The Magazine of Saint Xavier University Winter 2005contributed real estate, buildings and a...

Winter 2005The Magazine of Saint Xavier University

reachingBEYOND

BORDERS

reachingBEYOND

BORDERS

IN THIS ISSUE:

Early Risers–RemarkableEarly Education Center 9

International Study Opens Doors and Minds 14

Credo Delivers Hope 18

ABOUT THE COVER

A NCIENT ROAD TO MASADA

by Sandra Bowden

“Making art to the greater

glory of God is like singing

a hymn of praise and

adoration. We would not

consider our churches to

be without music, choirs

and singing. We should

feel the same way about

visual arts in our

worship.” Sandra Bowden

Sandra Bowden is

president of Christians in

the Visual Arts. A selection

of her personal collection,

Biblical Art and Private

Devotion, will be shown

this spring in the SXU

Gallery. Ms. Bowden’s

artwork has received

numerous awards and has

appeared in exhibitions

and solo shows. In 2005,

Square Halo Books will

publish Word as Image:

The Art of Sandra

Bowden; it traces 40 years

of creativity and covers

issues important to every

Christian in the visual arts.

Saint Xavier Magazine ispublished twice a year

for the University’s alumniand friends by the Office

of University Relations

Dear Friends of Saint Xavier:

I was ten years old when I received my first magazine subscription. A themed historical magazine, “Cobblestone” included articles and pictures that provided abroad view of America’s past. While my grandmother had told me that during theDepression she dropped out of the eighth grade to help support her family, it wasn’t until Iwent on to read about this event that it was transformed from something she experiencedinto something I understood.

Reading can transport us in this way, teaching us about another time and place. Early on, I realized that the lessons I learned from reading could impact my life in real ways. With this inmind, I hope that this issue of Saint Xavier Magazine informs, inspires and ultimately providesyou with an authentic experience of the SXU community today.

In “Early Risers” you will learn how the Barbara Vick Early Childhood and Family Center,which works in collaboration with the College of Education, has impacted the parents of anautistic child. Yet the SXU community extends beyond the south side of Chicago. With theincrease of students studying abroad, more students have the chance to explore the world,demonstrated in “International Study Opens Doors and Minds.” Journeys abroad haveresulted in outcomes beyond anyone’s imagination including the progress of alumna PattyKiefer’s humanitarian aid organization in “Credo Delivers Hope.”

To this end, the magazine introduces some new features. “Faces” showcases the singularexperience of a person from Saint Xavier University. Laurence Musgrove, associate professorof English, initiates this feature in “Moving” where he details his itinerant life. And sincewriting alone cannot convey a magazine’s theme, we are pleased to introduce the painter andprintmaker Sandra Bowden, whose artwork appears on the cover and throughout themagazine. Ms. Bowden has received international recognition for her exploration of therelationship between Christian faith and visual arts.

As you peruse this issue of Saint Xavier Magazine, I hope that the stories within make animpact on your life. I am delighted to celebrate our shared history through these pages andlook forward to learning from each other.

All the best,

Melissa Fraterrigo, Editor [email protected]

EditorFROM THE

TABLE OF

2 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

3 SAINT XAVIER JOURNAL

9 EARLY RISERS–REMARKABLE EARLY EDUCATION CENTER

14 INTERNATIONAL STUDY OPENS DOORS

17 A NURSE’S CAMARADERIE IN IRAQ

18 CREDO DELIVERS HOPE

22 FACULTY NEWS

24 ALUMNI NOTES

29 ALUMNI CALENDAR

32 GOLDEN GRADS

33 FACES: MOVING

Contents

PAGE 18

PAGE 14

PAGE 9

S A I N T X A V I E R2

There is an abundance of ways to impact our greater global community.Recent environmental disasters and global conflicts have troubled the lives and well being of thousands. These challenges have impelled us, as the SaintXavier community, to reach beyond borders to confront the greatproblems–as well as welcome the exciting opportunities–that face our society.

As a Catholic university, how do we identify the contemporary joys andhopes, grief and anguish? What questions of special urgency ought to engageand animate our university community? This issue of Saint Xavier Magazineaddresses these questions through the stories of university students, alumni,faculty and staff.

The liberal arts education that students receive at Saint Xavier University isconstantly evolving. Our faculty use innovative teaching methods to researchand publish issues that are vital to these turbulent times. SXU alumni aregenerous. They offer their time and share the knowledge and expertise of theirprofessions. It is the foundation of a high quality academic experience thatshapes our ability to become agents of change, to commit oneself to thecommon good.

And it is the combination of the exceptional academic preparation with theinfusion of the core values of the Sisters of Mercy that most benefits ourstudents. At SXU, people of various backgrounds come together through thearts, service projects and study abroad opportunities to bridge cultural divides.Our nation is more diverse racially, ethnically and culturally than ever–andour student body reflects that changing world.

It is our ongoing challenge to expand our role in the global community. Iencourage you to read the magazine, your magazine, to examine the extent of our reach.

Sincerely,

Dr. Judith A. DwyerPresidentSaint Xavier University

DEAR FRIENDS OF SAINT XAVIER:

Letter from the President

INTERMEDIA EXTENDS THE DISCUSSIONOF ART

An artistic revolution has begun at Saint XavierUniversity, and it looks vastly different from the workspreviously studied in art classes. Nathan Peck,associate professor of art, brought the discussion ofcombining analog and digital art-making to SXU asan independent study course, and has since appliedhis students’ interest to form the Chicago ArtDepartment. At the Chicago Art Department, SaintXavier students explore the art that exists betweendigital and analog known as Intermedia.

Unlike traditional forms of art such as painting,sculpture and photography, Intermedia prizes conceptover media. “The primary idea is to find the mostappropriate media for a concept and to explore mixingmedia,” said Peck. For instance, during a recent project,students were assigned the topic: “Love it or leave it”and were encouraged to express their vision of thistheme through a range of media. For example, astudent who had recently visited Ireland chose tocreate a video piece that incorporated footage from his

trip and the use ofbinoculars to view thepiece from a distance (ona small monitor acrossthe room).

Students who choose totake an independentstudy with Professor Peckat the Chicago ArtDepartment also have the

advantage of collaborating with faculty and studentsfrom DePaul, Columbia and the Art Institute, tofurther investigate their ideas. While it is unclear howIntermedia fits into the traditional art world, thediscussion of its place at SXU has already begun.

DRIEHAUS DONATES GILHOOLEY ’SGRANDE SALOON – Students experience thehospitality business firsthand

This past May, philanthropist Richard H. Driehauscontributed real estate, buildings and abusiness–Gilhooley’s Grande Saloon, an Irish-themedrestaurant and pub to Saint Xavier University. TheUniversity gratefully accepted the donation of the land,including the pub, located in the 3900 block of West103rd Street, and agreed to keep it operating as part of anemerging hospitalitymanagement programthat will be a part of a bachelor’s degree in businessadministration.The service industryremains one of thefastest-growingindustries in theworld, and now,with internships atGilhooley’s, SXU students will learn about operating a restaurant behind-the-scenes.

“For years, Richard Driehaus has shaped the city ofChicago through his generous and well-thought-outphilanthropy,” said President Judith Dwyer. “This giftfollows in that tradition, deeply impacting theuniversity, its students and Chicago.”

As SXU continues to experience record enrollment,Richard Driehaus’ donation will benefit the entirecommunity as the University examines how to bestutilize this prized space.

saint xavierJOURNAL

Laura Dagys ’05 mixes media to best express a concept through Intermedia, art thatexists between digital and analog.

Colin Luce ’05 paints in the Chicago ArtDepartment as part of his Intermedia project.

Students enjoy the foodand festive atmosphere at Gilhooley’s.

S A I N T X A V I E R 3

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRANTAWARDED TO SXU

Saint Xavier University has received a four-year,$398,672 grant for scholarships to support qualifiedstudents who want to pursue a major in computerscience or computer studies. The scholarship program,directed by Dr. Florence Appel, associate professor ofcomputer science, will provide yearly scholarships of

$3,125 to approximately 30 full-time students andare renewable for up to four years.

“At a time when many largeuniversities are experiencinga decrease in the number of

minority students, SaintXavier is maintaining healthy

minority enrollments, largely dueto our strong student support

infrastructure,” said Appel.Furthermore, she anticipates the

scholarship program to sharpen students’problem-solving abilities, build students’

confidence in their abilities to succeed in achallenging major and also expose students to

the computer science discipline.

In addition to financial assistance, students in thescholarship program will receive a rich array ofacademic and career services, including monthlyseminars, comprehensive career counseling, tutoring,internship and service learning positions, collaborativefaculty-student research, the opportunity to attendcomputer science conferences, a laptop loaner programand alumni mentoring. The new scholarship programwill target first-generation college students that areunderrepresented in the computer science discipline,including African-Americans, Latinos, NativeAmericans, women and the disabled.

L ATINO/L ATIN AMERICAN STUDIESPROGRAM ENRICHES LEARNING

With the rapidly growing Latino population, Dr. AlexTrillo, assistant professor of sociology, started theLatino/Latin American Studies program to focus on theLatino experience and to promote other Universityobjectives. So far students are paying attention. “Ourstudents are interesting because they are incredibly

reserved, but curious. It’s a great irony to have.” In theprocess of designing this program, Trillo worked closelywith the administration and his colleagues including Dr.Michael Clark, associate professor of political science, todetermine how to best meet the University’s needs.

Community-serving research projects were one wayTrillo determined the program could add to the Mercymission. This spring, students from a variety of majorswill travel with Trillo to Oaxaca, Mexico, to examineracial and ethnic inequality there and expose some ofthe ways in which poorer groups are voicing theirconcerns. Latino/Latin American Studies also sponsorsa variety of events. “Already, we have brought speakersto campus and presented a Latino film series.”Ultimately, Trillo hopes the new program can grow andhelp increase the recruitment, retention and graduationrate of Latino students and help the SXU communitylearn more about the Latino diaspora.

For more information, go to the Latino/Latin AmericanStudies Web site at: www.sxu.edu/latino_studies/

MLK DAY CELEBRATED

The life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wasobserved during a weeklong celebration that began onJanuary 17, 2005. A dominant force in the civil rightsmovement, Dr. King’s life and his manyaccomplishments were acknowledged in the ceremony.Dr. Margaret T. Burroughs addressed the SXUcommunity as keynote speaker.

Artist, educator and institution builder, Dr. Burroughshas made numerous contributions to African Americanarts and culture in Chicago. Along with many artisticworks of art, she founded the South Side CommunityArts Center at the age of twenty-two and co-foundedthe DuSable Museum of African American Historywith her husband, Charles Burroughs. This museumstands as an internationally recognized resource forAfrican American art. In 1975 she received thePresident’s Humanitarian Award and in 1977 wasnamed one of Chicago’s Most Influential Women bythe Chicago Defender.

Saint Xavier University was honored to celebrate thelife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the thoughtfulwords of Dr. Burroughs.


saint xavierJOURNAL

W I N T E R 2 0 0 5


SCIENTIST BENEFITS FROM PARTNERSHIPWITH STUDENT-RESEARCHERS

Dr. Randolph Krohmer, associate professor of biology iscommitted to undergraduate research. “When I came toSaint Xavier University in 1991, they asked me not onlyto teach, but also to develop a research program thatwould include undergraduate participation.” As a result,Krohmer assigns undergraduates projects associatedwith his current research program in reproductivebehavioral neuroendocrinology.

“I am proud to say that students who conductresearch in my lab have not always been the topstudents with the best GPA . . . .I have found thatresearch can stimulate students who find themselvesno longer challenged by the normal classroom routine.”Yet Dr. Krohmer also benefits from the researchexperience. “Students have taught me the fact that[research] takes a lot of work. Those that work wellsacrifice time and energy.”

Over the past decade, more than 40 students haveworked in Krohmer’s lab. In that time, the studentshave published more than 20 abstracts, been authorson three published articles (Gerald Bieganski ’98,Daniel Baleckaitis ’98, Dawn Clesson ’99, AlmaBautista ’99 and Dora Martinez ’02) with twocurrently in review. Students from his lab have gone onto medical school, graduate school, and becomeexceptional laboratory technicians. Students have alsobecome highly successful teachers with an impact onthe entire scientific community.

Clients who have experienced aphasia, a language disorder that results from a lack of oxygen to thebrain, are making great strides at the Ludden Speech and Language Clinic at Saint XavierUniversity. The primary goals of the Aphasia Group are to improve the speaking, listening, readingand writing skills of clients. “We try to promote interaction with someone with the same disorder sothat clients may gain confidence to communicate using a variety of strategies,” explained PamelaPowell, assistant clinical professor. “We are a support system for clients, but all clients presentdifferently. Some have memory deficits; some are difficult to understand.”

Part of the success of the Aphasia Group could be attributed to the combination of group andindividual therapy. By utilizing both types of sessions, clients are able to practice the techniques theyare using. “We have state-of-the-art facilities, and the latest information,” explained Ludden ClinicDirector and Associate Clinical Professor Pamela Klick. “A lot of hospitals have waiting lists while wecan often provide extended services.”

In addition to diagnostic testing and therapy, the Ludden Speech and Language Clinic also providesclinical experience for graduate students. As Klick noted, “We service clients of all ages and disordersincluding articulation, language delay, dysfluency, social language issues, autism, hearing impairmentand voice, but at the same time we are fostering the skills of future speech language pathologists.”

Ludden Speech and Language ClinicImproves the Lives of Stroke Patients

Dora Martinez ’02 proudly displays her poster presentation at theCenter for Educational Practice.

GIANT STEP AWARD PRESENTED TO SXUSOF TBALL PL AYER

Samantha Eyman’s speed, great throwing arm anddetermination have made her a standout outfielder forthe Saint Xavier University softball team, although shewas awarded the Giant Step Award as a result of heroff-field habits.

Created in 1987 by the National Consortium forAcademics and Sports and Northeastern University’sSport in Society, the National Student Athlete grantsthe Giant Step Award to individuals on a nationallevel who exemplify excellence in academics andathletics while making significant contributions totheir communities.

Samantha Eyman was spotted on the softball fieldbecause of her skills alone, yet her lack of a left handmakes her abilities even more notable. She looks at nothaving a left hand as a gift and believes with twohands she would not have accomplished the things shehas with one, since it has pushed her to work thatmuch harder. Eyman volunteers her expertise eachsummer at Saint Xavier University’s softball clinicswhile offering invaluable advice on working hard andnever giving up.

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATIONRE-L AUNCHED

The Student Government Association became firmlyestablished by Saint Xavier University during the fall2004 semester to ensure that decisions are made with the student population in mind. Since the SGAwas established, its seven-member executive cabinet and a twelve-member senate have drafted aconstitution and held officer elections.

This past fall, the SGA senate and cabinet convenedweekly and, once a month, met with President Dwyerand her cabinet to talk about campus events andissues. “The aim was to make sure everyone wasconnected and as a result, we communicated whatstudents feel and the administration [communicatedwhat they] feel,” said President of SXU’s StudentGovernment Association, Sean Gross.

Co-advised by Carrie Schade and Kate Walbert,director and assistant director of Student Activities andFirst-Year Programs, the Student GovernmentAssociation can be contacted via email at [email protected]

PHILOSOPHER ROBERT PIPPIN LECTURESON FREEDOM

Dr. Robert Pippin presented the fourth John ZieglerMemorial Lecture on the evening of December 1, 2004to a packed audience of students, faculty and membersof the Saint Xavier community. Sponsored by thePhilosophy Department and generously funded by theZiegler family, the lecture series brings to campus some

of the world’s most distinguished philosophers, therebyhonoring the work and the memory of Dr. JohnZiegler, the long-standing chair of the PhilosophyDepartment prior to his retirement in 1987.

Dr. Pippin holds a distinguished chair in bothPhilosophy and the Committee on Social Thought atthe University of Chicago. An internationallyrecognized expert in the field of 19th century Germanphilosophy, he is noted for his contributions tocontemporary debates about the meaning of freedom.“Pippin betrays in his writing sensitivity to, and a deepfamiliarity with history, literature, and the arts,” saidDr. Thomas Thorp, chair of the Department ofPhilosophy. “Pippin’s wager is that philosophy might beable to speak on behalf of freedom....”

During his lecture Dr. Pippin wove together referencesto Marx, Nietzsche and Kant along with discussions of


saint xavierJOURNAL

Left to Right: Mary Ziegler, Kate Ziegler, Kathleen Ziegler, Dr. RobertPippin, James Ziegler

The All-Campus Picnic kicked offthe fall semester.


literature and history. He addressed the relationsbetween ideas of freedom and ideas of individuality,and then asked the audience to consider whether theyare free as individuals or as members of a community.

This year’s lecture was dedicated to the memory ofBernard Williams who gave the first John Zieglerlecture in 1996, and to Dr. Brian Klug who is leavinghis active teaching duties here at Saint XavierUniversity in order to teach full-time at OxfordUniversity, U.K.

SXU MEN’S BASKETBALL PL AYS DEPAUL

Junior guard Jason Reiter finished with a game-high 19points as the Saint Xavier University men’s basketballteam demonstrated its strength against NCAADivision I DePaul University, 72-64, in an exhibitionmatch-up on November 4th, 2004 at the DePaulAthletic Center in Chicago. Senior guard PhillipWatson also scored in double figures for the Cougarswith 14 points.

SXU took its first lead of the game 7-4 on a three-pointer by Reiter with 11:47 remaining in the first half.

The Cougars maintained the lead over the nexttwo minutes going ahead by as many as four,10-6, before DePaul went on an 11-0 run over thenext three minutes to build a 17-10 advantage.

SXU kept things close for most of theremainder of the half before DePaul

closed out the final minute with a 4-0run to take a 28-19 halftime lead.

The two teams battled back-and-forth with SXU keeping the

game close. Unfortunately forthe Cougars, DePaul hit itsfree throws down the stretch,

which kept Saint Xavier fromcreeping too close in the final

minutes. However, a late surge byReiter with a three-pointer and a lay-up

in the final two minutes of regulationhelped pull the Cougars to within eight astime expired.

SXU PROFESSORSCOLL ABORATE TOCOMBAT FRAGILEX SYNDROME

After discovering her son hadfragile X syndrome, Dr. GailHarris-Schmidt, a professor ofspeech-language pathology,contacted Dr. Dale Fast, a geneticist, and asked whathe knew about fragile Xsyndrome. He told her heknew nothing about fragileX, the most common inherited cause of mental retardation, butcould learn. Ten years later, these two Saint Xavier Universityprofessors have collaborated to pull together multiple ways tolook at this serious issue and have increased awareness of thedisease. “We serve as a bridge between professionals–speechand language pathologists, occupational therapists, learningdisability specialists and other researchers–and thoseindividuals who have a family member with fragile X,” said Fast.

After giving 14 joint presentations, Harris-Schmidt and Fastassisted in the redesign of the Fragile X Foundation web site tobroaden the available scope of information. During this time,they created more than 100 new web pages and spentnumerous hours negotiating the fine details; as a result, the website saw a dramatic increase in hits and remains the mostcomprehensive resource on fragile X.

The duo recently published The Source for Fragile X Syndromeand continues to respond to e-mail questions posted throughthe National Fragile X Foundation’s web site. Ultimately, theseSaint Xavier professors have strongly impacted the fragile Xcommunity. “With this disease, you can’t just look at biology.What Gail and I discovered was that collaboration was the bestway to approach fragile X so that we could both understand thefull picture.”

Dr. Gail Harris-Schmidt and Dr. DaleFast collaborated to redesign the Fragile X

Foundation web site and have sincepublished a book, The Source for Fragile

X Syndrome, which examines issuesrelated to fragile X.

LIFELONG LEARNING SCHOL ARSHIPENCOURAGES ADULT LEARNERS

The School for Continuing and Professional Studies ispleased to announce the Lifelong LearningScholarship. This unique program will provide adultstudents, age 23 or older, $1,000 per academic year toattend classes at Saint Xavier University starting fallsemester 2005.

“Saint Xavier University acknowledges the richness ofthe ‘real world’ experiences adults bring to theclassroom and the positive effect such experienceshave on their overall academic achievement,” said Dr.Leslie Petty, associate dean of the School forContinuing and Professional Studies. The newLifelong Learning Scholarship program is meant toassist the motivated adult to move closer to achievinghis or her educational goal and is available to both fulland part-time students.

Courses within the School for Continuing andProfessional Studies are designed to meet the needs ofadult learners by incorporating a variety of learning

styles. Core courses utilize interdisciplinary themes andinstructional technology. For example, students canchoose to take hybrid courses that combine both on-line and in-class instruction, or they can opt for a moretraditional format. Instruction easily accommodates abusy lifestyle through accelerated, weekend andevening classes while the Lifelong LearningScholarship makes it easier for adult students to enrollin classes at Saint Xavier University.

NEW STUDENTINDUCTION AND MEDALLIONCEREMONY

The New Student Induction and Medallion Ceremonyheld this past fall welcomed new students andintroduced them to the academic community of SaintXavier University. During the ceremony facultyprocessed in full regalia and students repeated the NewStudent Pledge, which calls to mind the history ofSXU, its Mercy values and the personal challenges eachstudent accepts once he or she chooses to attend SXU.

“The Medallion they [students] received was meant tosymbolize their new membership in the SXUcommunity,” said John Pelrine, dean, Office of StudentServices. “It is important for the new students and theentire community that we acknowledge their arrivalhere and reinforce our core values of academicexcellence, respect and hospitality.”

During next year’s ceremony, the Mercy call bell will be incorporated to further call to mind the Mercy traditon.


saint xavierJOURNAL

Remarkable earlyeducation centeranswers the prayers of parents


B Y J E N N I F E R B E N N E T T


For her parents, those words are precious. It was just recently thatSoumayah, who has a mild form of autism termed “pervasive development disorder” (orPDD), was able to say “mommy,” or to pronounce her own name. In addition to speechdelays, a hallmark of autism is echolalia, the tendency to repeat or “echo” words or phrasesin place of normal language.

“It sounds like such a simple thing, those few words, but for me it’s a big deal. At least she’stalking. It tells us that she ‘gets it’,” say her parents, who credit the Barbara Vick EarlyChildhood and Family Center on Chicago’s south side for her daughter’s progress.

Named after an area resident who worked tirelessly as an advocate for her community, theBarbara Vick school is part of the Chicago Public School system. What makes Vick differentfrom other early childhood programs in the city, however, is its partnership with Saint XavierUniversity and its ability to work with both mainstream and special needs children in thesame classroom. In fact, the school has received national attention as a model for earlyintervention and the blended classroom, an approach where students with and without

special needs – and their respective teachers – are inthe same room, doing the same activities together.

Here, both teachers and students have thebenefit of learning from one another.

With the diagnosis of autism on the rise,and the importance of early education forall children well-documented, schoolssuch as Vick are in demand. In 2002,the U.S. Department of Educationreported that, nationwide, autism rateshad jumped 556% in 10 years. However,because standard methods to diagnoseautism were not developed until themid-90s, researchers are not clear as towhether this is a true jump, or that we’rejust better at diagnosing.

One thing experts are sure about: whenit comes to diagnosing autism, theearlier the better. The opportunity tosignificantly change developmentalpathways diminishes the closer anautistic child gets to kindergarten age.

Three-and-a-half year-old Soumayah Pasha stepped off

the school bus and ran to her mother, arms outstretched.

“Hi, mommy, hi!How was school today?”

FACE BLIND

Autism is a bio-neurological developmental disability thatimpacts social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communi-cation, and cognitive function. It is not just one disorder with awell-defined set of symptoms; but rather a broad spectrum ofdisorders that can range from mild to severe.

Autistic children may make little or no eye contact and havetrouble “reading” facial expressions and other language cues.They may gesture or point instead of using words, prefer tobe alone, strongly resist changes in routine, or have abnormalresponses to the senses such as sight, touch, balance, taste,smell and reaction to pain. For example, for Soumayah, theact of a child running toward her, wanting to play couldcause panic – one of the reasons that, for now, she is in one ofVick’s self-contained classrooms with her autistic peers, whereshe receives more one-on-one attention with special educationteachers and specialists.

Tools in the classroom include visual schedules teachers canpoint to while telling the children what’s next in theroutine, and “choice boards” the children can use to helpthem communicate what they want to do and give themmore direction.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE REL ATIONSHIP

About one-third of the special needs kids at Vick are autistic.Others have some type of developmental delay from an arrayof causes. Emeline Jercich, age 4, is in a blended classroom atVick. A seizure disorder has caused delays in her speech andmotor skills. Her mother, Sheila, can’t say enough aboutEmeline’s progress.

“We noticed improvements right from the get-go,” says Sheila.“Saint Xavier looked at Emeline’s speech and gavesuggestions. They are really up on the latest techniques.”

In addition to class, Emeline works with a speech pathologist,occupational therapist or physical therapist three times a week– the result of the partnership between Vick and Saint Xavier’sschools of education, nursing and communication disorders.

Sit down with any parent at Vick, and the first thing they’llmention is the high level of teacher involvement. We’re nottalking about your average student/teacher relationship. Whereelse, for example, would a teacher and parent communicatethrough a notebook that goes home with the child every day?

Because Emeline struggles with communication, this was onetool Sheila and the teacher devised so they could both stay ontop of Emeline’s needs andprogress. It isn’t your averageschool, either, whose teachersvisit with each child in theirhome three to four times duringthe school year – a practice thathas been shown to greatlyenhance the bond betweenstudent, teacher and parent.

Classes at Vick meet in half-daysessions Monday through Thursday, with Fridays dedicated toprofessional development with Saint Xavier University staff,home visits and parent conferences. Clearly, the school goesthe extra mile to make this as much about the family as it isabout the child. Parents have many resources andopportunities to get involved, including parent workshops,volunteering and direct input into the program.

WE’RE ALL ON A SPECTRUM

Balancing the more serious nature of specialized education isthe school’s underlying philosophy that learning should befun. A big component of this is self-directed learning.

“Research shows children are more interested in education ifthey have some say or choice. It gives them a sense ofautonomy and power. We’re as academic as other schools –we’re just age-appropriate,” explains Catherine Lawton,principal of Vick school.

More important than memorizing ABCs at thisage, explains Lawton, is getting childrenready to learn. Can the child sit, listenand follow instruction? Does he orshe interact appropriately withothers and convey needs?

“Kindergarten teacherswill tell you this iswhat they reallyneed to do theirjob well,” saysLawton.

“RESEARCH SHOWS CHILDREN

ARE MORE INTERESTED IN

EDUCATION IF THEY HAVE SOME

SAY OR CHOICE. IT GIVES THEM

A SENSE OF AUTONOMY AND

POWER. WE’RE AS ACADEMIC

AS OTHER SCHOOLS – WE’RE

JUST AGE-APPROPRIATE.”



Also key at Vick is embracing differences. “Here, we talk aboutdifferences; we don’t pretend we’re all the same,” adds Lawton.

Staff strives to celebrate the fact that everyone has somethingthat makes him or her unique. This is most evident in theblended classrooms, where students learn to be comfortablewith special needs children and understand that people whoare different can be their friends.

Parent Anna Tichy believes this will help her teach herchildren to be more accepting as they grow into adults. Herdaughter, Patsy, is in the blended classroom, as were her twoolder brothers. Through the years, Anna has seen this attitudebecome second nature to children at the school.

“My son had a little girl in her class who didn’t have use of herright arm,” remembers Tichy. “Even at age four, he helped herout all the time – putting on her coat, opening the door. I stillhave the note from her mom, thanking my son.”

For Tichy, “Vick is home. All the teachers say hello, even ifthey don’t know you by name. Even the lunch lady, KimBrown, knows Jessica doesn’t like milk, and Dennis gets reallyhungry and likes two lunches. No one misses a mitten. Noone misses a hat. They really care.”

Obviously, the school approaches its work very seriously, but ittries to add an optimistic, “it’s not the end of the world”approach, too.

“We have a saying at the school: We’re all on a spectrum,” smilesJennifer Briody, Ph.D., of Saint Xavier’s School of Education.

LIFELONG LEARNING

Briody’s daily involvement at the school is deep and varied.Two mornings a week Vick becomes a hands-on classroom forher Saint Xavier early childhood students. She also worksdirectly with the children, helps teachers with lesson planning,reviews student progress, leads some of the school’s parenteducation workshops, and helps out with the after-schoolreading program. To complete the picture, this year one of herown children is enrolled in the school.

“It’s a dream for me to teach and work with such animpressive group of master-level teachers. There’s acommitment here to lifelong learning that is really exciting tome,” says Briody, who feels this environment has resulted inhigher caliber teachers coming out of Saint Xavier University.

Rozetta Major ’04 is one example. She received her bachelor’sdegree in early childhood education from Saint Xavier lastyear, after having worked for 10 years as an assistant in theChicago Public School system. Her timing was perfect. Aftergraduation, she was able to fill a rare teacher opening at Vick.

“I just love it here,” says Major. “Nothing has prepared me forthis more than Saint Xavier. I got all the training I need:lesson planning, how to model correct behavior, how tocommunicate with parents, everything. With what I learned atschool, and with the continued information coming to me, allI have to do is put it in place. It just flows.”

With demand for degreed early childhood educatorsincreasing, and Vick’s reputation as a model for success, it’s nosurprise Briody is seeing an increase in school principalscalling her for recommendations.

AN ANSWER TO A PRAYER

For parents, choosing the right school for their children can bea stressful undertaking, made even more difficult if a child hasa learning disability. The questions and uncertainties abound:Has my child been diagnosed correctly? Am I exploring allavailable options? Am I doing the right things at home? Did Iact soon enough?

These are some of the questions Soumayah’s parents askedthemselves every day. Before finding Vick, they spent a yearand a half trying to find the proper help for their daughter.Their concerns began when Soumayah was one.

“She seemed to be in her own world. She wasn’t crying; shewasn’t talking; she wouldn’t look at me. She was a good, sweetbaby, but it was so quiet in the house,” says her mother.

Because Soumayah, anonly child, was bornpremature, they thoughtperhaps she just neededmore time. A native ofMorocco, her parentsspeak four languages:Arabic, French, Englishand Spanish. Theywondered if the variety

of languages spoken among relatives confused their daughter.Still, “a parent knows” when something isn’t right, says herparents, and they pushed to have Soumayah tested.

“We did everything we could think of: hearing, vision, MRIs,you name it,” says her mother.

At age 18 months, Soumayah was diagnosed with mild autism– but they were told she was too young for available earlyintervention programs. Her parents went to work. Nostrangers to learning, they began reading all they could aboutautism. They learned that early intervention was essential, andtheir frustration deepened. They made it their mission to help

Soumayah in whatever way they could. Despite Soumayah’smother’s constant efforts reading to her daughter and doingspeech therapy, at age two and a half, Soumayah wasregressing.

“When Cathy Lawton called us to say Soumayah could start(at Vick) in the fall, it was an answer to our prayers,” recallher parents.

What a difference the right school can make. Instead ofuncertainty and doubt, her parents feel more confident inworking with their child. Saint Xavier University specialistsand Vick staff provide Soumayah’s parents with the supportthey need to maximize their efforts at home. For one, hermother records Soumayah’s speech each week with a taperecorder. At night, she plays it back and counts her words tomeasure progress. It’s exhausting work, but much easier nowthat she has help and support.

Today Soumayah’s mother is optimistic. Her daughter is in theright place, and she’s improving more quickly than expected.She says hopefully, “They tell me if she keeps going like this,by age five she’s going to be okay.”

For more information, go to the Barbara Vick Early Childhoodand Family Center Web site at: www.barbaravick.cps.K12.il.us

National Autism Association: (877) 622-2884 orwww.nationalautismassociation.org


“IT’S A DREAM FOR ME TO TEACH

AND WORK WITH SUCH AN

IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF MASTER-

LEVEL TEACHERS. THERE’S A

COMMITMENT HERE TO LIFELONG

LEARNING THAT IS REALLY

EXCITING TO ME…”

Saint Xavier University students prepare for their first day in theclassroom at the Barbara Vick Early Childhood and Family Center.

B Y A L I C I A L . C O N R O Y

internaS A I N T X A V I E R14


Opens Doors and MindsNew Center Helps Students Plan

Heveran is among the growing number of Americanstudents pursuing international study as a way tounderstand other cultures and participate in an increasinglyglobal society. In fact, though many predicted a declinefollowing the terrorist attacks on the U.S, the number ofAmericans studying abroad instead surged by 8.5% in the2002-03 school year, according to a 2004 report by theInstitute of International Education.

Christopher Clott, Ph.D., who directs the University’s newCenter for International Education (CIE), says the Universityvalues the rich, first-hand experiences provided by travel-study: “It fits with the overall mission of the school–which is[to produce] a liberally educated person who has a grasp oflarger issues outside of the small confines of the school itself.”

Students frequently assert that travel enlarges perspectivesbeyond academic material. When the Wundergoodies toldHeveran how their family was affected by a “stolengeneration” of children removed to urban, British-runschools, it enlightened her about ethnic oppression.Accounting major Rebecca Hodorowicz ’05 learned aboutthe sculptures of Bernini as a freshman at Saint Xavier, thenviewed original works in Rome’s Villa Borghese during an

arts-focused, spring-break trip. “It’s amazing when you readthe things you have throughout your education–history,literature, art–and then when you see it firsthand,” she says.The self-described travel booster went on a trip to Chinaled by Dr. Clott, and is now lodging with a host familyduring spring semester 2005 in Alicante, Spain.

Because travel offers such powerful experiences, the Centerfor International Education opened at SXU in October 2003to help faculty and students to plan travel-study, with grantsupport from the U.S. Department of Education. The CIEprovides information and facilitates the process of applying toprograms and arranging financial aid and transfer credits; 74students have gone abroad since it opened.

SHORT-TERM STUDY OPENS DOORS TO ALL

Today, new options make travel-study possible for those whocan’t commit to semester-long programs. “The short-term isgoing to be the way to go,” explains Dr. Clott–such asfaculty-led travel-study programs of one week to a month.Advantages of short-term travel include lower costs and atight focus, he says; a disadvantage is that visitors only“scratch the surface” of a culture.

The fall 2004 semester in Freemantle was a return to Australia for Amy Heveran ’06.She’d visited in high school, so she thought she knew what to expect: a “laid-back”lifestyle; friendly people with a love of outdoor activities, like surfing and rugby. Yetshe glimpsed another world when her history class spent six days in Broome withan Aboriginal family, the Wundergoodies. “They showed us how they spearfish andpoison-fish and caught a huge turtle–we ate turtle . . . they talked about dream-timestories,” she says. As study-abroad students, they were offered a precious windowinto a culture that is rarely offered to local Aussies.

tionalS

TU

DY


Dr. Clott, who is also associate professor of internationalbusiness and marketing at the Graham School ofManagement, worked in international companies and has ledseveral trips to China and Hong Kong. Most recently, hetook 20 students from the Graham School of Managementon a nine-day, business-focused triplast spring. For example, he arranged a full briefing on Chinese businesspractices by his former supervisor,Stanley Shen, general manager ofcorporate marketing at OrientOverseas Container Line (OOCL) inHong Kong, and meetings in Shanghai.

This “insider” perspective was priceless to Karen Zoppa’04, because “China is supposed to be the new businessheadquarters of the world,” she says. A senior analyst in thepayment system risk department at Federal Reserve Bank ofChicago, she is pursuing a master’s in finance at SXU. Inaddition to marveling at the Great Wall, she found alogistics convention fascinating and was impressed by thehigh level of technology in Hong Kong. In Beijing, she wasamazed by a demonstration of traditional medicine: “Doctors

just took our pulses,looked inside ourthroats, asked ourages” and correctlyidentified conditionsof several students.

“It was an incredibleopportunity forsomeone my age to beable go overseas andmeet with directors ofthe Hong Kong StockExchange,” says

Michael Kavka ’04, about his first-ever trip abroad. Yetmost memorable was the visit to Old Beijing andTiananmen Square, where the sight of “hundreds andhundreds of troops” was a sobering reminder that they werein a newly accessible Communist country. These studentsand others found even a short trip deeply affecting.

LONG-TERM STUDY OFFERS DEEP CONTEXT

Dr. Clott advocates a semester-long program, when possible.“There’s no better way to really get inside a culture than tobe there a period of time,” he says. Most financial aid willtransfer, says Dr. Clott, “and that’s a huge accomplishment,because many schools don’t allow that.”

In addition to learning about Irish culture and her ancestral“roots”, education major Mary Brigid Konstant ’05 saysshe developed a sense of independence during a semester

program affiliated with University College-Dublin. She wasinitially very homesick on this first trip overseas, but saysnow, “Dublin was an amazing city and it was probably thetime of my life.” Added to courses, a classmate had relativesin Dublin and County Mayo, “and that really helped us be

exposed to Irish people,” shesays, whether they were club-hopping in the Temple BarDistrict or being invited for atraditional dinner. Perhaps themost lasting effect? “Now I havecontacts all over,” she says.

Immersion in the “laid-back” Australian lifestyle won overAmy Heveran ’06. She spent her semester at the Universityof Notre Dame in Freemantle on the less “touristy” westcoast, and found a new passion in surfing. “I met someamazing Australian friends,” she says, and she can imagineperhaps living there someday. In 2005, other SXU studentswill spend spring semesters in Australia, England, Italy,Ireland, and Costa Rica.

LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES

Any travel-study can alter perspectives; some students claimeven more profound effects. Karen Zoppa says “Hong Kongwould be at the top of my list” if she were ever to moveoverseas. After his trip, Michael Kavka switched his focusfrom domestic to international marketing and accompaniedhis church on a mission trip to Cubatao, Brazil.

The China trip really was life-altering for Rodger Lederer’04, who had worked for major corporations like UPS andMcDonald’s before coming to Saint Xavier to finish hisbachelor’s degree. Lederer was so intrigued by the field oflogistics and OOCL that he took a local job with thecompany, where he is now a sales analyst. As for the trip ingeneral, “It’s opened my eyes to new horizons and openedmy mind to a different culture, what the rest of the world islike,” he notes.

The students interviewed all agreed on one more piece of advice: seize the opportunity to travel. Heveran says,“My entire life I’ve lived within a five-block radius, andthought I’d be a Chicago girl the rest of my life. I don’tbelieve that any more,” she reflects. “I just want to see somuch more of the world, and learn so much byexperiencing another culture.”

For more information on travel-study options, go to the CIEWeb site at: www.sxu.edu/cie

“IT’S AMAZING WHEN YOU READ THE THINGSYOU HAVE THROUGHOUT YOUR

EDUCATION–HISTORY, LITERATURE, ART–ANDTHEN WHEN YOU SEE IT FIRSTHAND.”

Christopher Clott, Ph.D.,(center) director of theCenter for InternationalEducation took 20students on a business-focused trip to China.


A NURSE’S CAMARADERIE, COMPASSION ANDSERVICE IN IRAQ

“We knew we were needed when we arrived in the 31st Combat Support Hospital,”explained Karen O’Brien, RN, BSN upon her arrival in Balad, Baghdad. “The hospitalstaff had been working twelve hour days and they were very happy to see us.Immediately, we provided clinical help to their ER, critical care units, lab andpharmacy.” During the next six weeks in Iraq, O’Brien discovered that solvingproblems and determining how to get things done would be her greatest challenge.

O’Brien has taught at Saint Xavier University since 1997, when she started courseworkas a Clinical Nurse Specialist while also juggling her responsibilities as a mother and asa reservist in the United States Army. O’Brien was focused on learning as much as shecould as a graduate student in the School of Nursing, until February of 2003 whenshe was called to active duty in Kuwait. As a Movement Officer, O’Brien assisted withthe mobilization, function and day to day operations of a hospital.

What started as a six month assignment was extended twice for O’Brien and herdivision and in April 2004, within 24 hours from their departure for the United States,O’Brien and the 801st Combat Support Hospital from Fort Sheridan, Illinois, were toldthey were being reassigned to Iraq.

“I had to send an email to my family when I learned I wasn’t coming home. Icouldn’t even say the words out loud. It was very hard.” Yet once Karen and theother members of 801st Combat Support Hospital saw how much their services wereneeded, they instantly focused and began caring for the injuries of US and coalitionsoldiers, Iraqi civilians and children. “At SXU we are taught to assess a situation,weigh options and evaluate decisions. This translates very easily to broader areas.”Although O’Brien never forgot that she was in combat. “I was the most assertive I’ve been in my life. I put together 16 years of training when I served in Iraq.”

Regardless of how well qualified Karen O’Brien is, clinical skills are often inadequate intimes of war. During her tour, Karen O’Brien learned that the best way she could assista patient with a traumatic injury was to remain present and hold the patient’s hand.“Bathing an injured soldier and making them a person again is very meaningful.”

The memories of Iraq remain with Karen O’Brien. Since returning home, it has taken sometime for her to become situated. “Life goes on at home. You have to try and figure out anew place.” And while she misses the comrades from 801st Combat Support Hospital,her fifteen-year-old daughter and thirteen-year-old son are keeping her busy. She is alsoexcited to share her experiences in the classroom. “When I am teaching junior and seniornursing students, I try to help them realize that any interaction with a patient is important.They are not just learning new skills–it is about the patient and often the simplest of actsmatter most.”

This is the actual hospital Karen O’Brien worked at in Baghdad, Iraq. At onetime, it was one of Saddam’s private hospitals.

Karen O’Brien in the back of a Humvee ambulance on herway to a weapons qualification range in Kuwait.

Note the marble monument toSaddam Hussein in the background.At some point, the face was taken off.


The question PattyKiefer ’66 has spent a lifetimeasking is: “Can one person make a difference?”

Can one person make a difference in the Sudan, where21 years of civil war have killed 2 million people anddisplaced 4 million more; where ethnic cleansing, massrapes, forced evacuations and the denial of basic humanneeds have brutalized three generations?

B Y H A R R Y J . K A R A B E L


or Patty Kiefer, the answer has always been“yes.” She first went to Africa when sheapplied for a job as a nurse for Catholic ReliefServices (CRS). “I was the second American

nurse to go to Africa,” she said. “I know because whenI first interviewed with CRS, I met the first nurse.”CRS had already designed and instituted an expansivechild nutrition program called the Maternal ChildHealth Program, aimed at serving the health needs ofchildren under five by educating their mothers. Pattytraveled all over several African countries, includingGhana, Sudan, Kenya and Tanzania setting up theseprograms and clinics to support them.

Her African experience would be a turning point inher life. “I’ve held too many starving children,” shesaid. “And that image…it just stays with you.” Patty,together with William O’Reilly, CPA, who is nowdeceased, formed Credo International in 1989. Credo(Latin for “I believe”) is “an ecumenical, nonprofit,humanitarian aid organization which promotes peaceand justice in the world by addressing problems in theareas of human rights, religious intolerance, civil strifeand the malnutrition of children.”

By consolidating the work of several volunteer reliefagencies, and working with local dioceses, churchorganizations and missionary societies, Credo hasmade a difference in the lives of embattled,underprivileged and disenfranchised people in Africa,Latin America and the United States. Through itsefforts, Credo has furnished over 2 million dollars inmedical supplies and equipment, provided a quarter ofa million dollars to homes for HIV positive infants andshipped over 100,000 textbooks to schools.

The formation of Credo was triggered by her firsthandexperiences in Africa. But Patty Kiefer’s desire to helpothers in need began long before that.

HOPE BEGINS AT HOME

“My mother and grandmother were always involved inhelping poor people,” Patty explained. “Mother andDad were both Catholic, very church-going people.

They went to Mass every day during Lent when wewere little kids. I had three sisters and two brothers andit wasn’t easy for my parents to do that.” She recognizesnow that this family model became the foundation forher work.

Her schooling at Saint Xavier University built on thatfoundation. “I lived on campus and had contact withnuns all the time. There was a lot of emphasis on ourobligation to help the poor.” She remembers a cartoonthat she saw on a bulletin board in the student lounge.It read: I was hungry and you formed a committee

around me.“ That hit me and stayed with me mywhole life,” Patty said. “Are you going to sit around andtalk about helping people or are you going to actuallygo out there and help them?”

Patty attended Saint Xavier from 1962 to 1966, a timeof significant change within the Catholic Church.During that time, the Second Vatican Council declaredthat the church share the “joy and hope, the grief andanguish of contemporary humanity, particularly of thepoor and afflicted.” Saint Xavier provided studentswith opportunities to act on the church’s edict. Pattyparticipated in a program to go into the high-risehousing projects in the inner city of Chicago, andteach children to read.

Another important element of her schooling wasthat, at the time, nursing students had to take 2-3years of theology classes. One class in particular,Social Justice, was very influential in formulating themindset that would ultimately drive the formation ofCredo International.

“All of my teachers and professors at Saint Xavierhelped to influence me on my goals and direction,”Patty said. “But the people who had the most

“I’ve held too many starvingchildren,” she said. “And that

image…it just stays with you.”

F


profound influence were my best friends androommates, my peers.”

Margo Schmitz ’66 was one of her roommates atSaint Xavier. Margo went to work with migrantworkers in California. She devoted her whole life toworking with poor people. Nancy Engle-Slenger ’66is still doing social work in California. AbigailO’Neill Scyoc ’66 is still teaching nursing in Illinois.Betty Alexander Sweezer ’66, also a nurse whoworked over 30 years, is now retired. Patty remains inclose contact with all these women who helped her toformulate her life’s mission.

Sister Irenaeus Chekouras, R.S.M., Ph.D. ’55, aformer Saint Xavier President, has alsobeen an influential friend and is now onthe Board of Advisors for Credo. SisterIrenaeus preferred not to talk about herown contributions to Credo’s efforts, butabout those of her friend of 40 years.

“Patty’s work is extremely important,” theSister said. “She is gifted in the way shehas balanced her personal life and theway she has helped those unfortunate people. She hasbeen inspiring in her willingness to contact people,raise awareness and put herself on the line.” SisterIrenaeus was particularly moved by Patty’s ongoingefforts with the Maternal Child Health Program. “Youneed special education and training to do that kind ofwork with women and children. [Patty was] veryinstrumental in raising funds to build a MaternityHospital in western Sudan for impoverished womenand children, where health professionals would alsoreceive training. I was very impressed by that.”

CREATING CHANGE INTHE SUDAN

It is difficult to encapsulate theintricacies of a 21-year-old civilwar that has left over 2 millionpeople dead. The largestcountry in Africa, Sudan is

roughly one million square miles, about one-third thesize of the U.S. The fundamental conflict there isbetween the Islamic government and the SudanPeople’s Liberation Army (SPLA). In 1983, the SPLAtook up arms in pursuit of a greater share of wealthand power on behalf of the people in the country’ssouthern region. For the most part these are Africanswho are Christians or who follow traditional beliefs.

The situation is further exacerbated in the country’sDarfur region. Another rebel faction, the Justice andEquality Movement (JEM), joined forces with theSPLA to engage in open warfare on government troopsin efforts to end the region’s chronic economic and

political marginalization and to stop local government-backed militias from clearing out civilians perceived tobe disloyal to the government. It is this “clearing out”that has led to more than 100,000 dead in Darfursince early 2003, along with mass rape, looting,displacement of millions and charges of genocide.While the recent peace accord between the north andsouth sheds the light of hope on the Sudan, the accorddoes not address the Darfur conflict. This leavesCredo and the other humanitarian organizations withmuch work still to do.

“Patty’s work is extremely important....She has been inspiring in her willingness

to contact people, raise awareness and put herself on the line.”

Lorem ipsum dolor sitamet, consectetueradipiscing elit. Suspendisserisus. Nam vitae dolor.Vestibulum sagittis dapibusneque. Nulla rhoncus semnon lectus. Etiam lobortismolestie eros. Fusce ultricesarcu eget turpis.

Credo International was formed in 1989to promote peace and justice in theworld and has made a difference in thelives of underprivileged in Africa, LatinAmerica and the United States.


Aid in many forms continues to trickle into the area.“But if you don’t have peace, a lot of this goes towaste,” Patty said. “Everything about war is sodestructive, that you are not able to be productive.Sometimes medicine and supplies sit in ports formonths because the government sets up obstacles todelivery. “I am totally against war, and I’m a committedpacifist now,” she said.

War creates other obstacles as well. Patty was distressedto hear the “Save the Children” organization announcein December 2004 that it was pulling its 350 workersout of Darfur who had been delivering food andmedical supplies to 250,000 people. After four aidworkers were killed, “it simply had become toodangerous for them to stay.”

But other aid workers stay and persevere because, asPatty puts it, “the need is so overwhelming. There is somuch malnutrition. “When I lived there, just outsideof Khartoum there were over a million people livingjust in squalid shanty towns made of cardboard boxesand sheets of tin. We were able to start Maternal ChildHealth Programs in this area.”

A high priority project of Credo International rightnow is helping to start ten schools in the NubaMountains of southwestern Sudan, which is in thecenter of the civil war. “There is no education for thechildren there at all. The resources aren’t there. There isso much to be done in education and health care, somany children to be helped. The church is anxious togive them the help they need.”

Her local contact there is Reverend Pasquale Boffelli, aComboni missionary and a close advisor to the Bishopof the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Obeid in Sudan.The Diocese is committed to giving these children thehelp they so desperately need. “Father Boffelli keepsme informed of their needs for supplies and assistanceand I try to raise funds to help.”

Patty makes it clear that there area lot of people working very hardto make Credo’s efforts effective.“There are volunteers who helpwith our book projects,fundraisers and other efforts, ourgenerous donors, people fromSaint Xavier who donate timeand energy, our Board ofDirectors and Advisors and manyothers. Without these people,Credo would be nothing.”

BEYOND OUR BORDERS

This is where Patty Kiefer continues to look becausethis is where the greatest need exists. “I believe ourcountry has become far too materialistic. The rest ofthe world is so hungry and in need and we are justblind to that fact.”

Whether it’s the starving children in Africa, or thepoor in your own community, Patty Kiefer encourageseveryone to pursue what Pope John Paul II said andhas become Credo’s credo: “The needs of the poortake priority over the desires of the rich.”

Almost 40 years after her formal education at SaintXavier ended, and her real world education began,Patty clings to the value of helping others in need. “Ifmore people could spend their time helping poorpeople they would be much more fulfilled. It is sosoul-enriching and it gives meaning to your life.”

For more information on Patty Kiefer’s work, or Credo International, go to the Credo Web site atwww.credonet.com

Patty Kiefer ’66 withYanomami children. CredoInternational has shippedover 10,000 texbooks toschools such as the oneshown here.

This displaced person’s shack in Sudan is aconstant reminder of the civil strife that hasplagued the country.

Kathleen Alaimo, Ph.D, professor of history andinterim dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, haspublished a chapter titled “The Authority of Experts:The Crisis of Female Adolescence in France andEngland, 1880-1920” in the book, Secret Gardens,Satanic Mills: Placing Girls inEuropean History,1750-1960 ,published by IndianaUniversity Press. The bookoffers a comparative history of European girlhood with afocus on England, France andGermany and serves as acorrective to historians’traditionally male orientationtoward the history of youth.

RuthAnn Althaus, Ph.D., Graham School ofManagement, presented “Exploring Moral Values inBusiness Courses,” March 2004 at the conference onApplied Business Research held in Puerto Rico.Dr. Althaus also presented “Politics, Science, andPublic Administration,” January 2004, at theInternational Academy of Business and PublicAdministration Disciplines.

Flo Appel, Ph.D., Math & Computer Science,received a grant award for $400,000 from theNational Science Foundation. This money will beused to create a four-year scholarship program forunderserved students.

Shu-Pi C. Chen, RN, Ph.D, School of Nursing, haspublished an article, “Functional Caregiving: A NewConstruct for Mother’s Caregiving to Adult Childrenwith Intellectual Disabilities” in the InternationalJournal of Nursing in Intellectual and DevelopmentalDisabilities 2004; 1, (2):1, 2004.

Karen Czarnik, Ph.D., and Carol Syzmanski, Ph.D.,Communication Sciences & Disorders, presented“Pragmatics of Praise: How Children Interpret ‘Good Job!’” at the American Speech LanguageHearing Association Convention, November 2004,Philadelphia, PA.

Michael Flahive, Ph.D. and Michael Chial, Ph.D.,Communication Sciences & Disorders, presented“Teaching Counseling Using the PAVER-D Model” atthe American Speech Language Hearing AssociationConvention, November 2004, Philadelphia, PA.

Nelson Hathcock, Ph.D., English & ForeignLanguages, presented a paper at The Third BiennialConference of Film & History: War in Film andTelevision in Dallas, TX, November 11-14, 2004. Thepaper was entitled “Marginalizing the Civil War: AngLee’s Ride With the Devil.”

Barbara Heskett, M.S. and Gail Harris-Schmidt,Ph.D., Communication Sciences & Disorders,presented “Speech, Language, and AAC in Fragile Xand Autism” at the American Speech LanguageHearing Association Convention, November 2004,Philadelphia, PA.

Pam Klick, M.A., Communication Sciences &Disorders, presented “Creative Clinical PracticumPrograms Targeting KASA Requirements” at theAmerican Speech Language Hearing AssociationConvention, November 2004, Philadelphia, PA.

Laurence Musgrove, Ph.D., English & ForeignLanguages, will be teaching an online course in spring


facultyNEWS

22

A classroom from Saint Xavier’s past.

W I N T E R 2 0 0 5


Brian Klug Accepts Position at OxfordDr. Brian Klug, associate professor in the Department of Philosophy, will be leaving SaintXavier University to assume a full-time post at Oxford University as Senior ResearchFellow at St. Benet’s Hall. Consulting editor for Patterns of Prejudice (Institute for JewishPolicy Research, UK), and founding member of the Jewish Forum for Justice and HumanRights (UK), Dr. Klug has established himself as an internationally recognized authorityon race, anti-Semitism and related topics.

At St. Benet’s Hall, Dr. Klug will continue to conduct research, write and publish hiswork. Since the school is smaller than Saint Xavier, he will play a larger role in thelife of the college, although he leaves with fondfeelings for SXU. “I will miss the collegiality ofmy department, other members of facultyand staff, and students. After 14 years atthe University, I shall miss the place assuch: as an expression of the mission ofthe Sisters of Mercy and theirdedication to the cause of women and children.”

Dr. Klug is co-editor with Dr. Kathy Alaimo(History) of Children as Equals: Exploring the Rights of the Child.

2005 titled Contemporary American Poetry. It will bethe first course offered by the English Departmentcompletely online.

Charles Shanabruch, Ph.D., Graham School ofManagement, published “The Historic ChicagoInitiative: A Model for Urban Redevelopment” in theCongress for New Urbanism National ConferencePublication in June 2004.

Thomas Thorp, Ph.D., Philosophy, published “LittleStones: Sovereignty in Plato’s Politeia” in Studies inPractical Philosophy 4, (1), 2004.

Mark A. Vargas, M.L.S., library director, has published“Using a Third-Party Vendor for Off-Site Storage ofLibrary Materials” in Library Administration &Management 19, (1), Winter 2005.

Reza Varjavand, Ph.D., Graham School ofManagement, presented “War with Iraq: Oil, OPEC,and the US Economy” at the annual meeting of theSouthwest Economic Association, March 2004, CorpusChristie, TX. Dr. Varjavand also published “Demandfor Healthcare, A Survey Study” in Southwest Journalof Economics March 2004.

Olga Vilella, Ph.D., English & Foreign Languages,had an article published in the Spring 2004 LatinAmerican Literary Review titled “An Exotic Abroad:Manuel Serafin Pichardo and the Chicago ColumbianExhibition of 1893.”

1939 Ms. Mary Jane Ryan ’39 (Social Science) retiredafter 20 years from both hospital and agency socialwork. She retired as the director of social service atIngalls Memorial Hospital in December 1983.

1942 Mrs. Bernice (Marciniak) Barta ’42 (SocialScience) is on the board of the North Suburban PeaceInitiative. She has volunteered for this peace organizationfor the past 18 years.

1949 Mrs. Dorothy (O’Brien) Kelly ’49 (Nursing)married John E. Kelly, Jr. in 1949. They moved to Los

Angeles, where John worked forthe F.B.I. In 1977, they moved toMaryland. Dorothy has twodaughters, Ann Kelly and ClaireSchultze and one son, J. Michael.Dorothy used her educationteaching juniors and seniors at Holy Cross Academy inMaryland. She also taught atDeChantal School for five years.Dorothy enjoyed her time at SaintXavier. She made wonderful newfriends, and she values her timespent here.

1955 Ms. Therese H.(Trembaczkiewicz) Dumond’55 (Nursing) retired as a certifiedschool nurse in 2000. Currently,she works as a consultant for theChicago Board of Education earlychildhood department. Thereseloves traveling, playing tennis,live theatre and visiting with

her children. Her son lives in Montana, one daughter is a CPA and her other two daughters are interiordesign consultants.

Mrs. Jean Morman Unsworth ’55 (Philosophy) wasinvited to keynote the Illinois Art Educationconference on November 5 at the Holiday Inn MartPlaza in Chicago. The conference theme was “Issuesand Connections.” Jean has keynoted 15 other statearts conferences.

1957 Mrs. Mary E. (Holota) Hicks ’57 (Nursing)retired as health services supervisor for the GaryCommunity Schools. She now does volunteer workwith St. Clare’s Free Clinic (St. Anthony Hospital,Crown Point, IN).

1960 Ms. Eleanor Delaplane ’60, ’77 (English)retired from the Chicago Board of Education in May2003 as a teacher of physically impaired studentsbetween the ages of 3 and 21.

Sister Emilie Marie Lesniak, O.S.F. ’60 (Education)was elected to the leadership team of the FranciscanSisters of Chicago as general councilor and generalsecretary in July 2003. She is also the music minister atthe Motherhouse of the Franciscan Sisters of Chicagoin Lemont.

1963 Ms. Helen E. Carroll ’63(Latin) has been promoted toassistant vice president, director of bank services at Great LakesBank. Carroll has served GreatLakes Bank as director of bankservices since 1993. Her primaryresponsibilities include coordinating all matterspertinent to the construction and maintenance of all20 bank properties, including assisting with policies,programs and procurement. Carroll earned her B.A.from Saint Xavier University, and her M.A. fromMarquette University.

Dr. Rita Black Monsen ’63 (Nursing) has beennamed a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.She has been recognized for her national efforts tobring genetics into nursing education and for herinterdisciplinary approach and leadership in healthcaredelivery and policy making.

1969 Ms. Barbara Scharres ’69 (Art) is currently thedirector of the Gene Siskel Film Institute in Chicago.

1970 Dr. Lin E. Noyes, R.N. ’70 (Nursing) wasmarried to Tom Simon in July of 2004. She is nowworking at The Washington Home Center forPalliative Care Studies. Lin counsels nurses in thequality improvement method of long-term care.

1971 Mr. James W. Sherman ’71 (Education) wasrecently awarded a Jeff Award from the JosephJefferson Committee for Best Actor in a Principal Role - Drama for his role as Cardinal Law in “Sin: ACardinal Deposed” at the Bailiwick Repertory Theatre.Jeff Awards recognize excellence in Chicago theatre.

1973 Mrs. Joan (McCreary) Baier ’73 (Nursing) hasa daughter, Brigid, who is now teaching physics atFenwick High School.


alumniNOTES

X-Cerpts – Stay Up-to-DateLooking to find out what’shappening with your almamater? Sign up for X-Cerpts,a bi-monthly e-newsletter for alumni and friends ofSaint Xavier University. You’ll get the latest alumniinformation and campusnews delivered straight toyour inbox. It’s free and easy to sign up. For information, call 773-298-3316 or [email protected].

X-Cerpts – Stay Up-to-DateLooking to find out what’shappening with your almamater? Sign up for X-Cerpts,a bi-monthly e-newsletter for alumni and friends ofSaint Xavier University. You’ll get the latest alumniinformation and campusnews delivered straight toyour inbox. It’s free and easy to sign up. For information, call 773-298-3316 or [email protected].

W I N T E R 2 0 0 5


Ms. Linda Volino ’73 (Psychology) after working 25years as a licensed clinical social worker in mentalhealth for the Chicago Department of Public Health,Linda recently took advantage of an early retirementprogram. She has since started a private psychotherapypractice in Chicago.

1974 Dr. Howard Ross ’74 (Philosophy) is the dean,College of Letters and Sciences at the University ofWisconsin – Whitewater.

1976 Mr. Gary Hickerson ’76 (History) had his #35jersey retired on January 26, 2005 during a half-timeceremony as a part of the SXU vs. University of SaintFrancis basketball game. A member of the Saint XavierAthletic Hall of Fame, Gary was an NAIA All-American who is the Cougars’ all-time leadingrebounder with 1,187 and ranks 3rd in total points with2,245 with the Cougars from 1971-75. He has a careeraverage of 18.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.

1977 Mrs. Lucille Adams-Johnson ’77 (English) haswon an award for her presentation on the “Impact ofIllinois Learning Standard Awareness and Technologyon Student Achievement.” The award was presented onApril 6, 2004.

Ms. Anna Ortigara ’77 (Nursing) was inducted into theAmerican Academy of Nursing in November of 2004.

1983 Ms. Paula R. Coughlin ’83 (Education) wasappointed as principal at Conrady Junior High Schoolin Hickory Hills, IL. Coughlin had been serving asassistant principal at the school. She has been with theNorth Palos School District 117 since 1988.

1985 Ms. Colleen Carroll ’85, ’96 (Education) andher sister recently started their own business calledSteps To My Heart. They design T-shirts and jewelryin celebration of stepfamilies. Visit their Web site atwww.stepstomyheart.com.

1988 Mrs. Corinne Kalat ’88 (Arts & Sciences) is acounselor/therapist in private practice in Hinsdale. She

is licensed in the State of Illinois, certified in addictionsand further certified in nicotine addiction. In additionto counseling services, Cory offers workshops andretreats on various topics. She has recently begun toserve as a trainer at conferences for other counselors.She resides in Burr Ridge with her counselor/educatorhusband, Steve Stocker.

1989 Mr. James Sledge ’89 (Political Science)is the executive director of the Illinois Human Rights Commission.

1990 Ms. Kathryn A. Kelly ’90 (Political Science),her husband Tim Kelpsas, and daughter Josiewelcomed James Kelly Kelpsas into the world on May 14, 2004.

1991 Mr. Mauro Glorioso ’91(Finance) has been selected by theBoard of Governors of the IllinoisState Bar Association (ISBA) for aone-year term to the board. The 25-member board directs theoperations and activities of the

30,000-member statewide organization. He has been amember since 1998. He is also a fellow of the IllinoisBar Foundation, and is a member of the HispanicLawyers of Illinois, the Real Estate Lawyers Association,and is an officer of the Justinian Society of Lawyers.

1992 Ms. Darcie J. Brazel, R.N. ’92 (Nursing) is thevice president and chief nurse executive of AdvocateChrist Medical Center in Oak Lawn and was honoredwith the 2003 Power of Nursing Leadership’s IllinoisNurse Leader Award.

Ms. Shunette Campbell ’92 (Mass Communicationsand English) is an assistant attorney general for the State of Wisconsin. She is currently living inMadison, WI.

1993 Ms. Julie Dunn ’93, ’01 (English) resides inMontello, WI. Recently, Julie and her husband adopteda 24-month-old girl from China – May Qing, who isputting on pounds and inches since her arrival and isvery happy with her new life in the U.S. Julie adds thatMay Qing “adds a new dimension of joy to our emptynest years and is undoubtedly more of a blessing to usthan we are to her.”

1994 Ms. Bernadette McKee ’94 (Education)Bernadette’s mother, Marguerite Clark, recently passed away.

Light


Ms. Sandra Wilks ’94 (Nursing) has received theSuper Star in the Community Award from theChicago Visiting Nurse Foundation.

1996 Mrs. Karen M. (Baburek) Kocich ’96 (Art) hasbeen a designer for Extension Magazine for the last 6years, and recently announced the publishing of herfirst book, the Catholic Extension’s 100th anniversarybook: Mission America. Karen says she is “proud tohave attended Saint Xavier,” and uses her knowledgeand passion to continue her spiritual growth throughhelping out the American Missions.

Mrs. Catherine M. (Bergfeld) Mellendorf ’96(Religious Studies) married John Mellendorf on May 22, 2004.

Mr. Herve Phaure ’96 (Graham School ofManagement) is currently working as a senior managerin the financial services and risk managementdepartment at Ernst & Young in France. He wasmarried in June of 2004, and is the proud father ofNathan, age 3.

Mr. James Sifuentes ’96 (Psychology) and his wifecelebrated the birth of their daughter, Sadie Gabriella,on February 4, 2004.

1997 Ms. Gale Susan O’Connor ’97 (Education)recently became director of special education inClimax Springs, MO, and process coordinator forgrades 7 - 12. She misses Chicago and says “BlessSXU for the best education I ever got. Please let theSpecial Education department know there that theydid a great job and I owe it all to them. Saint Xavierdid it for me!”

Ms. Yvonne Ortiz ’97 (Graham School ofManagement) is pleased to announce the birth of herson, Benjamin Alexander Perez, born in March of2004. Benjamin was 6 lbs., 4oz.

Mrs. Roberta G. Vondrak ’97 (Counseling Psychology)works as an LCPC, CADC doing outpatientcounseling. Her husband, early retired from AT&T, hashis own business - Touch of Comfort Massage Therapy.One of Roberta’s daughters has a Master’s degree inArchitectural Engineering and works at AustinCompany in Schaumburg. Her other daughter is asophomore majoring in graphic design at John BrownUniversity in Siloam Springs, AR.

1998 Mr. Garrett Adamczyk ’98 (Graham School ofManagement) was recently promoted to regional

account executive at ADVO, Inc., the nation’s largestdirect mail marketing firm.

Ms. Carol Blackfelner ’98 (Education) received theWal-Mart “Teacher of the Year Award” in March 2004from the Westview Elementary School in CantonSchool District 66. The selection is made fromnominations received from the community. Carol will be retiring from teaching after 34 years ineducation. Her husband Loren is an educator atIllinois Central College.

Mr. Terry D. Cornell, Jr. ’98 (Criminal Justice)completed his master’s in jurisprudence degree at theLoyola University School of Law in May of 2004.He is currently a senior vice president with the TaconGroup – a division of American Title Insurance.

Mr. Ross Crean ’98 (Music) was listed in June inSoundclick’s top 10 for Acoustic General performersand #51 in the Acoustic/Folk charts.

Mrs. Rita Ford ’98 (MA, Education) – Rita’s mother,Betty Howard, passed away in December 2004.

1999 Mr. James Boyle ’99 (Nursing) has been namedthe clinical manager for Intensive Care at LittleCompany of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park.

Mr. Oscar Castro CPA, ChFC ’99 (Graham Schoolof Management) has joined MetLife Financial Servicesas a financial advisor. After several years in corporateAmerica, Oscar will now provide full-service financialplanning to individuals. He will be involved inplanning for retirement, insurance, debt managementand investments. He invites alumni to contact him [email protected].

2000 Ms. Gina Dimartino ’00 (Communications)accepted a new position as a supplement producer atThe McGraw-Hill Companies, Higher EducationDivision – production and design. She earned a master’sdegree in communication studies and training fromGovernors State University in April 2004.

Mr. Daniel Faragoi ’00 (Graham School ofManagement) has been promoted to vice president ofFounders Bank in Worth. He is also an accreditedACH professional, and has successfully completed theBerkeley cash management program. He has been withFounders Bank for more than 10 years.

Ms. Venessa Veg ’00 (Education) is the new artteacher at Lisle High School in Lisle, IL.

alumniNOTES

Tel Lachish

2001 Ms. Amy Basinski ’01 (Arts & Sciences) and herhusband Josh Long announce the birth of their daughterLydia, born in July of 2004. Amy is pursuing EarlyIntervention credentials through the State of Illinois.

2002 Ms. Stephanie (Orlando) Zych ’02 (Education)married Richard Zych on November 8, 2003 at St. Alphonsus Church in Lemont, IL.

2003 Ms. Lindsay Brudek ’03 (Education) teacheskindergarten at Lincoln Elementary School in Blue IslandSchool District 130.

Ms. Carol M. (O’Donnell) Fitzgerald ’03 (GrahamSchool of Management) was married on April 29, 2004.

Ms. Leanne Patricia Koning ’03 (English) has beenhired as a reading and literature teacher at Tinley ParkHigh School. She also became engaged in May and willbe married to her fiancé Kevin in June 2005.

Mr. Ruben Martinez Jr. ’03 (Education) is a specialeducation teacher at Traughber Junior High School inOswego, IL. He is also a baseball coach at Oswego HighSchool. Reuben and his wife announce the birth of theirdaughter, Jolie.

Ms. Patricia Paladino ’03 (Education) teaches middleschool social studies and math at the Hamlin UpperGrade Center in Alsip School District 125.

In Memoriam1931 Livia Vielmette Arnold ’31 (Social Science).

1935 Margaret Prendergast Toolis ’35 (Math).

1939 Margaret Geary ’39 (Education).

1936 Mary A. McNeill ’36 (French).

1951 Elaine R. Gallagher, Ph.D., ’51 (Education).The Elaine Gallagher Science Education Scholarship wasrecently established in the School of Education to honor thememory of the late Dr. Elaine Gallagher ’51. Dr. Gallagherwas a retired principal of the Chicago Public Schools and aformer science teacher. She died in January 2004. Theaward will benefit students preparing to teach science. Anin-depth feature on this scholarship, and the University’sefforts on behalf of science & technology improvementsand scholarships, will be included in the next issue of theSXU Magazine.

1973 Virginia E. Landman ’73 (Nursing). Twoscholarships have been established in her memorythrough the School of Nursing.

W I N T E R 2 0 0 5


STUDENT DJ FONDLY REMEMBERED

“Gabe was completely unique. I remember one time he

walked into the radio station wearing a brown leather

beret and flared pants and I asked him, ‘Gabe, what are

you wearing?’ Gabe personified fun,” noted Rob Quicke

director of WXAV, while recanting the spirit of one of the

radio’s most memorable DJs.

During Monday and Wednesday evenings, Gabe Vaught

was able to contribute his encyclopedic knowledge of music

to the listeners of his popular radio show.

“He was very passionate about media and had skills you’d

expect from a senior communications major,” said Quicke.

Gabe was a thriving member of the Saint Xavier

University community when he passed away on April 24,

2004. He is deeply missed. “Gabe would have gone on to

be a professional. He had such passion–he made an

obvious difference.”

In memory, WXAV created the Gabriel Vaught Student

Broadcaster of the Year Award to honor a student with a

similar enthusiasm for radio. The Gabriel Vaught

Scholarship Fund has also been formed to help meet the

financial needs of a communications major. If you would

like to make a donation in honor of Gabriel Vaught, please

contact the Office of Development.

Saint Xavier University alumni and friends are invited to join Dr. JudithDwyer on a special tour of Italy in mid-October 2006. This personalizedtour will include segments on Italian fashion, art, music, and architecture aswe explore Milan, Florence, Venice and Rome. There will also be plenty of“free time” for travelers to explore each location. Plans currently include avisit to the Vatican and an audience with the Holy Father. Those interestedin learning more will be invited to a series of informational receptions andactivities. For more information please contact John Stachniak in the Officeof Alumni Relations at (773) 298-3329 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Dear Saint Xavier graduate:

Every day, I am reminded of what makes Saint Xavier special as I

hear stories of achievement, dedication, and service as shared by

our graduates. Together, these anecdotes illustrate a larger truth:

our alumni are making a difference in the lives of others.

One such example occurred recently, when a family member

inquired about a deceased relative, Ms. Daisy Coty ’31, as a part

of a family history project. A simple check of her record revealed

the usual – name, last address, degree information. Digging

further, I discovered Ms. Coty was a teacher for almost 50 years

and that she founded a local theatrical playhouse in central

Illinois. She was driven to “educate and entertain,” and provided

residents with an opportunity to “observe and participate in

quality theatrical productions.” U.S. Representative Ray LaHood

(R-Peoria) was a former student, and noted that “Daisy Coty

made me a Thespian...she was one of those people who could

have been successful at any prominent college, but she chose to

stay here.”

It started as a simple request for information. Now, we can all be

inspired by Ms. Coty.

Your Alumni Association is your connection to Saint Xavier, and

we are here to serve and support you through a variety of benefits

and activities. The many dedicated members of the Alumni Board

have been working hard to provide new opportunities and share

your accomplishments. You are encouraged to visit our web site,

send us a class note, use the Shannon Center and the library, or

join us on an alumni trip. You can help mentor a current student,

help plan a class gathering, join an advisory group, or simply

support the Cougars.

You are invited to add your chapter to our ever-evolving story

of success.

With warm wishes from Saint Xavier,

John J. StachniakDirector of Alumni Relations

White Sox vs. Cubs…in Mesa, ArizonaCheer on your favorite Chicago baseball team andexperience the excitement of spring training in theCactus League. Schedule your winter getaway for March 14, 2005, when the White Sox play the Cubs at HoHoKam Park in Mesa. For moreinformation, contact John J. Stachniak in theOffice of Alumni Relations at 773-298-3329.

The Many Faces of Italy

MYSTERY PHOTO– NAME THE EVENT IN THIS PHOTO AND YOUCOULD WIN AN SXU SWEATSHIRT. CONTACT ALUMNI RELATIONS AT (773)298-3329 OR [email protected] WITH YOUR ANSWER BY MARCH 15, 2005,AND YOUR NAME WILL BE ENTERED IN A RAFFLE.


Upcoming Alumni Events

For more information on all these events or to makeyour reservations, contact Jill Roggeveen in the Office of Alumni Relations at (773) 298-3316.

DUSABLE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY

Saturday, February 26, 20051 p.m. bus departs Chicago campus

Celebrate Black History Month at Chicago’s DuSableMuseum of African-American History. In 1961,Margaret and Charles Burroughs founded the museumas a way to honor the historical experiences andachievements of African-Americans. $8 per personincludes museum admission and transportation.

SERVICE DAYSaturday, April 2, 20058:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Coordinated by the Student Activities Board, thisevent brings together students, alumni, faculty andstaff in service projects. Examples of volunteer sitesinclude Washington and Jane Smith House, St.Margaret of Scotland parish, Misericordia Home,James Jordan Boys & Girls Club and Habitat forHumanity. Transportation to volunteer sites and lunchare provided. There is no cost.

JACQUELINE KENNEDY: THE WHITEHOUSE YEARS AT THE FIELD MUSEUMSaturday, April 9, 200510:00 a.m. bus departs Chicago campus

Celebrate the enduring legacy of one of America’sfavorite first ladies. “Jacqueline Kennedy: The WhiteHouse Years” presents more than 70 garments worn byMrs. Kennedy. $30 per person includes admission tothe museum, the exhibit and transportation.

MEREDITH WILSON’S “ THE MUSIC MAN”AT DRURY L ANE OAKBROOK TERRACE Friday, May 6, 20056:30 p.m. dinner, 8:30 p.m. performance

Brimming with infectious good humor and tunes thatlift your heart, this musical comedy is familyentertainment at its best. $42 per person (includesdinner and performance).

A DAY AT THE RACES: ARLINGTON PARKSunday, June 12, 200512 p.m. buffet opens,1 p.m. race begins

Arlington is the ultimate setting to experience the funof thoroughbred racing. Enjoy a lavish buffet andcapture all the thrilling action from the Platform in theMillion Room. $45 per person includes parkadmission, a daily racing guide, buffet and bar.

W I N T E R 2 0 0 5


alumniCALENDAR

PRESIDENT ’S SCHOL ARSHIP BALL

Saturday, March 19, 2005

CL ASS OF 19 5 5 5 0-YEAR REUNION & GOLDEN GRADUATE SOCIETY LUNCHEON

Saturday, May 21, 2005

HOMECOMING & REUNION WEEKEND 2 0 0 5

Friday, September 23 through Sunday, September 25, 2005

SAVE THE DATE!

’4 9ERS BOND DURING RECENT TRIP

Alumni who attended SXU in the ‘30s, ‘40s and the ‘50s, have been

demonstrating their affection for Saint Xavier University as members of the

49ers, a group of graduates and attendees of the 49th & Cottage campus.

“I started this group when three of my classmates came to my Florida home

about 20 years ago for lunch. Since then, I have arranged our annual

luncheon every August and last year we had our best attendance with

55 guests,” said Joan Guilfoyle ’39. Their recent January get together

featured a performance of ‘Opera in Focus’, which featured detailed

puppets. Alumni interested in joining the ‘49ers are encouraged to contact

Ms. Guilfoyle at (708)798-0094.

Thirsty

SPONSORED BY X-TREME ALUMNI

Join X-treme Alumni for happy hour! Free appetizers with a cash bar.

Thursday, March 24, 2005, 7 pm @ Gilhooley’s Grande Saloon at Saint Xavier University.Get a free drink when you wear green!

Thursday, May 26, 2005, 7 pm @ Gilhooley’s Grande Saloon at Saint Xavier University.The first round’s on us!

Call the Thirsty Thursday hotline at 773-298-3316 for more information.

X-treme Alumni is a chapter for graduates who have earned a bachelor’s degree within the lastdecade. There are no membership dues and everyone is welcome. Thirsty

THURSDAY

The Saint Xavier University Alumni Association is proud toannounce its newest alumni chapter – X-treme Alumni – forgraduates who have earned a bachelor’s degree within the lastdecade. The aim of the chapter is to keep recent graduatesconnected to SXU and to allow them to have as meaningful anexperience as a Saint Xavier alum as they did as a student.

“The interaction with other students is what made my Saint Xavierexperience so great,” said Dana Grube ’03. “I’m looking forwardto having a similar experience with other alumni.”

What’s in it for you?

Fun – See a play, take in a baseball game, partake in a ThirstyThursday.

Networking – Meet other alumni and get career advice.

Professional Development – Learn from the experts.

Service – Witness the Mercy spirit in action.

Know the Scoop – Involvement is one of the best ways to be inthe know about Saint Xavier University.

Give Back – Saint Xavier University needs your time and talent.

As with the Saint Xavier University Alumni Association, membershipin X-treme Alumni is automatic and there are no dues to pay!

X-treme Alumni is always looking for event ideas and for alums interested injoining the leadership board. Contact Jill Roggeveen in the Office of AlumniRelations at (773) 298-3316 or [email protected].


Members of Paw Prints celebrate the start of the spring semester at theWelcome Back Pizza Party sponsored by the SXU Alumni Association.

Alums (left to right) Tommy Riley ’03, Dan Lamoureux ’02,Janine Schaults ’02, Stella Karakatsanis ’02 and JamesBurnette ‘03 share their favorite SXU stories during X-tremeAlumni’s Thirsty Thursday happy hour.

ARE YOUX-Treme?


BE THE SOURCE OF CHANGE

Alumnae Donate toFund New Science LabsAs alumna Elizabeth Davis ’79 recentlydemonstrated, supporting Saint Xavier Universitycan begin with any event. For Davis, it occurredwhen she attended the recent reunion with fellowalums Julie Thomas ’79 and Becky Zintak ’79.She learned from previous science faculty Sr.Marion Johnson, as well as current science facultyDr. Nancy Goodfellow, that they would soon beraising money for much needed science labs.“Becky (Avery) Zintak ’79 mentioned that since weare all in the sciences or nursing, instead ofexchanging Christmas presents with each other, weshould contribute to providing better science at ouralma mater,” noted Davis.

Contributions were received from Kathy (Guild)Bennedetto ’80 and Mary Rose (Leib) Ryan ’80,Julie Thomas ’79 in addition to Davis and Zintak,all of whom spent time in the science labs. Theformer classmates lived in Regina Hall at SaintXavier University and make it a point to stay intouch throughout the year.

Davis, who currently works in cancer research,understands the importance of science education.“My current work was influenced by SisterMarion ’55, Dr. Boyer, Dr. Van Lanen and Dr. Fast,whom I had for genetics.” While technologycontinues to change, with the generosity of theseSXU alumnae, the science labs will be equipped tomeet the needs of tomorrow, today.

The Virginia Landman Nursing Scholarships at Saint XavierUniversity will be established from the estate of VirginiaLandman ’73 to assist with the finances of academicallytalented undergraduate nursing students. Thesemerit-based awards are the result of Ms. Landman’slongstanding affection for the University. Afterearning her master’s degree in nursing at SaintXavier University, she went on to become aprofessor of nursing at DePaul University andlater, Bradley University. However, herexperience in the field of nursing startedwell before she began teaching.

“After WWII, Virginia worked in theB&O railroad (Baltimore/Ohio railroad)[as a nurse] on the VIP cars so shewould go across the country withcelebrities at the time. It was a veryglamorous way to travel, and therewas a time in which she was retainedby the B&O and always worked onthe train that Beth Truman andMargaret Truman would take to get backand forth from Washington to Missouri,”explained Sara Miller Acosta, director,Office of Development. After some time withthe railroad, her interest shifted and shedecided to return to school to earn herbachelor’s degree.

This fascination for healthcare andlearning never left Virginia; hergenerosity will allow other nursingstudents to experience the vastopportunities available through theprofession. “She was greatly appreciativeof the quality education she received atSXU, and wanted to see that other students whomet her requirements had a chance to receive a nursingdegree, like she did,” said Donald Charleston, executor of theestate. He mentioned that in addition to her passion for herchosen profession, Mrs. Landman was an avid collector andthat her other love was Christmas. “Her 3000 Christmasornaments and decorations took 7 hours to sell at the 3 dayestate auction we had in August.” As a result of the sale ofthese collections and many others, SXU nursing students willbe able to concentrate on their studies and VirginiaLandman’s legacy will continue.

Nursing Alumna DemonstratesFondness for SXU

golden gradsCLASSOF1954

Members of the Class of 1954 reunited incelebration of the 50th anniversary of theirgraduation from Saint Xavier College for

Women. Each was presented with a 50-yearpin and an honorary “Doctorate of

Durability,” in recognition of 50 years ofservice in the “College of Hard Knocks.”

In celebration of their 50th anniversary,members of the Class of 1954 joined Dr.

Judith Dwyer for Saint XavierUniversity’s Spring Commencement

Exercises. Pictured are (front row) MaryWarchol, Lenore Malchiodi Jacobson,

Agnes Andersen Cagney, MargaretSchneider Pelc, Joan Armstrong, (back

row) Loretta Kassel Stukas, JoEllenWarren Ryan, Clarette Dax Harnish,

Claudette Dwyer, Therese JedresikRyndak, Dr. Judith Dwyer, Lucy ProcissiCeloni, Marianne Epifani Anderson and

Marytherese Galligan Small.

We’d like to hearfrom 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 the

Saint Xavier University

Magazine. And if your

address or other

contact information

has changed, please

let us know.

Keep in Touch!Name

Former Name

Class Year

Address

E-mail

Send your news to:Saint Xavier UniversityOffice of Alumni Relations3700 West 103rd St.Chicago, IL 60655Fax: (773) 298-3886E-mail: [email protected]

Your News:

L A U R E N C E M U S G R O V E , P H . D . , A s s o c i a t e P r o f e s s o r o f E n g l i s h

My wife and I have recently moved to Beverly, an old Chicago neighborhood just east of the University. We have a comfortablebrick bungalow on a nice street with big oak trees and friendly dogs, and far up in the clouds, airplanes glide down in their finalpath toward Midway Airport. After a quick review, I’ve come to realize this new residence will be my thirty-fourth in my fifty years.Now comes, for me, the hard part: making new neighbors.

I was born in Houston, Texas. A dozen or so years earlier my parents met in church and school and wed before my father joined theAir Force and was stationed in England as a meteorologist in World War II. After my older red-headed brother and I came along,our family took to the road following my father who had joined the fund-raising business, going from hospitals to colleges tochurches in need.

Along the way, we lived in Lubbock, Texas; Detroit, Michigan; Elon, North Carolina; McPherson, Kansas; Oklahoma City; FortWorth, Texas; Lubbock again; Fort Worth again; Lubbock again (add second brother here); San Antonio, Texas; and back toHouston. Eleven moves and five states by the time I was eight years old and in the third grade. All told, I attended five differentelementary schools, and soon learned that the first school chum to extend his hand in greeting was probably not elected by histeacher and peers to lead the welcoming committee. He was more likely an outcast looking for an associate in crime.

After moving once again to the far west Houston suburbs, I lived in the same brick ranch from fifth grade until my high schoolgraduation in ‘72. That span of eight years is the longest I’ve lived in one place. During my first year at a small college in centralTexas, I shared a dorm room with my best friend from high school. About halfway through the first semester, I came back to myroom between classes to find that I no longer lived there. He decided it was time for us to trade places with another pair of guys inthe dorm, so I wandered around a while until I heard my turntable scratching out some Neil Young.

During my sophomore year, I lived solo in a two bedroom mobile home. The next summer, I decided to take a time out fromcollege and manage a friend’s rock band. Together we rented a second-floor apartment in Houston. Then in a misguided effort tosave money, we rented a house and invited other band members (the sound guy, the equipment guy, the chick singer) to pitch inwith us. Alas, there’s no business like show business, and it was no business for me. I returned to my mobile home in time for springsemester classes.

After graduating with an English degree in ‘76, I returned to the Houston family home and to a variety of bookstore and computerprogramming jobs. I then worked as a bakery dough-mixer in Austin (a lakeside apartment and a first-floor duplex). Next, it wasback to Katy, Texas (a rice-field farmhouse) and another bookstore gig. Then to Austin again and a health-food store making soy icecream, carrot juice, and fruit smoothies (2 rent houses, 1 apartment).

And to save us a little time here, let me fast-forward through my first marriage. Toronto, Ontario (1 apartment, 1 house, 1 babygirl); Boerne, Texas (3 rent houses), Eugene, Oregon (graduate school and a duplex), and Evansville, Indiana (assistant professor ofEnglish, a house on five acres, 1 divorce, a tiny apartment, and then a little red house under a willow tree).

In 1999, I joined Saint Xavier University in Chicago, taking up a townhouse abode in Aurora out west where my new wife workedfor Caterpillar, Inc. And after five years as a tollway jockey, I am, as I said earlier, happily settled in as a Beverly Bungalowian.

So what are the consequences of this itinerant life? How has it made me who I am? My history has taught me to focus on thefuture. I’m always looking at the road ahead, the next new class I’m going to teach, the next book I’m going to read, the nextpoem or article to write. I’m not an original in this by any means. It’s just one of the outcomes.

Another is that I have a very bad memory for people’s names. Again, this is not remarkable, but I think it follows from a feeling ofbeing unsettled, from a long pattern of not expecting to run into the people I run into ever again. This is a particular problem forme. For instance, it takes me too long to learn my students’ names, and when they come to see me a semester or two later to pickup their work or ask for a recommendation, I’m embarrassed at my inability to recall their names and achievements. It’s not that Ijust forget names, I forget the people themselves. I’m sure I come off as distant, unconcerned, or selfishly preoccupied.

This disconnectedness is another unfortunate result, given that the only constant in constantly moving is the mover himself. I wondernow how many others feel this same distance. I’ve been slow to collaboration and collegiality, reaching out to others, like my newneighbors, traveling down the path of their stories, discovering where they have come from and where they are going next.

To listen is another kind of moving. To see if we can make a new home in what they have to tell us.

CHICAGO CAMPUS

370 0 WEST 10 3RD STREET

CHICAGO, IL 6 0 6 5 5

77 3.2 9 8.3 0 0 0

ORL AND PARK CAMPUS

18 2 3 0 ORL AND PARKWAY

ORL AND PARK, IL 6 0 4 6 7

70 8.8 0 2.6 2 0 0

ON THE COVER:

ANCIENT ROAD TO MASADA, SANDRA BOWDEN

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDSo. Suburban, IL

Permit No. 35370 0 WEST 10 3RD STREET

CHICAGO, IL 6 0 6 5 5

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

The Magazine of Saint Xavier University Winter 2005contributed real estate, buildings and a...

Documents

Transcript of The Magazine of Saint Xavier University Winter 2005contributed real estate, buildings and a...