VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1
The Magazine of Saint Xavier University
Fall 2008
ON THE COVER :
E T ER N A L DA N C E , C HR I S ZON TA
Chris Zonta worked as a fiber artist for
25 years cutting, stitching and using
appliqué techniques on a variety of
textiles. In 1995 she traded her sewing
machine for a pair of tile nippers and
has been creating mosaic art ever since.
“My art has always been about taking
or breaking things apart and putting
them back together in unusual ways.”
C HIC AGO C A M P US
3 7 0 0 W E ST 10 3 R D ST R EE T
C HIC AGO, I L 6 0 6 5 5
(773) 2 9 8-3 0 0 0
ABOUT THE
OR L A N D PA R K C A M P US
18 2 3 0 OR L A N D PA R K WAY
OR L A N D PA R K , I L 6 0 4 6 7
(70 8) 8 0 2-6 2 0 0
W W W.S X U. EDU
3 7 0 0 W E ST 10 3 R D ST R EE T
C HIC AGO, I L 6 0 6 5 5
Zonta teaches the process of mosaic
making to children and adults
throughout the Chicagoland area. She
designed the Mosaic Art Program that
teaches elementary school students
about the history, materials, tools and
techniques used while creating a
permanent mosaic mural for their school
environment. View Zonta’s work at
www.czonta.com.
Artist
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
So. Suburban, IL
Permit No. 35
nurturing
HOPE
SAINT
XAVIER
M A G A Z I N E
President’s Agenda
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1
P R E S I D E NT J U D ITH A. D W YE R, P H.D., balances professional and civic commitments with on-campus
meetings and events that keep her connected to students, alumni, faculty and staff. This past spring her
efforts were focused on moving the University to even greater excellence. Here’s a glimpse of some of the
events that kept President Dwyer busy during the spring semester.
Saint Xavier Magazine is published three times a
year for the University’s alumni and friends by the
Office for University Relations.
Robert Tenczar
Senior Editor
January ’08
March ’08
N E W TR A N S F E R A G R E E M E NT S I G N E D
A L U M N I A N D F R I E N D S AT TE N D P R E S E A S O N G A M E
IN RECORD NUMBERS
Meghan Fahy
At the fourth annual Saint Xavier University Alumni and
Friends Weekend, a record 144 participants enjoyed their own
skybox view as the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs
squared off during a spring training preseason game
on March 22, at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz. “We are
pleased this event continues to be so popular among the
University’s alumni and friends,” said President Judith A.
Dwyer, Ph.D., who attended the game.
Andrea Vehe
February ’08
C O N G R E SSWO MAN B I G G E RT H E LPS S E C U R E
FUNDING FOR NURSING LAB
U.S. Congresswoman Judy Biggert, R-13th District, visited
Saint Xavier University’s Orland Park campus on Feb. 18
to view the site of a new nursing learning laboratory for
which she helped secure $191,000 in federal funding. The
new lab will allow the SXU School of Nursing to increase
class sizes at the Orland Park campus and provide new
facilities and educational tools, including portable beds,
monitoring equipment, anatomical models, diagnostic
examination simulators, a simulation mannequin (Sim Man)
and video recording equipment. “We are grateful to
Congresswoman Biggert for her support of this muchneeded learning laboratory,” said Judith A. Dwyer., Ph.D.
April ’08
A C O NTI N U E D C O M M ITM E NT TO TH E E N V I R O N M E NT
President Dwyer continues Saint Xavier’s commitment to
eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by offering a self-service
bike-share program at the Chicago campus in fall 2008. Saint
Xavier will be the first American university to offer this
European bike share. In continuing its efforts to be a leader
in green practices, Saint Xavier will also open a second
environmentally sound residence hall in August 2008.
X A V I E R
M A G A Z I N E
MAGAZINE PURPOSE STATEMENT: Saint Xavier
Magazine strengthens the shared connection
between alumni, the University and its
community. Stories will demonstrate the core
values of excellence and diversity, encourage
learning for life and engage the minds of the
University family.
Vice President for University Relations
Saint Xavier University continues to provide students with
the means to take advantage of the transformative power
of a liberal arts education. Saint Xavier University and Joliet
Junior College recently signed an agreement at the
University’s Orland Park campus that allows education
majors from Joliet Junior College to transfer more easily to
Saint Xavier to earn an undergraduate degree and teacher
certification. The University also signed a dual admission
agreement in July 2008 with Prairie State College that will
allow PSC students to create a four-year plan for completing
the bachelor of science degree at the Orland Park campus.
Fall 2008
S A I N T
Melissa Fraterrigo
8 Putting Out the Fire
We all feel the burning emotion of anger—but we don’t
have to let it rage out of control.
By Dave Wieczorek
Editor
Art Director
Graphic Designer
Dawn Dworak
14 Here in Camelot
For one alumna who served as the Shriver family governess,
the summer of 1961 seems like yesterday.
By Kelly Hladek
Contributing Writers
Emily Thornton Calvo
Jill Duba ’97
Ruth Hansen
Kelly Hladek
Dave Wieczorek
Kate Yedwofski
20 Positive Change
By connecting the classroom to the world, four SXU alums
are motivating their students to live purposeful lives.
By Emily Thornton Calvo
Photographer
Michael Goss
Editorial Office
Saint Xavier University
3700 W. 103rd Street
Chicago, IL 60655
Phone: (773) 298-3573
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.sxu.edu/relations/magazine.asp
Please send your letters to the editor
to the above address.
25 An Opening of Hearts
and Minds in Belize
Saint Xavier students share their journal reflections as they
minister to HIV-positive children and others in need in Belize.
DEPARTMENTS
Alumni and Parent Relations
May ’08
SUCCESSFU L M E RCY CHALLE NG E
The University is pleased to announce the successful
completion of the Mercy Challenge Gift campaign. On
Founders’ Day, Dec. 3, 2006, the Sisters of Mercy, Regional
Community of Chicago, donated $1 million to endow the
Office for University Mission and Heritage. With this
generous gift came a Mercy Challenge: match the $1 million
in donations before June 30, 2008. Thanks to the generosity
of trustees, alumni, faculty, staff and friends, Saint Xavier met
the challenge and the Sisters of Mercy donated an additional
$500,000 for a total endowment of $2.5 million. This
endowment will fund many outstanding programs and
ensure the mission and core values of Saint Xavier.
Phone: (773) 298-3316
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.sxu.edu/alumni
Please contact the Office of Alumni and
Parent Relations for address corrections
and/or alumni notes.
President’s Agenda
2
Letters
2
Saint Xavier Journal
7
Ask the Expert
28 Advancing the Mission
31 Faculty News
Saint Xavier University, a Catholic institution
inspired by the heritage of the Sisters of Mercy,
educates men and women to search for truth,
to think critically, to communicate effectively, and to
serve wisely and compassionately in support
of human dignity and the common good.
The spring 2008 issue of Saint Xavier Magazine
incorrectly noted the number of books the Byrne
Memorial Library keeps off-site. The Library
stores 45,000 books off-site. We regret this error.
36 Cougar Pulse
38 Alumni Notes
48 Campus Calendar
49 FACES
SAINT
XAVIER
M A G A Z I N E
President’s Agenda
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1
P R E S I D E NT J U D ITH A. D W YE R, P H.D., balances professional and civic commitments with on-campus
meetings and events that keep her connected to students, alumni, faculty and staff. This past spring her
efforts were focused on moving the University to even greater excellence. Here’s a glimpse of some of the
events that kept President Dwyer busy during the spring semester.
Saint Xavier Magazine is published three times a
year for the University’s alumni and friends by the
Office for University Relations.
Robert Tenczar
Senior Editor
January ’08
March ’08
N E W TR A N S F E R A G R E E M E NT S I G N E D
A L U M N I A N D F R I E N D S AT TE N D P R E S E A S O N G A M E
IN RECORD NUMBERS
Meghan Fahy
At the fourth annual Saint Xavier University Alumni and
Friends Weekend, a record 144 participants enjoyed their own
skybox view as the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs
squared off during a spring training preseason game
on March 22, at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz. “We are
pleased this event continues to be so popular among the
University’s alumni and friends,” said President Judith A.
Dwyer, Ph.D., who attended the game.
Andrea Vehe
February ’08
C O N G R E SSWO MAN B I G G E RT H E LPS S E C U R E
FUNDING FOR NURSING LAB
U.S. Congresswoman Judy Biggert, R-13th District, visited
Saint Xavier University’s Orland Park campus on Feb. 18
to view the site of a new nursing learning laboratory for
which she helped secure $191,000 in federal funding. The
new lab will allow the SXU School of Nursing to increase
class sizes at the Orland Park campus and provide new
facilities and educational tools, including portable beds,
monitoring equipment, anatomical models, diagnostic
examination simulators, a simulation mannequin (Sim Man)
and video recording equipment. “We are grateful to
Congresswoman Biggert for her support of this muchneeded learning laboratory,” said Judith A. Dwyer., Ph.D.
April ’08
A C O NTI N U E D C O M M ITM E NT TO TH E E N V I R O N M E NT
President Dwyer continues Saint Xavier’s commitment to
eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by offering a self-service
bike-share program at the Chicago campus in fall 2008. Saint
Xavier will be the first American university to offer this
European bike share. In continuing its efforts to be a leader
in green practices, Saint Xavier will also open a second
environmentally sound residence hall in August 2008.
X A V I E R
M A G A Z I N E
MAGAZINE PURPOSE STATEMENT: Saint Xavier
Magazine strengthens the shared connection
between alumni, the University and its
community. Stories will demonstrate the core
values of excellence and diversity, encourage
learning for life and engage the minds of the
University family.
Vice President for University Relations
Saint Xavier University continues to provide students with
the means to take advantage of the transformative power
of a liberal arts education. Saint Xavier University and Joliet
Junior College recently signed an agreement at the
University’s Orland Park campus that allows education
majors from Joliet Junior College to transfer more easily to
Saint Xavier to earn an undergraduate degree and teacher
certification. The University also signed a dual admission
agreement in July 2008 with Prairie State College that will
allow PSC students to create a four-year plan for completing
the bachelor of science degree at the Orland Park campus.
Fall 2008
S A I N T
Melissa Fraterrigo
8 Putting Out the Fire
We all feel the burning emotion of anger—but we don’t
have to let it rage out of control.
By Dave Wieczorek
Editor
Art Director
Graphic Designer
Dawn Dworak
14 Here in Camelot
For one alumna who served as the Shriver family governess,
the summer of 1961 seems like yesterday.
By Kelly Hladek
Contributing Writers
Emily Thornton Calvo
Jill Duba ’97
Ruth Hansen
Kelly Hladek
Dave Wieczorek
Kate Yedwofski
20 Positive Change
By connecting the classroom to the world, four SXU alums
are motivating their students to live purposeful lives.
By Emily Thornton Calvo
Photographer
Michael Goss
Editorial Office
Saint Xavier University
3700 W. 103rd Street
Chicago, IL 60655
Phone: (773) 298-3573
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.sxu.edu/relations/magazine.asp
Please send your letters to the editor
to the above address.
25 An Opening of Hearts
and Minds in Belize
Saint Xavier students share their journal reflections as they
minister to HIV-positive children and others in need in Belize.
DEPARTMENTS
Alumni and Parent Relations
May ’08
SUCCESSFU L M E RCY CHALLE NG E
The University is pleased to announce the successful
completion of the Mercy Challenge Gift campaign. On
Founders’ Day, Dec. 3, 2006, the Sisters of Mercy, Regional
Community of Chicago, donated $1 million to endow the
Office for University Mission and Heritage. With this
generous gift came a Mercy Challenge: match the $1 million
in donations before June 30, 2008. Thanks to the generosity
of trustees, alumni, faculty, staff and friends, Saint Xavier met
the challenge and the Sisters of Mercy donated an additional
$500,000 for a total endowment of $2.5 million. This
endowment will fund many outstanding programs and
ensure the mission and core values of Saint Xavier.
Phone: (773) 298-3316
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.sxu.edu/alumni
Please contact the Office of Alumni and
Parent Relations for address corrections
and/or alumni notes.
President’s Agenda
2
Letters
2
Saint Xavier Journal
7
Ask the Expert
28 Advancing the Mission
31 Faculty News
Saint Xavier University, a Catholic institution
inspired by the heritage of the Sisters of Mercy,
educates men and women to search for truth,
to think critically, to communicate effectively, and to
serve wisely and compassionately in support
of human dignity and the common good.
The spring 2008 issue of Saint Xavier Magazine
incorrectly noted the number of books the Byrne
Memorial Library keeps off-site. The Library
stores 45,000 books off-site. We regret this error.
36 Cougar Pulse
38 Alumni Notes
48 Campus Calendar
49 FACES
STAY CON NECTED
letters
DEAR EDITORS,
Just a note to say that I think Saint Xavier Magazine is a fine
publication. Its features offer depth and variety, reflecting
the vibrant, forward-looking programs of SXU. The news
sections keep me up to date on staff, departments and
campus development.
The evolution of the University and its physical campus
since my 1969 graduation has been wonderful to observe.
I’m proud of my affiliation with Saint Xavier.
Marion Lynch Johnson ’69
HELLO FROM THE PL AINS OF KANSAS.
I graduated from SXU in 1967 after spending several summer
sessions there. One thing I remember especially were the
beautiful windows in the Byrne Memorial Library. I spent
many hours there studying for comprehensive exams and
mostly looking out the gorgeous windows.
I was working on a master’s in theology, and I profited greatly
by my time there and use daily what I learned as I teach
others about the faith.
saint xavier
JOURNAL
AMERICA’S BIPARTISAN
COUPL E TO SPEAK AT SXU
Both Carville and Matalin have illustrious
political careers. Carville was lead strategist of
Bill Clinton’s successful presidential bid in 1992.
Matalin formerly served as assistant to President
George W. Bush and counselor to Vice President
Dick Cheney, and was the first White House
official to hold that double title.
Tickets are available at www.sxu.edu/politics or (866) 468-3401.
Whether you plan on voting Democrat or Republican, this presidential
election will be a historical event. Get your seat front and center, and see how
another couple manages conflict.
Why would 1 million Catholics converge on Chicago? Where can
you see a choir of 60,000 children? How is Catholic life reflected
in Chicago’s neighborhoods? Chicago has a rich history—and the
Chicago History Museum’s “Catholic Chicago” exhibition showcases
an impressive retrospective of its Catholic community. The show also
examines the gradual transformation of Chicago’s Catholic identity
and how it has shaped the city’s urban landscape.
Saint Xavier University, the first Sisters of Mercy institution of higher
learning in the country, helped create the exhibit. As part of the display
there are photos and video interviews with many Saint Xavier
University faculty, staff and administration members.
From left to right: CPD K-9 Officer Rich King shakes hands with SXU Professor Bill Kresse,
who ran the 4th Annual Run to Remember on May 3, raising $3,500.
PROFESSOR RAISES $ 3, 5 0 0 FOR FALLEN
CHICAGO POLICE OFF ICERS
When Professor Bill Kresse decided to get in shape, he also chose to
raise money for the 4th Annual Run to Remember. Proceeds of the
annual 5K run along Chicago’s lakeshore go toward the Chicago Police
Memorial Foundation.
Kresse raised the highest amount of donations for the May 3 race
and lost 50 pounds leading up to his first 5K. Kresse, who directs
the financial fraud examination and management graduate program
at the Graham School of Management, learned about the run from
his students at the Chicago Police Academy, but it was one student
in particular he was thinking about while preparing for the run.
God bless your University and your dedication there.
“Saint Xavier is proud to support and participate in this exploration
of Chicago’s Catholic heritage,” says Saint Xavier University President
Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D.
“I am very proud of the prominence and recognition the Sisters
of Mercy and several of our sponsored institutions—Saint Xavier
University, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center among them—have
received,” says SXU Vice President for Mission and Heritage Sister
Susan Sanders, R.S.M., Ph.D.
“Catholic Chicago” opened in March and runs through Jan. 4, 2009.
For Catholics, or anyone interested in the roles religion plays in urban
life, Catholic Chicago is a must-see. To see video excerpts and photos
from “Catholic Chicago,” visit http://chicagohistory.org/planavisit/
exhibitions/catholic-chicago/index.
Bob Rawa ’88, ’00, a previous student and K-9 officer, passed away
unexpectedly from a brain aneurism on July 13, 2007. “I remember
sometimes Bob would be on call and he’d show up for class with his
dog,” said Kresse. “The dog would rest at his feet and look up at me.”
Sister Irene Hartman, O.P. ’67
From left to right: Sr. Shereen Thomas, Sr. Bindu George, Sr. Udaya Kuzhivelil, Saint
Xavier University President Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D., Sr. Metty Lawrence and Sr. Jolly
Jose pose at SXU’s graduation ceremony on May 17. All of the Sisters of the Holy Cross
received bachelor’s degrees in nursing from SXU’s School of Nursing and will stay at
SXU to pursue master’s degrees before returning to India.
J O U R N A L
CATHOLIC CHICAGO: A STORY OF INFLUENCE
Marriage is never easy, especially when you and
your spouse have different political ideologies.
But have you ever considered how bipartisan
couples handle presidential election years? Join
us for an insider’s view of love, marriage and
politics as James Carville and Mary Matalin,
America’s favorite bipartisan married couple,
bring their razor-sharp political wit to the
Shannon Center Thursday, Oct. 30, just days
before the presidential election.
I usually spend only about 10 minutes reading the magazine,
but the spring 2008 issue was different. Great were these
articles: “Green Expectations” and “The Blood of the Planet.”
“Forward Thinking for Others” was also excellent. Please
more articles like those three.
2
It’s easier than ever to keep in touch with Saint Xavier Magazine and other SXU alumni. Send your news
or update your address or other contact information by visiting www.sxu.edu/alumni/keepintouch
Kresse was honored to take part in such a meaningful event. “The vast
majority of the men and women of the Chicago Police Department
are wonderful, dedicated people. The money I raised will go toward
the memorial and help the families of those that lost their lives in the
line of duty.”
Kresse, who was surprised by how easy it was to get into shape, plans
to make next year’s run even more successful. That is when he will
unveil Team SXU. If you are interested in joining Bill Kresse in this
worthwhile endeavor, please e-mail him at [email protected].
F A L L
2 0 0 8
3
STAY CON NECTED
letters
DEAR EDITORS,
Just a note to say that I think Saint Xavier Magazine is a fine
publication. Its features offer depth and variety, reflecting
the vibrant, forward-looking programs of SXU. The news
sections keep me up to date on staff, departments and
campus development.
The evolution of the University and its physical campus
since my 1969 graduation has been wonderful to observe.
I’m proud of my affiliation with Saint Xavier.
Marion Lynch Johnson ’69
HELLO FROM THE PL AINS OF KANSAS.
I graduated from SXU in 1967 after spending several summer
sessions there. One thing I remember especially were the
beautiful windows in the Byrne Memorial Library. I spent
many hours there studying for comprehensive exams and
mostly looking out the gorgeous windows.
I was working on a master’s in theology, and I profited greatly
by my time there and use daily what I learned as I teach
others about the faith.
saint xavier
JOURNAL
AMERICA’S BIPARTISAN
COUPL E TO SPEAK AT SXU
Both Carville and Matalin have illustrious
political careers. Carville was lead strategist of
Bill Clinton’s successful presidential bid in 1992.
Matalin formerly served as assistant to President
George W. Bush and counselor to Vice President
Dick Cheney, and was the first White House
official to hold that double title.
Tickets are available at www.sxu.edu/politics or (866) 468-3401.
Whether you plan on voting Democrat or Republican, this presidential
election will be a historical event. Get your seat front and center, and see how
another couple manages conflict.
Why would 1 million Catholics converge on Chicago? Where can
you see a choir of 60,000 children? How is Catholic life reflected
in Chicago’s neighborhoods? Chicago has a rich history—and the
Chicago History Museum’s “Catholic Chicago” exhibition showcases
an impressive retrospective of its Catholic community. The show also
examines the gradual transformation of Chicago’s Catholic identity
and how it has shaped the city’s urban landscape.
Saint Xavier University, the first Sisters of Mercy institution of higher
learning in the country, helped create the exhibit. As part of the display
there are photos and video interviews with many Saint Xavier
University faculty, staff and administration members.
From left to right: CPD K-9 Officer Rich King shakes hands with SXU Professor Bill Kresse,
who ran the 4th Annual Run to Remember on May 3, raising $3,500.
PROFESSOR RAISES $ 3, 5 0 0 FOR FALLEN
CHICAGO POLICE OFF ICERS
When Professor Bill Kresse decided to get in shape, he also chose to
raise money for the 4th Annual Run to Remember. Proceeds of the
annual 5K run along Chicago’s lakeshore go toward the Chicago Police
Memorial Foundation.
Kresse raised the highest amount of donations for the May 3 race
and lost 50 pounds leading up to his first 5K. Kresse, who directs
the financial fraud examination and management graduate program
at the Graham School of Management, learned about the run from
his students at the Chicago Police Academy, but it was one student
in particular he was thinking about while preparing for the run.
God bless your University and your dedication there.
“Saint Xavier is proud to support and participate in this exploration
of Chicago’s Catholic heritage,” says Saint Xavier University President
Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D.
“I am very proud of the prominence and recognition the Sisters
of Mercy and several of our sponsored institutions—Saint Xavier
University, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center among them—have
received,” says SXU Vice President for Mission and Heritage Sister
Susan Sanders, R.S.M., Ph.D.
“Catholic Chicago” opened in March and runs through Jan. 4, 2009.
For Catholics, or anyone interested in the roles religion plays in urban
life, Catholic Chicago is a must-see. To see video excerpts and photos
from “Catholic Chicago,” visit http://chicagohistory.org/planavisit/
exhibitions/catholic-chicago/index.
Bob Rawa ’88, ’00, a previous student and K-9 officer, passed away
unexpectedly from a brain aneurism on July 13, 2007. “I remember
sometimes Bob would be on call and he’d show up for class with his
dog,” said Kresse. “The dog would rest at his feet and look up at me.”
Sister Irene Hartman, O.P. ’67
From left to right: Sr. Shereen Thomas, Sr. Bindu George, Sr. Udaya Kuzhivelil, Saint
Xavier University President Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D., Sr. Metty Lawrence and Sr. Jolly
Jose pose at SXU’s graduation ceremony on May 17. All of the Sisters of the Holy Cross
received bachelor’s degrees in nursing from SXU’s School of Nursing and will stay at
SXU to pursue master’s degrees before returning to India.
J O U R N A L
CATHOLIC CHICAGO: A STORY OF INFLUENCE
Marriage is never easy, especially when you and
your spouse have different political ideologies.
But have you ever considered how bipartisan
couples handle presidential election years? Join
us for an insider’s view of love, marriage and
politics as James Carville and Mary Matalin,
America’s favorite bipartisan married couple,
bring their razor-sharp political wit to the
Shannon Center Thursday, Oct. 30, just days
before the presidential election.
I usually spend only about 10 minutes reading the magazine,
but the spring 2008 issue was different. Great were these
articles: “Green Expectations” and “The Blood of the Planet.”
“Forward Thinking for Others” was also excellent. Please
more articles like those three.
2
It’s easier than ever to keep in touch with Saint Xavier Magazine and other SXU alumni. Send your news
or update your address or other contact information by visiting www.sxu.edu/alumni/keepintouch
Kresse was honored to take part in such a meaningful event. “The vast
majority of the men and women of the Chicago Police Department
are wonderful, dedicated people. The money I raised will go toward
the memorial and help the families of those that lost their lives in the
line of duty.”
Kresse, who was surprised by how easy it was to get into shape, plans
to make next year’s run even more successful. That is when he will
unveil Team SXU. If you are interested in joining Bill Kresse in this
worthwhile endeavor, please e-mail him at [email protected].
F A L L
2 0 0 8
3
saint xavier
JOURNAL
SXU F IRST UNIVERSIT Y IN
AMERICA TO USE EUROPEAN
BIKE-SHARE PROGRAM
This fall, be on the look out for the new ride
in town. The Offices of Sustainability and
Facilities Management are introducing the
GreenBike share program to SXU. Students and employees will be
able to check out bikes 24 hours a day, seven days a week at any of the
12 docking stations across the Chicago campus.
This computer-based program uses state-of-the-art technology, which
includes GPS tracking technology and allows students to check out
bikes using their cell phones or Cougar cards. The first 15 minutes are
free, after that, it is 60 cents for every 15 minutes.
Many universities across the
country offer some form of
a bike-share program, but
Saint Xavier will be the first
to use the shaft-driven bikes
from the French company
Veloway, Europe’s premier
bike-share distributor.
Paul Matthews, assistant vice president of the Office of Facilities
Management, says programs at other colleges and universities are
more “homegrown programs with a lock and chain system.”
Students in the Office of Sustainability are also going to receive
training as bike mechanics and managers of the program.
Representatives from England will be on campus to train students
and staff on the specifics of how to operate and maintain a
Veloway bike.
“This is an exciting program that offers an alternate means of
transportation in a clean and sustainable way,” says Matthews.
According to Matthews, there are three economic reasons to
incorporate this program into Saint Xavier campus life. The campus
already offers a shuttle that takes students as far as the CTA Orange
Line, and the bikes should help reduce the need for a car. Second, the
bikes are carbon-neutral, which cuts energy usage and emissions.
Finally, if there is less need for cars, then there is less need for a parking
garage on campus.
So, spare yourself from gas prices this fall and take a ride on a
GreenBike.
4
J O U R N A L
Denise Spells, principal at St. Ethelreda School in Chicago, and Rev. Thomas McCarthy, O.S.A.,
president of St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago, confer during Saint Xavier University’s
Bishop Gorman Institute conference.
SXU HOSTS ANNUAL CONFERENCE
ON CATHOL IC EDUCATION
From June 23 to 26, visitors to Saint Xavier’s Orland Park campus may
have noticed more activity than usually seen on a typical summer day
at the school. That’s because the University hosted the fifth annual
Bishop John R. Gorman Institute (BGI) for Leadership in Catholic
Education. Teachers and administrators from more than 30 schools
took advantage of this opportunity to collaborate and network with
nationally recognized Catholic educators, local school leaders and
SXU’s School of Education faculty.
Highlights included a panel discussion titled, “The Role of Athletics in
School Culture” moderated by Dan McGrath, associate editor for
sports at the Chicago Tribune. Presenters also included: Former
Associate General Secretary at the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops Sr. Lourdes Sheehan, R.S.M.; Superintendent of
Schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago Sr. Mary Paul McCaughey,
O.P.; Former Superintendent Sr. Mary Brian Costello, R.S.M. ’54;
Associate Executive Director of the National Catholic Education
Association’s Elementary School Department Bro. William Campbell,
S.M.; and Associate Director of Schools for the Archdiocese of
Indianapolis Kathy Mears.
The BGI was founded under the direction of SXU School of
Education Dean Beverly Gulley, Ph.D., and represents an ongoing
relationship between her department and partner schools.
Thanks to the Big Shoulders Fund, Richard A. Yanikowski, Ph.D.,
Phillip Corby Foundation, Harris Bank of Orland Park, Mulcahy,
Pauritsch, Salvador & Co., Ltd., Gaelic Park and Saint Xavier
University for their scholarship support.
Saint Xavier University nursing graduate student Eileen Muldoon traveled to Bolivia to help treat children with cleft palates. Muldoon was honored by the Cook County
Board of Commissioners for her volunteer work on April 9.
NURSING GRADUATE STUDENT TRAVELS TO BOLIVIA TO TREAT CHILDREN WITH CLEF T PAL ATES
After coming out of surgery to have her cleft palate corrected, the 13year-old girl was given a mirror to see her new palate. “The look on her
face was that of interest and happiness. Watching her see her new face
reminded me of the results of my third surgery to correct my cleft
palate when I was 16,” said Eileen Muldoon, a Saint Xavier University
nursing graduate student, who recently traveled to Bolivia to treat more
than 120 children with cleft lips and palates.
From March 26 to April 5, Muldoon worked with Operation Smile,
an organization devoted to treating children with facial deformities,
as a post-op nurse in recovery. “I qualified for other areas, but I wanted
to meet the families and the children,” says Muldoon. In post-op, she
was able to witness the family’s reactions as the children awoke and saw
their new lips and palates.
A pediatric nurse at Mercy Hospital, she plans to complete her
master’s degree in May 2009, with the hopes of becoming a family
nurse practitioner.
Children with cleft palates and lips are often afflicted with speech
impediments, have trouble eating and face social rejection. Muldoon
personally understands these difficulties because she was born with a
cleft palate that took three surgeries to correct. Her daughter also was
treated for a cleft palate.
“I know what it’s like to wake up after surgery and how it feels, the
burning and hunger,” says Muldoon. “I expected that. What I didn’t
expect was the response I received from the surgical team. They were
so impressed with the result of my cleft palate surgeries. I was
embraced warmly and am grateful for the experience.”
On April 9, the Cook County Board of Commissioners honored
Muldoon for her recent volunteer work with Operation Smile.
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JOURNAL
SXU F IRST UNIVERSIT Y IN
AMERICA TO USE EUROPEAN
BIKE-SHARE PROGRAM
This fall, be on the look out for the new ride
in town. The Offices of Sustainability and
Facilities Management are introducing the
GreenBike share program to SXU. Students and employees will be
able to check out bikes 24 hours a day, seven days a week at any of the
12 docking stations across the Chicago campus.
This computer-based program uses state-of-the-art technology, which
includes GPS tracking technology and allows students to check out
bikes using their cell phones or Cougar cards. The first 15 minutes are
free, after that, it is 60 cents for every 15 minutes.
Many universities across the
country offer some form of
a bike-share program, but
Saint Xavier will be the first
to use the shaft-driven bikes
from the French company
Veloway, Europe’s premier
bike-share distributor.
Paul Matthews, assistant vice president of the Office of Facilities
Management, says programs at other colleges and universities are
more “homegrown programs with a lock and chain system.”
Students in the Office of Sustainability are also going to receive
training as bike mechanics and managers of the program.
Representatives from England will be on campus to train students
and staff on the specifics of how to operate and maintain a
Veloway bike.
“This is an exciting program that offers an alternate means of
transportation in a clean and sustainable way,” says Matthews.
According to Matthews, there are three economic reasons to
incorporate this program into Saint Xavier campus life. The campus
already offers a shuttle that takes students as far as the CTA Orange
Line, and the bikes should help reduce the need for a car. Second, the
bikes are carbon-neutral, which cuts energy usage and emissions.
Finally, if there is less need for cars, then there is less need for a parking
garage on campus.
So, spare yourself from gas prices this fall and take a ride on a
GreenBike.
4
J O U R N A L
Denise Spells, principal at St. Ethelreda School in Chicago, and Rev. Thomas McCarthy, O.S.A.,
president of St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago, confer during Saint Xavier University’s
Bishop Gorman Institute conference.
SXU HOSTS ANNUAL CONFERENCE
ON CATHOL IC EDUCATION
From June 23 to 26, visitors to Saint Xavier’s Orland Park campus may
have noticed more activity than usually seen on a typical summer day
at the school. That’s because the University hosted the fifth annual
Bishop John R. Gorman Institute (BGI) for Leadership in Catholic
Education. Teachers and administrators from more than 30 schools
took advantage of this opportunity to collaborate and network with
nationally recognized Catholic educators, local school leaders and
SXU’s School of Education faculty.
Highlights included a panel discussion titled, “The Role of Athletics in
School Culture” moderated by Dan McGrath, associate editor for
sports at the Chicago Tribune. Presenters also included: Former
Associate General Secretary at the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops Sr. Lourdes Sheehan, R.S.M.; Superintendent of
Schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago Sr. Mary Paul McCaughey,
O.P.; Former Superintendent Sr. Mary Brian Costello, R.S.M. ’54;
Associate Executive Director of the National Catholic Education
Association’s Elementary School Department Bro. William Campbell,
S.M.; and Associate Director of Schools for the Archdiocese of
Indianapolis Kathy Mears.
The BGI was founded under the direction of SXU School of
Education Dean Beverly Gulley, Ph.D., and represents an ongoing
relationship between her department and partner schools.
Thanks to the Big Shoulders Fund, Richard A. Yanikowski, Ph.D.,
Phillip Corby Foundation, Harris Bank of Orland Park, Mulcahy,
Pauritsch, Salvador & Co., Ltd., Gaelic Park and Saint Xavier
University for their scholarship support.
Saint Xavier University nursing graduate student Eileen Muldoon traveled to Bolivia to help treat children with cleft palates. Muldoon was honored by the Cook County
Board of Commissioners for her volunteer work on April 9.
NURSING GRADUATE STUDENT TRAVELS TO BOLIVIA TO TREAT CHILDREN WITH CLEF T PAL ATES
After coming out of surgery to have her cleft palate corrected, the 13year-old girl was given a mirror to see her new palate. “The look on her
face was that of interest and happiness. Watching her see her new face
reminded me of the results of my third surgery to correct my cleft
palate when I was 16,” said Eileen Muldoon, a Saint Xavier University
nursing graduate student, who recently traveled to Bolivia to treat more
than 120 children with cleft lips and palates.
From March 26 to April 5, Muldoon worked with Operation Smile,
an organization devoted to treating children with facial deformities,
as a post-op nurse in recovery. “I qualified for other areas, but I wanted
to meet the families and the children,” says Muldoon. In post-op, she
was able to witness the family’s reactions as the children awoke and saw
their new lips and palates.
A pediatric nurse at Mercy Hospital, she plans to complete her
master’s degree in May 2009, with the hopes of becoming a family
nurse practitioner.
Children with cleft palates and lips are often afflicted with speech
impediments, have trouble eating and face social rejection. Muldoon
personally understands these difficulties because she was born with a
cleft palate that took three surgeries to correct. Her daughter also was
treated for a cleft palate.
“I know what it’s like to wake up after surgery and how it feels, the
burning and hunger,” says Muldoon. “I expected that. What I didn’t
expect was the response I received from the surgical team. They were
so impressed with the result of my cleft palate surgeries. I was
embraced warmly and am grateful for the experience.”
On April 9, the Cook County Board of Commissioners honored
Muldoon for her recent volunteer work with Operation Smile.
F A L L
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5
saint xavier
JOURNAL
expert
STUDENTS AND FACULT Y SPREAD
AWARENESS OF GLOBAL WAR MING
Hybrid cars and compact fluorescent light bulbs are just a few ways
to start helping restore the Earth’s climate to equilibrium. In the
meantime, there is more to learn about the causes and effects
of global warming.
The inaugural Saint Xavier University Global Warming Symposium
was held Jan. 31, 2008, hosted by the Tri-Beta National Biology Honor
Society. The symposium included a national, interactive Webcast, 2%
Solution, which featured Stanford climate scientist Stephen Schneider,
sustainability expert Hunter Lovins and green jobs pioneer Van Jones.
“The purpose of the symposium was to bring to the forefront the issue
of global warming and how it affects all fields of study,” says Biology
Professor Tatiana Tatum. “Representatives from different disciplines on
campus presented at the symposium.”
Biological Studies Professor Christopher Appelt also spoke at the
symposium. He wrapped up the symposium with “Tying it Together:
The Impacts of Global Climate Change and What Everyone Can Do
To Help.” Appelt discussed the physical and biological impacts of
global climate change, followed by an explanation of how people can
and should help in the effort to fight global warming.
Art and Design Professor Nathan Peck, and his students created the
advertisement for the symposium during the preceding weeks, which
Q.
A.
Are we officially in a recession now? How long might it last? What are some
things I can do to weather this economic downturn?
—Ricardo Torres ’98
The textbook definition of recession requires the real Gross Domestic Product to go down
for two successive quarters. While at the current time U.S. economy may not strictly meet
that criteria, we are definitely in a period of serious economic slowdown and uncertainty.
For those of us who study and monitor changes in economic benchmarks, uncertainty
Participants from different academic departments, including language, philosophy, political
science and biology gave 10-minute presentations on how global warming affects their
respective fields during the inaugural SXU Global Warming Symposium on Jan. 31.
about the future poses a bigger threat than the current economic slowdown.
To be honest, we have huge problems in key sectors of the economy—the foremost of
them being the continuing rise in energy prices without any sign of respite. The escalating
included table tents with causes and effects of global warming. Art
students also created posters illustrating what global warming meant
to the students and how they would resolve the issue.
“This is an environmental issue, a global issue,” says Tatum. “You
can’t just have politicians or scientists involved. The world needs
to be involved.”
In the spring 2009 symposium, more disciplines are urged to attend
and participate.
“This will show how it affects personal disciplines and help bring
ownership to the issue,” says Tatum.
energy prices with their broad-reaching effect in every sector can itself cause a recession.
This new magazine feature allows you
everyday staples such as milk, bread and eggs, have surged at a rate to cause further
faculty with a vast array of expertise.
hardship to lower- and middle-income Americans.
This inaugural feature explores our current
It is hard to predict how long this current slowdown will last given that there are both
controllable (e.g. interest rates) and uncontrollable (e.g. hurricanes) factors that affect the
economy with Business Professor and
founding Graham School of Management
Dean Faisal M. Rahman, Ph.D.
economy. Based on past patterns we most likely will break out of the present slump within
18 to 24 months. The recovery however will be slow and painful as we learn to live with
high energy prices and adjust our spending patterns and lifestyles.
Those of us who are employed should hold on to our jobs and try to stay current and
E-mail your questions
to [email protected].
ELIE W IESEL TO VISIT SAINT XAVIER
This fall Saint Xavier University will open its doors to well-known author, Holocaust survivor and 1986 Nobel
Peace Prize recipient, Elie Wiesel at the third annual “SXU Voices & Visions Speaker Series.”
The situation has been made worse by the worldwide increase in food prices. The price of
to pose your questions to alumni and
Please include your
competitive with our respective skill sets. We also should not panic about our retirement
portfolios and take precipitous actions based on newspaper headlines. At the same time,
we need to educate ourselves about how our jobs will be shaped by changes in high
energy prices, technology and the forces of globalization.
Faisal M. Rahman, Ph.D.
Founding Dean and Professor
name and class year.
Graham School of Management
The event is set for 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25 in the Shannon Center. Prior to the lecture, he will hold a special
classroom discussion with Saint Xavier students and receive a Doctor of Humanities degree, honoris causa. Tickets
are still available for this event at www.sxu.edu/voices or (866) 468-3401.
Wiesel was born in 1928 in Sighet, Transylvania. Nazis deported his family to Auschwitz in 1944. His mother and
younger sister perished, but his two older sisters survived. Elie and his father were transported to Buchenwald, where
his father died shortly before the camp was liberated in April 1945.
Three years after the camp liberated, Wiesel studied in Paris and decided to try journalism. He kept silent about his
time at the death camps until 1954 when he decided to write about the Holocaust. In 1958, he published La Nuit or
Night, and in 1966, he published Jews of Silence.
Over the years, Wiesel has held conferences around the world on topics surrounding hate, hope, leadership and
danger in the world. He has also received more than 100 honorary degrees from institutions of higher learning.
Since 1976, he has been the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University where he is also
a university professor. Previously, he served as Distinguished Professor of Judaic Studies at the City University of
New York.
6
J O U R N A L
MEETING OF THE MIN DS
Saint Xavier University is partnering with the Beverly Area Planning
Association (BAPA) this fall to launch its “Breakfast with the Experts”
series. Each event will feature a networking breakfast followed by a
keynote address and Q&A session. The goal of the series is to bring
notable Chicago-area business and civic leaders to campus to share
their expertise and insight with local residents, business people and
the University community as an educational and networking tool.
The early morning sessions will begin at 7:30 a.m. and conclude at
8:45 a.m., allowing attendees to get back to their businesses early in
the day. The first “Breakfast with the Experts” event is scheduled for
Thursday, Nov. 13 at Saint Xavier’s Chicago campus in the Butler
Reception Room and will feature Brooks Boyer, vice president and
chief marketing officer of the Chicago White Sox. On Thursday, Feb.
19, 2009, Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, will speak
at Gilhooley’s Grande Saloon. Tom Dart, sheriff of Cook County, will
speak on Thursday, March 12, 2009, in the Butler Reception Room.
Each breakfast and lecture is $25. To make your reservation, contact
(773) 233-3100. To suggest a speaker or to learn about sponsorship
opportunities, please call (773) 298-3311 or e-mail
[email protected].
F A L L
2 0 0 8
7
saint xavier
JOURNAL
expert
STUDENTS AND FACULT Y SPREAD
AWARENESS OF GLOBAL WAR MING
Hybrid cars and compact fluorescent light bulbs are just a few ways
to start helping restore the Earth’s climate to equilibrium. In the
meantime, there is more to learn about the causes and effects
of global warming.
The inaugural Saint Xavier University Global Warming Symposium
was held Jan. 31, 2008, hosted by the Tri-Beta National Biology Honor
Society. The symposium included a national, interactive Webcast, 2%
Solution, which featured Stanford climate scientist Stephen Schneider,
sustainability expert Hunter Lovins and green jobs pioneer Van Jones.
“The purpose of the symposium was to bring to the forefront the issue
of global warming and how it affects all fields of study,” says Biology
Professor Tatiana Tatum. “Representatives from different disciplines on
campus presented at the symposium.”
Biological Studies Professor Christopher Appelt also spoke at the
symposium. He wrapped up the symposium with “Tying it Together:
The Impacts of Global Climate Change and What Everyone Can Do
To Help.” Appelt discussed the physical and biological impacts of
global climate change, followed by an explanation of how people can
and should help in the effort to fight global warming.
Art and Design Professor Nathan Peck, and his students created the
advertisement for the symposium during the preceding weeks, which
Q.
A.
Are we officially in a recession now? How long might it last? What are some
things I can do to weather this economic downturn?
—Ricardo Torres ’98
The textbook definition of recession requires the real Gross Domestic Product to go down
for two successive quarters. While at the current time U.S. economy may not strictly meet
that criteria, we are definitely in a period of serious economic slowdown and uncertainty.
For those of us who study and monitor changes in economic benchmarks, uncertainty
Participants from different academic departments, including language, philosophy, political
science and biology gave 10-minute presentations on how global warming affects their
respective fields during the inaugural SXU Global Warming Symposium on Jan. 31.
about the future poses a bigger threat than the current economic slowdown.
To be honest, we have huge problems in key sectors of the economy—the foremost of
them being the continuing rise in energy prices without any sign of respite. The escalating
included table tents with causes and effects of global warming. Art
students also created posters illustrating what global warming meant
to the students and how they would resolve the issue.
“This is an environmental issue, a global issue,” says Tatum. “You
can’t just have politicians or scientists involved. The world needs
to be involved.”
In the spring 2009 symposium, more disciplines are urged to attend
and participate.
“This will show how it affects personal disciplines and help bring
ownership to the issue,” says Tatum.
energy prices with their broad-reaching effect in every sector can itself cause a recession.
This new magazine feature allows you
everyday staples such as milk, bread and eggs, have surged at a rate to cause further
faculty with a vast array of expertise.
hardship to lower- and middle-income Americans.
This inaugural feature explores our current
It is hard to predict how long this current slowdown will last given that there are both
controllable (e.g. interest rates) and uncontrollable (e.g. hurricanes) factors that affect the
economy with Business Professor and
founding Graham School of Management
Dean Faisal M. Rahman, Ph.D.
economy. Based on past patterns we most likely will break out of the present slump within
18 to 24 months. The recovery however will be slow and painful as we learn to live with
high energy prices and adjust our spending patterns and lifestyles.
Those of us who are employed should hold on to our jobs and try to stay current and
E-mail your questions
to [email protected].
ELIE W IESEL TO VISIT SAINT XAVIER
This fall Saint Xavier University will open its doors to well-known author, Holocaust survivor and 1986 Nobel
Peace Prize recipient, Elie Wiesel at the third annual “SXU Voices & Visions Speaker Series.”
The situation has been made worse by the worldwide increase in food prices. The price of
to pose your questions to alumni and
Please include your
competitive with our respective skill sets. We also should not panic about our retirement
portfolios and take precipitous actions based on newspaper headlines. At the same time,
we need to educate ourselves about how our jobs will be shaped by changes in high
energy prices, technology and the forces of globalization.
Faisal M. Rahman, Ph.D.
Founding Dean and Professor
name and class year.
Graham School of Management
The event is set for 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25 in the Shannon Center. Prior to the lecture, he will hold a special
classroom discussion with Saint Xavier students and receive a Doctor of Humanities degree, honoris causa. Tickets
are still available for this event at www.sxu.edu/voices or (866) 468-3401.
Wiesel was born in 1928 in Sighet, Transylvania. Nazis deported his family to Auschwitz in 1944. His mother and
younger sister perished, but his two older sisters survived. Elie and his father were transported to Buchenwald, where
his father died shortly before the camp was liberated in April 1945.
Three years after the camp liberated, Wiesel studied in Paris and decided to try journalism. He kept silent about his
time at the death camps until 1954 when he decided to write about the Holocaust. In 1958, he published La Nuit or
Night, and in 1966, he published Jews of Silence.
Over the years, Wiesel has held conferences around the world on topics surrounding hate, hope, leadership and
danger in the world. He has also received more than 100 honorary degrees from institutions of higher learning.
Since 1976, he has been the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University where he is also
a university professor. Previously, he served as Distinguished Professor of Judaic Studies at the City University of
New York.
6
J O U R N A L
MEETING OF THE MIN DS
Saint Xavier University is partnering with the Beverly Area Planning
Association (BAPA) this fall to launch its “Breakfast with the Experts”
series. Each event will feature a networking breakfast followed by a
keynote address and Q&A session. The goal of the series is to bring
notable Chicago-area business and civic leaders to campus to share
their expertise and insight with local residents, business people and
the University community as an educational and networking tool.
The early morning sessions will begin at 7:30 a.m. and conclude at
8:45 a.m., allowing attendees to get back to their businesses early in
the day. The first “Breakfast with the Experts” event is scheduled for
Thursday, Nov. 13 at Saint Xavier’s Chicago campus in the Butler
Reception Room and will feature Brooks Boyer, vice president and
chief marketing officer of the Chicago White Sox. On Thursday, Feb.
19, 2009, Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, will speak
at Gilhooley’s Grande Saloon. Tom Dart, sheriff of Cook County, will
speak on Thursday, March 12, 2009, in the Butler Reception Room.
Each breakfast and lecture is $25. To make your reservation, contact
(773) 233-3100. To suggest a speaker or to learn about sponsorship
opportunities, please call (773) 298-3311 or e-mail
[email protected].
F A L L
2 0 0 8
7
B Y
D A V E
W I E C Z O R E K
Putting
Out the Fire
We all feel the burning emotion of anger—
but we don’t have to let it rage out of control
Liz Brooks feels frustration bubbling inside as she drives home one afternoon from her son’s
elementary school. The pot is about to boil over, and she knows it. This is the third time in a
month she’s met with Michael’s third-grade teacher about his “lack of enthusiasm.” He
doesn’t turn in his homework. He doesn’t participate in class. Nothing his teacher or his
parents say makes a lasting impact on the 10-year-old. “Michael! Are you listening to me?”
Liz shouts as she slams on the brakes at a red light. Michael glances at his mother, then
turns away indifferently to stare out the window. “God- - - - - , Michael! Listen to me!” she
screams, slapping the dashboard with her hand. She draws her hand back thinking a smack
to the side of Michael’s head will get his attention. The traffic signal turns green. A car horn
blares. Liz’s hand drops to the steering wheel. She grips it so tightly her knuckles turn white
with rage. Or perhaps it’s fear, fear of what she might have done. The horn, a warning signal,
brings her back from the edge. But what about the next time? Will the pot boil over?*
8
P U T T I N G
O U T
T H E
F I R E
F A L L
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9
B Y
D A V E
W I E C Z O R E K
Putting
Out the Fire
We all feel the burning emotion of anger—
but we don’t have to let it rage out of control
Liz Brooks feels frustration bubbling inside as she drives home one afternoon from her son’s
elementary school. The pot is about to boil over, and she knows it. This is the third time in a
month she’s met with Michael’s third-grade teacher about his “lack of enthusiasm.” He
doesn’t turn in his homework. He doesn’t participate in class. Nothing his teacher or his
parents say makes a lasting impact on the 10-year-old. “Michael! Are you listening to me?”
Liz shouts as she slams on the brakes at a red light. Michael glances at his mother, then
turns away indifferently to stare out the window. “God- - - - - , Michael! Listen to me!” she
screams, slapping the dashboard with her hand. She draws her hand back thinking a smack
to the side of Michael’s head will get his attention. The traffic signal turns green. A car horn
blares. Liz’s hand drops to the steering wheel. She grips it so tightly her knuckles turn white
with rage. Or perhaps it’s fear, fear of what she might have done. The horn, a warning signal,
brings her back from the edge. But what about the next time? Will the pot boil over?*
8
P U T T I N G
O U T
T H E
F I R E
F A L L
2 0 0 8
9
When a friend suggests that Liz see a therapist about her anger, at first she’s reluctant. But
in a group session Liz learns she isn’t alone. Other parents also feel helpless in situations
Admit it: Anger is an emotion
familiar to all of us. We’ve all felt it at
one time or another, probably even
suffered the consequences of not
choking back the bile of our anger.
Anger has been a fact of life since
the beginning of mankind.
Anger can get
the best of anyone,
regardless of age,
gender or social
standing.
“Anger has an energy that cannot
be avoided altogether,” writes Robert
A.F. Thurman in Anger, one volume
in The Deadly Seven Sins series
published by Oxford University Press.
“It is like fire, and fire is elemental. It
burns and can be painful. It is
unrealistic to think that fire can be
eliminated from a world it
constitutes.”
Even back in ancient times, before
guns and road rage and cyberbullying
and modern stresses, social
commentators of the day understood
anger’s acidic properties.
“No plague has cost the human
race more,” said the Stoic philosopher
Seneca. Anger, said Aristotle, “is a
10
P U T T I N G
O U T
T H E
F I R E
burning desire to pay back pain.”
Plutarch took it a step further saying
anger is “the longing to hurt someone
else.”
What makes our blood boil in
2008? Why do we blow our tops or
see red? What lights our fuses and sets
us off like firecrackers? What causes
otherwise “normal” people to lash out
at someone verbally or physically
when we know those actions will
cause only harm?
“Anger is a signal that we are
being injured in some way,” says
clinical psychologist Mary Avellone,
Ph.D. ’69, noting that the injury can
be either real or perceived.
How powerfully does anger
influence us? The online service
Amazon lists more than 10,000 angerrelated books, including: Calming the
Family Storm; The Anger Habit
Workbook; Healthy Anger; The Anger
Trap; Anger: Taming the Beast; The
Volcano in My Tummy; The Healing
Power of Anger; and Getting a Grip.
Every day we read, hear or witness
incidents fueled by anger: NBA players
charge into the bleachers to attack
fans. A New York state senator throws
a cup of coffee at a member of her
staff. An Army veteran of Iraq assaults
his wife. After skipping his courtordered anger-management class he
shoots her in the head and turns the
gun on himself. A famous actor pleads
no contest to misdemeanor battery
after socking a parking-lot attendant.
Members of a high-school lacrosse
team beat up two teenagers “just for
the fun of it.” A 13-year-old cyberbully
does unspeakable things with the
pictures of a 13-year-old girl that he
places on the Web site YouTube.
Anger can get the best of anyone,
regardless of age, gender or social
standing.
The good news, experts say, is that
anger does not have to control us and
poison our lives.
“Anger is a choice,” says
educational psychologist Kenneth
Gleaves, Ph.D., of Gleaves Consulting
in Evergreen Park, Ill. “Human beings
are not knee-jerk response organisms.
We’re a little higher on the scale than
amoebas or baboons. We have
marvelous brains that allow us to
contemplate and imagine. Most of the
time what we get angry about are
beliefs or perceptions about things.
Whatever is being said or done is not
what’s making me angry. What’s
making me angry is my belief about
what’s being said and done.”
Our anger can be subdued,
experts say, but only after we
acknowledge its presence and are
willing to rid ourselves of its
destructive force.
“The shame of having an anger
problem may keep a person from
dealing with it, from talking with
someone about it,” says Avellone, who
practices in Homewood and Chicago.
“Or the person might be in denial,
delusional denial, almost to the extent
of saying, ‘the victim [of my anger]
deserved what she got.’”
Some people in such a state will
get intervention—anger-management
classes, for instance—only after it has
been court ordered.
“Then the person often becomes
even angrier,” Avellone says. “He often
feels [the court order] was unjustified
and he has to eat crow. Most often he
feels whatever he did was justified.
they can’t control.
If a child remains defiant or in some way provokes the parent, the situation can escalate,
making it more likely that the parent will retaliate. It takes Liz a half dozen sessions with the
therapist to learn that anger doesn’t have to control her life. “Regardless of what’s happening
outside of you, you have control of yourself,” the therapist repeats like a mantra. “You might
have a darn good reason for getting angry at someone, but that doesn’t give you the OK to
harm him or cause damage to his things.” There are exit strategies, Liz learns, that provide
an “out” when she feels anger beginning to boil.
Having a judge tell someone what to
do, what a wife or husband has been
saying all along, is another blow to the
person’s narcissism.”
Yet intervention is the first step in
containment, to building spaces where
one can reasonably deal with, say, a
stubborn 10-year-old.
“It’s about giving up some control,
especially in some areas where you
don’t have control of what a 10-yearold does,” Avellone says. “You have to
come to terms with that and put some
framework around your feelings.”
When the Temperature Rises
The core challenge in dealing with
anger in any person of any age,
Avellone says, is “beginning to learn
what the things are that make the
temperature rise, where you can see
yourself getting to a certain state.” She
and other experts agree it’s best to
identify the cause of anger and
address it before the anger turns
destructive.
“We’ve had incidents of students
punching out lights, punching out
walls, sometimes being aggressive
toward other students and
occasionally toward instructors,” says
Nancy Bonnevier, Saint Xavier
University’s director of Counseling
Services. “Students are not impervious
to misguided anger. It could be
something as simple as a student
saying to a teacher, ‘You gave me a B
and I should have received an A.’ That
can escalate into something
unpleasant, with a lot of anger flying
around.
“Things are more likely to get
physical in residence halls because of
the students’ closeness to each other,”
she says. “Some alcohol use goes on
too, of course, and that reduces
inhibitions. That’s another factor in
this kind of behavior.”
A student’s anger fuse is often lit
long before he or she enrolls in
college.
“One of the things I consistently
see is the effects of growing up in
dysfunctional families,” Bonnevier
says. “It’s amazing to me what the kids
who come into my office have
endured—the rage and anger of their
parents, even more than benign
neglect. I’ve seen burn marks and
whip marks on kids. How do you
become a functioning human being
when this is your frame of reference,
when what you’ve learned is that
when things go wrong you lash out?”
When a student visits the SXU
counseling office, her staff conducts
“a complete triage session,” Bonnevier
says. “We want to know where the
anger stems from. Is it a learned
behavior? Did they grow up learning
that’s how you deal with things? We
ask how well the anger is working for
F A L L
2 0 0 8
11
When a friend suggests that Liz see a therapist about her anger, at first she’s reluctant. But
in a group session Liz learns she isn’t alone. Other parents also feel helpless in situations
Admit it: Anger is an emotion
familiar to all of us. We’ve all felt it at
one time or another, probably even
suffered the consequences of not
choking back the bile of our anger.
Anger has been a fact of life since
the beginning of mankind.
Anger can get
the best of anyone,
regardless of age,
gender or social
standing.
“Anger has an energy that cannot
be avoided altogether,” writes Robert
A.F. Thurman in Anger, one volume
in The Deadly Seven Sins series
published by Oxford University Press.
“It is like fire, and fire is elemental. It
burns and can be painful. It is
unrealistic to think that fire can be
eliminated from a world it
constitutes.”
Even back in ancient times, before
guns and road rage and cyberbullying
and modern stresses, social
commentators of the day understood
anger’s acidic properties.
“No plague has cost the human
race more,” said the Stoic philosopher
Seneca. Anger, said Aristotle, “is a
10
P U T T I N G
O U T
T H E
F I R E
burning desire to pay back pain.”
Plutarch took it a step further saying
anger is “the longing to hurt someone
else.”
What makes our blood boil in
2008? Why do we blow our tops or
see red? What lights our fuses and sets
us off like firecrackers? What causes
otherwise “normal” people to lash out
at someone verbally or physically
when we know those actions will
cause only harm?
“Anger is a signal that we are
being injured in some way,” says
clinical psychologist Mary Avellone,
Ph.D. ’69, noting that the injury can
be either real or perceived.
How powerfully does anger
influence us? The online service
Amazon lists more than 10,000 angerrelated books, including: Calming the
Family Storm; The Anger Habit
Workbook; Healthy Anger; The Anger
Trap; Anger: Taming the Beast; The
Volcano in My Tummy; The Healing
Power of Anger; and Getting a Grip.
Every day we read, hear or witness
incidents fueled by anger: NBA players
charge into the bleachers to attack
fans. A New York state senator throws
a cup of coffee at a member of her
staff. An Army veteran of Iraq assaults
his wife. After skipping his courtordered anger-management class he
shoots her in the head and turns the
gun on himself. A famous actor pleads
no contest to misdemeanor battery
after socking a parking-lot attendant.
Members of a high-school lacrosse
team beat up two teenagers “just for
the fun of it.” A 13-year-old cyberbully
does unspeakable things with the
pictures of a 13-year-old girl that he
places on the Web site YouTube.
Anger can get the best of anyone,
regardless of age, gender or social
standing.
The good news, experts say, is that
anger does not have to control us and
poison our lives.
“Anger is a choice,” says
educational psychologist Kenneth
Gleaves, Ph.D., of Gleaves Consulting
in Evergreen Park, Ill. “Human beings
are not knee-jerk response organisms.
We’re a little higher on the scale than
amoebas or baboons. We have
marvelous brains that allow us to
contemplate and imagine. Most of the
time what we get angry about are
beliefs or perceptions about things.
Whatever is being said or done is not
what’s making me angry. What’s
making me angry is my belief about
what’s being said and done.”
Our anger can be subdued,
experts say, but only after we
acknowledge its presence and are
willing to rid ourselves of its
destructive force.
“The shame of having an anger
problem may keep a person from
dealing with it, from talking with
someone about it,” says Avellone, who
practices in Homewood and Chicago.
“Or the person might be in denial,
delusional denial, almost to the extent
of saying, ‘the victim [of my anger]
deserved what she got.’”
Some people in such a state will
get intervention—anger-management
classes, for instance—only after it has
been court ordered.
“Then the person often becomes
even angrier,” Avellone says. “He often
feels [the court order] was unjustified
and he has to eat crow. Most often he
feels whatever he did was justified.
they can’t control.
If a child remains defiant or in some way provokes the parent, the situation can escalate,
making it more likely that the parent will retaliate. It takes Liz a half dozen sessions with the
therapist to learn that anger doesn’t have to control her life. “Regardless of what’s happening
outside of you, you have control of yourself,” the therapist repeats like a mantra. “You might
have a darn good reason for getting angry at someone, but that doesn’t give you the OK to
harm him or cause damage to his things.” There are exit strategies, Liz learns, that provide
an “out” when she feels anger beginning to boil.
Having a judge tell someone what to
do, what a wife or husband has been
saying all along, is another blow to the
person’s narcissism.”
Yet intervention is the first step in
containment, to building spaces where
one can reasonably deal with, say, a
stubborn 10-year-old.
“It’s about giving up some control,
especially in some areas where you
don’t have control of what a 10-yearold does,” Avellone says. “You have to
come to terms with that and put some
framework around your feelings.”
When the Temperature Rises
The core challenge in dealing with
anger in any person of any age,
Avellone says, is “beginning to learn
what the things are that make the
temperature rise, where you can see
yourself getting to a certain state.” She
and other experts agree it’s best to
identify the cause of anger and
address it before the anger turns
destructive.
“We’ve had incidents of students
punching out lights, punching out
walls, sometimes being aggressive
toward other students and
occasionally toward instructors,” says
Nancy Bonnevier, Saint Xavier
University’s director of Counseling
Services. “Students are not impervious
to misguided anger. It could be
something as simple as a student
saying to a teacher, ‘You gave me a B
and I should have received an A.’ That
can escalate into something
unpleasant, with a lot of anger flying
around.
“Things are more likely to get
physical in residence halls because of
the students’ closeness to each other,”
she says. “Some alcohol use goes on
too, of course, and that reduces
inhibitions. That’s another factor in
this kind of behavior.”
A student’s anger fuse is often lit
long before he or she enrolls in
college.
“One of the things I consistently
see is the effects of growing up in
dysfunctional families,” Bonnevier
says. “It’s amazing to me what the kids
who come into my office have
endured—the rage and anger of their
parents, even more than benign
neglect. I’ve seen burn marks and
whip marks on kids. How do you
become a functioning human being
when this is your frame of reference,
when what you’ve learned is that
when things go wrong you lash out?”
When a student visits the SXU
counseling office, her staff conducts
“a complete triage session,” Bonnevier
says. “We want to know where the
anger stems from. Is it a learned
behavior? Did they grow up learning
that’s how you deal with things? We
ask how well the anger is working for
F A L L
2 0 0 8
11
Michael’s problems with school do not miraculously disappear during Liz’s therapy sessions.
His issues will take more time to resolve. Now, however, Liz no longer feels like a volcano
ready to erupt after getting a call from Michael’s distraught teacher. Liz acknowledges that
anger is a narcissistic injury. “I’m ashamed my child is acting this way. I’m totally helpless,
and I can’t stand seeing myself helpless.” She has learned to recognize the anxiety that
accelerates into anger. The anger is still there, simmering under the surface, but now she
uses it to energize herself as she formulates strategies for helping Michael. Anger, when
controlled, she believes, can be constructive.
them. Is it accomplishing what they
want it to accomplish?”
The answer is almost always no,
yet the admission of anger is a good
thing.
“Anger can serve a purpose,”
Bonnevier says. “Anger tells us
something is wrong. How we express
anger, what we do with it, that
becomes the issue. Do we let it
become consuming and destructive,
or do we use it as motivation for
change?
“We’re not all Mother Teresa. We
can’t always walk around in a state of
benign benevolence,” she continues.
“When someone says, ‘I don’t like the
way my boyfriend is treating my
children,’ that’s a good anger if you
don’t lash out and hurt someone and
instead it motivates you to change.
Unless you’re psychotic or insane, we
all have a choice as to how we act.
That’s the key.”
Then why is it so many of us
choose to express our frustrations—
whatever the root cause—through
anger? Take the exploding ranks of
12
P U T T I N G
O U T
T H E
F I R E
bullies, for instance. Antibullying and
Expect Respect groups are popping
up all over the country. Some states
already have or are considering
antibullying laws. There’s even the
Workplace Bullying Institute in
Washington state. Cyberbullying, even
more evil than old-fashioned bullying,
is out of control. A survey conducted
by Harris Interactive in March 2007
revealed that 43 percent of American
teenagers have been targeted by online
attacks.
“A lot of bullies were bullied
themselves,” says Jim Goodfellow,
dean of students at Oak Park-River
Forest High School who has taught
courses about bullying for teachers
doing post-graduate work through
Saint Xavier.
Goodfellow believes that bullying
by a teenager or an adult stems from
anger at someone or something.
“Bullies lose their sense of rational
thinking and take revenge against
individuals or systems,” he says.
Like Goodfellow, Richard
Wistocki ’89 comes in daily contact
with bullies as a detective in
Naperville’s Internet Crimes Unit. He
says teenagers terrorizing and
tormenting other teens and teachers
online, often using pornographic
materials, is rampant.
“I see bullying as a component of
society’s larger problem—the
differences between the haves and the
have-nots,” Wistocki says. “A lot of this
is caused by increased competition
today among kids, among their
parents—athletically, academically, the
buying of clothes, all of it.”
Anger and bullying, he says, “seem
to come naturally to kids now.”
Choosing Control Over Chaos
So how, then, are the flames of anger
snuffed out? Patience is the pat oneword answer. But the antidote to
anger—what Buddhists call one of
the “root poisons” along with greed
and delusion—is more complex than
that.
“The bottom line is nobody has
the power to make you do anything,”
Gleaves says. “The old saying, ‘He said
that and that made me mad’ is really a
bunch of rubbish. He can’t make you
do anything. If people had that kind
of power over other human beings
this would be a very different world.
“As Alfred Adler (founder of
Individual Psychology) pointed out, a
person can always do otherwise. There
are very few circumstances where ‘I
had no choice’ is true. Do I approve of
a guy in a bar coming on to my wife?
No. Do I have some level of justifiable
anger? In terms of social norms, yes.
But would a reasonable man pull out
a sawed-off shotgun for a guy hitting
on his wife? Probably not. On the
other hand, he could be assertive and
say, ‘Excuse me, sir. The lady is with
me and I don’t appreciate your
comments. It’s obvious you’re
intoxicated, so we’ll be leaving now.’
“You don’t have to be a doormat
and put up with everything in life,
but you do have to recognize what
you have control over and what you
don’t. I have control over me but not
anyone else or anything else. If I
choose to go berserk, I first had to
conceptualize going berserk. Just
because my control slipped the
moorings doesn’t mean I didn’t untie
the rope.”
That’s the very nature of anger,
Robert Thurman writes, to take hold
of you and deprive you of free will
and intelligent choice and make your
moorings slip. He suggests there’s only
one course of action when that
happens. “When things catch fire, you
give maximum attention to putting it
out, using all reasonable methods at
your disposal to do so as quickly as
possible.” SXM
Anger can
serve a purpose.
Anger tells us
something is
wrong.
Send your thoughts to
[email protected].
*A hypothetical scenario based on interviews
with clinical psychologists and other anger
experts.
ANGER HOMEWORK
When anger threatens to take control of a person’s life,
he must be willing to seek professional help. That’s step
one, says clinical psychologist Mary Avellone, Ph.D. ’69.
“Then there is the homework component,” she says.
“The person should take notice of what frustrates him
and identify what triggers the frustration, when he
noticed it escalating, what he felt at the time and what
the circumstances were surrounding it.”
Avellone says there are techniques for disarming
frustrations that lead to anger.
“Sometimes it’s a simple matter of counting backward—
10 … 9 … 8—so you don’t blow,” she says. “That gives
you time to exit the situation.”
Anticipating red zones is another technique, she says. “For
example, if you always get angry when you go to see your
mother-in-law, make it a short visit, or make sure you have
a ride home so you can leave when you want to. Give
yourself an out.”
When it comes to anger, adds Nancy Bonnevier, Saint
Xavier’s director of Counseling Services, talk it out.
“If you’re feeling the kind of rage that’s interfering with
your relationships and career, talk with somebody,” she
advises. “It doesn’t have to be that way. There are ways
to cope. There are ways to deal with things that will work
in your life. It doesn’t mean you’ll never be angry, but
you’ll never let anger overwhelm and control you.”
F A L L
2 0 0 8
13
Michael’s problems with school do not miraculously disappear during Liz’s therapy sessions.
His issues will take more time to resolve. Now, however, Liz no longer feels like a volcano
ready to erupt after getting a call from Michael’s distraught teacher. Liz acknowledges that
anger is a narcissistic injury. “I’m ashamed my child is acting this way. I’m totally helpless,
and I can’t stand seeing myself helpless.” She has learned to recognize the anxiety that
accelerates into anger. The anger is still there, simmering under the surface, but now she
uses it to energize herself as she formulates strategies for helping Michael. Anger, when
controlled, she believes, can be constructive.
them. Is it accomplishing what they
want it to accomplish?”
The answer is almost always no,
yet the admission of anger is a good
thing.
“Anger can serve a purpose,”
Bonnevier says. “Anger tells us
something is wrong. How we express
anger, what we do with it, that
becomes the issue. Do we let it
become consuming and destructive,
or do we use it as motivation for
change?
“We’re not all Mother Teresa. We
can’t always walk around in a state of
benign benevolence,” she continues.
“When someone says, ‘I don’t like the
way my boyfriend is treating my
children,’ that’s a good anger if you
don’t lash out and hurt someone and
instead it motivates you to change.
Unless you’re psychotic or insane, we
all have a choice as to how we act.
That’s the key.”
Then why is it so many of us
choose to express our frustrations—
whatever the root cause—through
anger? Take the exploding ranks of
12
P U T T I N G
O U T
T H E
F I R E
bullies, for instance. Antibullying and
Expect Respect groups are popping
up all over the country. Some states
already have or are considering
antibullying laws. There’s even the
Workplace Bullying Institute in
Washington state. Cyberbullying, even
more evil than old-fashioned bullying,
is out of control. A survey conducted
by Harris Interactive in March 2007
revealed that 43 percent of American
teenagers have been targeted by online
attacks.
“A lot of bullies were bullied
themselves,” says Jim Goodfellow,
dean of students at Oak Park-River
Forest High School who has taught
courses about bullying for teachers
doing post-graduate work through
Saint Xavier.
Goodfellow believes that bullying
by a teenager or an adult stems from
anger at someone or something.
“Bullies lose their sense of rational
thinking and take revenge against
individuals or systems,” he says.
Like Goodfellow, Richard
Wistocki ’89 comes in daily contact
with bullies as a detective in
Naperville’s Internet Crimes Unit. He
says teenagers terrorizing and
tormenting other teens and teachers
online, often using pornographic
materials, is rampant.
“I see bullying as a component of
society’s larger problem—the
differences between the haves and the
have-nots,” Wistocki says. “A lot of this
is caused by increased competition
today among kids, among their
parents—athletically, academically, the
buying of clothes, all of it.”
Anger and bullying, he says, “seem
to come naturally to kids now.”
Choosing Control Over Chaos
So how, then, are the flames of anger
snuffed out? Patience is the pat oneword answer. But the antidote to
anger—what Buddhists call one of
the “root poisons” along with greed
and delusion—is more complex than
that.
“The bottom line is nobody has
the power to make you do anything,”
Gleaves says. “The old saying, ‘He said
that and that made me mad’ is really a
bunch of rubbish. He can’t make you
do anything. If people had that kind
of power over other human beings
this would be a very different world.
“As Alfred Adler (founder of
Individual Psychology) pointed out, a
person can always do otherwise. There
are very few circumstances where ‘I
had no choice’ is true. Do I approve of
a guy in a bar coming on to my wife?
No. Do I have some level of justifiable
anger? In terms of social norms, yes.
But would a reasonable man pull out
a sawed-off shotgun for a guy hitting
on his wife? Probably not. On the
other hand, he could be assertive and
say, ‘Excuse me, sir. The lady is with
me and I don’t appreciate your
comments. It’s obvious you’re
intoxicated, so we’ll be leaving now.’
“You don’t have to be a doormat
and put up with everything in life,
but you do have to recognize what
you have control over and what you
don’t. I have control over me but not
anyone else or anything else. If I
choose to go berserk, I first had to
conceptualize going berserk. Just
because my control slipped the
moorings doesn’t mean I didn’t untie
the rope.”
That’s the very nature of anger,
Robert Thurman writes, to take hold
of you and deprive you of free will
and intelligent choice and make your
moorings slip. He suggests there’s only
one course of action when that
happens. “When things catch fire, you
give maximum attention to putting it
out, using all reasonable methods at
your disposal to do so as quickly as
possible.” SXM
Anger can
serve a purpose.
Anger tells us
something is
wrong.
Send your thoughts to
[email protected].
*A hypothetical scenario based on interviews
with clinical psychologists and other anger
experts.
ANGER HOMEWORK
When anger threatens to take control of a person’s life,
he must be willing to seek professional help. That’s step
one, says clinical psychologist Mary Avellone, Ph.D. ’69.
“Then there is the homework component,” she says.
“The person should take notice of what frustrates him
and identify what triggers the frustration, when he
noticed it escalating, what he felt at the time and what
the circumstances were surrounding it.”
Avellone says there are techniques for disarming
frustrations that lead to anger.
“Sometimes it’s a simple matter of counting backward—
10 … 9 … 8—so you don’t blow,” she says. “That gives
you time to exit the situation.”
Anticipating red zones is another technique, she says. “For
example, if you always get angry when you go to see your
mother-in-law, make it a short visit, or make sure you have
a ride home so you can leave when you want to. Give
yourself an out.”
When it comes to anger, adds Nancy Bonnevier, Saint
Xavier’s director of Counseling Services, talk it out.
“If you’re feeling the kind of rage that’s interfering with
your relationships and career, talk with somebody,” she
advises. “It doesn’t have to be that way. There are ways
to cope. There are ways to deal with things that will work
in your life. It doesn’t mean you’ll never be angry, but
you’ll never let anger overwhelm and control you.”
F A L L
2 0 0 8
13
Here in
B Y
K E L L Y
H L A D E K
Camelot
AS POLITICAL PUNDITS INVOKE IMAGES OF CAMELOT AND THE KENNEDYS DURING THIS PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION YEAR, A ’61 ALUMNA REMEMBERS A SUMMER SLICE OF THE REAL DEAL
Seagulls leisurely soared through a blue,
cloudless sky as Cathy Martin ’61 strove to
keep up with her charges. Having just
graduated from college a few weeks before,
the 21-year-old from Chicago hadn’t had
much time to get used to her summer job
title: governess. The toddler obediently held
Cathy’s hand, slowing her down, while the
other children ran ahead in the direction of
the beach.
She spotted a figure in the distance
powerfully making his way toward them. He
tore through the beach grass at a good clip,
beating his chest wildly like Tarzan defending
his jungle.
“It’s your Uncle Teddy! Here comes your
Uncle Teddy!” he roared. He was young,
vibrant, and very…handsome. The children
squealed with delight, and Cathy caught her
own breath. Standing across from Ted
Kennedy, the president’s youngest brother, she
still couldn’t believe she was here at the Cape
on this lovely June day.
The year was 1961. Cathy Martin, now
Cathy Marozas, was the president of her
senior class at Saint Xavier College. She was
in the main office on a fateful day in May,
inquiring about presenting her class’s gift to
the school, when Sister Josetta Butler, R.S.M.,
then president of the college, inquired about
her plans for the summer.
“Eunice called and wanted to know if I
knew of a girl who would like to accompany
14
H E R E
I N
C A M E L O T
their children to the Cape this summer,” Sister
Josetta said. “Eunice” was Eunice Kennedy
Shriver, President John F. Kennedy’s sister and
a friend of Sister Josetta’s.
“We were all caught up with the
Kennedys then,” said Marozas. “John F.
Kennedy was a charismatic, intelligent, young
man with a promise of change. My friends
and I were Students for Kennedy during the
election, and my mother followed the family
for years.”
With her mother’s permission, Marozas
interviewed with Eunice Shriver in the
family’s Lakeview apartment. Mrs. Shriver
had but a few questions: “Do you know how
to swim? Do you ride [horses]? Do you play
tennis? Have you ever sailed? Have you ever
babysat?” Sailing was the only area in which
Marozas lacked experience, but she promised
perseverance. A five-year-old Maria Shriver
practiced headstands in the background. Her
brothers included Bobby, 7, and Timmy,
almost 2. Marozas recalled having only one
question: “Will I need to wear a uniform?”
“No,” smiled Mrs. Shriver. “We all wear
shorts.”
Marozas met Robert Sargent Shriver,
Eunice Kennedy’s husband, at a farewell
gathering held in his honor by the Chicago
Catholic Interracial Council. Shriver was
leaving his post as manager of Chicago’s
Merchandise Mart to start up the Peace
Corps for his brother-in-law. At the time,
F A L L
2 0 0 8
15
Here in
B Y
K E L L Y
H L A D E K
Camelot
AS POLITICAL PUNDITS INVOKE IMAGES OF CAMELOT AND THE KENNEDYS DURING THIS PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION YEAR, A ’61 ALUMNA REMEMBERS A SUMMER SLICE OF THE REAL DEAL
Seagulls leisurely soared through a blue,
cloudless sky as Cathy Martin ’61 strove to
keep up with her charges. Having just
graduated from college a few weeks before,
the 21-year-old from Chicago hadn’t had
much time to get used to her summer job
title: governess. The toddler obediently held
Cathy’s hand, slowing her down, while the
other children ran ahead in the direction of
the beach.
She spotted a figure in the distance
powerfully making his way toward them. He
tore through the beach grass at a good clip,
beating his chest wildly like Tarzan defending
his jungle.
“It’s your Uncle Teddy! Here comes your
Uncle Teddy!” he roared. He was young,
vibrant, and very…handsome. The children
squealed with delight, and Cathy caught her
own breath. Standing across from Ted
Kennedy, the president’s youngest brother, she
still couldn’t believe she was here at the Cape
on this lovely June day.
The year was 1961. Cathy Martin, now
Cathy Marozas, was the president of her
senior class at Saint Xavier College. She was
in the main office on a fateful day in May,
inquiring about presenting her class’s gift to
the school, when Sister Josetta Butler, R.S.M.,
then president of the college, inquired about
her plans for the summer.
“Eunice called and wanted to know if I
knew of a girl who would like to accompany
14
H E R E
I N
C A M E L O T
their children to the Cape this summer,” Sister
Josetta said. “Eunice” was Eunice Kennedy
Shriver, President John F. Kennedy’s sister and
a friend of Sister Josetta’s.
“We were all caught up with the
Kennedys then,” said Marozas. “John F.
Kennedy was a charismatic, intelligent, young
man with a promise of change. My friends
and I were Students for Kennedy during the
election, and my mother followed the family
for years.”
With her mother’s permission, Marozas
interviewed with Eunice Shriver in the
family’s Lakeview apartment. Mrs. Shriver
had but a few questions: “Do you know how
to swim? Do you ride [horses]? Do you play
tennis? Have you ever sailed? Have you ever
babysat?” Sailing was the only area in which
Marozas lacked experience, but she promised
perseverance. A five-year-old Maria Shriver
practiced headstands in the background. Her
brothers included Bobby, 7, and Timmy,
almost 2. Marozas recalled having only one
question: “Will I need to wear a uniform?”
“No,” smiled Mrs. Shriver. “We all wear
shorts.”
Marozas met Robert Sargent Shriver,
Eunice Kennedy’s husband, at a farewell
gathering held in his honor by the Chicago
Catholic Interracial Council. Shriver was
leaving his post as manager of Chicago’s
Merchandise Mart to start up the Peace
Corps for his brother-in-law. At the time,
F A L L
2 0 0 8
15
The year was 1961. Radios played
“Moon River,” “Where the Boys
Are” and “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
Moviegoers paid 69 cents to see West Side Story,
The Hustler and Butterfield 8, while TV watchers
faithfully tuned in to “Hazel” and “The Dick Van Dyke
Show.” Readers devoured Heller’s Catch-22,
Salinger’s Franny and Zooey and Steinbeck’s The
Winter of Our Discontent, and the New York Yankees
bested the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 in the World Series.
Commander Alan Shepard Jr. became the first
American in space in a suborbital flight aboard
Mercury 3, and busloads of Freedom Riders braved
southern animosity. A tasty new chip called the Frito
started appearing at picnics, and “Barbie” got a new
President John F. Kennedy kicks off the weekend in Hyannis Port, Mass., by chauffeuring the youngest members of the Kennedy
clan to The News Shop for candy.
boyfriend named “Ken.”
In 1961, the Camelot era in American politics began
as the country welcomed John F. Kennedy and his
glamorous family to the White House in January. It
wasn’t long before the nation’s youngest president
faced his first of many challenges. He accepted
responsibility for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in
Cuba in April, and diplomatically, was unable to
prevent the Soviets from erecting the Berlin Wall
that summer.
Shriver also was president of the Chicago
Board of Education and sat on the President’s
Council at Saint Xavier College.
Having received nods from Sister Josetta
and the Shrivers, Marozas flew to Boston on
June 25 and was driven to the Kennedy
Compound in Hyannis Port, Mass., to meet
up with the Shrivers. Marozas arrived late at
night after the children were in bed.
“I don’t think I slept at all that first night,”
she said. “I was so excited.” The next morning,
Marozas embarked on a delightfully surreal
routine that would include interacting not
only with the Shrivers, but all the Kennedy
families, including President John F. Kennedy
and his family, as everyone returned to
Hyannis Port for another summer.
Just like one of the family
Marozas said Joseph P. Kennedy’s 18
grandchildren were separated into two groups
according to their ages and each group kept a
tight schedule. A physical education coach
from Tufts University supervised the older
children, and Marozas was responsible for
helping oversee the younger children. An
array of activities included playing “ball” on
the lawn, fishing, swimming, tennis, softball,
volleyball, water-skiing, sailing, walking on
the beach, going to the library and horseback
riding at the family farm in Osterville, Mass.
Marozas also accompanied the children
on frequent excursions on the family’s cabin
cruiser, The Marlin, or the president’s sailboat,
Victura. She taught the children Irish folk
songs and read frequently to the smallest
grandchildren. The Shriver children were
allowed to watch “Lassie” and one other halfhour of television, but Marozas said they
rarely did because the action outside with
their cousins was too inviting.
The Shrivers immediately treated Marozas
like a member of their family. They never
introduced her as a governess, but simply as
“Cathy, who is staying with us this summer.”
The Shrivers also gave her Joseph P. Kennedy’s
Cadillac to drive. Since Rose Kennedy was on
the French Riviera that summer, Marozas was
invited to use her bedroom. Mrs. Kennedy’s
copy of John F. Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage
lay on a night stand. The simple inscription
read: “To Mother…from your Son, John F.
Kennedy.”
“The Kennedys were very natural,
unassuming, not pretentious,” Marozas said.
“They would laugh and cry about the same
things anyone would. They were openminded and interested in people—all people.
For example, Mrs. Shriver, with her generous
nature, was in the process of planning a
‘Special Games’ event for young people with
disabilities at her new home in Maryland.”
To help Marozas stave off homesickness,
Mrs. Shriver encouraged her to invite family
members and friends to Hyannis Port. Her
visitors included her fiancé, mother, brother
and her college friend and fellow Student for
Kennedy Carol Keene ’61.
“I helped Cathy take the children to Otis
Air Force Base, Yarmouth and Osterville, as
well as for visits to The Wool Shop and
Turner’s ice cream store,” Keene said. “It seems
strange to say, but I did not sense that I was in
the midst of an iconic family. An everyday,
casual atmosphere reigned. Ambassador
Kennedy’s home, traditionally furnished and
accented with family mementoes, was a very
cozy, lived-in home, though the room where
that famous photo [of the family] was taken
after the election results came in was rather
formal.”
Weekends with the first family
According to Marozas, the weekends were the
most fun at the “summer White House.” On
Friday evenings around 6 p.m., three
helicopters carrying the president, his
entourage, Robert Kennedy and Sargent
Shriver would land on the front lawn. The
waiting children would run to greet their
fathers then pile on the back of a golf cart.
The president would “chauffeur” them over to
The News Shop for candy with Secret Service
agents running behind the cart to keep up
with them.
Marozas said the family tried to
accommodate the president’s need for some
quiet time on the weekend.
“An amusing ‘presidential order’
proclaimed that children were not allowed
on the lawn on Saturday mornings before
Cathy Marozas taught third and
fifth grades for the Tinley Park
and Oak Lawn school districts for
almost three years. She earned a master’s
degree in special education at National-Louis
University and taught at Hinsdale Central High
School for 26 years. She and her husband William
Marozas have four children, and the family lived in
Hinsdale for over 30 years. The couple retired to
Superstition Mountain, Ariz., two years ago. Carol
Keene, Ph.D., is a retired professor of philosophy.
She taught at Saint Louis University in St. Louis,
Mo., where she earned her doctorate, and at
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, where
she currently resides. Presently she is completing
her second edition of five volumes of unpublished
writings of the British philosopher F. H. Bradley
(1846-1924) and composing encyclopedia entries.
First Lady Jackie Kennedy smiles for Carol Keene’s camera. Weekends at the Kennedy Compound were a time for relaxing and
catching up with family.
16
H E R E
I N
C A M E L O T
F A L L
2 0 0 8
17
The year was 1961. Radios played
“Moon River,” “Where the Boys
Are” and “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
Moviegoers paid 69 cents to see West Side Story,
The Hustler and Butterfield 8, while TV watchers
faithfully tuned in to “Hazel” and “The Dick Van Dyke
Show.” Readers devoured Heller’s Catch-22,
Salinger’s Franny and Zooey and Steinbeck’s The
Winter of Our Discontent, and the New York Yankees
bested the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 in the World Series.
Commander Alan Shepard Jr. became the first
American in space in a suborbital flight aboard
Mercury 3, and busloads of Freedom Riders braved
southern animosity. A tasty new chip called the Frito
started appearing at picnics, and “Barbie” got a new
President John F. Kennedy kicks off the weekend in Hyannis Port, Mass., by chauffeuring the youngest members of the Kennedy
clan to The News Shop for candy.
boyfriend named “Ken.”
In 1961, the Camelot era in American politics began
as the country welcomed John F. Kennedy and his
glamorous family to the White House in January. It
wasn’t long before the nation’s youngest president
faced his first of many challenges. He accepted
responsibility for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in
Cuba in April, and diplomatically, was unable to
prevent the Soviets from erecting the Berlin Wall
that summer.
Shriver also was president of the Chicago
Board of Education and sat on the President’s
Council at Saint Xavier College.
Having received nods from Sister Josetta
and the Shrivers, Marozas flew to Boston on
June 25 and was driven to the Kennedy
Compound in Hyannis Port, Mass., to meet
up with the Shrivers. Marozas arrived late at
night after the children were in bed.
“I don’t think I slept at all that first night,”
she said. “I was so excited.” The next morning,
Marozas embarked on a delightfully surreal
routine that would include interacting not
only with the Shrivers, but all the Kennedy
families, including President John F. Kennedy
and his family, as everyone returned to
Hyannis Port for another summer.
Just like one of the family
Marozas said Joseph P. Kennedy’s 18
grandchildren were separated into two groups
according to their ages and each group kept a
tight schedule. A physical education coach
from Tufts University supervised the older
children, and Marozas was responsible for
helping oversee the younger children. An
array of activities included playing “ball” on
the lawn, fishing, swimming, tennis, softball,
volleyball, water-skiing, sailing, walking on
the beach, going to the library and horseback
riding at the family farm in Osterville, Mass.
Marozas also accompanied the children
on frequent excursions on the family’s cabin
cruiser, The Marlin, or the president’s sailboat,
Victura. She taught the children Irish folk
songs and read frequently to the smallest
grandchildren. The Shriver children were
allowed to watch “Lassie” and one other halfhour of television, but Marozas said they
rarely did because the action outside with
their cousins was too inviting.
The Shrivers immediately treated Marozas
like a member of their family. They never
introduced her as a governess, but simply as
“Cathy, who is staying with us this summer.”
The Shrivers also gave her Joseph P. Kennedy’s
Cadillac to drive. Since Rose Kennedy was on
the French Riviera that summer, Marozas was
invited to use her bedroom. Mrs. Kennedy’s
copy of John F. Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage
lay on a night stand. The simple inscription
read: “To Mother…from your Son, John F.
Kennedy.”
“The Kennedys were very natural,
unassuming, not pretentious,” Marozas said.
“They would laugh and cry about the same
things anyone would. They were openminded and interested in people—all people.
For example, Mrs. Shriver, with her generous
nature, was in the process of planning a
‘Special Games’ event for young people with
disabilities at her new home in Maryland.”
To help Marozas stave off homesickness,
Mrs. Shriver encouraged her to invite family
members and friends to Hyannis Port. Her
visitors included her fiancé, mother, brother
and her college friend and fellow Student for
Kennedy Carol Keene ’61.
“I helped Cathy take the children to Otis
Air Force Base, Yarmouth and Osterville, as
well as for visits to The Wool Shop and
Turner’s ice cream store,” Keene said. “It seems
strange to say, but I did not sense that I was in
the midst of an iconic family. An everyday,
casual atmosphere reigned. Ambassador
Kennedy’s home, traditionally furnished and
accented with family mementoes, was a very
cozy, lived-in home, though the room where
that famous photo [of the family] was taken
after the election results came in was rather
formal.”
Weekends with the first family
According to Marozas, the weekends were the
most fun at the “summer White House.” On
Friday evenings around 6 p.m., three
helicopters carrying the president, his
entourage, Robert Kennedy and Sargent
Shriver would land on the front lawn. The
waiting children would run to greet their
fathers then pile on the back of a golf cart.
The president would “chauffeur” them over to
The News Shop for candy with Secret Service
agents running behind the cart to keep up
with them.
Marozas said the family tried to
accommodate the president’s need for some
quiet time on the weekend.
“An amusing ‘presidential order’
proclaimed that children were not allowed
on the lawn on Saturday mornings before
Cathy Marozas taught third and
fifth grades for the Tinley Park
and Oak Lawn school districts for
almost three years. She earned a master’s
degree in special education at National-Louis
University and taught at Hinsdale Central High
School for 26 years. She and her husband William
Marozas have four children, and the family lived in
Hinsdale for over 30 years. The couple retired to
Superstition Mountain, Ariz., two years ago. Carol
Keene, Ph.D., is a retired professor of philosophy.
She taught at Saint Louis University in St. Louis,
Mo., where she earned her doctorate, and at
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, where
she currently resides. Presently she is completing
her second edition of five volumes of unpublished
writings of the British philosopher F. H. Bradley
(1846-1924) and composing encyclopedia entries.
First Lady Jackie Kennedy smiles for Carol Keene’s camera. Weekends at the Kennedy Compound were a time for relaxing and
catching up with family.
16
H E R E
I N
C A M E L O T
F A L L
2 0 0 8
17
make such a commitment within our own
spheres of action.”
On Sundays, the family gathered at St.
Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis for Mass.
“The Kennedys lived life to its fullest,”
Marozas added, “and yet they were always
reaching out to others. They never lost touch
with the common man. That’s what I
applaud…their voluntary public service all
these years. Their legacy to my generation is
to live our lives giving of ourselves in a
similar way.”
At the end of the summer, the Shrivers
asked Marozas to stay on with them, but she
opted to return to Chicago to her fiancé and
to begin her teaching career. She recalled a
teary farewell.
According to the National Park Service’s Survey of
Historic Sites and Buildings, the Kennedy
Compound consists of three homes
located on six acres of waterfront
property along Nantucket Sound in
Hyannis, Mass. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy owns
the largest residence on the site, which originally
had been purchased by his parents Joseph P. and
Rose Kennedy in 1929. The other two homes are the
former residence of John F. Kennedy and the
residence of Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert F.
Kennedy. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, John
F. Kennedy used the compound as a base for his
presidential campaign and as a summer White
“They gave me such a great send-off,” she
said. “Eunice was out of town, but Sargent
Shriver brought all the kids to the airport,
and before I left, the president graciously
signed several copies of Profiles in Courage
for me, including a copy for Sister Josetta for
the Saint Xavier Library.”
Marozas stayed in touch through cards
and letters, and like the rest of the country,
she was devastated when President Kennedy
was assassinated in November 1963. As time
progressed, her correspondence with the
family slowed down.
“Bobby Kennedy’s death really fractured
me,” Marozas continued. “I just felt this
entire family’s privacy was constantly
invaded. Whatever privileges they’ve received
in life, they’ve more than paid for them. I
wanted people to leave them alone and I
didn’t write as frequently.”
Marozas’ thoughts go out to Senator Ted
Kennedy, now 76, who was diagnosed with a
malignant brain tumor in May 2008. She can
still see him in her mind’s eye, larger than life,
running toward her and the children on the
beach.
“He was only 29 years old then and full
of fun,” Marozas said. “I picture him at the
‘Big House’ now, like his father before him,
sitting on the porch and looking out at the
ocean.” SXM
Send your comments to
[email protected].
House and presidential retreat until his
assassination in 1963.
www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/preside
nts/site30.htm
18
F E A T U R E
9 a.m. so that the president could sleep in.”
she explained. “Mid-morning he would go
out on The Marlin to read. Later, if his back
wasn’t hurting him too much, he might play
a little touch football with his brothers, sisters
and their spouses.” Marozas added that the
adults met at 7 p.m. every Saturday evening
for a lobster, or perhaps lamb, dinner planned
by Mrs. Shriver.
Saturday night also was movie night. As
a Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) investor,
Joseph P. Kennedy had movies delivered to
his home, the “Big House,” where they
were shown in the theater in the lower
level. On one movie night, Marozas
remembers answering a knock at the
door only to find Judy Garland
standing on the other side. During the
subsequent screening, she listened to
Garland and Peter Lawford, Patricia
Kennedy’s husband, exchange
anecdotes about the actors and the
movie business.
On the movie night during her
visit, Keene remembers Robert
Kennedy teasing Jackie Kennedy
about selecting another French
“art film,” specifically La Grande
Illusion, which starred her
cousin Jean Gabin. Marozas
confirmed his sense of humor.
“The president’s flags were always flown
at the compound when he arrived,” she said.
“Yet not many people know that the Attorney
General has an official flag, too. I remember
Bobby joked that no one bothered to fly his
flag when he arrived. And then finally, we all
‘stood at attention’ as someone raised his flag.”
Marozas remembers First Lady Jackie
Kennedy as a protective yet practical mother.
“It was important to her that the Secret
Service agents on duty were fathers
themselves,” she noted, “and, in addition to
having Caroline play with her cousins, she
also wanted her daughter to interact with the
children who played at the West Beach
neighborhood. I really loved Jacqueline’s
paintings of the Cape Cod scenery…the
sailboats, the pier, the children and families
playing on the lawn…which she displayed in
her home.” Jackie Kennedy shied away from
reporters and press photographers, though she
did smile for Keene’s camera one Friday
evening while waiting for her husband’s
helicopter.
“They were down-to-earth people, a
family like any other family,” Keene said.
“It was hard to think of them as ‘Kennedys.’
They were simply people enjoying one
another…enjoying life. Yet they exemplified
an extraordinary sense of purpose to make
this a better world, inspiring many of us to
F A L L
2 0 0 8
19
make such a commitment within our own
spheres of action.”
On Sundays, the family gathered at St.
Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis for Mass.
“The Kennedys lived life to its fullest,”
Marozas added, “and yet they were always
reaching out to others. They never lost touch
with the common man. That’s what I
applaud…their voluntary public service all
these years. Their legacy to my generation is
to live our lives giving of ourselves in a
similar way.”
At the end of the summer, the Shrivers
asked Marozas to stay on with them, but she
opted to return to Chicago to her fiancé and
to begin her teaching career. She recalled a
teary farewell.
According to the National Park Service’s Survey of
Historic Sites and Buildings, the Kennedy
Compound consists of three homes
located on six acres of waterfront
property along Nantucket Sound in
Hyannis, Mass. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy owns
the largest residence on the site, which originally
had been purchased by his parents Joseph P. and
Rose Kennedy in 1929. The other two homes are the
former residence of John F. Kennedy and the
residence of Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert F.
Kennedy. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, John
F. Kennedy used the compound as a base for his
presidential campaign and as a summer White
“They gave me such a great send-off,” she
said. “Eunice was out of town, but Sargent
Shriver brought all the kids to the airport,
and before I left, the president graciously
signed several copies of Profiles in Courage
for me, including a copy for Sister Josetta for
the Saint Xavier Library.”
Marozas stayed in touch through cards
and letters, and like the rest of the country,
she was devastated when President Kennedy
was assassinated in November 1963. As time
progressed, her correspondence with the
family slowed down.
“Bobby Kennedy’s death really fractured
me,” Marozas continued. “I just felt this
entire family’s privacy was constantly
invaded. Whatever privileges they’ve received
in life, they’ve more than paid for them. I
wanted people to leave them alone and I
didn’t write as frequently.”
Marozas’ thoughts go out to Senator Ted
Kennedy, now 76, who was diagnosed with a
malignant brain tumor in May 2008. She can
still see him in her mind’s eye, larger than life,
running toward her and the children on the
beach.
“He was only 29 years old then and full
of fun,” Marozas said. “I picture him at the
‘Big House’ now, like his father before him,
sitting on the porch and looking out at the
ocean.” SXM
Send your comments to
[email protected].
House and presidential retreat until his
assassination in 1963.
www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/preside
nts/site30.htm
18
F E A T U R E
9 a.m. so that the president could sleep in.”
she explained. “Mid-morning he would go
out on The Marlin to read. Later, if his back
wasn’t hurting him too much, he might play
a little touch football with his brothers, sisters
and their spouses.” Marozas added that the
adults met at 7 p.m. every Saturday evening
for a lobster, or perhaps lamb, dinner planned
by Mrs. Shriver.
Saturday night also was movie night. As
a Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) investor,
Joseph P. Kennedy had movies delivered to
his home, the “Big House,” where they
were shown in the theater in the lower
level. On one movie night, Marozas
remembers answering a knock at the
door only to find Judy Garland
standing on the other side. During the
subsequent screening, she listened to
Garland and Peter Lawford, Patricia
Kennedy’s husband, exchange
anecdotes about the actors and the
movie business.
On the movie night during her
visit, Keene remembers Robert
Kennedy teasing Jackie Kennedy
about selecting another French
“art film,” specifically La Grande
Illusion, which starred her
cousin Jean Gabin. Marozas
confirmed his sense of humor.
“The president’s flags were always flown
at the compound when he arrived,” she said.
“Yet not many people know that the Attorney
General has an official flag, too. I remember
Bobby joked that no one bothered to fly his
flag when he arrived. And then finally, we all
‘stood at attention’ as someone raised his flag.”
Marozas remembers First Lady Jackie
Kennedy as a protective yet practical mother.
“It was important to her that the Secret
Service agents on duty were fathers
themselves,” she noted, “and, in addition to
having Caroline play with her cousins, she
also wanted her daughter to interact with the
children who played at the West Beach
neighborhood. I really loved Jacqueline’s
paintings of the Cape Cod scenery…the
sailboats, the pier, the children and families
playing on the lawn…which she displayed in
her home.” Jackie Kennedy shied away from
reporters and press photographers, though she
did smile for Keene’s camera one Friday
evening while waiting for her husband’s
helicopter.
“They were down-to-earth people, a
family like any other family,” Keene said.
“It was hard to think of them as ‘Kennedys.’
They were simply people enjoying one
another…enjoying life. Yet they exemplified
an extraordinary sense of purpose to make
this a better world, inspiring many of us to
F A L L
2 0 0 8
19
B Y
E M I L Y
T H O R N T O N
John Naisbitt: Be the Change
C A L V O
Positive
Change
By Connecting the Classroom to the World
The Golden Apple Award is the “Oscar” of the classroom.
Each year, the Golden Apple Foundation reviews
the nominations of over 1,000 Chicago-area educators
noted for their teaching excellence. Ten teachers
are chosen for the award, which not only highlights
teachers who are a positive influence on their students,
but it strives to advance the profession by sharing
insights that deepen children’s learning experience.
Saint Xavier is proud to share the stories of four
Golden Apple winners who are among our alumni.
20
P O S I T I V E
C H A N G E
J
ohn Naisbitt’s classroom is a reflection
of his expansive world view, an eclectic
assortment of popular icons, such as
Simpsons and South Park characters—and
thousands of small photos of students who
have crossed his path. Oak bookcases line
the walls, and maps and globes inspire
students to think beyond their affluent
Hinsdale, Ill., suburb.
So after an Elmhurst, Ill., family had
a house fire that began with a candle used
to mourn the loss of a family member who
died in Iraq, Naisbitt’s class was quick to raise
money to help. Likewise, when a student was
diagnosed with leukemia, another student,
Ariana Staes, launched her own fundraiser
that garnered $1,200 for research. The
experience sparked an appreciation for
helping others. Now in college, Ariana is
majoring in special education.
“Ghandi said, ‘Be the change you want
to see in the world,’“ says John Naisbitt ’92,
a Golden Apple winner who teaches history
at Hinsdale Central High School. “I want
my students to learn this and not be
intimidated by distance, cost or limitations
that deter others.” They aren’t. These
sophomore and junior students decide where
and how to put their energy—and distance
is irrelevant. When they learned that children
in Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western
Hemisphere, lose 20 percent or more of their
meager nutrition to worms and parasites,
they sponsored a badminton tournament to
fund medication. The kids raised $20,000,
which helped 1 million children. The
students also launched a fundraiser to
eradicate malaria among African children.
While Naisbitt usually inspires these activities
in his classroom, the generosity is contagious
and often migrates to clubs and other
organizations in the school.
Naisbitt credits his mother for instilling
his sense of compassion—and being a role
model as an educator. His mother taught
school in Evergreen Park, Ill., for 30 years,
but he didn’t commit to the profession until
later. In fact, his high school creative writing
teacher sparked an interest in being a writer.
So, when entering Saint Xavier in his mid20s, he focused on a career as a journalist,
but was soon captivated by the power of
affecting change as an educator.
“We’re all citizens of the world,” says
Naisbitt. “History is an appreciation of that
reality and we can help make that world
better.” Consequently, Naisbitt’s educational
philosophy is as much about affecting events
as it is about learning them.
“There’s a cliché about being satisfied
knowing you’ve affected one person,”
remarked Naisbitt. “That doesn’t resonate
with me. I can’t be satisfied until I’ve reached
all my students.”
F A L L
2 0 0 8
21
B Y
E M I L Y
T H O R N T O N
John Naisbitt: Be the Change
C A L V O
Positive
Change
By Connecting the Classroom to the World
The Golden Apple Award is the “Oscar” of the classroom.
Each year, the Golden Apple Foundation reviews
the nominations of over 1,000 Chicago-area educators
noted for their teaching excellence. Ten teachers
are chosen for the award, which not only highlights
teachers who are a positive influence on their students,
but it strives to advance the profession by sharing
insights that deepen children’s learning experience.
Saint Xavier is proud to share the stories of four
Golden Apple winners who are among our alumni.
20
P O S I T I V E
C H A N G E
J
ohn Naisbitt’s classroom is a reflection
of his expansive world view, an eclectic
assortment of popular icons, such as
Simpsons and South Park characters—and
thousands of small photos of students who
have crossed his path. Oak bookcases line
the walls, and maps and globes inspire
students to think beyond their affluent
Hinsdale, Ill., suburb.
So after an Elmhurst, Ill., family had
a house fire that began with a candle used
to mourn the loss of a family member who
died in Iraq, Naisbitt’s class was quick to raise
money to help. Likewise, when a student was
diagnosed with leukemia, another student,
Ariana Staes, launched her own fundraiser
that garnered $1,200 for research. The
experience sparked an appreciation for
helping others. Now in college, Ariana is
majoring in special education.
“Ghandi said, ‘Be the change you want
to see in the world,’“ says John Naisbitt ’92,
a Golden Apple winner who teaches history
at Hinsdale Central High School. “I want
my students to learn this and not be
intimidated by distance, cost or limitations
that deter others.” They aren’t. These
sophomore and junior students decide where
and how to put their energy—and distance
is irrelevant. When they learned that children
in Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western
Hemisphere, lose 20 percent or more of their
meager nutrition to worms and parasites,
they sponsored a badminton tournament to
fund medication. The kids raised $20,000,
which helped 1 million children. The
students also launched a fundraiser to
eradicate malaria among African children.
While Naisbitt usually inspires these activities
in his classroom, the generosity is contagious
and often migrates to clubs and other
organizations in the school.
Naisbitt credits his mother for instilling
his sense of compassion—and being a role
model as an educator. His mother taught
school in Evergreen Park, Ill., for 30 years,
but he didn’t commit to the profession until
later. In fact, his high school creative writing
teacher sparked an interest in being a writer.
So, when entering Saint Xavier in his mid20s, he focused on a career as a journalist,
but was soon captivated by the power of
affecting change as an educator.
“We’re all citizens of the world,” says
Naisbitt. “History is an appreciation of that
reality and we can help make that world
better.” Consequently, Naisbitt’s educational
philosophy is as much about affecting events
as it is about learning them.
“There’s a cliché about being satisfied
knowing you’ve affected one person,”
remarked Naisbitt. “That doesn’t resonate
with me. I can’t be satisfied until I’ve reached
all my students.”
F A L L
2 0 0 8
21
Mr. Hollander’s Opus: Inspire Thinking
W
hen a student’s running shoe
flies out of the classroom door
at Kennedy Junior High in
Naperville, Ill., that means David
Hollander ’89, is preparing his eighth
graders for their exam on the U.S.
Constitution. The exercise induces a benign
form of chaos—a firsthand experience that
sparks an unfamiliar need for order; for
process; for mutual respect. It sparks a
discussion about natural rights and rules,
which is a perfect introduction to the need
for government. This is just one way
Hollander inspires students to experience
history, to WANT information and to
THINK about the relevance of what
they learn.
Hollander, a math wiz in high school,
approached college as an adventurer. He
registered for classes that were less familiar—
like history. While at DePauw University in
22
P O S I T I V E
C H A N G E
Greencastle, Ind., he met John Baughman,
a brilliant aging storyteller and WWII
veteran who made history come alive. In
the professor’s class, Hollander wasn’t simply
taught about dates and events. He learned
to think about what they meant. And, he
got excited about history.
After graduation, Hollander grappled
with his future. Teaching had always
interested him, but the prospect of a
profession with low pay and minimal respect
failed to excite him. He returned home to
Chicago and was encouraged by his future
wife to try it. At Saint Xavier University,
Hollander encountered other professors who
reinforced his commitment to teaching and
he earned a master’s in education.
“My class is a success when students
want to go to the next step,” says Hollander.
And he’s rewarded when he sees students
arrive early to class. They start discussing the
lesson because they enjoy reasoning their way
through the historic tapestry. He watches
discussions migrate to the hallway when class
ends. “I try to bring energy to the classroom,”
adds Hollander.
Beyond the creativity, books and
exercises are fundamental beliefs that also
enhance Hollander’s effectiveness as a teacher.
“I try to discover what each student has to
offer and then make the most of it. All kids
are different—and they grow and change.
You have to accept where each one is at and
say, ‘Everyone has something to offer. Let’s
see what you can do and make the most of
it.’ In doing so, Hollander watches kids
discover a new thirst for knowledge.
Mary Kennedy: Accomplish the Unfathomable
“
T
o be or not to be,” chimes an eighth
grader dressed in Shakespearean
garb. Like the student, the classroom
is decorated to be more reminiscent of castles
and kings than the children’s running shoes
peeking under the robes.
Teaching Hamlet to eighth graders may
seem like asking for the moon, but for Mary
Kennedy ’01, it’s simply inviting students to
be stars. At St. Bede the Venerable in
Chicago, her students learn by acting it out
with costumes, hats, swords and other props
from Shakespeare’s period, which brings the
play to life.
“Some students think I’m setting them
up to fail,” says Kennedy, “because Hamlet is
so difficult. I tell them that if they pay
attention and do the work, they’ll all get an A
or B.” Her students amaze themselves by
doing just that. Kennedy brings her own love
of literature and art into the classroom—and
mastering the play teaches even “A” students
that they can achieve more than they expect.
Kennedy always wanted to be a teacher.
She remembers her first grade teacher and
many after that, who showed they cared
about their students and sharing their
knowledge. At St. Ignatius High School in
Chicago, Kennedy’s teacher was such a
wonderful inspiration—who was also a
Golden Apple winner—she asked to be in
his Greek class. At Saint Xavier, Professor
James Rabbitt’s unbridled enthusiasm and
pride was contagious.
But teaching isn’t always easy. When a
student isn’t giving his or her best, Kennedy
requests “a sidebar at the podium.” There, she
asks the student to give the class a chance.
“I talk them out of how they’re seeing
themselves and convince them they can do
it.” says Kennedy. “Students need to be seen
as people and I owe it to them to awaken
something in them.” Other teachers, and her
exceptionally positive principal reinforce a
positive attitude that helps ride out the rough
moments.
For Kennedy, winning the Golden Apple
Award was an honor, but she also feels the
responsibility to take students even further.
“It’s all about moving forward,” she says, “and
not looking back.”
F A L L
2 0 0 8
23
Mr. Hollander’s Opus: Inspire Thinking
W
hen a student’s running shoe
flies out of the classroom door
at Kennedy Junior High in
Naperville, Ill., that means David
Hollander ’89, is preparing his eighth
graders for their exam on the U.S.
Constitution. The exercise induces a benign
form of chaos—a firsthand experience that
sparks an unfamiliar need for order; for
process; for mutual respect. It sparks a
discussion about natural rights and rules,
which is a perfect introduction to the need
for government. This is just one way
Hollander inspires students to experience
history, to WANT information and to
THINK about the relevance of what
they learn.
Hollander, a math wiz in high school,
approached college as an adventurer. He
registered for classes that were less familiar—
like history. While at DePauw University in
22
P O S I T I V E
C H A N G E
Greencastle, Ind., he met John Baughman,
a brilliant aging storyteller and WWII
veteran who made history come alive. In
the professor’s class, Hollander wasn’t simply
taught about dates and events. He learned
to think about what they meant. And, he
got excited about history.
After graduation, Hollander grappled
with his future. Teaching had always
interested him, but the prospect of a
profession with low pay and minimal respect
failed to excite him. He returned home to
Chicago and was encouraged by his future
wife to try it. At Saint Xavier University,
Hollander encountered other professors who
reinforced his commitment to teaching and
he earned a master’s in education.
“My class is a success when students
want to go to the next step,” says Hollander.
And he’s rewarded when he sees students
arrive early to class. They start discussing the
lesson because they enjoy reasoning their way
through the historic tapestry. He watches
discussions migrate to the hallway when class
ends. “I try to bring energy to the classroom,”
adds Hollander.
Beyond the creativity, books and
exercises are fundamental beliefs that also
enhance Hollander’s effectiveness as a teacher.
“I try to discover what each student has to
offer and then make the most of it. All kids
are different—and they grow and change.
You have to accept where each one is at and
say, ‘Everyone has something to offer. Let’s
see what you can do and make the most of
it.’ In doing so, Hollander watches kids
discover a new thirst for knowledge.
Mary Kennedy: Accomplish the Unfathomable
“
T
o be or not to be,” chimes an eighth
grader dressed in Shakespearean
garb. Like the student, the classroom
is decorated to be more reminiscent of castles
and kings than the children’s running shoes
peeking under the robes.
Teaching Hamlet to eighth graders may
seem like asking for the moon, but for Mary
Kennedy ’01, it’s simply inviting students to
be stars. At St. Bede the Venerable in
Chicago, her students learn by acting it out
with costumes, hats, swords and other props
from Shakespeare’s period, which brings the
play to life.
“Some students think I’m setting them
up to fail,” says Kennedy, “because Hamlet is
so difficult. I tell them that if they pay
attention and do the work, they’ll all get an A
or B.” Her students amaze themselves by
doing just that. Kennedy brings her own love
of literature and art into the classroom—and
mastering the play teaches even “A” students
that they can achieve more than they expect.
Kennedy always wanted to be a teacher.
She remembers her first grade teacher and
many after that, who showed they cared
about their students and sharing their
knowledge. At St. Ignatius High School in
Chicago, Kennedy’s teacher was such a
wonderful inspiration—who was also a
Golden Apple winner—she asked to be in
his Greek class. At Saint Xavier, Professor
James Rabbitt’s unbridled enthusiasm and
pride was contagious.
But teaching isn’t always easy. When a
student isn’t giving his or her best, Kennedy
requests “a sidebar at the podium.” There, she
asks the student to give the class a chance.
“I talk them out of how they’re seeing
themselves and convince them they can do
it.” says Kennedy. “Students need to be seen
as people and I owe it to them to awaken
something in them.” Other teachers, and her
exceptionally positive principal reinforce a
positive attitude that helps ride out the rough
moments.
For Kennedy, winning the Golden Apple
Award was an honor, but she also feels the
responsibility to take students even further.
“It’s all about moving forward,” she says, “and
not looking back.”
F A L L
2 0 0 8
23
John Nieciak: Collaborating to Find Truth
An Opening of
Hearts &
Minds
I
n spring of 2007, in the multipurpose
community room at the Japanese
American Service Committee on
Chicago’s North Side, John Nieciak’s students
unveiled an exhibition remembering victims
of Japanese internment during World War II.
Community leaders, educators and survivors
studied sculpture, paintings, poetry and a
moving multimedia presentation depicting
the chaos and suffering endured by
Americans who had been interred.
For John Nieciak ’85, ’98 and ’07, who
teaches reading and writing to middle school
children at Mark Sheridan School in the
Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago, the
exhibition was an example of collaborative
learning. When his students learned about
Japanese internment during World War II,
they were moved—and wanted to share the
story. Through collaboration between
Chicago Arts Partnership for Education and
the Japanese-American Service Committee,
students from Mark Sheridan School and
24
P O S I T I V E
C H A N G E
Northside College Preparatory High School
created a multimedia project depicting this
American episode. Kids met camp survivors.
They learned about overcoming obstacles.
The process fostered a deeper perspective
and students cultivated a “taste” for truth.
“Today, literacy means being able to
communicate with a variety of people in a
variety of media,” says Nieciak. Therefore,
collaborating with community members to
create relevant multimedia projects presents
outstanding learning opportunities.
At the end of the presentation, a woman,
who had been held in the camps stood up.
She explained that after being interred, she
spent the first 20 years ashamed and never
spoke of her experiences. During the second
20 years, she spoke to everyone. Now, after
seeing the student’s message, she felt she
could let it go. Her story was told.
“No test score can measure a new
perspective,” explains Nieciak, but through
this project, students met or exceeded their
literacy goals.
“There are always going to be kids who
can’t get into it at first,” adds Nieciak. “I try
to take the pressure off the child and put it
on myself. It’s my job to find out what
interests a kid and create a place for him to
fit in.” Nieciak experienced this method
firsthand. “Saint Xavier did an excellent job
of educating me, which means drawing me
out.” The goal is to spark interaction that
broadens viewpoints and creates community.
These Golden Apple winners exemplify
the positive attitude and belief in their
students that not only affect the children
they teach, but also live on in how the
students live their lives. As Golden Apple
winners, teachers have an opportunity to
share their insights with other teachers in
order to further the profession, which then
affects even more students through the
Chicago area and beyond. SXM
We’d love to hear from you. E-mail
[email protected].
in Belize
S
ix Saint Xavier students expanded their hearts and minds this spring
during the first international Mercy service trip when they traveled to
Central America to perform a week of service at ministry locations in
Belize. Students met with Sisters of Mercy from Belize and worked at a
preschool in one of Belize City’s poorer areas and an outreach center for
children with HIV/AIDS. They were hosted by Hand-in-Hand Ministries,
an international human services organization that seeks to make Christ
present in the world through service to the poor, especially abandoned or
disabled children. Students reflected on the experience in their journals,
and were kind enough to share the following excerpts with Saint Xavier
Magazine. The group was led by Sister Susan Sanders, R.S.M., Ph.D.,
Sister Joy Clough, R.S.M., and Professor David Arenas, Ph.D.
F A L L
2 0 0 8
25
John Nieciak: Collaborating to Find Truth
An Opening of
Hearts &
Minds
I
n spring of 2007, in the multipurpose
community room at the Japanese
American Service Committee on
Chicago’s North Side, John Nieciak’s students
unveiled an exhibition remembering victims
of Japanese internment during World War II.
Community leaders, educators and survivors
studied sculpture, paintings, poetry and a
moving multimedia presentation depicting
the chaos and suffering endured by
Americans who had been interred.
For John Nieciak ’85, ’98 and ’07, who
teaches reading and writing to middle school
children at Mark Sheridan School in the
Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago, the
exhibition was an example of collaborative
learning. When his students learned about
Japanese internment during World War II,
they were moved—and wanted to share the
story. Through collaboration between
Chicago Arts Partnership for Education and
the Japanese-American Service Committee,
students from Mark Sheridan School and
24
P O S I T I V E
C H A N G E
Northside College Preparatory High School
created a multimedia project depicting this
American episode. Kids met camp survivors.
They learned about overcoming obstacles.
The process fostered a deeper perspective
and students cultivated a “taste” for truth.
“Today, literacy means being able to
communicate with a variety of people in a
variety of media,” says Nieciak. Therefore,
collaborating with community members to
create relevant multimedia projects presents
outstanding learning opportunities.
At the end of the presentation, a woman,
who had been held in the camps stood up.
She explained that after being interred, she
spent the first 20 years ashamed and never
spoke of her experiences. During the second
20 years, she spoke to everyone. Now, after
seeing the student’s message, she felt she
could let it go. Her story was told.
“No test score can measure a new
perspective,” explains Nieciak, but through
this project, students met or exceeded their
literacy goals.
“There are always going to be kids who
can’t get into it at first,” adds Nieciak. “I try
to take the pressure off the child and put it
on myself. It’s my job to find out what
interests a kid and create a place for him to
fit in.” Nieciak experienced this method
firsthand. “Saint Xavier did an excellent job
of educating me, which means drawing me
out.” The goal is to spark interaction that
broadens viewpoints and creates community.
These Golden Apple winners exemplify
the positive attitude and belief in their
students that not only affect the children
they teach, but also live on in how the
students live their lives. As Golden Apple
winners, teachers have an opportunity to
share their insights with other teachers in
order to further the profession, which then
affects even more students through the
Chicago area and beyond. SXM
We’d love to hear from you. E-mail
[email protected].
in Belize
S
ix Saint Xavier students expanded their hearts and minds this spring
during the first international Mercy service trip when they traveled to
Central America to perform a week of service at ministry locations in
Belize. Students met with Sisters of Mercy from Belize and worked at a
preschool in one of Belize City’s poorer areas and an outreach center for
children with HIV/AIDS. They were hosted by Hand-in-Hand Ministries,
an international human services organization that seeks to make Christ
present in the world through service to the poor, especially abandoned or
disabled children. Students reflected on the experience in their journals,
and were kind enough to share the following excerpts with Saint Xavier
Magazine. The group was led by Sister Susan Sanders, R.S.M., Ph.D.,
Sister Joy Clough, R.S.M., and Professor David Arenas, Ph.D.
F A L L
2 0 0 8
25
Matt Stevenson ’08
“Belize’s only international airport struck me immediately.
The soulful smell of the third world hit me like a steam roller.
It was slow, heavy and ultimately devastating.
As we waited outside for our ride, I noticed an emaciated
dog that was hanging around the entrance. Her nipples hung
from her body; she was gaunt, flea infested and starving for
food. But I think she was also starving for a little attention
from our group. As I climbed in the blistering hot van I could
not ignore the irony. This young mother dog was weathered
beyond the actual years of her age. She was diseased,
exhausted, hungry and silently crying for our attention.
Maybe she wanted a bite to eat. Maybe she wanted a simple
pat on the head. Or maybe she just wanted someone to listen
to her story.
But instead, just as we have often done to her human
counterparts, I turned my back, climbed in the car and
headed off. As we drove away, Sue wished her good luck.
Good luck, indeed. Good luck girl, you are going to need it.”
Monday, May 12, 2008
“A little girl with big eyes completely captivated me today. As
I held her she grabbed the printed heart on my red “Hope for
Harrington” T-shirt. More importantly, she grabbed tight on
my heart underneath that old and beat up T-shirt. This was
undoubtedly one of the, if not the, most profound
experiences of the Divine in my life.
As we were sitting there, I could not help but notice the
verse from Matthew (18:20) painted on the wall across from
me. ‘For where two or three are gathered together in my
name, there I am in the midst of them.’
Initially I thought that I was the one doing the consoling
and comforting. Instead, I was the one being consoled and
loved. With one look this little 13-month-old girl absolved
me. Her look said that it is okay that I ended up growing up
extremely privileged and that I have been given an education
that most cannot even imagine. It is okay that she has to
covertly come to this day care because others won’t take her
because either she or a family member has contracted
HIV/AIDS. She fell asleep on me, her breath in my face,
washing away all my guilt, telling me it was okay.”
Matt Stevenson ’08
Political Science/Theology
26
H E A R T S
&
M I N D S
I N
B E L I Z E
Regina Byrnes
Friday, May 9, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
“Today was amazing. I actually got to go out with
one of the volunteer nurses into the community.
The people were so grateful when the nurses did
something as simple as taking their vital signs. It
made me think about my future in nursing. I
know this is what I want to do. I would love
to take a year or so out of my life and be a
mission/volunteer nurse. And even if that isn’t
possible, maybe I could specialize in home
health or community-based nursing. This was
an amazing day, and it’s only day one.”
Sunday, May 11, 2008
“Belize is hot, there aren’t many roads or any
sewers, and poverty is everywhere. I know it
sounds bad, but those were my original thoughts
after arriving at the airport. However, after meeting
some of the local people I noticed how strong their
faith was. It made me feel a little guilty because
my faith isn’t even that strong. This was when I
realized that maybe I was thinking about poverty
in the wrong way. Sure, many of these people are
poor in the economic sense, but they are rich in
faith. It makes me realize that there is so much I
can learn from the people here to make my faith
life richer.”
Regina Byrnes
Junior
Nursing
F A L L
2 0 0 8
27
Matt Stevenson ’08
“Belize’s only international airport struck me immediately.
The soulful smell of the third world hit me like a steam roller.
It was slow, heavy and ultimately devastating.
As we waited outside for our ride, I noticed an emaciated
dog that was hanging around the entrance. Her nipples hung
from her body; she was gaunt, flea infested and starving for
food. But I think she was also starving for a little attention
from our group. As I climbed in the blistering hot van I could
not ignore the irony. This young mother dog was weathered
beyond the actual years of her age. She was diseased,
exhausted, hungry and silently crying for our attention.
Maybe she wanted a bite to eat. Maybe she wanted a simple
pat on the head. Or maybe she just wanted someone to listen
to her story.
But instead, just as we have often done to her human
counterparts, I turned my back, climbed in the car and
headed off. As we drove away, Sue wished her good luck.
Good luck, indeed. Good luck girl, you are going to need it.”
Monday, May 12, 2008
“A little girl with big eyes completely captivated me today. As
I held her she grabbed the printed heart on my red “Hope for
Harrington” T-shirt. More importantly, she grabbed tight on
my heart underneath that old and beat up T-shirt. This was
undoubtedly one of the, if not the, most profound
experiences of the Divine in my life.
As we were sitting there, I could not help but notice the
verse from Matthew (18:20) painted on the wall across from
me. ‘For where two or three are gathered together in my
name, there I am in the midst of them.’
Initially I thought that I was the one doing the consoling
and comforting. Instead, I was the one being consoled and
loved. With one look this little 13-month-old girl absolved
me. Her look said that it is okay that I ended up growing up
extremely privileged and that I have been given an education
that most cannot even imagine. It is okay that she has to
covertly come to this day care because others won’t take her
because either she or a family member has contracted
HIV/AIDS. She fell asleep on me, her breath in my face,
washing away all my guilt, telling me it was okay.”
Matt Stevenson ’08
Political Science/Theology
26
H E A R T S
&
M I N D S
I N
B E L I Z E
Regina Byrnes
Friday, May 9, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
“Today was amazing. I actually got to go out with
one of the volunteer nurses into the community.
The people were so grateful when the nurses did
something as simple as taking their vital signs. It
made me think about my future in nursing. I
know this is what I want to do. I would love
to take a year or so out of my life and be a
mission/volunteer nurse. And even if that isn’t
possible, maybe I could specialize in home
health or community-based nursing. This was
an amazing day, and it’s only day one.”
Sunday, May 11, 2008
“Belize is hot, there aren’t many roads or any
sewers, and poverty is everywhere. I know it
sounds bad, but those were my original thoughts
after arriving at the airport. However, after meeting
some of the local people I noticed how strong their
faith was. It made me feel a little guilty because
my faith isn’t even that strong. This was when I
realized that maybe I was thinking about poverty
in the wrong way. Sure, many of these people are
poor in the economic sense, but they are rich in
faith. It makes me realize that there is so much I
can learn from the people here to make my faith
life richer.”
Regina Byrnes
Junior
Nursing
F A L L
2 0 0 8
27
advancing
THE MISSION
Meet the Board
PRESIDENT ’S SCHOL ARSHIP BALL:
HARD WOR K PAYS HUGE
DIVIDENDS
William Keyser is the chairman and CEO of
Florida Plastics International Inc., a familyowned business that provides signage and silk
screening to an array of clients nationwide. A
lifelong resident of Evergreen Park, Ill., he has
dedicated much of his time, talents and energy
to the community. He was recently honored as
Businessman of the Year by the Evergreen Park
Chamber of Commerce and his photo was
added to the Wall of Fame at Evergreen Park
High School. Keyser has been a member of
Saint Xavier’s Board of Trustees since 2003.
Sarah Rakauskas was raised to believe that good
things happen to those who earn them.
Tell us about the history of your business,
Florida Plastics International Inc.
My dad purchased Florida Plastics Midwest in
1965 and continued distributing plastic letters
that are used in signs, on the sides of buildings
and for name plates. Three years later, in 1968,
the company began making menu boards for
McDonald’s. At the time, McDonald’s had 500
restaurants—we are one of McDonald’s many
success stories, and we still handle the signage for
the menu boards inside the restaurant and in the
drive-thru.
What did you want to be when you were
growing up?
I took a vocational test my senior year at
Evergreen Park High School and it said I was
likely to succeed in agriculture, but like any
young person I hadn’t made up my mind [on a
career]. I had my dad’s spirit. He instilled in me
some good entrepreneurial skills. I went away to
college at the University of Arizona and Western
Illinois University, and my intention was to have
my own business of some sort.
What are you currently reading?
Good to Great by Jim Collins. Everyone here at
Florida Plastics is reading this book to improve
leadership [abilities].
28
A D V A N C I N G
T H E
M I S S I O N
You are very involved in the Evergreen
Park community.
Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, taught his
owner/operators that being part of the
community is giving back to the community in
which you do business.
You have certainly been active with many
charitable organizations. Is there one that
is closest to your heart?
While there are a lot of nonprofit organizations
such as Saint Xavier University that have my
attention, I have been involved with the Ronald
McDonald House Charities since its inception
in the mid-1970s. The first Ronald McDonald
House was in Philadelphia. It began as a joint
venture between the Philadelphia Eagles football
team, a local sports announcer, local McDonald’s
owner/operators and local/national McDonald’s
suppliers. There are now 275 houses around the
world, and a new Ronald McDonald House will
open on Nov. 1, 2008 near Advocate Hope
Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill.
Tell us about your best or most memorable
experience with Saint Xavier University.
The University was geographically close to
where I grew up. I used to play on the property
as a child. Later, Richard Yanikowski invited me
to be on his board. I was also invited to be on
the President’s Advisory Council. I understood
through Richard and before the impact the
University has on the community. Not just
by providing a great education but also the
economic impact it has on the community
from jobs to goods and services needed by the
University. Now as a trustee, I have that same
feeling, passion and understanding that this is
not only locally impacting but nationally
impacting. It’s satisfying to see the institution
prosper as it grows and see it nationally
recognized.
“I work hard at my academics, and it’s nice to
have someone reward you for that, so it’s an
honor to receive the President’s Scholarship,” says
Rakauskas, a Saint Xavier junior who grew up in
the Mount Greenwood neighborhood of
Chicago and graduated from Mother McAuley
High School.
Rakauskas, who carries a 3.9 GPA as a double
major in religious studies and sociology, is one of
more than 1,600 students who have received the
President’s Scholarship since the program’s
inception in 1985. The award ranges from $4,580
to $12,000 per student.
With all of your responsibilities it doesn’t
seem like you would have much free time.
I enjoy golf and I play when I can. I also enjoy
fishing in Canada and the Caribbean, and I am
just starting to get into fly fishing. There’s quite a
science to it. A good fly fisherman will arrive at a
stream and assess what natural bugs are around
and pick bait accordingly. I have a 40 feet by 40
feet garden with 22 peppers (six varieties), nine
tomatoes plants, onions, carrots, cucumbers and
pole and bush beans. My wife and I enjoy all of
the above.
“The scholarship lifts a big financial burden off
me,” says Rakauskas, an RA and a member of
the Peer Ministry who plans to teach highschool theology. “It allows me to focus even
more on my studies. It’s great to get that backing
from the University.”
Such financial support is possible thanks to the
President’s Scholarship Ball. This year’s 23rd
annual event at the Hilton Chicago in April
raised nearly $300,000 in net proceeds—a
University record.
More than 500 guests attended the event during
which former U.S. Secretary of Commerce the
Honorable William M. Daley was awarded the
Shield of Saint Xavier, the University’s highest
honor, in recognition of his leadership and
From left: Margaret Daley, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Saint Xavier University President Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D.,
Bernadette Keller and the Hon. William M. Daley at Saint Xavier University’s 23rd Annual President’s Scholarship Ball,
April 14 at the Hilton Chicago. The event raised nearly $300,000 in scholarship money, a new fund-raising record.
service to both Chicago and the nation. Mayor
Richard M. Daley, William Daley’s brother, also
attended the event.
“This year more than ever, friends of Saint
Xavier proved their generosity and commitment
to higher education,” says President Judith A.
Dwyer, Ph.D. “We are delighted to recognize
William Daley, a former University trustee, for
his long record of dedicated service to this region
and particularly to Catholic institutions.
“We also extend our gratitude to the many
trustees, faculty, staff, alumni and friends who so
generously supported the ball,” Dwyer says. “And
I am grateful to the ball’s co-chairs, trustees
Joseph Balasa and Ellen Mulaney, and their
spouses, Nicolette Balasa and Charles Mulaney.”
As Sarah Rakauskas can appreciate, their hard
work paid off.
S A V E T H E D AT E
2009
President’s
Scholarship
Ball
HILTON CHICAGO
SAT. , MARCH 21, 2 0 0 9
For information, please contact
the Office of Special Events at
(773) 298-3311 or
[email protected].
From left to right: Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Scholarship sponsors
George Deaton and Peg Deaton, scholarship recipients Tom McKenna,
Joe Leccesi, Bill McKeon and Mike Maher, and Cougar Football Coach
Mike Feminis enjoy the Annual Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Golf Outing.
Held on June 20, 2008, the event welcomed 100 SXU alumni and friends
to honor Bruce’s memory and continue the tradition of support for the
Cougar Football Program.
F A L L
2 0 0 8
29
advancing
THE MISSION
Meet the Board
PRESIDENT ’S SCHOL ARSHIP BALL:
HARD WOR K PAYS HUGE
DIVIDENDS
William Keyser is the chairman and CEO of
Florida Plastics International Inc., a familyowned business that provides signage and silk
screening to an array of clients nationwide. A
lifelong resident of Evergreen Park, Ill., he has
dedicated much of his time, talents and energy
to the community. He was recently honored as
Businessman of the Year by the Evergreen Park
Chamber of Commerce and his photo was
added to the Wall of Fame at Evergreen Park
High School. Keyser has been a member of
Saint Xavier’s Board of Trustees since 2003.
Sarah Rakauskas was raised to believe that good
things happen to those who earn them.
Tell us about the history of your business,
Florida Plastics International Inc.
My dad purchased Florida Plastics Midwest in
1965 and continued distributing plastic letters
that are used in signs, on the sides of buildings
and for name plates. Three years later, in 1968,
the company began making menu boards for
McDonald’s. At the time, McDonald’s had 500
restaurants—we are one of McDonald’s many
success stories, and we still handle the signage for
the menu boards inside the restaurant and in the
drive-thru.
What did you want to be when you were
growing up?
I took a vocational test my senior year at
Evergreen Park High School and it said I was
likely to succeed in agriculture, but like any
young person I hadn’t made up my mind [on a
career]. I had my dad’s spirit. He instilled in me
some good entrepreneurial skills. I went away to
college at the University of Arizona and Western
Illinois University, and my intention was to have
my own business of some sort.
What are you currently reading?
Good to Great by Jim Collins. Everyone here at
Florida Plastics is reading this book to improve
leadership [abilities].
28
A D V A N C I N G
T H E
M I S S I O N
You are very involved in the Evergreen
Park community.
Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, taught his
owner/operators that being part of the
community is giving back to the community in
which you do business.
You have certainly been active with many
charitable organizations. Is there one that
is closest to your heart?
While there are a lot of nonprofit organizations
such as Saint Xavier University that have my
attention, I have been involved with the Ronald
McDonald House Charities since its inception
in the mid-1970s. The first Ronald McDonald
House was in Philadelphia. It began as a joint
venture between the Philadelphia Eagles football
team, a local sports announcer, local McDonald’s
owner/operators and local/national McDonald’s
suppliers. There are now 275 houses around the
world, and a new Ronald McDonald House will
open on Nov. 1, 2008 near Advocate Hope
Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill.
Tell us about your best or most memorable
experience with Saint Xavier University.
The University was geographically close to
where I grew up. I used to play on the property
as a child. Later, Richard Yanikowski invited me
to be on his board. I was also invited to be on
the President’s Advisory Council. I understood
through Richard and before the impact the
University has on the community. Not just
by providing a great education but also the
economic impact it has on the community
from jobs to goods and services needed by the
University. Now as a trustee, I have that same
feeling, passion and understanding that this is
not only locally impacting but nationally
impacting. It’s satisfying to see the institution
prosper as it grows and see it nationally
recognized.
“I work hard at my academics, and it’s nice to
have someone reward you for that, so it’s an
honor to receive the President’s Scholarship,” says
Rakauskas, a Saint Xavier junior who grew up in
the Mount Greenwood neighborhood of
Chicago and graduated from Mother McAuley
High School.
Rakauskas, who carries a 3.9 GPA as a double
major in religious studies and sociology, is one of
more than 1,600 students who have received the
President’s Scholarship since the program’s
inception in 1985. The award ranges from $4,580
to $12,000 per student.
With all of your responsibilities it doesn’t
seem like you would have much free time.
I enjoy golf and I play when I can. I also enjoy
fishing in Canada and the Caribbean, and I am
just starting to get into fly fishing. There’s quite a
science to it. A good fly fisherman will arrive at a
stream and assess what natural bugs are around
and pick bait accordingly. I have a 40 feet by 40
feet garden with 22 peppers (six varieties), nine
tomatoes plants, onions, carrots, cucumbers and
pole and bush beans. My wife and I enjoy all of
the above.
“The scholarship lifts a big financial burden off
me,” says Rakauskas, an RA and a member of
the Peer Ministry who plans to teach highschool theology. “It allows me to focus even
more on my studies. It’s great to get that backing
from the University.”
Such financial support is possible thanks to the
President’s Scholarship Ball. This year’s 23rd
annual event at the Hilton Chicago in April
raised nearly $300,000 in net proceeds—a
University record.
More than 500 guests attended the event during
which former U.S. Secretary of Commerce the
Honorable William M. Daley was awarded the
Shield of Saint Xavier, the University’s highest
honor, in recognition of his leadership and
From left: Margaret Daley, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Saint Xavier University President Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D.,
Bernadette Keller and the Hon. William M. Daley at Saint Xavier University’s 23rd Annual President’s Scholarship Ball,
April 14 at the Hilton Chicago. The event raised nearly $300,000 in scholarship money, a new fund-raising record.
service to both Chicago and the nation. Mayor
Richard M. Daley, William Daley’s brother, also
attended the event.
“This year more than ever, friends of Saint
Xavier proved their generosity and commitment
to higher education,” says President Judith A.
Dwyer, Ph.D. “We are delighted to recognize
William Daley, a former University trustee, for
his long record of dedicated service to this region
and particularly to Catholic institutions.
“We also extend our gratitude to the many
trustees, faculty, staff, alumni and friends who so
generously supported the ball,” Dwyer says. “And
I am grateful to the ball’s co-chairs, trustees
Joseph Balasa and Ellen Mulaney, and their
spouses, Nicolette Balasa and Charles Mulaney.”
As Sarah Rakauskas can appreciate, their hard
work paid off.
S A V E T H E D AT E
2009
President’s
Scholarship
Ball
HILTON CHICAGO
SAT. , MARCH 21, 2 0 0 9
For information, please contact
the Office of Special Events at
(773) 298-3311 or
[email protected].
From left to right: Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Scholarship sponsors
George Deaton and Peg Deaton, scholarship recipients Tom McKenna,
Joe Leccesi, Bill McKeon and Mike Maher, and Cougar Football Coach
Mike Feminis enjoy the Annual Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Golf Outing.
Held on June 20, 2008, the event welcomed 100 SXU alumni and friends
to honor Bruce’s memory and continue the tradition of support for the
Cougar Football Program.
F A L L
2 0 0 8
29
Faculty Snapshot
advancing
THE MISSION
MCGOWAN SCHOL ARS
AT SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSIT Y
PATRICIA AND JAMES MORRIS
PAY IT FORWARD
About halfway through the last century, a young
man from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., found himself
admitted to Harvard Business School with
enough money to pay tuition for only half of the
two-year program. William G. McGowan
began his studies and later applied for and
received one of Harvard’s Baker Scholarships,
which allowed him to complete his MBA. After
private consulting, McGowan went to work for
a company called Microwave Communications
of America, subsequently founding MCI and
dramatically affecting the telecommunications
industry in America.
Whenever Patricia (Smith) Morris, Ph.D. ’83,
walks through the Saint Xavier campus, she reexperiences “the surprising and humbling
honor” she and her husband, James A. Morris,
received on May 14: the dedication of the
Smith-Morris Quadrangle.
They say that the best way to “pay back” this
sort of gift is to “pay it forward,” passing along
generosity and gratitude to others who need it
and who will use it well. McGowan’s family
started the William G. McGowan Charitable
Fund after his death in 1992 to further his many
charitable interests. The Fund specifically
included a Scholars Program to fund
scholarships for high-achieving business
students in their final year of study. Today, that
program has nearly 500 alumni nationally,
including three from SXU: Kathleen Potter
’06; William Runowski ’07; and senior Sahr
Sweiss, currently finishing a triple major in
finance, international relations and history.
Our fourth McGowan Scholar is starting her
senior year at SXU’s Graham School of
Management this fall. Amber Smith is a
marketing major whose career goals include
making a Super Bowl commercial for
Budweiser. Smith, a student with work
experience in SXU’s Public Safety Department,
an internship with Counseling and Career
Services, and an officer candidate with the U.S.
Marine Corps, is on track to make her mark in
the world.
Jean Mehta, D.A.
Professor of Computer Science
“My office when I taught at Saint Xavier
overlooked the quadrangle, so that makes it
even more special to have it named after Jim
and me. We’re quite appreciative,” says Morris,
an SXU faculty member in the psychology
department from 1987 to 1996.
The Morrises were recognized for their
numerous and ceaseless contributions to the
University. They annually sponsor the Shield of
Saint Xavier, the University’s highest honor, and
have chaired the President’s Scholarship Ball.
James volunteered for leadership roles in capital
campaign efforts, and Trish, a trustee since 2001,
serves as chair of the trusteeship committee and
vice-chair of the SXU Board of Trustees.
From left to right: SXU Board of Trustees Chairman Thomas
Chomicz, Patricia (Smith) Morris, Ph.D. ’83, James A. Morris
and President Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D., at the dedication
ceremony of the Smith-Morris Quadrangle.
“Jim and Trish Morris have been among the
most dedicated supporters and generous donors
in the history of the University,” says President
Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D. “We’re pleased to honor
them for their commitment to Saint Xavier.”
Perhaps the Morrises’ most significant
contribution has been to inspire a growing
culture of giving among Saint Xavier students
through the couple’s matching support of
the annual senior class gift since its inception
in 2001.
“Jim and I are both first-generation college
graduates who received financial aid when we
were in school, so we know how important it is
for today’s students to learn the good feeling of
giving back so others can benefit. It’s the old
idea of paying it forward,” Morris says. “It’s a
good feeling knowing that Jim and I can help to
keep it going and build on the Sisters of Mercy
mission and the Saint Xavier charisma.”
Where did you grow up?
Can you tell us something that few people know about you?
I was born in Manchester, England, home of the great soccer team
Manchester United.
I love animals. At one time I had a cat, a dog, a guinea pig, two
piranhas, a caiman and a Burmese python. One of the benefits of living
in Africa was the proximity to wildlife; I miss the safaris we used to
take. I’m also interested in photography and travel. Last year I went to
India, China and England. This summer I went to Mauritius, then
India with eight students for the outsourcing course, and next summer
I plan to return to Africa—all the while practicing my photography.
What was the “great adventure” we heard you took during college?
At the end of my freshman year I married a physician who was of
Indian origin but born in Africa. He was practicing in England but
wanted to return to Africa. So as soon as I completed my PGCE (Post
Graduate Certification in Education) we went to Livingstone, Zambia,
where we lived for seven years. Livingstone, named after the explorer
David Livingstone, is a beautiful, sleepy, one-main-road town just seven
miles from the Zambesi River and Victoria Falls.
Why did you decide to come to America?
By 1976 our sons were 4 and 2. We were looking for somewhere to
settle permanently, where they could receive a good education and we
could live in a place of relative safety. There had often been border
skirmishes near Livingstone. So we immigrated to the U.S., just a
couple of weeks before the bicentennial celebrations.
What path brought you to Saint Xavier?
I returned to school in 1983 and enrolled in the computer-science
master’s program at UIC. My husband died in 1985 just before I
graduated. I needed a job and found one as a lecturer in computer
science at North Park University. I also enrolled in a doctoral program
at UIC. In 1987 I accepted a position as an assistant lecturer at SXU. I’ll
be here 21 years in September!
Why are you so passionate about computer science, especially
where it concerns women?
SXU class gift sets record
Put together the eight heads of the Class of 2008 gift committee for a few hours and they were bound
to come up with a winning idea.
“It was Adelaide Safo, a nursing student, who thought of it first,” says Linda McDaniel ’08. “She
pointed out that you don’t see a lot of phones or monitors distributed throughout the University. We
started asking ourselves, “How would someone alert authorities if something happened to them on
campus?”
Ironically enough, the committee voted to focus its 2008 fund-raising effort on Saint Xavier publicsafety systems and plans, before the shutdown of campus in April when threatening graffiti was found
in Regina Hall.
Largely through word of mouth and fliers distributed on the Chicago and Orland Park campuses, the
committee inspired $2,500 in contributions—a new class gift record. Nearly 15 percent of the 2008
graduating class participated in the campaign, another all-time high. Joining McDaniel and Safo on the
committee were Shaunese Henry, Therese Colbert, Stacey O'Brien, Carina Spendel, Stephanie Snedden
and Aly Kelley.
Once again, donations to the class gift are being generously matched dollar for dollar by trustee and
former faculty member Patricia Morris, Ph.D. ’83, and her husband, James A. Morris.
For many years I have been concerned about the issue of inequity in
computing—that women and minorities are under-represented.
Studies suggest that these groups are not exposed to computer science
in school, do not understand what it is and have few role models in the
discipline.
What areas of computer studies do you find most fascinating today?
I recently studied Alice, a new 3-D interactive animation environment
that allows students to create a world, populate it with objects of their
choice—people, animals, aliens, environments—and then program
these objects to move or interact with each other. Last spring I taught
an introductory course called “Programming with Alice.”
Do you have a current research project?
I’ve been studying outsourcing and its effect on America’s informationtechnology industry. I’m teaching a new course in fall 2008, Global
Technology Trends, which culminates in a two-week visit to
outsourcing sites in India.
“We put our hearts into this campaign,” says McDaniel, “and now we know the University will do all it
can to enhance Saint Xavier’s security system, which will benefit both students and faculty.”
30
A D V A N C I N G
T H E
M I S S I O N
F A L L
2 0 0 8
31
Faculty Snapshot
advancing
THE MISSION
MCGOWAN SCHOL ARS
AT SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSIT Y
PATRICIA AND JAMES MORRIS
PAY IT FORWARD
About halfway through the last century, a young
man from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., found himself
admitted to Harvard Business School with
enough money to pay tuition for only half of the
two-year program. William G. McGowan
began his studies and later applied for and
received one of Harvard’s Baker Scholarships,
which allowed him to complete his MBA. After
private consulting, McGowan went to work for
a company called Microwave Communications
of America, subsequently founding MCI and
dramatically affecting the telecommunications
industry in America.
Whenever Patricia (Smith) Morris, Ph.D. ’83,
walks through the Saint Xavier campus, she reexperiences “the surprising and humbling
honor” she and her husband, James A. Morris,
received on May 14: the dedication of the
Smith-Morris Quadrangle.
They say that the best way to “pay back” this
sort of gift is to “pay it forward,” passing along
generosity and gratitude to others who need it
and who will use it well. McGowan’s family
started the William G. McGowan Charitable
Fund after his death in 1992 to further his many
charitable interests. The Fund specifically
included a Scholars Program to fund
scholarships for high-achieving business
students in their final year of study. Today, that
program has nearly 500 alumni nationally,
including three from SXU: Kathleen Potter
’06; William Runowski ’07; and senior Sahr
Sweiss, currently finishing a triple major in
finance, international relations and history.
Our fourth McGowan Scholar is starting her
senior year at SXU’s Graham School of
Management this fall. Amber Smith is a
marketing major whose career goals include
making a Super Bowl commercial for
Budweiser. Smith, a student with work
experience in SXU’s Public Safety Department,
an internship with Counseling and Career
Services, and an officer candidate with the U.S.
Marine Corps, is on track to make her mark in
the world.
Jean Mehta, D.A.
Professor of Computer Science
“My office when I taught at Saint Xavier
overlooked the quadrangle, so that makes it
even more special to have it named after Jim
and me. We’re quite appreciative,” says Morris,
an SXU faculty member in the psychology
department from 1987 to 1996.
The Morrises were recognized for their
numerous and ceaseless contributions to the
University. They annually sponsor the Shield of
Saint Xavier, the University’s highest honor, and
have chaired the President’s Scholarship Ball.
James volunteered for leadership roles in capital
campaign efforts, and Trish, a trustee since 2001,
serves as chair of the trusteeship committee and
vice-chair of the SXU Board of Trustees.
From left to right: SXU Board of Trustees Chairman Thomas
Chomicz, Patricia (Smith) Morris, Ph.D. ’83, James A. Morris
and President Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D., at the dedication
ceremony of the Smith-Morris Quadrangle.
“Jim and Trish Morris have been among the
most dedicated supporters and generous donors
in the history of the University,” says President
Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D. “We’re pleased to honor
them for their commitment to Saint Xavier.”
Perhaps the Morrises’ most significant
contribution has been to inspire a growing
culture of giving among Saint Xavier students
through the couple’s matching support of
the annual senior class gift since its inception
in 2001.
“Jim and I are both first-generation college
graduates who received financial aid when we
were in school, so we know how important it is
for today’s students to learn the good feeling of
giving back so others can benefit. It’s the old
idea of paying it forward,” Morris says. “It’s a
good feeling knowing that Jim and I can help to
keep it going and build on the Sisters of Mercy
mission and the Saint Xavier charisma.”
Where did you grow up?
Can you tell us something that few people know about you?
I was born in Manchester, England, home of the great soccer team
Manchester United.
I love animals. At one time I had a cat, a dog, a guinea pig, two
piranhas, a caiman and a Burmese python. One of the benefits of living
in Africa was the proximity to wildlife; I miss the safaris we used to
take. I’m also interested in photography and travel. Last year I went to
India, China and England. This summer I went to Mauritius, then
India with eight students for the outsourcing course, and next summer
I plan to return to Africa—all the while practicing my photography.
What was the “great adventure” we heard you took during college?
At the end of my freshman year I married a physician who was of
Indian origin but born in Africa. He was practicing in England but
wanted to return to Africa. So as soon as I completed my PGCE (Post
Graduate Certification in Education) we went to Livingstone, Zambia,
where we lived for seven years. Livingstone, named after the explorer
David Livingstone, is a beautiful, sleepy, one-main-road town just seven
miles from the Zambesi River and Victoria Falls.
Why did you decide to come to America?
By 1976 our sons were 4 and 2. We were looking for somewhere to
settle permanently, where they could receive a good education and we
could live in a place of relative safety. There had often been border
skirmishes near Livingstone. So we immigrated to the U.S., just a
couple of weeks before the bicentennial celebrations.
What path brought you to Saint Xavier?
I returned to school in 1983 and enrolled in the computer-science
master’s program at UIC. My husband died in 1985 just before I
graduated. I needed a job and found one as a lecturer in computer
science at North Park University. I also enrolled in a doctoral program
at UIC. In 1987 I accepted a position as an assistant lecturer at SXU. I’ll
be here 21 years in September!
Why are you so passionate about computer science, especially
where it concerns women?
SXU class gift sets record
Put together the eight heads of the Class of 2008 gift committee for a few hours and they were bound
to come up with a winning idea.
“It was Adelaide Safo, a nursing student, who thought of it first,” says Linda McDaniel ’08. “She
pointed out that you don’t see a lot of phones or monitors distributed throughout the University. We
started asking ourselves, “How would someone alert authorities if something happened to them on
campus?”
Ironically enough, the committee voted to focus its 2008 fund-raising effort on Saint Xavier publicsafety systems and plans, before the shutdown of campus in April when threatening graffiti was found
in Regina Hall.
Largely through word of mouth and fliers distributed on the Chicago and Orland Park campuses, the
committee inspired $2,500 in contributions—a new class gift record. Nearly 15 percent of the 2008
graduating class participated in the campaign, another all-time high. Joining McDaniel and Safo on the
committee were Shaunese Henry, Therese Colbert, Stacey O'Brien, Carina Spendel, Stephanie Snedden
and Aly Kelley.
Once again, donations to the class gift are being generously matched dollar for dollar by trustee and
former faculty member Patricia Morris, Ph.D. ’83, and her husband, James A. Morris.
For many years I have been concerned about the issue of inequity in
computing—that women and minorities are under-represented.
Studies suggest that these groups are not exposed to computer science
in school, do not understand what it is and have few role models in the
discipline.
What areas of computer studies do you find most fascinating today?
I recently studied Alice, a new 3-D interactive animation environment
that allows students to create a world, populate it with objects of their
choice—people, animals, aliens, environments—and then program
these objects to move or interact with each other. Last spring I taught
an introductory course called “Programming with Alice.”
Do you have a current research project?
I’ve been studying outsourcing and its effect on America’s informationtechnology industry. I’m teaching a new course in fall 2008, Global
Technology Trends, which culminates in a two-week visit to
outsourcing sites in India.
“We put our hearts into this campaign,” says McDaniel, “and now we know the University will do all it
can to enhance Saint Xavier’s security system, which will benefit both students and faculty.”
30
A D V A N C I N G
T H E
M I S S I O N
F A L L
2 0 0 8
31
faculty
NEWS
Christie Ahrens, Ed.D., Education, has been appointed the new
director of the Center for Advancement of Teaching and Learning for
Saint Xavier University.
Jan Bickel, D.M.A., Music, published the book Vocal Technique: A
Physiological Approach for Voice Class and Studio. Released by Plural
Publishing (San Diego) in January, the book is intended for use in a
first-year voice class at the college or university level. More information
is available online at www.janbickel.com.
Bickel, with Earl Thomas, Ed.D., Education, and David Bell, Ed.D.,
Education, contributed chapter 21, “Minimizing Barriers in Teacher
Diversity Professional Development,” to the book Imagining a
Renaissance in Teacher Education: Teacher Education Yearbook XVI.
The chapter discusses the first-year program evaluation results of the
teacher diversity professional development program at 10 area Catholic
elementary schools.
Mary Campbell, Ph.D., Education, with S. Leu, made a presentation
at the 53rd International Reading Association Annual Convention held
in Atlanta in May. They spoke on the topic of “Educating Literacy
Leaders: The Tensions between Teaching Conventions and Mental
Freedom.”
Thomas Dodson, Ph.D., Education, presented at the Saint Xavier
University Women and Gender Symposium. In his presentation “A Few
Good Men: Male School Counselors,” he discussed male gender role
beliefs, gender role conflict and job satisfaction as they relate to career
choice influences of male mechanical engineers and male elementary
school counselors.
Dodson was selected in a national competition to participate in the
National Career Development Association’s (NCDA’s) Leadership
Academy class of 2008-2009. According to NCDA President Darrell
Luzzo, the Leadership Academy is a “hands-on, highly experiential
leadership development opportunity designed specifically for
promising national and state career development association leaders.”
He also represented Saint Xavier at the annual Colloquy on Faith and
Intellectual Life, sponsored by the Association for Catholic Colleges
and Universities (ACCU) on June 15, 2008.
Alberta Gatti, Ph.D., Foreign Language, presented “Stepping Outside
the Classroom” in March, about Spanish program students and
graduates working outside of school environments. Examples included
Karie Karasiak, a Peace Corps volunteer who worked in the
community economic-development sector in the Dominican Republic
from September 2005 to November 2007; Lisa Haldorson, a recent
graduate who conducted fieldwork at el Hogar del Niño (the
Children’s Home); and current students Lisa James and Holly
Kennedy, who participated in a service learning experience at the
Instituto de Progreso Latino (Institute for the Advancement of Latino
Population).
Anne George, Ph.D., Education, presented “Collaborations between
General and Special Education Teachers: Working Together to Serve
Young Children with Special Needs” at the 27th Annual Illinois ASCD
Statewide Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten Conference in March.
Constance Hardy, RN, DNP, CNL, Nursing, presented “Reflecting
the Hallmarks of a Mercy Education through a Structured Mentoring
Course” at the 2008 Carlow Round Table in Carlow, Ireland. The
School of Nursing has received the prestigious Center of Excellence
Recognition from the National League of Nursing based on its culture
of intentional caring. The mentoring program came out of that culture,
which is based on the Mercy beliefs.
Peter N. Kirstein, Ph.D., History and Political Science, spoke at
DePaul University’s Academic Freedom Conference, held Feb. 1 to 2,
2008, and at New York University’s Freedoms at Risk Conference on
Feb. 23, 2008, on war and academic freedom. He was interviewed on
May 8, 2008 by the Louisville Courier-Journal on the Democratic
presidential contest.
Pamela Klick, M.A., CCC-SLP, Communication Sciences and
Disorders, presented “Implementation of the Mission and Core Values
into Clinical Teaching” at the 2008 Carlow Round Table in Carlow,
Ireland. The presentation included information regarding faculty and
student awareness of, and implementation of, the mission and core
values in the realm of clinical teaching within the communication
sciences and disorders program.
32
F A C U L T Y
N E W S
Klick, with E. Suzanne Lee, Ph.D., Education, also presented
“Assessing Catholic Identity and Mercy Heritage at a Mercy Institution”
at the Carlow Round Table. The presentation included the Mission and
Heritage Committee’s work to assess the experiences of faculty, staff
and administrators regarding Catholic identity and Mercy heritage at
Saint Xavier. Lee and Klick also articulated sample outcomes of the
research and strategies implemented throughout campus.
Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D., Education, with Father John Chrzan
and Father Marc Pasciak, presented a Lenten mission to Most Holy
Redeemer Parish. Even in the midst of a February snowstorm, many
parishioners attended Knight’s “Finding Christ in Our Legacy: Core
Values that Count.”
The Golden Apple Foundation has named Knight co-chair of the
Golden Apple Selection Committee for the upcoming year. Teachers
throughout Illinois are nominated for the Golden Apple Award, and 10
are selected each year.
Knight presented “Using Technology in the Elementary Math
Classroom” as part of Service Learning and Professional Development
in January. The presentation dealt with the creation of word problems
by students, and the use of Web sites to remediate certain concepts,
data analysis and virtual manipulatives.
Knight published the article “A University Helps Build a Community
of Learners” in the online journal American Quarterly Education this
winter. The article, about secondary schools and university
partnerships’ strengths, weaknesses and challenges, can be accessed at
www.asq.org/enews/education-brief/current.html.
Knight, with Tamara Korenman, Ph.D., Education, presented
“Models of Tutoring Programs Launched at High Schools on the
South Side of Chicago and Suburbs” at the 5th Annual International
Conference on Teacher Education and Social Justice in Chicago
in June. The models of tutoring presented helped the audience
ascertain ways in which they could assist students in their schools
through different tutoring programs. Service-learning is embedded
in the models.
A lifetime
of loving God,
art and teaching
In 1952, a seal was created for Saint Xavier College by Sister Solina
Hicks, R.S.M. Fifty-six years later, Sister Solina is 95 years old and
still taking her art to new heights in the hopes of helping those less
fortunate.
Images on the shield, which first appeared on paper and fired
enamel, represent Saint Francis Xavier, the Sisters of Mercy of the
Americas, along with a scripture verse from John (14:6) that reads,
“I am the way, and the truth and the life.” The shield remains a
symbol of heritage and mission to the University.
Sister Solina worked at the University from 1954 to 1965 and at one
time was the chair of the art department. After leaving SXU, Sister
Solina opened an art department at a New York university, spent a
summer in Paris and almost 20 years on an Indian reservation. Her
work has also taken her from DeKalb, Ill., to Mexico.
Sister Solina is currently involved in creating a collection of
paintings that she has titled “Seeing the Kingdom of God in
Nigerian Women.” The collection is part of an art exhibit fundraiser
to help schools in Nigeria in need of restoration.
“When the Nigerian government gave the schools back to the
diocese, there was writing on the walls, children packed around
tables and no books,” says Hicks.
This art exhibit can be viewed this fall at Loyola University in
Chicago.
F A L L
2 0 0 8
33
faculty
NEWS
Christie Ahrens, Ed.D., Education, has been appointed the new
director of the Center for Advancement of Teaching and Learning for
Saint Xavier University.
Jan Bickel, D.M.A., Music, published the book Vocal Technique: A
Physiological Approach for Voice Class and Studio. Released by Plural
Publishing (San Diego) in January, the book is intended for use in a
first-year voice class at the college or university level. More information
is available online at www.janbickel.com.
Bickel, with Earl Thomas, Ed.D., Education, and David Bell, Ed.D.,
Education, contributed chapter 21, “Minimizing Barriers in Teacher
Diversity Professional Development,” to the book Imagining a
Renaissance in Teacher Education: Teacher Education Yearbook XVI.
The chapter discusses the first-year program evaluation results of the
teacher diversity professional development program at 10 area Catholic
elementary schools.
Mary Campbell, Ph.D., Education, with S. Leu, made a presentation
at the 53rd International Reading Association Annual Convention held
in Atlanta in May. They spoke on the topic of “Educating Literacy
Leaders: The Tensions between Teaching Conventions and Mental
Freedom.”
Thomas Dodson, Ph.D., Education, presented at the Saint Xavier
University Women and Gender Symposium. In his presentation “A Few
Good Men: Male School Counselors,” he discussed male gender role
beliefs, gender role conflict and job satisfaction as they relate to career
choice influences of male mechanical engineers and male elementary
school counselors.
Dodson was selected in a national competition to participate in the
National Career Development Association’s (NCDA’s) Leadership
Academy class of 2008-2009. According to NCDA President Darrell
Luzzo, the Leadership Academy is a “hands-on, highly experiential
leadership development opportunity designed specifically for
promising national and state career development association leaders.”
He also represented Saint Xavier at the annual Colloquy on Faith and
Intellectual Life, sponsored by the Association for Catholic Colleges
and Universities (ACCU) on June 15, 2008.
Alberta Gatti, Ph.D., Foreign Language, presented “Stepping Outside
the Classroom” in March, about Spanish program students and
graduates working outside of school environments. Examples included
Karie Karasiak, a Peace Corps volunteer who worked in the
community economic-development sector in the Dominican Republic
from September 2005 to November 2007; Lisa Haldorson, a recent
graduate who conducted fieldwork at el Hogar del Niño (the
Children’s Home); and current students Lisa James and Holly
Kennedy, who participated in a service learning experience at the
Instituto de Progreso Latino (Institute for the Advancement of Latino
Population).
Anne George, Ph.D., Education, presented “Collaborations between
General and Special Education Teachers: Working Together to Serve
Young Children with Special Needs” at the 27th Annual Illinois ASCD
Statewide Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten Conference in March.
Constance Hardy, RN, DNP, CNL, Nursing, presented “Reflecting
the Hallmarks of a Mercy Education through a Structured Mentoring
Course” at the 2008 Carlow Round Table in Carlow, Ireland. The
School of Nursing has received the prestigious Center of Excellence
Recognition from the National League of Nursing based on its culture
of intentional caring. The mentoring program came out of that culture,
which is based on the Mercy beliefs.
Peter N. Kirstein, Ph.D., History and Political Science, spoke at
DePaul University’s Academic Freedom Conference, held Feb. 1 to 2,
2008, and at New York University’s Freedoms at Risk Conference on
Feb. 23, 2008, on war and academic freedom. He was interviewed on
May 8, 2008 by the Louisville Courier-Journal on the Democratic
presidential contest.
Pamela Klick, M.A., CCC-SLP, Communication Sciences and
Disorders, presented “Implementation of the Mission and Core Values
into Clinical Teaching” at the 2008 Carlow Round Table in Carlow,
Ireland. The presentation included information regarding faculty and
student awareness of, and implementation of, the mission and core
values in the realm of clinical teaching within the communication
sciences and disorders program.
32
F A C U L T Y
N E W S
Klick, with E. Suzanne Lee, Ph.D., Education, also presented
“Assessing Catholic Identity and Mercy Heritage at a Mercy Institution”
at the Carlow Round Table. The presentation included the Mission and
Heritage Committee’s work to assess the experiences of faculty, staff
and administrators regarding Catholic identity and Mercy heritage at
Saint Xavier. Lee and Klick also articulated sample outcomes of the
research and strategies implemented throughout campus.
Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D., Education, with Father John Chrzan
and Father Marc Pasciak, presented a Lenten mission to Most Holy
Redeemer Parish. Even in the midst of a February snowstorm, many
parishioners attended Knight’s “Finding Christ in Our Legacy: Core
Values that Count.”
The Golden Apple Foundation has named Knight co-chair of the
Golden Apple Selection Committee for the upcoming year. Teachers
throughout Illinois are nominated for the Golden Apple Award, and 10
are selected each year.
Knight presented “Using Technology in the Elementary Math
Classroom” as part of Service Learning and Professional Development
in January. The presentation dealt with the creation of word problems
by students, and the use of Web sites to remediate certain concepts,
data analysis and virtual manipulatives.
Knight published the article “A University Helps Build a Community
of Learners” in the online journal American Quarterly Education this
winter. The article, about secondary schools and university
partnerships’ strengths, weaknesses and challenges, can be accessed at
www.asq.org/enews/education-brief/current.html.
Knight, with Tamara Korenman, Ph.D., Education, presented
“Models of Tutoring Programs Launched at High Schools on the
South Side of Chicago and Suburbs” at the 5th Annual International
Conference on Teacher Education and Social Justice in Chicago
in June. The models of tutoring presented helped the audience
ascertain ways in which they could assist students in their schools
through different tutoring programs. Service-learning is embedded
in the models.
A lifetime
of loving God,
art and teaching
In 1952, a seal was created for Saint Xavier College by Sister Solina
Hicks, R.S.M. Fifty-six years later, Sister Solina is 95 years old and
still taking her art to new heights in the hopes of helping those less
fortunate.
Images on the shield, which first appeared on paper and fired
enamel, represent Saint Francis Xavier, the Sisters of Mercy of the
Americas, along with a scripture verse from John (14:6) that reads,
“I am the way, and the truth and the life.” The shield remains a
symbol of heritage and mission to the University.
Sister Solina worked at the University from 1954 to 1965 and at one
time was the chair of the art department. After leaving SXU, Sister
Solina opened an art department at a New York university, spent a
summer in Paris and almost 20 years on an Indian reservation. Her
work has also taken her from DeKalb, Ill., to Mexico.
Sister Solina is currently involved in creating a collection of
paintings that she has titled “Seeing the Kingdom of God in
Nigerian Women.” The collection is part of an art exhibit fundraiser
to help schools in Nigeria in need of restoration.
“When the Nigerian government gave the schools back to the
diocese, there was writing on the walls, children packed around
tables and no books,” says Hicks.
This art exhibit can be viewed this fall at Loyola University in
Chicago.
F A L L
2 0 0 8
33
faculty
NEWS
Year after year, the Chicago Cubs wallop the White Sox in national popularity. Averaged over the past
five years, the Cubs were the fourth most popular team in the country while their Southside rivals
ranked 19th, according to the Harris poll.
Why? Sox fans ask. How?
A major reason is which club decided to play ball more effectively with television, according
to Saint Xavier University Professor James R. Walker, Ph.D., who co-authored the just-released
book Center Field Shot: A History of Baseball on Television.
“Although the White Sox televised more games than most major league teams in the 1950s,
60s and 70s, the Cubs were baseball’s most aggressive TV advocate, televising all of their home
games and, after 1967, most of their road games. The team’s home and day games were an after
school TV ritual for many of today’s Cubs fans. In the 1980s, the Cubs used cable superstation
WGN and superstar announcer Harry Caray to expand their national fan base.”
Center Field Shot traces the sometimes-contentious relationship between television and baseball
from the first televised game in 1939 to the new era of Internet broadcasts, satellite radio and
high-definition TV. Walker and his co-author, Duquesne Professor Rob Bellamy examine how
baseball helped grow the new medium of television and how television in turn changed baseball,
motivating MLB owners to create more teams, increase the number of post-season games, and
move the World Series and All-Star Game to prime time.
Knight, with doctoral candidate Patrick Michael Knight ’01,
presented at the 20th Annual Conference of Ethnographic and
Qualitative Research at Cedarville University in Ohio. Their
presentation “An Ethnographic Look at Two Classrooms: Does Size
Matter?” examined the inevitable challenge of reflecting on one’s
pedagogy. Individuals constantly engage in the process of monitoring
performances, eliciting open feedback and confronting biases. Their
qualitative research assisted researchers in enriching their own work
and the work of others teaching in classrooms.
In April, Knight gave a presentation to the parents at St. Nicholas of
Tolentine School. During “Making Math Meaningful to Our
Children,” Saint Xavier teacher candidates assisted by teaching the
parents math games to be used at home. The candidates included S.
Abdallah, E. Calvillo, L. Crisanti, T. Fredette, B. Herman, L. Jandacek,
J. Jurinek, C. Lynch, A. Molony, C. Norman, J. Papiez, J. Perini, D.
Rodrigues, C. Rogriguez and R. Salamon.
John Donahue ’81 asked Knight to continue the annual program
of Professional Development for IBEW-NECA teachers in the
apprenticeship school. At the March program, Knight gave five
presentations, including “Reading Strategies for the Reluctant Reader,”
“Backward Design,” “Data Driven Instruction,” “Assessment Informing
Instruction” and “The Use of Rubrics in the Formation of Projects.”
Several of the participants intend to start their master’s degrees in
the fall.
34
F A C U L T Y
N E W S
Knight, with Mariagnes Menden ’03 and Carolyn Majorowski ’03
presented at the Mercy Higher Learning Conference at Georgian
Court University in Lakewood, N.J. “The Story of Service Learning in
a Small Parochial School on the Southside of Chicago: All Stakeholders
Involved!” offered a model for others to use in regard to servicelearning; the presentation focused on all aspects of service learning that
took place during the 2007-2008 school year.
been established by the high schools and the ways in which they are
incorporated into service-learning in secondary education development
and methods classes. A delegate from Mammoth University, N.J.,
Maureen Paparella, who is a former student of Knight, also presented
at the conference. Paparella gave a tribute to Knight, who inspired her
to join the teaching profession.
E. Suzanne Lee, Ph.D., Education, presented “Measuring Core Values
and Institutional Mission in the Mercy Classroom: Operationalizing
the Constructs” at the 2008 Carlow Round Table in Carlow, Ireland.
Lee has assessed MATL program alumni in order to garner ways in
which they have and have not experienced mission and core values
during their four-course research sequence in the School of Education’s
graduate program.
Nancy M. Lockie, RN, Ed.D., Nursing, and Robert J. Van Lanen,
Ph.D., Chemistry, have co-authored the article “Impact of the
Supplemental Instruction Experience on Science SI Leaders.” The
article was published in The Journal of Developmental Education,
Volume 31, Issue 3, Spring 2008. This qualitative study describes the
experiences of Supplemental Instruction leaders in science courses at
Saint Xavier University.
Diana Ryan, Ph.D., Education, with Susan Katz, published the article
“Just Thinking, Reflecting, and Acting in Schools, A Case of Social
Justice Leadership” in the Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership,
Volume 10, Issue 2, June 2007.
Sisters Susan Sanders, R.S.M., Ph.D., and Joy Clough, R.S.M., were
among the members of Saint Xavier’s faculty and staff who made
presentations at the second national symposium of the Conference for
Mercy Higher Education at Georgian Court University in Lakewood,
N.J., June 12 to 14, 2008. Sanders and Clough presented a workshop on
“Service Learning in a Catholic and Mercy Context.” A second
workshop, “Striving for Insight: Administrators, Faculty and Staff as
Service Learners,” was offered by four members of the University’s
Mission and Heritage Committee: E. Suzanne Lee, Ph.D., and
Wanda Manning, MBA, of the School of Education, and Suzanne
Kimble, M.S., M.Ed., Nursing, and Pamela Klick, M.A., CCC-SLP,
Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Maureen Spelman, Ed.D., Education, with T. Allman, presented
“Coaching & Mentoring in Literacy Field Experiences: Purposeful
Pairings” at the 53rd International Reading Association Annual
Convention, “Engaging Learners in Literacy,” in Atlanta this May.
Thomas Thorp, Ph.D., Philosophy, presented the paper“Euphemism
in Iliad I” at the annual meeting of the Ancient Philosophy Society
held at the New School for Social Research in New York City on April
10, 2008. The paper examines the political significance of a neglected
early line in The Iliad in which Homer describes the first words
spoken by any Greek in that epic poem.
Ryan made the presentations “Professors for Social Justice in Chicago:
Toward Civic Responsibility,” and “A Research Journey: Women
Professors Collaborate for Social Justice,” at the American Educational
Research Association (AERA) in New York City in March.
Knight, with Tamara Korenman, Ph.D., Education, presented
“Cyberspace, Teens and the Internet” at the 17th Annual Parent
Institute Day. The professors examined topics of limiting the use of
technology, using technology effectively and using technology with
children.
Knight, with Anne George, Ph.D., Education, made the presentation
“Easy Ways to Connect with Your Child’s School” at Parent Institute
Day. They focused on positive interactions that take place between
home and school, and helped parents and teachers in identifying a
child’s interests and abilities and challenging the child to work more
effectively in those areas.
At the 26th International Conference on Innovation in Higher
Education held in June in Prague, the Czech Republic, Knight made a
presentation investigating the partnerships that have been established
with secondary schools (both urban and suburban) and Saint Xavier’s
School of Education. She reported on the models of tutoring that have
F A L L
2 0 0 8
35
faculty
NEWS
Year after year, the Chicago Cubs wallop the White Sox in national popularity. Averaged over the past
five years, the Cubs were the fourth most popular team in the country while their Southside rivals
ranked 19th, according to the Harris poll.
Why? Sox fans ask. How?
A major reason is which club decided to play ball more effectively with television, according
to Saint Xavier University Professor James R. Walker, Ph.D., who co-authored the just-released
book Center Field Shot: A History of Baseball on Television.
“Although the White Sox televised more games than most major league teams in the 1950s,
60s and 70s, the Cubs were baseball’s most aggressive TV advocate, televising all of their home
games and, after 1967, most of their road games. The team’s home and day games were an after
school TV ritual for many of today’s Cubs fans. In the 1980s, the Cubs used cable superstation
WGN and superstar announcer Harry Caray to expand their national fan base.”
Center Field Shot traces the sometimes-contentious relationship between television and baseball
from the first televised game in 1939 to the new era of Internet broadcasts, satellite radio and
high-definition TV. Walker and his co-author, Duquesne Professor Rob Bellamy examine how
baseball helped grow the new medium of television and how television in turn changed baseball,
motivating MLB owners to create more teams, increase the number of post-season games, and
move the World Series and All-Star Game to prime time.
Knight, with doctoral candidate Patrick Michael Knight ’01,
presented at the 20th Annual Conference of Ethnographic and
Qualitative Research at Cedarville University in Ohio. Their
presentation “An Ethnographic Look at Two Classrooms: Does Size
Matter?” examined the inevitable challenge of reflecting on one’s
pedagogy. Individuals constantly engage in the process of monitoring
performances, eliciting open feedback and confronting biases. Their
qualitative research assisted researchers in enriching their own work
and the work of others teaching in classrooms.
In April, Knight gave a presentation to the parents at St. Nicholas of
Tolentine School. During “Making Math Meaningful to Our
Children,” Saint Xavier teacher candidates assisted by teaching the
parents math games to be used at home. The candidates included S.
Abdallah, E. Calvillo, L. Crisanti, T. Fredette, B. Herman, L. Jandacek,
J. Jurinek, C. Lynch, A. Molony, C. Norman, J. Papiez, J. Perini, D.
Rodrigues, C. Rogriguez and R. Salamon.
John Donahue ’81 asked Knight to continue the annual program
of Professional Development for IBEW-NECA teachers in the
apprenticeship school. At the March program, Knight gave five
presentations, including “Reading Strategies for the Reluctant Reader,”
“Backward Design,” “Data Driven Instruction,” “Assessment Informing
Instruction” and “The Use of Rubrics in the Formation of Projects.”
Several of the participants intend to start their master’s degrees in
the fall.
34
F A C U L T Y
N E W S
Knight, with Mariagnes Menden ’03 and Carolyn Majorowski ’03
presented at the Mercy Higher Learning Conference at Georgian
Court University in Lakewood, N.J. “The Story of Service Learning in
a Small Parochial School on the Southside of Chicago: All Stakeholders
Involved!” offered a model for others to use in regard to servicelearning; the presentation focused on all aspects of service learning that
took place during the 2007-2008 school year.
been established by the high schools and the ways in which they are
incorporated into service-learning in secondary education development
and methods classes. A delegate from Mammoth University, N.J.,
Maureen Paparella, who is a former student of Knight, also presented
at the conference. Paparella gave a tribute to Knight, who inspired her
to join the teaching profession.
E. Suzanne Lee, Ph.D., Education, presented “Measuring Core Values
and Institutional Mission in the Mercy Classroom: Operationalizing
the Constructs” at the 2008 Carlow Round Table in Carlow, Ireland.
Lee has assessed MATL program alumni in order to garner ways in
which they have and have not experienced mission and core values
during their four-course research sequence in the School of Education’s
graduate program.
Nancy M. Lockie, RN, Ed.D., Nursing, and Robert J. Van Lanen,
Ph.D., Chemistry, have co-authored the article “Impact of the
Supplemental Instruction Experience on Science SI Leaders.” The
article was published in The Journal of Developmental Education,
Volume 31, Issue 3, Spring 2008. This qualitative study describes the
experiences of Supplemental Instruction leaders in science courses at
Saint Xavier University.
Diana Ryan, Ph.D., Education, with Susan Katz, published the article
“Just Thinking, Reflecting, and Acting in Schools, A Case of Social
Justice Leadership” in the Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership,
Volume 10, Issue 2, June 2007.
Sisters Susan Sanders, R.S.M., Ph.D., and Joy Clough, R.S.M., were
among the members of Saint Xavier’s faculty and staff who made
presentations at the second national symposium of the Conference for
Mercy Higher Education at Georgian Court University in Lakewood,
N.J., June 12 to 14, 2008. Sanders and Clough presented a workshop on
“Service Learning in a Catholic and Mercy Context.” A second
workshop, “Striving for Insight: Administrators, Faculty and Staff as
Service Learners,” was offered by four members of the University’s
Mission and Heritage Committee: E. Suzanne Lee, Ph.D., and
Wanda Manning, MBA, of the School of Education, and Suzanne
Kimble, M.S., M.Ed., Nursing, and Pamela Klick, M.A., CCC-SLP,
Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Maureen Spelman, Ed.D., Education, with T. Allman, presented
“Coaching & Mentoring in Literacy Field Experiences: Purposeful
Pairings” at the 53rd International Reading Association Annual
Convention, “Engaging Learners in Literacy,” in Atlanta this May.
Thomas Thorp, Ph.D., Philosophy, presented the paper“Euphemism
in Iliad I” at the annual meeting of the Ancient Philosophy Society
held at the New School for Social Research in New York City on April
10, 2008. The paper examines the political significance of a neglected
early line in The Iliad in which Homer describes the first words
spoken by any Greek in that epic poem.
Ryan made the presentations “Professors for Social Justice in Chicago:
Toward Civic Responsibility,” and “A Research Journey: Women
Professors Collaborate for Social Justice,” at the American Educational
Research Association (AERA) in New York City in March.
Knight, with Tamara Korenman, Ph.D., Education, presented
“Cyberspace, Teens and the Internet” at the 17th Annual Parent
Institute Day. The professors examined topics of limiting the use of
technology, using technology effectively and using technology with
children.
Knight, with Anne George, Ph.D., Education, made the presentation
“Easy Ways to Connect with Your Child’s School” at Parent Institute
Day. They focused on positive interactions that take place between
home and school, and helped parents and teachers in identifying a
child’s interests and abilities and challenging the child to work more
effectively in those areas.
At the 26th International Conference on Innovation in Higher
Education held in June in Prague, the Czech Republic, Knight made a
presentation investigating the partnerships that have been established
with secondary schools (both urban and suburban) and Saint Xavier’s
School of Education. She reported on the models of tutoring that have
F A L L
2 0 0 8
35
COUGAR
SHANE LONGEST BEGINS HIS JOURNEY
FROM COLLEGE GREENS, TO NFL SCENES
When you can play more than one sport successfully, three actually,
you’ve got to be some kind of born athlete. So, at what point do you
choose which one you want in the end?
Shane Longest ’08, started kicking when his peewee football coach
asked if anyone could kick the ball through the uprights. Longest, who
played soccer for nine years prior to this, said, “That’s easy.”
Longest went on to earn All-Area and All-Conference honors while
playing football, baseball and basketball at Wilmington High School in
Wilmington, Ill. Now, add on a number of recognitions by the NAIA
during his time at Saint Xavier University, including player of the week
and making the All-American Team.
Saint Xavier prepped him plenty for the NFL scouts and the NFL
Combine.
STUDENT-ATHLETE JACKIE HEINE BRINGS RED CROSS EFFORTS TO CAMPUS
Approximately 97 percent of people will either need or know
someone who needs a blood product. But, only 5 percent of
able donors will donate.
This interesting fact stuck out in senior Jackie Heine’s
mind after participating in the 2008-09 American Red
Cross/NAIA Youth Leadership Program held from June
9 to 20 at the American Red Cross Headquarters in
Washington, D.C. The program teaches student-athletes
how to organize campus blood drives, partake in a
leadership board and participate in diversity and cultural
proficiency training. Heine, who is majoring in business
management, finance and mathematics, is entering her
fifth year of college basketball as a student assistant
coach for the Saint Xavier University women’s varsity
basketball team. She was the only candidate chosen from
the Heart of America region.
Sophomore Mike Johnstone (far left) teaches campers dribbling
exercises at Coach Tom O'Malley’s grade school/junior high
basketball fundamentals camp. This summer, three different
The State Farm sponsored program taught these studentathletes about blood services and how to share the Red
Cross’ message with their communities. The students
went into the field and saw what happens to blood once
it is donated.
“They were intent on us bringing this knowledge back
to our communities,” says Heine. The program required
the students to make presentations of their strategic plans
at the end of training.
In concluding the program, each candidate received a
$2,000 scholarship toward their studies.
“This was one of the best experiences of my life,” says
Heine. “I was with people just like me. We knew nothing
about what we were getting into. We just knew it was a
good cause.”
This past summer, the 2008 NFL Combine media darling trained with
the Chicago Bears, kicking to Devon Hester, taking direction from
Lovie Smith, but still had enough time to work on his golf swing in the
evening.
“He’s really good at what he does,” says SXU Football Coach Mike
Feminis. “He is an outstanding athlete who had an outstanding career
for us. He is an athlete who happens to kick a ball and is blessed with a
great leg. He’s living his dream.”
Longest performed both punting and place kicking duties for the Saint
Xavier Cougars, but prefers place kicking. “That’s more my specialty,”
says Longest.
“Probably the most positive part for me was being able to bring in
all those NFL teams to look at the Saint Xavier football team,” says
Longest. “The invite to the Combine was probably my best
accomplishment, for me and my mom.”
The NFL Combine, held every spring in Indianapolis, Ind., allows
college athletes to be seen individually and hopefully better their
draft potential.
“It was weird seeing football greats like Hester every day,” says Longest.
“It was weird kicking to them. They’re veterans and we’re rookies. It
was a whole different level. And Lovie, he’s probably one of the most
laid back guys you’ll meet. He’s quite a coach.”
Adding to his excitement, Longest is now engaged to longtime
girlfriend senior Tara Cavazos. A child psychology major at Saint
Xavier, Cavazos works with autistic children.
Longest, who clearly has a bright future, will remember much from his
college football career.
“I had the best line, the best snapper and the best holder that a kicker
could ever ask for. I had no bad holds, no bad snaps. I don’t think I had
any field goals blocked. All-in-all, the best teammates a kicker could
ever have.”
summer sports camps were held at the Shannon Center. They
included boy’s and girl’s basketball and volleyball camps.
36
C O U G A R
P U L S E
F A L L
2 0 0 8
37
COUGAR
SHANE LONGEST BEGINS HIS JOURNEY
FROM COLLEGE GREENS, TO NFL SCENES
When you can play more than one sport successfully, three actually,
you’ve got to be some kind of born athlete. So, at what point do you
choose which one you want in the end?
Shane Longest ’08, started kicking when his peewee football coach
asked if anyone could kick the ball through the uprights. Longest, who
played soccer for nine years prior to this, said, “That’s easy.”
Longest went on to earn All-Area and All-Conference honors while
playing football, baseball and basketball at Wilmington High School in
Wilmington, Ill. Now, add on a number of recognitions by the NAIA
during his time at Saint Xavier University, including player of the week
and making the All-American Team.
Saint Xavier prepped him plenty for the NFL scouts and the NFL
Combine.
STUDENT-ATHLETE JACKIE HEINE BRINGS RED CROSS EFFORTS TO CAMPUS
Approximately 97 percent of people will either need or know
someone who needs a blood product. But, only 5 percent of
able donors will donate.
This interesting fact stuck out in senior Jackie Heine’s
mind after participating in the 2008-09 American Red
Cross/NAIA Youth Leadership Program held from June
9 to 20 at the American Red Cross Headquarters in
Washington, D.C. The program teaches student-athletes
how to organize campus blood drives, partake in a
leadership board and participate in diversity and cultural
proficiency training. Heine, who is majoring in business
management, finance and mathematics, is entering her
fifth year of college basketball as a student assistant
coach for the Saint Xavier University women’s varsity
basketball team. She was the only candidate chosen from
the Heart of America region.
Sophomore Mike Johnstone (far left) teaches campers dribbling
exercises at Coach Tom O'Malley’s grade school/junior high
basketball fundamentals camp. This summer, three different
The State Farm sponsored program taught these studentathletes about blood services and how to share the Red
Cross’ message with their communities. The students
went into the field and saw what happens to blood once
it is donated.
“They were intent on us bringing this knowledge back
to our communities,” says Heine. The program required
the students to make presentations of their strategic plans
at the end of training.
In concluding the program, each candidate received a
$2,000 scholarship toward their studies.
“This was one of the best experiences of my life,” says
Heine. “I was with people just like me. We knew nothing
about what we were getting into. We just knew it was a
good cause.”
This past summer, the 2008 NFL Combine media darling trained with
the Chicago Bears, kicking to Devon Hester, taking direction from
Lovie Smith, but still had enough time to work on his golf swing in the
evening.
“He’s really good at what he does,” says SXU Football Coach Mike
Feminis. “He is an outstanding athlete who had an outstanding career
for us. He is an athlete who happens to kick a ball and is blessed with a
great leg. He’s living his dream.”
Longest performed both punting and place kicking duties for the Saint
Xavier Cougars, but prefers place kicking. “That’s more my specialty,”
says Longest.
“Probably the most positive part for me was being able to bring in
all those NFL teams to look at the Saint Xavier football team,” says
Longest. “The invite to the Combine was probably my best
accomplishment, for me and my mom.”
The NFL Combine, held every spring in Indianapolis, Ind., allows
college athletes to be seen individually and hopefully better their
draft potential.
“It was weird seeing football greats like Hester every day,” says Longest.
“It was weird kicking to them. They’re veterans and we’re rookies. It
was a whole different level. And Lovie, he’s probably one of the most
laid back guys you’ll meet. He’s quite a coach.”
Adding to his excitement, Longest is now engaged to longtime
girlfriend senior Tara Cavazos. A child psychology major at Saint
Xavier, Cavazos works with autistic children.
Longest, who clearly has a bright future, will remember much from his
college football career.
“I had the best line, the best snapper and the best holder that a kicker
could ever ask for. I had no bad holds, no bad snaps. I don’t think I had
any field goals blocked. All-in-all, the best teammates a kicker could
ever have.”
summer sports camps were held at the Shannon Center. They
included boy’s and girl’s basketball and volleyball camps.
36
C O U G A R
P U L S E
F A L L
2 0 0 8
37
alumni
alumni
NOTES
Beverley Prichard, Ph.D. ’62 (Education) sends
greetings from Surprise, Ariz. After working many
years as a teacher in Alsip, Ill., and obtaining two master’s degrees,
Beverley earned a doctorate in psychology from National-Louis
University. She then worked as a school psychologist in the Chicago
public schools. Since moving to Arizona, Beverley continues to
practice as a school psychologist in the Phoenix-area schools, where
she supervises interns.
Lori Kelly ’69 (English) recently authored Bodily Inscriptions:
Interdisciplinary Explorations into Embodiment, published by
Cambridge Scholars Press and released in April 2008. In addition to
writing, Lori teaches American literature and courses in race and
gender at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis.
Sister Mary Joseph McManamon ’70 (Social
Science) works as a librarian at Venerable English
College, a seminary in Rome for students from England and Wales.
Sister McManamon has been living in Italy since the summer of
2000 and loves it.
Mary (Koss) Rohan ’76 (Nursing), an advanced practice nurse in
wound and ostomy care at Little Company of Mary Hospital,
Evergreen Park, Ill., is the mother of four college graduates working
on advanced degrees. One of her children graduated with an MBA
from Saint Xavier.
Rose Fortini Labriola, RN, CCRN, Ed.D. ’77 (Nursing) has been
the senior vice president of Frederick Memorial Healthcare System,
in Frederick, Md., for the past two years. Rose is in charge of all
patient care services, including the pharmacy, the prenatal center
and the wound care center.
Madeline Spurck ’80 (Education) has been
teaching for 27 years for School District #159 in
Richton Park, Ill. Recently, six of Madeline’s classroom ideas were
accepted for publication in Mailbox Magazine.
Michael Maslanka ’81 (Spanish), an attorney in downtown Chicago,
has been appointed to the Illinois State Bar Association’s Section
Council on Human Rights, and to the Standing Committee on Bar
Services and Activities. Michael is also the treasurer of the American
Prepaid Legal Services Institute in affiliation with the American Bar
Association.
Barbara Curran Flaws ’84 (Education), retired for several years,
recently returned to school and is studying graphic design at Elgin
Community College.
Joyce Nowak Azzaline ’85 M.S. (Nursing), an assistant professor of
nursing at Trinity Christian College, Palos Park, Ill., completed her
doctorate in health science on March 31, 2008, at Nova Southeastern
University.
ACHIEVER
Joe Collins ’80
■
Traffic Anchor, WBBM-AM, Newsradio 780
When Joe Collins ’80 worked as a disc jockey at WSXC, which broadcast to 27 rooms from the cafeteria at
Saint Xavier College, he wasn’t interested in finding a career. He just wanted to be on the air. But he found
playing songs near where many students were purchasing their hamburgers and French fries an enthralling
experience. Collins is delighted that as the afternoon traffic anchor at WBBM-AM, Newsradio 780 and one
of Chicago’s most respected traffic reporters, he is able to make a living while having a good deal of fun.
In Collins’ junior year at SXC, Joel Sternberg began the mass communications program, and Collins had
the good fortune to begin taking classes that incorporated journalism. He also became involved with
Theater II, Saint Xavier’s theater program. The group performed full-scale Broadway musicals on the
McGuire Hall stage. As a result, Collins’ communication skills expanded. “I learned to speak
extemporaneously about any subject at any time.”
Now Collins uses these skills to remain energetic during the less than two minutes he has to read the traffic
during his 1 to 7 p.m. shift. “Whenever I meet people who are trying to start in the [radio] business, I tell
them they aren’t talking to everybody at the same time. You’re broadcasting to one person at a time.”
After nearly 20 years in the business, Collins has held a variety of radio jobs reporting both news and
traffic; he has had his own radio show at WMRO in Aurora and worked on radio shows in several
languages: Spanish, Greek, Polish and even Gaelic—none of which he speaks. In the early 1980s,
Collins even had a stint at a station with an all-Broadway show tunes format. Luckily, with his
theater background, Collins made this unique experience a success.
When he’s not on the air, Collins is involved with the Beverly Hills Scholarship Foundation,
which provides college scholarship funding for needy students. He is also an active member of
the Beverly Theatre Guild. This past spring’s production of Moon Over Buffalo earned him
Best Performance of the Year by the Beverly Arts Center.
Sister Lucille McKillop, R.S.M., Ph.D. ’51 remembered fondly
Anyone who knew her or worked beside her regarded Sister Lucille McKillop,
R.S.M., Ph.D. ’51 as an enabling spirit committed to the highest levels of
leadership, education and friendship.
“One lesson I learned from Aunt Lucille is that life isn’t about myself,” said
Melissa Mueller of Chicago, Sister Lucille’s grandniece. “It is about using the
power of determination and faith to help and encourage those that need it.”
Sister Lucille, the longest-serving president in the history of Salve Regina
University in Newport, R.I., died Feb. 28, 2008, in Chicago. She was 83.
Following her tenure as president of the Salve Regina (1973-1994), Sister Lucille
served as president of the Religious Sisters of Mercy, Regional Community of
Chicago (1994-1998).
“Sister Lucille was first a Sister of Mercy,” said Salve Regina President
M. Therese Antone, R.S.M. “Her dedication to education and the traditions
of the Sisters of Mercy contributed significantly to those traditions continuing
to thrive on our campus.”
38
A L U M N I
N O T E S
Sister Lucille received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Saint Xavier,
her master’s in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame and her
doctorate in mathematics curriculum and instruction from the University
of Wisconsin-Madison. She was a former member of the Saint Xavier faculty
and chaired the mathematics department and the Division of Liberal Arts
and Humanities.
Collins is grateful to Saint Xavier for providing him his second home. “I enjoyed going to
school here. I’m still very good friends with people I met in college.” Saint Xavier in turn,
appreciates Collins sharing his talents with the University community. For the past three
years he has read the names at Saint Xavier’s Commencement.
“I just like to have fun and entertain and
be entertained. To me, radio was the
means to do so.”
The Chicago native was the recipient of numerous honorary degrees and
awards, including the Mercy Higher Education Colloquium Award for Excellence
and Leadership in Higher Education. A special recognition came Sister Lucille’s
way on her 20th anniversary as Salve Regina president in April 1993, when the
university’s McKillop Library was named in her honor.
At the time of Sister Lucille’s death, President Antone paid her predecessor the
ultimate tribute, saying, “Sister Lucille was deeply admired and will be missed.”
F A L L
2 0 0 8
39
alumni
alumni
NOTES
Beverley Prichard, Ph.D. ’62 (Education) sends
greetings from Surprise, Ariz. After working many
years as a teacher in Alsip, Ill., and obtaining two master’s degrees,
Beverley earned a doctorate in psychology from National-Louis
University. She then worked as a school psychologist in the Chicago
public schools. Since moving to Arizona, Beverley continues to
practice as a school psychologist in the Phoenix-area schools, where
she supervises interns.
Lori Kelly ’69 (English) recently authored Bodily Inscriptions:
Interdisciplinary Explorations into Embodiment, published by
Cambridge Scholars Press and released in April 2008. In addition to
writing, Lori teaches American literature and courses in race and
gender at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis.
Sister Mary Joseph McManamon ’70 (Social
Science) works as a librarian at Venerable English
College, a seminary in Rome for students from England and Wales.
Sister McManamon has been living in Italy since the summer of
2000 and loves it.
Mary (Koss) Rohan ’76 (Nursing), an advanced practice nurse in
wound and ostomy care at Little Company of Mary Hospital,
Evergreen Park, Ill., is the mother of four college graduates working
on advanced degrees. One of her children graduated with an MBA
from Saint Xavier.
Rose Fortini Labriola, RN, CCRN, Ed.D. ’77 (Nursing) has been
the senior vice president of Frederick Memorial Healthcare System,
in Frederick, Md., for the past two years. Rose is in charge of all
patient care services, including the pharmacy, the prenatal center
and the wound care center.
Madeline Spurck ’80 (Education) has been
teaching for 27 years for School District #159 in
Richton Park, Ill. Recently, six of Madeline’s classroom ideas were
accepted for publication in Mailbox Magazine.
Michael Maslanka ’81 (Spanish), an attorney in downtown Chicago,
has been appointed to the Illinois State Bar Association’s Section
Council on Human Rights, and to the Standing Committee on Bar
Services and Activities. Michael is also the treasurer of the American
Prepaid Legal Services Institute in affiliation with the American Bar
Association.
Barbara Curran Flaws ’84 (Education), retired for several years,
recently returned to school and is studying graphic design at Elgin
Community College.
Joyce Nowak Azzaline ’85 M.S. (Nursing), an assistant professor of
nursing at Trinity Christian College, Palos Park, Ill., completed her
doctorate in health science on March 31, 2008, at Nova Southeastern
University.
ACHIEVER
Joe Collins ’80
■
Traffic Anchor, WBBM-AM, Newsradio 780
When Joe Collins ’80 worked as a disc jockey at WSXC, which broadcast to 27 rooms from the cafeteria at
Saint Xavier College, he wasn’t interested in finding a career. He just wanted to be on the air. But he found
playing songs near where many students were purchasing their hamburgers and French fries an enthralling
experience. Collins is delighted that as the afternoon traffic anchor at WBBM-AM, Newsradio 780 and one
of Chicago’s most respected traffic reporters, he is able to make a living while having a good deal of fun.
In Collins’ junior year at SXC, Joel Sternberg began the mass communications program, and Collins had
the good fortune to begin taking classes that incorporated journalism. He also became involved with
Theater II, Saint Xavier’s theater program. The group performed full-scale Broadway musicals on the
McGuire Hall stage. As a result, Collins’ communication skills expanded. “I learned to speak
extemporaneously about any subject at any time.”
Now Collins uses these skills to remain energetic during the less than two minutes he has to read the traffic
during his 1 to 7 p.m. shift. “Whenever I meet people who are trying to start in the [radio] business, I tell
them they aren’t talking to everybody at the same time. You’re broadcasting to one person at a time.”
After nearly 20 years in the business, Collins has held a variety of radio jobs reporting both news and
traffic; he has had his own radio show at WMRO in Aurora and worked on radio shows in several
languages: Spanish, Greek, Polish and even Gaelic—none of which he speaks. In the early 1980s,
Collins even had a stint at a station with an all-Broadway show tunes format. Luckily, with his
theater background, Collins made this unique experience a success.
When he’s not on the air, Collins is involved with the Beverly Hills Scholarship Foundation,
which provides college scholarship funding for needy students. He is also an active member of
the Beverly Theatre Guild. This past spring’s production of Moon Over Buffalo earned him
Best Performance of the Year by the Beverly Arts Center.
Sister Lucille McKillop, R.S.M., Ph.D. ’51 remembered fondly
Anyone who knew her or worked beside her regarded Sister Lucille McKillop,
R.S.M., Ph.D. ’51 as an enabling spirit committed to the highest levels of
leadership, education and friendship.
“One lesson I learned from Aunt Lucille is that life isn’t about myself,” said
Melissa Mueller of Chicago, Sister Lucille’s grandniece. “It is about using the
power of determination and faith to help and encourage those that need it.”
Sister Lucille, the longest-serving president in the history of Salve Regina
University in Newport, R.I., died Feb. 28, 2008, in Chicago. She was 83.
Following her tenure as president of the Salve Regina (1973-1994), Sister Lucille
served as president of the Religious Sisters of Mercy, Regional Community of
Chicago (1994-1998).
“Sister Lucille was first a Sister of Mercy,” said Salve Regina President
M. Therese Antone, R.S.M. “Her dedication to education and the traditions
of the Sisters of Mercy contributed significantly to those traditions continuing
to thrive on our campus.”
38
A L U M N I
N O T E S
Sister Lucille received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Saint Xavier,
her master’s in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame and her
doctorate in mathematics curriculum and instruction from the University
of Wisconsin-Madison. She was a former member of the Saint Xavier faculty
and chaired the mathematics department and the Division of Liberal Arts
and Humanities.
Collins is grateful to Saint Xavier for providing him his second home. “I enjoyed going to
school here. I’m still very good friends with people I met in college.” Saint Xavier in turn,
appreciates Collins sharing his talents with the University community. For the past three
years he has read the names at Saint Xavier’s Commencement.
“I just like to have fun and entertain and
be entertained. To me, radio was the
means to do so.”
The Chicago native was the recipient of numerous honorary degrees and
awards, including the Mercy Higher Education Colloquium Award for Excellence
and Leadership in Higher Education. A special recognition came Sister Lucille’s
way on her 20th anniversary as Salve Regina president in April 1993, when the
university’s McKillop Library was named in her honor.
At the time of Sister Lucille’s death, President Antone paid her predecessor the
ultimate tribute, saying, “Sister Lucille was deeply admired and will be missed.”
F A L L
2 0 0 8
39
TheLegacy of
Sister Mary Denis O’Grady, R.S.M., Ph.D. ’37, a member of
the Sisters of Mercy and a lifelong educator, entered eternal life on
March 29, 2008, eight days after her 93rd birthday. Sister Mary
Denis began her long association with Saint Xavier University (then
College) as a student, graduating in 1937 with a double major in
history and French. She earned a master’s degree in history from
Loyola University Chicago in 1947 and a Ph.D. in political science
from the University of Notre Dame in 1950.
Sister Mary Denis joined the faculty at Saint Xavier in 1947,
eventually attaining the rank of professor of political science and
criminal justice. Known and admired for her enthusiasm for
teaching and her devotion to her students, she was also renowned
as the “sprite who was the spirit of Saint Xavier”—a woman small
of stature but bursting with energy. But perhaps her greatest legacy
was the students who had the good fortune to work with her. Sister
Mary Denis infected her students with a desire to learn, and just as
a few of her former students attest here, she often gave them needed
confidence to help them pursue their goals.
d, Sister Mary
n
ie
fr
t
es
b
y
m
et
Im
rs ago when
ea
y
0
3
y,
d
ra
’G
O
Denis
rsity for 49
int Xavier Unive
Sa
at
ht
ug
ta
e
Sh
I was 18.
d college in a little
I graduate
cause of her that
years, and it is be
ars.
more than two ye
me get
school and helped
law
to
in
e
m
t
go
She is the one who
prosecutor.
coming a career
be
to
e
m
d
le
ch
of
my first job, whi
is for thousands
thing is she did th
ul
rf
de
on
w
t
os
m
But the
her students.
Sister Denis O’Grady did not
simply
touch my life. She inspired m
y life.
As my professor and academ
ic counselor, she created an
independent study course, Th
e History of England, to exp
and
my major studies during my
senior year at Saint Xavier. Du
e to
the reflections that were gen
erated with our personal dis
cussions
in her office, I decided to atte
nd the University of Kent in
Canterbury, England, for a
master’s degree in internatio
nal
relations. Many times as I sat
on the hilltop of the UKC cam
pus
and looked down at the bea
utiful Canterbury Cathedra
l in the
center of the old city, I remem
bered the conversations I had
with
Sister Denis. I had the same
feelings when I walked from
Salisbury to Stonehenge on
a crisp fall morning. As I sat
above
the white cliffs of Dover and
gazed across the English Ch
annel,
I knew that I would never hav
e been studying in Great Bri
tain
without Sister Denis’ inspiratio
n.
Kevin Holland ’80
Sister Mary Denis O’Grady, R.S.M., Ph.D. ’37
e legion.
t her students wer
bu
n,
ow
r
he
of
ren
She had no child
t on to become
at thousands wen
th
r
he
of
e
us
ca
It is directly be
dges and police
sionals, lawyers, ju
es
of
pr
al
ic
ed
m
,
teachers
to try to get a
e or anyone else
m
d
lle
ca
e
sh
n
officers. Whe
spring into action
knew you had to
u
yo
n,
io
sit
po
a
in
student
em that she saw
e same thing in th
th
w
sa
is
en
D
r
because Siste
ld leaders and
le talking to wor
ab
rt
fo
m
co
as
as
w
you. Sister Denis
someone from
e was talking to
sh
as
s
ce
sti
ju
rt
Supreme Cou
out your
e did not care ab
Sh
.
ue
en
Av
g
tin
ea
77th Street and K
one of her
ough if you were
en
as
w
it
y;
lit
na
race or natio
buildings. But
rsity, we think of
ive
un
of
k
in
th
e
students. When w
emorial Library,
ier as the Byrne M
av
X
t
in
Sa
t
bi
y
she was ever
at made the
ing component th
liv
e
th
as
w
e
Sh
s.
labs or classroom
school real.
e does not
y say that the appl
he
T
is.
en
D
r
ste
Si
I thank God for
en apple
Sister Denis’ gold
of
s
ed
se
e
th
l,
el
e. W
fall far from the tre
dents.
of her legion of stu
ts
ar
he
e
th
in
on
live
I first met Siste
r Denis at the
Oak
Lawn Library
when she inqu
ired
what part of Ir
eland I was fro
m.
As we talked
, she asked if I
ever considere
d going to colle
I explained th
ge.
at none of my
family had ever
go
ne to college
and I was not
very smart in
school, althou
gh I was a good
carpenter. Sist
er Denis respon
ded by saying,
“You know Je
was a carpente
sus
r and he left th
at trade to help
others, besides,
there is no such
thing as a stupi
d Irishman, on
ly a stubborn
Looking me u
one.”
p and down sh
e said, “You w
ould make a fi
policeman.” Tw
ne
o months late
r I was enrolle
d
in
the criminal
justice program
at Saint Xavie
r University.
Reflecting back
over the years
I spent at Sain
t Xavier, I can
honestly say th
at Sister Denis
watched over
me like a guar
angel. I was re
dian
quired to mee
t with her ever
y other day to
my academic
discuss
progress and ca
reer aspiration
s.
D
uring these
sessions Sister
Denis was alw
ays interested
in learning ab
family and my
out my
life in Ireland.
She told me ho
w
her family left
County Water
ford, Ireland, an
d began a new
life in the Stat
Prayer, she alw
es.
ays told me, w
as the essence
of
he
r strength and
through this st
rength anythin
g was possible.
On the day of
my graduation
from SXU, I ap
proached Sister
Denis and than
ked her for all
she did for me
to make my
graduation pos
sible. In a hum
ble voice she sa
id, “You don’t
to thank me, Jo
have
hn. You see I am
a sister of Mer
cy and this is
what we do.”
John Lambe
’95
t Saint
a
r
e
m
m
su
st
la
y
During m
to Sister
ed
n
o
ti
n
e
m
I
n
e
h
Xavier, w
a campus
d
te
p
e
cc
a
d
a
h
I
t
Denis tha
me and said,
t
a
ed
k
o
lo
e
sh
,
b
jo
an internship
et
g
u
o
y
t
’
n
o
d
y
h
“W
.C.?”
in Washington, D
anted to
I absolutely w
citing to me and
ex
ry
ve
d
de
un
so
ow
This
really did not kn
the country and
to
w
ne
ry
ve
as
w
do it. But I
to worry and
r Denis said not
ste
Si
r.
te
at
m
e
th
how to approach
rnship.
t ideas for an inte
ou
ab
e
m
to
g
in
n talk
immediately bega
at the Embassy of
for an internship
y
tr
to
d
de
ci
de
We
She then placed
here was I born.
w
y
tr
un
co
e
th
,
Bangladesh
ting there. She
sh while I was sit
de
la
ng
Ba
of
y
ss
a call to the Emba
for about
onomic minister
ec
e
th
to
ed
lk
ta
f and
introduced hersel
e, looked at
hung up the phon
e
sh
e
tim
at
th
r
five minutes. Afte
to have
ladesh would love
ng
Ba
of
y
ss
ba
he Em
me and smiled. “T
this summer.”
you as an intern
5
Ahsan Karim ’9
ervid ’80
Paul Anthony B
F A L L
2 0 0 8
41
TheLegacy of
Sister Mary Denis O’Grady, R.S.M., Ph.D. ’37, a member of
the Sisters of Mercy and a lifelong educator, entered eternal life on
March 29, 2008, eight days after her 93rd birthday. Sister Mary
Denis began her long association with Saint Xavier University (then
College) as a student, graduating in 1937 with a double major in
history and French. She earned a master’s degree in history from
Loyola University Chicago in 1947 and a Ph.D. in political science
from the University of Notre Dame in 1950.
Sister Mary Denis joined the faculty at Saint Xavier in 1947,
eventually attaining the rank of professor of political science and
criminal justice. Known and admired for her enthusiasm for
teaching and her devotion to her students, she was also renowned
as the “sprite who was the spirit of Saint Xavier”—a woman small
of stature but bursting with energy. But perhaps her greatest legacy
was the students who had the good fortune to work with her. Sister
Mary Denis infected her students with a desire to learn, and just as
a few of her former students attest here, she often gave them needed
confidence to help them pursue their goals.
d, Sister Mary
n
ie
fr
t
es
b
y
m
et
Im
rs ago when
ea
y
0
3
y,
d
ra
’G
O
Denis
rsity for 49
int Xavier Unive
Sa
at
ht
ug
ta
e
Sh
I was 18.
d college in a little
I graduate
cause of her that
years, and it is be
ars.
more than two ye
me get
school and helped
law
to
in
e
m
t
go
She is the one who
prosecutor.
coming a career
be
to
e
m
d
le
ch
of
my first job, whi
is for thousands
thing is she did th
ul
rf
de
on
w
t
os
m
But the
her students.
Sister Denis O’Grady did not
simply
touch my life. She inspired m
y life.
As my professor and academ
ic counselor, she created an
independent study course, Th
e History of England, to exp
and
my major studies during my
senior year at Saint Xavier. Du
e to
the reflections that were gen
erated with our personal dis
cussions
in her office, I decided to atte
nd the University of Kent in
Canterbury, England, for a
master’s degree in internatio
nal
relations. Many times as I sat
on the hilltop of the UKC cam
pus
and looked down at the bea
utiful Canterbury Cathedra
l in the
center of the old city, I remem
bered the conversations I had
with
Sister Denis. I had the same
feelings when I walked from
Salisbury to Stonehenge on
a crisp fall morning. As I sat
above
the white cliffs of Dover and
gazed across the English Ch
annel,
I knew that I would never hav
e been studying in Great Bri
tain
without Sister Denis’ inspiratio
n.
Kevin Holland ’80
Sister Mary Denis O’Grady, R.S.M., Ph.D. ’37
e legion.
t her students wer
bu
n,
ow
r
he
of
ren
She had no child
t on to become
at thousands wen
th
r
he
of
e
us
ca
It is directly be
dges and police
sionals, lawyers, ju
es
of
pr
al
ic
ed
m
,
teachers
to try to get a
e or anyone else
m
d
lle
ca
e
sh
n
officers. Whe
spring into action
knew you had to
u
yo
n,
io
sit
po
a
in
student
em that she saw
e same thing in th
th
w
sa
is
en
D
r
because Siste
ld leaders and
le talking to wor
ab
rt
fo
m
co
as
as
w
you. Sister Denis
someone from
e was talking to
sh
as
s
ce
sti
ju
rt
Supreme Cou
out your
e did not care ab
Sh
.
ue
en
Av
g
tin
ea
77th Street and K
one of her
ough if you were
en
as
w
it
y;
lit
na
race or natio
buildings. But
rsity, we think of
ive
un
of
k
in
th
e
students. When w
emorial Library,
ier as the Byrne M
av
X
t
in
Sa
t
bi
y
she was ever
at made the
ing component th
liv
e
th
as
w
e
Sh
s.
labs or classroom
school real.
e does not
y say that the appl
he
T
is.
en
D
r
ste
Si
I thank God for
en apple
Sister Denis’ gold
of
s
ed
se
e
th
l,
el
e. W
fall far from the tre
dents.
of her legion of stu
ts
ar
he
e
th
in
on
live
I first met Siste
r Denis at the
Oak
Lawn Library
when she inqu
ired
what part of Ir
eland I was fro
m.
As we talked
, she asked if I
ever considere
d going to colle
I explained th
ge.
at none of my
family had ever
go
ne to college
and I was not
very smart in
school, althou
gh I was a good
carpenter. Sist
er Denis respon
ded by saying,
“You know Je
was a carpente
sus
r and he left th
at trade to help
others, besides,
there is no such
thing as a stupi
d Irishman, on
ly a stubborn
Looking me u
one.”
p and down sh
e said, “You w
ould make a fi
policeman.” Tw
ne
o months late
r I was enrolle
d
in
the criminal
justice program
at Saint Xavie
r University.
Reflecting back
over the years
I spent at Sain
t Xavier, I can
honestly say th
at Sister Denis
watched over
me like a guar
angel. I was re
dian
quired to mee
t with her ever
y other day to
my academic
discuss
progress and ca
reer aspiration
s.
D
uring these
sessions Sister
Denis was alw
ays interested
in learning ab
family and my
out my
life in Ireland.
She told me ho
w
her family left
County Water
ford, Ireland, an
d began a new
life in the Stat
Prayer, she alw
es.
ays told me, w
as the essence
of
he
r strength and
through this st
rength anythin
g was possible.
On the day of
my graduation
from SXU, I ap
proached Sister
Denis and than
ked her for all
she did for me
to make my
graduation pos
sible. In a hum
ble voice she sa
id, “You don’t
to thank me, Jo
have
hn. You see I am
a sister of Mer
cy and this is
what we do.”
John Lambe
’95
t Saint
a
r
e
m
m
su
st
la
y
During m
to Sister
ed
n
o
ti
n
e
m
I
n
e
h
Xavier, w
a campus
d
te
p
e
cc
a
d
a
h
I
t
Denis tha
me and said,
t
a
ed
k
o
lo
e
sh
,
b
jo
an internship
et
g
u
o
y
t
’
n
o
d
y
h
“W
.C.?”
in Washington, D
anted to
I absolutely w
citing to me and
ex
ry
ve
d
de
un
so
ow
This
really did not kn
the country and
to
w
ne
ry
ve
as
w
do it. But I
to worry and
r Denis said not
ste
Si
r.
te
at
m
e
th
how to approach
rnship.
t ideas for an inte
ou
ab
e
m
to
g
in
n talk
immediately bega
at the Embassy of
for an internship
y
tr
to
d
de
ci
de
We
She then placed
here was I born.
w
y
tr
un
co
e
th
,
Bangladesh
ting there. She
sh while I was sit
de
la
ng
Ba
of
y
ss
a call to the Emba
for about
onomic minister
ec
e
th
to
ed
lk
ta
f and
introduced hersel
e, looked at
hung up the phon
e
sh
e
tim
at
th
r
five minutes. Afte
to have
ladesh would love
ng
Ba
of
y
ss
ba
he Em
me and smiled. “T
this summer.”
you as an intern
5
Ahsan Karim ’9
ervid ’80
Paul Anthony B
F A L L
2 0 0 8
41
alumni
NOTES
English professor will be remembered
for her devotion to students
Tracye Carson Hinton ’86 (Communication) recently opened
WineStyles Michigan Avenue, a wine boutique store at 1240 South
Michigan Avenue in Chicago’s South Loop. After 20 years in the
telecommunications industry, Tracye has realized her dream of having
her own business.
Robin Goodwill Shade ’87 (Nursing), employed at Advocate Trinity
Hospital in Chicago since graduation, has worked in various clinical
positions, most recently in the Care Management Department.
Robin is pursuing a master’s degree in organizational leadership at
Lewis University.
Joanne McGrath Forstall ’89, ’08 (Education) teaches at the CreteMonee Early Learning Center in Crete, Ill.
Colleen Murtaugh Domke ’91(Education), ’08
(Educational Administration) teaches at Saint
Damien Elementary School in Oak Forest, Ill.
Barbara Kozlowski Pavoni ’91 (Liberal Studies), ’93 M.A.
(Education) is a Rio Salado College supervisor in Arizona, overseeing
a special education teacher-in-residence (TIR) in the Chandler
School District. Barb looks forward to continuing her work with
TIRs in the future.
Susan Moore Wagner ’92 (Education), vice president for exhibits
and programs at the Adler Planetarium, is producing—in partnership
with Sesame Workshop—“One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s
Adventure” for planetarium theaters in China and the U.S.
Premiering October 2008, this production invites children to join
Big Bird, Elmo and his Chinese friend Hu Hu Jhu on a wonderful
trip of imagination and cultural understanding. See page 45 for a
profile on Susan.
One-of-a-kind
athlete will be
missed
Mark Vitale ’04, passed away on Feb.
21, 2008. As a student at Saint Xavier
University, Mark played tight end with
the Saint Xavier Cougars Football from
2000 to 2003. He was quiet, but a hard
worker and a good student. “He was a
coach’s dream, the best tight end we’ve
had since I’ve been here,” says Coach
Mike Feminis. “He always did what we
asked of him, and he was just a good
person to know.” In a 2001 game
against Trinity International, Mark was the reason Saint Xavier won
when the ball deflected off his shoulder and went though the goal
posts. “He will always be a part of our football family and he will never
be forgotten,” says Feminis.
42
A L U M N I
N O T E S
Kimberly Bubis Butny ’95 (Nursing), husband Mike and son
Joshua (41⁄2) have welcomed an addition to their family. Zachary
Butny (8 lbs., 3 oz.) was born April 22, 2008.
Robin Creevy ’95, M.A. (Education) will be teaching science and
social studies at Queen of Martyrs School, Chicago, beginning in the
fall of 2008.
Dawn Rickerson Barth ’96 (Nursing) works part time in the
Neonatology Intensive Care Unit of Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak
Lawn, Ill. Dawn and her husband have four children ages 2 to 8.
Dawn, along with other SXU alumni and friends, are training to
complete the half-marathon in Disney World in January 2009.
Jacquelyn Janicke ’97, ’01 M.A. (Education), a special education
resource teacher at Ardmore School in Villa Park, Ill., will teach
second-grade general education in the 2008-2009 school year.
Professor Emeritus Margaret (Peg) O’Connell, former English professor at Saint Xavier, will be remembered
for her love and devotion to students. For 24 years, she offered her service to the University.
“She saw students as people, and her attitude toward them was to teach more than a subject, but also
a life lesson,” said Sister Helen Weinfurter, former English professor at Saint Xavier.
Prior to teaching, Professor O’Connell served in the Red Cross during World War II in Germany.
Professor O’Connell, a woman who exemplified what she taught, enriched the mental lives of her students.
She led by example as she held high standards for her students and herself.
“She taught us how to think and express our thoughts in a convincing and concise manner,” says Paul
Hazard ’85. “I feel very lucky to have had her as an instructor. She had a very big impact on my life.”
Professor O’Connell worked in the English department full time from September 1962 until May 1986, then
as an adjunct professor until 1990. After her retirement, she and her husband, Charles, enjoyed traveling.
Professor O’Connell passed away on Jan. 2, 2008 and is survived by her nieces Peggy Greisberger and Kathy
Hay and her nephews Robert and John Gleason.
Kimberly Vlk ’00 (Industrial Psychology), an
electronic warfare officer in the U.S. Air Force,
recently was transferred from Randolph AFB in San Antonio, Texas,
to Offutt AFB in Omaha, Neb.
Ken Conway ’01 (Business Administration) recently accepted a
position as financial planner at Lifetime Financial LPL. Lifetime
Financial provides comprehensive financial planning and asset
management to 800 clients throughout the country.
Judi Haberkorn ’01 MPH (Business) graduated from the University
of Delaware, Newark, Del., with a Ph.D. in urban affairs and public
policy. Judi is an assistant professor of social work at the University of
North Carolina at Pembroke.
Aurora Tyagi ’01 M.A. (Education), who pursued her mathematics
secondary education teacher certification at the graduate level at
SXU, is teaching chemistry and physics at Brooks College
Preparatory Academy. Brooks Academy is a selective-enrollment
Chicago public school.
La Vanya De Laney ’02, M.A. ’03 (Criminal Justice, Business) earned
a doctorate of education in organizational leadership from Argosy
University in March 2008. De Laney’s dissertation title was “Students’
Perceptions of Transformational Leadership.”
Leslie Jackson Roberts ’02 (Education) graduated in July with a
master’s degree in education with reading specialist certification. In
addition, Leslie and her husband celebrated their second wedding
anniversary this past August.
Sacresha Marshay Gilliam ’03 (Art) and Lawrence Daniels ’00
(Sociology) recently were married. The couple have a 3-year-old son,
Lawrence A. Daniels Jr.
Elizabeth Hirdler Blackmore ’04 (Communication) and her
husband Brian, a member of the U.S. Army, married in 2005. The
couple are the proud parents of three: son Jacob and twin daughters
Natalie and Emily.
Nikki Brown ’95 (Nursing), Clinical Nurse III, L&D Unit, recently
was recognized as a “Center Star” at Washington Hospital Center in
Washington, D.C. Based on the nominations of patients and staff, the
Center Star is awarded for exceptional customer service and
teamwork.
Aubrey Caputo ’04 (Education) recently became engaged. She and
her fiancé bought a new home in Mokena, Ill., and are planning to
marry in October 2009.
Austin Schafer ’04 (Philosophy) published his fifth and sixth youth
ministry programs with the Center for Ministry Development, titled
“Getting Unstuck: Finding our Passions and Developing New
Patterns of Leading” and “Meeting Jesus: A Fresh Way of
Encountering Jesus in the Scriptures.” Austin is pursuing an M.A. in
theological studies at the University of Dayton while serving as a
campus minister in the Office of Retreats and Faith Communities.
Karen Biggs ’05 (Political Science) earned her master’s degree in folk
studies from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green in May
2008. Karen and her partner, Bruce Hester, welcomed their first child,
Justine Alice Hester, into the world on November 7, 2007.
Jennifer Blocker ’05 (Sociology) completed her master’s degree in
nursing at DePaul University in 2007 and is a nurse serving as a
second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Jennifer’s first duty assignment is
in the ortho unit at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam
Houston in San Antonio, Texas, tending to wounded soldiers.
BriAnne Spalla Boseo ’06 (Nursing) was married in October 2007.
She and her husband recently relocated to Washington, D.C. BriAnne
is a nurse at Children’s National Medical Center in the neonatal
care unit.
Kimberly Garner ’06 (Education) and Brian Lavin were wed June
14, 2008. Kimberly is a teacher at Queen of Martyrs School, Chicago,
and Brian is a trooper with the Illinois State Police.
Brittany Pavlis Plahm ’06 (Communication), employed at
Benedictine University since February 2007, recently was promoted
to the school’s Marketing Department. Brittany and her husband’s
first child was born in June 2008.
Sara Baillie ’07 M.A. (Special Education) has been accepted into the
special education doctoral program at the University of Illinois at
Chicago. She will begin her doctoral work in the fall of 2008.
Juliann Bunna ’07 (Organizational Communication) began a
position in the Office of Admission with Saint Xavier immediately
after her graduation. The proud alumnus enjoys working for the
University.
Margaret Heinrich ’07 (Education) is teaching seventh- and eighthgrade language arts at Clissold Elementary School, Chicago.
Margaret is team-teaching with a special education teacher, and
together they have been asked to work with CAPE (a program that
brings artists into the schools) to create a special artistic
representation for a Clissold teacher who recently passed away.
Jacqueline Moses ’07 M.A. (Education) was accepted into the
school of psychology doctoral program at National-Louis University
and begins studies in the fall of 2008.
Wendy Martinez ’08 (Education) will teach preschool at Indian
Prairie School District 204, which serves Aurora, Naperville,
Bolingbrook and Plainfield, Ill., beginning in the fall of 2008.
Eileen Patras ’08 (Education) will begin teaching third grade at
Queen of Martyrs School, Chicago, in the fall of 2008.
F A L L
2 0 0 8
43
alumni
NOTES
English professor will be remembered
for her devotion to students
Tracye Carson Hinton ’86 (Communication) recently opened
WineStyles Michigan Avenue, a wine boutique store at 1240 South
Michigan Avenue in Chicago’s South Loop. After 20 years in the
telecommunications industry, Tracye has realized her dream of having
her own business.
Robin Goodwill Shade ’87 (Nursing), employed at Advocate Trinity
Hospital in Chicago since graduation, has worked in various clinical
positions, most recently in the Care Management Department.
Robin is pursuing a master’s degree in organizational leadership at
Lewis University.
Joanne McGrath Forstall ’89, ’08 (Education) teaches at the CreteMonee Early Learning Center in Crete, Ill.
Colleen Murtaugh Domke ’91(Education), ’08
(Educational Administration) teaches at Saint
Damien Elementary School in Oak Forest, Ill.
Barbara Kozlowski Pavoni ’91 (Liberal Studies), ’93 M.A.
(Education) is a Rio Salado College supervisor in Arizona, overseeing
a special education teacher-in-residence (TIR) in the Chandler
School District. Barb looks forward to continuing her work with
TIRs in the future.
Susan Moore Wagner ’92 (Education), vice president for exhibits
and programs at the Adler Planetarium, is producing—in partnership
with Sesame Workshop—“One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s
Adventure” for planetarium theaters in China and the U.S.
Premiering October 2008, this production invites children to join
Big Bird, Elmo and his Chinese friend Hu Hu Jhu on a wonderful
trip of imagination and cultural understanding. See page 45 for a
profile on Susan.
One-of-a-kind
athlete will be
missed
Mark Vitale ’04, passed away on Feb.
21, 2008. As a student at Saint Xavier
University, Mark played tight end with
the Saint Xavier Cougars Football from
2000 to 2003. He was quiet, but a hard
worker and a good student. “He was a
coach’s dream, the best tight end we’ve
had since I’ve been here,” says Coach
Mike Feminis. “He always did what we
asked of him, and he was just a good
person to know.” In a 2001 game
against Trinity International, Mark was the reason Saint Xavier won
when the ball deflected off his shoulder and went though the goal
posts. “He will always be a part of our football family and he will never
be forgotten,” says Feminis.
42
A L U M N I
N O T E S
Kimberly Bubis Butny ’95 (Nursing), husband Mike and son
Joshua (41⁄2) have welcomed an addition to their family. Zachary
Butny (8 lbs., 3 oz.) was born April 22, 2008.
Robin Creevy ’95, M.A. (Education) will be teaching science and
social studies at Queen of Martyrs School, Chicago, beginning in the
fall of 2008.
Dawn Rickerson Barth ’96 (Nursing) works part time in the
Neonatology Intensive Care Unit of Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak
Lawn, Ill. Dawn and her husband have four children ages 2 to 8.
Dawn, along with other SXU alumni and friends, are training to
complete the half-marathon in Disney World in January 2009.
Jacquelyn Janicke ’97, ’01 M.A. (Education), a special education
resource teacher at Ardmore School in Villa Park, Ill., will teach
second-grade general education in the 2008-2009 school year.
Professor Emeritus Margaret (Peg) O’Connell, former English professor at Saint Xavier, will be remembered
for her love and devotion to students. For 24 years, she offered her service to the University.
“She saw students as people, and her attitude toward them was to teach more than a subject, but also
a life lesson,” said Sister Helen Weinfurter, former English professor at Saint Xavier.
Prior to teaching, Professor O’Connell served in the Red Cross during World War II in Germany.
Professor O’Connell, a woman who exemplified what she taught, enriched the mental lives of her students.
She led by example as she held high standards for her students and herself.
“She taught us how to think and express our thoughts in a convincing and concise manner,” says Paul
Hazard ’85. “I feel very lucky to have had her as an instructor. She had a very big impact on my life.”
Professor O’Connell worked in the English department full time from September 1962 until May 1986, then
as an adjunct professor until 1990. After her retirement, she and her husband, Charles, enjoyed traveling.
Professor O’Connell passed away on Jan. 2, 2008 and is survived by her nieces Peggy Greisberger and Kathy
Hay and her nephews Robert and John Gleason.
Kimberly Vlk ’00 (Industrial Psychology), an
electronic warfare officer in the U.S. Air Force,
recently was transferred from Randolph AFB in San Antonio, Texas,
to Offutt AFB in Omaha, Neb.
Ken Conway ’01 (Business Administration) recently accepted a
position as financial planner at Lifetime Financial LPL. Lifetime
Financial provides comprehensive financial planning and asset
management to 800 clients throughout the country.
Judi Haberkorn ’01 MPH (Business) graduated from the University
of Delaware, Newark, Del., with a Ph.D. in urban affairs and public
policy. Judi is an assistant professor of social work at the University of
North Carolina at Pembroke.
Aurora Tyagi ’01 M.A. (Education), who pursued her mathematics
secondary education teacher certification at the graduate level at
SXU, is teaching chemistry and physics at Brooks College
Preparatory Academy. Brooks Academy is a selective-enrollment
Chicago public school.
La Vanya De Laney ’02, M.A. ’03 (Criminal Justice, Business) earned
a doctorate of education in organizational leadership from Argosy
University in March 2008. De Laney’s dissertation title was “Students’
Perceptions of Transformational Leadership.”
Leslie Jackson Roberts ’02 (Education) graduated in July with a
master’s degree in education with reading specialist certification. In
addition, Leslie and her husband celebrated their second wedding
anniversary this past August.
Sacresha Marshay Gilliam ’03 (Art) and Lawrence Daniels ’00
(Sociology) recently were married. The couple have a 3-year-old son,
Lawrence A. Daniels Jr.
Elizabeth Hirdler Blackmore ’04 (Communication) and her
husband Brian, a member of the U.S. Army, married in 2005. The
couple are the proud parents of three: son Jacob and twin daughters
Natalie and Emily.
Nikki Brown ’95 (Nursing), Clinical Nurse III, L&D Unit, recently
was recognized as a “Center Star” at Washington Hospital Center in
Washington, D.C. Based on the nominations of patients and staff, the
Center Star is awarded for exceptional customer service and
teamwork.
Aubrey Caputo ’04 (Education) recently became engaged. She and
her fiancé bought a new home in Mokena, Ill., and are planning to
marry in October 2009.
Austin Schafer ’04 (Philosophy) published his fifth and sixth youth
ministry programs with the Center for Ministry Development, titled
“Getting Unstuck: Finding our Passions and Developing New
Patterns of Leading” and “Meeting Jesus: A Fresh Way of
Encountering Jesus in the Scriptures.” Austin is pursuing an M.A. in
theological studies at the University of Dayton while serving as a
campus minister in the Office of Retreats and Faith Communities.
Karen Biggs ’05 (Political Science) earned her master’s degree in folk
studies from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green in May
2008. Karen and her partner, Bruce Hester, welcomed their first child,
Justine Alice Hester, into the world on November 7, 2007.
Jennifer Blocker ’05 (Sociology) completed her master’s degree in
nursing at DePaul University in 2007 and is a nurse serving as a
second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Jennifer’s first duty assignment is
in the ortho unit at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam
Houston in San Antonio, Texas, tending to wounded soldiers.
BriAnne Spalla Boseo ’06 (Nursing) was married in October 2007.
She and her husband recently relocated to Washington, D.C. BriAnne
is a nurse at Children’s National Medical Center in the neonatal
care unit.
Kimberly Garner ’06 (Education) and Brian Lavin were wed June
14, 2008. Kimberly is a teacher at Queen of Martyrs School, Chicago,
and Brian is a trooper with the Illinois State Police.
Brittany Pavlis Plahm ’06 (Communication), employed at
Benedictine University since February 2007, recently was promoted
to the school’s Marketing Department. Brittany and her husband’s
first child was born in June 2008.
Sara Baillie ’07 M.A. (Special Education) has been accepted into the
special education doctoral program at the University of Illinois at
Chicago. She will begin her doctoral work in the fall of 2008.
Juliann Bunna ’07 (Organizational Communication) began a
position in the Office of Admission with Saint Xavier immediately
after her graduation. The proud alumnus enjoys working for the
University.
Margaret Heinrich ’07 (Education) is teaching seventh- and eighthgrade language arts at Clissold Elementary School, Chicago.
Margaret is team-teaching with a special education teacher, and
together they have been asked to work with CAPE (a program that
brings artists into the schools) to create a special artistic
representation for a Clissold teacher who recently passed away.
Jacqueline Moses ’07 M.A. (Education) was accepted into the
school of psychology doctoral program at National-Louis University
and begins studies in the fall of 2008.
Wendy Martinez ’08 (Education) will teach preschool at Indian
Prairie School District 204, which serves Aurora, Naperville,
Bolingbrook and Plainfield, Ill., beginning in the fall of 2008.
Eileen Patras ’08 (Education) will begin teaching third grade at
Queen of Martyrs School, Chicago, in the fall of 2008.
F A L L
2 0 0 8
43
alumni
NOTES
In Her Words
In Memoriam
1963 Judith A. Head (Nursing)
1927 Rose M. Demattia (Nursing)
Sylvia Shandles (Nursing)
1964 Virgina Woulfe Krug (Sociology)
1966 Carole Beville (Education)
1969 Joanne Zeman Pittz (English)
1970 Nancy Murphy Fasano (Speech Pathology)
Sister Joanna Kobelinski, R.S.M. (Education)
1972 Helen J. Czyzewski (Speech Pathology)
James P. Hornburg (Sociology)
Bette L. Morrison (Nursing)
1973 Robert L. Burns (Psychology)
1974 Diane Gutknecht Skupien (Education)
Irene Ulstad (Art)
1975 William F. McCoy (Education)
1978 Paul W. Mueller (English)
1979 Barbara Morris Gudell (Nursing)
Bonnie R. Martin, Ph.D. (Psychology)
Robert J. Westman (Criminal Justice)
1981 Emma K. Plockelman (History)
Edmund J. Rooney III (Criminal Justice)
1982 Janet M. Bakker (Education)
1984 Rodney D. Hacker (Business Administration)
1985 Maura E. Stillman (English)
Julian P. Groch (Business Administration)
1987 Kathleen Boers (Education)
1990 Charlene Bardach (Education)
1992 Marilyn Graham (Education)
Larry Strejc (Marketing)
1993 Phillip Padilla (English)
1994 Sandra Long (Education)
Kathleen M. Ruiz (Education)
1996 Dixie Adams (Education)
1997 Debi Holtzman (Education)
1998 Angela Kurrle (Education)
2001 Vickie Carr (Biology)
2002 Patricia Gerdes (Finance)
Kathryn A. Baumann Simes (Education)
2003 Patrick Hackett (Training Performance Management)
Deborah Ann Hermann (Education)
2004 Marc Robert Vitale (Business)
Rhonda Winborn (Education)
1928 Laverne Dorsey (Nursing)
1930 Genevieve Foley (Nursing)
1932 Dorothy Hayes (Sacred Music)
1933 Mary M. Coombes Brennan (English)
1934 Eleanor P. Dunne (Math)
1935 Helen Simas (Nursing)
1936 Margaret Denney Kelly (English)
1937 Rita Goestch Appleby (Sacred Music)
Sister Mary Denis O’Grady, R.S.M., Ph.D. (History)
Geraldine Waldner (Nursing)
1938 Lois E. Tondu (Nursing)
Kathryn Gibbons Cartan (History)
1939 Geraldine O’Farrell Tobin (Chemistry)
1940 Regina Pavacich (French)
1941 Marilyn Hart Dillon (Education)
1944 Sister Emily Lavan, R.S.M. (Sociology)
Mary Shannon Vedder (Math)
1945 Margaret McNicholas Fahrenbach (English)
Melanie Swiech Misiura (Biology)
1946 Sister Jacinta Dooley, R.S.M. (French)
Winifred Gaughan Wagner (Nursing)
1947 Catherine C. Fennell (English)
Jeanne Linsner O’Malley (Social Science)
1948 Mary Hardiman (Nursing)
Mary L. Doemling Michielsen (Chemistry)
1950 Sister Suzanne DeGrace, R.S.M. (Math)
Margaret McCarron, M.D. (Biology)
Mary Winters (Nursing)
1951 Sister Lucille McKillop, R.S.M., Ph.D. (Math)
1952 Colette Ryan Hart (History)
Louise Luan Tyau (Nursing)
1953 Sister Fleurette Buckley, R.S.M. (English)
Betty Bernat O’Connor (Nursing)
1954 Margaret Ruane Coyle (Education)
Joyce Jeck (Nursing)
1959 Joanne Wright Douda (Nursing)
1960 Sister Jane Martin, R.S.M. (Philosophy)
1961 Sister Chiara Mulligan, R.S.M. (English)
Joan Zander (Natural Science)
1962 Janet M. Jones Trevarthan (Education)
44
Susan Moore Wagner ’92
1926 Frances Goetzman Somers (Sacred Music)
A L U M N I
N O T E S
I am vice president for exhibits and programs at the
Adler Planetarium in Chicago. I am currently directing “One
World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure” and “Explorer’s Club” our new
exhibit gallery slated to open early 2010. Prior to this I taught math,
reading/language arts, science and social studies to gifted and talented
elementary and middle-school students. While I came to Adler as a third
grader for the traditional sky show field trip associated with the standard
solar system unit, I did not envision a career path leading to museum
education. But as an educator, I was impressed by the educators with
whom I interacted, and thought perhaps the museum would be a
rewarding place to work. And it is.
“One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure,” is a bi-national, China-U.S.
cooperative between Sesame Workshop, Beijing Planetarium and Adler to
create a planetarium show for children ages 4 to 6. The show will follow
Big Bird, Elmo and their Chinese friend, Hu Hu Zhu, on an exploration
of the sky and will make its world premiere at the Beijing Planetarium on
Sept. 26, 2008. The U.S. premiere will be at the Adler Planetarium on Oct.
15, 2008.
In the show, Big Bird, Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu take viewers on an exciting
discovery of the sun, moon and stars. Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu then take
an imaginary trip to the moon where they learn that the moon is a very
different place from the Earth. When they imagine themselves back on
Earth, they celebrate the idea that even though they live in two different
countries, they still share the same sky.
A lot of the ways I measure success in my projects at Adler stems from the
training I received at Saint Xavier. My first science methods class at SXU
was not a lecture, it was facilitated by a wonderful professor who believed
it was important for us to question our science beliefs, and really
understand science as a verb. I hope [museum] visitors walk away saying,
‘Adler is a great place to learn about space science and have fun.’
F A L L
2 0 0 8
45
alumni
NOTES
In Her Words
In Memoriam
1963 Judith A. Head (Nursing)
1927 Rose M. Demattia (Nursing)
Sylvia Shandles (Nursing)
1964 Virgina Woulfe Krug (Sociology)
1966 Carole Beville (Education)
1969 Joanne Zeman Pittz (English)
1970 Nancy Murphy Fasano (Speech Pathology)
Sister Joanna Kobelinski, R.S.M. (Education)
1972 Helen J. Czyzewski (Speech Pathology)
James P. Hornburg (Sociology)
Bette L. Morrison (Nursing)
1973 Robert L. Burns (Psychology)
1974 Diane Gutknecht Skupien (Education)
Irene Ulstad (Art)
1975 William F. McCoy (Education)
1978 Paul W. Mueller (English)
1979 Barbara Morris Gudell (Nursing)
Bonnie R. Martin, Ph.D. (Psychology)
Robert J. Westman (Criminal Justice)
1981 Emma K. Plockelman (History)
Edmund J. Rooney III (Criminal Justice)
1982 Janet M. Bakker (Education)
1984 Rodney D. Hacker (Business Administration)
1985 Maura E. Stillman (English)
Julian P. Groch (Business Administration)
1987 Kathleen Boers (Education)
1990 Charlene Bardach (Education)
1992 Marilyn Graham (Education)
Larry Strejc (Marketing)
1993 Phillip Padilla (English)
1994 Sandra Long (Education)
Kathleen M. Ruiz (Education)
1996 Dixie Adams (Education)
1997 Debi Holtzman (Education)
1998 Angela Kurrle (Education)
2001 Vickie Carr (Biology)
2002 Patricia Gerdes (Finance)
Kathryn A. Baumann Simes (Education)
2003 Patrick Hackett (Training Performance Management)
Deborah Ann Hermann (Education)
2004 Marc Robert Vitale (Business)
Rhonda Winborn (Education)
1928 Laverne Dorsey (Nursing)
1930 Genevieve Foley (Nursing)
1932 Dorothy Hayes (Sacred Music)
1933 Mary M. Coombes Brennan (English)
1934 Eleanor P. Dunne (Math)
1935 Helen Simas (Nursing)
1936 Margaret Denney Kelly (English)
1937 Rita Goestch Appleby (Sacred Music)
Sister Mary Denis O’Grady, R.S.M., Ph.D. (History)
Geraldine Waldner (Nursing)
1938 Lois E. Tondu (Nursing)
Kathryn Gibbons Cartan (History)
1939 Geraldine O’Farrell Tobin (Chemistry)
1940 Regina Pavacich (French)
1941 Marilyn Hart Dillon (Education)
1944 Sister Emily Lavan, R.S.M. (Sociology)
Mary Shannon Vedder (Math)
1945 Margaret McNicholas Fahrenbach (English)
Melanie Swiech Misiura (Biology)
1946 Sister Jacinta Dooley, R.S.M. (French)
Winifred Gaughan Wagner (Nursing)
1947 Catherine C. Fennell (English)
Jeanne Linsner O’Malley (Social Science)
1948 Mary Hardiman (Nursing)
Mary L. Doemling Michielsen (Chemistry)
1950 Sister Suzanne DeGrace, R.S.M. (Math)
Margaret McCarron, M.D. (Biology)
Mary Winters (Nursing)
1951 Sister Lucille McKillop, R.S.M., Ph.D. (Math)
1952 Colette Ryan Hart (History)
Louise Luan Tyau (Nursing)
1953 Sister Fleurette Buckley, R.S.M. (English)
Betty Bernat O’Connor (Nursing)
1954 Margaret Ruane Coyle (Education)
Joyce Jeck (Nursing)
1959 Joanne Wright Douda (Nursing)
1960 Sister Jane Martin, R.S.M. (Philosophy)
1961 Sister Chiara Mulligan, R.S.M. (English)
Joan Zander (Natural Science)
1962 Janet M. Jones Trevarthan (Education)
44
Susan Moore Wagner ’92
1926 Frances Goetzman Somers (Sacred Music)
A L U M N I
N O T E S
I am vice president for exhibits and programs at the
Adler Planetarium in Chicago. I am currently directing “One
World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure” and “Explorer’s Club” our new
exhibit gallery slated to open early 2010. Prior to this I taught math,
reading/language arts, science and social studies to gifted and talented
elementary and middle-school students. While I came to Adler as a third
grader for the traditional sky show field trip associated with the standard
solar system unit, I did not envision a career path leading to museum
education. But as an educator, I was impressed by the educators with
whom I interacted, and thought perhaps the museum would be a
rewarding place to work. And it is.
“One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure,” is a bi-national, China-U.S.
cooperative between Sesame Workshop, Beijing Planetarium and Adler to
create a planetarium show for children ages 4 to 6. The show will follow
Big Bird, Elmo and their Chinese friend, Hu Hu Zhu, on an exploration
of the sky and will make its world premiere at the Beijing Planetarium on
Sept. 26, 2008. The U.S. premiere will be at the Adler Planetarium on Oct.
15, 2008.
In the show, Big Bird, Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu take viewers on an exciting
discovery of the sun, moon and stars. Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu then take
an imaginary trip to the moon where they learn that the moon is a very
different place from the Earth. When they imagine themselves back on
Earth, they celebrate the idea that even though they live in two different
countries, they still share the same sky.
A lot of the ways I measure success in my projects at Adler stems from the
training I received at Saint Xavier. My first science methods class at SXU
was not a lecture, it was facilitated by a wonderful professor who believed
it was important for us to question our science beliefs, and really
understand science as a verb. I hope [museum] visitors walk away saying,
‘Adler is a great place to learn about space science and have fun.’
F A L L
2 0 0 8
45
Homecoming and Family Week
UPCOMING EVENTS
AND ACTIVITIES
of the Office of Alumni and
Parent Relations and the SXU
Alumni Association
golden grads
CLASS OF 1958
SXU Men’s Football Game Tailgate:
Cougars vs. St. Francis, Joliet, Ill.
OCTOBER
3
Golden Graduate Society Tea
All-Alumni Celebration and Academic
Distinguished Alumni Awards
4
HOMECOMING
• 8th Annual Cougar 5K Run/Walk
• Alumni Games
• Pre-Game Tailgate and Family Festival
• Football Game: Cougars vs. Walsh
University Cavaliers
• 5th Quarter Octoberfest Celebration
5
Alumni Mass and Alumni Association
Awards and Brunch
21
Catholic History Museum Visit
NOVEMBER
14
Alumni, Parents and Friends
Beer and Wine Tasting Event
Orland Park, Ill.
22
Member of the class of ’58 celebrate the
50th anniversary of their graduation from
Saint Xavier College for Women during
the May Commencement.
THE INAUGURAL ALUMNI AND PARENTS BEER AND WINE TASTING EVENT
The Office of Alumni and Parent Relations and the Alumni Association hosted alumni, parents and friends
at its inaugural Alumni and Parents Beer and Wine Tasting event on April 25. Guests enjoyed delicious hors
d’oeuvres from Gilhooley’s Grande Saloon and a variety of wine and beer samples from Anheuser Busch,
Benessere Vineyards, Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant, and Judge and Dolph distributors. Christine
Blumer, “The Wine Diva,” mingled with guests and offered advice on the great variety of wine and beer
selections while the smooth
sounds of the Southwest Jazz
Quartet played in the
background.
For information regarding the
second annual wine and beer
tasting event, contact the Office
of Alumni and Parent Relations
at (773) 298-3316.
Chicago Food Depository Service Event
DECEMBER
2
SXU Concert Band Parent Reception
and Concert
16
Alumni and Friends Holiday Tea
Saint Xavier friends and alumni enjoy
preseason game between Sox and Cubs
A record 144 alumni and friends of Saint Xavier University watched the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs
square off during a spring training preseason game on March 22, at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz.
Participants enjoyed skybox seating and warm Arizona sunshine at the 4th annual Saint Xavier University
Alumni and Friends Weekend. But neither Northsiders nor Southsiders could claim bragging rights when the
game ended in an 8 to 8 tie in the 10th inning.Whether a Cubs or a Sox fan, the day was filled with great food,
fun and friends as guests received VIP tickets, entry into the exclusive SXU skybox and appetizing food and
beverages during the game.
46
A L U M N I
This week of events for the entire SXU community—alumni, students, family and friends—is scheduled with informative,
motivational and fun activities. Listed below are some of the week’s events; please look for your brochure in the mail or call
the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at (773) 298-3316 for more information.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
SEPTEMBER
11
SEPTEMBER 2 9 TO OCTOBER 4, 2 0 0 8 ■ CHICAGO CAMPUS
N O T E S
Networking 101: Make the SXU Connection
6:30 p.m. Butler Reception Room
Open the door to one of the most effective ways of
starting or furthering your career!
Counseling and Career Services invites SXU
students and alumni to a special program designed
to help participants learn and practice effective
networking skills. Connect with alums working in
a variety of fields. Discover pointers aimed at
giving you the competitive edge in the job market.
Light refreshments will be served.
R.S.V.P. to Catherine Boganey at (773) 298-3131.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1
“The Catholic Colloquium Series”
6:30 p.m. Butler Reception Room
Dr. Terry Mason, Chicago Department of Public
Health, will explore the outlook of urban health
care if a new U.S. president were paying attention
to principles of Catholic social teaching. This event,
sponsored by the Center for Religion and Public
Discourse, is free and open to the public.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2
Men’s Basketball Alumni Game
6:30 p.m. Shannon Center Main Arena
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3
Golden Graduate Society Tea
2 p.m. Heritage Room at Gilhooley’s Grande
Saloon
Alumnae who attended the 49th and Cottage
Grove Avenue campus are invited to a special
afternoon tea to honor Saint Xavier’s rich history
and exciting future. $15 per person includes tea and
light refreshments.
All-Alumni Celebration, honoring the
classes of ’68, ’78, ’83 and ’88
6:30 p.m. Butler Reception Room
In recognition of their achievements, awards will be
presented to distinguished alumni from the College
of Arts and Sciences, the School of Nursing, the
Graham School of Management, the School of
Education and the School for Continuing and
Professional Studies. Share memories, catch up with
old friends, meet with faculty members and see the
exciting changes happening at Saint Xavier. $30
per person includes hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine.
Come and show your support for the SXU
graduates being honored with the
Academic Distinguished Alumni Award
Distinguished Nursing Alumni Award
Recipients of this award demonstrate outstanding
commitment to patients/clients, utilize innovative
approaches to health care and enhance the image
and future of nursing through research and
scholarship.
College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished
Alumni Award
The College of Arts and Sciences honors an
alumnus/alumna whose professional, personal and
civic accomplishments exemplify the mission of the
college. Recipients of this award demonstrate a
commitment to lifelong learning and critical
inquiry, responsible citizenship and conscientious
practice in professional or community endeavors.
School of Education George McGuire Award
Recipients of this award exemplify the qualities of
George K. McGuire (1972-1972), a faculty member
in the Education Center (now the School of
Education) at Saint Xavier College. A generous
teacher, George McGuire was a model for students
in the teacher preparation program. The School of
Education celebrates the contributions and traits of
George McGuire through this award.
a host of local vendors including Gilhooley’s,
Chartwells, Tastee Freeze of Palos Heights,
Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels and many more.
Saint Xavier University vs. Walsh University
1 p.m. Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field
Stop by the Alumni and Parent Relations
Hospitality Tent for your free tickets to the football
game. Come and celebrate Mike Feminis’ 10-year
anniversary as head football coach of the SXU
Cougars.
5th Quarter Oktoberfest Celebration!
Honoring the Classes of ’98 and ’03
Gilhooley’s Grande Saloon
The fun doesn’t end with the 4th quarter. Alumni
and parents are invited to a post-game/reunion
celebration. Enjoy live music, appetizers and a
beer-tasting event from 4 to 8 p.m.
Graham School of Management Distinguished
Alumni Award
This award honors an alumnus/a for success in the
business world, as well as dedication and
commitment to the Graham School of
Management and its student body. The Graham
School of Management appreciates each recipient’s
time, talents and services.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5
The School for Continuing and Professional
Studies Distinguished Alumni Award
This award honors a non-traditional alumnus/a for
their outstanding achievements in their professional
careers, local community and service to Saint
Xavier University, reflecting the University’s core
values. The recipient will have demonstrated a
commitment to the University’s Mercy heritage as
embodied in its mission statement to serve wisely
and compassionately in support of human dignity
and the common good.
Distinguished Alumni Award
This award was established in 1986 to recognize an
alumnus/a for his or her personal and professional
achievements that reflect the ideals of Saint Xavier
University. Recipients of the award exhibit the
values of service, leadership, lifelong learning
and spirituality.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4
8th Annual Cougar 5K Run/Walk
9 a.m. Shannon Center
Register online at www.signmeup.com/60059
or call the race hotline at (773) 298-3592.
Women’s Volleyball Alumnae Match
10 a.m. Shannon Center Main Arena
Men’s Baseball Alumni Game
10 a.m. Ferrell Field
Women’s Basketball Alumnae Game
10:30 a.m. Shannon Center West Gym
Women’s Softball Alumnae Game
10:30 a.m. Cougar Softball Field
Pre-Game Tailgate
11 a.m. Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field
Students, alumni, parents and friends are invited to
attend the Pre-Game Tailgate for a Family Festival
of fun! Highlights include bean bag tournaments,
a caricature artist, a variety of children’s games and
Alumni Mass
10 a.m. McDonough Chapel
Alumni Association Awards and Brunch
11:30 a.m. Butler Reception Room
Join us in honoring remarkable Saint Xavier
graduates with the presentation of the annual
alumni awards. $25 per person.
Sister Dorothy Marie Peschon Award
Honoring one of the first graduates of Saint Xavier
College for Women, this award is presented to an
alumnus/a who serves as an exemplary volunteer
and supporter of the University’s endeavors and
who embodies the values of the Sisters of Mercy
in the pursuit of opening new doors to Saint
Xavier students.
The Rita A. Ford Faith in the Future Award
This award is presented to a promising alumnus/a
who graduated in the past ten years and has
achieved personal, professional and social
accomplishments that reflect the ideals of Saint
Xavier University.
Faculty Recognition Award
Awarded to a faculty member who has served the
University community for at least five years and
embodies the ideals of Saint Xavier University.
Recipients of this award exhibit the values of
service, leadership, spirituality and a strong
commitment to student welfare.
F A L L
2 0 0 8
47
Homecoming and Family Week
UPCOMING EVENTS
AND ACTIVITIES
of the Office of Alumni and
Parent Relations and the SXU
Alumni Association
golden grads
CLASS OF 1958
SXU Men’s Football Game Tailgate:
Cougars vs. St. Francis, Joliet, Ill.
OCTOBER
3
Golden Graduate Society Tea
All-Alumni Celebration and Academic
Distinguished Alumni Awards
4
HOMECOMING
• 8th Annual Cougar 5K Run/Walk
• Alumni Games
• Pre-Game Tailgate and Family Festival
• Football Game: Cougars vs. Walsh
University Cavaliers
• 5th Quarter Octoberfest Celebration
5
Alumni Mass and Alumni Association
Awards and Brunch
21
Catholic History Museum Visit
NOVEMBER
14
Alumni, Parents and Friends
Beer and Wine Tasting Event
Orland Park, Ill.
22
Member of the class of ’58 celebrate the
50th anniversary of their graduation from
Saint Xavier College for Women during
the May Commencement.
THE INAUGURAL ALUMNI AND PARENTS BEER AND WINE TASTING EVENT
The Office of Alumni and Parent Relations and the Alumni Association hosted alumni, parents and friends
at its inaugural Alumni and Parents Beer and Wine Tasting event on April 25. Guests enjoyed delicious hors
d’oeuvres from Gilhooley’s Grande Saloon and a variety of wine and beer samples from Anheuser Busch,
Benessere Vineyards, Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant, and Judge and Dolph distributors. Christine
Blumer, “The Wine Diva,” mingled with guests and offered advice on the great variety of wine and beer
selections while the smooth
sounds of the Southwest Jazz
Quartet played in the
background.
For information regarding the
second annual wine and beer
tasting event, contact the Office
of Alumni and Parent Relations
at (773) 298-3316.
Chicago Food Depository Service Event
DECEMBER
2
SXU Concert Band Parent Reception
and Concert
16
Alumni and Friends Holiday Tea
Saint Xavier friends and alumni enjoy
preseason game between Sox and Cubs
A record 144 alumni and friends of Saint Xavier University watched the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs
square off during a spring training preseason game on March 22, at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz.
Participants enjoyed skybox seating and warm Arizona sunshine at the 4th annual Saint Xavier University
Alumni and Friends Weekend. But neither Northsiders nor Southsiders could claim bragging rights when the
game ended in an 8 to 8 tie in the 10th inning.Whether a Cubs or a Sox fan, the day was filled with great food,
fun and friends as guests received VIP tickets, entry into the exclusive SXU skybox and appetizing food and
beverages during the game.
46
A L U M N I
This week of events for the entire SXU community—alumni, students, family and friends—is scheduled with informative,
motivational and fun activities. Listed below are some of the week’s events; please look for your brochure in the mail or call
the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at (773) 298-3316 for more information.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
SEPTEMBER
11
SEPTEMBER 2 9 TO OCTOBER 4, 2 0 0 8 ■ CHICAGO CAMPUS
N O T E S
Networking 101: Make the SXU Connection
6:30 p.m. Butler Reception Room
Open the door to one of the most effective ways of
starting or furthering your career!
Counseling and Career Services invites SXU
students and alumni to a special program designed
to help participants learn and practice effective
networking skills. Connect with alums working in
a variety of fields. Discover pointers aimed at
giving you the competitive edge in the job market.
Light refreshments will be served.
R.S.V.P. to Catherine Boganey at (773) 298-3131.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1
“The Catholic Colloquium Series”
6:30 p.m. Butler Reception Room
Dr. Terry Mason, Chicago Department of Public
Health, will explore the outlook of urban health
care if a new U.S. president were paying attention
to principles of Catholic social teaching. This event,
sponsored by the Center for Religion and Public
Discourse, is free and open to the public.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2
Men’s Basketball Alumni Game
6:30 p.m. Shannon Center Main Arena
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3
Golden Graduate Society Tea
2 p.m. Heritage Room at Gilhooley’s Grande
Saloon
Alumnae who attended the 49th and Cottage
Grove Avenue campus are invited to a special
afternoon tea to honor Saint Xavier’s rich history
and exciting future. $15 per person includes tea and
light refreshments.
All-Alumni Celebration, honoring the
classes of ’68, ’78, ’83 and ’88
6:30 p.m. Butler Reception Room
In recognition of their achievements, awards will be
presented to distinguished alumni from the College
of Arts and Sciences, the School of Nursing, the
Graham School of Management, the School of
Education and the School for Continuing and
Professional Studies. Share memories, catch up with
old friends, meet with faculty members and see the
exciting changes happening at Saint Xavier. $30
per person includes hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine.
Come and show your support for the SXU
graduates being honored with the
Academic Distinguished Alumni Award
Distinguished Nursing Alumni Award
Recipients of this award demonstrate outstanding
commitment to patients/clients, utilize innovative
approaches to health care and enhance the image
and future of nursing through research and
scholarship.
College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished
Alumni Award
The College of Arts and Sciences honors an
alumnus/alumna whose professional, personal and
civic accomplishments exemplify the mission of the
college. Recipients of this award demonstrate a
commitment to lifelong learning and critical
inquiry, responsible citizenship and conscientious
practice in professional or community endeavors.
School of Education George McGuire Award
Recipients of this award exemplify the qualities of
George K. McGuire (1972-1972), a faculty member
in the Education Center (now the School of
Education) at Saint Xavier College. A generous
teacher, George McGuire was a model for students
in the teacher preparation program. The School of
Education celebrates the contributions and traits of
George McGuire through this award.
a host of local vendors including Gilhooley’s,
Chartwells, Tastee Freeze of Palos Heights,
Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels and many more.
Saint Xavier University vs. Walsh University
1 p.m. Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field
Stop by the Alumni and Parent Relations
Hospitality Tent for your free tickets to the football
game. Come and celebrate Mike Feminis’ 10-year
anniversary as head football coach of the SXU
Cougars.
5th Quarter Oktoberfest Celebration!
Honoring the Classes of ’98 and ’03
Gilhooley’s Grande Saloon
The fun doesn’t end with the 4th quarter. Alumni
and parents are invited to a post-game/reunion
celebration. Enjoy live music, appetizers and a
beer-tasting event from 4 to 8 p.m.
Graham School of Management Distinguished
Alumni Award
This award honors an alumnus/a for success in the
business world, as well as dedication and
commitment to the Graham School of
Management and its student body. The Graham
School of Management appreciates each recipient’s
time, talents and services.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5
The School for Continuing and Professional
Studies Distinguished Alumni Award
This award honors a non-traditional alumnus/a for
their outstanding achievements in their professional
careers, local community and service to Saint
Xavier University, reflecting the University’s core
values. The recipient will have demonstrated a
commitment to the University’s Mercy heritage as
embodied in its mission statement to serve wisely
and compassionately in support of human dignity
and the common good.
Distinguished Alumni Award
This award was established in 1986 to recognize an
alumnus/a for his or her personal and professional
achievements that reflect the ideals of Saint Xavier
University. Recipients of the award exhibit the
values of service, leadership, lifelong learning
and spirituality.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4
8th Annual Cougar 5K Run/Walk
9 a.m. Shannon Center
Register online at www.signmeup.com/60059
or call the race hotline at (773) 298-3592.
Women’s Volleyball Alumnae Match
10 a.m. Shannon Center Main Arena
Men’s Baseball Alumni Game
10 a.m. Ferrell Field
Women’s Basketball Alumnae Game
10:30 a.m. Shannon Center West Gym
Women’s Softball Alumnae Game
10:30 a.m. Cougar Softball Field
Pre-Game Tailgate
11 a.m. Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field
Students, alumni, parents and friends are invited to
attend the Pre-Game Tailgate for a Family Festival
of fun! Highlights include bean bag tournaments,
a caricature artist, a variety of children’s games and
Alumni Mass
10 a.m. McDonough Chapel
Alumni Association Awards and Brunch
11:30 a.m. Butler Reception Room
Join us in honoring remarkable Saint Xavier
graduates with the presentation of the annual
alumni awards. $25 per person.
Sister Dorothy Marie Peschon Award
Honoring one of the first graduates of Saint Xavier
College for Women, this award is presented to an
alumnus/a who serves as an exemplary volunteer
and supporter of the University’s endeavors and
who embodies the values of the Sisters of Mercy
in the pursuit of opening new doors to Saint
Xavier students.
The Rita A. Ford Faith in the Future Award
This award is presented to a promising alumnus/a
who graduated in the past ten years and has
achieved personal, professional and social
accomplishments that reflect the ideals of Saint
Xavier University.
Faculty Recognition Award
Awarded to a faculty member who has served the
University community for at least five years and
embodies the ideals of Saint Xavier University.
Recipients of this award exhibit the values of
service, leadership, spirituality and a strong
commitment to student welfare.
F A L L
2 0 0 8
47
campusCALENDAR
SEPTEMBER
NOVEMBER
9
Women’s Soccer vs. Aquinas College (Mich.), 5 p.m.
4
Men’s Basketball vs. Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.), 5 p.m.
9
Film Series: Metropolis (1927), 7 p.m., McGuire Hall
4
Volleyball vs. University of St. Francis (Ill.), 7 p.m.
10
Men’s Soccer vs. Aquinas College (Mich.), 7 p.m.
7
Guitar Ensemble and Jazz Combo, 7:30 p.m., McGuire Hall
13
Men’s Soccer vs. Goshen College (Ind.), 1:30 p.m.
8
Football vs. Taylor University (Ind.), 1 p.m.
11
Football vs. University of St. Francis (Ill.), 7 p.m.
8
Women’s Basketball vs. McKendree University (Ill.), 4 p.m.
16
Volleyball vs. Trinity International University (Ill.), 7 p.m.
11
Film Series: Chinatown (1974), 7 p.m., McGuire Hall
17
Volleyball vs. Lewis University (Ill.), 7 p.m.
14
Jazz Ensemble, 7:30 p.m., McGuire Hall
23
Women’s Soccer vs. Judson University (Ill.), 5 p.m.
15
Football vs. University of Saint Francis (Ind.), 1 p.m.
23
Volleyball vs. Judson University (Ill.), 7 p.m.
15
Women’s Basketball vs. Purdue University-Calumet (Ind.), 4 p.m.
23
Men’s Soccer vs. Judson University (Ill.), 7 p.m.
21
University Orchestra, 7:30 p.m.,TBA
27
Women’s Soccer vs. Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.), 5 p.m.
28
Men’s Basketball vs. East-West University (Ill.), 8 p.m.
27
Men’s Soccer vs. Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.), 7 p.m.
29
Men’s Basketball vs. TBA, 3 p.m.
OCTOBER
DECEMBER
4
Volleyball vs. SXU Alumni Match, 10 a.m.
2
Concert Band, 7:30 p.m., McGuire Hall
4
Football vs. Walsh University (Ohio) (Homecoming), 1 p.m.
3
Men’s Basketball vs. Purdue University-Calumet (Ind.), 7 p.m.
7
Volleyball vs. Trinity Christian College (Ill.), 7 p.m.
5
Christmas at Saint Xavier, 7:30 p.m., McGuire Hall
14
Volleyball vs. Illinois Institute of Technology (Ill.), 7 p.m.
6
Combined Chamber Singers and Flute Chorale, 7:30 p.m., McGuire Hall
14
Film Series: Call Northside 777 (1948), 7 p.m., McGuire Hall
12
Men’s Basketball vs. Ashford University (Iowa), 8 p.m.
14
Women’s Soccer vs. Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.), 5 p.m.
12
Women’s Basketball vs. Wheaton College (Ill.), 6 p.m.
15
Men’s Soccer vs. Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.), 7 p.m.
15
Men’s Basketball vs. Trinity International University (Ill.), 2 p.m.
18
Women’s Soccer vs. Trinity International University (Ill.), 11 a.m.
16-18 Men’s Basketball, SXU Midwest Tournament, Shannon Center
18
Men’s Soccer vs. Trinity International University (Ill.), 1:30 p.m.
23
21
Women’s Soccer vs. Trinity Christian College (Ill.), 5 p.m.
21
Men’s Soccer vs. Trinity Christian College (Ill.), 7 p.m.
27-29 Women’s Basketball, Saint Xavier University Christmas Tournament,
Shannon Center
25
Football vs. Marian College (Ind.), 6 p.m.
29
Volleyball vs. University of Wisconsin-Parkside (Wis.), 7 p.m.
30
Volleyball vs. St. Ambrose (Iowa), 7 p.m.
Men’s Basketball vs. University of Illinois-Springfield (Ill.), 3 p.m.
* Please note that event details
are subject to change.
UPDATE YOUR INFOR MATION ON LINE ! www.sxu.edu/alumni/keepintouch
Name
We’d like to
hear from you…
Keep in touch with
your friends and
classmates. A new
hobby, volunteering,
job changes–whatever
your news, share it
with friends and
classmates via Saint
Xavier Magazine.
And if your address
or other contact
information has
changed, please
let us know.
Former Name
Keep in Touch!
She Taught me How to Hope
B Y
J I L L
D .
D U B A ,
P H . D .
’ 9 7
I knew no one in Ohio when I began my doctorate degree in
counselor education and supervision at Kent State University
in the fall of 2000. Pursuing a doctoral degree was uncharted
territory that no one in my family had yet to explore, and I
had always grown up with family members a few miles away.
There were plenty of nights during that first semester that I
would lie on the floor of my small one-bedroom apartment
in tears. However, it never failed: a few minutes into my
self-pity, the phone would ring. Gram had a joke to tell
me. After the phone call, I picked myself up from the floor
and counted my blessings. Tomorrow was a new day.
Gram was a very important part of my cheerleading
team, throughout my doctoral program and well into
my professional career. As I began studying for my
comprehensive exams I often experienced self-doubt and
would ask myself over and over again, “How am I going to
do this?” Often I was faced with a crossroad. I could give
up. Or I could choose to believe in myself. Gram’s faith in
me was instrumental. She believed I could do it. Consciously
choosing to persevere and believe in my capabilities brought
me out of those self-depreciating moments.
At the age of 90, Gram made it to my doctoral defense, and
one month later returned for my graduation. As I think about
her efforts to celebrate “me,” I realize she was also teaching
me about the importance of slowing down and celebrating
life’s accomplishments. On that day, she helped me take note
of all that I had achieved.
Your News:
Class Year
Address
Phone
S A I N T
X A V I E R
E-mail
Send your news for consideration to:
Saint Xavier University
Office of Alumni and Parent Relations
3700 West 103rd Street
Chicago, IL 60655
Fax: (773) 298-3886
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.sxu.edu/alumni/keepintouch
In 2001, a year into my professional career, Saint Xavier
University awarded me the Faith in the Future Award.
Although I could not attend the award ceremony, I
immediately knew that I wanted Gram to accept the honor
for me. A picture of her giving the acceptance speech, which
she wrote on my behalf, currently sits on my office desk. In
the picture, Gram is glowing. I know that her presence there
that day was proof of her belief in me. Her unshakable faith
in me made this achievement—and many others—possible.
Gram taught me to honor each of life’s moments. Her lessons
helped me understand the importance of perseverance,
endurance and optimism despite any given situation. Through
my grandmother’s example, I also learned how to carry this
attitude over into other, less than positive circumstances.
In January of 2007, just five months before Gram passed
away from lymphoma, I found out that my husband of one
year was cheating on me. For months I fought the urge to
lean on Gram, to place my head in her lap so she could run
her hands through my hair as she always did when I was
sad. But she was sick, wasn’t it my turn to let her lean on
me? That Easter, Gram’s health worsened. As she sat on her
couch, I knelt beside her, put my head in her lap and told her
about my husband quite simply, leaving out the intimate
details of the situation.
“Oh Jill, you deserve better than this,” she said, running her
hands through my hair. “It will be okay.”
She passed away in May 2007, and my divorce was final in
September of that same year. Through it all, her spirit of hope
and belief in something better has endured.
There are many reasons why I attempt to use optimism when
confronted with the good and bad. However it’s a choice, a
choice to be made each and every day. And as I reflect upon
what Gram taught me, I think, “I can choose this too.”
Jill D. Duba, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at Western
Kentucky University in the Department of Counseling and
Student Affairs. She received her B.S. in biology from Saint
Xavier University in 1997. In 2001 she was awarded SXU’s
Faith in the Future Award for her contributions and service
in the field of professional counseling.
campusCALENDAR
SEPTEMBER
NOVEMBER
9
Women’s Soccer vs. Aquinas College (Mich.), 5 p.m.
4
Men’s Basketball vs. Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.), 5 p.m.
9
Film Series: Metropolis (1927), 7 p.m., McGuire Hall
4
Volleyball vs. University of St. Francis (Ill.), 7 p.m.
10
Men’s Soccer vs. Aquinas College (Mich.), 7 p.m.
7
Guitar Ensemble and Jazz Combo, 7:30 p.m., McGuire Hall
13
Men’s Soccer vs. Goshen College (Ind.), 1:30 p.m.
8
Football vs. Taylor University (Ind.), 1 p.m.
11
Football vs. University of St. Francis (Ill.), 7 p.m.
8
Women’s Basketball vs. McKendree University (Ill.), 4 p.m.
16
Volleyball vs. Trinity International University (Ill.), 7 p.m.
11
Film Series: Chinatown (1974), 7 p.m., McGuire Hall
17
Volleyball vs. Lewis University (Ill.), 7 p.m.
14
Jazz Ensemble, 7:30 p.m., McGuire Hall
23
Women’s Soccer vs. Judson University (Ill.), 5 p.m.
15
Football vs. University of Saint Francis (Ind.), 1 p.m.
23
Volleyball vs. Judson University (Ill.), 7 p.m.
15
Women’s Basketball vs. Purdue University-Calumet (Ind.), 4 p.m.
23
Men’s Soccer vs. Judson University (Ill.), 7 p.m.
21
University Orchestra, 7:30 p.m.,TBA
27
Women’s Soccer vs. Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.), 5 p.m.
28
Men’s Basketball vs. East-West University (Ill.), 8 p.m.
27
Men’s Soccer vs. Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.), 7 p.m.
29
Men’s Basketball vs. TBA, 3 p.m.
OCTOBER
DECEMBER
4
Volleyball vs. SXU Alumni Match, 10 a.m.
2
Concert Band, 7:30 p.m., McGuire Hall
4
Football vs. Walsh University (Ohio) (Homecoming), 1 p.m.
3
Men’s Basketball vs. Purdue University-Calumet (Ind.), 7 p.m.
7
Volleyball vs. Trinity Christian College (Ill.), 7 p.m.
5
Christmas at Saint Xavier, 7:30 p.m., McGuire Hall
14
Volleyball vs. Illinois Institute of Technology (Ill.), 7 p.m.
6
Combined Chamber Singers and Flute Chorale, 7:30 p.m., McGuire Hall
14
Film Series: Call Northside 777 (1948), 7 p.m., McGuire Hall
12
Men’s Basketball vs. Ashford University (Iowa), 8 p.m.
14
Women’s Soccer vs. Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.), 5 p.m.
12
Women’s Basketball vs. Wheaton College (Ill.), 6 p.m.
15
Men’s Soccer vs. Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.), 7 p.m.
15
Men’s Basketball vs. Trinity International University (Ill.), 2 p.m.
18
Women’s Soccer vs. Trinity International University (Ill.), 11 a.m.
16-18 Men’s Basketball, SXU Midwest Tournament, Shannon Center
18
Men’s Soccer vs. Trinity International University (Ill.), 1:30 p.m.
23
21
Women’s Soccer vs. Trinity Christian College (Ill.), 5 p.m.
21
Men’s Soccer vs. Trinity Christian College (Ill.), 7 p.m.
27-29 Women’s Basketball, Saint Xavier University Christmas Tournament,
Shannon Center
25
Football vs. Marian College (Ind.), 6 p.m.
29
Volleyball vs. University of Wisconsin-Parkside (Wis.), 7 p.m.
30
Volleyball vs. St. Ambrose (Iowa), 7 p.m.
Men’s Basketball vs. University of Illinois-Springfield (Ill.), 3 p.m.
* Please note that event details
are subject to change.
UPDATE YOUR INFOR MATION ON LINE ! www.sxu.edu/alumni/keepintouch
Name
We’d like to
hear from you…
Keep in touch with
your friends and
classmates. A new
hobby, volunteering,
job changes–whatever
your news, share it
with friends and
classmates via Saint
Xavier Magazine.
And if your address
or other contact
information has
changed, please
let us know.
Former Name
Keep in Touch!
She Taught me How to Hope
B Y
J I L L
D .
D U B A ,
P H . D .
’ 9 7
I knew no one in Ohio when I began my doctorate degree in
counselor education and supervision at Kent State University
in the fall of 2000. Pursuing a doctoral degree was uncharted
territory that no one in my family had yet to explore, and I
had always grown up with family members a few miles away.
There were plenty of nights during that first semester that I
would lie on the floor of my small one-bedroom apartment
in tears. However, it never failed: a few minutes into my
self-pity, the phone would ring. Gram had a joke to tell
me. After the phone call, I picked myself up from the floor
and counted my blessings. Tomorrow was a new day.
Gram was a very important part of my cheerleading
team, throughout my doctoral program and well into
my professional career. As I began studying for my
comprehensive exams I often experienced self-doubt and
would ask myself over and over again, “How am I going to
do this?” Often I was faced with a crossroad. I could give
up. Or I could choose to believe in myself. Gram’s faith in
me was instrumental. She believed I could do it. Consciously
choosing to persevere and believe in my capabilities brought
me out of those self-depreciating moments.
At the age of 90, Gram made it to my doctoral defense, and
one month later returned for my graduation. As I think about
her efforts to celebrate “me,” I realize she was also teaching
me about the importance of slowing down and celebrating
life’s accomplishments. On that day, she helped me take note
of all that I had achieved.
Your News:
Class Year
Address
Phone
S A I N T
X A V I E R
E-mail
Send your news for consideration to:
Saint Xavier University
Office of Alumni and Parent Relations
3700 West 103rd Street
Chicago, IL 60655
Fax: (773) 298-3886
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.sxu.edu/alumni/keepintouch
In 2001, a year into my professional career, Saint Xavier
University awarded me the Faith in the Future Award.
Although I could not attend the award ceremony, I
immediately knew that I wanted Gram to accept the honor
for me. A picture of her giving the acceptance speech, which
she wrote on my behalf, currently sits on my office desk. In
the picture, Gram is glowing. I know that her presence there
that day was proof of her belief in me. Her unshakable faith
in me made this achievement—and many others—possible.
Gram taught me to honor each of life’s moments. Her lessons
helped me understand the importance of perseverance,
endurance and optimism despite any given situation. Through
my grandmother’s example, I also learned how to carry this
attitude over into other, less than positive circumstances.
In January of 2007, just five months before Gram passed
away from lymphoma, I found out that my husband of one
year was cheating on me. For months I fought the urge to
lean on Gram, to place my head in her lap so she could run
her hands through my hair as she always did when I was
sad. But she was sick, wasn’t it my turn to let her lean on
me? That Easter, Gram’s health worsened. As she sat on her
couch, I knelt beside her, put my head in her lap and told her
about my husband quite simply, leaving out the intimate
details of the situation.
“Oh Jill, you deserve better than this,” she said, running her
hands through my hair. “It will be okay.”
She passed away in May 2007, and my divorce was final in
September of that same year. Through it all, her spirit of hope
and belief in something better has endured.
There are many reasons why I attempt to use optimism when
confronted with the good and bad. However it’s a choice, a
choice to be made each and every day. And as I reflect upon
what Gram taught me, I think, “I can choose this too.”
Jill D. Duba, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at Western
Kentucky University in the Department of Counseling and
Student Affairs. She received her B.S. in biology from Saint
Xavier University in 1997. In 2001 she was awarded SXU’s
Faith in the Future Award for her contributions and service
in the field of professional counseling.
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1
The Magazine of Saint Xavier University
Fall 2008
ON THE COVER :
E T ER N A L DA N C E , C HR I S ZON TA
Chris Zonta worked as a fiber artist for
25 years cutting, stitching and using
appliqué techniques on a variety of
textiles. In 1995 she traded her sewing
machine for a pair of tile nippers and
has been creating mosaic art ever since.
“My art has always been about taking
or breaking things apart and putting
them back together in unusual ways.”
C HIC AGO C A M P US
3 7 0 0 W E ST 10 3 R D ST R EE T
C HIC AGO, I L 6 0 6 5 5
(773) 2 9 8-3 0 0 0
ABOUT THE
OR L A N D PA R K C A M P US
18 2 3 0 OR L A N D PA R K WAY
OR L A N D PA R K , I L 6 0 4 6 7
(70 8) 8 0 2-6 2 0 0
W W W.S X U. EDU
3 7 0 0 W E ST 10 3 R D ST R EE T
C HIC AGO, I L 6 0 6 5 5
Zonta teaches the process of mosaic
making to children and adults
throughout the Chicagoland area. She
designed the Mosaic Art Program that
teaches elementary school students
about the history, materials, tools and
techniques used while creating a
permanent mosaic mural for their school
environment. View Zonta’s work at
www.czonta.com.
Artist
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
So. Suburban, IL
Permit No. 35
nurturing
HOPE