the story of business over the last thousand years. Written as a companion piece to the CNBC documentary of the same name, it was published simultaneously with the documentary.

Quick Center, 7:30 p.m.

November 4

Jeff Greenfield

"A Political Update with Jeff Greenfield" will offer insight into this country's political maneuverings. A veteran journalist and author, Greenfield serves as co-anchor and senior analyst at CNN where he is known for his analysis and commentary on the Washington, D.C. political scene. Prior to joining CNN, Greenfield was ABC News' political and media analyst for 14 years, appearing regularly on Nightline and serving as an essayist on World News Sunday.

Quick Center, 3 p.m.

November 12

Richard Holbrooke

Hailed as a "master of impossible missions," Richard C. Holbrooke, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, will speak on "Humanitarian Challenges for World Diplomacy," this season's Jacoby-Lunin Humanitarian Lectureship. Holbrooke secured his reputation as the world's premier negotiator by arranging an unprecedented agreement bringing the U.S. back into good standing with the U.N.

Quick Center, 7:30 p.m.

Fairfield University's Open VISIONS Forum, now in its fifth season, is an outreach program of the School of Continuing Education. To become a patron of Open VISIONS, contact the School at ext. 2688. For tickets to the lectures, contact the box office at ext. 4010.

Save the Dates: Fall dedications

Mark your calendar for two special University events happening in October:

Dedication of the DiMenna-Nyselius Library
Thursday, October 4, 4:30 p.m.

Dedication of the Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Recreation Complex
Friday, October 5, noon

Both events are open to the University community. Invitations will arrive this month. For additional information, contact the Office of Special Events at ext. 2660.

East Meets Jazz concert to open 2001-02 Quick Center season

Sandip and Friends - East Meets Jazz, a concert of Indian and jazz fusion sounds featuring tabla (north Indian drum) player Sandip Burman and a group of some of the greatest names in jazz, rock, and R&B, is the season opener on September 18, at 7:30 p.m., at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

Sandip Burman, a native of Durgapur, India will be joined by several musicians to bring a new sound to fusion music and to present and project new wave music through the great masters of the past. Musicians include saxophonist Dave Pietro of the Tashiko Akioshi Band; drummer Steve Smith of Journey; violinist Jerry Goodman of the Mahavishnu Orchestra; trumpeter Randy Brecker of Brecker Brothers; bassist Victor Bailey of Weather Report; Paul Bollenback on guitar; and Howard Levy on harmonica.

A disciple of Pandit Shyamal Bose of Calcutta, Burman performs with spontaneous innovation and tonal purity even when he is delivering complex rhythmic patterns at dazzling speeds. His repertoire is vast and includes both common and rarely played rhythms. His specialties are jazz, world music, and Indian classical music, and he has performed with Bela Fleck, Ravi Shanker, and John DeJohnetter.

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

Campus Currents is the official news publication of the Fairfield University community. It is published on the first Tuesday of 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.

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