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Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University
No full textSummer 2006 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis UniversityS i n g i n g
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pg. 9
B i o l o gy
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m a k e t he ir
m a r k
pg. 12
A l um n i
c h a n g e
c hil d r e n’s
l i v e s
pg. 18
B a s e b a l l
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pg. 6
F E AT U R E S DE PA R TMEN T S
E d i t o r
Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92)
C o n t r i b u t o r s
Allison Babka Burney
Marie Dilg (SW ’94)
Shannon McGuire (Student Assistant)
Rachel Otto
“ O n C a m p u s ” n e w s s t o r i e s
University Communications
Medical Center Media Relations
Billiken Media Relations
D e s i g n
Art Direction: Matthew Krob
Universitas is published by Saint Louis University. Opin-ions
expressed in Universitas are those of the individual
authors and not necessarily those of the University admin-istration.
Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs are
welcome but will be returned only if accompanied by a
stamped, self-addressed envelope. Letters to the editor
must be signed, and letters not intended for publication
should indicate that fact. The editor reserves the right to
edit all items. Address all mail to Universitas, DuBourg Hall
39, 221 N. Grand, St. Louis, Mo. 63103. We accept e-mail
at [email protected] and fax submissions at (314) 977-2249.
Address fax submissions to Editor, Universitas.
Postmaster: Send address changes to
Universitas, Saint Louis University,
221 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103.
World Wide Web address:
www.slu.edu/pr/universitas.html
Universitas is printed by Universal Printing Co.
and mailed by Specialty Mailing.
Worldwide circulation: 111,720
© 2006, Saint Louis University
All rights reserved.
Volume 3 2 , I ssue 3
In April, I had the privilege of speaking to a
group of outstanding local citizens to accept
St. Louis’ 2005 “Citizen of the Year” award,
which is presented by a committee of former recip-ients
and sponsored by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
It was truly an honor.
The humbling experience gave me the oppor-tunity
to reflect on my early days in my adopt-ed
hometown and how much I have seen things
change here during the last 19 years.
Although I had a very brief visit to St. Louis
in 1967 on my way to Mexico to hone my Span-ish
skills, I didn’t spend any time in the city
until I was named to Saint Louis University’s
board of trustees in 1983. On my first trip to
SLU for a board meeting, I extended my stay
so I could see the city. After taking the Lindell
Boulevard bus downtown on a Saturday after-noon,
I found so little to do that I caught an
earlier flight back to Chicago.
For four more years, I came to St. Louis for the
trustees’ quarterly meetings — and I came only for
the meetings. Then, in 1987, when I was elected
president of SLU, I decided that I had to get to know the city. One Sunday morning shortly after
my arrival, I took former SLU President Tom Fitzgerald’s old, green-colored Oldsmobile and drove
around downtown, trying to memorize the street names.
I saw progress. In four years, some things had certainly changed for the better. But as I drove
back to campus, I saw that there was still much to do. Right in Midtown, in my own new back yard,
there were dilapidated buildings, plots of asphalt and rundown city blocks.
In my early days at SLU, I was like a new homeowner. I wanted the best for my neighborhood,
and I was willing to make the effort to improve it. When I came to this city to live and work, I
quickly adopted it as my home. But I still needed a shot of hometown pride.
I found that pride away from buildings and ball clubs. I love St. Louis for more than its Arch,
toasted ravioli and Ted Drewes frozen custard. I love it for the people who are trying to make a dif-ference
— visionaries such as Joe Edwards and Richard Baron and many others. And while I did use
my “Citizen of the Year” acceptance speech as an opportunity to challenge my fellow St. Louisans
to aspire to make our city greater, I also know that I — and our University — have enjoyed unprec-edented
cooperation from city officials and local business leaders.
I can remember being here for just a few months and working with then-mayor Vince Schoemehl
(Grad ’86) to get trees — substantial trees — planted along Grand and Lindell. In Chicago, I would
have never had as much direct access to the Board of Aldermen or to the mayor himself. Today, we
continue to receive tremendous support from Mayor Francis Slay (Law ’80) and from the Board of
Aldermen. I am truly grateful for the trust that city officials have always placed in SLU.
And it’s not just the civic leaders who have given us their trust. You, our alumni, friends and do-nors,
have shown how you believe in us, too. Through your gifts of time, talent and treasure, you’ve
been instrumental in building the reputation and stature of Saint Louis University.
We’ve come a long way together. And the city of St. Louis has, too. I am so thankful for your
commitment to Saint Louis University and hope that — no matter where you live now — SLU and
St. Louis will always feel like home.
Lawrence Biondi , S. J .
photo by Steve Dolan
President’s Message
etrolink
On the Map
A special insert gives
you an up-close look
at SLU’s campus.
Map Illustration by
Robert North Jr.
U N I V E R S I TA S S UMME R 2 0 0 6
Fr. Biondi with Dr. Donald Suggs, publisher of the St.
Louis American and the 2004 Citizen of the Year.
2 On Campus
Arena plans taking shape Research
Building gets a name Commencement
U.S. News ranks SLU high again
Social justice magazine debuts
6 Billiken News
Baseball team goes to the NCAA
Tournament Walker is now a coach
7 Campaign Update
Meet Anna and Jesse, students
doing their part for annual giving
22 Class Notes
Catch up with classmates
28 In Memoriam
Remembering those members of the
SLU community who recently died
29 Off the Shelf
Seven books from the SLU community
30 Alumni Events
Find SLU alumni activities
wherever you live
32 Perspective
An alumnus turns from music
fan into record label owner
33 The Last Word
Letters to the editor
9
Brothers in Song
An introduction
to the Bare Naked
Statues, SLU’s all-male
a cappella group.
By Allison Babka Burney
Bio-Diversity
The biology department
faculty are studying
everything from fish to
wasps to liver cancer.
By Marie Dilg
A Haven of Hope
Two alumni have
created a home where
abused and neglected
children thrive.
By Marie Dilg
12 18
Students congregate around a fountain at the Medical Center on a hot June aftternoon.
Photo by Kevin Lowder
U N I V E R S I TA S w w w. s l u . e d u U N I V E R S I TA S S UMME R 2 0 0 6
Groundbreaking is less than three
months away for the new 8 million in TIF funding and bonds,
which will be paid off with revenues from the
Arena. Fund raising continues toward the 39
million goal for the Arena project. Alumni and
benefactors who would like to contribute to the
Arena project can get information about the
project online at arena.slu.edu, or by calling
(314) 977-2499.
Site preparation will begin this summer, with
a groundbreaking date in late August or early
September. Construction is expected to take
approximately 19 months and be completed in
March 2008. At 10,600 seats, the Saint Louis
University Arena will have the second largest
capacity in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The
University anticipates hosting more that 90
events in the Arena in its first year of operation,
with roughly half being non-University events.
Arena plans move forward; groundbreaking soon
Commencement 2006
Saint Louis University celebrated
commencement for more than 1,700
graduates May 20 at Savvis Center.
Chris Lowney, author of Heroic Leadership:
Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company
that Changed the World, delivered the com-mencement
address. The book takes the pil-lars
of Ignatian teachings and applies them
to today’s business environment. In addition
to Lowney, other honorary degree recipients
were Maurice B. McNamee, S.J. (A&S ’33,
Grad ’34, ’45), professor emeritus of Eng-lish,
professor emeritus of art and art history
and director emeritus of Samuel Cupples
House; and Frank Stroble (Cook ’52, Grad
’60) and Ruth Stroble, longtime supporters
of Catholic higher education and commu-nity
volunteers. Throughout five decades as a professor
at Saint Louis University School of
Medicine, Dr. Edward A. Doisy was
renowned worldwide for his pioneering work
in the field of biochemistry, including win-ning
the 1943 Nobel Prize for discovering
the chemical nature of vitamin K.
To honor his lifetime of work, SLU’s new
biomedical research tower, a 67 million fa-cility,
will be named the Edward A. Doisy
Research Center. The Doisy family has com-mitted
2 million to establish the James B. and Joan
C. Peter Endowed Chair in Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology. Dr. James B. Peter
(Med ’58) is founder and former chief execu-tive
officer of Specialty Laboratories, a hospi-tal-
focused clinical reference laboratory.
• 2 million to establish the Badeeh A. and
Catherine V. Bander Endowed Chair in Ne-phrology.
Dr. Steven J. Bander (A&S ’75),
adjunct faculty member in nephrology, and
his wife, Patricia, are endowing the chair in
honor of his parents.
• 1.5 million in a challenge grant from the
J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation to sup-port
construction of the research building.
The building is expected to open in fall
2007. For more details, visit researchbuild-ing.
slu.edu.
Research building gets name and 30 million gift
For the third consecutive year,
U.S.News & World Report has named
the Saint Louis University School of
Law’s health law program the best in the na-tion.
Since the rankings for the health law
specialty began a decade ago, Saint Louis
University’s Center for Health Law Studies
never has been out of the top three.
Overall, the magazine’s “Best Graduate
Schools 2007” issue ranked the law school
among the nation’s 180 accredited law
schools. The School of Medicine was ranked
No. 62 among the nation’s 144 research-intensive
medical schools surveyed by U.S.
News. The school’s geriatrics program was
ranked 12th in the United States.
In addition, the part-time MBA program
in the John Cook School of Business was
ranked No. 25 in the nation out of 347 part-time
MBA programs accredited by the As-sociation
to Advance Collegiate Schools of
Business (AACSB).
Graduate programs honored by U.S. News again
Annual Atlas Week recognizes
the University’s world view
Through more than 50 special events, including discussions,
open houses and student presentations, Atlas Week 2006 gave
the Saint Louis University community the opportunity to ex-plore
the international dimension of SLU’s academic programs and
celebrate the University’s role in international education and service.
The theme of this year’s Atlas Week, held in April, was “Political
and Social Justice in a Global World.” The Signature Symposium
featured Nobel Peace laureate Jody Williams, who led the passage of
the international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines. Another
highlight was a panel discussion commemorating the first anniver-sary
of the death of Pope John Paul II.
The Billiken World Festival, which featured a Parade of Nations,
international cuisine, music, games and informational booths in the
quadrangle, wrapped up the week.
In SLU’s residence halls
Students living on
campus during the
2005-06 school year
On-campus rooms
Residence halls: Clemens, DeMattias,
Fusz, Griesedieck, Marguerite, Notre
Dame, Reinert and Walsh
Apartment complexes: Grand Forest,
the Language Houses, Marchetti East
and West, and the Village Apartments
3,346
1,785
84
Severson wins
teaching award
Dr. John G. Severson Jr., professor
of biology, received the 41st an-nual
Nancy McNeir Ring Award
from Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor
society. It is SLU’s oldest student-initi-ated
teaching award and is named for the
University’s first dean of women. Severson
joined the faculty in 1971, has served as
associate dean of the College of Arts and
Sciences and led the Academic Services
Center from 1993-2001. He played an in-tegral
role in the development of the Pre-
Law and Pre-Med Scholars programs, as
well as SLU 101 and SLU 301 programs
for new students.
A view of the Arena facing northwest.
A student shows her pride during the Parade of Nations.
From left: The Strobles, McNamee and Lowney.
Signing the beam before it is raised (from left): Alderman Michael McMillan; AT&T-Missouri vice president Debra
Hollingsworth; U.S. Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond; Clayco president and SLU trustee Bob Clark; University
President Lawrence Biondi, S.J.; SLU trustee Charles Drury and Shirley Drury, donors to the project.
Photo by Kevin Lowder
Photo by Clayton Berry
Photo by Allison Babka Burney
Photo by Allison Babka Burney
Lincoln Legacy exhibit
coming to SLUMA
From Aug. 25-Dec. 17, Samuel Cupples House,
in partnership with the Saint Louis University
Museum of Art, will present “The Lincoln Legacy:
Presidential Years.” The exhibit, which will be in
the Judith and Adam Aronson Gallery at SLUMA,
showcases the Dr. Bernard Hall Abraham Lincoln
Collection of the University of Saint Mary in
Leavenworth, Kan. It will feature manuscripts
and autographed documents, as well as sig-nificant
historical artifacts relating to Lincoln’s
presidency. The exhibit is free and open to
the public. In conjunction with “The Lincoln
Legacy,” the University will be the site of a Civil
War re-enactment, the “Camp Jackson Historic
Encampment,” during Labor Day weekend, Sept.
1-3. For other programming and updates, visit
http://lincoln.slu.edu or call (314) 977-2666.
t h e A R T S a t S L U
Hand-tinted woodcut of Lincoln (1863).
MOCRA welcomes back
‘Silver Clouds’
They’re back! SLU’s Museum of Contemporary
Religious Art (MOCRA) announces a final show-ing
of its most popular show ever, Andy Warhol’s
“Silver Clouds.” First shown at MOCRA in 2001
and 2002, the largest-ever U.S. “Clouds” instal-lation
features dozens of silver mylar balloons
riding the air currents around MOCRA’s capa-cious
nave gallery. Visitors are invited to enter
into a childlike world of wonder and experience
one of Warhol’s groundbreaking experiments
with creating unique, non-traditional environ-ments.
MOCRA also will be showing a number
of Warhol’s “Sunset” prints. The “Clouds” open
in mid-September and continue through the fall
semester. Call MOCRA at (314) 977-7170 or visit
mocra.slu.edu for more information.
“Silver Clouds” fill the gallery during
the 2002 MOCRA showing.
New administrators join SLU
As of July 1,
Dr. Kent
Porterfield is
Saint Louis University’s
new vice president for
student development.
Porterfield comes to
SLU from Northwest
Missouri State Univer-sity,
where he was vice
president for student
affairs — a role he held
for nearly a decade. At SLU, Porterfield fosters
student formation through non-academic areas,
including residence life, student life, student
health and counseling, campus recreation
and community outreach. He also oversees
contracted services such as the bookstore
and dining services. At Northwest, Porterfield
led many of these same areas and worked to
enhance students’ lives.
Dr. Connie
Evashwick,
previously
an endowed chair and
director of the Center
for Health Care In-novation
at California
State University, Long
Beach, joined SLU as
dean of the Saint Louis
University School of
Public Health on
July 1. Over the years, she has combined her
academic career with consulting and direct
operations management. Evashwick has served
as vice president of long-term care for two
major health care systems and is a national
consultant to health systems, hospitals and
long-term care organizations. She is the author
or editor of 12 books and more than 100 other
publications.
News Briefs
Saint Louis University again opened its doors
to the area’s homeless population to provide
a hot meal and clothing. During SLU’s annual
“Open Doors” event March 23, hundreds
of homeless individuals also received free
employment and housing assistance, legal
services and opportunities to pursue literacy
education.
SLU President Lawrence Biondi, S.J., and Dr.
Ellen Harshman (Grad ’78, Law ’92), dean
of the John Cook School of Business, were
named to the St. Louis Business Journal’s
“Influentials” list this spring. The list recognizes
area business and community leaders who
make a difference to the region. Biondi was
honored as one of 10 “legends” — individuals
“who have gone beyond being influential to
become legends in our region and beyond.”
Dr. Bruce R. Bacon, professor of internal
medicine and director of the division of
gastroenterology and hepatology at the
School of Medicine, has been appointed to the
National Commission on Digestive Diseases,
an institute of the National Institutes of
Health and the National Institute of Diabetes
and Digestive Diseases. The commission,
comprising 16 people, is charged with
conducting an overview of research in digestive
diseases and developing a strategic plan for
the next 10 years of NIH digestive disease
research.
Saint Louis University Provost Dr. Joe
Weixlmann was named “Distinguished
Editor of the Year” by the Council of Editors
of Learned Journals. The award recognizes
Weixlmann’s dedication and excellence in
his work with African American Review, the
official publication of the Modern Language
Association’s Division on Black American
Literature and Culture. He was editor in chief
from 1976-2004.
The St. Louis Jesuits, sometimes called “the
fathers of contemporary American liturgical
music,” received an honorary doctorate of
music from Creighton University this spring.
Roc O’Connor S.J. (A&S ’73), Bob Dufford
S.J. (A&S ’67, Grad ’72, ’75), John Foley S.J.
(A&S ’68, Grad ’68, ’74), and Dan Schutte
(A&S ’72), who were featured in the fall 2005
Universitas, were recognized for their 30 years
of ministry to the Church.
U N I V E R S I TA S w w w. s l u . e d u U N I V E R S I TA S S UMME R 2 0 0 6
Community service tops 750,000 hours
Members of the Saint Louis University community continue to live the institution’s
mission as 14,602 students, faculty and staff contributed 753,808 hours of com-munity
service and outreach during 2005, according to a recently released University
report. This is the second year in a row that members of the University have performed more
than 750,000 hours of service. According to the report, more than 1,270 organizations and
events benefited from SLU faculty and staff volunteerism, up from 1,110 in 2004. Faculty and
staff spent 71,903 hours performing community service in 2005, a drastic jump from 41,533
hours previously. Student service also is intensive. Through academic courses, internships and
campus organizations, students committed more than 76,768 hours to outreach.
SLU students spend
spring break in service
During spring break in March
more than 50 Saint Louis Uni-versity
students participated in
rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. Of
the group, 39 SLU students assisted Ser-vice
International with the demolition of
buildings that were flooded or destroyed
by Hurricane Katrina. After demolition,
the students helped with power washing,
sanitizing and rebuilding efforts. Another
15 SLU students worked with Operation
Helping Hands, where they helped remove
debris in neighborhoods and assisted with
light carpentry, as well as construction and
restoration of homes and buildings.
This year, about 150 SLU students partic-ipated
in spring break mission trips not only
to New Orleans, but other U.S. locations as
well as sites in Mexico and El Salvador.
Social justice magazine
debuts on campus
Current SLU students from various cross-cultural and social
justice groups on campus have collaborated to produce a
student-led, student-run magazine that aims to raise aware-ness
about international social justice issues. Based upon the Jesuit
mission, One World focuses attention on men and women around
the world who are in dire need of help. Whether it’s poverty and
starvation in the developing world or genocide in Sudan, SLU stu-dent
writers explore humanitarian issues in an effort to make read-ers
realize that they have capacity and responsibility to get involved.
To view the magazine online, visit www.sluoneworld.com. Or to
order a copy of the 40-page magazine, send your request and 5 contri-bution
to: One World c/o Donna Bess; Busch Student Center, Suite 237; 20 N. Grand Blvd.; St.
Louis, MO 63103. Make checks payable to Saint Louis University.
AHarvard University team recently won the
Urban Land Institute Gerald D. Hines
Student Urban Design Competition,
which was held March 31 at Saint Louis Univ
Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University
No full textFall 2006 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis UniversityCatching up with SLU’s
Madrid Campus page 8
Not Your Typical College Cafeteria page 14 Shimmy Gray-Miller: Off Court, On the Record page 18
E d i t o r
Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92)
C o n t r i b u t o r s
Jeff Fowler
Nancy Solomon
“ O n C a m p u s ” n e w s s t o r i e s
University Communications
Medical Center Media Relations
Billiken Media Relations
De s i g n
Art Direction: Matthew Krob
Universitas is published by Saint Louis University. Opin-ions
expressed in Universitas are those of the individual
authors and not necessarily those of the University admin-istration.
Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs are
welcome but will be returned only if accompanied by a
stamped, self-addressed envelope. Letters to the editor
must be signed, and letters not intended for publication
should indicate that fact. The editor reserves the right to
edit all items. Address all mail to Universitas, DuBourg Hall
39, 221 N. Grand, St. Louis, Mo. 63103. We accept e-mail
at [email protected] and fax submissions at (314) 977-2249.
Address fax submissions to Editor, Universitas.
Postmaster: Send address changes to
Universitas, Saint Louis University,
221 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103.
World Wide Web address:
www.slu.edu/pr/universitas.html
Universitas is printed by Universal Printing Co.
and mailed by Specialty Mailing.
Worldwide circulation: 111,720
© 2006, Saint Louis University
All rights reserved.
Volume 3 3 , I ssue 1
I was having dinner in Beirut with the presi-dent
of Notre Dame University of Lebanon
on July 12 when he got the call: Hezbollah
militants had just abducted two Israeli soldiers.
At that point, I had no idea just how harrowing
the next week would be.
When I left for Lebanon just two days ear-lier
to deliver Notre Dame’s commencement ad-dress,
I had no indication a crisis was brewing.
But by July 13 all hell broke loose. From my
hotel in northern Beirut, I heard Israeli jets at-tacking
the Hezbollah section of the city. From
my balcony I could see clouds of black smoke
rise into the air, and at night I could see fires on
the horizon. When the airport and major roads
were bombed, I began to wonder when — if
— I would get back to St. Louis.
For the most part, I felt safe. Because the ho-tel
was in the so-called Christian area of greater
Beirut, we were told it was unlikely to be a tar-get.
Even so, the fighting grew more intense ev-ery
day. Occasional black-outs
and media warnings
to stay in the hotel kept
me on edge. Even more
unnerving, days passed
with no word from the
staff at the U.S. embassy,
even though I had taken
care to register my pres-ence
with them several
times. Literally waiting
by the phone in my hotel
room, I began to feel like
a hostage.
Finally — at 3 a.m.
on July 19 — Saint Louis
University’s general counsel called to say he had
received word from the State Department that
I would be leaving on the cruise ship the Orient
Queen that day and would be permitted only
one 30-pound bag.
I rounded up my essential documents, left
my other luggage behind and headed to the des-ignated
staging area. Waiting in line, I heard
bombs exploding, sounding like thunderclaps
reverberating in every direction.
After showing my passport to the embassy
staff, I boarded a bus to the Beirut seaport. I
joined about 200 men, women and children
gathered there, all of us anxious to be cleared
to board ship. Bombs were dropping just a few
miles away; it was the closest I had been to the
fighting.
We finally left port at 4 p.m. with an Ameri-can
warship, the U.S.S. Gonzalez, following us
in a corridor only half a mile wide. The Gonza-lez
accompanied us all the way to Cyprus. We
arrived just after midnight, but a ship bearing
French national evacuees from Beirut had ar-rived
before us, so we had to stay on the Orient
Queen for three more hours.
Tension was high. Everyone was anxious to
get off the ship, find a place to stay and begin
making their necessary travel arrangements.
Some people fainted; some got angry. There was
some pushing and shoving and even a fistfight.
When more than 1,000 of us were told we could
disembark, the exodus process became chaotic.
Eventually, I got off the ship and to a taxi
that took me to a hotel about 50 miles away.
I was able to catch a chartered plane the next
evening, and I finally arrived in St. Louis at 1
p.m. July 21. It had taken me about 12 hours to
get from the United States to Lebanon by plane.
It took me nearly 52 hours — by bus, ship, taxi
and plane — to get home.
Although I was relieved to be out of war-torn
Lebanon, I must
confess that my experi-ences
there were among
the most memorable of
my life. I’m not saying I’d
willingly do it again, but
I am genuinely grateful
that I had an opportunity
to get to know and appre-ciate
the Lebanese people
and see how resiliently
they handled this crisis.
I also am genuinely
grateful for the sober-ing
moments I spent in
my hotel room thinking
about my life, my relationships and my work at
SLU. I know I have a reputation for being some-what
tough and business-minded at times. But I
came to realize how fortunate I am — with the
help of my God — that so many people were
thinking of and praying for me.
Even several months later, I continue to re-flect
on my life-changing experiences in Leba-non.
I am not a politician, but I know that
what’s most important is to settle this conflict
for the long term. If not, the Lebanese and Is-raeli
people — especially the children — will
continue to suffer. And unlike me, they won’t
get a call at three in the morning to board the
Orient Queen and get out.
— Lawrence Biondi, S.J.
A version of this essay appeared July 30 on the Com-mentary
page of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
President’s Message
photo by Jim Visser
U N I V E R S I T A S F A L L 2 0 0 6
F E AT U R E S
Universidad
de San Luis
SLU’s Madrid campus
offers students the world.
By Laura Geiser
A landmark campus gateway framed by fall foliage.
Photo by Kevin Lowder
DE PA R TMEN T S
2 On Campus
Arena groundbreaking Update on
SLU’s national rankings Lincoln
exhibit brings visitors to campus
6 Billiken News
Soccer stadium readies for the College
Cup Forward pass marks its 100th
7 Campaign Update
Campaign already exceeds 80.5 million
multipurpose Arena Aug. 28 at the Arena site near Compton
and Laclede avenues. University officials, coaches and student
athletes as well as St. Louis dignitaries were in attendance to celebrate
the new facility, which includes a 10,600-seat Arena, a practice facil-ity,
athletics offices, locker rooms and training facilities.
“It has taken us a long time to get here,” said University President
Lawrence Biondi, S.J. “While I am not known as the most patient
man in St. Louis, I never lost faith that we would get to this day. And,
thankfully, there were many others who believed as I did.”
The new Arena will be home to Billikens men’s and women’s bas-ketball
and will host a variety of other events such as concerts, confer-ences,
trade shows and commencements. It is expected to bring more
than 400,000 people to Midtown St. Louis each year. St. Louis-based
Clayco will build the Arena, with an expected opening in March
2008.
“There are few institutions in St. Louis that have done more to
enhance life in the city than Saint Louis University,” said Barry H.
Beracha, chairman of the SLU board of trustees. “I ask our friends
from throughout the region to help us complete the fundraising for
this wonderful facility.”
Arena donors were recognized at the event, which also brought out
hundreds of faculty, staff, students and Billiken fans to witness the
beginning of the long-awaited project.
“This is one of the greatest days in Billiken
athletics history, and I’m overjoyed to be here
and be part of it,” said director of athletics
Cheryl L. Levick. “This building is a product
of a tremendous grass roots fundraising effort
because this is a privately funded facility that
did not tap into student fees or tuition dol-lars.
No matter the size of the gift, everyone
involved in contributing to this building has
the right to be extremely proud today.”
“I want to thank Father Biondi and the
board of trustees for giving our program the
opportunity to compete on a national level,”
said men’s basketball head coach Brad Soder-berg.
“When we bring recruits to campus, they now will know that we
are serious about competing with the best programs in the country.”
“The University administration has done its job in bringing this
building to life,” said women’s basketball head coach Shimmy Gray-
Miller. “Now I promise that I will do my job, my staff will do its job, and
our student-athletes will do their job to produce winning basketball.”
The Arena complex will be built on University-owned property
on the eastern end of campus and will be visible from Interstate 64/
Highway 40. It will be funded through fundraising, 1 million for the Arena, moving the University
closer to the project fundraising goal.
For others who would like to make a gift, there still is time to be
part of the Arena project. To make a donation online, go to arena.slu.
edu or call (314) 977-2499. — JF
Arena construction under way;
opening planned for March 2008
Top: The official groundbreakers: (from left) Dan Mitchell, partner, Mackey Mitchell
Associates; L.B. Eckelkamp, SLU trustee; Joe Imbs, president, St. Louis market, U.S.
Bank; Thomas Brouster Sr., SLU trustee; Soderberg; Levick; Dr. Joe Weixlmann, SLU
provost; Biondi; St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay; Kathleen Brady, SLU vice president for
facilities management and civic affairs; Gray-Miller; 19th Ward Alderman Michael
McMillan; Beracha, Vince Schoemehl, president, Grand Center; Bob Clark, Clayco
chairman and chief executive officer; and Evan Krauss, president, SLU Student
Government Association. Middle: St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay (Law ’80) addresses
the crowd. Above: Gray-Miller, Biondi, Soderberg and Levick throw the dirt.
U.S.News keeps SLU
on its ‘Best Buy’ list
For the ninth consecutive year, U.S.News & World
Report has recognized Saint Louis University as one
of the nation’s best values in higher education. In
its special “America’s Best Colleges” issue, U.S.
News lists SLU among the top 50 national, doctoral
universities on its coveted “Great Schools, Great
Prices” list. SLU joins Georgetown and Boston College
among the Catholic institutions on the best values list.
In addition, SLU climbed to No. 77 on U.S. News’ rankings of the
nearly 250 national universities in the country — a list topped by
Princeton and Harvard. It’s the third straight year that SLU has risen in
these rankings. Once again, SLU ranked among the top five Catholic
institutions in the country on this overall list.
Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology’s aerospace
engineering program was ranked No. 5, and undergraduate engineering
programs overall were ranked 29th among engineering schools whose
highest degree is a master’s.
SLU’s undergraduate business programs in the John Cook School of
Business again were ranked among the top 100 of the nation.
Princeton Review
also honors SLU
The Princeton Review has named Saint Louis University one of the top
institutions in the country for undergraduate education. SLU also was
listed as one of the best universities in the Midwest in the 2007 edition
of Princeton Review’s annual book, The Best 361 Colleges. Only about
15 percent of four-year colleges in America and two Canadian colleges
made the publication. The book does not rank the colleges 1 to 361 in
any single category.
The book’s rankings are based on a survey
of 110,000 students attending the
colleges in the book. In the survey,
SLU students spoke highly of the
University’s business, pre-med and
pre-law programs as well as unique
programs in aviation and nutrition.
Survey respondents also noted that
SLU students are friendly and that
the University offers a great library.
Doisy College of health
sciences adds new programs
Already experiencing an enroll-ment
boom, Saint Louis Uni-versity’s
Edward and Margaret
Doisy College of Health Sciences an-ticipates
even more growth in the future
as it prepares to assume responsibility
for three programs that will be discon-tinued
at the Barnes-Jewish College of
Nursing and Allied Health in St. Louis
next year.
Dr. Charlotte Royeen, dean of Doisy
College, said next fall SLU plans to offer
the following new options for SLU stu-dents,
pending approval by the board of
trustees: A new bachelor of science pro-gram
in radiation therapy; a new bache-lor
of science program in cytotechnology;
and a proposed expansion of the graduate
program in the department of nutrition
and dietetics.
SLU and Barnes-Jewish officials are
working to make sure that the transition
for both students and employees goes
smoothly. Some faculty at Barnes-Jew-ish
College will join the faculty of SLU’s
Doisy College, and students enrolled in
SLU programs still will have the option
of participating in clinical training on-site
at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
SLU honors Maronite patriarch
Saint Louis University bestowed its highest honor, the Sword of Ignatius Loyola, on
the patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church June 30. His Beatitude and Eminence
Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, visited St. Louis
as part of a pastoral visit to America. He was the most significant religious figure to visit St.
Louis since Pope John Paul II in 1999, and his visit marked only the fourth time a Maronite
patriarch has journeyed to the United States. Sfeir also received an honorary doctorate of laws
from Saint Louis University.
En route to the award ceremony, University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J., (right) shares a light moment with Maronite
Bishop Robert J. Shaheen (far left) and Cardinal Sfeir (second from left).
Photos by Steve Dolan
Photo by Kevin Lowder
U N I V E R S I T A S w w w . s l u . e d u U N I V E R S I T A S F A L L 2 0 0 6
Gilsinan
to accept
professorship,
step down
as dean
Saint Louis University’s College of
Public Service has reached a new
milestone: the establishment of its
first named professorship. Civic leader E.
Desmond “Des” Lee provided funding to
support the E. Desmond Lee Professor-ship
in Collaborative Regional Education.
Dr. James Gilsinan, dean of the Col-lege
of Public Service, has been named
the first holder of the professorship. Be-cause
the professorship requires teaching,
research and service, Gilsinan will step
down as dean and rejoin the faculty on
a full-time basis at the end of December.
The honor recognizes Gilsinan’s decades
of service to St. Louis area schools, local
governments and non-profit organiza-tions.
As a Des Lee Professor, Gilsinan
will join scholars from Washington Uni-versity
in St. Louis and the University of
Missouri-St. Louis in researching ways to
help schools and communities improve
the lives of young people.
Michael Frayn wins Literary Award
The Saint Louis University Library Associates will pres-ent
the Saint Louis Literary Award to Tony Award-winning
playwright, novelist and translator Michael
Frayn at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, in the Anheuser-Busch
Auditorium of SLU’s John and Lucy Cook Hall. The pro-gram
is free and open to the public.
Frayn is the author of several plays, including Noises Off,
Democracy and Copenhagen, which won the 2000 Tony Award
for Best Play. He has written several novels including The Tin
Men, The Russian Interpreter and Spies. He also has translated
several plays by Chekov and Tolstoy from Russian.
In receiving the award, Frayn joins a select group of previous
recipients, including Robert Penn Warren, Arthur Miller and
Tom Wolfe. The award has been presented annually since 1967.
Researchers tackle
mold removal
Armed with a $408,000 grant from
the Department of Housing and
Urban Development, a team from
Saint Louis University School of Public
Health hopes to create universal stan-dards
for getting rid of mold in homes and
buildings. Dr. Anu Dixit, assistant profes-sor
of environmental and occupational
health and principal investigator, said that
the team will review existing, inconsistent
guidelines for mold removal from homes
and buildings by surveying about 400
mold assessment and remediation profes-sionals.
The team will then use the re-sponses
to develop a single comprehensive,
scientifically sound plan for homeowners
and mold remediation experts to follow.
“The timing couldn’t be better for Hur-ricane
Katrina and Rita victims, some of
whom are still battling mold problems in
their homes and businesses,” Dixit said.
News Briefs
Saint Louis University has appointed Karla Gable director of undergraduate admission. She
most recently was assistant vice president of business development at the Missouri Higher
Education Loan Authority (MOHELA), where she oversaw all marketing and public relations
efforts. Prior to joining MOHELA in 2000, Gable was associate dean of enrollment and director
of financial aid at Westminster College in Fulton, Mo.
Dr. Neil Seitz has stepped down as interim dean of Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and
Technology. Dr. Manoj Patankar (Parks ’92), associate professor and chairman of aviation
science, has been named interim dean. A committee has been formed to begin the search for a
new dean for Parks.
Covering more than three-dozen specialties, 112 SLUCare doctors have been selected for
St. Louis Magazine’s 2006 “Best Doctors” list. The list is based on the annual “Best Doctors
in America” database, which considers more than one million peer evaluations to create a
directory of approximately 30,000 doctors. A total of 104 SLUCare physicians were chosen for
last year’s list.
Dr. Teri Murray (Nurs ’79, Grad ’93, ’97) has been named the new director of the School of
Nursing in the Doisy College of Health Sciences. Murray, previously the associate director,
succeeds interim director Dr. Margie Edel. Murray, also an associate professor of nursing,
recently was named to the prestigious 2006 Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellows
Program, which provides individual leadership development for nurses who aspire to lead
and shape the U.S. health care system. She is also the president of the Missouri State Board
of Nursing.
Dr. Jennifer Kohler (A&S ’93, Grad ’97, ’99) is the new director of the School for Professional
Studies. She is the first director of the school in a new position created as a result of the recent
merger with the College of Public Service. Kohler previously served as director of organizational
studies, interim associate dean and associate dean in the School for Professional Studies.
The National Defense Transportation Association has named Saint Louis University’s Dr. Ik-
Whan Kwon (Grad ’90), professor of decision sciences and management information systems,
as the 2006 recipient of the NDTA Educator Distinguished Service Award. Kwon is recognized
internationally for his specialization in supply chain design and management and is director of
the Consortium for Supply Chain Management Studies at the John Cook School of Business.
Campus goes wireless
This summer, Saint Louis Uni-versity’s
information technology
staffers and subcontractors pulled
150,000 feet of wire throughout campus
to make SLU completely wireless. Now
the University’s wireless network includes
the entire campus — including residence
halls and academic buildings.
Campus Kitchen marks its fifth
anniversary and serves its 125,000th meal
In September, Saint Louis University’s Campus Kitchen cel-ebrated
its fifth anniversary and served its 125,000th meal. In
2001, SLU served as the pilot school for the Campus Kitchens
Project, a growing network of Campus Kitchens that are hosted by
universities across the country.
Each Campus Kitchen shares dining hall kitchen space with
host universities; partners with campus dining to recycle safe, us-able
food that would normally go to waste; and mobilizes college
students and community volunteers to make and deliver meals to
the community.
Each month, SLU Campus Kitchen volunteers deliver more
than 2,000 meals and snacks to local residents, community cen-ters
and after-school programs. Volunteers prepare meals in an on-campus
cafeteria and then deliver them to individual families and
group service centers.
SLU’s success has paved the way for the Campus Kitchens Proj-ect
to schedule three new site openings this fall, bringing the net-work
to 10 Campus Kitchens nationwide.
Sobrino returns to
SLU after 15 years
One of Saint Louis University’s
most famous alumni was back
on campus in September for
the first time in 15 years. SLU’s Great Is-sues
Committee welcomed Jon Sobrino,
S.J. (A&S ’62, Grad ’65), who discussed
“Being Christian in a World of Poor
and Victims.” Sobrino’s contributions to
theology have been recognized with nu-merous
awards, includin
St. Louis Police motorcycles in Pope John Paul II's motorcade
No full textSt. Louis Police motorcycles in Pope John Paul II's motorcade begin passing Davis-Shaughnessy Hall on the Saint Louis University campus as onlookers watch from behind orange mesh dividers. (27 January 1999) [Photo by Randy R. McGuire, Assistant SLU Archivist. Original photo identification number is PHO 3.355.13
Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University
No full textSpring 2012 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis Universitybehind the scenes at a Billiken game /// page 17
Sustainability at SLU /// Page 8
Sunday Night Mass /// Page 12
Also inside: 2011 President’s Report
spr ing 2 012
features
8
Sustainability
SLU’s efforts to
go green extend
from classrooms to
construction zones.
— By Anne Marie
Apollo-Noel
12
Mass Appeal
The 9 p.m. Sunday
Mass draws hundreds
of students to College
Church each week.
— By Ashley Pitlyk
17
All-Acces Pas
Go behind-the-scenes
for one men’s Billiken
basketball victory.
— Photos by
Kevin Lowder and
Mike Speckhard
depar tments
{ contents }
2 | On Campus
Law school to move downtown
• New chair honors Kimmey •
Library renovations • Immigration
conference planned • Arts at SLU
6 | Billiken News
New women’s soccer coach •
Alumni soccer in Europe
7 | Advancement News
A Q&A with Tony Minor,
associate director for development
marketing and stewardship
24 | Class Notes
Catch up with classmates
28 | In Memoriam
Remembering those members of
the SLU community who recently
died
30 | Alumni Events
SLU alumni activities across the
country
32 | Perspective
An alumnus’ efforts to save an
endangered species
33 | the last word
Letters to the editor
12 8
17
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
T H E 2 0 1 1 p r e s i d e n t ’ s r e p o r t
Volume 38, Issue 2
Editor
Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92)
Contributors
Anne Marie Apollo-Noel
Marie Dilg (Grad SW ’94)
Ashley Pitlyk (A&S, Cook ’10)
“On Campus” news stories
University Communications
Medical Center Communications
Billiken Media Relations
ON THE Cover
The SLU Billikens vs. Dayton Flyers
game on Feb. 4.
Photo by Kevin Lowder
Design
Art Direction: Matt Krob
Universitas is published by Saint Louis University.
Opinions expressed in Universitas are those of the
individual authors and not necessarily those of the
University administration. Unsolicited manuscripts and
photographs are welcome but will be returned only if
accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Letters to the editor must be signed, and letters not
intended for publication should indicate that fact. The
editor reserves the right to edit all items. Address all
mail to Universitas, DuBourg Hall 39, One N. Grand
Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. 63103. We accept email at
[email protected] and fax submissions at (314) 977-
2249. Address fax submissions to Editor, Universitas.
Postmaster: Send address changes to
Universitas, Saint Louis University,
One N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103.
World Wide Web address:
universitas.slu.edu
Universitas is printed by Universal Printing Co.
Worldwide circulation: 118,040
© 2012, Saint Louis University
All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without
permission is prohibited.
FA L L 2 0 0 4 W I N T E R 2 0 0 5
The mission of Saint Louis University is the
pursuit of truth for the greater glory of God
and for the service of humanity. The University
seeks excellence in the fulfillment of its
corporate purposes of teaching, research,
health care and service to the community. It
is dedicated to leadership in the continuing
quest for understanding of God’s creation
and for the discovery, dissemination and
integration of the values, knowledge and
skills required to transform society in the
spirit of the Gospels. As a Catholic, Jesuit
university, this pursuit is motivated by the
inspiration and values of the Judeo-Christian
tradition and is guided by the spiritual and
intellectual ideals of the Society of Jesus.
S a i n t Lo u i s U n i v e r s i t y
Mi si o n S tat eme n t
To read a message from University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J., please
see the President’s Report insert at the center of this issue of Universitas.
2 U N I V E R S I T A S w w w. s l u . e d u s p r i n g ’ 1 2 U N I V E R S I T A S 3
In January, Saint Louis University announced that it will move its School
of Law into a donated building located in downtown St. Louis.
With the law school’s more than 1,100 students, faculty and staff, the
move will make SLU the largest educational institution located in down-town.
It also represents another major economic investment in the City of
St. Louis by Saint Louis University.
“Nearly half of the practicing attorneys in St. Louis are alumni of our
School of Law,” said University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J. “This
historic move will strengthen our ability to educate the next generation of
legal leaders in St. Louis and beyond.”
The building, located at 100 N. Tucker Blvd., was donated by St. Louis
businessman Joe H. Scott Sr., founder and owner of Scott Properties,
which owns and manages more than 2 million square feet of office, medical,
retail and warehouse space in the St. Louis region.
In recognition of the Scotts’ gift to the University, SLU will name the
building the Joe and Loretta Scott Law Center.
The building is located next door to the
Civil Courts and within walking distance of
the Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse and
many of the region’s most prestigious law firms.
“I am extremely excited that our new home will be in the heart of where
law is practiced in our great city,” said Annette E. Clark, dean of the
School of Law. “This move will strengthen our ties with St. Louis’ legal
community and will offer our students new opportunities to enhance their
educational experience.”
The 11-story, 260,000-square-foot building features a main lobby,
ground-floor auditorium, a secured, enclosed, three-story parking garage
and seven large, occupiable floors.
The University has engaged the design services of the Lawrence Group
Architects and construction services of Clayco Inc. for the project. Reno-vations
are scheduled to be completed during the summer of 2013.
The model of off-campus law schools is found at many of the nation’s
finest universities, including Boston College, Fordham University, George-town
University, Loyola Marymount University and Loyola University
Chicago.
School of Law headed downtown
photo by kevin lowder
News Briefs
Dr. William S. Sly, professor of biochemistry
and molecular biology, received the Associa-tion
of American Medical Colleges’ 2011 Award
for Distinguished Research in the Biomedical
Sciences, which recognizes outstanding clini-cal
or laboratory research by a medical school
faculty member related to health and disease.
Dr. Ruben Rosario Rodriguez, associate
professor of theological studies, received a
2011 Alpha Sigma Nu Book Award for his book
Racism and God-Talk: A Latino/a Perspective.
This year’s competition attracted 98 entries
from 20 Jesuit colleges and universities.
Dr. Betsy Tuttle-Newhall, professor of
surgery and division chief of abdominal
transplant surgery at the School of Medicine,
is the president of the Association of Women
Surgeons. With more than 1,700 members, the
association is one of the largest organizations
committed to supporting the professional and
personal needs of female surgeons.
Dr. James M. DuBois, director of the Bander
Center for Medical Business Ethics, is co-editor
of a new medical journal titled Narrative
Inquiry in Bioethics. The first of its kind, the
journal explores issues in bioethics through
personal stories or narratives, case studies
and qualitative research studies.
Dr. Angelyn Dries, professor emerita in the
department of theological studies, received
the 2012 Distinguished Teaching Award from
the American Catholic Historical Association in
January. The award is presented each year to a
professor who has shown a high commitment
to teaching and promotes Catholic studies.
Seeing STARS
SLU has earned a bronze rating
from the national Association
for the Advancement of Sustain-ability
in Higher Education for its
efforts to foster a green campus. This
marks SLU’s first year of membership
in AASHE. The rating is from the organi-zation’s
Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and
Rating System program, which helps schools gauge
their progress toward sustainability in education
and research; operations; and planning, administra-tion
and engagement. STARS gave SLU high marks
for its sustainability policies in human resources,
diversity and affordability, dining services, water
management, public engagement and innovation.
To learn more about SLU’s sustainability efforts,
see the story on page 8.
ambulatory Care Center planned
for SLU’s physician Practice
Saint Louis University is moving forward with plans to construct a new
state-of-the-art facility for SLUCare, the University’s physician practice, in
Midtown St. Louis.
SLU’s new outpatient Ambulatory Care Center will be located on the site of
the former Pevely Dairy industrial complex at Grand Boulevard and Chouteau
Avenue, across the street from the University’s Doisy Research Center. SLU pur-chased
the site last year.
The modern facility will provide a wide variety of medical services and outpa-tient
procedures to hundreds of thousands of patients — both adults and children
— each year. Once completed, it will be one of only two high-level, cutting-edge
medical centers in the city of St. Louis.
“This important project will strengthen our ability to deliver top-notch health
care in the heart of the city, including to those in need,” said University President
Lawrence Biondi, S.J.
The estimated cost of the project is 80 million. After some demolition
work on the site is completed, the University expects to begin construction of the
new facility this fall, with an anticipated opening date in late fall 2013.
Kimmey hon ored with
endowed chair
SLU’s first endowed chair in the School of Public
Health has been named after Dr. James R. Kim-mey,
the past president and chief executive officer at
Missouri Foundation for Health and a former dean and
vice president at SLU. A gift to SLU from MFH helped
establish the James R. Kimmey Endowed Chair in Public Health.
Kimmey, who spent 14 years at SLU, was the founding dean of SLU’s School
of Public Health and served as the University’s executive vice president and vice
president for health sciences. He left SLU in 2001 to lead the newly formed MFH,
becoming its first president and chief executive officer. The surprise announce-ment
about the endowed chair was made on Nov. 17, as business associates, friends
and family gathered to honor Kimmey and celebrate his retirement from MFH.
Kimmey joins Ron Levy, former director of Missouri’s Department of Social
Services and a past president of SSM St. Louis, as an executive-in-residence in the
School of Public Health.
Immigrant and Refugee conferenc e
to be held on campus in May
On May 21 and 22, Saint Louis University will host “Immigrants
and Refugees: Social, Political, Legal, and Ethical Problems and
Solutions,” a conference that will explore solutions to questions regarding
human rights, immigration and peaceful coexistence.
Among the keynote speakers will be The Patriarch of Antioch, the leader of
the Maronite Catholic Church, His Beatitude Bechara Peter Rai, a proponent of
peace in the Middle East. He will address the question of refugees in the context
of Lebanon and will discuss the need for an inter-religious dialogue to spread the
spirit of freedom, democracy and human rights in the region.
Other topics will include: the experience of immigrants from Asia and Latin
America; reasons for undocumented immigration; practical problems immigrants
face, such as health care and education; and the ethical questions regarding the
treatment of refugees and immigrants.
For more information, visit immigration.slu.edu or call 314-977-3277.
photo by steve dolan
{ on campus }
BY THE NUMBERS:
with SLU’s Presidential Scholars
4 U N I V E R S I T A S w w w. s l u . e d u s p r i n g ’ 1 2 U N I V E R S I T A S 5
LOVE FOR HOTEL IGNACIO: About.com has named Hotel Ignacio one
of the best new hotels for romance in their online honeymoon planning guide.
Hotel Ignacio was listed as a “smart and modern” choice for Midwestern
couples looking for a “hotel that attracts the coolest people between two
coasts.” The guide also highlighted the hotel’s proximity to the University and
the Grand Center arts district; its luxury amenities, such as Tempur-Pedic
beds, flat-screen TVs and Avaya media hubs; and its restaurant, Café Pintxos.
Photo by steve dolan Photo by steve dolan
HOUSE OF HEALTH: Casa de Salud, a SLU-sponsored clinic near the
Medical Center that provides low-cost, episodic care for patients with little or
no health insurance, has added 4,000 square feet, including five new exam
rooms, three mental health counseling rooms and a multipurpose room for
community events. During 2011, Casa welcomed approximately 2,000 patients,
a 43 percent increase over 2010. Casa had 3,618 patient visits last year.
Madrid Campus celebrates
Operación Inglés anniversary
Saint Louis University-Madrid is celebrating the 10th anniversary of
Operación Inglés, a three-week summer language camp for young people
ages 12 to 17. From July 1-20, 20 non-Spaniards who want to learn Spanish will
spend the summer with 100 local youths who want to learn English. Oper-ación
Inglés offers language classes, as well as daily sports activities, a variety of
workshops, weekends canoeing or playing paintball, and other typical camp
activities. It’s held at the boarding school setting of Colegio San José in Vil-lafranca
de los Barros in the province of Badajoz.
The regular price is approximately 10. The front of each card features an image of a window, and the back
contains information about the life of the Jesuit saint depicted on the window.
The inside of each card is blank. For more information or to order, call Mary
Beth Erickson at 314-977-7304 or email [email protected].
SLU tweets
Did you know that Saint Louis
University is on Twitter?
Follow @SLU_Official for the latest University
headlines, breaking news and links to other University
Twitter accounts. Keep up with campus conversations by
searching for #SLU.
Photo by ángEl garcía lopez
1,045 Students who
applied for
the full-tuition
scholarship
465 Students who
came to campus
in February to
interview for the
scholarship
30 Scholarships
awarded
4,926
miles traveled
by a Presidential
Scholar
candidate
from Hawaii to
interview for the
award
t h e A R T S a t S L U
Relay recog n ition
SLU’s Relay For Life received the “Thanks A
Million” Award from the American Cancer
Society. This award, given for the first time this year,
honors Relay For Life events in the High Plains
Division that have raised 1.25 million. The funds go to the
American Cancer Society of Eastern Missouri.
The University’s 2011 event was recognized as the
third largest collegiate relay in the nation per capita
by the American Cancer Society. The event, which
was held in April, had more than 1,800 participants
and raised 2,500 or more. We also will
offer recent alumni — those who have com-pleted
their undergraduate studies within the
last decade — an introductory membership with
a gift of $1,000 or more. Contributions made by
our annual leadership donors can be directed to
any school or program within the University.
How will the President’s Circle affect the
DuBourg Society?
The DuBourg Society will remain a cumula-tive
giving recognition society. It will honor the
University’s past and present major contributors
by publicly acknowledging their lifelong commit-ment
of generosity to SLU. The tradition of the
Order of the Crown also will continue. DuBourg
Society members will continue to receive
crowns and medallions in recognition of reach-ing
significant lifetime giving milestones.
The recognition of our annual leadership donors
will take place solely within the President’s
Circle.
What is the difference between lifetime and
annual giving?
These are the two fundamental terms for all
giving programs.
Annual giving refers to those individuals who
support Saint Louis University on a yearly basis.
It is the primary way for alumni, parents and
friends to help sustain SLU, and one of the most
important areas in any organization’s fundrais-ing
efforts.
Lifetime giving — also referred to as cumulative
giving — is the total gifts an individual makes to
SLU throughout his or her life. It includes annual,
major, capital and planned gifts, as well as gifts
in kind.
How did the President’s Circle come about?
The concept behind the President’s Circle is
something that we’ve been working on for more
than a year. It was developed as a response
of two significant giving trends that we knew
had to be reversed. These trends showed
a decrease in the number of annual leader-ship
gifts being made to the University, and a
consistent lack of young alumni involvement in
the DuBourg Society. To ensure SLU has the re-sources
to continue providing the highest quality
Catholic, Jesuit education to its students, it was
clear that steps had to be taken to reinvigorate
Saint Louis University’s upper-level annual giv-ing
program. It seemed only appropriate to call
this group the President’s Circle because of the
leadership its members’ support provides.
How did the University go about
developing the President’s
Circle?
We began the process by
asking ourselves, “How can
Saint Louis University better
recognize our alumni, parents
and friends for supporting the
University on a yearly basis?”
We looked for our answer by
researching fellow Jesuit institu-tions
and local non-profit organiza-tions,
and by going straight to the
people this affects — our donors.
Beginning last summer, we held focus groups
with our young alumni,
Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University
No full textFall 2009 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis UniversityFALL 2 0 0 9
Inside:
SLU Students
for Life
Page 8
Men’s soccer’s 50th
Page 12
Gutenberg
leaf donation
Page 16
Madrid memories
Page 28
2 U N I V E R S I T A S w w w. s l u . e d u
Life lessons | 8
SLU’s Students for Life group
is recognized nationally for
its efforts close to home.
— by Nick Sargent
goal keepers | 12
The Billiken men’s soccer team
celebrates 50 years and 10
national championships.
— by Christopher Boyce
a noble fragment | 16
The gift of a rare Gutenberg Bible leaf
enhances SLU’s special collections.
— by Marie Dilg
world class | 18
Meet six students who came
to Saint Louis University
from around the world.
— by Allison Babka
2 | On Campus
2009 Homecoming • Record
enrollment • Billiken stuffed
toy available • H1N1 research
• Education and Public
Service dean named
5 | Billiken News
Basketball schedules • SLU
to host NCAA Tournament
6 | Advancement News
Meet 38 benefactors who recently
had SLU buildings, centers and
rooms named in their honor.
23 | class notes
Catch up with classmates •
Legacies: Freshmen and their
SLU families • Memorias
Bonitas: Alumni share their
Madrid Campus memories
29 | In Memoriam
Remember those members
of the SLU community
who recently died.
30 | alumni events
Find SLU alumni activities
wherever you live.
32 | Perspective
A member of the class of 1959
reflects on his 50-year reunion.
33 | the last word
Letters to the editor
features depa r tment s
{ contents }
Volume 3 6, Issue 1
Edi tor
Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92)
Contributors
Allison Babka
Christopher Boyce
Marie Dilg (Grad SW ’94)
Nick Sargent
“On Campus” news storie s
University Communications
Medical Center Communications
Billiken Media Relations
Cov er Photo
Jay Fram
De sign
Art Direction: Matt Krob
Universitas is published by Saint Louis University.
Opinions expressed in Universitas are those of the
individual authors and not necessarily those of the
University administration. Unsolicited manuscripts and
photographs are welcome but will be returned only if
accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Letters to the editor must be signed, and letters not
intended for publication should indicate that fact. The
editor reserves the right to edit all items. Address all
mail to Universitas, DuBourg Hall 39, One Grand Blvd.,
St. Louis, Mo. 63103. We accept e-mail at utas@
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Address fax submissions to Editor, Universitas.
Postmaster: Send address changes to
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World Wide Web address:
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Universitas is printed by Universal Printing Co.
Worldwide circulation: 111,390
© 2009, Saint Louis University
All rights reserved.
F A L L 2 0 0 4 W I N T E R 2 0 0 5
In October, I had the pleasure of celebrat-ing
my 22nd Homecoming weekend here
at Saint Louis University. Even with a few
rain clouds this year, I always enjoy catching up
with alumni — from those who are returning
just months after graduation to our Golden Bil-likens,
who celebrate their 50-year class reunion.
Each Homecoming it never ceases to amaze
our alumni how much SLU and our neighbor-hood
have changed since their days as students.
I know that while many of you live hundreds
of miles away from your alma mater, you take
great pride in the revitalization happening here
in Midtown St. Louis.
If you have not been back to Midtown during
the past 20, 10 — even the past few years — a
lot has changed. And it’s not just your fellow
SLU alumni who have noticed.
Earlier this year, Saint Louis University was
recognized by the Coalition of Urban and Met-ropolitan
Universities as one of the “Saviors of
Our Cities” in the organization’s survey of Best
College and University Civic
Partnerships.
I am proud that for nearly
two centuries, we have not
only built character by educat-ing
students in the Jesuit tradi-tion,
but we also have built St.
Louis through our efforts to
reshape our campus and the
areas that surround us.
Truly, our engagement in
Midtown allows SLU to live
out a Jesuit ideal we hold
so dear: being women and
men for others. Our ongoing
investments in the commu-nity
— including our two
most ambitious building
projects: Chaifetz Arena and
the Edward A. Doisy Re-search
Center — have served as catalysts to new
developments and new jobs. I am quite proud
of the significant role Saint Louis University has
played in the progress of our region, especially
in Midtown St. Louis.
Since opening our on-campus Chaifetz Arena
on April 10, 2008, development has boomed in
the area surrounding campus. In the area east
of Chaifetz Arena, developers have revived long
vacant and run-down buildings into a thriving
mixed-used business district. We’ve welcomed
four new restaurants and a number of other new
businesses in this area that has become known
as Midtown Alley.
Buildings that surround the campus such as the
Moolah Temple and the historic Coronado Hotel
have been transformed from empty, decrepit spac-es
into modern urban palaces. At the Moolah you
will find many of our students watching a movie
on its big screen or bowling a few games down-stairs.
Once the premier hotel in St. Louis, the
Coronado is now home to some great restaurants,
offers apartments to many of our undergraduate
and graduate students and hosts many of the city’s
elite events in its regally restored ballroom.
Growth has so transformed SLU’s neighbor-hood
that a local publication selected Midtown
as the best neighborhood for restaurants this
year, a lofty honor in a city with such a rich
culinary culture.
It is because of your continued interest in
SLU that we can continue to have a positive im-pact
on our community. Your support not only
moves us one step closer to Saint Louis Uni-versity
becoming the finest Catholic university
in the nation, it moves us closer to restoring St.
Louis as one of the country’s finest communities.
Whether during Homecoming 2010 or some-time
earlier, I hope you will visit your old SLU
and Midtown haunts and see how your campus
neighborhood has changed.
Lawrence Biondi, S.J.
President
{ president’s message }
8
12
16
18
Photo by Kevin Lowder
Missing this issue’s “By the Numbers?” See page 13.
2 U N I V E R S I T A S w w w. s l u . e d u f a l l ’ 0 9 U N I V E R S I T A S 3
News Briefs
Representing more than three dozen specialties, 148
SLUCare doctors were selected for St. Louis Maga-zine’s
2009 “Best Doctors” list. The list is based on the
annual “Best Doctors in America” database, which
considers more than one million peer evaluations to
create a directory of approximately 30,000 doctors.
SLU once again has earned national recognition in the
Chronicle of Higher Education’s second annual “Great
Colleges to Work For” survey. SLU was honored
in six categories among institutions with more than
10,000 students, up from four categories last year.
The 1818 Advanced College Credit Program marked
50 years with a celebration in October. The program
provides qualified high school juniors and seniors
in partner schools the opportunity to begin college
course work. In addition to receiving credit toward high
school graduation, students may opt to dual enroll in
courses approved for college credit through SLU.
Dr. Bryan Clair, associate professor in the depart-ment
of mathematics and computer science, is
Saint Louis University’s recipient of the 2009 Em-erson
Excellence in Teaching Award. His research
areas include topology and graph theory, and he
has been on the SLU faculty since 2000.
Two members of the Saint Louis University family
received Lifetime Achievement awards from the St.
Louis Business Journal at its Health Care Heroes
recognition ceremony Oct. 1: Dr. Robert Belshe,
director of the Center for Vaccine Development and
the Dianna and J. Joseph Adorjan Endowed Chair
of Infectious Diseases; and Dr. Anthony Rejent,
clinical professor of pediatrics.
Pius XII Memorial Library is extending its hours.
Through Dec. 15, the library will be open 24 hours
a day, five days a week. “Students have been
requesting 24-hour access to Pius Library for many
years,” said Dr. Gail Staines, assistant provost for
University libraries.
{ on campus }
Photo by Steve Dolan
Homecoming 2009:
Don’t rain on SLU’s parade
A rainbow cast across the early evening sky was a sure sign that Saint Louis
University’s Homecoming and Family Weekend was a major success despite
a few showers.
More than 3,400 alumni, parents and family members attended more than
40 events Sept. 25-27. Attendees didn't let intermittent rain on Saturday de-ter
them from enjoying campus tram tours, an ice cream social, a barbecue
and more.
“Even though the weather wasn’t picture perfect Saturday, our alumni had
a great time coming back to campus this year,” said Meg (Burnes) Connolly
(A&S ’90, Grad ’92), associate vice president for alumni relations.
Among the highlights of the weekend were the annual golf cart parade with
students, staff and administrators decorating their carts in a 1950s theme, as
well as a fireworks extravaganza during the halftime of SLU’s soccer match
against Tulsa.
Each year, there are special events for those alumni marking their 50-year
reunion. More than 260 of these Golden Billikens attended a Sunday brunch
— making it one of the most successful in history.
SLU boasts record
enrollment
For the first time in its history, Saint
Louis University is enrolling more
than 13,000 students — 13,313, to be
exact. This record-breaking number is
bolstered by a freshman class of 1,597
students, which is the second largest in
SLU history.
The freshmen also are among SLU’s
brightest ever. The mean grade point
average of the class is 3.71, and the average
ACT score is 27. The class also includes
242 honors students, another Saint Louis
University record.
SLU’s first-year students are geographi-cally
diverse, too. In all, 65 percent come
from outside the St. Louis area, and U.S.
students represent 39 states, from New
York to Hawaii. The class also includes
nearly 200 new international freshmen
from outside of the United States, repre-senting
13 countries.
Take the
Billiken
homeS
aint Louis
University’s
unique mascot
is now a
unique
stuffed toy.
Working
with Build-
A-Bear Workshop,
SLU now has a
taller, softer and
more realistic
looking stuffed
Billiken that is getting rave reviews.
Designed by St. Louis-based Build-
A-Bear, the plush Billiken arrived on
campus in early fall and is available at
the Barnes and Noble Bookstore and at
Chaifetz Arena. You also can purchase
a Billiken and other SLU merchandise
online at slu.bncollege.com.
U.S. News ranks SLU
among finest Jesuit
universities
Saint Louis University is one of the
nation’s finest Jesuit universities,
according to the 2010 edition of U.S.
News & World Report’s “America’s
Best Colleges” edition. In the listings,
SLU ranked 88th among the more
than 260 national universities in the
country — a list topped by Harvard,
Princeton and Yale. The ranking
placed SLU among the top five U.S.
Jesuit universities for the seventh
consecutive year.
Individual undergraduate programs
also were highlighted in this year’s
U.S. News rankings. The University’s
undergraduate engineering programs
were ranked No. 38 in the country.
And SLU's undergraduate busi-ness
programs ranked No. 101. The
business school’s entrepreneurship
program earned the No. 16 spot.
Dean named for College of Education
and Public Service
This summer Dr. John Watzke was appointed dean of the College
of Education and Public Service. He joined the Saint Louis Uni-versity
faculty in 2007 as chairman of the department of educational
studies. He had served as interim dean of the college since August
2008.
Watzke said one of his first goals as dean is to call upon the vast
network of professionals who are graduates of the college’s programs.
“My vision is to bring together a professional network, with our fac-ulty
and our students, to more fully impact our city and our state,” Watzke said.
Before arriving at SLU, Watzke held positions as administrator, faculty and
fellow in the Institute for Educational Initiatives at the University of Notre Dame.
Celebrating the Spirit:
Archbishop Robert Carl-son,
newly installed lead-er
of the St. Louis Archdi-ocese,
presided over the
Mass of the Holy Spirit
Aug. 27 at Saint Louis
University. The annual
event at the beginning of
the school year drew an
estimated 1,100 student,
faculty and staff worship-ers
to St. Francis Xavier
College Church.
New endowed
professorship named
for CADE professor
Dr. Eustáquio Araújo, professor of ortho-dontics
at Saint Louis University, was
invested as the inaugural holder of the Pete
Sotiropoulos Endowed Professor of Ortho-dontics
on Sept. 24. The endowed profes-sorship,
which is the first for the orthodontic
program, is named for Dr. Pete Sotiropoulos (Dent ’48, Grad ’50),
the first graduate of the master’s program and a longtime professor
and administrator at SLU's Center for Advanced Dental Education.
“The history of the Saint Louis University orthodontic program
has a lot to do with Dr. Pete — he is one of the icons of this place,”
said Araújo, who also directs the orthodontic clinic at CADE. “To
carry his name with me is a major responsibility and honor.”
College Church marks 125 years
St. Francis Xavier College Church has kicked off its 125th an-niversary
of serving St. Louis in its pres-ent
location with a yearlong series of events.
The celebration will include a speaker series,
concerts, liturgies, an exhibition of College
Church historic artifacts at the Saint Louis Uni-versity
Museum of Art and other activities.
In addition, several commemorative items have
been produced to celebrate the anniversary. A
Christmas ornament (pictured right,
actual size), Christmas cards, mugs,
shirts and other mementos mark-ing
the celebration will be available
at the church, the SLU bookstore
and elsewhere. For more informa-tion,
visit collegechurch.slu.edu.
Araújo
Photo by Kevin Lowder
4 U N I V E R S I T A S w w w. s l u . e d u f a l l ’ 0 9 U N I V E R S I T A S 5
{ billiken news }
oct 30 / 09 vs. arkansas-fort smith (E xh) Chaifetz Arena 8 P.M.
Nov 07 / 09 vs. St. Ambrose (E xh) Chaifetz Arena 2 P.M.
Nov 14 / 09 vs. Southeast Missouri State Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
Nov 18 / 09 vs. Nebraska Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
Chicago Invitational Challenge
Nov 22 / 09 vs. Kennesaw State Chaifetz Arena 1 P.M.
Nov 24 / 09 vs. Mississippi Valley State Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
Nov 27 / 09 vs. Iowa State Chicago (UIC Pavilion) 5 P.M.
Nov 28 / 09 vs. Northwestern / Notre Dame Chicago (UIC Pavilion) 4:30 / 7 P.M.
dec 02 / 09 at Georgia Athens, Ga. 6 P.M.
dec 05 / 09 vs. Southern Illinois Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
dec 12 / 09 vs. Rockhurst Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
dec 16 / 09 vs. Belmont Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
dec 19 / 09 vs. Missouri State Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
dec 22 / 09 vs. UMKC Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
dec 29 / 09 vs. Eastern Illinois Chaifetz Arena 8 P.M.
jan 02 / 10 at Bowling Green Bowling Green, Ohio 7 P.M.
jan 09 / 10 vs. Richmond Chaifetz Arena 4 P.M.
jan 13 / 10 at Duquesne Pittsburgh 6 P.M.
jan 17 / 10 at Charlotte Charlotte, N.C. 3 P.M.
jan 20 / 10 vs. Fordham Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
jan 27 / 10 at George Washington Washington, D.C. 6 P.M.
jan 30 / 10 at Richmond Richmond, Va. 1 P.M.
feb 03 / 10 vs. St. Bonaventure Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
feb 06 / 10 at La Salle Philadelphia 3 P.M.
feb 09 / 10 at Saint Joseph’s Philadelphia 6 P.M.
feb 13 / 10 vs. Dayton Chaifetz Arena 3 P.M.
feb 17 / 10 vs. Rhode Island Chaifetz Arena 8 P.M.
feb 21 / 10 at Massachusetts Amherst, Mass. 3 P.M.
feb 24 / 10 vs. Xavier Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
feb 27 / 10 vs. Duquesne Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
mar 03 / 10 vs. Temple Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
mar 06 / 10 at Dayton Dayton, Ohio 6 P.M.
mar 09 - 14 atlantic 10 tournament Atlantic City, N.J. tba
Nov 05 / 09 vs. Southwest Baptist (E xh) Chaifetz Arena 6 P.M.
Nov 13 / 09 vs. Southern Illinois Chaifetz Arena 8 P.M.
Nov 18 / 09 at Missouri State Springfield, Mo. 7:05 P.M.
Nov 21 / 09 vs. Butler Chaifetz Arena 2 P.M.
Courtyard by Marriott LA Westside Thanksgiving Classic
Nov 27 / 09 at Loyola Marymount Los Angeles 3 P.M.
Nov 28 / 09 vs. Montana / South Florida Los Angeles TBA
Nov 30 / 09 vs. Arkansas State Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
dec 04 / 09 at Creighton Omaha, Neb. 7:05 P.M.
dec 06 / 09 at Evansville Evansville, Ind. 4 P.M.
dec 13 / 09 vs. Indiana Chaifetz Arena 2 P.M.
dec 17 / 09 at Oakland Rochester, Mich. 5:30 P.M.
dec 19 / 09 at Western Michigan Kalamazoo, Mich. 1 P.M.
dec 23 / 09 vs. Tennessee Tech Chaifetz Arena 2 P.M.
dec 29 / 09 vs. Bradley Chaifetz Arena 5:30 P.M.
jan 02 / 10 at Memphis Memphis, Tenn. noon
jan 06 / 10 vs. SIU Edwardsville Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
jan 09 / 10 at St. Bonaventure Olean, N.Y. Noon
jan 13 / 10 vs. Massachusetts Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
jan 15 / 10 vs. Rhode Island Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
jan 20 / 10 at Xavier Cincinnati 6 P.M.
jan 27 / 10 vs. Temple Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
jan 30 / 10 at Charlotte Charlotte, N.C. 6 P.M.
feb 02 / 10 vs. Duquesne Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
feb 07 / 10 at Dayton Dayton, Ohio 1 P.M.
feb 10 / 10 vs. La Salle Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
feb 13 / 10 at Saint Joseph’s Philadelphia 1 P.M.
feb 16 / 10 at Fordham Bronx, N.Y. 6 P.M.
feb 18 / 10 vs. Charlotte Chaifetz Arena 7 P.M.
feb 23 / 10 at George Washington Washington, D.C. 6 P.M.
feb 28 / 10 vs. Richmond Chaifetz Arena Noon
MAR 05-08 ATLANTIC 10 TOURNAMENT Upper Marlboro, Md. TBa
2009-10 BILLIKEN MEN’S BASKETBALL schedule 2009-10 BILLIKEN woMEN’S BASKETBALL schedule
Former Saint Louis University standout guard
Kevin Lisch (Cook ’09) has signed a profes-sional
contract with the Perth Wildcats of the
Australian National Basketball League.
This spring SLU head swimming and diving
coach Jim Halliburton became the seventh
male swimmer inducted into the Ozark Swim-ming
Hall of Fame and also was selected to
the Missouri Athletic Club Hall of Fame for his
coaching achievements. This summer at the St.
Louis Senior Olympics, Halliburton turned in 11
record-breaking performances, each of which
earned him a gold medal in the men’s 50-54
age group.
This summer, Tim Kelly was added to the men’s
soccer coaching staff as a full-time goalkeeper
coach, while former Billiken Brian Grazier (Cook
’08) was brought in to serve as the program’s
graduate student manager. Grazier played for
the soccer Billikens from 2003 to 2007. Fol-lowing
his graduation, he played professionally
for one season with the Colorado Rapids of
Major League Soccer. He is pursuing a master’s
degree in higher education at the University. In
addition, Dave Beck was promoted to the lead
assistant coaching slot.
Former SLU soccer All-Ameri-can
Brad Davis (2000-01) played
every minute and scored the only
goal for the Major League Soc-cer
All-Stars in the MLS All-Star
Game against Everton FC of the
English Premier League July 29 in
Sandy, Utah. Davis is a midfielder
with the Houston Dynamo.
Saint Louis University cross country/track and
field has three new coaches. Ryan Bak was
added as a women’s distance coach, while Jes-sica
Scott joined the staff as a middle-distance
coach. Valorie Thorson coaches the Billikens’
sprinters.
The SLU men’s and women’s track and field
teams earned spots on the U.S. Track and Field
and Cross Country Coaches Association 2009
Division I All-Academic Track and Field Team
lists. The Billiken men’s squad posted a cumula-tive
GPA of 3.211, ranking 12th in the country
and leading all Atlantic 10 Conference schools.
The women’s team ranked 35th in the nation
with a 3.332 cumulative GPA.
SLU to host 2012 NCAA
Tournament Regional
The NCAA has named Saint Louis
University as the host institution and
the Edward Jones Dome as the site for a
2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tourna-ment
Regional. The three games will be
played at the Edward Jones Dome March
23 and 25, 2012. It will be the 15th time
that St. Louis has held either a men’s or
women’s NCAA basketball tournament,
including five Final Fours.
“Saint Louis University recognizes the
strong tradition of successful events hosted
locally by the Missouri Valley Conference,
the St. Louis Sports Commission and the
St. Louis Convention and Visitors Com-mission,
and SLU is pleased to lead this
bid to showcase the city of St. Louis as one
of the top sports cities in America,” SLU
director of athletics Chris May said.
SLU and the MVC have agreed to
alternate as the hosts for NCAA tourna-ments
held in St. Louis. In this bid cycle,
the University will serve as the host.
billiken beat
Brad Davis
Saint Louis University Billiken basketball is kicking off its
second season in Chaifetz Arena. Tickets for both men’s
and women’s games are available by visiting
www.slubillikens.com or by calling (314) 977-4SLU.
Photos by
Jed Jacobsohn /
Getty Images
On Oct. 6, as the first doses of H1N1
vaccine were being delivered, U.S.
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Rep. William
Lacy Clay Jr. visited Saint Louis University
to share important information about the
new H1N1 flu vaccine and how to best
prevent the spread of this disease.
SLU’s Center for Vaccine Development
is one of only eight centers funded by the
National Institutes of Health to conduct
vaccine research and is leading some pivotal
H1N1 vaccine clinical studies. SLU is study-ing
the H1N1 influenza vaccine in adults,
children and pregnant women.
“The work that has gone on here and at
other vaccine centers across the country will
prevent illness and save lives in the months
ahead,” said University President Lawrence
Biondi, S.J. “We are very proud to have been
part of this critically important research.”
Sebelius praised SLU for its leadership
role in testing the 2009 H1N1 influenza vac-cine
and protecting public health.
“Without jeopardizing any safety steps,
this vaccine is coming to market f
Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University
No full textSpring 2014 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University. This is a special issue on the announcement of Dr. Fred P. Pestello as SLU's first permanent lay president.spr ing 2 014
providing care where
it’s needed most
Page 8
Exploring the
Exorcism legend
Page 12
Challenging students
to think outside the box
Page 16
Page 2
As many of you may already know, Dr.
Fred Pestello will be the 33rd pres-ident
of Saint Louis University. He
will take office on July 1.
On March 20, the board of trustees voted
to appoint Dr. Pestello after a nationwide
search that began last fall. He was the unan-imous
first choice of the presidential search
committee.
Dr. Pestello has spent his entire 30-year
career in Catholic higher education. He is
the president of fellow Jesuit institution Le
Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y., and has
been in that position since 2008. Prior to his
appointment at Le Moyne, Dr. Pestello was
provost and senior vice president for edu-cational
affairs at the University of Dayton,
where he spent 24 years. (You can read more
about his career on page 2 of this issue.)
Dr. Pestello’s Jesuit roots extend to his
undergraduate education at John Carroll
University, which he calls a “transformative
experience” that laid the foundation for his
future. I am very pleased that our next pres-ident
fully understands and embraces SLU’s
Jesuit mission.
Dr. Pestello’s tenure as president of Le
Moyne has been highlighted by strong lead-ership
and a commitment to collaboration,
inclusiveness, diversity, transparency and
shared governance. He led a successful and
highly collaborative strategic visioning and
planning process that included more than 100
members of the Le Moyne community.
With his appointment, Dr. Pestello will
become the first permanent lay president of
Saint Louis University. I know he is humbled
and honored to follow in the footsteps of all
the Jesuit presidents who led the University to
the prominence it enjoys today.
He is committed to carrying on and
strengthening the Jesuit mission of SLU. In
fact, this is not Dr. Pestello’s first “first.” He
also was the first lay president at Le Moyne.
We welcome the Pestello family into
our SLU family, which includes more than
115,000 alumni around the world.
I want to thank Interim President Bill
Kauffman for his leadership and tireless
efforts to keep the University moving for-ward
since his appointment in September.
When he took the interim position, Bill made
it clear that his overarching goal was to put
SLU in the best possible position for the next
president. He has achieved that goal in every
way, and his passion for our University is evi-dent
in everything he has done. Bill already
is working to make the transition seamless. I
know that all of you join me in thanking Bill
for giving so much of himself to Saint Louis
University.
I also want to take this opportunity to
thank the members of the presidential search
committee for their dedication and outstand-ing
work during the past six months. I would
like to give special thanks to search commit-tee
chair and trustee Jim Smith.
As I said when we began the search pro-cess,
the hiring of a new president is the
most important thing the board of trustees
will ever do. With the election of Dr. Fred
Pestello as SLU’s 33rd president, the board
has succeeded by choosing a proven leader
who is committed to Jesuit education, aca-demic
excellence and collaboration at all lev-els.
Throughout his career, Dr. Pestello has
demonstrated success and growth, which I am
confident he will continue at SLU.
As we begin a new chapter in SLU’s remark-able
history — now almost 200 years — I am
confident we have chosen the best person to
lead the University to even greater heights in
the years ahead.
J. Joe Adorjan (Cook ’63, Grad Cook ’67)
Chairman, SLU Board of Trustees
Volume 40, Issue 2
Editor
Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92)
contributors
Clayton Berry
Marie Dilg (Grad SW ’94)
Amy Garland (A&S ’97)
Colleen Hamilton
Danielle Lacey
Katie O’Connor (A&S ’97)
On Campus news stories
University Communications
Medical Center Communications
Billiken Media Relations
ON THE Cover
Lipic Clock Tower Plaza
Photo by Michelle Peltier
Design
Art Direction: Matt Krob
Universitas is published by Saint Louis University.
Opinions expressed in Universitas are those of the
individual authors and not necessarily those of the
University administration. Unsolicited manuscripts
and photographs are welcome but will be returned
only if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed
envelope. Letters to the editor must be signed,
and letters not intended for publication should
indicate that fact. The editor reserves the right
to edit all items. Address all mail to Universitas,
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F A L L 2 0 0 4 W I N T E R 2 0 0 5 M E S S A G E F R O M T H E
C H A I R M A N O F T H E B O A R D
Photo by Michelle Peltier
Dr. Fred Pestello, president-elect of Saint Louis
University, addresses a crowd of faculty, staff
and students during a welcome reception for
him March 21 in John and Lucy Cook Hall.
Adorjan (left) and Pestello
Photo by steve dolan
C O N T E N T S
f e a t u r e s d e p a r t m e n t s
8 | A New Home for Health
The health clinic run by medical students marks its 20th
anniversary with a new location. — By Marie Dilg
12 | Exorcism Exposé
It’s the University’s most legendary rumor. What really
happened 65 years ago at SLU? — By Amy Garland
16 | Putting the ‘I’ in Team
A weekly campus contest allows students to show their
smarts — and win prizes. — By Danielle Lacey
19 | Honor Roll of Donors
This annual listing of SLU supporters features eight
student profiles. — By Katie O’Connor
2 | On Campus
Introducing SLU’s 33rd
president /// High charity
rating /// Pediatric
neurosurgery chair
named /// New blue
lights /// Summer at SLU
6 | Billiken News
Men’s soccer postseason
update /// Basketball
accolades
7 | Advancement News
The importance of
consecutive-year giving
42 | Class Notes
Catch up with
classmates.
45 | In Memoriam
Remembering those
members of the SLU
community who
recently died
46 | Alumni Events
SLU alumni activities
across the country
48 | Perspective
A sophomore reflects on
her year abroad before
coming to SLU
49 | The Last Word
Letters to the editor
2 | U N I V E R S I T A S | w w w. s l u . e d u s p r i n g ’ 1 4 | U N I V E R S I T A S | 3
On March 21, Dr. Fred P. Pestello was introduced as the
first permanent lay president of Saint Louis University.
The announcement came the day after the University’s board of
trustees elected Pestello during a special meeting.
“I am humbled and honored to follow in the footsteps of the
Jesuit presidents who have come before me, and I am deeply com-mitted
to carrying on the mission they have fostered so well,” said
Pestello, who will be SLU’s 33rd president. “I have been watching
Saint Louis University’s progress for years, and I am thrilled for
this opportunity to lead an institution that I admire and respect
so much.”
Pestello, a Roman Catholic, is currently the president of Le
Moyne College, a comprehensive Jesuit liberal arts institution in
Syracuse, N.Y. At the time of his appointment in 2008, he became
Le Moyne’s first permanent lay president.
Prior to becoming Le Moyne’s president, Pestello spent nearly
25 years as a faculty member and provost at the University of
Dayton, a Catholic, Marianist research institution in Ohio. He
also is a graduate of John Carroll University, a Jesuit institution in
Cleveland.
“Dr. Pestello stood out among an outstanding pool of candi-dates,
and we are very excited for what the future holds for Saint
Louis University under his leadership,” said J. Joe Adorjan, chair-man
of the University’s board of trustees. “Dr. Pestello has spent
his entire career in Catholic
higher education, and he
understands and embraces
SLU’s Jesuit mission.”
Pestello’s first major under-taking
at Le Moyne was a
campus-wide initiative called
“OneLeMoyne.” More than 100
faculty, staff, students, alumni
and other stakeholders partic-ipated
in the collaborative and
inclusive effort, which led to a
new vision statement and stra-tegic
plan for the college.
Under Pestello’s leadership,
Le Moyne has enrolled record
numbers of students, nearly
tripled the size of its endow-ment
and pursued a number of
campus improvement projects.
A capital campaign, which
had started shortly before
his arrival, closed at nearly
twice its original goal. On
the academic side, the college
established a new business
school and revised its core cur-riculum.
Le Moyne’s national
rankings also rose.
At Le Moyne, one of Pestello’s main priorities has been to
expand the work the college does to advance its mission. He meets
regularly with the Jesuit community on campus and has devel-oped
a strong working relationship with Catholic religious leaders
in Syracuse.
“The Jesuits of the Missouri Province are very happy to wel-come
Fred Pestello to Saint Louis University,” said Missouri
Provincial Douglas W. Marcouiller, S.J. “Father Adolfo Nicolas,
the Jesuit superior general, recently urged the presidents and
board chairs of all Jesuit universities to continue to develop spir-itual
leadership. That is precisely what Dr. Pestello has done
during the past six years as president at Le Moyne. He is deeply
committed to SLU’s Catholic and Jesuit mission, and we look
forward to working with him.”
Pestello’s career in higher education began in 1984 at the
University of Dayton — the largest private university in Ohio
— where he served as a professor of sociology, chairman of the
department of sociology, anthropology and social work, and
associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. As a faculty
member, he was thrice elected vice president of Dayton’s academic
senate, the highest position a member of the faculty could hold at
the time.
In 2001, Pestello was appointed Dayton’s provost and senior
vice president for educational affairs. In that role, he was noted
for his emphasis on faculty development and for making aca-demic
excellence the centerpiece of the school’s educational
processes. He also led a collective effort to draft a new vision
statement that spawned a new strategic plan for the institution.
“Dr. Pes tel lo ha s a
proven track record of
success, and his list of
a c c ompl i s hment s i n
higher education is long
and impressive,” Adorjan
said. “He is a collabora-tive
and inclusive leader,
and I am absolutely con-f
ident that he will be a
great president for Saint
Louis University.”
Born and ra i sed in
Cleveland, Pestello has
three degrees in sociology.
He earned his bachelor’s
degree from John Carroll
University in 1974, his
master’s degree from the
University of Akron in
1981, and his doctoral
degree through a joint
program of the University
of Akron and Kent State
University in 1985.
Pes tel lo’s wi fe, Dr.
Frances Pestello, also is a sociologist and scholar. She is a tenured
faculty member in the department of anthropology, criminology
and sociology at Le Moyne College. In 1993, the couple co-au-thored
the award-winning academic text, Sentiments and Acts,
with Irwin Deutscher.
The Pestellos have two adult children: a daughter, Vitina, and a
son, Freddie. A former volunteer with the Sisters of the Humility
of Mary who served migrant farm workers in Immokalee, Fla.,
Vitina recently joined the staff of the Coalition of Immokalee
Workers, a worker-based human rights organization. Freddie is a
May 2013 business/finance graduate of Le Moyne and soon will
begin his career with Fidelity Investments.
“My Jesuit education was a transformative experience for me,
and I credit the success I have achieved in my career to the rig-orous
education and formation I received as an undergraduate
at John Carroll,” Pestello said. “I am looking forward to working
with everyone in the Saint Louis University community to ensure
that SLU will continue to offer students a rigorous, transformative
education based on the Jesuit tradition of forming students to be
men and women for and with others.”
Saint Louis University’s national search for a new president
began last September and was led by a committee whose members
included trustees, a Jesuit, the president of the Faculty Senate and
the president of the Student Government Association, among oth-ers.
Pestello was the search committee’s unanimous first choice.
He officially assumes SLU’s presidency on July 1. Until then,
longtime SLU administrator William R. Kauffman will con-tinue
to serve as interim president, a position he has held since
the retirement of President Emeritus Lawrence Biondi, S.J., in
September 2013. — By Clayton Berry
Look for a Q&A with Dr. Fred Pestello in a future issue
of Universitas. If you have a question for the president-elect,
email it to [email protected]. To learn more
about Pestello, watch videos of his introduction to the
SLU community and see more photos, visit slu.edu/
president-elect.
Dr. Fred P. Pestello
At a Glance
Personal Details
Cleveland native
61 years old
Married to Dr. Frances Pestello
Children: Vitina and Freddie
Education
Ph.D., 1985, University of Akron-
Kent State University, Sociology
M.A., 1981, University of Akron,
Sociology
B.A., 1974, John Carroll University,
Sociology
Professional History
2008-Present: Professor of
Sociology, Le Moyne College
2000-2008: Professor of Sociology,
University of Dayton
1991-2000: Associate Professor of
Sociology, University of Dayton
1985-1991: Assistant Professor of
Sociology, University of Dayton
1984-1985: Instructor, University
of Dayton
Administrative Experience
2008-Present: President,
Le Moyne College
2001-2008: Provost and Senior
Vice President for Educational
Affairs, University of Dayton
January-June 2001: Provost
Designate, University of Dayton
1997-2000: Associate Dean,
College of Arts and Sciences,
University of Dayton
1993-1997: Chair, Department of
Sociology, Anthropology and Social
Work, University of Dayton
o n c a m p u s
Pestello poses for a selfie with with junior physical therapy major Francis McDonald (holding camera) and others
during a welcome reception March 21 in John and Lucy Cook Hall. Inset photo: The selfie featuring (from left) McDonald,
junior Matthew Greg, Pestello, freshman Joel Ocampo, sophomore Raechelle Estrella and junior Raymund Foronda.
Photo by Michelle Peltier
Dr. Fred P. Pestello
Named 33rd President of SLU
The Pestello family: (from left)
Freddie, Frances, Fred and Vitina.
Photo by steve dolan
4 | U N I V E R S I T A S | w w w. s l u . e d u s p r i n g ’ 1 4 | U N I V E R S I T A S | 5
SLUMA exhibition
Tradition
Redefined:
The Larry and Brenda
Thompson Collection
of African American
Art
Through May 18, SLUMA
presents “Tradition
Redefined,” which displays
more than 60 sculptures,
oil paintings, mixed media
pieces and ceramics from
the collection of Larry and
Brenda Thompson (Grad
A&S ’80). The exhibition
was organized by the
David C. Driskell Center for the Study of Visual Arts and
Culture of African-Americans and the African Diaspora
at the University of Maryland, College Park. It features
works by celebrated African-American artists, including
Romare Bearden, Thelma Johnson Streat and Henry
O. Tanner, and contemporary artists Radcliffe Bailey,
Howardena Pindell and William T. Williams.
SLUMA’s hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through
Sunday. For more information, visit sluma.slu.edu.
By The Numbers
At SLU’s Madrid Campus
663 SLU students from the St. Louis
Campus who studied at the
Madrid Campus in 2013-14
40 Other universities sending
U.S. students to the Madrid
Campus this semester
69 Countries represented at
the Madrid Campus
229 Course sections offered in spring
2014 (not including labs, internships
and independent studies)
120 Host families for 245 visiting students
pictured: Madrid students outside Padre Arrupe Hall. Photo by ángel garcía lÓpez
News Briefs
Vice President for Research Dr. Raymond
Tait is serving on the national Interagency
Pain Research Coordinating Committee,
which was created by the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services to
collaborate with the National Institutes of
Health in addressing several issues related
to federal pain research.
Dr. Angela Sharkey (Med ’86), associate
dean for faculty affairs and development at
the School of Medicine, was elected to a
position with the Association of American
Medical Colleges that sets the direction for
the coming year in advancing women in
academic medicine.
Dr. Richard Bucholz, professor and vice
chairman in the department of neurosurgery
and the K. R. Smith Endowed Chair in
Neurosurgery, was named a fellow of the
National Academy of Inventors. He is the
inventor of the StealthStation, a device that
addresses the challenges of intracranial
surgery that has become widely used by
surgeons around the world.
Dr. Rolf Behrents, director of the
orthodontics program, and the Lysle E.
Johnston Jr. Professor of Orthodontics at
the Center for Advanced Dental Education,
will serve as the editor-in-chief of the
American Journal of Orthodontics and
Dentofacial Orthopedics starting June 1.
SLU received the Circle of Excellence
Award for its sustainability commitment as
part of the 2013 St. Louis Green Business
Challenge, which is organized annually by
the St. Louis Regional Chamber to evaluate
companies’ efforts to become more
sustainable.
Dr. Mark Reinking (Grad E&PS ’04),
chairman of the of physical therapy and
athletic training programs and associate
professor of physical therapy, received the
Lifetime Excellence in Education Award
from the American Physical Therapy
Association. He was recognized for his
long-term contributions to the profession.
Two SLU students, Hannah Vestal and
Mariah Bender, received the Benjamin A.
Gilman International Scholarship, sponsored
by the U.S. Department of State, to
participate in a study abroad program during
spring 2014. Both are participating in newly
SLU-approved study abroad programs.
Vestal is in Cape Town, South Africa, and
Bender is in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
MOCRA exhibition
Thresholds:
MOCRA at 20
The second part of MOCRA’s 20th
anniversary exhibit showcases works
from the museum’s last decade. The
35 featured artists hail from around the
world and work with media ranging
from painting, drawing, sculpture
and photography to video and more.
Among the works on display are early
drawings by abstract expressionist
artist Arshile Gorky; photographs by
DoDo Jin Ming, Luis González Palma
and Maria Magdalena Campos-
Pons; pieces by St. Louis-area artists
Michael Byron, Bill Christman, Jeff
Miller and Gary Passanise; and works
by recently featured artists Archie
Granot, Patrick Graham and Jordan
Eagles. The exhibit continues through
May 18.
MOCRA’s hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday through Sunday. For more
information, call 314-977-7170 or visit
mocra.slu.edu.
t h e ART S a t S LU
Radcliffe Bailey, “Untitled,”
1996, 30 x 22.5,” acrylic
on paper and photo. From
the Collection of Larry
and Brenda Thompson.
Photo by Greg R. Staley
Sustainability efforts move
forward at Chaifetz Arena
Saint Louis University has partnered with Global Spectrum and Sodexo to bring new
environmentally friendly efforts to Chaifetz Arena. The initiatives include Big Belly
Solar Compactors at the arena’s entrances to collect and compact discarded materials and
more than 50 new recycling bins at main entrances and throughout the arena. Since the
start of the program in November, more than 7 tons of recyclable materials have been
diverted from waste. SLU’s division of facilities services, in coordination with the Center
for Sustainability, received a $30,000 grant from the St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste
Management District and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to expand the
campus single-stream recycling program to the arena.
o n c a m p u s
BRIGHT LIGHTS , BIG CITY: Students cross
Grand Boulevard near Busch Student Center as new blue lighting illuminates
the street. In the fall, SLU worked with the city to install blue LED lighting
on more than 170 street light poles around campus. Photo by Michelle Peltier
New pediatric
neurosurgery
endowed chair
named
Dr. Samer K. Elbabaa, associate professor
of neurological surgery at the School
of Medicine, has been named the Reinert
Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neurosurgery.
Elbabaa is the director of pediatric neuro-surgery
at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
and an attending neurosurgeon at Saint Louis University
Hospital.
The Reinert Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neurosurgery hon-ors
two brothers who played roles in the development of SSM
Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center and the SLU School
of Medicine. Paul C. Reinert, S.J., was SLU’s president from 1949
to 1974. Under his leadership, SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s
Hospital was established and affiliated with the University’s
medical school. James A. Reinert, S.J., was chaplain at Cardinal
Glennon from 1973 until his death in 1987 and was the hospital’s
first director of pastoral care.
The Reinert Endowed Chair was funded by an anonymous
donor and SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center.
Elbabaa
SL U earns high charity rating
Saint Louis University has been awarded a four-star rating by Charity Navigator, one
of the nation’s top charity evaluators. SLU received the company’s highest-possible
rating — its third in as many years
Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University
No full textFall 2003 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis UniversityT H E M AG A Z I N E O F S A I N T L O U I S U N I V E R S I T Y
F A L L 2 0 0 3
By Lawrence Biondi, S.J.
Saint Louis University President
I’m convinced that it must have been a SLU graduate who coined the phrase, “What a small
world.”
I’m sure you’ve all had a similar experience: you’re sitting in a restaurant, standing in line
to check out at a grocery store or even taking in a ball game, and someone around you says
something like, “Didn’t you go to SLU?”
Whatever the opening line, what almost always ensues is a brief conversation between two
people. They may have never met before, but it’s as if an instant connection has been made.
They begin talking like old friends.
Although I realize that this phenomenon frequently happens between
people who share a common identity, I often come away from such experi-ences
convinced that members of our SLU community transcend the
superficialities of just sharing an alma mater or even a fondness for a particu-lar
sports team.
I truly believe our mission and our Ignatian heritage unites us on a deep-er
level. The recent Homecoming festivities only reinforced my belief. As
all of you know, during Homecoming, we welcome thousands of former
students back to campus, putting them in contact once again with each
other and with our current students, faculty and staff.
There were tours of Grand Center, our own home in Midtown, as well as
the new and improved Busch Student Center. There were parties, outdoor
concerts, Billiken soccer, a parade and fireworks. There were golf outings,
class reunions and tailgates. And serving as an appropriate, intimate ending
to the weekend, there was the Golden Billiken Brunch for members of the
classes up to and including the class of 1953.
Alhtough all of these activities are entertaining and help to demonstrate
our appreciation for members of our SLU family, perhaps the most satisfy-ing
element of Homecoming is found in the personal interaction between
longtime friends. For Homecoming is one of the few times during the year
in which generations of Billikens come back to campus to celebrate and
commemorate their shared identity. Alumni reminisce about old times
while also introducing their former classmates to their personal families. We at SLU show off
our campus and introduce our current family of students, faculty and staff, who share their
own thoughts and feelings about the SLU experience.
Alumni often share their own success stories, but more importantly, their stories about fam-ily,
friends and faith. They tell me how the philosophy, ethics and theological components
they once grumbled about now serve them well in their everyday lives.
Conversely, we let alumni know that SLU remains committed to informing and transform-ing
our current students, who, in turn, will transform society in the spirit of the Gospels. I
give assurances that although the nature of higher education has changed, SLU remains true
to its Jesuit, Catholic heritage — just like it has for generations, all the way back to its found-ing
in 1818.
Yes, we truly see the spirit of Saint Louis University revealed and refreshed during our
Homecoming festivities. It gives me great joy to hear about the ways in which members of
the SLU community continue to make a difference for their families, for their communities,
for their professions, for their world. Though it is only one weekend during the year, there’s
undoubtedly an invisible bridge that links generations of Billiken alumni together. We can be
reassured that SLU continues to succeed in preparing its graduates for a lifetime of service to
humankind.
It’s wonderful to see that SLU is indeed “where the heart is” in so many people’s lives.
UNIVERSITAS
Volume 30, No. 1
Editor
Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92)
Assistant Editor
Chris Waldvogel
Contributors
Clayton Berry
Jeff Fowler
Photo Credits
Steve Dolan, 3, 9, 30
Joe Finlay, 4
Kevin Lowder, 10
Dave Preston, 26
John Quinn, S.J., 20
James Visser, cover, 4, 12-15
Chris Waldvogel, 2, 3, 5
New Line Cinema, 18, 20-22
Design
AKA Design Inc.
Art Direction: Richie Murphy
Design: Stacy Lanier
UNIVERSITAS is published by Saint
Louis University. Opinions expressed
in UNIVERSITAS are those of the indi-vidual
authors and not necessarily
those of the University administra-tion.
Unsolicited manuscripts and
photographs are welcome but will be
returned only if accompanied by a
stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Letters to the editor must be signed,
and letters not intended for publica-tion
should indicate that fact. The
editor reserves the right to edit all
items. Please address all mail to
UNIVERSITAS, DuBourg Hall 39, 221
N. Grand, St. Louis, MO 63103. We
accept e-mail at [email protected] and fax
submissions at (314) 977-2249.
Address fax submissions to Editor,
UNIVERSITAS.
Postmaster: Send address changes to
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World Wide Web address:
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UNIVERSITAS is printed by Universal
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Worldwide circulation: 109,611
© 2003, Saint Louis University.
All rights reserved.
On the Cover: The new Busch
Student Center courtyard. For
more photos of Busch Student
Center, see page 12.
IIN MEMORIIAM AALLUUMMNNII nnootteess
2
24 32
28 30
FALL 2003
6
Home-Court Advantage
Take a peek at the plans for
Saint Louis University’s proposed arena.
10
Remembering Father Ong
A look at the life of one of
SLU’s most noted scholars.
12
Center of Attention
The renovated and expanded
Busch Student Center is drawing raves.
16
Momentum
The Campaign for Saint Louis University
marks its first anniversary.
18
Lore of the Rings
A SLU professor is one of the world’s
foremost experts on J.R.R. Tolkien.
C O N T E N T S
2
SLU named a
‘Best Buy’ again
Saint Louis University is
the nation’s top educa-tional
buy among all Jesuit
institutions according to U.S.
News & World Report, which
again recognized Saint Louis
University as one of the
country’s best values in high-er
education. Overall, the
magazine also ranked SLU
among the top four Catholic
universities in the country.
In the publication’s
“America’s Best Colleges
2004” issue, SLU is No. 41
on the best values list among
all national doctoral universi-ties.
This is the sixth consecu-tive
year that U.S. News has
highlighted the University as
a leading educational value.
SLU is the top Jesuit institu-tion
on the best value list and
the No. 2 Catholic school,
second only to the University
of Notre Dame. U.S. News
determines best values by
measuring academic quality
with the net cost of atten-dance
for a student who
receives an average level of
financial aid.
U.S. News also named Saint
Louis University among the
top four Catholic institutions
on its ranking of best national
doctoral universities, a group
that includes nearly 250
schools. SLU is No. 78 on
the list, with only Notre
Dame, Georgetown
University and Boston
College ranking higher.
HOMELAND SECURITY: Hundreds of people attended
the first town hall meeting on homeland security featuring
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge Oct. 7 at
Saint Louis University. An interactive event with high
audience participation, the forum included (from left) Frank
Sesno, host of Worldtalk and former CNN anchor; Steve
Rohleder, global chief executive for government, Accenture;
St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay (Law ’80); Ridge; Dr. Karen
Webb, chief medical officer for Saint Louis University
Hospital; and Col. Tim Daniel, director for the Missouri
Office of Homeland Security. University President
Lawrence Biondi, S.J., gave the opening remarks.
Sword award
to honor Westfall
Saint Louis University will
give its highest honor to
the late George R. “Buzz”
Westfall (A&S ’68, Law ’69).
SLU will recognize the late
political leader with its Sword
of Ignatius Loyola during the
DuBourg Society Dinner
Dec. 7. Mr. Westfall died
Oct. 27. He was 59.
One of the region’s most
influential public figures of
the last 20 years,
Mr. Westfall was
elected St. Louis
County executive
in 1990 and was
re-elected three
times. Noted for
his bipartisanship
and regional focus,
his accomplish-ments
included the establish-ment
of a shelter for battered
women and children.
The Sword of Ignatius
Loyola is named for the
founder of the Society of
Jesus. Symbolic of the
Ignatian vision of service,
sword recipients have given
themselves to humankind for
the greater glory of God.
Louis; Keith F. Muccino, S.J.,
assistant professor of internal
medicine and Catholic chap-lain
at Georgetown University
School of Medicine; and
Robert L. Niehoff, S.J., vice
president for budget and plan-ning
at the University of San
Francisco.
New trustees
join SLU board
Three new trustees have
joined the Saint Louis
University board: L.B.
Eckelkamp Jr., chairman of the
board and CEO of the Bank of
Washington (Mo.) and chair-man
and president of Cardinal
Bancorp and Cardinal Bancorp
II, which owns the United
Bank of Union and Citizens
National Bank of Greater St.
SLU JOINS A10 CONFERENCE
Saint Louis University is joining the Atlantic 10 Conference.
The Billikens will begin intercollegiate athletic competition
in the Atlantic 10 during the 2005-06 academic year.
The Atlantic 10 Conference is in its 28th year of NCAA
Division I competition. The league’s members include
Dayton, Duquesne, Fordham, George Washington, LaSalle,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Richmond, St. Bonaventure,
Saint Joseph’s, Temple and Xavier.
Saint Louis University currently is a charter member of
Conference USA. In early November, five C-USA member
schools — Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette and
USF — accepted invitations to join the Big East Conference.
Five new schools — Central Florida, Marshall, Rice, SMU
and Tulsa — filled C-USA’s vacant positions.
For more details, visit www.slubillikens.com.
Three new deans
now on campus
Dr. Ellen Harshman (Grad
’78, Law ’92) is the new dean
of the John Cook School of
Business. She succeeds the
retiring Dr. Leroy Grossman,
who was interim dean for one
year. Harshman has served
SLU in several leadership roles
since 1972, including associate
dean of the business school,
director of the career planning
and placement center and assis-tant
to the vice president for
student development. She also
holds the rank of associate pro-fessor
of management and
most recently was SLU’s senior
vice provost. Among her many
responsibilities in this role,
Harshman administered com-
NEWS BRIEFS
By The Numbers
4 National rank of Parks College
of Engineering and Aviation’s
aerospace engineering program,
according to U.S. News and
World Report. Overall, Parks’
undergraduate engineering pro-grams
moved up three spots on
the U.S. News list to No. 27.
498 Residents sponsored by
SLU’s School of Medicine in 50
different residencies, subspecialty
residencies and fellowships rotat-ing
through eight affiliated teach-ing
hospitals and 18 affiliated
health care institutions.
8,742 Phone pledges made dur-ing
fiscal year 2003 for a total for
1 mil-lion
has been raised through
phoning.
In September, SLU sponsored a
two-evening gala event called
“Denim & Diamonds” to
benefit public education,
research and treatment of liver
disease. On Sept. 12, Willie
Nelson headlined “Denim,” a
concert to benefit the SLU Liver
Center and the Julia Spears
Foundation for Liver Disease.
On Sept. 13, “Diamonds” fea-tured
country music artist Naomi
Judd, who spoke at a black-tie
dinner to benefit SLU’s Liver
Center. … Dr. Robert B.
Belshe, Adorjan professor of
infectious diseases and director of
the Center for Vaccine
Development, received the
Clinical Virology Award for
2003 from the Pan American
Society for Clinical Virology. …
Sandra H. Johnson (A&S ’73),
the Tenet Endowed Chair in
Health Law and Ethics is one of
four winners of the 2003
Pellegrino Medal for contribu-tions
to health care ethics. …
Dr. Marla Berg-Weger, pro-fessor
and director of field service
education for the School for
Social Service since 1995, has
been named associate provost. …
Maria Whitehead, a member of
Wake Forest’s 2002 NCAA
Division I field hockey champi-onship
team, is SLU’s new head
field hockey coach. The appoint-ment
is her first head coaching
position. … Dr. Seung H.
Kim, professor of international
business and director of the
Boeing Institute of International
Business, has been appointed to
serve on the Presidential
Advisory Council for the
Peaceful Reunification of the
Republic of Korea.
RESEARCH PLANS: Preliminary plans are under way
for the design and site selection for a new research center at
the Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, part of
an 300 million “Campaign for Saint Louis
University: Where Knowledge Touches Lives.”
pliance with the University’s
accrediting agencies, served as
a liaison with state-wide edu-cational
agencies and oversaw
the libraries, Reinert Center
for Teaching Excellence and
office of institutional study.
Harshman has earned numer-ous
honors during her SLU
career and was named SLU’s
Woman of the Year in 1981.
Dr. Charlotte Royeen, a
national leader in her field of
occupational therapy, is the
new dean of the Doisy School
of Allied Health Professions.
Royeen most recently served
as associate dean for research at
Creighton’s School of
Pharmacy and Allied Health
Professions and professor of
occupational therapy. Prior to
that, she was the founding
chair and professor of occupa-tional
therapy at Shenandoah
University in Winchester, Va.,
and worked for several years
for the U.S. Department of
Education’s Office of Special
Education Programs. Royeen
holds a doctorate from Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State
University in Blacksburg, Va.,
and a master’s degree in occu-pational
therapy from
Washington University School
of Medicine. At the confer-ence
of the American
Occupational Therapy
Association, Royeen received
the 2002 Eleanor Clarke Slagle
Lectureship Award, which is
the highest scholarly achieve-ment
bestowed in occupational
therapy.
Dr. Bjong Wolf Yeigh
joined the Saint Louis
University community July 1
as the dean for Parks College
of Engineering and Aviation.
He came to SLU from Yale
University, where he was assis-tant
provost of science and
technology since 1999. He
succeeds Dr. Charles
Kirkpatrick, who was dean of
Parks College for nine years
and is on the department of
chemistry faculty. Yeigh
received a bachelor’s degree in
engineering science from
Dartmouth College, a master’s
degree in mechanical engi-neering
from Stanford and a
doctorate in civil engineering
and operations research from
Princeton. A former tactical air
intelligence officer assigned to
Fighter Squadron 74, Yeigh
served in the U.S. Navy dur-ing
the Gulf War and for a
total of eight years in active
and reserve duties, leaving with
a rank of lieutenant.
Yeigh
Royeen
Harshman
New technology
VP on board
Ellen Watson is Saint Louis
University’s new vice
president for information
technology services.
Although Watson may be
new to SLU, she is familiar
with the Jesuit mission.
Before coming to SLU, she
was the vice president of
information service at Loyola
University Chicago, a post
she had held since 1999.
Watson boasts 19 years of
experience in her field, hav-ing
served as associate vice
president for information ser-vices
and dean of library ser-vices
at Indiana State
University for four years and
associate provost for informa-tion
resources and technology
at Bradley University for two
years. She received her bach-elor’s
degree from Wellesley
College and her master’s from
the University of Maryland.
Drabble wins
Literary Award
Saint Louis University
Library Associates pre-sented
English author
Margaret Drabble with the
2003 Saint Louis Literary
Award at a ceremony Oct.
21. Drabble, a novelist, biog-rapher,
critic and short story
writer, is the author of The
Seven Sisters, The Peppered
Moth, The Witch of Exmoor
and The Millstone. She is also
editor of The Oxford
Companion to English
Literature. Drabble joins a dis-tinguished
group of authors
honored with this award dur-ing
the past 36 years.
Recipients include such
luminaries as Arthur Miller,
Joyce Carol Oates and
Seamus Heaney. Last year’s
winner was Joan Didion.
Biodefense
research brings
schools together
Anew research center based
in St. Louis will play a
major role in protecting the
American public against
bioterrorism and emerging
infectious diseases. Washington
University School of Medicine
and Saint Louis University
School of Medicine will be
part of a multi-institutional
Midwest Regional Center for
Excellence in Biodefense and
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Research (MRCE). The cen-ter
will be funded by a five-year,
35 million grant from
the National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The founding members of the
MRCE also include Case
Western Reserve University,
the University of Missouri-
Columbia and the Midwest
Research Institute of Kansas
City. The new center will
concentrate on expanding cur-rent
research efforts in biode-fense.
For example, the team’s
initial research effort will focus
on poxvirus infections, which
include diseases such as small-pox.
The ultimate goals are to
improve the safety of vaccines
and to develop new therapies.
Kavanaugh wins
press award
Saint Louis University phi-losophy
professor and mag-azine
columnist John
Kavanaugh, S.J., (A&S ’65,
Grad ’66, ’71) received top
honors from the National
Catholic Press Association. His
“Ethics Notebook,” which
regularly appears in America
magazine, earned the Best
Regular Column Award from
Kavanaugh
MIXING IT UP: What’s cooking in the department of
nutrition and dietetics in the Doisy School of Allied Health
Professions? Mark E. Miller, a certified executive chef,
shown here supervising students Christina Bologna (left)
and Diana Kingston, has joined the Saint Louis University
faculty and is teaching future dietitians how healthy foods
can be prepared to taste great. Miller, most recently a chef
at Westborough Country Club, is sold on the University’s
new, one-of-a-kind degree program that prepares students
to become registered dietitians while they receive training for
their culinary arts credential. “Our degree is perfect for stu-dents
who want to work as personal chefs, among other spe-cializations,”
Miller said.
International HIV
trial led by SLU
Saint Louis University is
leading an international
vaccine trial to study a
promising HIV prevention
vaccine in humans. The trial
is being conducted through
the HIV Vaccine Trials
Network (HVTN) of the
National Institutes of Health.
This is the first HVTN trial
to be conducted simultane-ously
in the United States and
abroad — in St. Louis,
Boston (through Harvard
University) and Gaborone,
Botswana — and it signifies a
dedication to transcending
borders in the fight against
HIV. This vaccine has never
been tested in humans. The
trial is looking at the safety
and immune response of an
experimental HIV vaccine
the association, which repre-sents
640 publications with a
combined circulation of nearly
27 million in the United States
and Canada. In honoring him,
the National Catholic Press
Association said: “Father
Kavanaugh examines public
issues through a moral lens and
discusses them thoughtfully
and powerfully.”
4
The December 1963 issue of Saint
Louis University Magazine featured a
cover photo of the new Griesedieck
Memorial Hall, which was dedicat-ed
Nov. 30, 1963.
A news item mentioned that
fund raising for Busch Memorial
Center was under way — .1.5 mil-lion
had been raised, and a 3.25 million.
The issue also highlighted the
Midwest Assembly on Outer Space,
a conference co-sponsored by SLU
and held that September. The
assembly brought together a cross
section of leaders in education, gov-ernment,
labor, business, industry,
law, medicine, military and commu-nications
from a 14-state area to
consider the topic, “Outer Space:
Prospects for Man and Society.”
Participants included James E.
Webb, the head of NASA, and U.S.
Sen. Stuart Symington of Missouri.
Another article featured an alum-nus,
Robert Burns (Parks ’59), who
was the first Missourian to join the
Peace Corps. Burns was a land irri-gation
specialist in Pakistan.
Quotable UTAS: “It would be
tragic if we were able to pinpoint
rockets in space but unable to deter-mine
where we were going as
human beings.” — Charles A.
Sheehan, Missouri state representa-tive
and speaker at the Midwest
Assembly on Outer Space
Sign of the times: It was reported
that tuition for the 1964-65 school
year for full-time undergraduates
and law students would be 100 over 1963-64 rates. School of
Medicine students were slated to
pay $700 per semester.
SLU nabs C-USA
GPA award again
Conference USA has
named Saint Louis
University as the recipient of
the Institutional Excellence
Award for the eighth
consecutive year. The
award is given to the
member school
with the highest
SLU listed as ‘Best
Place to Work’
For the second time since
2000, Saint Louis
University has made the St.
Louis Business Journal’s “Best
Places to Work” list. This year,
SLU was honored in the “Best
Practice” category — the only
institution so recognized — for
the development of
Hometown SLU, which is
designed to spur development
near the St. Louis campus
while assisting SLU employees
looking to purchase a home in
certain areas near campus.
Since Hometown SLU was
unveiled Feb. 5, 19 people
have applied to the program
and been approved. Full-time,
eligible employees may receive
f
Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University
No full textSummer/Fall 2013 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University. This is a special issue on Fr. Lawrence Biondi's retirement as University President.summer / fal l 2 013
center for
World Health
and Medicine
Page 16
Basketball
Coach
Jim Crews
Page 20
farewell, father biondi Page 8
2 | U N I V E R S I T A S | w w w. s l u . e d u
Volume 39, Is sue 3
Edi tor
Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92)
contributors
Riya Anandwala
Marie Dilg (Grad SW ’94)
Amy Garland (A&S ’97)
Danielle Lacey
“On C a mpus ” news s torie s
University Communications
Medical Center Communications
Billiken Media Relations
ON THE Cov er
University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J.,
speaking at the 25th Anniversary Gala in
May. Photo by Steve Dolan.
Design
Art Direction: Matt Krob
Universitas is published by Saint Louis University.
Opinions expressed in Universitas are those of
the individual authors and not necessarily those
of the University administration. Unsolicited
manuscripts and photographs are welcome
but will be returned only if accompanied by a
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Worldwide circulation: 121,110
© 2013, Saint Louis University
All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without
permission is prohibited.
F A L L 2 0 0 4 W I N T E R 2 0 0 5
On May 4, 2013, I was
elected chairman of
Saint Louis University’s
board of trustees for the
third time. But that wasn’t
the biggest news to come
out of SLU that day. That
night at a fundraising gala
in his honor, University President Lawrence
Biondi, S.J., announced his plans to retire from
SLU. (See page 8 for an interview with Father
Biondi.)
Since then, I’ve had time to reflect on Father’s
announcement — and to consider all he has
done as the visionary leader of this outstanding
institution. Before I share my reflections, how-ever,
I should note that my varied experiences
with Saint Louis University offer me a different
experience than most.
First, like most readers of Universitas, I am a
proud SLU alumnus. And, like many of you, I’m
also a parent of a SLU graduate.
I have also been a member of the SLU board of
trustees for more than 25 years, and was a mem-ber
of the team that elected Father as president
in 1987. (In fact, we served on the SLU board
together while Father was a dean at Loyola Uni-versity
Chicago.)
As a result of my participation on the board
— especially my dozen years as the board’s chair-man
—I have had a significant amount of expe-rience
working directly with Father Biondi.
Without question, Father is driven by one
thing: Making SLU better. He absolutely lives
and breathes SLU. It wasn’t long after his arrival
as president that Father shared his bold vision:
To make Saint Louis University the finest Cath-olic
university in the United States.
Those of us who attended SLU prior to
Father’s tenure certainly loved this university.
However, it was hard to see how a mostly com-muter
school with few nationally ranked pro-grams
could achieve such lofty status.
Father Biondi, on the other hand, saw the
potential right away. He understood the notion
of “good to great” long before it became a com-mon
term in the business world. By boldly stat-ing
such a brave goal, Father gave us something
to strive toward. Indeed, he set the bar high for
this great institution. And he sets it even higher
for himself.
When people talk about Father Biondi’s leg-acy,
they usually focus on the physical transfor-mation
of SLU’s Midtown campus. It’s certainly
true that the campus is nearly unrecognizable
today compared to when I was a student.
Truly, Father Biondi has
built SLU into one of the
country’s most beautiful
urban campuses. But what
many people fail to mention,
however, is the significant
impact Father’s leader-ship
has had on academics,
research, patient care and our commitment to
community service.
During his tenure, Father devoted vast Uni-versity
resources — upwards of a billion dollars
— toward hiring top-notch faculty, creating
new academic programs, launching innovative
research initiatives, expanding student scholar-ships,
and supporting mission-related and out-reach
projects. These investments have drawn
record numbers of students who come with high
test scores and strong academic achievements.
In pursuit of his vision, Father wasn’t afraid
to take chances. In the late 1990s, he came to
the board with the idea of taking $100 million
from the endowment to improve academics at
SLU. This initiave allowed us to add new fac-ulty
positions, special inquiry courses, student
scholarships and more. It was a risky move that
continues to pay dividends to this day. Always
keeping SLU’s best interests in mind, Father
also made some tough decisions — for example,
selling SLU Hospital and moving Parks College
to St. Louis.
It should also be noted that Father has raised
millions of dollars each year from our alumni and
other donors, and the University’s endowment
has grown more than tenfold during his tenure.
Clearly, we have some very big shoes to fill.
That is why the University will take its time
in searching for Father Biondi’s successor. Our
search process, which will begin in late Sep-tember
following extensive research into best
practices, will be inclusive, transparent, deliber-ate
and thorough. And, throughout our search,
we will keep our SLU community, including
alumni, informed of our progress.
I have seen Father Biondi take a good uni-versity
and make it great. More importantly, I
am proud to call him my friend. And thanks to
all that the SLU community has accomplished
during his tenure, I know we are positioned for
even greater heights in the future.
J. Joe Adorjan (Cook ’63, Grad Cook ’67)
Chairman, SLU Board of Trustees
M e s s a g e f r o m
t h e C h ai r m a n
o f t h e B o a r d
Biondi (left) and Adorjan at the May 4 gala.
C O N T E N T S
f e a t u r e s f e a t u r e s
8 | Farewell, father Biondi
President Emeritus Lawrence Biondi, S.J., reflects on his
SLU career and his decision to retire.
— By Laura Geiser
16 | Translational Drug Hunters
The Center for World Health and Medicine works to
discover drugs that fight neglected diseases.
— By Marie Dilg
20 | Crews Control
Men’s basketball coach Jim Crews reviews last season’s
success and shares his coaching philosophy.
— By Danielle Lacey
2 | On Campus
Commencement ///
Interim president ///
U.S. News graduate
rankings /// New endowed
chair /// Arts at SLU
6 | Billiken News
Baseball A-10 champions
/// Fall sports schedules
7 | Advancement News
A Q&A with Jay
Goff, vice president for
enrollment and retention
management
24 | Class Notes
Catch up with classmates.
28 | In Memoriam
Remembering those
members of the SLU
community who recently
died
30 | Alumni Events
SLU alumni activities
across the country
32 | Perspective
An alumnus pursues a
dream and writes a book.
33 | The Last Word
Letters to the editor
Photo by steve dolan
Photo by kevin lowder
Biondi (center) with Oriflamme members in 2012.
2 | U N I V E R S I T A S | w w w. s l u . e d u s u m m e r / f a l l ’ 1 3 | U N I V E R S I T A S | 3
Kauffman serving
as SLU’s interim
president
On Sept. 1, Saint Louis University
President Lawrence Biondi, S.J.,
retired from his position, and SLU Vice
President and General Counsel William
Kauffman began serving as interim president. Kauffman, whose
term will last throughout the academic year, will not be a candi-date
for the SLU presidency. He has been SLU's general counsel
since 1995 and also is secretary to the board of trustees.
Biondi, who announced his intention to retire as president in
May, is now president emeritus and is taking a one-year sabbatical
from the University.
“Bill Kauffman is a leader, has great institutional knowledge
and is respected by the board and his fellow vice presidents and
administrators,” said J. Joe Adorjan, chairman of SLU’s board of
trustees. “Bill didn't ask for this position, but has agreed to serve
for the coming year because of his love for SLU. I am confident he
will be an effective and collaborative interim president.”
SLU's longest serving vice president, Kauffman has overseen all
of the University’s legal services for nearly two decades. His work
has touched nearly every aspect of the institution, including aca-demics,
research, student affairs, athletics and SLU’s large physi-cian
practice.
Kauffman’s career in higher education has spanned more than
40 years. Prior to his appointment at SLU, he was the general
counsel at the University of Alaska, the general counsel for the
Kansas Board of Regents and assistant attorney general for the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Kauffman is also a recognized leader in higher education legal
affairs. He has served as the president of the National Association
of College and University Attorneys, and in 2004, the organiza-tion
honored his many contributions with a Distinguished Service
Award.
A native of Pennsylvania, Kauffman received his bachelor's
degree from Gettysburg College and his law degree from the Uni-versity
of Pittsburgh School of Law.
“I am honored to have been appointed as interim president, and
my top priority will be to put SLU in as strong a position as pos-sible
for our next president,” Kauffman said. “I am committed to
working with stakeholders inside and outside of the University to
keep us moving in a very positive direction.”
To support Kauffman as interim president, the board of trustees
has established the office of the chairman, which will be staffed
with five key senior administrators who will work closely with
Kauffman during the next year. They are: Dr. Ellen Harshman
(Grad ’78, Law ’82), vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Philip
Alderson, vice president for medical affairs; David Heimburger
(Cook ’85), vice president and chief financial officer; Bridget
Fletcher, vice president and chief of staff; and Dr. Kent Porterfield,
vice president for student development.
Adorjan said he intends to have all of the processes in place so
that the search for the next president can begin immediately after
the Sept. 28 meeting of the board of trustees. That includes the
naming of a search committee that will include trustees and repre-sentatives
of SLU faculty, staff and students.
Graduate programs score
in U.S. News Rankings
More than 20 of Saint Louis University’s graduate programs are
ranked among the top 100 in the United States, according to
U.S. News & World Report. In the magazine’s 2014 “Best Graduate
Schools” issue, six SLU programs were listed in the top 25.
SLU’s health law program landed in the No. 1 spot for the
10th consecutive year. The program is supported by the renowned
Center for Health Law Studies, which is home to some of the top
scholars in the field.
Included for more than a dozen years among the 20 best pro-grams
in the United States, SLU’s geriatric medicine program
ranked No. 14 in the nation this year.
SLU’s graduate programs in entrepreneurship, international
business and supply chain management also were in the top 20 in
this year’s rankings.
Other SLU programs included in the top 100 of U.S. News &
World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools” 2014 rankings include:
health care management (9), physician assistant (25), part-time
law (27), physical therapy (34), occupational therapy (36), public
health (36), part-time MBA (37), nursing (50), social work (52),
biomedical engineering (61), earth sciences (69), medical schools:
research (70), medical schools: primary care (70), speech language
pathology (73), clinical psychology (79), business programs (84),
history (84) and English (98).
More than
10,000 spend
Summer at SLU
This year, approximately
2,700 students attended
one of nearly 40 SLU-spon-sored
camps or academies,
while more than 3,800 indi-viduals
participated in a cam-pus
conference or event, and
more than 4,200 students
enrolled in an undergraduate
or graduate course.
In its successful inaugural
year, the “Summer at SLU” ini-tiative
highlighted the numer-ous
camps and academic opportunities for kindergarten through
high school students; encouraged high school and college students
to take advantage of summer course offerings; and built awareness
for national and local conferences and events held on campus.
Several new summer offerings brought young students to cam-pus
including Camp Invention, the International Business Sum-mer
Academy and the Grand Arts Camp. For more information,
visit summer.slu.edu.
o n c a m p u s
Saint Louis University celebrated the Class of 2013 during its
annual commencement celebration in May.
During this year’s ceremony, honorary degrees were awarded to: John Foppe (A&S
’92, Grad ’01); Thai businessmen and entrepreneurs Metee Auapinyakul (Cook ’78) and
Chanin Vongkusolkit (Grad Cook ’77), who founded Banpu Public Company Limited,
which has become one of the most successful energy companies in Asia; and St. Louis
civic leaders Joe and Loretta Scott were awarded honorary degrees.
Foppe was also this year’s commencement speaker and encouraged graduates
to take chances despite the obstacles they may face.
Born with no arms, Foppe has been determined not to let his limitations hold
him back. He became a motivational speaker and author, and by age 22 was listed
among the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce’s 10 Outstanding Young Americans.
In 2012, he became executive director of St. Louis’ Society of St. Vincent de Paul,
which provides assistance through advocacy and outreach programs. In addition
to leading this nonprofit, Foppe continues to share his insights through speaking
engagements around the country.
He started his commencement address by opening a can of soda with his feet,
pouring it into a glass and toasting the graduates.
“Today, I urge you to take a different path,” Foppe said. “Finding your higher
purpose and greater good necessitates an awareness of your deeper calling. Listen.
Look. Learn. ... I urge you to continue what the Jesuits have taught you. Be ‘a
person for others.’ Be open, be bold and be persistent.”
At the conclusion of the ceremony, for the first time ever, the graduates were
showered with confetti and streamers.
Commencement 2013
Photo by steve dolan
The Billiken with some young campers.
Photo by nate cowen
4 | U N I V E R S I T A S | w w w. s l u . e d u
By the Numbers
At Chaifetz Arena, which this spring marked five
years of entertaining Midtown. During that time:
594: Events held 1.7 million: People walked
through the arena turnstiles 80,363: Hot dogs eaten 6,938: Hours spent installing and
removing t / / / he basketball court /
o n c a m p u s
10,549: Points scored by the SLU men’s (6,072)
and women’s (4,477) basketball teams
Ne w s B r i e f s
Dr. Scott Safranski, a faculty member of more than 30 years at the John Cook
School of Business, is the school’s interim dean for the 2013-14 academic
year. The school’s dean, Dr. Ellen Harshman, is serving as SLU’s interim vice
president of academic affairs. Safranski chaired the management department
for 11 years and was interim chair in decision sciences/information technology
management for a year.
Dr. Matthew Grawitch is the interim dean of the School for Professional Studies.
Dr. Jennifer Giancola, former dean of the school, announced her decision to
leave that position and return to the SPS faculty, effective June 30. Grawitch
became a faculty member at SPS in 2005. He has been the chair of the organi-zational
studies program, director of the master’s program in leadership and
organizational development, and associate dean of academic development.
Dr. Thomas Madden, director of the Center for Medieval and Renaissance
Studies, has been named a fellow of the Medieval Academy of America. This is
among the highest honors that a medieval scholar in any discipline can receive.
Madden was named a fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Founda-tion
in 2012.
Dr. Karla Scott (A&S ’81), associate professor of communication and director of
the African American Studies Program, received the Ernest A. Calloway Teach-ing
Award from the Society of African American Studies. The award, named for
the late SLU professor, was established by Brian Shelton (A&S ’80) to honor
University faculty members whose efforts in the classroom reflect Calloway’s
commitment to social justice, diversity and inclusion.
Dr. Susanne Chawszczewski (Grad ’98) is SLU’s new director of campus minis-try.
Chawszczewski, who most recently served as certification and education
coordinator for the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, is returning to
SLU, where she earned her doctoral degree and served as assistant director of
student life.
SLU marks milestones
in aviation, civil
engineering
In May, Saint Louis University conferred the first
Doctor of Philosophy in aviation in the United States
— and the world — to Damon Lercel. This milestone
also marks the first Ph.D. completed at Parks College
of Engineering, Aviation and Technology.
Parks worked on the concept of a doctoral degree in
aviation for more than 10 years. “The program offered
not only an in-depth immersion in research, but also
opportunities to interact with both the domestic and
international aviation industries,” Lercel said. “It’s a
victory for the advancement of aviation.”
Dr. Theodosios Alexander, dean of Parks College,
said, “This success is a momentous and historic mile-stone
for aviation, Parks College and SLU.”
The college also celebrated its inaugural graduating
class from the civil engineering program in May. The
pioneering class of 21 civil engineering graduates is the
first for SLU in more than 35 years and the first ever for
Parks College.
Hakanson
named VP
and CIO
David Hakanson is SLU’s
vice president and chief
information officer. He most
recently was the chief informa-tion
officer at Samford Univer-sity
in Birmingham, Ala.
A Missouri native, Hakanson brings more than 15
years of information technology experience to his new
leadership role at SLU. He got his start in higher edu-cation
working as a systems administrator at the Uni-versity
of Missouri-Columbia. And his move to SLU
isn’t Hakanson’s first brush with Jesuit education. Ear-lier
in his career he served as a technology director at
Saint Peter’s University in New Jersey.
University opens new
workforce center
SLU’s School for Professional Studies recently opened of a new state-of-
the-art facility that provides high quality workforce training and
development programs in the St. Louis area.
The Center for Workforce and Organizational Development, located
in the Wool Center on campus, is offering more than 400 courses and
certificates, covering such fields as application development, project
management, mobile development, information security, business
intelligence and more. Day and night classes are available, as well as
continuing education units. SLU alumni are eligible for a 15 percent
discount.
The center also is providing additional services to the IT, business
and health care communities, including private training, consulting
and assessment services, all of which can be customized to meet
the specific needs of an organization. For more information, visit
workforcecenter.slu.edu.
t h e ARTS a t SLU
SLU THEATRE:
Upcoming season unveiled
Saint Louis University Theatre has announced
its 2013-14 season. The first show explores
the lives of Restoration actresses: Playhouse
Creatures by April De Angelis, which opens
Oct. 4. The season continues with Stephen
Sondheim’s classic A Funny Thing Happened
on the Way to the Forum, beginning Nov. 15.
Middletown by Will Eno, who has been called “a
Samuel Beckett for the Jon Stewart genera-tion,”
starts Feb. 21. The season ends with
Euripides’ ancient Greek tragedy Medea, which
opens April 25. All shows begin at 8 p.m.,
except Sunday performances, which begin at
2 p.m.
For more details on the SLU Theatre season
or to purchase season tickets, call 314-977-3327
or visit www.slu.edu/theatre.
Three Sisters from the 2012-13 season.
Photo by John Lamb
Laura Fogg,
TJammin’,
53 x 43"
SLUM A exhibition:
Quilt National 2013
The Saint Louis University Museum
of Art is presenting “Quilt National
2013” through Oct. 27. A biennial
show, Quilt National first was
organized in 1979 to showcase
artists who push the boundaries
of traditional quilting, using new
materials and technologies. The
2013 show was juried by interna-tionally
recognized art quilters and
includes works by artists from 27
states and seven countries.
SLUMA’s hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday through Sunday. For more
information, visit sluma.slu.edu.
Orthopaedic surgery
Endowed Chair named
Dr. Berton R. Moed (Med ’76) is the University’s
first Hansjörg Wyss Endowed Chair in Orthopae-dic
Surgery.
Moed came to SLU in 2003 to serve as chair and
professor of the department of orthopaedic surgery.
Since then, the department has experienced growth in
research output, the number of full-time faculty and
practice locations, and profitability.
Wyss is the former chairman of Synthes, a global
medical device company whose surgical instruments
and implants revolutionized the treatment of trauma
on the human skeleton. After last year’s multi-billion
dollar acquisition of Synthes by Johnson & Johnson,
Wyss now spends much of his time devoted to his many
philanthropic pursuits, which includes enviro
Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University
No full textWinter 2019 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University.Q&A WITH SLU’S
PRESIDENT
Page 14
ACCELERATING
EXCELLENCE
Page 20
HISTORIC
50 MILLION GIFT
Page 24
FACULTY PREDICT
THE FUTURE
Page 26
A LOOK FORWARD
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSIT Y 1 BICENTENNIAL
VOLUME 45, ISSUE 1
EDITOR
Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92)
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Amy Garland (A&S ’97)
ART DIRECTOR
Matt Krob
CONTRIBUTORS
Clayton Berry
Marie Dilg (Grad SW ’94)
ON CAMPUS NEWS STORIES
University Public Relations
Billiken Media Relations
ON THE COVER
An illustration of the many facets
of SLU by Aldo Crusher
Universitas is published by Saint Louis
University. Opinions expressed in
Universitas are those of the individual
authors and not necessarily those of the
University administration. Unsolicited
manuscripts and photographs are welcome
but will be returned only if accompanied
by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Letters to the editor must be signed, and
letters not intended for publication should
indicate that fact. The editor reserves
the right to edit all items. Address all mail
to Universitas, DuBourg Hall 39, One N.
Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103. We
accept email at [email protected].
Postmaster: Send address changes to
Universitas, Saint Louis University,
One N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103.
Website: slu.edu/universitas
Universitas is printed by Breese
Printing and Publishing
Worldwide circulation: 116,500
© 2019, Saint Louis University
All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part
without permission is prohibited.
SLU’s cheerleaders led by Olivia Hargrove, daughter of Troy Hargrove (PS ’03, Grad CSB ’08),
at Homecoming and Famility Weekend’s golf cart parade.
PHOTO BY STEVE DOLAN
F E ATU R E S
D E PARTME NTS
8
A Year in Review
Celebrating Saint Louis University’s bicentennial
took many forms — By Laura Geiser
14
Looking Ahead
A Q&A about SLU’s future with President
Dr. Fred P. Pestello — By Laura Geiser
20
Accelerating Excellence
The details on SLU’s ambitious new
fundraising campaign — By Marie Dilg
24
Giving Back
A historic gift from Dr. Jeanne and Rex
Sinquefield focuses on research — By Clayton Berry
26
Foreseeable Future
Professors discuss what the future holds
for their disciplines — By Amy Garland
2 On Campus
Grand Boulevard crossing /// Interdisciplinary
Science and Engineering Building /// Record
fundraising year /// Macelewane Hall
renovation /// Service challenge numbers
32 Class Notes
33 Alumni Spotlight
Dr. Wilbur “Ken” Manchette (Dent ’50)
38 In Memoriam
40 Feedback
41 The Last Look
ME S S AG E F ROM THE
CH A I RMAN O F THE
BOA R D O F T RUS T E E S
PHOTO BY STEVE DOLAN
Since we’ve closed out SLU’s bicentennial
year, it is a time to look forward — to the
generations of students to come, whom
we hope will experience the same rig-orous
Jesuit education that I and so
many others have shared; to the discoveries that our
leading-edge research will uncover; and to an even
greater commitment to our community and those
most in need.
My connection with SLU goes back to my years
as an undergraduate and then a law student. What I
learned at SLU from legendary professors like Vince
Immel — and how I learned it — changed my life
forever. I am eternally grateful for all that SLU has
given me. And that’s why my wife Daria and I are
deeply committed to sharing our good fortune with
the University.
SLU is launching the largest fundraising cam-paign
in its history — 500 million to be raised by
2021. It is an audacious goal. The trustees knew that
when we approved it, and I’m pleased to say that
every trustee has made a commitment to the cam-paign
during its leadership phase.
Now, we’re entering into the public phase of
“Accelerating Excellence: The Campaign for Saint
Louis University.” It kicked off in grand style on
Nov. 17 at Chaifetz Arena. The campaign launch
came just one day after SLU’s official birthday on
Nov. 16 — making it the very first day of SLU’s third
century. I cannot think of a more promising begin-ning
to the University’s next 100 years.
My fellow trustees Dr. Richard Chaifetz and
Rex Sinquefield are co-chairing SLU’s campaign.
Between them, they generously committed 80 million. Both alumni truly
exemplify how SLU can put a person on the path
to success. And their unwavering support of Saint
Louis University shows their faith in our future.
So, as we begin our third century, I hope you, our
alumni, share the pride in your great University,
and I hope you will consider making a financial gift
to the Accelerating Excellence campaign. Whatever
amount you can give will help ensure that future
generations will have the same opportunities that
you and I had as sons and daughters of Saint Louis
University forever.
I also hope you enjoy this issue of Universitas. And
if you’re wondering why you’re reading a message
from me and not SLU President Dr. Fred Pestello,
that’s because you’ll find him in the pages ahead,
reflecting on his first four years as president, the
future of higher education and the importance of
this forward-looking campaign, in an exclusive
Q&A with Universitas.
Joseph Conran (A&S ’67, Law ’70)
Chairman
Board of Trustees
During the past year, it was an honor for me and for my
fellow Saint Louis University trustees to share in the
celebration of the 200-year history of this great university.
UNIVERSI TAS 2 WINTER 2019 SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSIT Y 3 BICENTENNIAL
ON C AMPUS
For its bicentennial, the
University invited the entire
community to volunteer,
hoping to achieve 200 years —
more than 1.75 million hours —
in just one year. The challenge
exceeded expectations.
1,975,447
hours
collected from Nov. 14,
2017, to Nov. 14, 2018
That’s 225 years,
6 months, 5 days
and 7 hours — and
223,447 hours above
the original goal.
1,537
students
who registered
to submit hours
to the clock
249,364
hours
contributed by
volunteers at area
partner organizations:
the Saint Louis Zoo,
Missouri Botanical
Garden, Haven House
and Assistance
League St. Louis
95
the most individual
volunteer sessions
submitted by a single
user, a student
960 hours
the largest single
submission from
one individual
Campus
Crossroads
The intersection of
Grand and West Pine
boulevards underwent
a transformation last
summer for safety and
aesthetic improvements.
The project was tied to
the University’s campus
master plan. While
soliciting feedback from
the SLU community
during the plan’s
development, many
people expressed
concerns about the
very busy crossing.
The new crossing
features:
A wider median
that can more safely
accommodate
pedestrians waiting for
the light to change
Additional lighting and
improved traffic signals
Bollards placed
along the median and
sidewalks to prevent
cars from encroaching
into those areas
SLU Breaks Ground for New
Interdisciplinary Science and
Engineering Building
In early October, Saint Louis University broke ground
on a new Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering
Building on campus — a 98.7 million during
the 2017-18 fiscal year, which ended June
30, 2018, making it the most successful single
year of fundraising in SLU’s 200-year history.
The previous fiscal year was also one of
the University’s top-three most successful
fundraising years. But this new milestone
more than doubles the previous year’s figure.
And it is 65 million, which was
set during the 2005-06 fiscal year. A record
14,805 donors made gifts to the University
during fiscal year 2017-18.
There were 11 gifts that exceeded 39.5 million in matching dollars since
its launch five years ago.
Saint Louis University Announces
Three New Trustees
Saint Louis University added three new members to its board of trustees.
Their three-year terms began in late September.
B. Todd Jones is senior
vice president and special
counsel for conduct for the
National Football League.
Kristin Robertson
(Grad CSB ’05) is vice
president and general
manager of Autonomous
Systems, a division
within Boeing Defense,
Space and Security.
Dr. Anthony R. Tersigni
is president and CEO of
Ascension, the largest
nonprofit health system
in the country and the
world’s largest Catholic
health system.
New Billikens Start with Service Nearly 1,800
Billikens participated in Saint Louis University’s first New
Student Day of Service in August. The service day is a way
to introduce incoming students to the values of a Jesuit
education. The new students spent about five hours in
service to approximately 40 community groups. The day
consisted of a variety of projects, such as weeding urban
gardens, sorting clothing donations and repairing homes.
Longtime Faculty
Member Makes 2
million from Theodore
R. Vitali, C.P., a longtime
faculty member in the
Department of Philosophy.
The gift, which designates SLU as the beneficiary
of Vitali’s retirement account, was made with the
blessing of his order, the Passionist Congregation.
The gift will benefit the philosophy department,
partially endowing a chair and establishing an
endowed scholarship for a full-time undergraduate
or graduate philosophy student from the Passionist
Congregation. The endowed chair will be named in
Vitali’s honor.
“I believe in the Jesuit, Catholic vision of human
dignity and thus the fostering of authentic Christian
humanism,” Vitali said. “I believe the advancement
of such a vision lies at the essence of SLU’s mis-sion
and the intrinsic role philosophy plays in the
advancement of SLU’s mission. An endowed chair
dedicated to the philosophical advancement of that
mission enhances and propels that mission.”
A SLU alumnus, Vitali (Grad A&S ’74, ’76)
returned to SLU as the chair of the philosophy
department in 1989, a role he held until 2017.
Following a sabbatical during the 2017-18 year, he
was back in the classroom as an associate professor
during the fall.
Eminent Georgetown
Scholar Appointed
Interim Provost
Dr. Chester “Chet” Gillis, a
former dean of Georgetown
College at Georgetown University,
has started a two-and-a-half year
appointment as interim provost of
Saint Louis University.
Gillis is a theologian, profes-sor
and scholar who has written
numerous scholarly works on
Roman Catholicism. He was on
faculty at Georgetown University
since 1988.
Dr. Michael Lewis, associate provost for faculty affairs and development at SLU
and an associate professor of chemistry, served as acting provost beginning in
mid-August. A national search for a permanent provost is expected to begin the
summer of 2020, with the role filled by July 2021.
Probation Lifted for SLU’s Medical School
The Saint Louis University School
of Medicine no longer is on pro-bation
after successfully addressing
all concerns raised by the Liaison
Committee for Medical Education
(LCME), the accrediting body for
North American medical schools.
SLU is fully compliant with a ll
LCME standards, the accrediting body
announced at its regular quarterly
meeting in October.
SLU resolved all issues that led to its
probation within 19 months, ahead of
the LCME’s 24-month deadline.
U.S. NEWS 2019 BEST COLLEGES RANKINGS
106 of all national universities (top-third)
36 of “Best Value Schools”
26 for best undergraduate teaching
among national universities
11 in international business
18 in entrepreneurship
28 in accounting
44 in finance
68 in “Best Colleges for Veterans”
87 in high school counselor rankings
87 in business programs
146 in “Best Undergraduate Engineering
Programs” (at schools whose highest
degree is a doctorate)
THE PRINCETON REVIEW BEST 384 COLLEGES
1 in the nation as the university most
engaged in community service
5 as an impact school
18 for most popular study abroad program
SLU also made the “Green Colleges” and “Best
Midwestern Colleges That Pay You Back” lists.
NICHE
5 in “Best Colleges for Nursing”
8 in “Best Catholic Colleges and
Universities”
8 in “Best Colleges for Kinesiology and
Physical Therapy”
42 in “Best Colleges for Criminal Justice”
47 in colleges with the “Best Professors in
America”
In December, SLU also was named “Best
College in Missouri for Nursing Majors” by
Zippia.com. Career results for graduates, an
emphasis on nursing education and overall
University performance put the Saint Louis
University School of Nursing at the top of the list.
Saint Louis University recently
earned high rankings from
U.S. News & World Report, The
Princeton Review and Niche, a
website that ranks colleges, schools,
neighborhoods and companies.
THREE NEW ACADEMIC MAJORS TO START IN FALL
Three new academic majors were approved by SLU’s board of trustees at their September meeting.
The following programs in the College of Arts and Sciences will start in fall 2019:
BACHELOR OF ARTS in
Bioethics and
Health Studies
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE in
Chemical Biology and
Pharmacology
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE in
Data Science
PHOTO BY STEVE DOLAN
Vitali
Gillis speaks with SLU faculty and
staff at Busch Student Center.
PHOTO BY MAGGIE ROTERMUND
Amazon’s Alexa Devices
Come to Campus
Saint Louis University is the first col-lege
or university in the country to
bring Amazon Alexa-enabled devices
into every student residence hall room
and student apartment on campus.
In time for the start of fall classes, SLU
deployed more than 2,300 Echo Dot
smart devices, and the project garnered
national media attention.
A custom SLU skill deployed on the
devices supplies answers to more than
100 SLU-specific questions — from “What
time does the library close tonight?” to
“Where is the registrar’s office?”
PHOTO BY STEVE LONG
Ring Award Winner
Dr. Anne McCabe, profesora doctora contratada at
SLU-Madrid, was selected as the winner of SLU’s
2018 Nancy McNeir Ring Award for Excellence in Teaching.
McCabe, who teaches English as a Second Language, com-munication
and Spanish courses, was noted for her devotion
to teaching and her ability to impact students’ lives. McCabe,
a researcher in systemic functional linguistics, joined SLU-Madrid’s
faculty in 1990 and has served in various leadership
roles including as department chair, division director and
associate dean. She addressed graduates during December’s
midyear commencement in St. Louis.
PHOTO BY STEVE DOLAN
UNIVERSI TAS 6 WINTER 2019 SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSIT Y 7 BICENTENNIAL
O N C A M P U S
Lyricist and Composer Stephen Sondheim
Receives Literary Award
On Oct. 4, Stephen Sondheim accepted the 2018 St. Louis
Literary Award, given by the Saint Louis University Library
Associates, at Sheldon Concert Hall.
A sold-out crowd packed the hall, and an overflow audience gath-ered
to watch a simulcast as the lyricist and composer was honored.
The evening began with performances of Sondheim songs by
area university and high school students, including SLU senior
Blake Howard who sang “Finishing the Hat” from Sunday in the Park
with George.
After the Literary Award was presented, Mike Isaacson (A&S ’86,
Grad CSB ’96), artistic director and executive producer at the Muny,
led a discussion with Sondheim, asking questions gathered from
the audience.
Sondheim shared anecdotes, memories and advice. He spoke
about his teachers and mentors, calling teaching a sacred profession.
Sondheim, who has won multiple Tony and Grammy Awards,
an Academy Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, wrote the
lyrics for the Broadway classics West Side Story and Gypsy. He was
the composer and lyricist for groundbreaking musicals such as A
Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Follies, A
Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods and Passion. He also
published two volumes of his annotated lyrics.
Macelwane Hall Renovation Completed
In May 2017, a fire broke out in Macelwane Hall and caused
such extensive damage the building could not be occupied.
Macelwane has since undergone a 50 million
Interdisciplinary Science
and Engineering Build-ing
when it opens in 2020.
Those Macelwane labs are
constructed to be easily
retrofitted for biology fac-ulty
researchers who will
move back to the north
campus from their current
temporary quarters.
Cubs Come Calling for
Former Billiken Pitcher
Last summer, the Chicago Cubs called for-mer
Billiken James Norwood from the team’s
Triple-A affiliate in Iowa to join the parent club in
Chicago.
Norwood, a former Billiken standout pitcher, was
a seventh-round selection by the Cubs in 2014. He
got his first taste of major league baseball in July.
Norwood is the 12th Billiken to make it to the
major leagues. The last SLU player to suit up for a
major league game was Len Boehmer in 1971 with
the New York Yankees.
Billikens Share Their
Bounty Through New
Campus Resource
Of all the issues college students face —
homesickness, juggling school and a
social life — where they find their next meal
doesn’t usually come to mind.
By spearheading and organizing SLU’s
first student food resource, Billiken Bounty,
senior Samantha Kiss, senior Madalyn
Leakey and Dr. Mona Hicks, dean of students,
aim to ensure all SLU students have access to
nutritious food.
About 20 percent of SLU’s student body
is at risk for food insecurity at some point during college, according to a survey Billiken Bounty’s
organizers sent to campus. The results showed that some students experienced whole days without
meals or rationed to make their food stretch further. The research tracks with national trends,
organizers said.
Since opening in September, Billiken Bounty has been offering nonperishable food items like beans
and macaroni as well as hygiene and self-care products in a retail-like space in the Busch Student
Center. Shoppers don’t have to demonstrate need and can come and go anonymously. All that is
required to access Billiken Bounty’s stores is a SLU photo ID.
The SLU community has rallied to the cause, organizers said, contributing volunteer hours as well as
items for the shelves. A Billiken Backers drive yielded $5,500, and Billiken Bounty was one of the causes
earmarked for donations from SLU’s second annual SLU Giving Day in November. Several divisions
and departments have hosted food drives. About 20 students volunteered to staff the resource center.
Awards and
Honors
More than 150 physicians
representing SLUCare
Physician Group across more
than 40 specialties made
St. Louis Magazine’s 2018
Best Doctors issue. The list
is based on the annual “Best
Doctors in America” database.
The national board of Alpha
Sigma Nu, the honor society
for Jesuit colleges and
universities, selected the Saint
Louis University chapter as
the 2018 Chapter of the Year.
SLU’s chapter was selected
for its diverse programming
during the last academic year.
MAJOR GRANTS
UNIVERSITY THEATRE
SLU’s University Theatre continues
its affiliation with the Kranzberg
Ar
Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University
No full textSummer 2009 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis UniversitySummer 2 0 0 9
Library of Progress | 10
As Pius XII Memorial Library
celebrates its 50th anniversary,
it looks to the future.
— By Marie Dilg
Where We Stand | 14
A candid conversation
with SLU’s CFO about the
University’s financial health.
— By Laura Geiser
Battlefield Ready | 16
An innovative training program
prepares U.S. Air Force medics
for trauma care in a war zone.
— By Marie Dilg
Relative Humility | 20
Recent graduates Theresa and
Kevin Lisch combined basketball
and books with great success.
— By Nick Sargent
2 | On Campus
2009 commencement • Law school
receives major gift • New graduate
program rankings • U.N. secretary-general
visits • Atlas Week named
8 | Billiken News
Basketball season tickets •
Fall sports schedules
9 | Advancement News
A conversation with Frank
Reale, S.J., vice president and
rector for SLU Madrid
24 | off the shelf
Eight books from the
SLU community
25 | class notes
Catch up with classmates.
28 | In Memoriam
Remember those members of the
SLU community who recently died.
30 | alumni events
Find SLU alumni activities
wherever you live.
32 | Perspective
A student shares the lessons
she learned in Africa.
33 | the last word
Letters to the editor
10 20
14
features depar tments
Volume 35, Issue 3
Editor
Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92)
Contributors
Clayton Berry
Marie Dilg (Grad SW ’94)
Nick Sargent
“On Campus” news stories
University Communications
Medical Center Communications
Billiken Media Relations
Cover Photo
James Visser
Design
Art Direction: Matt Krob
Universitas is published by Saint Louis University.
Opinions expressed in Universitas are those of the
individual authors and not necessarily those of the
University administration. Unsolicited manuscripts and
photographs are welcome but will be returned only if
accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Letters to the editor must be signed, and letters not
intended for publication should indicate that fact. The
editor reserves the right to edit all items. Address all
mail to Universitas, DuBourg Hall 39, One Grand Blvd.,
St. Louis, Mo. 63103. We accept e-mail at utas@
slu.edu and fax submissions at (314) 977-2249.
Address fax submissions to Editor, Universitas.
Postmaster: Send address changes to
Universitas, Saint Louis University,
One Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103.
World Wide Web address:
www.slu.edu/pr/universitas.html
Universitas is printed and mailed by
Cenveo-Color Art Printing Inc.
Worldwide circulation: 108,500
© 2009, Saint Louis University
All rights reserved.
FALL 2004 WINTER 2005
After more than 50
years of graduation
ceremonies as a student,
teacher and administrator, I still
find myself stirred by the pomp
and circumstance of SLU’s
commencement each May. The
feeling in Chaifetz Arena is pal-pable
as our graduates smooth
out their gowns and straighten
their mortarboards. And there
is a hushed excitement in the arena bowl as our
graduates’ loved ones await the regal procession
that begins the ceremony.
Commencement is the end of one great jour-ney
and the beginning of another — it truly is
one of my favorite events of the year.
During the last two decades, I have been
privileged to be on hand for humorous, insight-ful
and inspirational commencement addresses
from speakers who graciously enhanced our
graduates’ final SLU moments.
This year we were pleased to welcome Greg
Mortenson, an ordinary man whose extraor-dinary
dedication to his vocation inspired
everyone in Chaifetz Arena. Just one of many
people trying to make a difference in the world
a few years ago, he’s now one of the most widely
recognized humanitarians and advocates for
peace. Greg has chronicled his remarkable story
in his New York Times best-selling book Three
Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace .
. . One School at a Time.
There was no better time for a SLU graduating
class to hear his story — of what one ordinary
man can do. Greg’s unique life illustrates the im-pact
one motivated person can make on the lives
of many, even in the face of extreme adversity.
After a failed attempt to summit K2 moun-tain
— the second highest mountain in the
world — Greg found himself recovering in a re-mote
Pakistani village. Taken by the kindness of
the villagers there, he discovered their children
doing schoolwork in the dirt with sticks, and he
promised to return and build them a school.
But what makes his story a truly fitting guide for
our class of 2009 is not the results of his journey,
but what one ordinary person overcame to bring
social justice to these remote mountain villages.
When Greg returned to the United States
from the Pakistani village, he encountered sig-nificant
roadblocks in fulfilling his promise to
the people there. In his first fundraising effort,
Greg reached out to more than 500 wealthy
celebrities and businesspeople and received just
one 2,400 more by selling
all his possessions and kept at it for nearly three
years before he raised the 3 million gift from the Anheuser-Busch
Foundation. It is the largest donation to date for
a 3 million to SLU
Renderings of Anheuser-Busch Student Commons
(exterior and interior), which serve as a new front door
for the school and are a major feature of the expansion.
Once again, Saint Louis
University’s health law pro-gram
has been named the
best in the nation by health
law scholars, according to
U.S. News & World Report.
The top ranking appeared
in the magazine’s “Best
Graduate Schools 2010” is-sue.
It’s the sixth consecu-tive
year the program has
secured the top spot.
Also this year, SLU’s part-time
MBA program contin-ued
its dramatic rise in the
rankings. Now ranked No.
14 in the country, the pro-gram
has climbed nearly
a dozen spots since it first
broke into the rankings four
years ago. It’s now the top-ranked
program of its kind
in Missouri.
SLU’s geriatrics program
also climbed again in
the rankings to No. 13 in
the nation. And SLU also
secured spots among the
top graduate programs in
history (85), English (94)
and psychology (132).
SLU
programs
garner U.S.
News top
spots
U.N.
secretary-general
visits SLU
In his first visit to the
Midwest since becoming
secretary-general of the
United Nations, Ban Ki-moon
discussed global food
security during a speech at
Saint Louis University.
Addressing a capacity
crowd in Busch Student Center, the secretary-general put a sobering spotlight on the world food crisis and the
plight of those he calls the “bottom billion.”
“Some 1 billion of the world’s people — I call them the ‘bottom billion’ — live on less than 2 a day. That means that one third of world’s people live on less than 2 a day. Many, if not
most of them, are children. Hunger and under-nutrition are their overwhelming daily reality.”
He added that the global economic crisis and climate change will only worsen that daily reality for so many. But
despite these mounting crises, Ban said solutions are within reach if the world’s nations can work together.
“No one country can address these challenges on its own,” he said. “We need global responsibility, global leader-ship
and a new multilateralism.”
Ban’s talk served as the keynote address for SLU’s Boeing Distinguished Guest Lecture in International Business.
The event was sponsored by the Boeing Institute of International Business in the John Cook School of Business.
Photo by Lyubov Strauss
4 U N I V E R S I T A S w w w. s l u . e d u s u m m e r ’ 0 9 U N I V E R S I T A S 5
News Briefs
Frank Reale, S.J. (A&S ’74), is continuing to
serve as rector/vice president of SLU’s Madrid
campus. He also will continue to serve as the Uni-versity’s
vice president for mission and ministry.
Ken Fleischmann has been named SLU’s vice
president for human resources. He had served
as interim vice president since August 2008.
Prior to his role in human resources, Fleischmann
worked in the SLU general counsel’s office.
Dr. Raymond C. Tait has been named SLU’s
vice provost for research services. He oversees
all of the University’s research initiatives and
works closely with private industry and gov-ernmental
agencies and other educational and
research institutes to enhance SLU’s research
programs. He has been at SLU for 27 years and
is a professor of neurology and psychiatry with
an adjunct appointment in the Center for Health
Care Ethics.
The physical therapy program in the Doisy
College of Health Sciences marked its 75th
anniversary with events in March. The program
was founded in 1933 and is one of the original
15 physical therapy programs in the country with
uninterrupted accreditation since 1936. SLU has
more than 3,000 physical therapy alumni.
This spring AmerenUE announced that it has be-gun
expanding Quantum Weather to southeast
Missouri. The new precise weather monitoring
and forecasting system is a partnership with
Saint Louis University’s department of earth
and atmospheric sciences. The program was
featured in the spring 2009 issue of Universitas.
Philosophy programs
earn international
recognition
Top philosophers from around the
world again have given high marks
to graduate philosophy programs at Saint
Louis University. The renowned Philosoph-ical
Gourmet Report ranks five of SLU’s
graduate philosophy programs among the
best in the English-speaking world.
SLU is in excellent company. In the me-dieval
philosophy area, the University was
listed in the top tier with Oxford Univer-sity
in England, the University of Toronto
and the University of Notre Dame.
For philosophy of religion, SLU ranked
second only to Notre Dame and alongside
Oxford. In addition, SLU’s philosophy
of action (free will) and social science as
well as its epistemology (how knowledge is
acquired) programs were named among the
world’s best.
{ on campus }
Atlas Week named for Sam and Marilyn Fox
Saint Louis University named its annual international celebration, Atlas Week, in honor
of Sam and Marilyn Fox, two of the most prominent civic leaders in the St. Louis re-gion.
“Sam and Marilyn Fox Atlas Week” recognizes the couple’s commitment to fostering
SLU’s role in international education and service.
In addition, at the April ceremony unveiling the new name, the couple received the
University’s highest honor, the Sword of Ignatius Loyola. Symbolic of the Ignatian vision
of service, the sword is awarded to those who have given themselves to humankind for the
greater glory of God.
Sam Fox is an entrepreneur and founder of the investment firm, Harbour Group Indus-tries.
He formerly served as the U.S. ambassador to Belgium. Marilyn Fox is widely noted for
her active role in nonprofit organizations, including Missouri Botanical Garden, the Jewish
Federation of St. Louis and the Variety Club. In 2000, Saint Louis University recognized the
couple with honorary degrees.
Two endowed chairs established
at the School of Medicine
This spring, Saint Louis University named two
professors as inaugural chairholders.
Alumni can enroll
in course-auditing
program
Alumni may think their time in
a Saint Louis University class-room
is over. But now, thanks to a new
course-auditing program known as Billiken
Back to Class, they can come back to cam-pus
and study alongside today’s students.
Beginning this fall, members of the
extended SLU community can attend
one course per semester for a nominal
fee. “Billiken Back to Class will recon-nect
our alumni and SLU friends with the
University and remind them of the value of
a Saint Louis University education,” said
University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J.
“This will also give many of our current and
potential donors a better understanding of
the lasting impact of their gifts and how
our students benefit from their kindness.”
Registration for Billiken Back to Class
will open after all enrolled students are ac-commodated,
and only select courses will
be available. Participants cannot take the
courses for credit.
For more details about this program,
visit www.slu.edu/alumni.
Dr. Salvador Cruz-
Flores (PH ’09),
professor of neurology
and psychiatry, was
invested in February as
the inaugural holder of
the Sidney W. Souers
Endowed Chair in
Neurology. Cruz special-izes
in treating stroke
patients. He directs
SLU’s Souers Stroke
Institute and Saint Louis
University Hospital’s
MidAmerica Stroke
Network, which extends
acute stroke care to
rural, community and
critical access hospitals
throughout Missouri, as
well as central and southern Illinois. The chair
is named for Sidney W. Souers. After he died
of a debilitating stroke in 1973, his wife, Sylvia,
honored his memory by creating an endow-ment
that led to the formation of the SLU
Souers Stroke Institute.
Dr. William Fer-guson,
professor
of pediatrics and
director of the
division of pediatric
hematology-on-cology
at SLU and
medical director
of the Bob Costas
Cancer Center
at SSM Cardinal
Glennon Children’s
Medical Center,
was invested
in April as the
inaugural holder
of the Bob Costas
Chair in Pediatric
Medicine. Fergu-son
specializes in
treating bone tumors. The chair is funded by
the board of governors of Cardinal Glennon’s
Children’s Foundation. Costas is a longtime
member of the board, and his annual celebrity
benefits have raised more than 14 million for
the hospital.
SLU dedicates
Brouster Hall
Saint Louis University dedicated the home
of the School for Professional Studies
in honor of Thomas H. Brouster Sr. during
an April ceremony. The naming recognizes
Brouster’s many years of service to SLU as
a member of its board of trustees, as well as
his continued generosity and support of the
University’s mission.
For his part, Brouster called the naming a
“tremendous honor,” and said he was humbled
that his name is now included among the
likes of DuBourg, Reinert and Busch. “It is a
great honor for me to have the Brouster name
as a part of this fine institution,” he said.
New dean for Philosophy and Letters
Michael Barber, S.J. (A&S ’71, Grad ’72), is the new dean of
the College of Philosophy and Letters. He replaces Garth
Hallett, S.J., who retired this summer after serving as dean since
1985. Barber holds the Hotfelder Chair in the Humanities and is a
professor of philosophy. He is a past president of the Jesuit Philo-sophical
Association and is the author of five books.
“In his 24 years as dean, Father Hallett has been instrumental in
assisting a good number of young men, both religious and diocesan
seminarians, on the path to the priesthood,” said University Presi-dent
Lawrence Biondi, S.J. “We are proud to have such a distin-guished
successor to him in the College of Philosophy and Letters.”
Billiken on the move
The Billiken statue that once sat in front of the Bauman-Eberhardt Athletic Center has moved. His new
home is near Chaifetz Arena in Drury Rally Plaza. The plaza is a gift of Charles and Shirley Drury, who
are founders of Drury Inns Inc. and longtime SLU supporters.
Photos by Kevin Lowder
Photo by Kevin Lowder
Photo by James Visser
Photo by Alyssa Stahr
Photo by Kevin Lowder
Marilyn and
Sam Fox
Atlas Week’s Billiken
World Festival
Brouster
s u m m e r ’ 0 9 U N I V E R S I T A S 7
Dual-degree program combines
education and business
Saint Louis University has launched a new degree program that will give school prin-cipals
and other educational leaders the business skills necessary to succeed at every
level. It is a collaborative effort between the John Cook School of Business and the College
of Education and Public Service. Students who complete the program will receive both a
master of arts in educational leadership and a
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