1,236 research outputs found
The life of Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson
No full textThe life of Fanny Van de Grift Stevenson, wife of famed author Robert Louis Stevenson, with a new introduction by Ysabel Sanchez Matne
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
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Address fax submissions to Editor,
UNIVERSITAS.
Postmaster: Send address changes to
UNIVERSITAS, Saint Louis University, 221
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World Wide Web address:
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UNIVERSITAS is printed by Universal
Printing Co. and mailed by Accurate
Business Mailers Inc.
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 2018 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University. This is a special Bicentennial issue, celebrating the University's 200th anniversaryUNIVERSI TAS 2 SUMMER 2018 SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSIT Y 1 BICENTENNIAL
P R E S I D E N T ’ S
M E S S A G E
VOLUME 4 4, ISSUE 2
EDITOR
Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92)
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Amy Garland (A&S ’97)
ART DIRECTOR
Matt Krob
CONTRIBUTORS
Anne Marie Apollo-Noel
Dr. Dolores Byrnes
Molly Daily (Grad A&S ’18)
Marie Dilg (Grad SW ’94)
Sarah Hilgendorf
ON CAMPUS NEWS STORIES
University Public Relations
Billiken Media Relations
ON THE COVER
Detail of a window in St. Francis
Xavier College Church depicting
the north entry of DuBourg Hall
flanked by graduates. The word
“Christocracy” in red letters
above the entry indicates Christ’s
influence on education. The
window was designed by Emil Frei
Jr. and installed in the 1930s.
Photo by J.J. Mueller, S.J.
(A&S ’69, Grad A&S ’70)
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 Henry Wurst Inc.
Worldwide circulation: 116,500
© 2018, Saint Louis University
All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part
without permission is prohibited.
Detail of two windows in St. Francis Xavier College Church
that spotlight academic disciplines and sit on each side of the
window on this issue’s cover. On the left, painting and music are
depicted. On the right, mathematics and science are shown.
PHOTOS BY J.J. MUELLER, S.J.
PHOTO BY JAY FRAM
F E ATU R E S
D E PARTME NTS
10
The First Two Centuries
A 200-year timeline of Saint Louis University
— By Molly Daily
16
Always at the Frontier
An excerpt from the official bicentennial book
— By Dr. Dolores Byrnes
20
Exhibiting History
The Saint Louis University Museum of Art’s new
exhibition — Photos by Steve Dolan
24
Talking About My Generation
Campus activities and hangouts since the 1940s
— By Amy Garland
29
The Bicentennial Logo
The hidden details of SLU’s 200-year mark
— Designed by Matt Krob
30
More Than a Job
Reflections from 10 longtime faculty and staff
— By Marie Dilg
36
Cover Story
Telling SLU’s history through its alumni
magazines — By Laura Geiser
40
Making Good Time
An update on the bicentennial service challenge
— By Anne Marie Apollo-Noel
2 On Campus
Major gift to the business school ///
Madrid’s 50-year celebration /// 2018
commencement /// Climate Summit
/// Prospect Yards /// Gift for nursing
scholarships /// Literary Award to Sondheim
42 Class Notes
43 Alumni Spotlight
Eric Moraczewski (CSB ’04)
46 In Memoriam
48 Feedback
49 The Last Look
Our beloved University is worthy of celebration —
both for the memorable achievements of our shared
past and for the many impressive ways in which we
live our mission today.
We began this past academic year with the
bicentennial Mass. As we planned it, I believed that it would be
remembered as one of the very best moments in our history. An
email I received from a parent of one of our students confirmed that
to me. He said, “As I sat at the 200th anniversary Mass, with its
gorgeous backdrop and significant history, I was brought to
tears by the humbling appreciation that my daughter could
attend a university like SLU.” This gratitude for SLU and our his-tory
set the tone.
More recently, as part of our bicentennial celebration, we hosted
the Saint Louis Climate Summit and brought together world-re-nowned
speakers Cardinal Peter Turkson, Dr. Mario Molina, Carl
Pope and Bill Nye to examine a path forward for our planet. (Read
more on page 5.)
The Climate Summit was born out of the desire to respond to
Pope Francis’ call to care for all of creation, especially our environ-ment,
in his encyclical Laudato Si’. Chaired by SLU’s own Dr. Jack
Fishman (Grad A&S ’74, ’77) and David Webb (A&S, CSB ’97, Grad
’12), and planned with support from Dr. Peter Raven and trustee
Trudy Busch Valentine (Nurs ’80), the summit attracted meteorol-ogists;
government leaders; experts in climate science, ecology and
sustainable development; students; and engaged St. Louisans for
three days of discussion.
In affirmation of this summit, I received a letter from Cardinal
Pietro Parolin, who is the secretary of state for the Vatican. In the
letter, Cardinal Parolin quotes Pope Francis’ prayer that, “This gath-ering
may serve to inform society more effectively on the issue of
climate change and encourage the University community ‘to pro-mote
best practice, to stimulate creativity in seeking new solutions
and to encourage individual or group initiatives.’”
In addition to these and other impressive events and academic
programs, our bicentennial has inspired an outpouring of support
from our community. Our stakeholders are demonstrating their
belief in the importance of our work by investing in SLU. We are
in the midst of the single greatest fundraising year in SLU history.
Further, we are confident we will end this year at more than twice
our previous all-time total.
This February, trustee Dr. Richard Chaifetz (A&S ’75) and Jill
Chaifetz made a transformational gift of 27 million.
Their latest gift is intended to grow SLU’s nationally ranked entre-preneurship
center and provide resources for other programs in the
newly named Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business. (Read more
on page 2.)
Thank you to each of our alumni who have contributed to this
historic fundraising year. Your gifts support innovation, academic
excellence, scholarship and informed medicine. They will invigo-rate
Saint Louis University, and reflect your confidence in our plan
for the future.
The very near future holds two outstanding opportunities for
all of us to come together to celebrate SLU’s first two centuries. I
hope you will join us for a Grand Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 29,
during our special bicentennial Homecoming and Family Weekend.
This evening will feature live music, food and fun activities for all
ages. And on Thursday, Nov. 15, I invite you to a 200th birthday
celebration featuring a private concert by the St. Louis Symphony
Orchestra at Chaifetz Arena.
As we all celebrate this historic milestone, our University is part-nering
in shaping the direction of our region, and we are doing
wonderful work in the classroom, in the laboratory, in the hospi-tal
and in the community. Your support during our past and in the
present is vital to our future. While you read, I hope you’ll learn
new facts about your alma mater, reminisce about your time here and
be inspired by the stories of those who shaped our beloved institu-tion.
I would be delighted to hear your reflections.
May God bless you, and may God continue to bless Saint Louis
University.
Dr. Fred P. Pestello
President
This special issue of Universitas takes you on a journey though Saint Louis
University’s past. The timeline, book excerpt, faculty memories and photos that you
will find on the following pages all serve to remind you of SLU’s noble history.
UNIVERSI TAS 2 SUMMER 2018 SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSIT Y 3 BICENTENNIAL
Chaifetz Family Gift Leads to
Business School’s New Name
In February, SLU trustee Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz (A&S ’75)
and his wife, Jill Chaifetz, increased their giving to Saint
Louis University to 15 million to the
business school. In 2007, the couple provided the lead gift
of 12 million that enabled the construction of Chaifetz
Arena.
To honor this new, generous contribution, the University
has renamed its business school the Richard A. Chaifetz
School of Business and the school’s entrepreneurship
center the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship.
SLU students, faculty and staff members turned out to
thank Chaifetz during a special reception on Feb. 22.
In his remarks, Chaifetz briefly told the story of how former
SLU President Paul Reinert, S.J., allowed him to remain
at SLU when financial issues threatened his ability to stay.
Chaifetz promised Reinert that he would pay back his
tuition — and that he would pay back the University in an
even bigger way in the future.
“This allows me to give back to a school I love, am
passionate about and want to make even greater,” Chaifetz
told the large crowd. “I want to hear the Chaifetz School
of Business mentioned in the same breath as other great
business schools.”
The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business has seven
programs nationally ranked by U.S. News and World
Report — three undergraduate and four graduate —
including the country’s No. 9-ranked undergraduate
entrepreneurship program.
Chaifetz is a world-renowned entrepreneur and business
leader, who in 1984 founded ComPsych Corp., today the
world’s largest provider of employee assistance programs,
behavioral health and wellness services. The company, of
which he remains founder, chairman and CEO, provides
services to more than 100 million individuals and 45,000
organizations in more than 160 countries. He also is
founder and chairman of the private investment firm
Chaifetz Group. He has been a member of SLU’s board of
trustees since 2007 and was an inaugural member of the
business school’s Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame.
ON C AMPUS
PHOTOS BY STEVE DOLAN
Chaifetz addresses the crowd.
Chaifetz (left) and SLU President Dr. Fred P. Pestello
talk with students at the February event.
Guests gathered in the in the Shanahan
Atrium of Cook Hall listen to Chaifetz.
UNIVERSI TAS 4 SUMMER 2018 SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSIT Y 5 BICENTENNIAL
2018 Commencement
Celebrates the Bicentennial
With SLU’s bicentennial in mind, the University
began a new tradition at the May 19 com-mencement
ceremony at Chaifetz Arena as members
of its Class of 1968 — now called Golden Billikens
— led the entry procession and received special
recognition. Golden Billikens will be honored at
University commencements going forward.
In another nod to the bicentennial, SLU reintro-duced
its “Varsity Song,” which was written in 1909
and had not been performed at commencement
since the 1960s. (See the original on page 19.) It was
updated by Dr. Aaron Johnson, assistant professor of
music, and sung by the University’s Mastersingers.
More than 2,100 students graduated this spring.
This year’s commencement speaker was Ronald
Mercier, S.J., provincial of the Jesuits’ U.S. Central
and Southern Province. He received an honorary
doctor of divinity from the University. Also honored
with honorary degrees during the ceremony were
two SLU alumni, former U.S. Congressman William
“Bill” Lacy Clay Sr. (A&S ’53) and former St. Louis
Mayor Francis G. Slay (Law ’80).
The student speaker from the graduating class was
new law alumna Sarah Tomlinson. University archi-vist
emeritus John Waide (A&S ’73) was the mace
bearer.
Climate
Summit Draws
Thousands
Saint Louis University
brought toge t her
some of the most author-itative
minds in climate
science, ecology and sus-tainable
development
for the 2018 Saint Louis
Cl imate Summi t thi s
April.
A highlight of SLU’s
yearlong bicentennial
celebration, the three-day summit was inspired by Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical
Laudato Si’ that called attention to humankind’s responsibility to care for the earth
in the wake of climate change.
Nearly 2,300 students, faculty and members of the St. Louis community attended
the summit’s keynote address at Chaifetz Arena. The speakers were Carl Pope,
former executive director of the Sierra Club and co-author of Climate of Hope: How
Cities, Businesses and Citizens Can Save the Planet, and Bill Nye “The Science Guy,”
well-known science educator and advocate.
The summit featured experts from around the world, including Cardinal Peter
Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; Dr.
Mario Molina, 1995 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry; recipients of various
United Nations Environmental Awards; and members of the Pontifical Academy of
Sciences, the primary scientific advisory council to the pope.
Panelists presented about food security, water availability, rising sea levels, busi-ness
issues related to climate change and more. More than 220 people attended the
academic portion of the summit, which was shared worldwide online.
The summit was organized by
Dr. Jack Fishman (Grad A&S ’74, ’77),
professor of earth and atmospheric
sciences and director of SLU’s Center
for Environmental Sciences, and David
Webb (A&S, CSB ’97, Grad ’12), director
of SLU’s Emerson Leadership Business
Institute. Dr. Peter Raven, president
emeritus of the Missouri Botanical
Garden, and Trudy Busch Valentine
(Nurs ’80), a SLU trustee, were key
members of the planning team.
During February and March, SLU competed in the annual
nationwide RecycleMania competition, an eight-week
event that raises awareness about campus sustainability.
8th year
participating in RecycleMania
331,762 lbs.
of single-stream recycling collected by SLU
86,267 lbs.
of electronics collected during
the E-Waste Drive
4th place
in the national electronic
recycling competition
25,721 lbs.
of old documents shredded and
recycled during ShredMania event
443,750 lbs.
total diverted from landfills
by SLU this RecycleMania
IN ADDITION TO THE CLIMATE SUMMIT, HERE ARE A FEW
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS SPRING’S BICENTENNIAL EVENTS:
O N C A M P U S
BY THE NUMBERS
RecycleMania
Students volunteer at March’s
E-Waste Drive, part of the national
RecycleMania competition.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Nye (left) and Pope give the keynote address at Chaifetz Arena.
PHOTO BY SIMON NGUYEN
INTERCULTURAL ORIGINS
OF ST. LOUIS AND THE
TRANS-MISSISSIPPI WEST,
1800-1840
This conference examined
themes including the
international influences
present in early St. Louis,
and the expansion of the
St. Louis region.
WOMEN AT SLU:
THE STRUGGLE FOR
KNOWLEDGE, POWER AND
LEGACY
This symposium discussed
both the challenges and
opportunities women
confront as female
students, staff and faculty
at SLU.
FROM SELMA TO ST. LOUIS:
THEOLOGY OF MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR., AND THE
PURSUIT OF JUSTICE 50
YEARS LATER
This public symposium
offered performances and
reflections on King’s legacy
of liberation and justice.
PHOTO BY SIMON NGUYEN
Turkson (left) and Molina
Confetti and streamers were released at the
end of the ceremony in Chaifetz Arena.
Graduates’ caps Honorary degree recipients (from left) Slay, Mercier and Clay
Doisy College of Health Sciences graduates
PHOTOS BY STEVE DOLAN
UNIVERSI TAS 6 SUMMER 2018 SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSIT Y 7 BICENTENNIAL
SLU, St. Louis
Archdiocese
Sign Agreement
to Enrich
Seminarian
Education
St. Louis Archbishop
Robert J. Carlson and
SLU President Dr. Fred P.
Pestello signed an agree-ment
in April that brings
the Kenr ick-Glennon
Seminary undergraduate
program fully into SLU’s College of Philosophy and Letters, which oversees pro-grams
for students training for the priesthood and ministry.
Currently, seminarians take their first two years of undergraduate classes at
SLU and finish their education at the seminary, receiving a degree from Kenrick-
Glennon Seminary. Under the new agreement, seminarians will receive a Bachelor
of Arts degree in philosophy from SLU, taking classes taught both at SLU and at the
seminary. The program changes will be implemented for the 2018-19 school year.
The seminarians will be able to explore other disciplines while at SLU. Carlson
said he hoped that many would take advantage of the language arts and minor in
Spanish, as the archdiocese has a growing Spanish-speaking population.
Graduate Programs Earn High
U.S. News Rankings
The health law program in the Saint Louis
University School of Law has been named the
best in the nation by health law scholars for the
14th year, according to the 2019 U.S. News &
World Report “Best Graduate School” rankings.
The Center for Health Law Studies has been
listed as a top program since the rankings were
first published.
Four programs in the Richard A. Chaifetz
School of Business were ranked in the top
30 this year, including entrepreneurship,
international business, supply chain
management and accounting.
SLU School of Nursing’s master’s program
ranked among the top 50 out of more than 500
nursing graduate programs in the country.
1 Health Law
12 Entrepreneurship
13 International Business
15 Supply Chain Management
28 Accounting
28 Part-time Law
50 Best Nursing Programs – Master’s
51 Best Medical Programs – Primary Care
66 Best Nursing Programs – Doctor of Nursing Practice
70 Best Medical Programs – Research
88 Best Law Programs
163 Part-time MBA
194 Top Education Programs
Atlas Week Celebrates SLU’s Global Connections
The 2018 Sam and Marilyn Fox Atlas Week — “From Broken Walls,
We Build Bridges: Out of Conflict Rises Community” — paid special
attention to the ways that SLU students, faculty and staff members have
forged connections beyond campus to improve the world.
The week featured panels, presentations, film screenings, a soccer
tournament, and other opportunities to experience the myriad cultures
that make up the SLU community.
A highlight was the keynote address by brothers Fred and Milton
Ochieng’. Fred is pursuing cardiovascular medicine fellowship training
at Saint Louis University; Milton is a gastroenterologist with the BJC
Medical Group at Progress West Hospital. They spoke of their paths
from their Kenyan community Lwala to medical school in the United
States and beyond. The pair was orphaned and has used their medical
educations to give back to Lwala through the creation of a community
health clinic network.
The week culminated with the traditional Parade of Nations and the
Billiken World Festival.
Ring Award Winner Dr. Lauren Arnold,
associate professor of epidemiology in the College for Public
Health and Social Justice, is the most recent recipient of the
Nancy McNeir Ring Award, given by SLU’s chapter of Alpha
Sigma Nu to a faculty member who has displayed a special
dedication to students. Arnold addressed graduates during
Midyear Commencement in December. In her address, she
reminded the graduates to find joy in their decisions and to
find good mentors
Newly Named “Prospect Yards” District Connects SLU’s
North and South Campuses
In March, members of the Saint Louis University family, SSM Health and the
community cast nearly 6,000 votes to name St. Louis’ newest district. The win-ning
name? Prospect Yards.
The 150-acre district connects SLU’s north and south campuses and is bordered
by Laclede Avenue, Chouteau Avenue, Grand Boulevard and Vandeventer and Spring
avenues. The district lies within Midtown in the same way that Cortex is part of
St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood and the Loop is part of University City.
Prospect Yards includes projects such as the construction of the City Foundry STL
and an Element by Westin hotel, as well as redevelopment of the Armory building.
The name reflects the area’s early 20th-century roots, when the area west of
Grand was known as the “Prospect Industrial District,” one of 17 industrial districts
in the city and home to an extensive rail yard and many businesses.
The umbrella developer for the larger, 400-acre area is St. Louis Midtown
Redevelopment Corporation, which is owned by Saint Louis University and
SSM Health.
Stephen Sondheim Named 2018
St. Louis Literary Award Recipient
The Saint Louis University Library Associates
selected Stephen Sondheim, one of the most
eminent lyricists and composers of the modern era,
to receive the 2018 St. Louis Literary Award. He is
the first musical lyricist to win the award since its
inception in 1967. Sondheim will come to SLU in
October to accept the award.
In a career spanning 70 years, Sondheim has writ-ten
the lyrics, music or both for some of the most
iconic plays in the history of American theater,
including West Side Story, Into the Woods, Sunday in the
Park with George, Sweeney Todd and Gypsy.
The award ceremony and conversation with the
author, who will be interviewed by Muny artistic
director Michael Isaacson (A&S ’86, Grad CSB ’96),
is planned for Oct. 4. For more information, visit
lib.slu.edu/about/associates.
Med School Residency
Program Receives Highest
Accreditation Status
The Accreditation Council for Graduate
Medical Education, the accrediting body for
medical residencies and fellowships, granted the
School of Medicine continued accreditation, its high-est
accreditation status. The status took effect Jan.
24, after a site visit earlier in the month.
SLU is the sponsoring institution for 65 residency
and fellowship programs at six area hospitals and
many other clinical sites.
8.4 Million Gift to Nursing School
Abequest gift totaling $8.4 million will allow the
School of Nursing to create the Dr. and Mrs.
Robert C. Hoppe Endowed Scholarship. The gift
— the largest in the School of Nursing’s history and
among the largest in SLU’s history — was made by the
estate of Mary K. Hoppe (Nurs ’51, Grad Nurs ’59).
“The Hoppes’ generosity in providing educational
assistance for students will live eternally through the
lives of the scholarship recipients and the countless
numbers of patients each student touches,” Nursing
Dean Dr. Teri Murray (Nurs ’79, Grad Nurs ’93, Grad
Ed ’97) said.
The nursing school plans to honor Hoppe and her
husband, Dr. Robert Hoppe (Med ’51), at its 90th
anniversary celebration this fall.
Dois
Revisiting Robert Louis Stevenson in the Pacific
No full textIn this Archive Case display, artists Simon Grennan and Soloman Enos re-examine the work of nineteenth century author Robert Louis Stevenson through dynamic graphic storytelling. Stevenson travelled to several Pacific islands before settling in Sāmoa in 1890. Referencing this time in Sāmoa, as well as Hawai’i and Europe, related items are brought together from the Museum's Pacific collections and displayed alongside historical publications of Stevenson's Pacific stories, set within new graphic remediations of these stories as comics by British and Hawaiian artists. The illustration-led display explores the journey of ideas across media (remediation) in the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries, Robert Louis Stevenson’s fascination with ‘the foreign', and post-colonialism in the Pacific, including new poetry focused on Hawaiian, Samoan and European post-colonialism.
The display at the Pitt Rivers Museum celebrates work that is part of a wider research project 'Remediating Stevenson', led by a UK research team (Michelle Keown, Shari Sabeti and Alice Kelly, Edinburgh University; and Simon Grennan, Chester University), in partnership with the National University of Sāmoa. The project explores Robert Louise Stevenson's Pacific fiction, travels, and friendship with Indigenous Pacific communities. The Remediating Robert Louis Stevenson project is producing the first ever multilingual graphic adaptation of the three stories from Robert Louis Stevenson's Island Nights' Entertainments (1893). The project is also commissioning new poetry by indigenous Pacific authors, and developing a set of accompanying teaching resources for use in Sāmoa, Hawai’i and Scotland through participatory arts workshops and film-making.Remediating Stevenson: Decolonising Robert Louis Stevenson's Pacific Fiction through Graphic Adaptation, Arts Education and Community Engagement | Funder: Arts and Humanities Research Council | Grant ID: AH/W007010/
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
Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University
No full textSummer 2019 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University.RESEARCH INSTITUTE
AWARDS
Page 8
CENTER FOR HEALTH
LAW STUDIES
Page 16
STUDENT
DANCE GROUPS
Page 20
RETIREMENT
PLANNING
Page 26
Page 10
A SLU professor and his students examine
the secret lives of bees
SUMMER 2019 | 1
VOLUME 45, ISSUE 2
EDITOR
Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92)
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Amy Garland (A&S ’97)
ART DIRECTOR
Matt Krob
CONTRIBUTORS
Jessica Ciccone
Marie Dilg (Grad SW ’94)
Sarah Hilgendorf
ON CAMPUS NEWS STORIES
University Public Relations
Billiken Media Relations
ON THE COVER
SLU's Dr. Gerardo Camilo
searches for bees on campus.
Photo by Douglas Garfield
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: 123,557
© 2019, Saint Louis University
All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part
without permission is prohibited.
Members of the student dance group XQuizit (from left) Sally Kim and Victoria Birchem
PHOTO BY GARRETT CANDUCCI
F E ATU R E S D E PARTME NTS
8
Valuing Research
SLU’s new Research Institute awards nearly
2 million in grants to 15 faculty.
10
Buzz Worthy
A SLU professor and his students are busy
studying bees in urban areas.
— By Amy Garland
16
Center of Attention
SLU’s No. 1-ranked health law program has
set the standard since 1981. — By Jessica Ciccone
20
Just Dance
Student dance groups are taking center stage
at SLU. — By Sarah Hilgendorf
26
Inspired Retirement
The Next Chapter program helps retirees
plan the next phase of their lives.
— By Marie Dilg
2 On Campus
Men’s basketball A-10 championship ///
Commencement /// NGA conference ///
Prospect Yards update /// Literary Award
winner
30 Class Notes
Alumni Spotlight: Margaret Lazzari {A&S ’75} ///
Alumni Merit Awardees /// How I Got Here:
W. Raymond Barrett {CSB ’60} /// Billiken Hall of
Fame Class
38 In Memoriam
40 By the Numbers
Accelerating Excellence campaign news
41 The Last Look
Our faculty, clinicians, staff and students are in fierce pur-suit
of our vision to be a global Jesuit university that is
mission-focused, student- and patient-centered, and
research-driven. A university that is working with the people of St.
Louis to reimagine, transform and unify our city.
Pursuing that vision requires us to be nimble, not a frequent
descriptor for a 200-year-old institution. But nimble we must be
as the interests and needs of our current and future students shift,
and the world around us accelerates the rate of change. This adap-tive
process is inherently Ignatian. As you, our alumni, know, at
the crossroads of our talents and the world’s greatest needs is our
vocation, and we have a responsibility to thoughtfully discern that
intersection.
In addition to examining and improving our offerings, we are
investing. Our investment priorities include scholarship support,
career services and experiential education; STEM, health sci-ences,
nursing and medicine, where student demand and employer
needs continue to grow exponentially; the creation of Saint Louis
University’s first University-wide, Ignatian inspired, core curricu-lum;
faculty and student research; and mental health and well-being
services for our students and community partners.
In this edition of Universitas, we spend some time on our part-nerships
— partnerships with businesses and government agencies
that enhance our educational experience; partnerships within our
community that strengthen families, provide
opportunity and sustain the revitalization
of our region; and partnerships with alumni
who generously support our efforts.
For example, as you’ ll read on page 6,
St. Louis is becoming one of the nation’s
centers for location-based data col lec-tion,
mapping, analysis and services, called
geospatial information technologies. We
have recently partnered with the National
Geospatial-Intelligence Agency on a collab-orative
agreement that will allow our two
organizations to work together on research,
training and innovation efforts. Because
of SLU’s diverse and expanding geospatial
research and training portfolio, we are well
positioned to support the NGA’s work as they
plan to invest 1.75 billion in a new western
headquarters, less than two miles from our
campus. In April, we co-sponsored a sold-out
conference with the NGA that introduced
some of the geospatial industry’s leaders to
our students and faculty.
Our local economic partnerships are
thriving, too. As you’ll see on page 7, ren-derings
have been released for the new Iron
Hill development at the northwest corner
of Grand Boulevard and Chouteau Avenue.
This exciting project will further accelerate
the dynamism taking place in the city’s cen-tral
corridor. As you know, SLU has long served as a catalyst for
social and economic prosperity in the city we proudly call home.
And this investment will transform an empty lot into a unique and
lasting development that will serve the SLU community and our
neighbors for many years to come. You will be pleased to know
that there is more development taking place on and adjacent to our
campus than at any time in our 200-year history. Look for more
information on these projects in future issues.
Finally, our partnership with you, our loyal supporters, is stron-ger
than ever. Last fall, we launched Accelerating Excellence: The
Campaign for Saint Louis University, and we are pleased to report
that so far more than 17,200 alumni have made campaign gifts to
SLU. This year, thanks to your continued support, we have sur-passed
last year’s all-time record for fundraising. Along with other
exciting records we’ve broken, you’ll hear more about Accelerating
Excellence and our extraordinary year in the next issue.
Until then, may God bless you, and Saint Louis University.
Dr. Fred P. Pestello
President
There are a lot of myopic narratives about higher education
floating around, from out-of-control costs to graduates who
are ill-prepared for their future. As you, our alumni, well
know, here at Saint Louis University, our reality looks
drastically different from some of the sensational stories you
might be reading or viewing in mainstream and social media.
PRESIDENT ’ S
MESSAGE
PHOTO BY STEVE DOLAN
Pestello greets a graduate and her family
after SLU’s May 18 commencement.
2 | UNIVERSITAS | THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSIT Y SUMMER 2019 | 3
ON CAMPUS
Billikens Win
A-10 Crown
Saint Louis University
captured the Atlantic 10
Conference title with a 55-
53 win over St. Bonaventure
March 17 at Barclays Center
in Brooklyn, New York.
The Billikens completed a
thrilling A-10 Tournament by
winning four games in four
days to punch their ticket to
the 2019 NCAA Tournament
— SLU’s first NCAA
appearance since 2014.
Tramaine Isabell Jr. was
named the A-10 Tournament
Most Outstanding Player.
Javon Bess (A&S ’18)
was named to the All-
Championship team as well.
“We go out every game,
every day, every practice,
and we’re playing for this
university, and we’re playing
for the city of St. Louis, and
that means a lot to us,” said
Head Coach Travis Ford.
The 13th-seeded Billikens
finished their season with a
23-13 record after losing to
Virginia Tech, a No. 4 seed, in
the first round of the NCAA
Championship.
Adding to the March
Madness frenzy was the
Billiken mascot's appearance
on The Tonight Show Starring
Jimmy Fallon. The Billiken
captured the slam dunk and
three-point titles, beating
13 of the A-10's college
basketball mascots in The
Tonight Show's first NCAA
mascot skills competition.
Head Coach Travis Ford (center, in
suit) leaps into a pile of celebrating
players following the Billikens' A-10
championship win at Barclays Center
on March 17.
PHOTO BY MITCHELL LEFF / ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE
4 | UNIVERSITAS | THE ALUMNI MAGA ZINE OF SAINT LOUI S UNIVERS I T Y SUMMER 2019 | 5
ON CAMPUS
SLU Celebrates Its 2019 Graduates
As he stood at the commencement podium,
Matthew Prest (Parks ’19), Saint Louis University’s
student speaker, told the crowd to be mindful of a
proverb from his native New Zealand: “What is the
most important thing in the world? It is the people, it
is the people, it is the people.”
For Prest and the University’s 2,546 newest alumni,
the call to change the world for the better defined
their SLU experience and the paths they will take
following their May 18 commencement at Chaifetz
Arena.
“The legacy of SLU and of yourselves is in your
hands,” Prest said. “What being a Billiken means is
up to you, but I challenge you to make it matter.”
University President Dr. Fred P. Pestello echoed
Prest’s emphasis on the uniqueness of a Jesuit edu-cation
and on Billikens as change-makers, as did the
ceremony’s keynote speaker, Randall L. Stephenson,
chairman and CEO of AT&T.
Stephenson received an honorary doctor of com-merce
degree during the ceremony. Others given
honorary degrees were Robert Cardillo, former
director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence
Agency; Marie Kenyon (Law ’86), a lawyer and
director of the Peace and Justice Commission of
the Archdiocese of St. Louis; and Donald Ross, vice
chairman of Enterprise Holdings Inc.
Cancer Center Receives 4.5 million gift from the estate of Dr. LeRoy
Fink (Med ’56) to support the Saint Louis University Cancer Center. Fink’s gift
is one of the largest in the history of the medical school.
A lifelong supporter of the University, Fink named the School of Medicine as a
beneficiary of his estate, providing funds that will be used to support the Cancer
Center specifically with research and clinical care, as well as the Cancer Center’s
active focus on clinical trials and its outpatient bone marrow transplant program. A
native of Edwardsville, Illinois, Fink died in January 2018 at age 87.
He was an active alumnus, assisting in planning numerous class reunions as a
volunteer and providing many gifts to support student scholarships and programs
in the School of Medicine.
Danticat Named 2019
Literary Award Winner
Haitian-American writer Edwidge Danticat, author
of acclaimed books that include Breath, Eyes,
Memory, Krik? Krak! and The Dew Breaker, will receive
the 2019 St. Louis Literary Award from the Saint Louis
University Library Associates.
Danticat is a graduate of Brown University whose mas-ter’s
thesis became her debut novel Breath, Eyes, Memory,
which was selected in 1998 as an official book club pick by Oprah Winfrey. She also
has been recognized for her 2010 essay collection, Create Dangerously: The Immigrant
Artist at Work. She has received an American Book Award (1999), a National Book
Critics Circle Award (2007) and a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship (2009).
Danticat will be in St. Louis on Thursday, Oct. 24, for the award ceremony. The
event is complimentary, but registration is required. To register, visit alumni.slu.
edu/literaryaward19.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
First No-Hitter
in 53 Years
Billiken pitcher Cody Luther
made history in April during
SLU’s 5-0 win over St.
Bonaventure in game one of
a doubleheader: The senior
threw the first nine-inning
no-hitter at SLU since 1966.
Luther struck out a career-high
11 opposing hitters,
while scattering two walks in
his dominant start over the
Bonnies.
St. Louis Jesuits Coming Home
ASept. 29 concert in St. Louis will mark the last
time Bob Dufford, S.J. {A&S ’67, Grad ’72, ’75},
John Foley, S.J. {A&S ’68, Grad ’68, ’74}, Tim Manion
{A&S ’76}, Roc O’Connor, S.J. {A&S ’73} and Dan
Schutte {A&S ’72} will take the stage together as the
St. Louis Jesuits. The farewell concert, to be held at 3
p.m. on the final day of SLU’s Homecoming and Family
Weekend at Powell Hall near campus, will feature
the group’s most beloved liturgical songs and hymns.
Tickets start at 15; a VIP preconcert reception is
available for an additional fee. All proceeds benefit the
Ignatian Spirituality Project. Tickets may be purchased
by phone at 314-534-1700, or online at powellhall.com.
Graduate Programs Earn High
U.S. News Rankings
The health law program at Saint Louis University’s
School of Law was named the best in the nation for
the 15th year in the 2020 U.S. News & World Report
“Best Graduate School” rankings. The Center for
Health Law Studies has been a top program since
the rankings were first published. (See the story on
page 16.)
Three graduate programs in the Richard A.
Chaifetz School of Business were ranked in the
top 15 this year: entrepreneurship, international
business and supply chain management. Graduate
accounting ranked No. 35.
SLU health care specialties programs — including
health care management, physician assistant and
public health — were in the top 50. Social work
ranked 51 in the nation.
U.S. NEWS 2020 TOP-50 BEST GRADUATE SCHOOL RANKINGS
1 Law: Health Law
9 Business:
International
13 Business:
Entrepreneurship
13 Business:
Supply Chain
13 Health Care
Specialties:
Health Care
Management
30 Law: Part-time Law
35 Business:
Accounting
37 Health Care
Specialties:
Physician
Assistant
46 Health Care
Specialties:
Public Health
ATHLETICS
Majerus Makes
Hall of Fame
The late Rick Majerus,
who served as SLU’s men’s
basketball coach for five
years from 2007-12, was
selected to the National
Collegiate Basketball Hall of
Fame Class of 2019. He will
be inducted officially on Nov.
24 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Majerus posted a 95-69
record at SLU and guided
the Billikens to the 2012
NCAA Tournament in his
final season, which was SLU’s
first NCAA appearance in 12
years. The Billikens would go
on to make two additional
NCAA Tournament
appearances with Majerus’
core group of players.
Majerus took a leave of
absence for the 2012-13 season
to deal with a heart condition.
He died on Dec. 1, 2012.
PHOTOS BY STEVE DOLAN
New Academic Programs
to Start in Fall
Saint Louis University will offer many new academic
programs this fall.
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Bioethics and Health
Studies
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Chemical Biology
and Pharmacology
Data Science
MASTER OF ARTS
OR SCIENCES
Chemical Biology
ACCELERATED PROGRAMS:
BACHELOR OF ARTS
TO MASTER OF ARTS
French
Spanish
MINORS
International Studies
Law, Religion and
Politics
CERTIFICATES
Disability
Administration in
Higher Education
Brewing Science and
Operations
MLK III Visit: Martin Luther King III
spoke at the 2019 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. Memorial Tribute at Busch Student Center in
January. King III told the crowd, “Discrimination
is a tenacious evil. We are a better nation than the
behavior we exhibit. We’ve got to find a way to bring
Americans together.” SLU received the Community
Partner of the Year Award from the Urban League of
Metropolitan St. Louis at the breakfast.
Growing the Region's Econony:
SLU President Dr. Fred P. Pestello (far right) and
Washington University in St. Louis Chancellor Dr.
Mark S. Wrighton (far left) cut the ribbon on the
COLLAB, the first dedicated academic space for either
university in Cortex, the region’s largest innovation
district. Officials from both universities celebrated the
launch of the initiative that will focus on economic
development, innovation and education. Housed in a
7,700-square-foot suite, the COLLAB will:
Offer programs in entrepreneurship through
SLU’s Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business
Present programs on cybersecurity, IT and
engineering management through Washington
University’s McKelvey School of Engineering
Support technology transfer efforts to get
research to the marketplace
Bolster university-industry partnerships
The COLLAB will also host courses as well as events
that bring together academic, industry, civic and
innovation leaders around topics of shared interest.
Additionally, the COLLAB will support the growth
of university-industry collaborations in areas of
common regional interest.
Parks graduates celebrate
Prest
FROM LEFT: Stephenson, Kenyon,
Pestello, Ross and Cardillo
PHOTO BY ROMONDO DAVIS
The St. Louis Jesuits
PHOTO BY AMELIA FLODD
SUBMITTED PHOTO
PHOTO BY BILL BARRETT
PHOTO BY BILL BARRETT
6 | UNIVERSITAS | THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSIT Y SUMMER 2019 | 7
ON CAMPUS
Gift Creates New
Neuroscience Center
Through a 300,000 endowment, Dr. Henry
Nasrallah, retiring chair of SLU’s Department of
Psychiatry, and his wife, Amelia, a research psycholo-gist,
have established the Henry and Amelia Nasrallah
Center for Neuroscience at Saint Louis University.
The endowment will foster interdisciplinary
research and education in neuroscience within the
School of Medicine and across several colleges at
SLU. The endowment will also support an annual
lectureship during National Brain Awareness Week
in March, featuring a distinguished neuroscientist at
a joint neurology and psychiatry grand rounds.
SLU, NGA Collaborate on Major Initiatives
PARTNERING ON GEOSPATIAL
RESEARCH PROJECTS
In January, Saint Louis University
signed a Collaborative Research and
Development Agreement (CRADA)
with the National Geospatial-
Intelligence Agency (NGA),
establishing a new relationship that
will allow SLU to collaborate with the
NGA on geospatial research, training
and innovation initiatives.
CRADAs are formal agreements that
allow federal agencies and partner
organizations to optimize their
resources, share technical expertise,
enhance workforce development
and leverage the national industrial
base and innovation communities.
The collaboration supports the new
GeoSLU initiative, which aims to
establish SLU as leading center for
geospatial research, training and
innovation in St. Louis. As a Jesuit
University, SLU’s geospatial research
primarily focuses on improving the
human condition — from economic
and health inequity to food and
water security. Mapping is also being
used to study climate change, crop
productivity and disease prevention,
among other areas.
The agreement followed the NGA’s
recent decision to invest in a new
$1.75 billion campus north of
downtown St. Louis.
HOSTING A GEOSPATIAL CONFERENCE
A crowd of 650 regional leaders from
academia, government and business,
and college students came together
at the Midwest’s first geospatial
conference April 9. Geo-Resolution
2019 was co-sponsored by the NGA
and SLU, which hosted the event.
Vice Admiral Robert Sharp, who
assumed leadership of the NGA in
February, and SLU President Dr. Fred
P. Pestello kicked off the day with a
moderated discussion on the future of
St. Louis.
As part of the conference, students
from SLU and other area universities
met with leadership from the
geospatial community during a
mentoring lunch. Students also
presented posters of their research
and were recruited by local industry
and government employers during a
special career fair.
Nearly two dozen speakers from across
the country shared their insights on
myriad geospatial topics including
artificial intelligence, analyzing
data, emerging technologies and
trends, public/private partnerships,
entrepreneurship and changing
patterns of where people live.
WORKING WITH
FORMER NGA
DIRECTOR
Robert Cardillo,
former director
of the NGA, has
been named a
Distinguished
Geospatial Fellow in the Saint Louis
University Research Institute. Cardillo,
who remains based in Washington,
D.C., devotes a portion of his time
each month to his work for SLU.
In his new role at SLU, Cardillo
supports an ongoing strategy for
geospatial growth in St. Louis and
facilitates collaborations between the
University, local innovators, industry
leaders and the NGA. Cardillo also
provides guidance to GeoSLU, SLU’s
geospatial research, training and
innovation initiative.
In addition, Cardillo advises the
Cortex Innovation Community
on geospatial strategy, innovation
and commercialization, further
strengthening the partnership
between SLU and the neighboring
innovation hub.
Cardillo is a leader in the U.S.
Intelligence Community. He
previously held senior positions in
the Bush and Obama administrations,
and most recently served as the sixth
director of the NGA. He retired from
that position in February. In May, he
received an honorary doctorate from
SLU.
Grand Honor: In May, SLU held an event to
recognize Lawrence Biondi, S.J., SLU’s president
from 1987-2013. To acknowledge his impact on
SLU and Midtown, the stretch of Grand Boulevard
that fronts campus honorarily was named “Father
Biondi, S.J., Way.” The area is marked by street signs,
underwritten by Biondi's supporters. The signs are
found along Grand between Lafayette Avenue and
Lindell Boulevard. Additionally, a plaza at the Madrid
Campus will be named for him.
Arts at SLU
SLUMA
Saint Louis University Museum of Art
MODES OF EXPRESSION
Through July 28
Featuring works from SLUMA’s permanent collections,
this exhibition focuses on representational,
abstract and non-objective art as modes of
expression, from the late 19th century to today.
M.C. ESCHER: INFINITE VARIATIONS
Through Sept. 22
With more than 100 pieces on loan from the
Herakleidon Museum in Athens, Greece, this exhibition
examines the mind-bending, mathematical and
metamorphic works of graphic artist M.C. Escher.
MOCRA
Museum of Contemporary Religious Art
Founding director Terrence Dempsey, S.J.,
who retired from SLU on June 30, is curating a
special September exhibition that will highlight
artists and artworks from MOCRA's history.
New Develop
Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University
No full textWinter 2020 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University.10 facts about SLU-Madrid
Page 14
RECORD-SETTING
CLASS
Page 20
NEW CAREER
CENTER
Page 24
ST. LOUIS JESUITS’
CONCERT
Page 26
FACULTY EXPERT ON
VICE PRESIDENCY
Page 30
WINTER 2020 | 1
VOLUME 46, ISSUE 1
EDITOR
Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92)
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Amy Garland (A&S ’97)
ART DIRECTOR
Matt Krob
CONTRIBUTORS
Jessica Ciccone
Marie Dilg (Grad SW ’94)
ON CAMPUS NEWS STORIES
University Public Relations
Billiken Media Relations
ON THE COVER
SLU-Madrid students in Plaza
Mayor in the heart of Madrid
Photo by Fernando Béjar
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,
1 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103.
We accept email at [email protected].
Postmaster: Send address changes to
Universitas, Saint Louis University,
1 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103.
Website: slu.edu/universitas
Universitas is printed by Breese
Printing and Publishing
Worldwide circulation: 123,557
© 2020, Saint Louis University
All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part
without permission is prohibited.
New and returning students gather at the first 9 p.m. Mass of the school year in St. Francis Xavier College Church.
PHOTO BY STEVE DOLAN
F E ATU R E S
D E PARTME NTS
14
¿Sabías?
Ten facts about SLU-Madrid that might
surprise you. — By Laura Geiser
20
Top Class
The freshman class is the largest in
SLU’s history. — By Marie Dilg
24
Beyond Career Fairs
SLU’s Career Services focuses on preparing
students for life after SLU. — By Marie Dilg
26
Coming Home
The St. Louis Jesuits music group says farewell
with a sold-out concert. — By Amy Garland
30
Vice Presidential VIP
Law professor Joel K. Goldstein is the
nation’s top VP expert. — By Jessica Ciccone
2 On Campus
Women’s soccer A-10 championship ///
Record fundraising year /// Nursing school’s
new name /// Midtown development update
/// Rankings /// Opus Prize
34 Class Notes
35 Alumni Spotlight
Angela Lewis (A&S ’04, Grad A&S ’07)
36 How I Got Here
Jim Dean (CSB ’88)
40 Letters to the Editor
41 In Memoriam
44 By the Numbers
45 The Last Look
That is certainly what our campus in
Spain aims to achieve — and accom-plishes
with great success. From
signage to statutes, SLU-Madrid succeeds at
carrying out our branding. But much more
than that, it lives our mission. This campus
shares our vision for building a better world
with more Jesuit-educated graduates. To do
so on the global stage is a testament to the
power of a SLU education.
The stories I hear from our students, both when I visit SLU-Madrid
and those who come back to St. Louis after spending time
studying abroad, never cease to amaze me. Their stories and experi-ences
remind me why I was called to higher education.
As you will see in this issue, our students absorb culture through
their time with señoras, or host families, who help broaden their
perspective of Spanish culture. (Read more on page 16.) Learning
does not stop when our students leave class — and in this increas-ingly
connected world, it is more important than ever to lead them
to become informed global citizens.
The excitement we feel at SLU crosses international waters, and
I’m thrilled this issue brings you a flavor of the pride we feel for
our Madrid and St. Louis campuses. From regional development
to record-breaking enrollment and fundraising, we certainly look
forward to sharing our good news.
The start of our third century and SLU-Madrid’s 52nd year
brought a record-setting year for us at Saint Louis University.
Our freshman class in St. Louis broke all enrollment records with
1,900 students, surpassing our previous largest class by 200 students.
(Turn to page 22 to learn more.) SLU-Madrid continues to draw
hundreds of students from dozens of countries who learn and grow
together.
And thanks to our generous donors, we once again raised a record
amount in gifts for scholarships, academics, research and other ini-tiatives.
We are well on our way to our 550 million SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital and
Ambulatory Care Center. All will open this fall.
SLU is also proud to be involved in developments that lead the
resurgence taking place in the city’s central core, such as the redevel-opment
of homes in the Gate District West neighborhood near the
hospital, and the forthcoming City Foundry. (Read more on page
13.) As we share in the story about Gate District West, we are grate-ful
to our St. Louis community neighbors for sharing our vision for
and commitment to growing stronger together.
In closing, I ask that you remember how these stories and the
many initiatives behind them help fulfill our noble mission.
I also ask that you share our exciting news with those you know
who are young — or young at heart — who are seeking higher edu-cation.
Tell them about SLU and your experience. Our world always
benefits from more truth-seekers and servant leaders who are Jesuit
educated.
May God bless you and Saint Louis University.
Dr. Fred P. Pestello
President
I cannot tell you what it’s
like to step off of a plane
after an eight-hour flight
to Europe, only to walk
onto a campus that feels
just like home. Or perhaps
I don’t have to tell many
of you — those of you who
have studied at or visited
SLU-Madrid, or our
international students in
St. Louis.
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
PHOTO BY FERNANDO BÉJAR
Pestello talks with students outside of
San Ignacio Hall at SLU-Madrid.
2 | UNIVERSITAS | THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSIT Y WINTER 2020 | 3
ON CAMPUS
Women’s Soccer Wins A-10 Again
The Billikens women’s soccer team defeated
George Washington 3-1 in the Atlantic 10
Conference Championship title game in November,
securing its second straight A-10 Championship
crown.
Senior Courtney Reimer was named the most
outstanding player of the championship. Senior
Emma Farley, sophomore Hannah Friedrich, senior
Alli Klug and graduate student Mary Niehaus joined
her on the All-Championship team.
Over the season, SLU extended its school-record
unbeaten streak to 16 games. Already the
winningest class in SLU women’s soccer history, the
Billiken seniors registered their 64th victory.
The team lost to Notre Dame in the first round of
the NCAA Championship.
Reimer
Celebrating with
the A-10 trophy
Reimer (center) hugs
Annabelle Copeland
(left) and Farley.
Farley
The team celebrates at Robert R. Hermann Stadium on campus.
PHOTOS BY BILL BARRETT
4 | UNIVERSITAS | THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSIT Y WINTER 2020 | 5
ON CAMPUS
University Offers New Academic Programs,
Begins Comprehensive Review Process
Saint Louis University began offering many new academic programs in the fall,
including:
UNDERGRADUATE
Bachelor of Arts
in Leadership and
Organizational
Behavior
Bachelor of Science
in Health Care Ethics
Minor in Dance
GRADUATE
Master of Science
in Biostatistics and
Health Analytics
Doctorate in
Education Policy and
Equity
GRADUATE CERTIFICATES
American Studies
Cybersecurity
Strategic Intelligence
Women’s and Gender
Studies
The University also started a formal review of its academic programs. In spring
2019, the provost established the Academic Portfolio Review Committee, tasked
with analyzing and making recommendations to the provost about the size
and academic scope of the University’s portfolio of offerings. This process will
eventually become a regular assessment tool for all graduate and undergraduate
programs.
Led by faculty, the committee has representatives from the student body and
administration. Dr. Mark Knuepfer, a professor in the School of Medicine, serves
as the committee chair.
Signature Beam: Students, faculty and staff signed their
names and good wishes on the beam that would complete the topping-out
of SLU's new Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building.
Saint Louis University leaders, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, trustees,
students, faculty and staff members marked the topping-out of the
University’s new 4 million in support of the
School of Nursing and Accelerating Excellence: The
Campaign for Saint Louis University.
In recognition of Valentine’s history of philan-thropic
support of SLU totaling nearly 3.75
million
Supported by a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Dr.
John Morley, professor of internal medicine, and Dr. Marla Berg-Weger, executive director
of SLU’s Geriatric Education Center and professor of social work, will partner with multiple
educational, patient care and service organizations in educating, studying and caring for
older adults.
COMMUNICATION
WITH PARENTS OF
SICK CHILDREN
2.1 million
Addressing the need for better pain medications, Dr. Daniela Salvemini and her colleagues at
the Henry and Amelia Nasrallah Center for Neuroscience at SLU will investigate a promising
pain-signaling pathway in the hopes of opening up a new avenue for pain medication research.
CELLULAR
CHANGES WITH
HEART DISEASE,
DIABETES
1.8 million
Chemistry professor Dr. Jim Edwards (A&S ’99, Grad A&S ’01) received this National
Institutes of Health grant to understand cellular changes that could lead to better therapies
for diabetes and heart disease. Dr. Chris Arnatt, assistant professor of chemistry at SLU, is
also a principal investigator.
OBESITY, CANCER
IMMUNOTHERAPY 1.7 million Dr. Ryan Teague, associate professor of molecular microbiology and immunology, will study
how obesity influences outcomes for cancer patients being treated with immunotherapy.
ANTI-DIARRHEAL
DRUG 30 Million
in Bid to Better Manage Pain
In one of the biggest investments in research com-mercialization
in Saint Louis University’s history,
BioIntervene, a biopharmaceutical company founded
in 2014 by SLU pharmacologist Dr. Daniela Salvemini
has raised 8.3 billion by 2024.
Neuropathic pain affects between 15 and 20 million
people in the United States. Exceedingly difficult to treat,
this type of pain can occur after injuries to the nervous
system due to trauma, disease or exposure to neurotox-ins,
including after chemotherapy. There is a need for
new medications that do not cause side effects and addic-tion
the way narcotic pain killers do.
“Having the opportunity to translate one’s discover-ies
from the bench to the bedside is a dream come true,”
Salvemini said. “I am hopeful that our efforts will lead
to the alleviation of suffering while helping end the opi-oid
crisis.”
Salvemini discovered that alterations in signaling within the body contribute to
the development of chronic pain states and that compounds that target a key recep-tor
can “turn off” pain signals, providing relief from chronic pain of various types.
This discovery, she noted, provided the starting point of her collaboration with
Dr. Kenneth Jacobson, chief of the molecular recognition section, in the laboratory
of bioorganic chemistry at the National Institutes of Health.
Salvemini
SUBMITTED PHOTO
6 | UNIVERSITAS | THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSIT Y WINTER 2020 | 7
ON CAMPUS
SLU Research Institute Grants Second Round of Funding
The Saint Louis University Research Institute awarded its second round of
funding last summer: More than 1.8 million
going to 15 faculty members.
Among the 13 faculty who received grants in this second round are:
Miriam Cherry,
professor and co-director
of the William
C. Wefel Center for
Employment Law, who
will study methods
of online justice such
as amateur sleuths
gathering online
to collect clues in
cold cases, workers
sharing information
online about abusive
labor practices and
people using the
Internet to mount
harassment campaigns.
Dr. Terra Edwards,
assistant professor of
anthropology, who
will finish a book
manuscript, Going
Tactile: Life at the
Limits of Language.
Her research focuses
on the protactile
movement, which
advances the claim
that hearing and vision
are not necessary for
things like greeting
people or joining or
leaving a conversation.
Dr. David Ford (A&S
’80), professor of
biochemistry and
molecular biology and
director of the Center
for Cardiovascular
Research, who will use
new technology to
investigate endothelial
and epithelial barrier
dysfunction. This
technology will be
used in the planning
for a SLU Sepsis
Center and the SLU
Institute for Drug
and Biotherapeutic
Innovation.
Jesuits Reckon with the Legacy of Slavery
In late August, Jesuits of the USA Central and Southern (UCS)
Province began contacting individuals believed to be descen-dants
of people held in slavery by 19th century Jesuits, including at
Saint Louis University.
This is the latest work of the Slavery, History, Memory and
Reconciliation Project, which started in 2016 as a joint initiative
of the UCS Province and the University. The goal is to find a path
to reconciliation by illuminating the lives of the people who were
enslaved and connecting with their descendants.
Historians have long known that when Jesuits established mis-sions
in St. Louis, they relied on the labor of enslaved people to help
those missions survive. To reveal the stories of courage and resil-ience
among those who were enslaved and to trace their families
forward, researchers have combed through thousands of docu-ments,
including financial ledgers, Church records and personal
journals.
Dr. Jonathan Smith, SLU’s vice president for diversity and com-munity
engagement, is leading the project for the University. To
undertake a conversation about SLU’s next steps, Smith plans to
assemble a working group that will include students, faculty, staff,
alumni, trustees and descendants.
To learn more about the project and to read the stories about the
people who were enslaved, visit shmr.jesuits.org.
SLU Launches Geospatial Institute
Anew Geospatial Institute at Saint Louis University will support
research, training and innovation in the rapidly growing fields
of geospatial science and technology.
Also known as GeoSLU, the institute brings together faculty and
students from various disciplines to use geospatial research tools
to solve challenges and to enhance graduate and undergraduate
education.
The institute’s primary areas of research will include artificial
intelligence, machine learning and informatics.
In launching the Geospatial Institute, SLU seeks to strengthen
collaborations with other universities, including the University of
Missouri System schools, Washington University in St. Louis and
Harris-Stowe State University, as well as innovation partners in the
region, including Cortex and T-Rex.
GeoSLU also builds upon SLU’s existing relationship with the
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). In January 2019, the
University signed a partnership agreement with the NGA, and the
organizations partnered on the GeoResolution conference last April.
Dr. Vasit Sagan, associate professor of earth and atmospheric
sciences, is the institute’s faculty director. Robert Cardillo, former
director of the NGA, advises the institute as part of his work as a
distinguished geospatial fellow at SLU.
For more information, visit slu.edu/geoslu.
Nancy McNeir Ring Award
Presented for Excellence
in Teaching
Dr. Katie Kelting, assistant professor of mar-keting
in the Richard A. Chaifetz School of
Business, was selected as the recipient of SLU’s 2019
Nancy McNeir Ring Award for excellence in teach-ing.
Lauded by students for her emphasis on teaching
them the value of ethics in the business world, Kelting
joined the SLU faculty in July 2016 and is director of
the business school’s Behavioral Research Lab. On
a national level, she is a Women in the Marketing
Academy Fellow, among her many fellowships. She
addressed graduates during December’s midyear
commencement at Chaifetz Arena.
Kelting
PHOTO BY STEVE LONG
PHOTO BY STEVE DOLAN
Special
Guest Star:
The Stanley Cup makes
a stop on campus during
Homecoming and Family Weekend
2019, giving fans of the 2019 NHL
champion St. Louis Blues hockey team
the opportunity to make lasting memories.
SLU, Urban League Honor MLK’s Legacy
At their annual memorial tribute honoring civil rights leader the Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 16, Saint Louis University and the Urban
League of Metropolitan St. Louis honored those carrying forward King’s legacy of
activism and advocacy for racial equity and justice across the St. Louis region.
The keynote speaker, noted journalist and author Roland Martin, told the crowd
in SLU’s Busch Student Center that “leaders step up when it’s time to lead.” He chal-lenged
those attending the tribute to recall King not as a mascot, but for his radical
commitment to social justice a
Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University
No full textWinter 2003 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University. This is a special issue on teaching at SLU.T 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
W I N T E R 2 0 0 3
Teaching
on
Focus
By Lawrence Biondi, S.J.
Saint Louis University President
I have a confession to make: As much as I love being
president of Saint Louis University, I sometimes miss
teaching. Early in my life as a Jesuit, I taught French
and Latin at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati,
and I still think of it as one of the best jobs I’ve ever
had. Later I moved on to Loyola University Chicago,
where I taught French, Spanish, Italian and linguistics
before becoming dean of the College of Arts and
Sciences.
Those days in the classroom rank among the most
fulfilling of my career. There is nothing like leading a
student to the point of discovery and being there
when he or she finally “gets it.”
Teaching languages was particu-larly
rewarding because those
moments of realization came so
often. I relished sharing a foreign
language and culture with a class
of eager learners. Sometimes even
better was introducing the science
of linguistics to students who may
have seen the course as a mere
requirement, only to watch them
embrace its nuances and discover
how people use language in both
its form and content to get what
they want.
I don’t spend much time in
classrooms anymore. I care about
classroom life, of course, and I
care even more deeply about
what goes on inside them, but I
don’t routinely get the opportu-nity
to stand inside one and guide
students on a path of revelation.
Yes, I miss it, but I take great solace in the fact that it
is happening hour after hour, day after day in class-rooms
all across the Saint Louis University campus.
Besides the friends you made at SLU, I’ll bet the
people who had the greatest impact on you were
your teachers. You may have lost touch with them,
but you probably remember their names, their quirks
and, most of all, the things they taught you.
Whenever I travel to meet SLU alumni, I am
always asked about our faculty. Sure, our graduates
want to know about campus changes and athletics
and new buildings, but most of all, they want to
know about their former professors. They want to
swap stories and compare notes, touching base with
shared memories and legends. In the end, it’s what
makes us a family.
This issue of UNIVERSITAS is devoted to teaching at
Saint Louis University. The first article introduces
you to innovative teaching designed to enhance the
undergraduate experience. Offered in a variety of dis-ciplines,
professors of these classes adopt unique
approaches to courses in the core curriculum. The
courses have been an unqualified
success and are now part of the
University’s regular offerings.
The second story in this issue
focuses on past recipients of the
Nancy McNeir Ring Award who
still are teaching at SLU. These
outstanding faculty share their
thoughts on why they teach. I am
sure you will find their words
inspiring.
The third story explores tech-nology
in the classroom and how
it has changed the face of teach-ing.
Saint Louis University is for-tunate
to have received a major
grant to make high-tech class-rooms
standard across campus.
Now our faculty are taking full
advantage of the opportunities
these wired classrooms offer.
Finally, our fourth story
answers the question, “What
makes an education Ignatian?” Three of my Jesuit
brothers discuss the roots of Jesuit schools and the
innovative teaching methods introduced by St.
Ignatius Loyola.
I hope you enjoy reading about many facets of
teaching at Saint Louis University. And I hope you’ll
take some time to thank a teacher in your life for
making a difference. Take it from me, such gratitude
is the true reward of the profession.
2
Veteran news man
joins senior staff
Julius Hunter, the senior
anchor at KMOV-TV
Channel 4 in St. Louis for 26
years, is now the University’s
vice president of community
relations. A prominent St.
Louisan with more than 30
years of broadcast and print
news experience, Hunter
was a regularly scheduled
radio talk-show host on
KMOX-AM 1120 and author
of a weekly St. Louis Post-
Dispatch column on little-known
facts about St. Louis
history. He is also the perma-nent
host of the Young Heroes
in Music program, featuring
young African-American
musicians, on KFUO-FM/
Classic 99. Hunter also
has taught broadcast journal-ism,
communications and con-temporary
issues courses on the
adjunct faculties of SLU,
Washington University,
Maryville University and
Harris-Stowe State College, his
alma mater. He is the founder
of a mentoring program at the
Pierre Laclede Elementary
School in St. Louis. In addi-tion,
Hunter was the first
Four new trustees
Now on board
Four new University trustees
were elected to four-year
terms at the Sept. 28 board of
trustees meeting: James J.
Burshek, S.J. (A&S ’69), assis-tant
to the treasurer for the
Jesuits of the Missouri
Province and former faculty
member at Saint Louis
University High School and
Regis Jesuit High School in
Denver; Francine Katz (Law
’83), vice president for corpo-rate
communications at
Anheuser-Busch Companies
Inc.; James T. Smith, who has
served as president of ConAgra
Frozen Foods as well as chair-man,
president and CEO of
Aurora Foods Inc.; and Daniel
P. White, S.J. (A&S ’90, Grad
’95), associate pastor of St.
Francis Xavier Church in
Kansas City, Mo., and former
faculty member at Regis Jesuit
High School.
REUNITING: More than 1,500 alumni and guests visit-ed
campus Sept. 20-22 for Reunion 2002 festivities, which
included a golf cart parade, food, campus tours, a soccer
game, fireworks and other activities. Above, Marianne
(Voss) Burnes (A&S ’52), a Fall Festival queen during her
years at SLU, presents flowers to this year’s homecoming
queen, Kim Bajarski (left), before a crowd of 4,000 at the
Saturday night men’s soccer game.
Hunter
African-American to serve on
the board of the Missouri
Historical Society, was a board
member of the Campbell
House Museum and is a mem-ber
of the Backstoppers’ board
of directors. Filling a new posi-tion
at SLU, Hunter will rep-resent
the University to various
civic, cultural and institutional
boards, initiatives and commu-nity
groups. He also will
enhance and promote SLU’s
cultural outreach initiatives.
Hunter also will communicate
SLU’s message regarding cur-rent
and future campus expan-sion
and developments to the
external community.
among the top 50 national
doctoral universities on the
“Great Schools at Great
Prices” list. The magazine
also reported that SLU’s acad-emic
reputation ranking has
risen on its “Best National
Universities” list. The list
includes 249 universities that
offer a wide range of under-graduate
majors as well as
master’s and doctoral
degrees with an emphasis
on research. In addition,
U.S. News recognized
several of SLU’s indi-vidual
programs, ranking the
aerospace engineering pro-gram
fourth in the nation in
its category and placing the
overall undergraduate engi-neering
programs in Parks
College of Engineering and
Aviation 30th in the nation
among schools whose highest
degree is a master’s. The
University’s undergraduate
entrepreneurship program
was ranked in the top 20.
SLU named a
‘Best Buy’ again
U.S. News & World Report
has ranked Saint Louis
University as one of the best
education values in the
United States for the fifth
consecutive year. The recent-ly
released report ranks SLU
NEWS BRIEFS
By The Numbers
74 SLUCare physicians listed in
the 2002 guide to the “Best
Doctors in America.” Only 4 per-cent
of all U.S. doctors are selected
to be on the list.
75 Years in the Society of Jesus
for Maurice B. McNamee, S.J.
(A&S ’33, Grad ’34, ’45), professor
emeritus of English and professor
emeritus of art and art history.
11,274 Students enrolled at Saint
Louis University.
Paul Schnabel is SLU’s new asso-ciate
vice president of University
development. Schnabel had served
as executive director of Health
Sciences Center development and
alumni relations since 1997. … In
August, University President
Lawrence Biondi, S.J., received
the Grand Order of Dr. Filippo
Mazzei Civis Illustris Americanism
Award from UNICO National
Inc., a national service group
steeped in Italian heritage and ded-icated
to the betterment of society.
The award is given annually to rec-ognize
professional achievement in
the arts and sciences that will bene-fit
humanity and enhance the civil,
social, commercial and industrial
development of the community.
… Dr. William Wold, professor
and chairman of molecular micro-biology
and immunology at the
School of Medicine, has been
elected a fellow of the Academy of
Science of St. Louis. … Liese L.
Hutchinson, assistant professor of
communication, has earned a
Fulbright Scholar grant to lecture
at Concordia International
University in Tallinn, Estonia, dur-ing
the spring semester. She will
teach international public relations
and case studies in public relations.
… Shani Lenore is the new
director of undergraduate admis-sion.
… Dr. Barry Katz, profes-sor
of research methodology,
received SLU’s Emerson
Excellence in Teaching Award. A
faculty member since 1975, Katz
was selected for his profound con-tributions
to the teaching profes-sion
and to students. … Dr. Ellen
M. Harshman (Grad ’78, Law
’92) has been named SLU’s senior
vice provost. … A recent book on
the works of a heralded University
professor emeritus Walter J. Ong,
S.J. (Grad ’41, ’84), is now avail-able
in paperback. An Ong Reader:
Challenges for Further Inquiry high-lights
28 selections written by Ong
between 1941 and 1998. For more
information or to order a copy, call
Hampton Press at (800) 894-8955.
… Dr. Jamie Comstock is inter-im
dean of School for Professional
Studies. She replaces Dr. Robert
Hasenstab (Grad ’67, ’71), who left
for Loyola University Chicago.
Didion receives
Literary Award
Joan Didion, novelist, essay-ist
and screenwriter,
received the 2002 Saint Louis
University Literary Award
from the Library Associates
on Oct. 1. Didion is the
author of a number of novels,
including Run River, Play It
As It Lays, A Book of Common
Prayer, Democracy and The Last
Thing He Wanted. Her non-fiction
work includes
Slouching Towards Bethlehem,
The White Album, Salvador,
Miami, After Henry and her
recent collection of essays,
Political Fiction. Didion and
her husband, John Gregory
Dunne, have co-authored a
number of screenplays, and
she is a contributor to The
New York Review of Books and
The New Yorker. This was the
35th year the award has been
given by the Library
Associates, a group dedicated
to enriching the cultural life
of the area and providing
financial help to the
University’s libraries.
McBRIDE HONORED: The Billikens honored SLU
men’s soccer all-time leading scorer Brian McBride (Pub
Ser ’96) at halftime of the Nov. 9 game at Robert R.
Hermann Stadium. McBride’s number 20 is the first retired
number in the history of SLU soccer. McBride is a member
of the U.S. Men’s National Team that advanced to the
quarterfinal round of the 2002 World Cup. One of the
USA’s most accomplished forwards, McBride ranks fourth
all-time on the U.S. goal-scoring list with 20, and his six
goals in World Cup qualifying are the second most in U.S.
history. A seven-year veteran of Major League Soccer’s
Columbus Crew, McBride entered the 2002 season ranked
14th in the league in career points. He is a seven-time
MLS All-Star. McBride is pictured above with Interim
Provost Joe Weixlmann (left).
Keep up with
Busch renovations
Want to watch the latest
Busch Memorial
Center construction develop-ments
via your computer? A
World Wide Web camera
(www.slu.edu/services/stude
v/Renovations/bmcrenov.ht
ml) provides up-to-the-minute
images of the con-struction
site. Once there,
click on the “live camera”
link. Expected to re-open in
August 2003, the new Busch
Memorial Center will include
51,000 square feet of new
construction and 100,500
square feet of renovation.
bished building
seats 160 and has
the same atmos-phere
and menu items
as the other 19 Pasta
House Co. locations in the
metro St. Louis area. In addi-tion
to providing another
venue for campus dining, the
SLU Pasta House Co. also is
attracting people to campus
who are not members of the
Saint Louis University com-munity,
thereby contributing
to the momentum of
Midtown redevelopment. For
more information or to find
out about the Pasta House
Co. takeout menu and Parties
to Go menu, call the restau-rant
at (314) 977-7421. No
reservations are necessary.
Pasta House Co.
debuts on campus
The Saint Louis University
community has a new
option for on-campus dining.
In November, a University-owned
Pasta House Co.
restaurant opened its doors on
campus at the site of the for-mer
Colorado restaurant,
3761 Laclede Ave. The
restaurant, which serves lunch
and dinner daily as well as a
continental breakfast buffet
on weekdays, has been
warmly received. The refur-
4
Cupples opens its
doors for photos
The elegant interior of
Samuel Cupples House is
now available to SLU alumni
for wedding and anniversary
photography. “We constantly
received requests from alums
to have pictures taken here
for their special day,” said
Pamela Ambrose, director of
Cupples House. “So many of
the alumni remember our
historic home when it was
called Chouteau House, the
student union back in the
’40s and ’50s, and want to
commemorate their anniver-sary
on campus. Plus, many
of our younger grads getting
married in St. Francis Xavier
College Church want wed-
Gilsinan honored
with service award
Dr. James F. Gilsinan III,
dean of the College of
Public Service, has received
the “SLU Star 2002 In Touch
with the Community Award.”
The annual award recognizes
one University faculty or staff
member who has made a
remarkable contribution to the
St. Louis community. This is
the second year for the award,
which is presented during the
kickoff of SLU Make a
Difference Day each year.
Gilsinan has written numerous
books and articles on public
policy, criminology and ethics.
Last May, the Student
Government Association rec-ognized
him with the George
D. Wendel Civic Leadership
Award, which honors an indi-vidual
who upholds the ideals
of the Jesuit mission to be
“women and men for others.”
Gilsinan serves on a variety of
boards devoted to public ser-vice
and community safety. He
also works with not-for-profit
groups to enhance their contri-butions
to the community.
REMEMBERING: The Saint Louis University commu-nity
took time for a day of remembrance on Sept. 11, the
first anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Above, Pax
Christi, the University’s Catholic peace organization,
holds a prayer vigil at the clock tower. Other events mark-ing
the day included a reading of all the names of the vic-tims
at the School of Law, a Mass of Remembrance at St.
Francis Xavier College Church and a symposium about
Sept. 11 and its aftermath.
ding photos taken in a beauti-ful,
unique setting.” A two-hour
service fee will be
charged. For information and
reservations, call (314) 977-
3575.
Samuel Cupples House at Christmas
The cover of
the Burgin-
Vanderbilt
collaboration
Prof teams up
with Vanderbilt
ASaint Louis University
professor and a well-known
New York socialite are
finding much in common
through their art. Professor
Richard Burgin, founding edi-tor
of SLU’s literary journal
Boulevard, and Gloria
Vanderbilt, best known as a
jeans designer, have collaborat-ed
on a book and more. The
book, Stories and Dream Boxes,
joins three of Burgin’s short
stories with photographs of
Vanderbilt’s Plexiglas con-structions.
Although it might seem like
an odd pairing, there are simi-larities
between the works of
Burgin and Vanderbilt. His
highly acclaimed writing has
been described as simultane-ously
elegant and disturbing.
Vanderbilt’s “Dream Boxes”
are beautiful, but a bit disturb-ing
as well, featuring objects
such as doll heads and wish-bones.
In addition to the new
book, Burgin recently com-posed
a long CD single that
accompanies a new portrait
doll designed by Vanderbilt.
The sorcerer doll is sold on the
Home Shopping Network.
“Doll of Dreams” features
music and lyrics by Burgin.
He’s also writing a novel for
Vanderbilt to illustrate.
Med specialties
get high rankings
Saint Louis University
Hospital’s “America’s Best
Hospitals” recognition in
U.S. News & World Report for
seven key specialty areas
places the hospital and its
medical staff partner, the
School of Medicine, among
the top 50 hospitals in treat-ment
for the following key
disorders and diseases: geri-atrics
(ranked in the top 10
nationally), respiratory, heart,
digestive disease, hormonal
disorders, kidney disease and
ear, nose and throat. In addi-tion,
Saint Louis University
Hospital received an impres-sive
accreditation score of 97
(of a maximum of 100) from
the Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations.
SLU prof digs up
new evidence
ASaint Louis University
geologist has unearthed
further evidence in his
mounting case to prove that
shifting of the continents —
and perhaps life on Earth —
began much earlier than
many scientists believe. Tim
Kusky, a professor of Earth
and atmospheric sciences, has
discovered the world’s first
large intact pieces of oceanic
mantle from the planet’s ear-liest
period, the Archean.
Working with colleagues
from Peking University,
Kusky uncovered the rare
find at a site near the Great
Wall, where last year, the
team discovered the planet’s
oldest complete section of
oceanic crust. Unlike the sea
floor samples Kusky found
last year, the mantle rocks
preserve 2.5 billion-year-old
minerals that hold clues to the
origin of plate tectonics and
DIFFERENCE MAKERS: Carole Buck, widow of leg-endary
broadcaster and philanthropist Jack Buck, addresses
the crowd of volunteers at the fifth annual SLU Make a
Difference Day Oct. 26. This year, more than 1,800 volun-teers
from Saint Louis University and the community regis-tered
for the event, which kicked off at SLU’s Robert R.
Hermann Stadium. Event participants then dispersed to
more than 50 local agencies to perform a variety of volunteer
opportunities.
15
The autumn 1987 issue of
UNIVERSITAS was devoted to the
inauguration of University
President Lawrence Biondi, S.J.,
on Sept. 30, 1987. The festivities
began early in the day with Mass
and lunch for the students. That
evening, the formal investiture
took place before a crowd of 2,000
people at Powell Symphony Hall
and featured representatives from
125 colleges and universities.
The issue also reported on the
100th birthday of the Midtown
campus, which was moved from
downtown St. Louis in 1888 upon
the opening of DuBourg Hall.
Another article included news of
the Simon Recreation Center’s
designation as one of the top 20
“benchmark sports and recreation-al
facilities” in North America by
the National Intramural
Recreational Sports Association.
Quotable UTAS: “Saint Louis
University’s Jesuit philosophy of
education might be summed up
this way: We want our young
people to realize that the best way
to know a good person is to be
one. According to St. Ignatius
Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit
order, we should strive to educate
men and women for others. Being
of service to and for others, not
being served, is the mark of gen-uine
leadership.” — University
President Lawrence Biondi, S.J., in
his inaugural address.
Sign of the times: A story on
campus changes began, “With the
recent inauguration of its 31st
president, the University opened a
brand new chapter titled ‘The
Biondi Years.’ Only the first few
paragraphs have been written,
however, and everyone here is
anxious to turn the page and see
what happens next. The president
himself is no exception.”
Rec Center
marks its 20th
In 1982, the Simon
Recreation Center opened
as the heart of Saint Louis
University campus life. Since
that time, thousands of stu-dents,
faculty, staff and alum-ni
have passed through the
turnstiles. The “young at
heart” facility has many fea-tures,
including an indoor
pool with diving well, a six-court
multi-purpose gym, fit-ness
equipment, an indoor
running track, five racquetball
courts, a squash court and
three multi-purpose rooms.
The Rec Center also offers
recreational opportunities that
include aquatics, fitness, well-ness,
intramural and sports
club programs. “There are
now more programs and
usage than the planners ever
dreamed,” said Hossein
Dastgah, director of campus
recreation. All alumni and
spouses may become mem-bers
of the Simon Recreation
Center, and many fitness pro-grams
are available to the
SLU community at non-member
rates. For more
information, visit
www.slu.edu/organizations/c
rcisc or call (314) 977-3975.
Web site offers
West Nile facts
As concern about West
Nile virus spreads across
the country, many people are
looking for a source of reli-able
information that goes
beyond a 15-second sound
bite. A new Web site
launched by the Center for
the Study of Bioterrorism and
Emerging Infections at the
School of Public Health is
such a resource. The site
(http://emerginginfections.slu
.edu) is devoted exclusively
to providing information
about infectious diseases such
as West Nile Virus, Ebola
Virus and Lyme Disease.
Users can search by organism,
syndrome or mode of trans-mission.
Each topic page
includes fact sheets, scientific
reference materials, newspa-per
articles and more.
Water Tower Inn
opens restaurant
The Water Tower Inn, the
University hotel located
in Salus Center, now is home
to a new restaurant, Salute.
The restaurant debuted Nov.
8 and offers a menu featuring
a wide variety of antipasto as
well as steak, pasta and other
items. Open to the general
public, Salute also features a
bar and lounge. Hours are 5-
8 p.m. Monday through
Saturday. Salute is closed on
Sunday.
provide evidence that the
continents began shifting 500
million years earlier than now
widely believed.
6
t first glance, Dr.
Russell Blyth’s “Mathematic
Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University
No full textWinter 2014 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis Universitywinter 2014
Oriflamme
Marks 50 Years
Page 12
Center for
Global Citizenship
Page 16
Alumnus Jimmie
Edwards
Page 18
Art Exhibit with
Local Roots
Page 22
Page 8
C O N T E N T S
f e a t u r e s d e p a r tme n t s
8 | SLU Downtown
The School of Law has moved into its new home in the
heart of St. Louis’ legal community.
— By Lauren Brucker
12 | Warm Welcome
Oriflamme, the student welcome organization, celebrated
its 50th anniversary this fall.
— By Amy Garland
16 | Going Global
The new Center for Global Citizenship has transformed
the former West Pine Gym.
— By Danielle Lacey
18 | The Power of Education
Alumnus Judge Jimmie Edwards is redefining education
for troubled youth in St. Louis.
— By Laura Geiser
22 | No Place Like Home
The latest exhibition at the Saint Louis University
Museum of Art has local ties.
— By Andrew Walker
2 | On Campus
San Ignacio Hall ///
Presidential search update
/// SLU’s latest honors ///
NASA collaboration ///
Health clinic relocation
6 | Biliken News
Basketball schedules
/// Baseball coach
recognized
7 | Advancement News
The impact of
scholarship gifts
23 | Clas Notes
Catch up with classmates.
28 | In Memoriam
Remembering those
members of the SLU
community who recently
died
30 | Al u mni Events
SLU alumni activities
across the country
32 | Perspective
A homily by the late
SLU professor John
Kavanaugh, S.J.
33 | The Last Word
Letters to the editor
Photo by JAMES VISSER
Law students in the
Louis Riethmann Pavilion on
the 12th floor of Scott Hall.
Volume 40, Issue 1
Editor
Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92)
contributors
Lauren Brucker
Amy Garland (A&S ’97)
Danielle Lacey
Katie O’Connor (A&S ’97)
Andrew Walker
On Campus news stories
University Communications
Medical Center Communications
Billiken Media Relations
ON THE Cover
Joe and Loretta Scott Hall, the new home of
the School of Law, in downtown St. Louis.
Photo by 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 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis,
Mo. 63103. We accept email at universitas@
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 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103.
World Wide Web address:
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Universitas is printed by Universal Printing Co.
Worldwide circulation: 121,150
© 2014, 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
It is a pleasure to take this
opportunity to address
Saint Louis University
alumni via Universitas. As a
longtime reader of this maga-zine,
it is certainly a different
experience to be writing a mes-sage
for it.
As you may know, I have spent
the past 18 years of my career at
SLU serving as the University’s
general counsel. So in August I
did not anticipate being asked
to become SLU’s interim pres-ident.
Though the request was
unexpected and I had been perfectly content in
my position as a university attorney, I could not
say no. Saint Louis University is an institution
I truly love and have been honored to serve, so
taking on this new role was the right thing to
do.
Since my appointment became effective on
Sept. 2, I have gained an even greater appre-ciation
for the importance and impact of this
outstanding institution. As general counsel, I
met and worked with many people across the
University, but as interim president I have got-ten
to know so many more who are equally as
passionate about Saint Louis University and
about Jesuit education as I am.
In October I had the privilege of attending
a historic meeting with the superior general of
the Society of Jesus, Adolfo Nicolás, S.J., who
was visiting from Rome. Held in Chicago and
hosted by the Association of Jesuit Colleges
and Universities, the gathering included the
presidents and board chairs from all 28 U.S.
Jesuit colleges and universities. It truly was an
honor for me to join this august group of lead-ers
at this first-ever meeting of its kind.
During his remarks Father Nicolás reminded
us of how the spirituality of St. Ignatius Loyola,
founder of the Jesuits, can inspire us today. He
said: “In the understanding of St. Ignatius, the
principal function of a leader is to help the
members of a community grow to become the
living presence of God in the world.”
Perhaps it was the timing, but that statement
struck a chord with me. I always had been aware
of the University’s efforts to encourage growth
and transformation. But as interim president I
know I am seeing Saint Louis University in an
entirely new light.
I am meeting students who
truly embrace our Catholic,
Jesuit values. Whether serving
their fellow students, tutoring
young people or serving meals
to the poor, they truly live our
mission.
I also am meeting faculty
who fully embrace their roles
as leaders and show our stu-dents
how “to become the living
presence of God in the world.”
Our professors teach at prisons,
create healthier school lunches
for local districts and travel the
world to aid indigent communities, assisting
with everything from health care to clean water
wells.
Finally, I am meeting alumni who are living
the lessons they learned at Saint Louis Uni-versity.
In November I started gathering with
alumni groups to provide an update on all of
the great things happening at the University
and to answer questions about SLU. The first
event was held in St. Louis, and in December
I met with alumni in Chicago. In the spring I
plan to travel to even more cities to hold these
information-sharing sessions.
For me, the best parts of these meetings come
before and after my remarks, when I have time
to talk one-on-one with our alumni. I have met
so many SLU graduates who are making a dif-ference
in our world in big and small ways. They
truly illustrate for me the power and promise of
a Saint Louis University education.
I also have enjoyed experiencing the enthu-siasm
our alumni have for their alma mater.
Indeed, Saint Louis University is a wonderful
place, and I am humbled to be at the helm, at
least for a little while.
Please know I am always interested in hear-ing
from alumni. If you would like to reach
out to me, please send an email message to
[email protected].
William R. Kauffman
Interim President
P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E
2 | U N I V E R S I T A S | w w w. s l u . e d u wi n t e r ’ 1 4 | U N I V E R S I T A S | 3
Presidential
Search Underway
In September, the Sa int L oui s
University board of trustees officially
launched the search for a new university
president by establishing a search com-mittee
and by engaging the consulting
firm AGB Search. The search commit-tee
is chaired by trustee Jim Smith, and its members are:
James Burshek, S.J. (A&S ’69), trustee
Anne Gagen (Cook ’72, Grad Cook ’76), trustee
Dr. Jeffrey Gfeller, professor and chairman, psychology
department, College of Arts and Sciences
John Griesbach, professor, School of Law
Al Litteken, trustee
Dr. Teri Murray (Nurs ’79, Grad Nurs ’93, E&PS ’97),
dean, School of Nursing
Dr. Frank O’Donnell, trustee
Vidur Sharma, president, Student Government Association
Patrick Sly (Grad Cook ’77), vice chairman of the board
and trustee
Dr. Jane Turner (A&S ’85, Grad ’91, Med ’92), president,
Faculty Senate
This fall, Smith and AGB Search’s managing partner, Dr.
Jamie Ferrare, met with various University groups to discuss the
presidential search and to learn about the characteristics and
qualities that the SLU community seeks in its next president.
They received input from hundreds of people via direct meet-ings
and emails.
In October, the committee released the presidential position
description, which was approved by the board. This description
can be found online at slu.edu/presidential-search.
The committee is now in the next phase of the search, which
includes identifying prospective candidates and discussing
SLU’s presidential position with them. In January, the search
committee will work to narrow the candidate list to approx-imately
two or three candidates who can be proposed to the
board for review.
“We are very enthused about all the advantages that Saint
Louis University has to offer a prospective president,” Smith
said. “And speaking for the search committee, I can assure you
we will do everything possible to find a great new leader for
Saint Louis University.”
Accolades for SL U ’s
Academics, Service and Value
Ranked among the top Jesuit universities in the coun-try,
Saint Louis University continues to earn praise from
new sources as well as established ones. Here are some of the
University’s most recent honors.
University Dedicates
San Ignacio Hall
in Madrid
Saint Louis University’s Spanish presence
continues to grow. In September, the
University celebrated the opening of its
newest building in Madrid, San Ignacio Hall.
The recently renovated, 26,000-square-foot
building nearly doubles the size
of SLU-Madrid and adds a new library,
classroom space, art and dance studios,
and a restaurant. Photo by Ángel García López
o n c a m p u s
Princeton Review
best college
Saint Louis University made
the Princeton Review’s The
Best 378 Colleges: 2014
Edition. Only about 15 percent
of America’s 2,500 four-year
colleges are profiled in the book.
The profile of SLU highlights
its “solid academic programs”
and sustainability efforts. The
Princeton Review also called
SLU a place where “service,
social justice and political
awareness are stressed at
every level of education.”
Top Marks for Commitment to Service
For the third year in a row, Washington Monthly ranked SLU
among the top five universities in the nation for community
service. The publication looks at schools’ contributions to
the public good in three categories: social mobility, research
and service. SLU was No. 4. The University also earned list-ings
as “Top Jesuit School” and “Top Faith-Based School,”
as well as second place on the list of top private institutions.
In addition, SLU was one of a handful of institutions rec-ognized
at the President’s Interfaith and Community Service
Campus Challenge National Gathering in September.
Started by President Barack Obama in 2011, the chal-lenge
calls for campuses to increase interfaith service and
engagement over the course of one year. The University was
honored for hosting nearly 100 interfaith events.
Finally, SLU placed fifth on Hercampus.com’s 2013 list of
“The Most Charitable Schools.” Hercampus.com is a colle-giate
guide and news network for women college students.
Kiplinger’s
best values in
private colleges
The University was recognized
for affordability and academic
quality among Kiplinger’s “Best
Values in Private Colleges.”
The 2014 list includes the
top 200 private colleges
in the country. Saint Louis
University has appeared on
the list multiple times.
Sierra Club
cool school
SLU was named one of
Sierra Club’s “Cool Schools,”
an honor given by the
environmental organization
to colleges and universities
around the country that are
committed to sustainability.
The list recognizes green
accomplishments and
efforts, such as faculty
and departments engaged
in sustainability research,
and sustainability-themed
courses or curricula.
CollegesofDistinction.com
college of
distinction
One of six Missouri schools —
and the only institution from St.
Louis — to make the 2013-14
list, the University was selected
for its commitment to four
areas: engaged students, great
teaching, vibrant community
and successful outcomes.
SLU was also selected as a
“Catholic College of Distinction.”
Smith
4 | U N I V E R S I T A S | w w w. s l u . e d u wi n t e r ’ 1 4 | U N I V E R S I T A S | 5
SL U ’s Free Medical
Clinic Relocates
in North St. Louis
Sa int Louis Univer s it y’s Hea lth
Resource Center, a free clinic oper-ated
by medical school students under the
guidance of SLU faculty physicians, cele-brated
its 20th anniversary of caring for
the underserved and underinsured with
a move to a newer, larger facility in north St. Louis. The new site is known as
the Jesuit Health Resource Center.
Dr. Eva Frazer, a former member of SLU’s board of trustees, and her hus-band
Steven Roberts donated the space.
The new clinic has a large patient waiting room, six patient exam rooms, a
social work room, a conference room, multipurpose rooms, expanded lab space
and a classroom. With the additional space, SLU is exploring the possibility of
offering other services.
Last year the Health Resource Center served more than 1,000 patients at
primary care, well women and pediatrics clinics. About 73 percent lacked
insurance.
Students began seeing patients in the new space during their regular
Saturday morning session late this summer.
NIH Taps SL U to Bid on Nearly
1 billion in projects to study
infectious diseases, including emerging threats.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the NIH,
has funded vaccine research at SLU since 1989. The new contract represents
what likely is the largest research contract or grant in the University’s history.
SLU received an “Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity” contract with
an estimated value of up to 951
million for the contract duration. Only centers accepted as VTEUs can bid
on specific projects. This is a change in the federal funding mechanism for
vaccine research, said Dr. Robert Belshe, director of the Center for Vaccine
Development and principal investigator on the project.
Business EnDowed
Professor Named
The John Cook School of Business has
appointed Dr. Bidisha Chakrabarty,
associate professor of finance, to the Edward
Jones Endowed Professorship in Finance.
Edward Jones created the endowed pro-fessorship
in 2007 to recognize an expert in
finance who provides academic leadership
through teaching, research and service.
Chakrabarty joined the business school
facult y in 2003. She has received the
Outstanding Faculty Award given by the
John Cook School of Business Alumni
Board, the Kwak Research Award for the
best research productive faculty, the ICRIER
policy paper grant and the National Stock
Exchange of India Research Initiative Grant.
Chakrabarty is a lso a consultant to
Beyond Housing, an organization that
helps families facing foreclosure. She is an
author and researcher on the topics of mar-ket
microstructure, securities regulation,
disclosure and market reaction, and market
design and price discovery.
Parks
Students,
NASA
Launch
Camera
into Space
COPPER (SLU-
01), Saint Louis
Univer s i t y ’s f i r s t
spacecraft designed,
bui l t , t e s t e d and
operated by students
at Parks College of
Engineering, Aviation
and Technology, launched Nov. 19 from the Mid-Atlantic
Regional Spaceport at Wallops Island, Va. The Air Force
Research Laboratory and NASA Missouri Space Grant
funded the project development, and the launch of
COPPER was sponsored by NASA.
COPPER is a one kilogram, 10-centimeter cube and is
made of commercially available spacecraft parts and stu-dent-
developed electronics.
The mission tests the effectiveness of a commercial infra-red
camera for in-space navigation and object detection, as
well as observes the Earth in the infrared spectrum.
For the next 12 months, Parks College students
will operate COPPER from a radio control station in
McDonnell Douglas Hall on the SLU campus. The space-craft
will de-orbit naturally in less than four years.
COPPER is a product of the Space Systems Research
Laboratory, which is led by Dr. Michael Swartwout and
Dr. Sanjay Jayaram of the department of aerospace and
mechanical engineering, and Dr. Kyle Mitchell of the
department of electrical and computer engineering. More
than 50 undergraduate and graduate students worked to
create COPPER during the past three years.
Class
of 2017
boasts
high
marks
This fall, SLU
welcomed one
of the largest and
most academically
gifted freshman
classes in University
history. The Class of
2017’s credentials
include a mean high
school GPA of 3.81
and an average
ACT score of 27.6.
Geographically,
44 states and
24 countries are
represented in this
year’s freshman
class, and nearly 75
percent of SLU��s
new students
hail from outside
the St. Louis
metropolitan area.
By The Numbers
2013 Make A Difference Day:
SLU’s 16th annual day of
service in October was one of
the largest in University history.
TIAA-CREF was the primary
financial sponsor for the event.
3,691 participants
91% of the volunteers were students.
312 faculty, staff, alumni and
parents participated.
197 Kappa Delta sorority sisters made
the largest volunteer team.
140 community organizations, schools,
churches and homes benefited —
the most sites in the event’s history.
News Bri e fs
University President Emeritus Lawrence Biondi,
S.J., received the 2013 Mayor’s Award for his influence
on economic development in the city of St. Louis.
During Biondi’s tenure, the University had a major
impact on the region’s economy; an independent
study found that SLU generated $715.5 million in
economic impact during 2011 alone. St. Louis Mayor
Francis G. Slay (Law ’80) presented the award in
October.
J. Joe Adorjan (Cook ’63, Grad Cook ’67), chairman
of the University’s board of trustees, was awarded the
Hungarian Order of Merit-Knight’s Cross, Hungary’s
highest state honor. Adorjan is the honorary general
consul of Hungary as well as the founder of the
Hungarian-Missouri Educational Partnership, which
links four Missouri universities, including SLU, with five
Hungarian universities to enhance the education of
emerging leaders who will help create a lasting bond
between the two countries.
Dr. Alexander Garza (PH ’03), the former assistant
secretary for health affairs and chief medical officer
for the Department of Homeland Security, has joined
the faculty of the College for Public Health and Social
Justice. Garza is associate dean for public health
practice and associate professor of epidemiology.
David Cassens is the new dean for University
Libraries. He has served as interim University librarian
since June 2012. Previously he served as assistant
university librarian for administration and director of
Pius XII Memorial Library. He has worked at SLU for
nearly 15 years.
In October, Dr. Mildred Mattfeldt-Beman (Grad E&PS
’92), chair of the department of nutrition and dietetics,
received a Medallion Award from the Academy of
Nutrition and Dietetics for guiding her department
to national prominence. Mattfeldt-Beman has built
a program that is a community resource — advising
congressmen, creating healthier school lunches and
promoting business in the region.
Dr. Mike Shaner, professor at the John Cook School
of Business, has been named the “Best Management
Professor” by the World Education Congress in
Mumbai. Shaner was recognized as a thinker and doer
who served as a “role model and a believer in change.”
He joined the SLU faculty in 1974.
Dr. Diana Carlin, associate vice president for graduate
education and international initiatives, was one of 11
U.S. administrators selected by the U.S. and French
Fulbright commissions to participate in a two-week
seminar in France in October. The purpose was to help
both the Americans and French better understand
the other’s higher education and research areas,
and to explain partnership opportunities with French
universities.
o n c a m p u s
HOMECOMING 2013:
Saint Louis University’s 2013 Homecoming
and Family Weekend drew nearly 2,500 people
to campus Sept. 27-29. The celebration
included the popular golf cart parade, with
the theme “Meet Me in St. Louis,” and
celebrations of SLU’s Golden Billikens,
members of the class of 1963 and earlier.
The weekend was capped off with a win by
the men’s soccer team and a spectacular
fireworks display. The 2014 Homecoming
will be Sept. 25-28. Photo by Steve Dolan
Olivia Johnson gets her ears examined
at the clinic by faculty volunteer
Dr. Marilyn Maxwell, professor of
internal medicine and pediatrics.
A student building COPPER (SLU-01).
From left: Dr. Scott Safranski, interim business dean;
Chakrabarty; Robert J. Ciapciak (Grad Cook ’82) of
Edward Jones; and Interim President William Kauffman.
pictured: Students packing meals for Feed My Starving Children on Make A Difference Day. Photo by Kevin Lowder
Photo by Kevin Lowder
Photo by Katie O’Connor
6 | U N I V E R S I T A S | w w w. s l u . e d u wi n t e r ’ 1 4 | U N I V E R S I T A S | 7
When Saint Louis University freshman Michael Milek got
a call with scholarship news last spring, he wasn’t imme-diately
sure the news was good. “At first I didn’t think I got it
because of the tone of the caller,” said Milek, an athletic training
major in Doisy College of Health Sciences. “However, he told me
that I received it, and I was really happy.”
The Philadelphia native had been awarded the Martin Luther
King Jr. Scholarship, a merit-based University scholarship granted
to students with a mix of academic achievement, demonstrated
leadership and commitment to service. The scholarship w
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
g roup
wo r k s i n
h a r mo n y
pg. 9
B i o l o gy
fac ult y
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
t e a m p l ay s
i n n c a a
t our n a me n t
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
- …
